These stories are gems, every single year. Thank you to Lauren Groff and Heidi Pitlor for this beautiful collection. I love when these come out every year and note who the editors are and which stories I liked the most. Essential for writers who want to be published in literary journals and magazines. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

Best American Short Stories 2024

I am a huge fan of short story analogies. I consider them the best way to obtain a snapshot of an author’s style and genre. I have found many new authors this way. I have read this particular collection for many years, edited by the fabulous Heidi Pietlor who will be greatly missed.

In addition to the authors, each annual guest editor can also give insight. I have had Lauren Groff on my radar for years, but I haven’t read any of her work. This year’s collection of 20 stories offers the fanciful, the reliable, the thought-provoking, the weird and one unfortunate case, the boring. As one small criticism, it might be beneficial to not reveal the publication of the story until the end of the collection. I found myself having inner expectations of a story in say the New Yorker as opposed to Electric Literature.

Here are my thoughts on each individual story.

The Magic Bangle - An interesting start to the collection. An average story that did hold my interest, but didn’t hit me as spectacular. Starting off with a fairy tale certainly sets the tone for the rest of the collection.

Jewel of the Gulf of Mexico - I feel like I did not “get” the story even though I read it twice. I cannot explain why it went over my head and I feel like I should apologize for that.

Viola in Midwinter - Another story that didn’t particularly resonate. It was at this point that I was becoming discouraged, but also determined to continue. I was thinking that perhaps Groff just wasn’t for me. But I was also sure there would be a gem waiting down the line.

Blessed Deliverance - This was a highly interesting story with my only criticism being I wasn’t completely settled with the resolution.

Phenotype - The first story that completely held my attention. Loved the dynamic between the two main characters. I made a note of the author, Alexandra Chang. I would read more of her work.

Evensong - A very relatable story in a weird way. As an agnostic, I found the portrayal
of religion to be thought-provoking. Instead of religion tearing us apart as it often does, it also brings different people together for non religious reasons. This one resonates with me.

The Happiest Day of Your Life - This seemed average and also a bit theatrical. It reminded me of something I might see on a soap opera.

The Bed and Breakfast - A readable story that is entertaining enough but doesn’t seem to go far enough. I wanted more.

Dorchester - This one highly interested me. Although I wouldn’t normally read something about this type of relationship, it still works. It reminds me slightly of the feeling I get after reading Bret Easton Ellis’ work.

Seeing through Maps - Most of this story is filled with quotable sentences because they are that good. Perfect to read during the holiday season. I also made a note of Madeline ffitch. My favorite quote (used only in this NG review) is “After the house burned we took the words apart and when we put them back together our relationship had changed.” My favorite writing of every story in the collection.

Democracy in America - WOW! This was the gem for which I was searching. The idea of monetizing one’s looks to prosper is not new, but this story provides an entirely new take. Not only did I notate Allegra Hyde by name, I searched her out on social media and thanked her for creating such a memorable story. This story alone makes reading the collection worthwhile.

Engeland - I appreciated the Chaucer reference. The repeated mentions of ants reminded me of Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”. Although I liked combining Chaucer and an almost Agatha Christie-esque story, I admit this one wasn’t for me.

P’s Parties - Who doesn’t love Jhumpa Lahiri? This was the first translated story ever included in these collections, and I see why the exception was made. This is the kind of story that I love. It calls Gatsby to mind. A story of the rich illustrating that life has no regard for money. The ending was sobering and of course Lahiri is on everyone’s list.

A Case Study - This is another anomalous story written clinically in only third person. There are also no names given to characters. It is a very clever story and I would read other works by the author. I don’t want to say too much else. The ending phrase is beautiful.

Just Another Family - My favorite story in the collection with a fantastically realistic opening line. Also a perfect story for this time of the year. I love dysfunctional family stories. This was so engrossing that I am following the author and will read anything she writes going forward.

Privilege - This story took me by surprise. I wasn’t even sure of the setting in place or time until explicitly stated, and once I caught on it improved. A story that could lean towards being morose but piqued my curiosity to research this event further. Certain parts are also very quotable.

Baboons - This was a miss for me. I felt as if I was reading two different stories depending on location. I also don’t like the resolution. Some people might even feel offended by the ending.

Extinction - Back to back depressing stories make this collection harder to get through. This one also didn’t interest me and I would avoid anything this author writes.

Mall of America - This story is timely, relevant and heartbreaking. I feel that stories relating to AI will become more and more prevalent as the issue becomes more and more contemporary. Drawing a protagonist this fully contributes to the ending sadness. There is also a touch of science fiction but that could be my impression.

