“She understood that an uneventful day was, in fact, the sum of the many moments that could have veered toward tragedy – but did not.”

It has been a while since I read a collection of short stories and I’m not sure I’ve ever read a collection in which I’m completely engrossed in all of them. An easy 5* if there ever was one.

Exceptionally vivid, seamless time jumps and well-rounded characters despite the fact that they are individuals. Although many stories end in ‘cliff-hanger’-esque ways, none felt despairingly unfinished.

With themes floating through each and connections linking back to one another (somehow! As they were written at different times and published across many years and publications), Lori’s characterisation, confoundment, collaboration and matter-of-fact points of view leaves the reader wanting more and more and more.

A personal favourite of mine was the intent to include education and writing as a motif throughout the series – as we are, at home, readers and writers celebrating readers and writers – even through the mundanity of life.

Thank you for letting me read this as my first ARC through Netgalley – I can’t wait to add more Lori Ostlund to my reading list.

(Shared with Goodreads and will share on Instagram shortly)

This a book told in many stories. Lori Ostlund tells us about people who try to find happiness and often fail in this pursuit. This is a great look in a different perspective about out pursuit of happiness and how it can become all consuming.

The overall sense of unease across these stories started to seem a bit too repetitive for me by the time I got to “Just Another Family.” Some had some brightness through out but there was a thread of darkness through all of them that I wanted some variety from.Though the threads Ostlund wove through the 9 short stories was a nice way to make the collection more cohesive. 

I liked the style of writing throughout all nine. Ostlund’s voice was there along with the different voices of the characters. ‘The Stalker’ was one that really stood out for me.

Interested to see what this author does next.

Shoutout to NetGalley for the ARC.

I always find it somewhat difficult to review a set of short stories as I find it hard not to look at each story as a separate entity. However, this particular collection has a cohesion to it that while each story can stand on its own, together they paint a broader picture.

These are stories of relationships in tension due to circumstance. All sorts of relationships are represented, ex-best friends, lovers, parents etc. The narration and inner dialogue was superb and so intimate at times I felt like I was reading a character’s diary.

I look forward to what this author does in the future.

This collection was such an interesting set of stories. nine stories on a range of topics all leading to a deeper understanding of humans as a whole.

This collection dives deep into an exploration of identity, relationships, and our general place in society. Each story had a subtle undertone of uneasiness that permeated through the characters. Even though the stories were brief, I felt like I could connect with at least one character's struggles in each one. There were certain tropes that I feel like were repeated and thus left a bit redundant since nothing new was added each time (ex: small town girl dating a big city girl that doesn't understand their small town ways of thinking). Some stories also felt a bit out of place tone wise--"The Peeping Toms" and "The Stalker", though two of my favourites, read more like they belonged in a collection of horror/thriller stories while the others had a more docile family drama tone. Overall, the writing was captivating and each story leaves the reader with something to think about beyond the confines of the pages--something I always look for in a good narrative.

A series of short stories from the Teacher with an unsettling student, a peeping tom and an elderly aunt, an adopted daughter. I enjoyed each of these as it was a different reading experience every time and could get my teeth into them even if there was rarely a conclusive ending, something that wasn’t essential to the story itself.

I have one question though, why were all the cats called Gertrude…

Thank you for this ARC.

It's always challenging to rate short story collections because not every story resonates with the reader. However, Lori Ostlund did a phenomenal job capturing the struggles of women and the queer community.


My favorites are the following
The Bus ( When I tell you my jaw was on the floor after reading that ending)
The Stalker
Just Another Family

The Gap Year was the only one that I just couldn't connect with :/

Highly recommend to readers who enjoy complicated queer love and family dynamic stories!

WOW! Lori Ostlund has articulated such brilliant ideas and stories throughout nine incredible works. Her writing had me so immersed and captivated. Following different queer stories some charming and others more dark. My favorite of all has to be “The Stalker” and its dark eerie backdrop.I felt myself there next to the characters, their fear was my fear. I truly cannot wait to see more from this author and what she has to offer.

1. The Bus Driver (4)
2. The Gap Year (3.5)
3. Are You Happy? (4)
4. Clear As Cake (3)
5. The Peeping Toms (4)
6. The Stalker (5)
7. Aaron Englund and the Great Great (3.5)
8. A Little Customer Service (4)
9. Just Another Family (3.5)

I’d highly recommend reading these short stories, Ostlund’s writing is alluring and inspiring. I had a phenomenal time reading this collection.

A strange (in a good way) short story collection to crack you up while covering a variety of heavier topics. I'm impressed by Lori Ostlund's ability to merge motherhood, sex & religion, family norms & dysfunction, education, memory, language, gun safety <i>and</i> more without feeling like it was all over the place. Looking back on the collection I found that so-so stories I could hardly recall anything from. The highlighting in my Kindle seems to disagree, as all of the stories have quite a bit I wanted to be able to revisit.

<b>The Bus Driver 5/5!</b>
The Gap Year 3/5
Are You Happy? 4/5
<b>Clear as Cake 5/5!</b>
The Peeping Toms 3/5
<b>The Stalker 5/5!</b>
Aaron Englund and the Great Great 3/5
A Little Customer Service 3.5/5
<b>Just Another Family: A Novella 5/5!</b>

(5/5 ⭐ because the 5/5's were THEE STRONGEST 5/5's I've given in a while, more than making up for the stories that I didn't enjoy)

To anyone who enjoys this collection I HIGHLY recommend Thanks for This Riot: Stories by Janelle Bassett, it's phenomenal.

{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Lori Ostlund and publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Are You Happy? by Lori Ostlund
My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars


Lori Ostlund is back with 9 tales that will have you cheering, jeering, crying, and reminiscing about lost loves, childhood innocence, coming out, and family mortality. She peers into the lives of people like us who cannot escape their past and are uncertain of their futures. Children wanted and lost, the joy of made families to replace unsupportive ones, and friendships wrecked by outside forces.

You’ll see a parent pushed to the limit after their child is abused at the hands of a trusted colleague. Another explores the devastating loss of a couple’s child. Will their marriage survive? The novella takes a painful look at strained family relationships and necessary boundaries. I feel like it could be its own full-length book. I loved these characters and wanted to know so much more about them.

These stories are emotional and deep and show love in imperfect ways. Are You Happy? is forcefully compassionate and beautifully written. It’s a great weekend read that will make you think.