it's always kinda odd to see a bunch of rave reviews on a book you didn't end up caring much for! this was fun and some stories were a lot stronger than others, but ultimately I feel like it fell a little flat for me. something about the voice was hard to get into, and a lot of the stories felt goofier than I think I was in the mood for.

I did love the queer + feminist themes throughout a lot of them, and still found it to be an interesting and creative collection overall. a couple of the stories definitely packed a punch and I would still be interested in reading more Jessie Ren Marshall if she writes anything else!

3.5 rounded down. thanks netgalley and bloomsbury for the arc!

I was admittedly drawn to this short story collection in part due to its title but also the cover, and I ended up with more than I bargained for — in a good way.

This short story collection will make you laugh but also make you feel something — I love the blend of humour and social commentary, touching on subjects related to women, our experiences, the way we're perceived by others and ultimately treated by male counterparts.

One of the things I liked most about this collection of stories is how different they were both in writing style and in subject matter while staying on the theme of girlhood.

The last story was probably my favourite. I think what impressed me the most about the collection overall was so much character depth in a short story collection.

Thank you Bloomsbury for the eARC!

Women! In! Peril! by Jessie Ren Marshall is a sharp and thought-provoking collection of short stories that reflects upon the experience of womanhood, coupled with intersectional identities. Marshall does an excellent job of highlighting the scrutiny and judgement women are often placed under, tackling subjects of bodily autonomy, race, and relationships (among many more) with innovative stories and plots.

In the eponymous story, Women! In! Peril! Marshall uses science fiction to comment on the dire state of our planet, as well as the disheartening manner in which women are treated upon it. This approach was incredibly engaging and inventive, while perfectly communicating very serious topics.

I loved that Marshall didn’t pull a single punch with this collection, and I would highly recommend it!

A fantastic unique group of stories Realy enjoyed each one. From the books title the cover the wonderful writing I enjoyed this book from beginning to end.#netgalley #bloomsbury

This collection does a fantastic job of being both literary and entertaining. The author is a very talented storyteller with a wonderful attention to language and detail. These stories contain dark humor as well as wise insights. Some of them contain elements of the absurd and others bring in a science fiction/fantasy angle. I found them wildly inventive and fun. Some readers might find some of the topics to be disturbing, so content warnings would be helpful.

Highly recommended for fans of experimental fiction, similar in some ways to Carmen Maria Machado.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance e-galley; all opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

So, this collection starts off the bat with some really powerful stories– the story the book is named after, "Women! In! Peril!" is probably one of the best short stories I've ever read. It's a speculative story told from an incredibly unreliable narrator, where you are almost urged to try to fill in the blanks, but when you do, you come up more confused than you previously were. It's a fascinating story that I hope to be able to discuss with others when this is published. So you can imagine my disappointment when the other stories in the book felt boring and kind of cliche? Like, the one direction after "Women! In! Peril!" which is mostly a woman dealing with a divorce, or one in which you are in the mind of a teacher who forms a crush on her high school student in the midst of life crises. These stories aren't bad–arguably, they're technically flawless– but they're not nearly as gripping as the few standouts of this collection. I've left the decision to recommend this for the IndieNext list up to the owner of the bookstore itself. I do think the titular story is worth the whole book, but I can't promise the whole book will be everyone's cup of tea.

Worth a read for the titular story alone, Women! In! Peril! explores uncomfortable womanhood, displaying intentionally unflattering angles of femininity that aren't usually given space in storytelling. Discomfort, selfishness, misogyny, and all sorts of negative traits are at the forefront here, exposed without judgment and explored honestly. Jessie Ren Marshall is a new voice in literary fiction to be reckoned with.

Wow! Riveting short stories, From "Annie" to "Immaculate" to "Our Country Daughter" - here is smart, wry commentary, playful language, and inventive storytelling. I loved the list form in "Immaculate" and the character's interior monologue (felt like a sister or cousin of Miranda July). All in all, very enjoyable.

I included this amazing book in a round-up article on books I am looking forward to in 2024 at Michigan Quarterly Review. Here is what I wrote about it:

" This collection is a gift of humor and an extraordinary imagination combined with astute insight into the inner lives of characters and the social pressures that constrain them. Jessie Ren Marshall’s work shows a command of her craft but also a love of play, experimentation, fun, which I love as a reader. I cannot wait for these stories of ghosts, sex robots, Deep Space, queerness, parenting, divorce, and identity to be out in the world."

I immediately loved this book from the first page. All the stories were centered around women's experiences and some stories also dealt with themes on Asian American identity. Every story was unique and darkly comical. I loved everything about it. After reading it I wanted to read everything Jessie Ren Marshall has written and will ever write.

Pretty great. Some stories were more of a 3.5, but most were 4-5 stars! Especially Women In Peril, the title storyZ thanks for the arc

A great short story collection with feminist and queer themes, among other things. Every single story is extremely entertaining, but will also make you think about certain situations and themes in a different way. I think there is something for everyone in this collection!

