This collection of short stories missed the mark for me. Most of the characters I felt I could not connect to.

I am always skeptical about short stories but this is one collection about which I can say, READ THIS! So good, so true. Not only did I laugh out loud but it all felt so real. Each story is pretty short and the entire collection is an easy read in an afternoon. But I am still thinking about these stories and I know I'll re-read this collection, often. Curtis Sittenfeld has this crazy talent and ability to express your inner most-cringeworthy thoughts and feelings in a way that feels like you wrote it yourself and it's nothing to be ashamed of. I love these stories.

You Think It, I'll Say It comes out next week on April 24, 2018, you can purchase HERE! Definitely give this is a try even if you don't love short stories!!

Their deliberately childless life, their cat, Converse (named not for the shoe but for the political scientist), their free-range beef and night sand weekends of reading and grading and high-quality television series—it was fine and a little horrible.

These stories of upper middle-class life in the Midwest are well-written and compelling. Unfortunately, stories of suburban couples, parents and women comparing themselves to other women hold no appeal for me.. I would recommend them for anyone interested in upper middle class life, Midwestern life, or middle-aged marriage. They're just not for me.

Witty and fun short stories by the always great Curtis Sittenfeld. I recommend this book for anyone wanting some escape fiction.

Curtis Sittenfeld is such an amazing, talented astute writer that I'm always interested in reading what she writes. Great story collection.

This short story collection features ten short stories from author Sittenfeld, featuring a cast of diverse, real characters. Told from a variety of point of views--a bored housewife, a wealthy bachelor, a new mom, and more--they offer pointed and humorous insight into current society.

I typically am not a huge fan of short stories because they don't give me enough information about the characters, and I'm a very character-driven person. But when I saw that Curtis Sittenfeld had a short story collection coming out, I knew I wouldn't be able to resist. She gets a lot of press for Prep, but I feel like American Wife and Eligible are both still so fully ingrained in my brain. I loved them both so much, and they are go-to recommendations when I get the standard, "oh you like to read, what should I read?" question.

But, I digress. Sittenfeld. Short stories. I shouldn't have been surprised, honestly, that her collection would be above the typical fare. I probably enjoyed this set of short stories more than any other I've read in ages. It's so well-written and engaging. As with Sittenfeld's other work, the stories are so wonderfully descriptive, so you can immediately picture the characters and their situations. I felt like I was quickly transported to the setting of each story as soon as it began.

The stories are similar but not repetitive, which was also refreshing, and seem to be real, instead of striving to reach some sort of literary bar that makes them tedious and therefore unreadable. They are about real, relatable characters struggling with misinformed impressions, lingering resentments, and different types of relationships. But - oh hooray - even better, the majority of the stories didn't leave me with that unfinished feeling. They are honestly fascinating, and I enjoyed how they all start (I enjoyed them all the way through too, of course, but it seemed like each had a bit of a common thread in its beginning). I could have read more about each story's characters, sure, but I didn't feel frustrated when they ended, which was so amazing and different for me.

I really liked each and every story. For instance, there's "Vox Clamantis in Deserto" which begins with a woman (girl?) who idolizes a fellow college student from afar in line at the post office. Two of the stories, "Plausible Deniability" and "The Prairie Wife," had actual twists and surprises, which was so much fun. And some of the longing that came across in these characters was very touching and heartfelt. I have a soft spot for slightly nerdy high school/college kids, even once they're all grown up, and for slightly fatigued moms, so these stories were my cup of tea.

Overall, this was a great set of short stories. They are filled with real people set in complicated yet enjoyable and interesting situations. They are easy-to-read and don't leave you wanting for more--except maybe more stories. This only cements my feeling that I'll continue to read (and adore) anything Ms. Sittenfeld writes.

"You Think It, I'll Say It" is a collection of ten short stories centered around one singular theme - snap judgments, and how those preconceived notions people hold may or may not always be accurate. These stories touch upon how these aforementioned judgments affect our lives in ways that tend to reveal themselves when we least expect it.

