Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with a review copy.

I've never met a Mariana Enríquez short story collection I didn't love, and this is no exception. I don't know how she keeps churning out such fully formed microcosms of horror. What I love most about all of these stories is how how whatever paranormal or supernatural occurrence is only there in glimpses, and when the story ends, you're left with the real horror, which is always decidedly human.

I am not a huge fan of short story collections as they are often hit or miss. There are sometimes a few bangers and sometimes a few flops: overall a decent collection.

Okay, first let me say that this cover is absolutely stunning. This is the most aesthetically pleasing cover er that I have ever seen for a short story collection, the overall artistic style is so chic, and interesting, and appealing and was 100% responsible for bringing my attention to this collection.

As is common in most short story collections, I enjoyed some of these more than the others. My favorite was probably the first one, it cut through to the heart of me and I found it very relatable personally. I also am a huge fan of the supernatural and absolutely loooove reading ghosty stories, although it's a very specific genre that isn't always handled to the best of it's ability, but in this case I think the topic of ghosts was handled in a reasonable, realistic way so that it still felt like normal fiction rather than fantasy.

Enriquez's writing is top notch, her specific authorial voice is so pleasing to read that it made even the less good stories fun to get through.

Nothing that I could write could ever sum up how absolutely perfect this collection of short stories was to me. My faves were: My Sad Dead, Face or Disgrace, Different Colors Made of Tears, and Black Eyes, but every single story was a banger. Enriquez excels at crafting a unique and horrifying setting in just a few pages. It's been a while since I read this (I got a little behind on life) but some of the stories are still on repeat in my brain.

I will not stop reading and recommending this author. Short stories are my favorite and this is an excellent collection.

Another winner of a collection. Enriquez takes on everyday horrors, from generational trauma to violent misogyny, with a hefty dose of the supernatural. Her previous collection, The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, remains my favorite.

Absolutely loved this short story collection! Some stories I enjoyed more than others, but those that stuck with me were so spooky and just weird overall (in a good way.) Some of my favorites were A Sad Dead, Night Bird, Different Colors Made of Tears, and Black Eyes! The page before the "About the Author" section was alone to boost the rating up a star. Terrifying!! Mariana Enriquez is slowly but surely becoming an auto-buy author for me.

This was a unique compiling of stories. Not something I would normally pick up, but I'm glad I got the chance to experience them.

A few of them were way more telling than showing, but over all they all left me with a bit of a chill and a drive to continue forward.

You'll enjoy this read if you are looking for something different in a horror story. Quick reads to get the heart pumping.

This was my first time reading this author and reading a collection of short stories.

So, I have to say I hated this. I was extremely turned off by how the author portrays mental illness and using that as a horror element? What in the world?!

Also, the story about being “fat” and bigger bodies are made in a horrible light.

NO thank you.

1/5 stars

The first story of this short story collection continues to haunt me. The stories linger within you and leave a mark that is so indicative of Mariana Enriquez. All of the stories are brilliant and I highly recommend this book. I first read it in Spanish and then in English and feel that the translation was brilliantly done.

I've been appreciating the value of a good short story lately, and overall, I enjoyed these. The opening story was a strong start, sad, but full of empathy. I would say the rest were mostly 3-4 stars for me, with some resonating more than others. There was only one that I wasn't a huge fan of, and that was the 4th one, Julie. I mean, maybe a young girl having sex with ghosts was a little weird, but I did not like her parents and how they treated her, and I felt like the story was making it seem like being fat was a deformity. In the end, I didn't know if it was a happy ending for Julie or not. I certainly hope so!

Overall, I enjoyed these stories and thought they were very well done. I was able to take my time with these and was suitably creeped out by several of them. I would recommend this collection.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mariana Enriquez's writing keeps me coming back to the horror genre that is otherwise not my go-to topic, and is often male dominated. Female presence and voice, even in the dark and macabre is welcome and important addition to the genre. Each story unsettles, but the quality and depth of writing in each short story keeps the pages turning.

I gave this one 3/5 stars (and would make it 3.5 if I could do half stars), because I happened to hit a reading slump midway through and I typically find short story collections more challenging to get through as each story creates its own distinct world.

A thrilling collection of short stories that dive into the horrors of the world and what it means to be human - achingly.

My first read from Mariana Enriquez was her novel “Our Share of Night” which I absolutely loved so I was very excited when I realized another book of short stories would be coming out.

Short story collections usually do not stay with me but “A Sunny Place for Shady People” is a great collection. I genuinely enjoyed each of the twelve stories and each one explored a different horror magnificently. The imagery on the pages were impactful and I found I could relate to the women within their stories. I cannot wait to explore more stories written by Mariana Enriquez.

Enriquez creates a chilling atmosphere that lingers long after the stories have ended, making this a compelling read for fans of literary horror and the grotesque.

Loved this collection of short stories! A great mix of literary fiction and horror. Will definitely read more from this author and excited to check out their backlist.

4 Stars

A Sunny Place for Shady People is a compelling collection that delivers her signature blend of the macabre and the socially relevant. Set in various seemingly idyllic places, these stories reveal the dark underbelly, exploring themes of corruption, and the eerie side of human nature. As usual, Enriquez’s storytelling is satisfyingly atmospheric, presenting us with people and places that feel simultaneously familiar and unsettling. In these stories she really captures that unsettling tension between the seen and the unseen, leaving readers haunted by even the most mundane horrors.

Each story is a blend of realism and supernatural elements, and the writing manages to be both sharp and lyrical. This writing style is perfect for these stories, because it brings to life the gritty, morally ambiguous worlds her characters inhabit. The stories discuss themes of violence, addiction, and social decay without becoming gratuitous (thank goodness because I’m tired of this trend with authors lately).

Her characters are often deeply flawed, yet their vulnerabilities make them tangible, and Enriquez’s insight into human nature adds depth to her unsettling tales. I have one slight drawback though. This collection’s tone can feel relentlessly dark and oppressive, and because of that, the stories start to blur together.This makes the first half of the collection more impactful, while getting through the later stories feels a bit exhausting.

A Sunny Place for Shady People is a great collection that I’d recommend to fans of literary horror, and fans of her previous work like The Dangers of Smoking in Bed.

This was a solid collection of stories, beautifully written and memorable. This was my first time reading Enriquez’ short fiction, and I will definitely be adding the author’s other collections to my shelf. Highly recommend for fans of Latinx fiction and horror with heart.

I have previously loved this author's work so I requested this one even though I don't ordinarily love a lot of short fiction. These stories were fine but they did not excite or inspire me. Ultimately they left me lukewarm.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

I didn’t know how utterly deprived I’ve been of unbelievable short stories until I read A Sunny Place for Shady People.

There’s no filler in this short story collection. I enjoyed every single one. Some stood out more than others when it comes to personal faves and these are the ones I liked the most: “Different Colours Made of Tears”, “The Refrigerator Cemetery” and “Black Eyes”.

It’s been a while since I’ve read short stories that are actually short and not novella length. It was a refreshing change but I found myself struggling to remember plot points if I put the book down in the middle of a story. This isn’t a fault of the collection at all and doesn’t mean the stories are not memorable. This is purely my own issue and a perfect example of “it’s not you, it’s me”.

If you’re in the mood for some creepy and unsettling stories you won’t be disappointed with A Sunny Place for Shady People. With the sun setting earlier and the days getting colder it’s the perfect time to cozy up with some spooky tales.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for making this eARC available to me in exchange for an honest review.

A Sunny Place for Shady People is out now!

4⭐️