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Every Woman Knows This
A never-ending storm rages, tossing a dark and bottomless sea. Tentacled beasts reach from every direction, a battle at every turn, but they've chosen the wrong target. Armed with teeth and sharp weapons of her own, she'll fight until there's nothing left, and then she'll pick herself up and fight again. For this is what we do.
Laurel Hightower, author of Below and Crossroads, delivers the blow that shatters the glass ceiling into twenty deadly shards-each reflecting horrors faced by women. Unwelcomed advances from dangerous men. The unbearable weight of motherhood. A goddess pushed to her limits. The inescapable responsibilities of being a caretaker, even beyond the grave.
Dive in for Hightower's most beloved short stories, all brought together in one collection which includes five brand new tales. Navigate the stormy waters of womanhood with caution as you are about to experience the horrors that every woman knows.
Laurel Hightower, author of Below and Crossroads, delivers the blow that shatters the glass ceiling into twenty deadly shards-each reflecting horrors faced by women. Unwelcomed advances from dangerous men. The unbearable weight of motherhood. A goddess pushed to her limits. The inescapable responsibilities of being a caretaker, even beyond the grave.
Dive in for Hightower's most beloved short stories, all brought together in one collection which includes five brand new tales. Navigate the stormy waters of womanhood with caution as you are about to experience the horrors that every woman knows.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2023
15 people are currently reading
664 people want to read
About the author
Laurel Hightower
38 books734 followersLaurel Hightower is a bourbon loving native of Lexington, Kentucky. She is the Bram Stoker-nominated author of WHISPERS IN THE DARK, CROSSROADS, BELOW, EVERY WOMAN KNOWS THIS, SILENT KEY, SPIRIT COVEN, and THE DAY OF THE DOOR, and has more than a dozen short fiction stories in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
March 9, 2023
Every Woman Knows This is an excellent collection of short horror stories, which I chose to start reading on International Women’s Day. There are so many amazing female horror authors and I like to enjoy, and then draw attention to, their work! 🖤 Summaries/thoughts on each story are below:
Every Woman Knows This: Wow. Maybe one of the most perfect short revenge stories I have ever read. It’s written so well. Revenge before the worst could have even happened. Revenge for every woman who has experienced this terrifying feeling, the feeling of vulnerability. Of somehow still sticking out like a sore thumb when you want to be invisible. There’s strength in numbers. Powerful stuff, I like the symbolism used here. A great start to this collection. 5/5
The Dance: Short, sharp, to the point story about the magic of Christmas and true love, with a horrifying twist. 4/5
The Bride Wore Black: A hauntingly creepy gothic tale about a young girl who finds a book where illustrations in it appear to change into something much darker. 4/5
Vignettes Of Womanhood: Scar Tissue: 3.5/5
The Midwife: A well-written story featuring a midwife creature who is stealing babies’ screams… This one is atmospheric and creepy, I liked it! 5/5
The Little Head: Fucking Hell. Dark. What if you had another you living inside of you? That’s what Elise has to contend with. But is it just her pregnancy with her daughter? Viscerally gory moment towards the end that I could vividly picture in my mind! TW:// body dysmorphia. 4.5/5!
Vignettes Of Womanhood: Broken Branches: ”Accidents happen, isn’t that what you tell your children? Things break, it is the nature of them, and it’s imperative for them to learn not to spend so much worry on them. Yet it’s not a lesson you can teach yourself, the habits of perfection and apology much too deeply ingrained in your wood. Cut you deep and see the rings of things that were never yours to own”. This spoke very deeply to me. The anxiety of never being good enough; the fear of abandonment and of failure. Sometimes we forget that as humans we are fallible, we shouldn’t be expected to be perfect. We all make mistakes, yet the one person who commends us the most for any of our shortcomings is… ourselves. That’s what keeps us awake at night. 5/5
Goddess Of Need: ”All things need rest, and she has allowed herself done. To rest, to retreat within herself, to listen to that quiet voice means saying no. It means letting her people down, but more than that, it is the refutation of her identity.” As a people pleaser who is learning to say no and put myself first more, I highly related to the character of Ophelia, before madness and rage take over. My chronically ill and introverted self needs to carry on learning this. I used to push and over exert myself all the time and then end up bed-ridden for a week. It’s okay to say no. 🖤 5/5
Distress Call: ”We are lost. All is lost”. What lies beneath the ocean depths…? Sophie is trying to find out with the use of a submarine. This one was tense. 4/5
Vignettes Of Womanhood: Iron Lung: I love the illustrations before these vignettes that break up some of the main short stories! Some creepy imagery before the well-written pieces of text.
A mother’s love. 4/5
Starman: The Starman is a terrifying entity, almost like a celestial grim reaper. Such a good, short horror story with some sci-fi elements. tw:// child abuse, post-partum depression. 5/5
One of Those Faces: This story had a really interesting concept. A woman goes into a college in place of a female student there, Sandy, who is being harassed/stalked by a male peer. One of the girl’s friend’s mistakens her for Sandy from behind, but when she turns around, she notices that it isn’t her friend. But the narrating character is imitating Sandy so well, down to her mannerisms. The harasser, Brock, doesn’t notice that it’s not Sandy. How will he react to being rejected? 5/5
Vignettes Of Womanhood: Pop Quiz: The struggle of not wanting to articulate how you’re actually feeling, so you mask it with those two words; I’m fine. 4/5
Though Your Heart Is Breaking: This story is about the universal experience of a woman being told to “smile” by a man, often in a condescending tone. “No, I don’t want to smile - this could be the worst day of my life”, “if my frowning face inconveniences you then fuck off”! 😌 it happens too often. 5/5
Hooking Up: Girl meets guy in a bar. They leave together to inevitably hook-up. But there’s a serial killer in town, The Hook-Hand Killer… 4.5/5
Vignettes Of Womanhood: Bullet Proof: A woman tries to find the balance between being a good mother and a good teacher. The real-life horror of how frequently school shootings occur. 4/5
The Goodbye House: A woman named Sabrina has started the Goodbye House as a way for grieving people to say one last goodbye to a spirit of a loved one. She is a hospice worker and collected items belonging to those who died to put inside the house. Elena enters the house one day, angry with a departed person and seemingly hell-bent on destroying the house. 4/5
Ghosted: This isn’t a ghost story, but an important short read. 4.5/5
Someone Has To Do It: Nell receives a phone call from her brother, Greg, in the middle of the night where he calmly explains that his dead wife Jessica is in the house with him. The only problem here is that they recently attended her funeral. 4.5/5
The Smallest Places: A story about the inevitability and the experience of death. A dark read, but so incredibly well-written. What a way to end this book. 5/5
Laurel Hightower is an amazing storyteller, I recommend this collection of short horror stories to anyone! Regardless of gender identity. Overall, I’m giving the entire collection 5 stars and I’m adding this to my favourites shelf! 😊
Every Woman Knows This: Wow. Maybe one of the most perfect short revenge stories I have ever read. It’s written so well. Revenge before the worst could have even happened. Revenge for every woman who has experienced this terrifying feeling, the feeling of vulnerability. Of somehow still sticking out like a sore thumb when you want to be invisible. There’s strength in numbers. Powerful stuff, I like the symbolism used here. A great start to this collection. 5/5
The Dance: Short, sharp, to the point story about the magic of Christmas and true love, with a horrifying twist. 4/5
The Bride Wore Black: A hauntingly creepy gothic tale about a young girl who finds a book where illustrations in it appear to change into something much darker. 4/5
Vignettes Of Womanhood: Scar Tissue: 3.5/5
The Midwife: A well-written story featuring a midwife creature who is stealing babies’ screams… This one is atmospheric and creepy, I liked it! 5/5
The Little Head: Fucking Hell. Dark. What if you had another you living inside of you? That’s what Elise has to contend with. But is it just her pregnancy with her daughter? Viscerally gory moment towards the end that I could vividly picture in my mind! TW:// body dysmorphia. 4.5/5!
