Five Tuesdays in Winter is a brilliant collection of short stories by none other than Lily King.

Short story collections don't usually do it for me. I am a lover of the slow build of a story, which inevitably doesn't happen in short stories. As a readers you're thrown into the middle and, just as quickly, yanked out again. This means that most short story collections leave me feeling less than invested, and most collections I have started end up going unfinished.

Five Tuesdays in Winter shifted this experience for me, each tale is so thoughtfully crafted that I couldn't wait for the next one, eagerly anticipating whatever King had in store for me next.

I suppose the best way to encapsulate the collection is to say that each of the ten stories circles around some sort of transition or change. Every tale feels fresh and unique, much due to the range of protagonists who vary greatly in terms of age, background and circumstance. At the same time, the collection captures a very inherent and shared need of the human condition - the desire for love and connection.

If I were to select a favourite, I would probably go for "When in Dordogne," a tender tale about finding one's place, pubescent longings and insecurities, and the experience that comes with finally being seen. I absolutely adored that two young men make the conscious decision to take a young boy, whom they are inadvertently in charge of, under their wings and encourage him to blossom. A reminder that sometimes you just need someone to believe in you in order to grow in to yourself.

Five Tuesdays in Winter is exquisite, and full to the brim with heartbreak and loss, but also hope, kindness and generosity. Dare I say that a collection of short stories has proved a highlight of my literary year so far? I dare, I do! Sure, I'm greedy and can easily see (and hope) that some of these stories are developed into fully fledged novels, but for now I am happy for these snippets of life.

Thank-you so much for this eARC, it was such a pleasure!

I love short story collections in general, but this knocked it out of the park for me.
ALL of the stories are interesting. The writing is superb, and seems almost lyrical at times. I flew through this book and finished in two sittings.
I admire the author's ability to write about completely different topics, set in completely different places, and from different points of view.
I cannot recommend this enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC!

This is a compilation of ten short stories dealing with human interactions and feelings at pivotal times in their lives. You have a young girl abused by her employer’s son, a middle-aged introverted bookseller in love with his employee, a young teen in need of love and nurture, a mother trying to find her way with her daughter, a grandfather unable to help his beloved grandchild, and more. Each story is rich in character development and plot and leaves you hoping for more, or what happens next? It is an exploration of themes of love, loss, family, marriage, betrayal, and just life in general. It gives way to hope in the aftermath.

I thoroughly enjoyed them all, but again, I would love to hear more on how these stories turn out. It’s hard to be left hanging, but there are some surprise endings. However, it is wonderful storytelling by Lily King who also authored Euphoria and Writers and Lovers.

Many thanks to #netgalley #fivetuesday in winter #groveatlantic for allowing me to read and review this book.

I am not normally a fan of short stories, but as I had loved Lily King’s recent novel, “Writers and Lovers,” I decided to give this a go. I am really glad I did, as these are beautiful stories full of insight and meaning. I usually prefer the in-depth characterisation and plot building that a full-length novel lends itself to, but each of these is a perfect vignette that gives a glimpse of lives and personalities beyond the few pages covered. The title story is a great example of how to bring to life what seems to be a living, complex person- the reserved bookseller and single father who harbours a secret longing. Elsewhere King reminds us of the pain and pleasure of growing up, of family dynamics and love, of loss, bereavement and everyday struggles. She is a very sensual writer, using scent, heat and texture to evoke mood and atmosphere. A gorgeous read.

FIVE TUESDAYS IN WINTER is a lovely collection of memorable short stories covering life, death, coming of age, grief, and healing. I particularly appreciated how King conveys her characters with all their nuances and at different stages of life. These stories feel like realistic peeks into people's lives. So many short story writers these days are compelled to be experimental or overly dark, whereas in this collection King isn't afraid to be straightforward and even, at times, charming. There's almost an old-fashioned quality to some of the stories, which makes them come across as instant classics, meant to endure passing fads and trends.

4.5 Stars

’On the way to Vermont I thought about words and how, if you put a few of them in the right order, a three-minute story about a girl and her dog can get people to forget all the ways you’ve disappointed them.’ - from Timeline

This is the first book of Lily King’s that I’ve read, a collection of ten short stories that share the journey of life and living through themes of love and loss, heartache, the issues we wrestle with in our lives, seemingly insurmountable problems, family, along with the common daily ins and outs of life.

I enjoyed all of these stories, but a few pulled me in from the start and will undoubtedly stay with me.

’Five Days in Winter’ was one of the stories that pulled me in from the start - a man, Mitchell, who owns a bookstore, but can’t abide the ignorance of his customers, although his daughter loved them. He’s completely smitten by a young woman he works for him, but can’t manage to bring himself to let her know. He’s lost so many in his life, his wife who left him, his mother who died when he was very young, his father when he was a teenager, his friends, and some of his favourite customers.