Valley of the Moon - The story was entertaining enough but not the bang I wanted for an ending to this collection. Classification of this one is difficult as there are parts of many genres within, The highlight is the portrayal of the protagonist. But there is also an intentional distance.


All that being said, I am glad I read the collection. I look forward to reading the 2025 edition, although in the future I may pay closer attention to the guest editor. I rate it 3.5 stars.

The Best American Short Stories 2024edited by Lauren croft is a mixed bag of entertainment. I usually cannot put the annual collection down but this year it was only OK. They do have some outstanding stories such as The privileged, seeing through Maps, the mall of America and last but definitely not least baboon the rest of the stories in my opinion is just OK, with a special shout out for seeing through Maps, I thought the author of that short story had such clever word play and had such a reliable narrative I would definitely read a novel written by that writer. But because these stories were picked by someone you may very well enjoy them and think they’re great. As we all know as readers not every story is for every reader and so like any book and book reviewer take it with a grain of salt. #NetGalley, #LaurenCroft, #TheBestAmericanShortStoriesOf2024,

The Best American Short Stories 2024 is an outstanding anthology that showcases the exceptional talent and storytelling mastery of contemporary American writers. Lauren Groff as a guest editor helped to pull together a diverse collection of short stories with depth. Although I did not love every story included, I liked most of them, and felt like they all contributed something to the whole. It's a must-read for any lover of short fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big fan of stories and have read a few story collections this year. This was a VERY mixed bag. The few I definitely recommend were towards the end of the book. So if you try this, don't give up. My favorite was "Mall of America", the story of an elderly Chinese man and the relationship he develops with the narrator of the story - an AI system trying to maximize mall profits. Bet you haven't read anything with that plot before.
I also liked "Privilege" "Bed and Breakfast" "Seeing Through Maps" and "Engelond". Many of the others felt too political and just too - angry. The stories I enjoyed made me think, but I didn't feel bludgeoned.

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙭𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙣𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡.” 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙖 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙋𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙮𝙥𝙚
Short stories can be, at least in my mind, tougher to read and write. They must grab you in less time and pack a little punch to be remembered. This is a collection that amplifies many voices. I didn’t feel like I was reading the same author, nor common experiences and for that, I loved it. When I become a highlighting fool, I know I am reading a great collection.

Unusual love affairs, ageless women, a slave ship replica, forbidden attractions, lies of omission, a farmhouse in Italy that slowly loses its charm for one family, to name a few hooks.

It’s hard to name favorites but, in no particular order, The Bed & Breakfast by Molly Dektar reminded me how vulnerable children are to their parent’s whims. When a family moves from the Blue Ridge Mountains to an old, stone farmhouse in Italy the father has plans to turn it into a little Bed & Breakfast but what follows is disaster. Their neighbor Claudio befriends them all, young Louise adores him and one day enters his house and learns more about her mother. Her father’s big dreams push the family apart, “We were all barely holding on to each other.”

Evensong by Laurie Colwin - is beautiful and surprising. What could an old man have that could stoke a fire in a young woman’s heart. It is about the interconnectedness of those who surround you, who take up real estate in your story.

Phenotype by Alexandra Chang - An undergrad student falls in love with her former TA, a Korean who ‘according to others’ is into ‘mediocre white girls.’ Overhearing such things working in the lab doesn’t change Judith’s feelings for KJ. They are the perfect smell, together.

Viola In Midwinter by Marie- Helene Bertino- Viola stops aging but without the boundaries of time, what does it do to the heart, to the possibility of love with someone? Hunting alone cannot sustain a life.

Dorchester by Steven Duong is extraordinary. When the narrator’s poem about a Vietnamese woman stabbed to death in her home in Dorchester goes viral, he finally gets ‘the noise’ he hungers for. Others build him up as a voice for the Asian American community, piling on meaning that isn’t, necessarily, fact. The truth about his relationship with his mother, their history as immigrants to America isn’t what he once believed. This is story is a gut punch.

Madeline ffitch’s Seeing Through Maps is a bitter score that will never be settled between “neighbors’ and a son who had to escape their madness. A life built on misery, it is all they have left for company, and each other.

Engelond by Taisia Kitaiskaia - Martha’s father made her love Engelond (though they are Russian born) through authors like Chaucer and Agatha Christie, now in her late thirties and an orphan of sorts with both parents dead and no other family, she finds herself being invaded by ants while staying at a cattle ranch. Not an ordinary ranch, but one with a butler owned by the Grandcourts, an “old English family” who love their fusty ways. A place her soviet ancestors couldn’t imagine in their wildest dreams. Things get strange, and she longs for her small life, this Queen of the Ants.

