I was judging the L.A. Times 2020 and 2021 fiction contest. It’d be generous to call what I’d been doing upon my first cursory glance—reading. I also don’t take this task lightly. As a fellow writer and lover of words and books, I took this position—in hopes of being a good literary citizen. My heart aches for all the writers who have a debut at this time. What I can share now is the thing that held my attention and got me to read on even though it was among 296 other books I was charged to read.

It is a wildly imaginative book, just when you think she can’t keep this up… well she does. But also the prose exquisite lines like “Grief is not the door that tucks you in; it’s the door that shuts you out. But Annie allowed herself the moment.”

Unfortunately while this seems to be a well written and unique book, it was not an exceptional fit for me personally.

A haunting short story collection about loss, family, and grief, wrapped up in magical realism. "Terrace Story" at first unfurls like a charming story about a family before becoming something much weirder, revealing the book to be more solemn than expected. "Fortress" is the best story in the collection - I loved it.

Wow. That 5 star feeling where you put it down and immediately want to read it again.

Terrace Story follows the interconnected lives in 4 stories. It is simple and expansive and magical. The explorations of grief, love, space and time are so profound, I probably didn’t even understand everything that was being said. I could sit and analyze this book forever.

Just wow. 5/5 stars.

This book contains four stories that in the end, all pertain to each other. You could call it a short story collection, but you could also take it as one novel telling one big story in a super confusing way.

My overall consensus is that this book was not successful in communicating anything clearly. The first story/chapter was super interesting, and in my opinion, the strongest story in this book. I was super intrigued and excited to continue, until I got to the third story, which takes up the majority of this book. I promise I am not exaggerating when I tell you I re-read several pages around 5 times over, and not because I wasn't understanding what was being said, but because I could not believe that despite the length of this story, there was nothing that provided ANY clarity whatsoever. I am all for strange books with a bit of mindf*ckery, but the giant run-on sentence that was the third story said way too much without saying anything at all.

I think the premise itself is super interesting. There's magical realism and even a bit of sci-fi that would've totally been right up my alley. Like I said, however, I cannot in good faith tell you that I believe this was executed with enough clarity and depth to have communicated theme and character development.

I hope this falls into the right hands! I often enjoy abstract books, but sadly, this missed the mark for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I LOVED THIS??? I randomly requested the ARC last year, got it, never read it. I don’t know anyone who has read it. I finally decided to give it a shot and read it in just a couple sittings! It’s so sweet? And weird? I can see why it has such a low GR rating over all, it *was* confusing. But it wasn’t supposed to be some easy to follow contemporary novel. It was deeper than that and supposed to make you think. It’s quirky and sweet and I really, really enjoyed it. It’s basically four short stories that all tie together and I loved the first three a 5/5 and the last a 4/5.

Sometimes it's the right book at the wrong time. I kept putting this down despite being extremely drawn to the premise. I know the right people to recommend this to and should the mood strike again I'll return to finish.

As other reviewers stated, you have to be in the mood for this one. I amy reread it in the future but it left me feeling flat. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher

I really liked this! A handful of interconnected stories that require a slight suspense of disbelief, with a thread of loss and grief throughout. I particularly enjoyed Stephanie's story, which was the longest portion. Each story was unique but they tied together perfectly.

"This is one of the last good days that Anne remembers, and if memory is what we have left, when all is said and done, it may as well have happened at the very end." I loved this beautiful, strange book, which kept me my on the edge of my seat even when I couldn't make sense of it. Hilary Leichter bends the rules of time and space to create a story that is so heartbreakingly human.

Thank you to Ecco and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

NOT MY FAVEE BUT I COULD SEE HOW OTHERS WOULD REALLY ENJOY IT THANK YOU SO MUCH TO NETGALLEY FOR THE ADVANCED READER COPY VERY COOL!