Vignettes Of Womanhood: Broken Branches: ”Accidents happen, isn’t that what you tell your children? Things break, it is the nature of them, and it’s imperative for them to learn not to spend so much worry on them. Yet it’s not a lesson you can teach yourself, the habits of perfection and apology much too deeply ingrained in your wood. Cut you deep and see the rings of things that were never yours to own”. This spoke very deeply to me. The anxiety of never being good enough; the fear of abandonment and of failure. Sometimes we forget that as humans we are fallible, we shouldn’t be expected to be perfect. We all make mistakes, yet the one person who commends us the most for any of our shortcomings is… ourselves. That’s what keeps us awake at night. 5/5
Goddess Of Need: ”All things need rest, and she has allowed herself done. To rest, to retreat within herself, to listen to that quiet voice means saying no. It means letting her people down, but more than that, it is the refutation of her identity.” As a people pleaser who is learning to say no and put myself first more, I highly related to the character of Ophelia, before madness and rage take over. My chronically ill and introverted self needs to carry on learning this. I used to push and over exert myself all the time and then end up bed-ridden for a week. It’s okay to say no. 🖤 5/5
Distress Call: ”We are lost. All is lost”. What lies beneath the ocean depths…? Sophie is trying to find out with the use of a submarine. This one was tense. 4/5
Vignettes Of Womanhood: Iron Lung: I love the illustrations before these vignettes that break up some of the main short stories! Some creepy imagery before the well-written pieces of text.
A mother’s love. 4/5
Starman: The Starman is a terrifying entity, almost like a celestial grim reaper. Such a good, short horror story with some sci-fi elements. tw:// child abuse, post-partum depression. 5/5
One of Those Faces: This story had a really interesting concept. A woman goes into a college in place of a female student there, Sandy, who is being harassed/stalked by a male peer. One of the girl’s friend’s mistakens her for Sandy from behind, but when she turns around, she notices that it isn’t her friend. But the narrating character is imitating Sandy so well, down to her mannerisms. The harasser, Brock, doesn’t notice that it’s not Sandy. How will he react to being rejected? 5/5
Vignettes Of Womanhood: Pop Quiz: The struggle of not wanting to articulate how you’re actually feeling, so you mask it with those two words; I’m fine. 4/5
Though Your Heart Is Breaking: This story is about the universal experience of a woman being told to “smile” by a man, often in a condescending tone. “No, I don’t want to smile - this could be the worst day of my life”, “if my frowning face inconveniences you then fuck off”! 😌 it happens too often. 5/5
Hooking Up: Girl meets guy in a bar. They leave together to inevitably hook-up. But there’s a serial killer in town, The Hook-Hand Killer… 4.5/5
Vignettes Of Womanhood: Bullet Proof: A woman tries to find the balance between being a good mother and a good teacher. The real-life horror of how frequently school shootings occur. 4/5
The Goodbye House: A woman named Sabrina has started the Goodbye House as a way for grieving people to say one last goodbye to a spirit of a loved one. She is a hospice worker and collected items belonging to those who died to put inside the house. Elena enters the house one day, angry with a departed person and seemingly hell-bent on destroying the house. 4/5
Ghosted: This isn’t a ghost story, but an important short read. 4.5/5
Someone Has To Do It: Nell receives a phone call from her brother, Greg, in the middle of the night where he calmly explains that his dead wife Jessica is in the house with him. The only problem here is that they recently attended her funeral. 4.5/5
The Smallest Places: A story about the inevitability and the experience of death. A dark read, but so incredibly well-written. What a way to end this book. 5/5
Laurel Hightower is an amazing storyteller, I recommend this collection of short horror stories to anyone! Regardless of gender identity. Overall, I’m giving the entire collection 5 stars and I’m adding this to my favourites shelf! 😊
March 3, 2023
Beautifully written stories that pack a punch. This is my first time reading Laurel’s short stories and they do not disappoint!!!
April 1, 2023
"There's a certain kind of smile that it's not safe to return -- every woman knows this."
Indeed, sadly we do. This book is such a great collection, Hightower has definitely become a favorite for me. Each of these stories take on a difficult part of womanhood, beware they pack a punch!
Indeed, sadly we do. This book is such a great collection, Hightower has definitely become a favorite for me. Each of these stories take on a difficult part of womanhood, beware they pack a punch!
April 2, 2023
An excellent collection of stories that show the full power of Hightower's abilities! If you read one short story collection this year, Every Woman Knows This is it.
July 18, 2023
An incredible collection, splattering women's pain and struggles across the pages, and my first read from Hightower. No notes.
March 13, 2023
An Incredible Collection!
I'm a huge fan of Hightower's writing, and this collection of short fiction does not disappoint. I enjoyed all the stories, but my favorites were "Starman," "Distress Call," "Hooking Up," "The Little Head," and "One of Those Faces." You can't go wrong with anything by Hightower. Highly recommended!
I'm a huge fan of Hightower's writing, and this collection of short fiction does not disappoint. I enjoyed all the stories, but my favorites were "Starman," "Distress Call," "Hooking Up," "The Little Head," and "One of Those Faces." You can't go wrong with anything by Hightower. Highly recommended!
March 10, 2023
Nothing makes me love horror more than when I’m reading a kick ass horror collection featuring some of the strongest, and yet frightening female main characters to ever grace the fictional page. Laurel Hightower opens the door hesitantly on your darkest nightmares. She knows the dark depravity that awaits you inside and yet she still welcomes you on a wicked laugh. It makes you nervous, each step full of trepidation and yet both curiosity and morbid fascination makes you put one foot in front of the other. Stories of womanhood with a particularly nasty bite – Serial Killers, of female exploitation, haunted books that tell the future and creature features alike.
