This collection includes incredibly strong character work, but some of the stories just didn't click for me. This is ENTIRELY a 'me' problem, as the writing, themes, and overall focus of this are very nearly above critique. I just wasn't in the headspace for such heavy/dark stories.

The short stories in "Afterparties" by the late Anthony Veasna So unfold in California immigrant communities traumatized by the Cambodian genocide. Young people try to get ahead and refuse to try to get ahead. They cling to tradition or are repulsed by it. They want the pleasure of sex, of drugs, of alcohol, even though those things have disappointed them before. The characters pop up in different stories, compelling the reader to consider things from another angle over and over. My favorite story here is "Somaly Serey, Serey Somaly," in which a young woman strains to live up to the expectations of her community (you're the reincarnation of another woman in our family! be a nurse! defer to your elders! take special care of the Khmer patients!) while also facing her own physical and mental challenges.

Note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I greatly enjoyed this collection of short stories by Anthony Veasna So. Afterparties centers around the interconnected lives, and generational trauma and conflict within a community of Cambodian Americans. From young adults in their 20s navigating life, social expectations and feelings of helplessness, to immigrants still dealing with the trauma of living through war, the characters in this collection are written with so much depth and affection. Veasna So writes with a brilliant balance of humor, sensitivity, and heart that I found myself making note of many passages that absolutely floored me. As someone of Southeast Asian heritage these stories feel alive and in some ways, very familiar, and I am grateful to have been able to read this author’s work. Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for the ARC.

Short stories about American Cambodian life, I loved it!!! Each short story connects in a very small way, a mix between the young American Cambodians and their elders, and what they went through, the reasons why they all migrated to the states, it was very educational, but also humorous.

The younger Cambodians are going through the most, their parents expect the best from all of them it was so relatable. Each and every character is going through their own struggles and I love how So was able to create that for us.

I ended up finding out that Anthony

I was fortunate to get this book from NetGalley but unfortunately I had to stop at 61%.

This book is short stories of how ethnic groups experience racism, classism, and other disapproving reactions by the color of their skin or what social class they are in. Though this is interesting to read and to learn about different cultures, it wasn’t enough to keep my attention. I found myself wanting to hurry and finish a story or merely skip a story and didn’t want to have to force myself to do that.

Though this isn’t for me, I do feel people should read it. It may bring clarity to the world we live in, insight on what others are experiencing, and a reflection to ourselves to see where we fit in the story.

This was a moving collection of stories. I really enjoyed each one and the individual character arcs. My particular favorites were Generational Differences, Three Women of Chuck's Donuts, and Somaly Serey, Serey Somaly though looking back at the table of contents, each one had moments that I really was drawn to. After seeing the death date in So's bio, a quick Google revealed their untimely death in 2020. It made me really sad for numerous reasons especially the closeness of our ages and the stolen possibility of future works. I also wondered how many of these stories were autobiographical given the detail in So's bio and NYT obit. I enjoyed that I saw threads of each story in the others (mentions of people that later turn up as characters etc) because it framed the Cambo community in all it's glory, both the good and the bad.

Overall, this was a gorgeous collection and I wish there was more to come from So. Their unique voice sang throughout and really brought their characters to life.

This short story collection runs the gamut; it's at times dark, melancholic, funny, bizarre. It speaks to a generational trauma common to refugees yet also unique to Cambodians, and specifically those clustered together in Stockton, CA. The tight Cambo community depicted in these stories, which feature crossover characters and landmarks, is portrayed at times as claustrophobic, especially to younger generations who witness the Pol Pot regime and its genocide through scars inflicted on their elders. Yet especially in linked stories like "Maly, Maly, Maly" and "Somaley Serey, Serey Somaly," you can see how that those intergenerational relationships are more complex than they initially appear. And in stories like " We Would've Been Princes!" and "The Monks," children are driven and inconvenienced by filial love for parents who have been damaged. Several of the stories focus on the experiences of being young, gay, and Cambodian, grappling with being outsiders in an outsider community.

Anthony Veasna So was clearly talented, and it's terribly sad that we will not be able to read more from him. Hopefully, though, this collection will inspire more literary representations of Cambodian American experiences.

This was one of the best short story collections I’ve read in a long time. I really enjoyed it and will look to buy a hard copy when it comes out later this year. I was deeply saddened to hear of the author’s sudden passing last December; he clearly had such talent.
What strikes me most in Afterparties is the nuance and generosity of So’s characterizations, especially in his exploration of intergenerational immigrant family relationships. There is clearly a lot of love there, suffused into the dark humor and even the at times grim portraits of community members and elders. The complexity achieved here is something I really admire. I’d recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys short fiction!

