The New Low

by Jennifer Lewis

Like a hanging mobile, the stories in THE NEW LOW move around each other, creating ever-changing insights between its characters. Each of whom struggle with identity, addictions, judgments, and life's contradictions. Fiction

174 pages, Paperback

Published October 5, 2022

About the author

Jennifer Lewis is a writer, editor, and the publisher of Red Light Lit. Her debut short story collection, The New Low, was released in October 2022 by Nomadic Press, where her short story, New Low, was the winner of the Bindle Award in 2018. In 2020, she won the Los Angeles Review Flash Fiction award for Put a Teat in It. Her writing has been published in The Los Angeles Press, The Rumpus, and Alta Journal. She received her MFA in creative writing from San Francisco State University in May 2015. She teaches at The Writing Salon in San Francisco.

Reviews

[Sarah Cavar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories varied in impact and ability to stand alone, but I found myself warming to these recurring characters and spaces when rereading. Definitely give these a chance if you’re looking for a quick bite that doesn’t shy from navigating ugly and intriguing relational dynamics.

[Miah Jeffra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific contemporary meditation on motherhood, womanhood and what it means to live in an age of alienation. Lewis' characters are relatable, and as extraordinary as they are mundane. Full of humor and pathos, this collection of shorts reads like one is sharing cocktails with friends gawking at the absurdity, pain and obscure beauty of our shared American lives.

[Thomas M. Barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lewis writes with a crafted intuition that feels like a place you've been before but were never able describe. Both hyper-real and surreal, The New Low speaks to a depth of emotion and natural flow of life that is curious and feels like home. It is an excellent read. Each piece is highly accessible and is delivered with a richness that makes the reader experience a complete novel in just a few pages. Highly recommend.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

FINALLY got ahold of this short story collection. I loved how characters slyly crept up in multiple stories. The narrative voice was always strong and endings were poignant. Recommend! This little book packs in a lot.