’Waiting for Charlie’ was the story that really moved me. A man in his 90’s, a grandfather visiting his granddaughter, Charlotte, in the hospital following an accident that has left her unresponsive following an accident, and his struggle to try and reach her, pull her back into the land of the conscious. ’They were both adrift from their bodies. And without the body, what are we?’ A story that serves as a reminder of how fragile life can be.

’When in the Dordogne’ shares the story of a teenager, whose parents leave him behind when they take a two-month long vacation the summer before he begins high school. He was the fourth born to them, long after his older siblings, and so he viewed himself as ’an inconvenience, to which they seem to agree, if silently. He’s left in the care of two young men, Ed and Grant, who offer him a new view, of the world, life, love, and the difference love makes.

These stories share multiple stages of life, love and grief, and the power of stories to touch us in such a memorably moving way. So many beautiful, stirring passages with such lovely imagery.

’She held herself straight, upright, but inside she was bent with grief...Something about her movements...the way she walked around the garden, touching petals and branches, as if she could rid some of her sadness on them.’ - from South

A lovely introduction to Lily King for me, which makes me happy that I have yet another author’s work to look forward to in the future.



Pub Date: 09 Nov 2021

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Grove Atlantic / Grove Press

Short story collections are not my thing, but after reading this collection, I have completely changed my mind and will be open to reading more collections. This one was magnificent. Each story swept me into the atmospheric prose. I can’t say enough about how beautifully written these stories are. I’m in awe. I am now following this author and will be picking up her recent novel Writers & Lovers and Euphoria asap.

The characters are mirrors of our struggles, love, betrayal, forbidden passion, family love, family where you find it, feeling less than, feeling you are disappointing others. It’s all in here. I flew through the pages and would have read it in one sitting if I hadn’t needed to sleep. I also loved how some of the stories don’t tie up everything in a neat little bow. I think this book will stay with me for a long time, the characters haunting me making me wonder if they are the people I encounter in every day life.

I received a copy of this collection from the publisher via NetGalley.

I am not a big fan of short stories, but I loved 'Writers and Lovers' so much that I thought I would give these a try. I enjoyed some more than others: I thought 'Five Tuesdays in Winter', 'When in the Dordogne', and 'Hotel Seattle' were excellent; I couldn't see the point of 'Mansard' and I gave up on 'The Man at the Door'. I think I'll stick to her novels in future.

Lily King does it again. I enjoyed every story in this collection. My favorites were "Creature," "Five Tuesdays in Winter," "When in Dordogne," "Hotel Seattle," and "South."

In all of the stories, King makes sure each sentence counts, enabling her to give the short stories almost the same level of character depth and impact as in her novels. I love the way Lily King writes her characters. Her choice of details is brilliant. By using one or two specific details to describe her characters, it's possible to have a vivid picture of the character in your head. For example, one character in the collection is described as "If he told her she looked nice, she'd give the reason instead of saying thank you." With this one detail, I felt like I knew this character's entire personality because I started relating the character to other people in my life who "give the reason instead of saying thank you."

Beyond the characters, I also enjoyed the themes in the collection. The collection explores a large variety of themes and stories. Each story seemed to comment on multiples themes present in the collection while covering in-depth one particular theme in the collection. The collection explores many themes from King's previous novels, like grief, love, parenting, creativity, and coming of age. I think if you're a fan of King's other novels, you'll enjoy this collection.

Another thing I enjoyed in this collection is the level of mystery in the different short stories. King does a good job of determining when to withhold and when to provide information in order to keep the reader's interest. It kept me intrigued throughout the collection.

Thank you Grove Atlantic for providing me a copy of this book to review!

Esther Perel’s book about sex in committed relationships.

It has real cases from couples in her practice, and the theoretical explanation behind it. It was good but a bit overwhelming. It was really a lot of couples and sex problems.

I didn’t like the format. I think it works better as a podcast, following only one couple at a time. Or maybe I should have paced myself more.

I gave it 4 stars because in the midst of “watching” other couples issues for mere curiosity and not really relating to it, there were a couple of cases that was spot on what I am going through, and it really helped me to see things from a new perspective.
Not that I have sex problems, but there are parts of myself and my partner that I don’t fully understand yet, and who doesn’t want an even better erotic life?

Overall I really liked this. The stories were quite a good mix. Some stories I would have liked to carry on and read a longer version. For others the short story was enough. I also really liked the cover for this one.

One of the stories that particularly stayed with me was the first story in the book. I also really liked the one with the shopkeeper in a bookstore. The last one was particularly clever ending to the whole book.

I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would. It was still a good book but some of the story was dragging and I had a hard time finishing it. It was interesting to read that the character went to a house that people were afraid of. Then she started watching the kids and had room and board.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

Five Tuesdays in Winter is a collection of short stories. I would say that I enjoyed the first half of the book better than the last. I found the first stories did an excellent job of developing the characters in a relatively short period of time. I honestly think that is one of Lily Kings greatest attributes as a writer is her character development. I found the last few stories a little confusing and without purpose. But, all in all, I enjoyed reading Five Tuesdays in Winter and look forward to more great works from this author.
I would like to thank net galley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a truly wonderful collection of ten short stories that focus on the shifts that happen when transitioning from one phase of life to another. King has a great gift when it comes to depicting emotional movements, the slight, subtle vibrations that hum and change when people interact, the certainties and insecrurities that know no logical explanations, but have their own tangible realities. As in every collection, not all stories are brilliant, but none of these stories are truly weak.

