These are tales of psyches pushed to their limits by the expectations of everyday life—from a woman who gets lost on her drive home to her plush suburban home and ends up breaking into a stranger’s house, to a first-person account of a cloned 1940s magazine pinup girl being sold at auction and embodying America’s ideals of beauty and womanhood.

"Detour" This was sad, and the closest to horror because it is so real

"Miss Golden Dreams 1949"  One of my few favorites in this collection. Pure genius

"Parole Hearing, California Institution for Women, Chino, CA" is Unusual in the way it was written. But probably the most honest and visceral telling of the parole hearings of one of Charles Manson girls.

"Neon, Night" This was the longest, and I was glad it was the last. It went on forever and I have no idea how it was a thriller or Suspenseful, other than wondering if the next chapter was the last. I kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting for something to happen but nope...waste of time.

I haven’t read many Joyce Carol Oates books, and this did not make me want to rush and get to it. There are more stories here, but if I didn’t remark on it, it’s because it was dreadful.

Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the chance to listen to this Audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Each of these stories is an interior monologue, some plummeting depths that only a writer of Joyce Carol Oates's virtuosity can carry off. Here we encounter the damaged psyche of a cloned Marilyn Monroe, one of Manson's girls who at the age of 70 has not found redemption, a writer seeking to inveigle a young woman and unable to see the truth of her life. Read back to back, it's heavy stuff.

I have listened to four of these short stories now and I think I'm going to stop!! These stories are dark and some are very disturbing.

I remembered the reason why I shy away from this author. You never know what you are getting and her writing is so incredibly intricately described.

I grew tired of the narration and was no longer interested in the stories.

Night, Neon by Joyce Carol Oates, narrated by Chelsea Stephens and Joe Hempel

When I read short stories, I can finish them feeling like there wasn't enough, so I think I'm better suited to full length novels. But getting to listen to nine short stories, one after another, allowed me to move on from each, without feeling like I needed more, and this allowed me to feel more satisfied with what I heard. Also, I realize that I am more open to short stories when they are audio recordings. Each one of these stories is dark, many of the people are vile in one way or another. I know it helped that I heard them all together, so I don't dwell on them. I don't think I've ever read Joyce Carol Oates before listening to this audiobook. I'm going to look more of her work now.

"Detour" Sad, disturbing, and reality for some.

"Curious" An egocentric, cynical, obsessive writer intrudes into the life of someone he considers worthy of his notice. As flat as the main character.

"Miss Golden Dreams 1949" Pay for it and you'll pay for it

"Wanting" Was it worth it?

"Parole Hearing, California Institution for Women, Chino, CA" Disgusting excuses, all fake.

"Intimacy" The assault of words...terrifying

"The Flagellant" It's never his fault.

"Vaping: A User's Manual" One way the horror could happen/does happen.

"Neon, Night" Dysfunctional woman drawn to dysfunction.

Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.