Lori Ostlund (I loved her story), Katherine Dunn, and Jhumpa Lahiri are within the collection as well, wonderful. I could gush more but leave it to the readers.

Published October 22, 2024

Mariner Books

I love a short story anthology. I read the stories one at a time, here and there when I have short snippets of time.

My favorites from this collection include:
The Happiest Days of Your Life
Dorchester
Seeing through Maps
Mall of America

This is the last edition that Heidi Pitlor, the series editor, will edit, so the introduction was largely about Heidi's departure.

The Best Short Stories 2024 was a great collection. It had a range of styles and some quality authors.

Many, many thanks to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the eARC of the 2024 edition of BASS. So much to love here in the selections—my favorite stories of the bunch were "The Magic Bangle," "Phenotype" (aspects of which were strikingly similar to things that have happened in my life, though that wasn't why I loved it), and "The Bed & Breakfast." BUT! My *favorite* part of this, by far, was the introductory essay by guest editor/fiction goddess Lauren Groff. She makes so many keen observations about writing in the essay, but there was one thing she notes that stood out to me like a blinking neon sign—which I will not spoil, just get a copy of this book and read it!—something I'd never considered before, but that will now always be on my mind when reading or writing fiction in the future. Fabulous. I couldn't preorder a copy fast enough.

"The Best American Short Stories 2024" is a thought-provoking anthology that showcases a variety of voices and styles. While the collection has some standout stories that are sure to resonate with readers, others may fall short, making it a bit of a mixed bag.

One of the strengths of this anthology is its ability to highlight diverse perspectives and storytelling techniques. The stories selected by Groff and Pitlor demonstrate the breadth and depth of contemporary American fiction, offering readers a glimpse into a wide range of experiences and imaginations.

However, as with any anthology, not every story will appeal to every reader. Some may find certain stories too experimental or obtuse, while others may wish for more emotional depth or character development.

Overall, "The Best American Short Stories 2024" is a worthwhile read for fans of short fiction and anyone interested in exploring the current landscape of American literature. While not every story may resonate with every reader, the collection as a whole offers a fascinating snapshot of contemporary American writing.

A great group that showcases American's greatest strength---our diversity! Well written, moving collection of stories. Some massive hits, some misses. The most important thing to me is that the quality of the writing in this selection is high.

Terrific collection. I look forward to this every year. It's a great way to discover new authors (for me).

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. I was amazed at how quickly I became immersed in each story. They were delightfully weird with very interesting characters. As a fan of Lauren Groff, I was not disappointed. This was the first BASS collection I read. I now intend to read previous collections edited by other favorite authors.

I always look forward to this anthology every year. I don’t think all stories are perfect by any means, but I think there is plenty for everyone to find and enjoy.

Another iteration of the Best American Short Stories, this one of mixed quality. One of my favorite parts of BASS (as compared to Best American Essays) is the precis each author gives explaining the genesis of their work.

Below are brief thoughts on each story included in the anthology. The ratings do not necessarily speak to the definitive quality of the work, as much as to my own particular enjoyment and appreciation of it. Note that these ratings contain spoilers.

The Magic Bangle: ★★★. A gay man goes to Delhi and pretends to be a tourist. He cruises a bangle seller. The story was okay but forgettable; it felt like derivative Jai Chakrabarti, but less morally interesting.

Jewel of the Gulf of Mexico: ★★½. A Black man with a good relationship with his wife goes on his striving father-in-law's recently purchased slave boat. I read this story twice and unfortunately found it somewhat incoherent.

Viola in Midwinter: ★★★. A story imagining the banalities of immortality through a woman who became immortal in her middle age: perimenopause forever! This was just okay.

Blessed Deliverance: ★★★½. Boys in Brooklyn track the changing of their city and their relationship with a homeless man hired by a rabbit shelter, "Headass." Jamel Brinkley has a fantastic understated prose style, but i found the message of this particular story about the importance of names / naming to be a bit obvious. Maybe another Brinkley story might have been better for the collection?

Phenotype: ★★★★. A story told from POV of white woman who gets into a relationship with a korean grad student. This story was utterly delightful, surprising, funny, and immersive. The voice was so unique.

Evensong: ★★★½. An upper-middle class woman in the 70's (?) has an affair and goes to church. I remember reading this one in the new yorker. A lovely story, a bit simple / on the nose with the final sentence though.