The Bride Wore Black, Victorian era in its sense of storytelling is about a woman who goes back to her hometown after her Grandfather’s wake. Claudia is looking for something very special – a book, that is a mere haunting memory. Her parent’s tried to explain away its existence. When she finally sets her eyes on it again it paints a particularly bloody memory of her childhood and that things that transpired as a result of it. This was one of my favourite stories in the collection. The old time feel of it had me gripped and had a very Insidious undertone.
The Midwife, scared the crap out of me and in equal measure made me angry. Really, I shouldn’t be surprised that Laurel Hightower would write about the horrors of parenthood. This story was dystopian in nature, and I should’ve kept that firmly at the front of my mind instead of focussing so much on the heart-breaking nature. We all know that giving birth is hard, right? Right, imagine having to do it in relative silence in fear of a what I imagined as a reptilian midwife coming to steal away both yours and your babies screams? That first initial joyous moment of hearing your baby scream is both one of pure relief and happiness. Imagine having that stolen from you?
The Little Head, essentially a cautionary tale about what I took as being focussed on body dysmorphia. All women have been there, we’ve all looked in the mirror and not liked what we’ve seen at one point or another in our lives. What would our bodies say to us if they could talk? If they could let us know about the hurt they’ve inflicted upon them…food for thought.
Hooking Up, this was my favourite story mainly because I love a good serial killer story. A story of a killer with a deadly hook going from state to state is an urban legend we’re all familiar with but the spin on this story will shock you to your core.
All the words within Every Woman Knows This had such a profound effect on me that I immediately purchased a physical copy, I needed this one my shelf. It’s the kind of collection that punches you in the stomach with a veracious force. Embrace the darkness, you might just find a home there.
The Bride Wore Black, Victorian era in its sense of storytelling is about a woman who goes back to her hometown after her Grandfather’s wake. Claudia is looking for something very special – a book, that is a mere haunting memory. Her parent’s tried to explain away its existence. When she finally sets her eyes on it again it paints a particularly bloody memory of her childhood and that things that transpired as a result of it. This was one of my favourite stories in the collection. The old time feel of it had me gripped and had a very Insidious undertone.
The Midwife, scared the crap out of me and in equal measure made me angry. Really, I shouldn’t be surprised that Laurel Hightower would write about the horrors of parenthood. This story was dystopian in nature, and I should’ve kept that firmly at the front of my mind instead of focussing so much on the heart-breaking nature. We all know that giving birth is hard, right? Right, imagine having to do it in relative silence in fear of a what I imagined as a reptilian midwife coming to steal away both yours and your babies screams? That first initial joyous moment of hearing your baby scream is both one of pure relief and happiness. Imagine having that stolen from you?
The Little Head, essentially a cautionary tale about what I took as being focussed on body dysmorphia. All women have been there, we’ve all looked in the mirror and not liked what we’ve seen at one point or another in our lives. What would our bodies say to us if they could talk? If they could let us know about the hurt they’ve inflicted upon them…food for thought.
Hooking Up, this was my favourite story mainly because I love a good serial killer story. A story of a killer with a deadly hook going from state to state is an urban legend we’re all familiar with but the spin on this story will shock you to your core.
All the words within Every Woman Knows This had such a profound effect on me that I immediately purchased a physical copy, I needed this one my shelf. It’s the kind of collection that punches you in the stomach with a veracious force. Embrace the darkness, you might just find a home there.
April 27, 2023
Although this collection sticks pretty well to the main theme: Every Woman Knows This, it has to be said that the diversity on display here is what is most impressive.
The horror genre runs so much deeper than what many people realise.
Pick this one up and you'll see what I mean. It's not just all blood and gore, creatures and hauntings. It's the different take on them.
Some stories I enjoyed more than others, but I still appreciated all of them. And there are too many favourites to single out a few, but the ones that dig into the psyche are the ones that sit the best for me.
I highly recommend this collection.
And I have to give a little shout-out for the wonderful artwork by Red Lagoe.
Such a worthy five stars.
The horror genre runs so much deeper than what many people realise.
Pick this one up and you'll see what I mean. It's not just all blood and gore, creatures and hauntings. It's the different take on them.
Some stories I enjoyed more than others, but I still appreciated all of them. And there are too many favourites to single out a few, but the ones that dig into the psyche are the ones that sit the best for me.
I highly recommend this collection.
And I have to give a little shout-out for the wonderful artwork by Red Lagoe.
Such a worthy five stars.
March 14, 2023
This is the first collection of shorts from Laurel, and being a fan of her work after devouring Crossroads, I picked it up on pre-order, for it to arrive earlier this month on my kindle. Given that it’s Women of Horror month, and also that I know Laurel’s writing, it went straight to the top of my TBR and I read through it in a day.
Twelve of the twenty pieces contained here have been included in other collections, but of those, I had only previously read two, “Hooking up” from Slash-her and “The Bride wore black” from Burial day’s Gothic Blue Book VI – in which I also had a short featured. So, 18 new stories for me is pretty much a win-win.
The tone of the book is Feminist, I think it’s fair to say, and one gets the feeling that Hightower’s own experiences/opinions have been incorporated to a degree in the writing of pieces such as “Every woman knows this”, which blends metaphors of fishing against the stubbornness of men when prowling for women, or “Someone has to do it”, a great short which has a fantastic premise which leads to a comment on the usefulness of men left to their own devices. I’m highlighting Every Woman Knows This as one of my favorite shorts in the collection, and have to say that leading with that particular story was an excellent decision, Laurel. It set the mood and tone, and your voice just leapt from the page to attack the reader. Starman and Distress Call were also strong, but the whole collection is solid, finding favorites was thankfully hard.
The four shorts -Vignettes of Womanhood – originally included in the “We are wolves” anthology, give the feeling of flash prose, scattered throughout the book. They present themselves as observations from Laurel spoken directly to the reader. I tend to think of them collectively, and as statements, and freely admit that might just be my personal experience of them. I liked the “breaks” they created in the reading – as I said, it made the book feel more like a conversation.
My favorite of the collection is probably “The midwife”, I think the idea of some paranormal shadow-being stealing the cries of a mother giving birth, is just sublime. The presentation of the world in which that happens, that fear which the mother overcomes through the determination to birth her child whilst feeling her very screams being taken from her throat – well – how superb is that? The perspective from the being who does the collecting, afterward, was the icing on the cake of course, but the premise, the setup – it’s frankly outstanding and creepy as hell.
