I love Curtis Sittenfeld's writing so much that it's hard to explain. I'm not big on short stories, and usually reading a collection of them is hard for me, because they don't keep me as engaged and the momentum keeps being killed by each one ending as soon as I'm getting into it. But I read this in two sittings and basically couldn't put it down. Sittenfeld just writes in this way that's perfect for my brain, and even when starting a new story and having no idea what it's about, I know it'll take maximum two pages before I'm hooked.

Also, I can't believe I didn't realize there was a follow-up story about Lee Fiora in here!!! As someone who had an unhealthy obsession with Prep as a teenager, it was really exciting to get to see more of that world. I was worried the story might be disappointing or depressing, with all my personal high expectations for it specifically, but I loved it.

I don't even know what else to say. Reading anything by Curtis Sittenfeld makes me want to reread everything else I've read by her. I love the way she writes women who are often morally grey, overly direct, and very observational. I love the way she writes every little interaction in such detail, with all the miniscule ways people signal things to each other. I love how matter-of-factly she writes about sex. I love how she makes everyday things feel as thrilling and important as they are to the people they involve.

I think when I was in high school, Prep was really foundational to the way I learned about the world, and about myself, and about the different ways people could exist and be teenagers (as silly as that might sound). And now, in a way, these short stories are giving me a lot to think about regarding middle age, marriage, parenting--things like that. Not in as intense a way of course, and I know now more what is bad about a lot of the relationships in this book (as opposed to teenage me not realizing some of the ways people treated each other badly in Prep). But still, it's there. I'm glad I got to read this book, both in general, and because it was a really good distraction from the world these last couple days. I definitely want to own a copy once it comes out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the chance to read and review this ARC.