This is a very unique and outstanding short story collection. I admittedly know very little about the Cambodia-American experience or the Khmer Rouge genocide and these stories definitely expose those themes and the related trauma. I enjoy when short stories in a collection stand alone, but also share some connections and this collection definitely has that as well. I particularly enjoyed Superking Son Scores Again and Generational Differences. The biggest shock may have came after the stories though when I realized the author passed away last year. This quite sad, as he was very young and obviously a very promising writer based on this collection. However, I think that this will be one of the most talked short story collections of the year.

I was disappointed that this book was more for general audiences and less for young adults. My community has a large population of Cambodian-Americans, so I am very excited to see these voices amplified in publishing. Overall, a strong collection of vignettes with a great emotional center. I will definitely recommend this to everyone!

Wrapping up Anthony Veasna So’s debut collection of essays AFTERPARTIES, Stories and oh my God was this book good. A new and own voice writer with Cambodian-American stories ranging from love, family traditions, religious beliefs and the strong sense of community. I wanted to highlight this read especially during #pride month to raise the awareness of our lgbtq writers that are making fantastic work across multiple genres.
I was saddened to read that Veasna passed away late last year as I researched what other work he had done in the hopes of reading more of it, his voice in writing so unique and though I am not Cambodian myself; completely relatable.
This is a light fun summer read and I recommend it to all.
AFTERPARTIES, stories will be released 8/3/21

This luminous book of short stories by extraordinary, thrilling young writer Anthony Veasna So had me on the edge of my seat. Each story was so beautifully, delicately and at times brutally told with unsparing honesty. I have never read about the Cambodian-American experience. It is heartbreaking that so promising a writer is no longer with us. Thank God Anthony fully expressed his immense talent while he was here. Bravo.

This was my first time reading short stories. I really enjoyed Afterparties. I loved the sense of belonging that everyone can relate to. I also enjoyed the humor and thoughtfulness of Veasna.

It's sad to learn that the author of Afterparties has passed away. His writing indicates talent that, I think, have led to greater things in literature. So, in reviewing Afterparties, I want to emphasize that the writing is superb, even if the stories are inconsistent in their appeal. Other reviewers mention their favorites, so I liked The Shop best. For most of the stories I felt neutral, but a couple turned me off, for example, Somaly Serey, Serey Somaly. Beyond that, I note that drinking was a common theme that I could have seen less of.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

A stunning collection of short stories by a talented writer. The pieces in this collection offer a rich variety of perspectives of Khmer-Americans from different generations. The voices in these stories are unique, vivid, and expertly written. "Somaly Serey, Serey Somaly" is the standout story for me but honestly, all of these are beautiful.

I’ve tried and failed to find adequate comparisons to <i>Afterparties</i>, Anthony Veasna So’s debut and presumably only short story collection. Perhaps oddly, I think of Philip Roth’s <i>Goodbye, Columbus</i>, his debut 1959 collection. Roth’s perhaps apocryphal remark that <i>”I am not a Jewish writer; I am a writer who is a Jew”<i> equally applies to So: reducing So to “a Cambodian writer” or a “Cambodian-American writer” or “a gay writer” does a disservice to the depth, breadth, and universality of his stories. <i>Afterparties</i> fits within the small category of brilliant short story collections placed within but not bounded by self-contained American ethnic communities, in which the characters, emotions, and relationships transcend their communities into an ecumenical American-ness. So displays an huge emotional range in these nine stories, with only two mild disappointments. My favorites: Three Women of Chuck’s Donuts, destined to be a classic; Superking Son Scores Again; The Shop; and Generational Differences. Anthony Veasna So’s premature death is a gut punch. 4.5 stars

Brilliant, funny, mordant. I couldn't read without a sense of tragedy about the author but am thrilled that his partner and family will carry forward his book tour.

I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t know of Anthony Veasna So until reading his obituary in The New York Times, and now that I’ve read this collection I’m saddened anew at the loss of this bright young author.

I normally prefer novels to short stories, but just a single line from that obituary compelled me to immediately add Afterparties to the top of my reading queue. I’m happy to say that that impulse was well-founded, as the rest of the collection is just as sharp, original, and darkly funny as I could have hoped for. Those who have read the piece have perhaps guessed, but for the curious, the aforementioned line was:

Tevy, he writes, would “do something as simple as drink a glass of ice water, and her father, from across the room, would bellow, “There were no ice cubes in the genocide!”

These sentiments pervade the collection, and the central tension of many of the stories is generational: parents dealing with the trauma of staggering loss and the pressures of surviving in a new country, and their children, whose problems are minor by comparison but no less consuming. These children, who So centers more often than the older generation, struggle in trying to understand and honor the past, while grappling with the uncertainties of their own futures. He captures this beautifully in the last story of the collection, which is also perhaps the most intimate. The story, “Generational Differences,” takes the form of a letter from a mother to her intensely and morbidly curious son, who can’t stop asking about “the regime, the camps, the genocide.” The mother writes:

Every slight detail you would demand to know, as if understanding that part of my life would explain the entirety of yours.

