3.75 stars, rounded up. Games and Rituals is a collection of short stories. I really enjoyed them! Katherine Heiny is a talented author, and dives into many unique life experiences with an objective lens, and elevates everyday experiences with enviable creativity.

And the cover is so pretty! A lovely book to have on the coffee table as one relishes the stories.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

It is clear Heiny is a talented and funny writer. I really enjoyed some of theses stories. But, like most short story collections, some stories really work for a reader and others don't. My favorite stories were the title story and "CobRa." I am looking forward to giving the author's novel a try in the future.

A collection of short stories, that examine all kinds of relationships.
-Aging parent and adult child
-Husband and KonMari obsessed wife
-new found friends at an airport
-pandemic roommates
So many others:)

I’m always a little leery about a short story collection, as I find them generally forgettable. I don’t think this will be the case here! Happy to say! Heiny’s writing just speaks to me. I was enthralled with her novel Early Morning Riser and quite enjoyed (although not as much as EMR) Standard Deviation. As with many story vignettes, some worked better than others. For the most part each are well crafted and I love how she acutely describes all those relatable life moments that are joy filled (those quirky and funny ones too) and at times immensely sad. Highlights for me were reading about the driving instructor in “Chicken-Flavored and Lemon Scented”, the wife who packs up her husband’s first wife’s home in “561” and the woman who deals with her obstinate and elderly father in “Twist and Shout”. I really enjoyed this!
Highly recommend!
4/5
Many thanks to @netgalley @penguinrandomca and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I read this shortly after reading Heiny's first novel, Standard Deviation and her writing just constantly blew me away.

I tend to prefer novels to short story collections but this was fantastic, and I devoured in a day. The stories were engaging and the characters were so well written.

I'm so glad I read this.