The Happiest Day of Your Life: ★★★. A drunk man attends a wedding, gets drunker, and has a good time. Well written, but not particularly interesting or memorable.

The Bed & Breakfast: ★★★½. A girl's family moves to Italy from North Carolina. Her father intends to open a bed and breakfast. They have a testy relationship with their next-door italian neighbor. Not bad, but this didn't really feel like a short story; it felt like the chapter of a novel shoehorned into a short story excerpt.

Dorchester: ★★★★. A vietnamese-american poet writes righteous poetry, is in a BDSM relationship, and he has a secret: his mother lied about being a refugee! I found this story fun, voicey, unique, and very thought-provoking. An excellent piece to be included in this anthology.

Seeing Through Maps: ★★★½. A woman and her ex live in separate shacks in the boonies. Her ex mangles his hand and they go to the hospital and ponder their estranged son. The voice is striking, but I didn't love the ending, which felt somewhat neat / sound-bite-y. (This is the only story in BASS also printed in the 2024 O Henry anthology.)

Democracy in America: ★★★½. A fun, picaresque, modern-day reimagining of Alexis de Tocqueville. Unusual and fun, though I felt much of it flew over my head and I imagine I would have enjoyed / appreciated it more if I had more than a cursory understanding of Alexis de Tocqueville.

Engelond: ★★: A woman goes to a sketchy ranch in Texas to escape her life, chaos ensues. I did not enjoy the whole intentionally-weird "Engelond" thing. Not necessarily bad, but this one was not for me.

P's Parties. ★★★. An Italian man goes to parties held by his wife's old roommate, "P". He becomes interested in another woman he sees there--a foreigner. A quiet story, somewhat banal. Didn't really hold my attention.

A Case Study: ★★★★. An aspiring doctor goes to a psychologist, who years later asks to write a case study on him. A simple, but forceful, interesting, well-written, and thought-provoking story that read very quickly.

Just Another Family: ★★★½. A lesbian goes back to her mother's home to attend to funereal matters when her father dies. The family is EXTREMELY dysfunctional. This story was by far the longest one in the anthology. The writing is excellent, but the story itself I feel could have been shorter. To its credit, the story got better as it progressed, and I appreciated the ending.

Privilege: ★★. A work of historical fiction about some dam bursting. I found the amount of detail to be excruciating and, frankly, boring. This story was clearly heavily researched and had a lot of that research material stuffed into the story. I can see how a certain type of reader might enjoy this story, but it was not for me.

Baboons: ★★★. A woman goes to Kenya with her relapsed boyfriend and daughter. The best part of the story by far was about the narrator's relationship with her daughter, but this story felt like derivative Jennifer Egan.

Extinction: ★★½. A woman who keeps saying she is narrating the story from the dead talks about a research trip she took to Europe. I didn't get this story. The end about her disappearing (and its mechanics) didn't really make sense, especially considering how much she insists upon narrating this from the dead.

Mall of America: ★★★★½. A Mall AI makes a case for why its memory should not be "wiped" of its data: it has befriended an old chinese man, who was murdered by mall security. This was probably my favorite story in this anthology--I loved what it had to say about love, memory, capitalism. I loved the voice. It wasn't perfect--I thought that a 1-page lyrical segue about all the beautiful things the "mall AI" had been taught by the old man was a touch overdone and not in the "AI" voice--but all in all, this story was utterly unique and fresh, and also felt perfectly suited to the short story form.

Valley of the Moon: ★★★★. A man in the Korean war escapes and lives in a "timeless" valley. An omniscient-ish, 3rd person narrator. The writing in this story was lovely and captivating, though I wasn't entirely sure what it was about.

Collections of short stories are one of my most recommended books to family and friends. When asked for author recommendations, I always offer up the numerous collections in my personal library, as this is where I find so many wonderful authors that I would never have chosen. Short stories require an author to flex their writing skills, capturing readers in fewer pages than many chapters in a novel. They must immediately immerse readers into a story in progress and bring the characters to life so quickly, all the "meat" of the story is revealed in just a few pages. This collection includes the best of the best and will be appreciated by my reading circle as we choose new books to share.

It took me a long time to finish this collection, so I would say they are not the best short stories.

Thanks for the review copy. This is a nice collection of short stories. The best ones were by Yoon and Lahiri.

I’m torn here. There were some short stories that I really liked, but there were more than a few others that I either actively disliked or wondered why they were included in a best of anthology.

I liked “The Best Short Stories 2024” more than this collection of American stories. Still, there are some stories in here that are worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.