The title is a giveaway, but So was fascinated with what comes after: after the genocide, after immigrating, after college, after the mass shooting, after death. I’m sad that we won’t get to see what would have come after Afterparties, because I’m certain it would have been fantastic.

Thanks to Ecco for the ARC!

The author of this short story collection, Anthony Veasna So recently passed away. He was so young. His writing is so funny and emotional. Such raw talent. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

"Afterparties" is a solid collection. I must admit though, I've read a lot of short story collections throughout the years so even though some of the stories are good and memorable, I can't say ALL the stories have staying power. The 2 strongest are "Three Women of Chuck's Donuts" and "Generational Differences" (this one gutted me). Wow. Such beautiful imagery/characters/storytelling!

There's a couple stories that were decent, "We Would've Been Princes!" and "Human Development". The rest of the stories just didn't leave much of an impact on me. Even though I couldn't connect with every story, this is still worth-while read. Diverse, haunting, and direct. Enjoy!

Thank you, Netgalley and Ecco for the digital ARC.

The last story in this collection refers to a visit by Michael Jackson to an elementary school after a school shooting there. It includes some philosophical takes on death and those soothed me a bit as I continued to think about what a marvel So is. I couldn’t help wondering what more he could have accomplished. But such thoughts must lead to an appreciation or recognition of what he did achieve; and this book certainly demonstrates that.

This book of short stories reflects the voice of a rare talent. He is bold and confident. The writing is witty, smart, and poetic. His storytelling is radiant, celebratory. And while all the stories center on Cambodian Americans, each showcases a varied and rich range of lives. Each reveals something different and unique. So has keen insights about the array of experiences his characters have had as refugees and survivors of a genocide. He deftly depicts their struggles, and how they endure and overcome. And we see how each generation carries the suffering, a legacy that morphs and informs those touched by it.

But what shines clearly through is So’s affirmation and love of the Cambodian American community. This appreciation extends to Stockton, California which features prominently and serves as a key element, explaining how a location affects a people. In his Acknowledgements, So thanks his parents and notes how they created a world out of nothing but their will and imaginations. He, too, has beautifully done similarly in this collection.

I especially liked “The Shop,” “Human Development,” “Generational Differences,” and “Somaly, Serey, Serey, Somaly.” And I gladly note that various Khmer words appear with only the context to inform or explain them; it conveys an intimacy, such as when a close friend confides in you and uses words and descriptors that are used at home.

Thanks to Ecco Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Several quotes:

“Dad was one of those guys who smiled and laughed constantly, but never without a sad look in his eyes.”

“I know I was supposed to find a legitimate job, but at this point in my life, dumb epiphanies about home seemed so precious, urgent, fleeting.”

“When I tried articulating my feelings about home, my mind inevitably returned to these songs, the way the incomprehensible intertwined with what made me feel so comfortable. I’d lived with misunderstanding for so long, I’d stopped even viewing it as bad. It was just there, embedded in everything I loved.”

“…Paul strolled over from the food court, projecting that casual angst peculiar to guys who never left our hometown, who stayed committed to a dusty California free of ambition or beaches.”

“Being handsome and pathetic was Marlon’s selling point. Mothers adored that poor fellow brimming with wasted possibility.”

“Which, in fact—the logic’s so Cambodian it hurts: name you kids after the first movies you saw after immigrating, and <i>bam!</i>

“…he felt the sensation he often experienced when visiting home, that his parents had conceived him to work on a conveyor belt of nonsensical family issues.”

“The entire night he had yearned to ache into the warm nothingness. Hollow pangs of muscle memory throbbed in his thighs, his shoulders, the places where he had felt the most heat. Cravings pulsed through his whole body.”

“…I saw the possibility of existing in a dynamic in which every pleasure received, every favor granted, every dick sucked, every bottom filled and every top gratified, could energize you to give back more than what you had in the first place. I saw clearly Ben’s ideal vision of the world, a way of being that could sustain communities, protect safe spaces, and ensure that political progress kept happening. I felt euphoric, high, blood rushing to my head. I felt unbearably hopeful.”

“…I thought about Michael Jackson again, the absurdity of his photo jolting our day into being, how the more he had tried to change, to reinvent himself into something completely new, the more he seemed horrifically burdened by what he used to be.”

“When you think about my history, I don’t need you to see everything at once. I don’t need you to recall the details of those tragedies that were dropped into my world. Honestly, you don’t even have to try. What is nuance in the face of all that we’ve experienced? But for me, your mother, just remember that, for better or worse, we can be described as survivors. Okay? Know that we’ve always kept on living. What else could we have done?”