This book was my first introduction to Curtis Sittenfeld. Admittedly, I assumed that the author was a man, and while reading the collection, I was impressed with how well "he" was able to write from a female perspective. When I finished the book and read the "About the Author" section at the end, I was surprised to learn that Curtis Sittenfeld is indeed a woman. I also found it ironic as it caused me to examine the own snap judgment I made regarding the author.

My favorite stories in this collection are "The Prairie Wife" and "Plausible Deniability". I believe that in these two stories, Curtis' writing skills and her ability to shock the reader really shine. In these particular stories, once again, I was forced to examine the snap judgments I made regarding the characters in the book. I'm sure it was intentional on the part of the author, and I think it was absolutely brilliant. Other strong stories in the collection include "Off the Record", in which a journalist and mother of a newborn baby interviews a rising starlet whom she hasn't seen in 3 years, and "The World Has Many Butterflies", where a married woman plays a harmless game with a married man in her social circle and inadvertently falls for him, and from which the title of the book is derived.

There are a couple of stories that I didn't really care for, such as "Volunteers are Shining Stars" and "Vox Clamantis in Deserto", but they didn't take away from the collection as a whole. My main gripe with this book is that the characters tend to lack diversity - after awhile, the protagonists began to blend together. I came to expect that the story would be told from the perspective of a white, suburban, relatively well-off man or woman. This trend didn't necessarily take away from the impact of the stories, but perhaps the collection could have been stronger if there was a bit more variety in the narrators of each story.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. The stories were entertaining and a few of them really made me think. This collection will be published on 4/24/18 and I would recommend it to those looking to be challenged about their own snap judgments. As a result of reading this book, I feel compelled to check out other works released by Curtis Sittenfeld.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group! I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not normally a short story reader, but I enjoy Curtis Sittinfeld’s writing so decided to give this book a shot. Glad I did. Well-crafted characters, compelling interpersonal dynamics and an interesting mix of stories kept me reading for hours. I just wish she’d left out the political stuff as it may deter some of her reader base.

*will add to additional online venues upon publication.

What a great collection of short stories by the talented author Curtis Sittenfeld. As soon as I started reading the first story, I knew I was going to enjoy this book. Each story stands on its own, with interesting characters in ordinary circumstances. But taken as a whole, the collection of stories work so well together. There are themes running through each story, about how others see and how we see ourselves, about the lies we tell ourselves and each other, and our relationships and what makes us human.

I enjoyed all of the stories, but my favorites were "The World Has Many Butterflies", "The Prairie Wife", and "Volunteers are Shining Stars". These are the ones that really stuck with me and had me thinking long after I finished the book. Highly recommend this wonderful collection of stories.

With great insight into her characters, Curtis Sittlenfield has shown that she is a master of the short story. Thoughtful, and incisive these short stories will linger with the reader longer than it takes to read them!

I love short stories because if I’m
Not into one I can skip on to the next. There’s no need to do that with You Think It, I’ll Say It. Every single story was perfection! Most ended with me wanting more which is exactly how a short story should end. Loved!

Short story collections are often a mixed bag, with a few great pieces and others that seem to have been written solely to fill enough pages for a respectable book, but You Think It, I'll Say It is one of the few that I've read with consistently well-written stories. I found them even more interesting being set in the present day, with Donald Trump featured in two stories. Most of the stories, characters and their motivations felt quite true to life, with erroneous assumptions, differing interpretations, awkwardness, closed-off perspectives, misunderstandings, and the delusional truths we all tell ourselves.

I read Sittenfeld's Prep a decade ago, but all I remember is that I enjoyed it. You Think It, I'll Say It was so enjoyable and satisfying that I'm convinced that Prep deserves a re-read, along with the rest of her writing.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book.

You Think It, I'll Say It is a collection of short stories from Curtis Sittenfeld, author of a few other well-known books, including Prep, Eligible, and American Wife. I'm not generally a fan of short stories, but I've been feeling fairly blah about the last two books I read (one still to be finished...) so I requested this one in hopes of finding something refreshing, and I am so glad I did. And of course, thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. 