The nonlinear structure of this novel plus the elements of surrealism, made it unlike anything I'd ever read. The writing seems straight forward and yet it is also really beautiful. Such a joy to read, in particular from a craft perspective.

Terrace Story comprises four interconnected stories that are a cross of literary and speculative fiction. Hilary Leichter’s book is creative, quirky, full of interesting psychological observations and beautifully written – in other words, exactly my type of book! Plus, the first speculative fiction element involves a young couple who discover a beautiful terrace hidden in their closet whenever their colleague comes over to visit. Was this written for me?! A millennial who just moved into a small studio because of its beautiful terrace. Must be!

This book is not about concrete answers, or even understanding exactly how the connections between these stories work. But if you read for character and imagination, I think you may fall for this lovely, poignant book as well.

Thank you to Ecco and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

Hilary Leichter's "Terrace Story" is a captivating exploration of time and love, delivering an intimate story for a world grappling with heartbreak. The discovery of a hidden terrace in Annie, Edward, and Rose's cramped apartment sets off a seismic chain of events, transforming not just their home but the very fabric of their lives. Leichter weaves a mesmerizing tale that stretches across generations, contemplating the expanses of the mind in search of the lost, and grappling with emotions that transcend the boundaries of life and death. Magical Realism doesn't always work for me, but this was so strange and beautiful and lovely. With profound storytelling and innovative flair, "Terrace Story" is a poignant meditation on loss, offering a roadmap for navigating the complexities of love in the face of looming uncertainties.

If you want to disappear into a book, TERRACE STORY is for you. Clever and magical, Hilary Leichter’s novel is closer to a set of interconnected short stories than a novel.

We are invited into the lives of four characters over the course of several generations. It begins during an impromptu dinner party when a secret terrace is discovered by a young family in their cramped apartment. The thing about this beautiful terrace is that it only appears sometimes - and leaves the family perplexed and desperate. After that, a surreal, poetic, and often unsettling tale unfolds that explains just how this secret terrace came to be, and what it means for the people who experience it.

I’ve been reluctant to review this book because it defies any kind of analysis. It’s a story about identity, about family, about grief. More than anything, it’s a story about the space we take up, the space we deserve, and the space that is taken from us. It’s not a book for everyone, and that’s okay. I loved every word. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. All opinions here are my own.

I think I was not in the right space mentally to enjoy this book. I enjoyed the idea of grief and emotions altering the space we exist in, but reading it was a bit tedious. Some of the themes of loss and the deep emotions relating to that made me uncomfortable at times and I just was not prepared for this book.

It is also highly strange and a bit mind-bending at times. This was not at all what I expected when I picked up this book and I don't feel that my review could properly represent the work done by the author.

A couple and their young daughter are just trying to get by in their cramped, little apartment. One day, they open the closet door to find a beautiful terrace, bringing fresh air and space and peace. The catch-it’s only there when a certain friend visits. But with each trip to the terrace, it causes a shift in the world around them, setting a chain reaction off in others’ lives. This story explores the impact on everyone around them, complete with love and grief.
I found the story to be just long enough, though still felt confused at parts with some of the changes in POV and the timeline. Still a unique piece of storytelling though.
Thank you to Ecco for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I could totally change my rating after sit and think on it longer. It is a slim book and I appreciate that Ms. Leicester didn’t waste our time, but, I would have liked something a bit more with story 2. Maybe I just need to read it again. I am open to that. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

This was a quirky collection of short stories that are interconnected in subtle ways. Terrace and Fortress were my two favorite pieces of this collection but the book as a whole is quite strong. The writing draws you in and keeps you deeply entrenched in the worlds Leichter has built. The minute details and the depth of the feelings that Leicheter captures are worth sticking with this even if it is not your thing. a solid three star read that will stick with you long after you've finished reading it.

I really enjoyed the formatting of this novel and how 4 individual stories tied together in the end. It was different than anything I've read in a while. At first, I found it difficult to follow but I'm glad I stuck with it.