Though your heart is breaking frustrated the hell out of me – in a good way, and through my own incompetence, I wish to clarify. There is a song referenced in the short, a section of lyrics, or a hint at a section of lyrics, and I am absolutely certain the recognition of the song in question would reveal (through its title, lyrics, or general direction) a message to the reader, and I damn well couldn’t place it, Laurel. I’m one of those stubborn mules of a personality that wants to crack it on my own, I’m not going to google it, ask friends, etc. I’m going to let it stew, and one day I’ll open my eyes in the morning and it’ll be there, staring me in the face, and I’ll be able to let it rest. That lack of recognition though, grates. I’m generally better than that. I get things. I read between the lines.
So, yeah. This short annoyed the hell out of me.
Still does.
Overall this gets 5 out of 5 creepy atmospheric and feminist ⭐ ‘s, and yes, I’m still frustrated, Laurel. May your whisky bottle leak until I figure the damn song out. I think if I have to suffer, you should too.
Twelve of the twenty pieces contained here have been included in other collections, but of those, I had only previously read two, “Hooking up” from Slash-her and “The Bride wore black” from Burial day’s Gothic Blue Book VI – in which I also had a short featured. So, 18 new stories for me is pretty much a win-win.
The tone of the book is Feminist, I think it’s fair to say, and one gets the feeling that Hightower’s own experiences/opinions have been incorporated to a degree in the writing of pieces such as “Every woman knows this”, which blends metaphors of fishing against the stubbornness of men when prowling for women, or “Someone has to do it”, a great short which has a fantastic premise which leads to a comment on the usefulness of men left to their own devices. I’m highlighting Every Woman Knows This as one of my favorite shorts in the collection, and have to say that leading with that particular story was an excellent decision, Laurel. It set the mood and tone, and your voice just leapt from the page to attack the reader. Starman and Distress Call were also strong, but the whole collection is solid, finding favorites was thankfully hard.
The four shorts -Vignettes of Womanhood – originally included in the “We are wolves” anthology, give the feeling of flash prose, scattered throughout the book. They present themselves as observations from Laurel spoken directly to the reader. I tend to think of them collectively, and as statements, and freely admit that might just be my personal experience of them. I liked the “breaks” they created in the reading – as I said, it made the book feel more like a conversation.
My favorite of the collection is probably “The midwife”, I think the idea of some paranormal shadow-being stealing the cries of a mother giving birth, is just sublime. The presentation of the world in which that happens, that fear which the mother overcomes through the determination to birth her child whilst feeling her very screams being taken from her throat – well – how superb is that? The perspective from the being who does the collecting, afterward, was the icing on the cake of course, but the premise, the setup – it’s frankly outstanding and creepy as hell.
Though your heart is breaking frustrated the hell out of me – in a good way, and through my own incompetence, I wish to clarify. There is a song referenced in the short, a section of lyrics, or a hint at a section of lyrics, and I am absolutely certain the recognition of the song in question would reveal (through its title, lyrics, or general direction) a message to the reader, and I damn well couldn’t place it, Laurel. I’m one of those stubborn mules of a personality that wants to crack it on my own, I’m not going to google it, ask friends, etc. I’m going to let it stew, and one day I’ll open my eyes in the morning and it’ll be there, staring me in the face, and I’ll be able to let it rest. That lack of recognition though, grates. I’m generally better than that. I get things. I read between the lines.
So, yeah. This short annoyed the hell out of me.
Still does.
Overall this gets 5 out of 5 creepy atmospheric and feminist ⭐ ‘s, and yes, I’m still frustrated, Laurel. May your whisky bottle leak until I figure the damn song out. I think if I have to suffer, you should too.
March 29, 2023
**more to come** I adored this, and felt these stories DEEPLY.
July 7, 2023
I love the feminist horror in this anthology and am shook it doesn’t have more ratings and reviews!!!
February 19, 2023
I want everyone to know that EVERY WOMAN KNOWS THIS is fantastic and brilliant! Laurel Hightower showcases quite a range with this short story collection. Having read her debut novel Whispers In The Dark in 2020, her grief-stricken novella Crossroads in 2021, and a few of her short stories since then, it was a remarkable experience to sit down with an entire collection of just her own. Being able to see a single thread tying all her thoughts and stories together with no interruptions is an experience.
She is so sharp and witty, full of bite. Her stories leave you empowered and ready to slay dragons (metaphorical and physical). I am impressed of her storytelling ability regardless of format: short fiction, novella, novel, etc. If she has a first word and a last word, everything in between will be powerful, purposeful, and will always leave you satisfied.
Coupling her prose with Death Knell Press is a treat for readers everywhere. The design and formatting combine with Hightower's mind to make this fiery collection an unstoppable, unputdownable force.
Her collection EVERY WOMAN KNOWS THIS showcases strong women overcoming adversity and reclaiming power. If the horror is not in your face then you feel it breathing on your neck waiting for you to turn the page. And I am sure that every woman knows THIS.
She is so sharp and witty, full of bite. Her stories leave you empowered and ready to slay dragons (metaphorical and physical). I am impressed of her storytelling ability regardless of format: short fiction, novella, novel, etc. If she has a first word and a last word, everything in between will be powerful, purposeful, and will always leave you satisfied.
Coupling her prose with Death Knell Press is a treat for readers everywhere. The design and formatting combine with Hightower's mind to make this fiery collection an unstoppable, unputdownable force.
Her collection EVERY WOMAN KNOWS THIS showcases strong women overcoming adversity and reclaiming power. If the horror is not in your face then you feel it breathing on your neck waiting for you to turn the page. And I am sure that every woman knows THIS.
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March 3, 2023EVERY WOMAN KNOWS THIS has a unique ability to articulate very specific things women experience whilst simultaneously creating characters and stories that are universally relatable. These tales/vignettes are equally stirring, terrifying, and heartbreaking.
The protagonists in EWKT are vital and nuanced: they exude righteous rage, strength, and dignity as they persevere through life (or death!) The humanity of Laurel Hightower's writing simmers and shimmers despite (in spite of) the horrors. This is a great collection from a fantastic author.
The protagonists in EWKT are vital and nuanced: they exude righteous rage, strength, and dignity as they persevere through life (or death!) The humanity of Laurel Hightower's writing simmers and shimmers despite (in spite of) the horrors. This is a great collection from a fantastic author.
August 16, 2023
Some very incredible stories
February 28, 2023
Last year I read a book called Below by Laurel Hightower and it was one of the best stories I read. I still remember the story vividly. Now, Hightower has a collection of horror short stories and let me tell you, AMAZING! I freaking love Laurel Hightower’s writing, she is a truly gifted storyteller. Twenty awesome short stories in this gorgeous book.
Buckle up! I’m breaking it down again, believe me, it’s worth it. When I give a synopsis for these stories, I want you to keep in mind that they are very vague. So much more happens in these stories, but I don’t want to give it all away, of course. When you read these synopsis, keep in mind that they are just the tip of what the story is.
