Honestly ? This was just brilliant.
I'm always partial to short stories for sure, but this collection was much more than enjoyable and I cannot wait for Julianna Lamy's next books.
The writing was beautiful and immersive, sometimes a bit opaque -which I love-, but always very true to the characters and their feelings. It was flowing and delicious, hard to put down kind of poetry.
The emotions this book made me feel were intense and so full, from deep melancholy to burning anger, from the fear only parents feel to the love of those who've lost too much. I held my breath many times, had a stone in my stomach and a knot in my throat. I WILL buy a physical copy because I want to reread every single word and hold them and underline them and take notes.

You were watching from the sand 5/5
The oldest sensation is anger 5/5
Sylpha 3,75/5
Manticore - 4,75/5
We feel it in Punta Cana - 4,5/5
Eli - 4,75/5
Open House - 4/5
Muscle Memory - 4,5
July in New Orleans - 5/5
belly - 4,5/5
mermaids - 4,75/5

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read. All of the stories were quite good and some were better than others but they all were good to read.

You Were Watching from the Sand is a beautiful debut short story collection from Juliana Lamy. The 12 stories included in this collection span a variety of places and themes, centering lives of Haitian individuals and members of the Haitian diaspora in the United States. Lamy’s characters and stories investigate relationships and identity in ways that are both incredibly real and magical, blending contemporary life with Haitian story and magical realism.

I adored this collection, and am so impressed that this is Lamy’s debut work as a published author. Her prose absolutely shines, elevating even the most simple of moments. I found myself drawn into the world of these characters so quickly, which is such a necessary skill as a short fiction writer. I particularly enjoyed Lamy’s ability to create atmosphere and intense imagery without giving the prose an overwritten or overly dense feel. Many of these stories deal with motherhood, family dynamics, queer identity, and youth in ways that feel familiar but fresh in their nuance and cultural context.

Every character in these stories felt very real to me, with complex stories and identities that clearly predate and continue beyond the stories that are presented here. I really liked this aspect of this collection—while each story felt contained and satisfying at its conclusion, you are also left with the impression these lives will continue, unknown to us. It gave the collection a very transient, human feel.

This is absolutely a collection that I would recommend to readers of contemporary literary fiction and magical realism, especially if you are looking for stories that focus on queer identity and femininity beyond the most prevalent white, middle-class perspective. I will definitely be looking out for Lamy’s next book.

This was a very interesting anthology of short stories. While I overall enjoyed it, I did find some stories more engaging than others. The writing across all stories was very captivating though.

Thank you to NG and the Publisher for an eARC in exchange of an honest review.

This is a nice collection of stories about Haitians and Haitian-Americans, with an occasional touch of the supernatural and fantastical. The stories explore love and family, childhood, immigration, poverty, colonialism and the US occupation, prejudice against Haiti and Haitians, racism in the US, and Haitian folklore.

In my favourite story, belly, Arbor has the ability to make a kind of golem from river mud, and she and her creation take delicious revenge on someone who truly deserves it. Another well-written (although somewhat sad) story is The Oldest Sensation is Anger, about really creepy cousins, one of whom has very special powers.

Many of the characters in You Were Watching From the Sand find a way to overcome difficult circumstances, but, very memorably, in We Feel it in Punta Cana, Lamy gives us a down-to-earth story about the dark side of colonial power.

In all, pleasurable and quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Red Hen Press for the ARC.

"You Were Watching from the Sand" by Juliana Lamy appears to be a captivating and emotionally charged collection of stories that offers a unique perspective on the lives of Haitian men, women, and children facing various challenges and oddities.

The description suggests that this collection explores a range of themes, from the power of imagination and resilience to the complexities of human relationships and secrets. The stories seem to blend different narrative styles, including high lyricism and absurdist comedy, which promise a diverse and engaging reading experience.

One aspect that stands out is the focus on Haitian culture and witticisms, which could provide readers with a deeper understanding of the cultural context in which these stories are set. It's always enriching to explore literature that delves into lesser-known cultures and perspectives.

The storytelling appears to be dynamic and multi-layered, promising to evoke a range of emotions from playfulness to devastation. Readers who enjoy thought-provoking and emotionally resonant fiction may find "You Were Watching from the Sand" to be a compelling and impactful read.

Overall, this collection seems like an exploration of the human experience through the lens of the Haitian characters, and it has the potential to leave a lasting impression on those who engage with its stories.

This a beautiful set of short stories with Haitian protagonists as they make new lives for themselves outside of Haiti. From love to loss to familial distress, these characters felt very familiar to me, as did their speech and superstitions. I think this is an empathetic read for all immigrants or children of immigrants, regardless of their country of origin.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

4.5 stars

Wow - juliana lamey is a word magician. I was blown away by the beautiful language in this short story collection. To top it off, the stories are also great. They focus mainky on the experiences of haïtian immigrants mixed with mythical an fantastical aspects. Reading the world ánd fantasy creatures? My two favourite things. My top 3 stories: we feel it in punta cana, mermaids! and july in new orleans. I would easily read a full length novel based on that last one. (Please? Please????)

Genuinely though - it's been a long time since i've read prose this rich and beautiful. I'm already waiting on lamey's next book.

Thanks netgalley and red hen press for the eArc in exchange for an honest review! You were watching from the sand is out on 19 september 2023.

Strange, familiar, ethereal

🐺🐕 Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags:
The short stories don't take themselves too seriously and because of that they hit harder. My favourite was Belly because it is comical, then relatable, then thought-provoking and eerie. To an extent, that is the energy every story delivered. Some are sillier than others, some more serious, some are hard to understand but most of them made me feel something and have stuck with me.

If you're an imaginative reader these short stories aren't a struggle. Go with the flow knowing it's more about the characters and vibes than the setting. The writing is crafted so that I didn't feel like I was fighting the author when I accidentally imagined something a certain way. Like watching a black and white sketch fill out and become a colourful portrait.

I enjoyed about 80% of the stories. I have a feeling that the few I didn't like were because I didn't have the life experience to understand the symbolism and depth of what was happening.

People aren't just "dark" or "brown-eyed". We get shading, analogies, and undertones. I wish every author would start describing their characters with this depth.

Mood Reading Match Up ☀️🌈🏝️
-Themes about identity, connection, interaction, self-awareness, interpersonal relationships
-Poetic/subjective style writing giving mysterious, no-plot-just-vibes energy
-Slice-of-life stories (a peek into someone's life at a certain moment)
-Touches of magical realism, absurdism, found family, and self-discovery

Content Heads-Up: Confinement. Kidnapping. Gun violence. Deportation. Transphobic characters. Excellent LGBTQ youth rep.

Format: E-book on Kindle

Digital advanced review copy from Red Hen Press and NetGalley (I received the arc at no cost, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

This was a fantastic collection of short stories. Each one stood on their own, yet they all felt familiar.

The conciseness with which the author draws emotion and created tension is amazing.

Lamy is definitely an author I’m eager to read more from.