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⭐️

This is, sincerely, one of the very best short story collections I've ever read. Dark, not in a monstrous way (although....?) but in a human way--and deliciously so!
I am pretty picky about short story collections. I find that they are usually hit or miss for me. Though some of the stories at the end didn't feel AS mindblowing as the first 5-6, they were all smash hits.
I picked this up when I needed to be distracted the most, and I was blown away.

Enriquez once again proves her mastery of gothic horror with this chilling collection that explores the eerie and unsettling, blending paranormal elements with the strange realities of urban life. While the stories start with a quieter tone, they quickly escalate, culminating in the final three tales that are absolutely unforgettable. Her vivid imagery and creeping tone make each story feel disturbingly real, delivering visceral and thought-provoking commentary on imperialism, nationalism, and human darkness. Fans of Latin American horror will find Enriquez’s unique voice and powerful storytelling impossible to forget!

I am so thankful to Hogarth Books, PRH Audio, Mariana Enriquez, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access to this galley before publication day. I really enjoyed the dialogue and plot of this book and can’t wait to chat this one up with my friends!

Mariana Enriquez is an Argentinian horror writer who has written both short stories and one big novel that have been translated into English. Her stories are odd, inventive and unsettling and her newest collection, <i>A Sunny Place for Shady People</i>, is as solid and surprising as her previous ones. In this book, a woman is able to communicate with the newly dead; an elderly man sells his dead wife's designer gowns to a second-hand store; two friends tour a palace that had previously been used for torture, only to find themselves pulled into the past; and a couple rent an Airbnb in a small, picturesque town and have a very bad weekend.

The stories are remarkably varied and give a look at what life is like in Argentina from the neighborhoods teetering on the edge of poverty, to the comfortably off deciding where to go on vacation. Megan McDowell's translation is, as always, seamless and easy to read. These stories lean towards the unsettling side of horror, rather than gore, but some are disturbing. Enriquez is such an imaginative writer and her short stories are where she shines brightest.

A Sunny Place for Shady People is a collection of 12 literary horror short stories by Argentine author Mariana Enriquez.

This is my fourth book by Enriquez; I’ve previously read her two other translated short story collections as well as her novel Our Share of Night. What I enjoy most about Enriquez’s writing is her ability to seamlessly blend the supernatural with the horrors of everyday life. In this collection, she dives deep into both societal trauma and personal fears, leaving readers questioning the line between reality and the supernatural.

One notable aspect of this collection, which I either hadn’t noticed in her other works or is new here, is her inclusion of stories, settings, and characters from the U.S. One of the stories even centers around the mysterious death of Elisa Lam.

Just as in her other collections, A Sunny Place for Shady People captures universal fears and struggles, making her themes feel universal.

If you enjoy literary horror, social commentary, and open endings, you’ll find much to love in this collection.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hogarth for an advanced reader's copy of A Sunny Place for Shady People.

☀️A SUNNY PLACE FOR SHADY PEOPLE☀️ by @marianaenriquez1973 is a stunning collection of short stories filled with ghosts, goblins, and incredibly relatable humans. Thank you to the author, @netgalley, and the publisher @hogarthbooks for the e-ARC.

🥀🥀🥀

There were 12 stories in this collection and while one or two were not my favorite, I do feel like I got something from each of these. One of the stories revolves around what appears to be a small town cult (A Local Artist), another is a sort of retelling of the historical darkness surrounding the Cecil hotel (A Sunny Place For Shady People), a woman becomes obsessed with fibroids removed from her uterus (Metamorphosis), in another a woman gets SUPER in tune with some spirits (Julie), and my favorite, a man tries to get revenge on women using his dead lovers clothing (Different Colors Made Of Tears).

Highly inventive, strange, blasphemous, and creepy, this collection was pretty amazing. Highly recommended if you like weird, thought-provoking short stories!