And there are true gems, like one about a teenage boy who befriends two older housesitters, and their outlook on life changes him forever, or the story about a young girl from a poor family who is hired as a babysitter for the rich and falls for a far too old, far too jaded man. The writing, although highly accessible, is addictive, it captivates the reader and demands full attention as these mostly quiet tales still manage to become intense.

Many texts carry a beautiful melancholy, sometimes there is also a deep sadness running through the pages - but to read the stories is a true pleasure.

Lily King has done it again! I’ve read two other King novels and thought they were wonderful. This collection of short stories is no different. By the time each story ended I felt deeply attached to the characters and wanted to keep reading about them. It was hard to say goodbye every time.

King introduces you to so many different people in a variety of circumstances. They’re experiencing love, grief, loneliness, growth, pain, heartbreak, desire, fear & so much more. King’s intimate writing makes you feel the emotions right alongside each character.

My personal favorite was the story of a young boy whose parents leave him in the care of two college students for the summer, while they travel to Europe. His siblings are all grown and out of the house and he’s always felt like an inconvenience to his parents. This summer is different — he finally finds the acceptance, love and sense of belonging that he needed.

I'm not the biggest fan of short stories, but I AM the biggest fan of Lily King. Her writing is so personal and intimate; my only complaint is that I could see each short story being it's own novel, and of course that's what I wanted: MORE! I just adore Lily's writing, always fabulous and introspective, and the character development is unparalleled.

Thank you to Net Galley and Grove Atlantic for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In her short story collection, Five Tuesdays in Winter, Lily King writes about loss, heartache, desire, yearning, and above all else, love. The stories were all gripping and captivating, showing a high level of talent and craft skill from an author who clearly knows how to command a reader. For me, the stories were nostalgic, like looking and living into a sepia-colored polaroid and getting lost in your imagination. These stories were also all impactful and force the reader to look inwards to search for resolve at the end of each tale, something which makes each story live longer in the heart than on the page.

I do, however, find it incredibly difficult to review a short story collection because of how different they can be from one another, but still be linked. While I absolutely adored stories like “Creature”, “Hotel Seattle”, “When in Dordogne”, and the titular story “Five Tuesdays in November”, others like “Waiting for Charlie” and “Timeline” felt more lackluster and loose, leaving me wanting more. Some of the stories felt strewn together without a clear throughline or connection to the others, something that may not even be necessary when you read the stories in a more separated manner.

That being said, I would still recommend picking up this collection. Without a doubt, King’s command of storytelling present in her best stories far outweighs the unresolved natures of those with which I didn’t connect and her writing is a masterclass in short fiction. Although this is my first book by King, I’ll definitely be picking up more of her works.

I like anthologies and this is a strong set of stories. It has a nice variety, including some surprising ones. Ms King has a lot of talent, and is able to bring out emotions of the reader. Recommended.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!

Lily King's WRITERS & LOVERS was one of my favourite books last year and I really enjoyed EUPHORIA so I was very excited to read her collection of short stories, FIVE TUESDAYS IN WINTER. King does not disappoint, She has the ability to create interesting, complex characters immediately, like Lorrie Moore and Alice Munro and develop fascinating interpersonal relationships. These are people you know and you want to know more about. I was particularly impressed with "Hotel Seattle", "When in the Dordogne" and "North Sea".

Thanks to Grove Atlantic, Lily King and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It is genuinely amazing that a collection of short stories, the majority of which deal with overwhelmingly similar themes and relationships, could be not only this gripping, but this exquisite. I mean, honestly, most of these stories read like variations on themes already explored in Writers and Lovers, and the ones that aren't still clearly came from that same wellspring, and yet they all read as different entities, each one, despite its passing similarities, novel and fascinating. Even the stories that had endings I didn't particularly like (because they felt too predictable or too dark) were elevated by some insight King gave the characters at the end. And even the one story that I felt wasn't as strong as the others didn't leave me feeling like it was bad - more like, slightly undercooked, and even then still mostly enjoyable.

It's hard to break down how, exactly, King manages to make all these stories so compelling. It's her skillful characterization, of course, and the details she puts in - sparing, but always sharp - and the way she's able to slip you right into the story without any throat-clearing. But it also feels like there's something else, some aspect of her writing that exists just to resonate. It's a masterclass in the deceptively simple.

I'm really, really glad I read this. Writers and Lovers made me see how much I enjoy her work, but this book made me a fan. Even if you're not a short story person, I still think it's 100% worth your time trying these out.