It’s pretty par for the course that short story collections tend to be very hit or miss. This book is no exception. There are some beautiful stories in here. However, some of the stories had me absolutely scratching my head, especially at the conclusions. The story “Orphans” was a gorgeous tale about heartache and loneliness. I also loved Kate DiCamillo’s brutal story on childhood memories. I’m not going to give any more details, so you can discover what you like without any bias.

Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I always look forward to the Best Short Story collection and this edition did not disappoint. I was impressed with Towles introduction, highlighting the element of mystery/surprise in the short story vs the novel which I had never really considered before. I adored the short story, "Roy" by Emma Binder as the opening piece and loved the humor in "The Home Visit" by Morris Collins. The selection of stories had a great range in tone and style - some felt modern and fresh while others felt warm and weathered, like they were written in another time.
There is something for everyone in this collection and I applaud the original writers and the editors for compiling these stories.

#TheBestShortStories2024 #NetGalley

The 2024 edition is edited by Amor Towles, quite a short story writer in his own right. This was a nice mixture of works. My favorite was the sentimental, but gorgeously written “Orphans” by Brad Felver. The author had me with all three main characters and in the place described as well. Stunning.

I also enjoyed “The Honor of Your Presence” by Dave Eggers. Overall a good batch of stories. Well chosen and I liked the progression.

A really wonderful short story anthology! There was such a wide variety of genres and stories represented in this collection which made it a joy to read. I also appreciated the blurbs at the end from each author that provided some additional insight into their writing process. Worth a read!

A thoughtfully and meticulously curated collection of voices, styles, and approaches, a worthy addition to the series.

A wonderful anthology of short stories.I enjoy picking a story and entering a new world a new adventure.This is a really well edited group of stories fun to dive into.#netgalley #knopf

The Best Short Stories Of 2024 by amor Towles in multiple authors. I love anthologies with short stories by different authors and with this book you get the years best from my favorite by Brad Felver called Orphans, about second chances and chosen families and one by Emma Binder called Roy, about a little girl and the bond she felt with her uncle Roy who was the black sheep of the family, and a strange story by Imelda Hide I think it was called mobilization I believe what makes the stories oh Henry winners in the best of 2024 is because they stick with you long after closing the book. The three stories are named or the ones I thought most about but they have some very good stories by other authors that are also pretty good and although my favorites may not be your favorites I’m almost positive anyone can find a favorite in this great book of short stories. I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Unlike novels where the reader has a pre-awareness of the adventure they are about to embark on, surprise is an important part of the short story experience.

Short story writers waste little space “orienting” their readers which leaves room for imagination to flourish.

These are the winning stories from 2024. I enjoyed some more than others and a few I had to pause and ponder a bit before reading more.