These stories are sharp - bracing, witty, and honest. I was grabbed immediately by "Gender Studies," which centers on the interactions between two unlikely partners - a feminist professor and an early Trump supporter, which also garnered a legitimate laugh for the quote above. "Bad Latch" really nails the complicated relationship between judgement and projection in early motherhood, and how difficult and vulnerable it can be to make mom friends. "Plausible Deniability" is also a stand out, as is "Off the Record." The underlying theme through all of the narratives is the question of how what we think about others - and what we think THEY think about US - shapes our interactions with them, for better and for worse. Any of these stories alone would make excellent book club fodder, as there is endless room for discussion in each. Sittenfeld's collection is truly an excellent reflection of the nature of human relationships, in ways that are not always pretty, but true.

A stellar collection of short stories exploring how time affects our relationships with others, and ourselves. I found each examination of marriage distinct and compelling, and I think this collection only grows stronger as one continues reading. Another excellent piece of writing from Sittenfeld, and with a beautiful cover!

I haven't read any short stories for awhile but needed a book that would allow me to drop it or awhile and then come back to it. This fit perfectly for my need. The stories for the most part were easy to read and likable.

I’m relieved to have aged out of that sense that my primary obligation is to be pretty, relieved to work at a job that allows me to feel useful. Did I used to think being pretty was my primary obligation because I was in some way delusional? Or was it that I’d absorbed the messages I was meant to absorb with the same diligence with which I’d studied?

Curtis Sittenfeld’s You Think It, I’ll Say It, is a collection for the grown woman, for the woman who still thinks back on her “youth” and college years with fondness but also with a sense of wonder – is that who I was? Is this who I have become?

This is a smart collection—one that explores the natural irony in our everyday lives. There’s a lot of wistful nostalgia and contemplation in this collection on the feat—the very fact and act—of being pretty: what it means to be “pretty” and how that affects us as adult women.

“I once heard that smart women want to be told they’re pretty and pretty women want to be told they’re smart. And the most depressing part is that I think I agree.”

An upper middle-class woman ponders the boredom and mundane quality of her routine life, only to seek out a thrill that may or may not have already been there from the start (“The World Has Many Butterflies”).


A college student at her dad’s Alma Mater who’s idolized the school for most of her life also starts to idolize one of her college friends—only to find that the friend is just an average, flawed individual like everybody else (“Vox Clamantis in Deserto”).


A young political intern with OCD snaps while volunteering at a shelter for poor urban families (“Volunteers Are Shining Stars”).


And a woman contemplates her near-hate-like jealousy for the reality lifestyle star who was her first lesbian experience way back when (“The Prairie Wife”).


Here would be a great place to say that “Plausible Deniability,” “Off the Record” and “A Regular Couple” were my other favorites. I wasn’t particularly fond of “Gender Studies,” in which a woman misplaces her license and ends up having a sexual encounter with the taxi driver she believes has found the license. I first read this one in The New Yorker in the fall of 2016. There were speculations and allusions from other bloggers that maybe Sittenfeld was offering political commentary on a nation’s identity lost! (I say in my dramatic voice) due to the (imminent) election of Trump, but I didn’t see it. I just took that story at face value and it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t a favorite either.

These are just a few of the narratives you’ll find here in this 10-story collection. There were so many times that a story would start and I’d fear it was going down the route of “Everyday Yuppie,” and I cringed. BUT, EVERY time, Sittenfeld pulled the story back from the brink with a twist of irony and humor. After the third or fourth story, I just relaxed into the read and went with it, knowing that the place I’d end up in the end wasn’t where I thought I was going in the beginning. I know I’m not alone when I say that I LOVE being able to trust an author, to trust a narrator, like that. It allows for a phenomenally smooth read and for the reader to have time to become one with the characters, no matter how short the stories are.

