A collection of short stories about relationships of all flavors, and what they bring out in us -- the father/daughter relationship that always seems to activate the caustic teenager inside us, the coworker we crush on, the temporary friends we make on a long travel delay that end up helping us let go of an old love -- Games and Rituals is enjoyable and thought-provoking.

I selected this title because I love Katherine Heiny. I love the way she writes idiosyncracies into each character, and that the situations they face are relatable without feeling cliched. These stories were no exception.

These are wise and generous stories, told with a sly, puckish sense of humor and the occasional bit of an edge. Take your time with this book; pick it up and read a story or two whenever you need a reminder of the absurdity and the joy of being a part of the human comedy.

I really liked most of these stories. I love stories of human connection, and I appreciate when these short stories share a common theme. Some of these will stay with me for a long time.

I only read the first two stories before decing that this collection just wasn't for me. It had interesting concepts, but I didn't like the writing or the way the stories were being told.

While I admittedly do not always love short stories, Katherine Heiny’s Early Morning Riser, was one of my favorite reads last year so I was excited to read more of her works.

All of the short stories in this collection focus on relationships, both past and present…romantic relationships, friendships, and familial bonds. While several stories were laugh out loud funny, they all dug deep into the emotions behind what it means to care for and share your life with others. Would definitely recommend for short story fans.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

As with any collection of stories, I found myself enjoying some more than others. Overall, this is an interesting collection of stories covering a variety of complex relationships. I'm not sure I would recommend it to anyone, but I mostly enjoyed reading it.

It is always a great sign when you finish a book and you immediately want to look up everything else the author has written. That is how I felt when I finished GAMES & RITUALS by Katherine Heiny. It is also a great sign when you come to the end of reading a short story and you wish it would keep going, that it were a whole book. And to wish that for several of the stories in one book, well, has to be extra special. Each of these stories was unique and different from the next, but the characters were all relatable and her story telling witty and clever. Readers who don't normally pick up books containing short stories should not overlook this one. Grateful to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting me an early copy of this one.

An excellent short story collection, all just about ordinary people living everyday lives - women and men, young people and older people, parents and children, people in relationships and people looking for relationships. Basically, just a terrific exploration of the messiness and beauty of ordinary life. All the stories were great, but my favorite was the first one, “Chicken-Flavored and Lemon-Scented.”

I’m a big fan of Katherine Heiny - her book Early Morning Risers was one of my top ten of 2021, and loved her novel Standard Deviation as well. And I’m also a big fan of short story collections. So, no surprise, I loved this book! She is such a masterful writer than she can create more indelible characters, emotion, and nuance in a 20 page short story than most authors can do in an entire novel.

Games and Rituals is a collection of short stories featuring ordinary lives. It’s definitely one of my favourite collections of short stories, mostly because I haven’t found before such a realistic collection of human relationships. I was drawn so quickly into every characters life and was very invested in them. At the end of each story I easily wished there was more but secretly loved that I only got a small snapshot???

Because there are so many stories it’s easy to find something to relate to in the book- love and life in all its forms and struggles.

The tone of the book was more objective and third person but I think it suited the content so well because I felt the practicalities of everyday life through it.

I will definitely be reading more Katherine Heiny now.

Games and Rituals is a mixed bag of short stories from Katherine Heiny. She highlights a variety of relationships through the stories including friendship, marriage (current and former), and parenthood. Story highlights for me included "Twist and Shout", where a woman goes home to her elderly father who has mistaken his hearing aid for a cashew and swallowed it. In the title story "Games and Rituals", a young person describes different interactions with people in their life including close friends, family, and boyfriend. A man does not know how to react when his wife starts Marie Kondo-ing their house in "CobRa." And in "561" someone goes through multiple life crises with a co-worker- death, divorce, and relocation.

As with most story collections, I found myself engaged with a few more than the others. The length can make it a challenge to engage with the characters that do not have a lot of space to grow, but Heiny is able to portray multiple complex characters over her stories.

Thank you to Knopf via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.

Easily, easily the best collection of short stories I have read this year, or in recent memory. Short stories can’t just be a chapter lifted from a whole novel. They have to do some heavy lifting and give us the feeling we already know and care about these people, and that we want to find out what happens to them – though the time/space constraints mean neither is really possible.

These stories are Chekhovian in scope and intensity, focused on one seemingly banal experience or day or conversation that leads to hugely revealing introspection on the part of the main character. Each story is either funny, or deeply relatable, or touching, or poignantly sad – and sometimes all of them. I would read any of these expanded into a full novel because they all crackle with life.

**I will publish this review on social the week of the release to keep it relevant for readers

I requested Games and Rituals because I recognised Heiny's name after reading Early Morning Riser last year
And whilst I enjoyed it at the time, I wasn’t blown away so I didn't know what to expect from this short story collection but I was so pleasantly surprised. The thing that stood out most to me is how well written Heiny’s characters were and how invested I was in almost every story which is no easy feat when it comes to short stories. My biggest issue with Early Morning Riser was that I struggled to care about any of the characters but the complete opposite can be said for Games and Rituals. Although it is only March, I would definitely say Games and Rituals is one of the most enjoyable books I've read so for this year and I can’t wait to pick up a copy once it was been published.

Loved every single one of these stories. I wanted to read them all in one sitting, but made a deal with myself to read one a night before going to sleep. They were just so thought Provoking and entertaining.

Can see all of these expanded into a full length novel.

Thoroughly enjoyed.

Highly recommend!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

I can't praise this collection of short stories enough !
the way the author have chosen to depict specific fragments of her well woven characters amazed me; I found it incredibly smart the manner in which she analysed the flaws and the vulnerability of humanity through these short set of events.
i loved the characters' diversity, the raw and the reel representation of different life situation ships in life, the relatable moments the characters shared...it was all on point & splendid.
thank you Netgalley and the publishing house for this opportunity!

first let’s take a moment to appreciate the cover of this book - *chef’s kiss*

Short stories have become increasingly appealing to me, and <b> Game and Rituals</b> was a delight to read.
In her writing, Katherine Heiny explores what it means to be human - friendships, love, family, and relationships.

However, the writing is the real star of this book. It's straightforward, funny, lighthearted and poignant. I am truly awestruck by how beautiful it is. It's simple, clean, and feminine - no twists or turns or overblown descriptive language.

My personal favorite it's called <b> Chicken Flavored and Lemon Scented.</b>

I have added Katherine Heiny to my list auto-buy authors.

While I doubt I will remember too much about the individual stories in this collection, I will absolutely remember what I joy I found it to read them. There is nothing too complex or deep here, but these stories go down so easy. The writing is crisp, clear and very witty. I found every one of the stories engaging. And I had several sigh out loud moments. Great read. Probably more of a 4.5⭐️.

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.

Eleven short stories explore relationships, love, and amusing but not great behavior. Each story provides insights into human behavior through carefully crafted sentences that seem perfect for highlighting while laughing out loud.

a beautiful novella that is great to read on a plane ride, on the beach, or riding on the subway. Heiny channels the inner monologue that runs through a person heads every day but gives it an extra flare. Quick read!