I really loved this short story collection. The stories were quirky, funny, and poignant. Jessie Ren Marshall is a wonderful writer and storyteller. She has such a great sense of humor, and she's not afraid to write about disturbing topics. The only story I didn't care for was "Sister Fat". It was a pointless and absurd story. I couldn't get into it at all. I think my favorites were "Annie", "Our Country Daughter", "Late Girl", "Dogs" and "My Immaculate Girlfriend". There's a little bit of everything from sex bots, to space travel, to pregnant lesbians. I will definitely read more from this author in the future. This book was delightfully weird. So much fun!

Thank you, Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the digital ARC.

Women! In! Peril! is a collection of short stories featuring women in peril… but it’s not how you think. For example, the first story focuses on a robot who is designed to make all areas of human life easier. She cooks, cleans, can do anything you’d like her to (yes, even that) but is discarded by the end of the story and lays broken at the bottom of a quarry not having actually done any of the tasks she was designed for. However, the real woman in peril is the mother in the story who originally purchased her.

Each story makes you feel different emotions and think about what’s really going on and they’re all very well done.

Women! In! Peril! is a collection of short stories, most of which were not in my wheelhouse. (I got this galley from NetGalley thinking there would be more science fiction or fantasy stories, but it turns out there weren't that many. This was somewhat disappointing.) My reviews are going to be focused on the science fiction stories, and one of the two stories that may or may not be magical realism.

Annie 2: A woman buys an Ambiguous Asian appearing "Jill of All" robot for her son as a sex toy. (To apparently replace the human girlfriend who dumped him.) Annie wants to be helpful and useful, even if it's as a sex toy, but is unable to fulfill its function because there is no helping this family of creepy dysfunctional people. Fridge Horror moment: it's revealed that most of the devices in the home have some level of sentience but they can't communicate with anyone except the "Jill of All" robot. Pet Peeve: I have strong negative feelings when writers inexplicably make up stupid band names with stupid songs to make fun of a music genre they hate. General reaction: "So, how about that late late late stage capitalism?"

Women! In! Peril!: A woman is on a colony ship where most of the passengers are in cryo sleep. The story is told in a microblogging format. The woman has extended meltdowns and an equally extended conflict with another passenger that ends with her finding out that Civilization Has Been Destroyed back on Earth. She decides to finish the job. I think? At the end she rambles about the potential futures of babies that aren't going to be born because she picked the option that would lead to "the end of humanity." General reaction: Are all of these stories going to be bummers?

My Immaculate Girlfriend: A woman is having a meltdown because her girlfriend is pregnant after apparently cheating on her. The woman spends a great deal of time ranting and coming up with increasingly incoherent explanations for how this even occurred. The woman and her girlfriend seem to have an extremely toxic relationship (if you couldn't already tell by the 'decides to start family without having any planning' incident.) Mel, the girlfriend, refuses to state how she got pregnant, stating it's a miracle. Since it may literally be a miracle and not the girlfriend telling whoppers, I'm including it. General reaction: "Why don't you dump her?"

(The other story that may or may not be magical realism is "Mrs. Fisher" which is about a woman who is having a troubled marriage and may or may not be considering having an affair with a student. The possible magical realism is that she has an extended conversation with a boulder.)

Overall reaction: not really to my taste. I ended up doing a lot of skimming because I didn't like any of the characters, and didn't think any of their actions made sense. These stories are all very "literary" in the sense that there is a Point of some kind to the story, and that Point is more important than the plot or the characters involved in the plot. Someone who actually likes that kind of writing may get more out of this book than I did.

Women! In! Peril!, a brash and unputdownable collection of short stories by Jessie Ren Marshall, offers a captivating reading experience. With intriguing characters and thought-provoking narratives, Marshall successfully pushes the boundaries of social norms and family expectations. In this collection, readers are introduced to a wide array of women who challenge conventions as they strive to reclaim their power, grapple with personal dilemmas, and envision a better future. One of the standout stories in Women! In! Peril! features a determined sex bot on a mission to surpass her return policy. Marshall skillfully presents the complexities of this character's existence, blending humor and a sense of urgency. As the sex bot navigates her own journey, readers are compelled to ponder the nature of autonomy and the boundaries of artificial intelligence. Another tale follows a skeptical lesbian as she confronts her wife's mysterious pregnancy. This narrative delves into the intricacies of queer relationships and the challenges faced by couples in unexpected circumstances. Marshall seamlessly weaves together humor and poignancy, guiding readers through the protagonist's exploration of love, identity, and the complexities of motherhood. In the realm of speculative fiction, Marshall introduces readers to a post-Earth colonist, who grapples with her diminishing faith in humanity while embarking on a journey to "Planet B." Through this character's eyes, readers witness the struggle to maintain hope and find solace in an unfamiliar environment. The narrative deftly explores themes of isolation, resilience, and the constant search for connection. Throughout Women! In! Peril!, Marshall demonstrates her ability to balance humor and gravitas with finesse. The collection tackles a wide range of topics, including queerness, toxic relationships, parenting and divorce, as well as Asian and Asian American identity. Each story provides a nuanced exploration of the human experience, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives and relationships. In conclusion, Women! In! Peril! by Jessie Ren Marshall is a remarkable collection of twelve stories that captivate readers from start to finish. With a fearless and optimistic spirit, Marshall masterfully navigates the complexities of human existence, challenging societal norms and family expectations. This book is a must-read for those seeking laughter, heartbreak, and a renewed sense of hope.