There are five short stories called Vignettes of Womanhood, that are all one to two pages in length. Since they are so short I am not going to give a synopsis for them. They are titled: Scar Tissue, Broken Branches, Iron Lung, Pop Quiz, and Bullet Proof. They are all amazing little snippets.
Every Woman Knows This. A story about a woman being followed at night and her fears playing out in her mind about what the stalker wants from her. A harrowing story.
The Dance. This is a beautiful and dark love story. A husband wants one last dance with his wife. Written like a long song playing in your head due to the ambiance Hightower writes.
The Bride Wore Black. A young woman returns home to find a book she remembers when she was a child. A quick story with a gut punch at the end.
The Midwife. A midwife that does show up during childbirth, but for completely different reasons than you would think. A frightening plot twist all throughout the story. The ending was amazing.
The Little Head. From a young age, Elise can hear a little girl crying at night. It followers her throughout the years. I loved the ending for this story. So gruesome and evil.
Goddess of Need. Such a phenomenal story. Oh my gosh, you will love this one. It is a revenge story about Ophelia. She learns a lesson about mankind.
Distress Call. A missing submarine rises from the depths of the ocean and shares its secrets. Creepy and awesome. A great deep ocean scare.
Starman. A young child has someone or something visit her at night when she has really bad days. As she grows older, the entity doesn’t visit until she is much older and gives her an ultimatum. My favorite story out of all of these.
One of Those Faces. This is a really neat story. A woman uses her skills to help another woman take care of unwanted attention from a guy.
Though Your Heart Is Breaking. Women are always told to “smile, it’ll get better!” But sometimes, the wrong woman is told this and she gets a little bit angry and acts out. I was satisfied with the plot twist.
Hooking Up: A female serial killer short story! You gotta enjoy a nice female killer seeking out some mayhem.
The Goodbye House: The Goodbye House is a place you can say your peace to a loved one that has died. The house and its keeper can only take so much. It is a good story, has a fantastic ending.
Ghosted: This is how to go about getting rid of a ghost in your house. A really short story but so much fun. I loved the last sentence, hehe.
Someone Has to Do It: Zombie!!! I love zombies, so this is close to my heart. I don’t want to give anymore details. Really entertaining!!
The Smallest Places: Can you feel death as it happens? What a neat story about death.
I really enjoy Laurel Hightower’s writing and her stories. She is becoming one of my favorite authors of all time. I need to read all the things she writes. Her stories feel like when she has an idea of what she wants to write, she just starts putting it to paper and the story unfolds on its own. It is as if she has no idea where it’ll end up, but when it ends, it is amazing. I hope this makes sense. When you read anything by Laurel Hightower, you will see what I mean. It is so worth it.
Buckle up! I’m breaking it down again, believe me, it’s worth it. When I give a synopsis for these stories, I want you to keep in mind that they are very vague. So much more happens in these stories, but I don’t want to give it all away, of course. When you read these synopsis, keep in mind that they are just the tip of what the story is.
There are five short stories called Vignettes of Womanhood, that are all one to two pages in length. Since they are so short I am not going to give a synopsis for them. They are titled: Scar Tissue, Broken Branches, Iron Lung, Pop Quiz, and Bullet Proof. They are all amazing little snippets.
Every Woman Knows This. A story about a woman being followed at night and her fears playing out in her mind about what the stalker wants from her. A harrowing story.
The Dance. This is a beautiful and dark love story. A husband wants one last dance with his wife. Written like a long song playing in your head due to the ambiance Hightower writes.
The Bride Wore Black. A young woman returns home to find a book she remembers when she was a child. A quick story with a gut punch at the end.
The Midwife. A midwife that does show up during childbirth, but for completely different reasons than you would think. A frightening plot twist all throughout the story. The ending was amazing.
The Little Head. From a young age, Elise can hear a little girl crying at night. It followers her throughout the years. I loved the ending for this story. So gruesome and evil.
Goddess of Need. Such a phenomenal story. Oh my gosh, you will love this one. It is a revenge story about Ophelia. She learns a lesson about mankind.
Distress Call. A missing submarine rises from the depths of the ocean and shares its secrets. Creepy and awesome. A great deep ocean scare.
Starman. A young child has someone or something visit her at night when she has really bad days. As she grows older, the entity doesn’t visit until she is much older and gives her an ultimatum. My favorite story out of all of these.
One of Those Faces. This is a really neat story. A woman uses her skills to help another woman take care of unwanted attention from a guy.
Though Your Heart Is Breaking. Women are always told to “smile, it’ll get better!” But sometimes, the wrong woman is told this and she gets a little bit angry and acts out. I was satisfied with the plot twist.
Hooking Up: A female serial killer short story! You gotta enjoy a nice female killer seeking out some mayhem.
The Goodbye House: The Goodbye House is a place you can say your peace to a loved one that has died. The house and its keeper can only take so much. It is a good story, has a fantastic ending.
Ghosted: This is how to go about getting rid of a ghost in your house. A really short story but so much fun. I loved the last sentence, hehe.
Someone Has to Do It: Zombie!!! I love zombies, so this is close to my heart. I don’t want to give anymore details. Really entertaining!!
The Smallest Places: Can you feel death as it happens? What a neat story about death.
I really enjoy Laurel Hightower’s writing and her stories. She is becoming one of my favorite authors of all time. I need to read all the things she writes. Her stories feel like when she has an idea of what she wants to write, she just starts putting it to paper and the story unfolds on its own. It is as if she has no idea where it’ll end up, but when it ends, it is amazing. I hope this makes sense. When you read anything by Laurel Hightower, you will see what I mean. It is so worth it.
March 29, 2023
The very first paragraph of this collection opens with a gut punch. I at it aside and got a Gatorade because I didn’t expect this to be a boxing match. I was wrong. This collection assaults your emotions in every way, some are quick and stinging jabs, some are haymakers. All leave the same effect, you remember each blow, you feel it long after it’s happened. Laurel Hightower hella impressed me with the depth she put into a cryptid book with Below, so she’s become instant read for me. This collection solidifies that. Calling this a horror collection is kind of a disservice to the book, is it horror? Absolutely it is. But there is so much more going on on each page. Some of these stories force you to look internally and think about yourself, some just provide an escape. No matter where you start(I’m a first to last short story reader!) you’ll start with a banger and end with a banger. K thx.
March 30, 2023
The one good thing about being poorly, is I have more time to read.
I’d been looking forward to this collection by Laurel Hightower, as it came highly recommended by my good friend, Sarah Jane Huntington.
She said I’d love this book. She wasn’t wrong.
Every Woman Knows This is a superb collection. I absolutely adored each and every story. My favourite three have to be were the title story, ‘Someone Had To Do It’, and ‘Though Your Heart Is Breaking’.
Oh my gosh, that last one had me in tears with how powerful it was.