Exactly the kind of unsettling, eerie writing we've come to expect from Mariana Enriquez! Her ability to take a normal setting and turn it into something that makes you shudder is unbelievable. Like most short story collections, there were some stories that I enjoyed more than others but overall it's a great collection.

I have read and loved Mariana Enriquez in the past, but for some reason I couldn't connect with any of these stories.

I looooved Mariana Enriquez's other short story collection - The Dangers of Smoking in Bed so when i got the ARC for this book I, literally, squealed. I'm so happy it was just as good! I think The Dangers of Smoking in Bed resonated with me a bit differently so I was a bit more invested but this one touches on some, currently very apt, themes and while there was one I was reading through my fingers (body mod is not my digs) I felt like this was a story that needed to be read.

1000000000/5 stars

As a HUGE fan of Mariana Enriquez, I can confidently say that *A Sunny Place for Shady People* is nothing short of incredible! In this collection of twelve mesmerizing stories, she masterfully weaves the ordinary with the supernatural, capturing the unsettling essence of contemporary life in Argentina. Each tale, from ghostly encounters to surreal horrors, pulls you in with its lyrical prose and haunting themes.

Enriquez has a unique ability to explore the darker corners of human existence while illuminating the strength of women. Her imagination is both terrifying and captivating, leaving you breathless and eager for more. I absolutely need to add a physical copy of this stunning book to my shelves ASAP! If you haven't yet ventured into Enriquez's world, you're missing out on a truly extraordinary literary experience.

3.5. I think Mariana Enríquez's art suffers a bit in the short-story format; the setup doesn't quite pay off at the end of these vignettes. Nonetheless, the nastiness and horror I have come to expect from her writing shines through.

Enriquez is always excellent. There were some stories here that I loved more than others - particularly the ones that take place in Argentina, and do what she does brilliantly - tie in historical atrocities to modern day horror narratives. But even her lighter fare is so much fun to read. And I love the way each concept startles in its originality. There are no overly familiar horror tropes here. And her humor is also really strong in this one. I only wish the book was a million pages longer - I could read her forever.

I am still too intimidated to pick up Enriquez’s tome Our Share of the Night, but I have loved her brand of horror in short fiction format and this new collection is no exception. The collection begins with three brilliant epigraphs that serve to establish an eerie tone along with some of the major themes of the collection: sadness, fear, aging, dying, and the physical and emotional traumas that haunt us. From there, through twelve stories Enriquez featuring women whose otherworldly encounters mirror the terror of being a woman and the contemporary landscape of Argentina. As a master short fiction writers, Enriquez begins and ends every story with an unforgettable image, twist, or bit of prose, making this a literary delight for horror lovers and avoiders alike.

Some of these made me stop and read them aloud to fully luxuriate in them. Spooky, weird, graphic, GORGEOUS language.

A Sunny Place for Shady People is a fantastic short story collection following an array of different characters in a variety of creepy and disturbing scenarios. Through twelve different stories, Enriquez gives the readers glimpses into Argentinian life while exploring occult and horror themes.

I enjoyed the collection and absolutely see myself revisiting these stories, although some of them worked more for me than others. Enriquez has a great voice and this is my first time reading her work, so I will be exploring her previous titles too.

3.5 stars (rounded down).

A collection of horror short stories, "A Sunny Place for Shady People" is, sadly, more misses than hits. Some are wonderfully creepy, atmospheric, and ghoulish visceral, but others are painfully flat and miss their mark entirely. Some deal with real-life horrors, others deal with urban legends and mysticism. My favorite shorts dealt with body horror, and "Face of Disgrace" and "Metamorphosis" were the best of the bunch. I also liked "The Suffering Woman" and "A Local Artist." The writing is hauntingly beautiful, but no amount of frilly prose can excuse dullness. I will definitely read this author again, regardless of how I feel about this set of shorts.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mariana Enriquez, Random House Publishing Group, and Hogarth for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.