This collection ran a gamut of stories that wasn’t necessarily wide but did manage to convey a delightful spectrum of sentiments, emotions and lessons. “Bad Latch” was by far one of my favorite stories, hilariously Yuppie and otherworldly—these sheltered, middle-class moms who spend their days at infant swimming lessons and pregnancy yoga—then the story morphed into something so much more special and resonating:

“It wasn’t that I looked down on parents who put their kids in daycare, it wasn’t that I disapproved of them, or at least if I did disapprove, I knew enough to be embarrassed by my disapproval…Nevertheless, on Sadie’s first day at Green Valley Children’s Center, I didn’t even make it out the front door before I burst into tears. I hadn’t felt that bad about some of the things that women having babies when I did…were supposed to feel bad about—an epidural, formula—but the collapse of my carefully crafted childcare setup seemed like a failure of a different magnitude."

In You Think It, I’ll Say It, Curtis Sittenfeld’s distinctive writing style is in full form. It’s casual and conversational, witty and makes for an easy, entertaining read. I also gave her a strong 4 stars for her novel Eligible for this same reason. I blew through about 60% of this collection in one sitting, so well did it flow and move me along with the characters and their ironic contemplative situations. Not only that, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that Sittenfeld is a true master of showing her reader rather than telling her reader. I got to know so much about her characters simply by watching them in their everyday lives, and she, as the writer, trusted her reader enough to let us figure out what she was trying to say. Each story is set in a different city (all either during or referencing the 1990s) which I thought was a FANTASTIC device, creating a kind of survey of American—well, upperish middle class white American—life. That survey aspect was a real gem, because each story in this collection set up a different dilemma rooted in the same basic question—the question of Who am I, how did I get here, and am I okay with it? None of these stories takes an overly grandiose view of life. No one is living in a sci fi fantasy world of improbable circumstances and star ships. These stories all happen right here on Earth, literally, of course, but more importantly, figuratively. And for me, that’s always a breath of fresh air. A strong 4 stars ****

I'm a huge Curtis Sittenfeld fan, so I was excited to get a chance to read her new collection of short stories, thanks to Netgalley. Short stories are not my preferred genre, as I always find myself wanting more after each short story, but I enjoyed this collection. One of my favorite stories is "The World Has Many Butterflies," where the title of the collection "You Think It, I'll Say It" comes from. It had great character development with not a lot of pages to develop these characters. "Gender Studies" was weak and it didn't seem to have much of a point besides bashing a shuttle driver who happened to be a Trump supporter. "Vox Clamantis in Deserto," which takes place at Dartmouth, was also a weak story, although had a decent plot reveal. "Bad Latch" was fantastic and left me thinking that things aren't as good as they seem sometimes. "The Prairie Wife" was a very unsatisfying read and left me thinking she was just a social media stalker that held a grudge from a long time ago. "Volunteers Are Shining Stars" should probably have been left out of the collection. It didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the stories and was very weak. I'm not sure what the point was and I found myself thinking maybe I was missing something with this selection. "Off the Record" was probably the one selection that worked best as a short story. I was ok with where the story ended. "Plausible Deniability" and "A Regular Couple" ("Would you mind tying my shoe"...definitely a line I won't forget!) were by far my favorites. I would love to see either of these stories turned into a novel. The last selection is "Do Over" and it was very well structured and the plot had a nice build up, but I felt the ending was abrupt. I was left wanting more from the story.

Earlier this year I was beginning to think that I just don't like short story collections. I was reading the wrong ones, apparently, because I thoroughly enjoyed the stories in Curtis Sittenfeld's new collection. I may have been biased towards enjoying them- I've absolutely loved the author's full length novels- but I found them to be timely, thoughtful, and interesting. The stories overwhelmingly deal with relationships, and the author's keen eye on this topic makes these stories, depending on which one you're reading, humorous, wistful, frustrating, and a full range of other emotions. Sometimes with short story collections I'm left wanting more, but Sittenfeld did a good job giving just the right amount of detail, character, and depth to each story.

These stories were quite readable and I enjoy Sittenfeld's tone what she did with these stories. A lot of these really made me think about how you can make quick judgements about a person without being correct in any way. The stories were really fun to read and some were quite humorous.