While this may be a short review, my love for this book is huge. It’s a fantastic read, and one I’m going to have to revisit often.
I liked this book very. Now need to read more of her books!
I’d been looking forward to this collection by Laurel Hightower, as it came highly recommended by my good friend, Sarah Jane Huntington.
She said I’d love this book. She wasn’t wrong.
Every Woman Knows This is a superb collection. I absolutely adored each and every story. My favourite three have to be were the title story, ‘Someone Had To Do It’, and ‘Though Your Heart Is Breaking’.
Oh my gosh, that last one had me in tears with how powerful it was.
While this may be a short review, my love for this book is huge. It’s a fantastic read, and one I’m going to have to revisit often.
I liked this book very. Now need to read more of her books!
January 30, 2025
This was a really solid collection of stories. Some worked better for me than others but I enjoyed every one of them. I think if you are a woman...there are a lot of things you will relate to in this collection.
My favorites from the collection were:
The Little Head
Starman
Though Your Heart is Breaking
Someone Has To Do It
My favorites from the collection were:
The Little Head
Starman
Though Your Heart is Breaking
Someone Has To Do It
August 15, 2023
Feminist horror is a favourite of mine and this was a truly impactful relatable collection of short stories that will resonate with women everywhere, Laurel perfectly articulates specific things women experience in a diverse assembly of stories, this collection shows the depth of her talent it was visceral and gut punching, empowering and witty, loved this
July 30, 2023
Great collection of feminist horror, at turns gothic, surreal, visceral and funny. Hightower does body horror exceptionally well and can also creep you out with the merest hint of a threat.
March 28, 2024
Good first collection
Stories of note
The Bride Wore Black
The Midwife
Distress Call
Starman
Hooking Up
The Goodbye House
7/10
Stories of note
The Bride Wore Black
The Midwife
Distress Call
Starman
Hooking Up
The Goodbye House
7/10
June 1, 2023
Great stories all touching on the experience of being a woman. Loved "Starman" "Though Your Heart is Breaking" and "The Goodbye House", but a couple really hit me, really echoed so much of me..."The Little Head" and "Someone Has To Do It".
A collection of so many feelings, of heart, of fight, of strength, of accepting.
A collection of so many feelings, of heart, of fight, of strength, of accepting.
June 13, 2023
Wow Wow Wow! What a collection. These stories contain a range of emotions, and Laurel makes you feel all of them, proving she has depth and talent. Some stories are atmospheric and some are creepy AF. I tried to read this collection slowly, but I couldn't wait to read the next story, so I continued to just gobbled it up. But, even me, a hardened horror reader, needed to read some of these stories outside in the sun. That is some powerful story telling.
Read
April 25, 2023(I don't give star ratings to books within my own genre)
I described the title story in this collection as a gut-punch in my review of its first home in the anthology "A Woman Built By Man." Laurel's collection is a continuation of that same sensation. There are gut punches, knockouts, and glancing blows that skirt some of the harsh realities presented rather than confronting them head on.
A younger version of me might have felt defensive at certain parts, felt the need to whisper something akin to "not all men" as I read. I am glad I am not that man today. I am thankful I can read a collection such as this and recognize the warring emotions within me are communicating something vital. Could I have brushed up against the behavior of the men in these stories in my past? Is that the root of my unease? More than that, these stories are a kaleidoscope of human experience, one of which I do not have firsthand knowledge. It runs the gamut of horror, from quiet to loud, introspective to visceral. Interspersed among the stories are vignettes of womanhood, little morsels shy of a story but evocative nonetheless.
There are many gems. I could write a paragraph about each story, but will suggest instead you read this collection. "Starman" was my favorite. The imagery will stay with me, and the story itself felt like close-up magic. The capstone, "The Smallest Places" was a satisfying pivot from the tone I expected, a shift in tense and focus. Spectacular. At certain points I felt connected to that Universal Consciousness all writers dip into, that well of thought and wonder, the genesis of story.
If you are still taking suggestions, treat Every Woman Knows This as you would a decadent cheesecake. Take a bite and sit with it for a while, think about the texture on your tongue, the weight of it in your belly. Come back to it when you are ready for another.
I described the title story in this collection as a gut-punch in my review of its first home in the anthology "A Woman Built By Man." Laurel's collection is a continuation of that same sensation. There are gut punches, knockouts, and glancing blows that skirt some of the harsh realities presented rather than confronting them head on.
A younger version of me might have felt defensive at certain parts, felt the need to whisper something akin to "not all men" as I read. I am glad I am not that man today. I am thankful I can read a collection such as this and recognize the warring emotions within me are communicating something vital. Could I have brushed up against the behavior of the men in these stories in my past? Is that the root of my unease? More than that, these stories are a kaleidoscope of human experience, one of which I do not have firsthand knowledge. It runs the gamut of horror, from quiet to loud, introspective to visceral. Interspersed among the stories are vignettes of womanhood, little morsels shy of a story but evocative nonetheless.
There are many gems. I could write a paragraph about each story, but will suggest instead you read this collection. "Starman" was my favorite. The imagery will stay with me, and the story itself felt like close-up magic. The capstone, "The Smallest Places" was a satisfying pivot from the tone I expected, a shift in tense and focus. Spectacular. At certain points I felt connected to that Universal Consciousness all writers dip into, that well of thought and wonder, the genesis of story.
If you are still taking suggestions, treat Every Woman Knows This as you would a decadent cheesecake. Take a bite and sit with it for a while, think about the texture on your tongue, the weight of it in your belly. Come back to it when you are ready for another.
March 10, 2023
I knew this book was coming out for a long time and didn’t have it in the forefront of my mind to purchase it, but when I saw the book had almost reached #1 on an Amazon bestseller list, I decided I was going to support the author and get myself some horror to read in the dark. I have no regrets about that decision.
Every Woman Knows This is what I would call a perfect book, I give it a four star rating because not all of the stories are 100% satisfying and there are a very few editorial mistakes. However, from the very first Every Woman Knows This pulls you in and paints a terrifying picture of exactly what everyone born into a female presenting body has to deal with on a daily basis.
These stories showcase the disturbing truths every woman knows and will make you question just what that sound was in the dark. I made the absolute right decision to read most of this book after all the lights were off and everyone else had gone to sleep, and I have absolutely no regrets about that, either. These stories had me peering into the corners of my apartment, wondering if there was something there. Every Woman Knows This is well worth the read and I am more than pleased I helped it get the #1 ranking on Amazon.
And as I always try to do when I read anthologies or collections, I have picked out several stories that stand out in my mind.
“Every Woman Knows This,” the title story of this collection, is the all time best way to start off the book. It immediately “hooks” you and shows one of the things every woman knows. Never smile at the anglerfish. I knew I would love this collection the moment I read this story.
“The Bride Wore Black” is one of the stories that is not 100% satisfying. Its ending leaves a few things to be desired, in my mind, but it has stunning imagery and is delightfully haunting. This is a fantastic ghost story and would make a wonderful novel.
“The Midwife.” Ah, what to say about this one. It is dark and definitely spec fic, and yet in its fantastic elements can be found truths every woman knows. Truths about going against societal demands and the strengths that can be found in choosing not to be silent. A definite recommendation.
“The Little Head.” This one was satisfying and decidedly creepy. And yet, for all its horror, here to we find truths about loving ourselves and the risks of neglecting to do so.
“Goddess of Need.” Everyone born into the body of a “woman” knows what it is to put the needs of others before their own. And it is all too easy to think we are doing the right thing in this, that our needs are less important or will somehow be cared for through the very act of caring for others more than ourselves. The dangers of this are more than apparent in this tale.
“Distress Call.” This one did not seem like it fit the theme of the book. But it makes up for it in sheer terror. Disturbing. Love it.
“Starman.” This was another that did not feel 100% satisfying in the end, but that I couldn’t help falling in love with through sheer atmosphere and imagery. The set up of the story is more than amazing and the storytelling fantastic. Somehow Laurel makes the terrifying feel comfortable and comforting, and I wanted to stay there. The end might not be what I would have liked to see, but I’m still in love with this story.
“The Goodbye House.” I like this story. It, again, doesn’t feel like it fits the theme of the book, and yet it is a good read. Quiet and thoughtful and not entirely horror, but it leaves you pleased at the end. Here is a woman doing what she believes is right, and here is that same woman confronted with the fact she may have been doing wrong. And here again is that woman choosing bravery and to do something new. An excellent read.
“Someone Has To Do It.” How many women have said this as they look at a task that must be done? Too many. Every “woman” will know the weight of what these words imply. Laurel has captured this knowing excellently in this tale.
In addition to the main stories, Every Woman Knows This is sprinkled with vignettes of womanhood and femaleness and these are as worth the read as the longer pieces. I may have only given this a four star rating, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love this book. Read it.
You won’t regret it.
Every Woman Knows This is what I would call a perfect book, I give it a four star rating because not all of the stories are 100% satisfying and there are a very few editorial mistakes. However, from the very first Every Woman Knows This pulls you in and paints a terrifying picture of exactly what everyone born into a female presenting body has to deal with on a daily basis.
These stories showcase the disturbing truths every woman knows and will make you question just what that sound was in the dark. I made the absolute right decision to read most of this book after all the lights were off and everyone else had gone to sleep, and I have absolutely no regrets about that, either. These stories had me peering into the corners of my apartment, wondering if there was something there. Every Woman Knows This is well worth the read and I am more than pleased I helped it get the #1 ranking on Amazon.
And as I always try to do when I read anthologies or collections, I have picked out several stories that stand out in my mind.
“Every Woman Knows This,” the title story of this collection, is the all time best way to start off the book. It immediately “hooks” you and shows one of the things every woman knows. Never smile at the anglerfish. I knew I would love this collection the moment I read this story.
“The Bride Wore Black” is one of the stories that is not 100% satisfying. Its ending leaves a few things to be desired, in my mind, but it has stunning imagery and is delightfully haunting. This is a fantastic ghost story and would make a wonderful novel.
“The Midwife.” Ah, what to say about this one. It is dark and definitely spec fic, and yet in its fantastic elements can be found truths every woman knows. Truths about going against societal demands and the strengths that can be found in choosing not to be silent. A definite recommendation.
“The Little Head.” This one was satisfying and decidedly creepy. And yet, for all its horror, here to we find truths about loving ourselves and the risks of neglecting to do so.
“Goddess of Need.” Everyone born into the body of a “woman” knows what it is to put the needs of others before their own. And it is all too easy to think we are doing the right thing in this, that our needs are less important or will somehow be cared for through the very act of caring for others more than ourselves. The dangers of this are more than apparent in this tale.
“Distress Call.” This one did not seem like it fit the theme of the book. But it makes up for it in sheer terror. Disturbing. Love it.
“Starman.” This was another that did not feel 100% satisfying in the end, but that I couldn’t help falling in love with through sheer atmosphere and imagery. The set up of the story is more than amazing and the storytelling fantastic. Somehow Laurel makes the terrifying feel comfortable and comforting, and I wanted to stay there. The end might not be what I would have liked to see, but I’m still in love with this story.
“The Goodbye House.” I like this story. It, again, doesn’t feel like it fits the theme of the book, and yet it is a good read. Quiet and thoughtful and not entirely horror, but it leaves you pleased at the end. Here is a woman doing what she believes is right, and here is that same woman confronted with the fact she may have been doing wrong. And here again is that woman choosing bravery and to do something new. An excellent read.
“Someone Has To Do It.” How many women have said this as they look at a task that must be done? Too many. Every “woman” will know the weight of what these words imply. Laurel has captured this knowing excellently in this tale.
In addition to the main stories, Every Woman Knows This is sprinkled with vignettes of womanhood and femaleness and these are as worth the read as the longer pieces. I may have only given this a four star rating, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love this book. Read it.
You won’t regret it.
April 9, 2023
My three favorite things about Laurel Hightower’s fiction, all of which are on excellent display in Every Woman Knows This:
“Do you remember, Detective, the absolute worst time someone told you to smile?” (from "Though Your Heart is Breaking," in Every Woman Knows This)
1. Her characters question and second-guess themselves all the time, like women actually do. Hightower narrates self-doubt, especially in anxious situations, better than most I’ve ever read. I laughed out loud when one of the characters in this collection, in the midst of another ‘what are all the ways this can go wrong’ narrative strand, says to herself, “You should be writing horror, dumbass.” I wonder at what point in her life Hightower said that to herself. I’m glad she listened.
2. The women in her stories don’t always do what we want them to do. Things don’t end well or satisfyingly every time. A few of the stories genuinely pissed me off with how they swerved. And that’s the point: we are not one-dimensional revenge machines, we are not all heroes, we are not always ready to save ourselves or anyone else. Sometimes we just get by, and sometimes not even that.
3. She can so gracefully and gorgeously shift from a narrative of self-doubt or a GenX-fluent set of reference points to a scene of such terror and gore that I sometimes forget I’m reading horror. In one story, two iconic movie moments (from Silence of the Lambs and Beetlejuice) slide right into a vivid description of a head split in half, and it all works. There are male writers who also do this well, but the adeptness here, in a story collection about what it’s like to walk through the world as a woman, feels worth noting. Sometimes we are two or three or five things in the same moment, and we have to make it look easy. I appreciate Laurel Hightower for pulling back the curtain a bit, letting us be imperfect and complicated, and framing it all in a world that feels consummately scary and mostly survivable.
“Do you remember, Detective, the absolute worst time someone told you to smile?” (from "Though Your Heart is Breaking," in Every Woman Knows This)
1. Her characters question and second-guess themselves all the time, like women actually do. Hightower narrates self-doubt, especially in anxious situations, better than most I’ve ever read. I laughed out loud when one of the characters in this collection, in the midst of another ‘what are all the ways this can go wrong’ narrative strand, says to herself, “You should be writing horror, dumbass.” I wonder at what point in her life Hightower said that to herself. I’m glad she listened.
2. The women in her stories don’t always do what we want them to do. Things don’t end well or satisfyingly every time. A few of the stories genuinely pissed me off with how they swerved. And that’s the point: we are not one-dimensional revenge machines, we are not all heroes, we are not always ready to save ourselves or anyone else. Sometimes we just get by, and sometimes not even that.
3. She can so gracefully and gorgeously shift from a narrative of self-doubt or a GenX-fluent set of reference points to a scene of such terror and gore that I sometimes forget I’m reading horror. In one story, two iconic movie moments (from Silence of the Lambs and Beetlejuice) slide right into a vivid description of a head split in half, and it all works. There are male writers who also do this well, but the adeptness here, in a story collection about what it’s like to walk through the world as a woman, feels worth noting. Sometimes we are two or three or five things in the same moment, and we have to make it look easy. I appreciate Laurel Hightower for pulling back the curtain a bit, letting us be imperfect and complicated, and framing it all in a world that feels consummately scary and mostly survivable.
April 20, 2023
I love Hightower’s writing style and her prose. This collection was riveting. I loved every story in it, though “Every Woman Knows This”, “The Bride Wore Black”, “Distress Call”, and “The Starman” were my absolute favourites.
I also really appreciated that, along with the hauntingly beautiful stories, there are also really cool illustrations.
Let’s look at my absolute favourite stories. Don’t worry, no spoilers here:
“Every Woman Knows This”: I actually got the chance to hear Hightower read this out loud at an event and really enjoyed it then and I enjoyed re-reading it. The tale explores the fear all women have when approached by a pushy guy. How do you be not nice enough, not rude enough, not friendly enough, not whatever it is so that you don’t trigger an attack. Hightower does a great job illustrating this fear in a unique way.
“The Bride Wore Black”: is like a traditional fairy tale. Dark, grim, poetic. The main character is nervous about her upcoming wedding and goes home to look for a book that they once had a child. A book that showed her future. I loved the set-up, the Gothic atmosphere, the chilling end.
“Distress Call” is about a team keen on exploring a old submarine that has reappeared from the depths. How can you not love a classic deep water horror tale? This gave me cosmic horror vibes!
“The Starman” is about a young girl who has a very eerie watcher. An entity in a space suit whose visor only reflect darkness. Is it a protector or a spectre? Super heartwrenching and horrifying tale.
Absolutely stunning collection and I cannot recommend this book enough. Definitely buy and read it. Every story was a banger.
I also really appreciated that, along with the hauntingly beautiful stories, there are also really cool illustrations.
Let’s look at my absolute favourite stories. Don’t worry, no spoilers here:
“Every Woman Knows This”: I actually got the chance to hear Hightower read this out loud at an event and really enjoyed it then and I enjoyed re-reading it. The tale explores the fear all women have when approached by a pushy guy. How do you be not nice enough, not rude enough, not friendly enough, not whatever it is so that you don’t trigger an attack. Hightower does a great job illustrating this fear in a unique way.
“The Bride Wore Black”: is like a traditional fairy tale. Dark, grim, poetic. The main character is nervous about her upcoming wedding and goes home to look for a book that they once had a child. A book that showed her future. I loved the set-up, the Gothic atmosphere, the chilling end.
“Distress Call” is about a team keen on exploring a old submarine that has reappeared from the depths. How can you not love a classic deep water horror tale? This gave me cosmic horror vibes!
“The Starman” is about a young girl who has a very eerie watcher. An entity in a space suit whose visor only reflect darkness. Is it a protector or a spectre? Super heartwrenching and horrifying tale.
Absolutely stunning collection and I cannot recommend this book enough. Definitely buy and read it. Every story was a banger.
February 11, 2023
Hightower continues to build on her reputation as a master storyteller with her first collection of short fiction, Every Woman Knows This. Full of frightening tales centered on the experience of being a woman, the collection doesn't hold any punches in exposing the ugly truths of the way women are marginalized, objectified, misrepresented, or mistreated by modern society. Although many of the stories here collected focus on transgressions against women, Hightower serves up dialectical readings in which women as often transgress against what is expected of them, such that her characters always read as complex, vivid individuals capable and vulnerable all at once.
It's a real credit to Hightower's craft that every story reads as highly polished, effective horror, full of suspense and daring. On many occasions, I felt my gut wrench at Hightower's prose or in anticipation of what's to come later on the page. Her stories have a way of creeping up on you, of disarming you with intimate character interactions before plunging a dagger into your chest.
This collection feels like an overture to Hightower's work, a fitting prelude to the complex themes and issues she explores through her fiction. If anyone is interested in seeing why she is the voice to follow in indie horror, Every Woman Knows This isn't so much a résumé of Hightower's skill as it is the trumpet announcement of Hightower's arrival.
It's a real credit to Hightower's craft that every story reads as highly polished, effective horror, full of suspense and daring. On many occasions, I felt my gut wrench at Hightower's prose or in anticipation of what's to come later on the page. Her stories have a way of creeping up on you, of disarming you with intimate character interactions before plunging a dagger into your chest.
This collection feels like an overture to Hightower's work, a fitting prelude to the complex themes and issues she explores through her fiction. If anyone is interested in seeing why she is the voice to follow in indie horror, Every Woman Knows This isn't so much a résumé of Hightower's skill as it is the trumpet announcement of Hightower's arrival.
June 1, 2023
The theme for this collection is clear to see. Every story is told from the POV of a woman, either directly or indirectly harassed to some degree by a man, or having to deal with issues of motherhood, or their role as a woman in society. These are situations that all women have had some experience with and, as a man, I try to be understanding and empathetic about seeing the world from viewpoints other than my own. And I try to take responsibility for my own behaviour. Even so, I found all of these stories eye-opening, Hightower unflinching in her approach to each tale. It is a heavy subject, but its basis is in reality and I only wish more men tried to see the world from the POV of a woman. This collection would be a good place to start. I'm a big fan of Hightower's writing thus far, and I can honestly say I enjoyed every story in the collection, thanks to her storytelling style and knack for creating compelling characters. The character interactions are charged with raw emotion and Hightower creates protagonists you can't help but to root for. An important collection of short stories, both in terms of their entertainment as horror fiction and their unwavering indictment of society's flaws. Incredible, vital work from one of the most incredible, vital voices in the horror genre today.
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