I enjoy short story collections but this one not so much. This is probably due to my age, that I really couldn't relate to some of the characters. Nevertheless, the writing is insightful and will no doubt be an enjoyable read to a younger audience.

Perhaps this is a well written collection of short stories but just not for me at this time. I enjoyed two of her other books and enjoyed meeting her at a book signing event.

See my full review at http://michelleardillo.com/2024/12/20/book-review-show-dont-tell-by-curtis-sittenfeld/.

I always enjoy anything Curtis Sittenfeld writes and this collection of short stories is not an exception. Some of the stories are more understandable to me than others but all have interesting, quickly developed characters and intriguing, unique concepts.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is not my first Curtis Sittenfield read, and some of the stories in this collection are stronger than others. "White Women LOL" is probably one of the strongest sections, but I had already read it outside this collection. That being said, "White Women LOL" is a bit predictable and smarmy, which is also the case for some of the other stories. Middle-/ upper= class white, middle-aged womanhood is a throughline: I don't say this as snarky, but a descriptor.

From a literary standpoint, these stories are excellent, as is basically all of Sittenfeld's fiction.

This is a collection of nearly all female-focused stories, featuring moms and daughters, often in the Midwest, and touching on the mundane while offering deeper lessons.

Still, I'll admit that I found this collection long, and I rarely wanted to pick it up, even though the stories were interesting enough when I did. I know they all had more meaning than on the surface, but sometimes I did not feel like thinking so much. That's not the stories' fault--just mine.

This is a strong collection of tales focused on daily moments, but they'll appeal most to those who love looking into the nuance and interpretation of each story they read.

Curtis Sittenfeld's newest short story compilation combines the every day lives of the characters and lessons we often overlook. The book was easy to pick up when a few minutes were available. Enjoyed the short bursts and robust stories, filled with memorable characters daily lives.

Curtis Sittenfeld has a very distinct niche in that her best fiction revolves around academia. In this collection, almost every story is concerned with the effect that the pressure cooker existence of either university or prep school life has had on the protagonist. These aren't change of life stories, stories containing a sharp edge of drama or realization, but those that are reflective and slice of life. As with any well written collection, this is a more challenging read than a novel of the same length, each story worthy of reading on its own in order to absorb.

Thank you random House Publishing Group and Net Galley for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This is a great collection of short stories. These stories are engaging and share human experiences.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to reads this as an ARC. This was a collection of short stories by Curtis Sittenfeld. I have read several of her book, and have always enjoyed her work. To me, this collection was a bit hit or miss. Some were clever, others were dull and few I really didn't understand at all. Looking at the reviews after I finished it, I realized that the one story that did not make any sense to me, was a follow up to a previous novel- Prep. Maybe if I had read that, the short story would have made more sense. However, I again an thankful to have gotten the chance to read these.

This wonderful short story collection should be on everyone’s 2025 TBR. I enjoyed reading about the slices of life and relationships in each of these stories.

I will never get over how excellent Sittenfeld is at characterization. This collection is even better than You Think It, I'll Say It—which I loved! She has such a fantastic sense of humor and empathy for her characters. Will be buying this for my mom and sisters, like I do each Sittenfeld book. She's truly an author you can read and reread to admire how brilliantly simple her stories seem, only to realize the complex construction at the heart of each one.

I'm typically not a huge fan of short stories, but I loved this collection! Curtis Sittenfeld has a way of making the characters come to life in the short pages. The characters in each story are relatable and likeable. The stories offer insight into life, relationships, and family. Overall a very enjoyable short story collection!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This a series of well-written short stories, mostly set in the midwest about women in the post-pandemic world living in their 40s and 50s. There are 12 stories, each different but all authentic, vulnerable and engaging. They tackle themes of relationships/marriage, friendship, fame, and ambition. There is also a sequel to Sittenfeld's novel "Prep," except 14-year-old MC Lee is no longer a teen starting at boarding school but there are familiar characters.

Curtis Sittenfeld is a literary icon. I would read her most discombobulated and unorganized chicken scratches left on a used hotel napkin and find myself identifying with it and chuckling to myself while nodding. No matter the character, no matter the scenario, Curtis Sittenfeld knows how to write.

Admittedly I am not a huge fan of short story collections but I decided to throw caution to the wind and let this one happen given who wrote them. I’m quite glad I did. If you’re expecting the same vibe as Romantic Comedy or Prep, it’s not. (Though the main character of the latter does feature here, years later!) And I realized as I progressed into the collection that I had to take a break in between each story as they started to blend together in my mind.

Everything about these stories feels real. These characters are people you know. These places are where you have been. These plots are things that could, or may have, happen to you. In essence, no one is safe because you’ll inevitably find yourself somewhere in these pages. Of course, I do hope no one I know is the woman who finds herself the subject of a viral video in which she makes an extremely uncomfortable racially motivated social faux pas. (But that one was totally my favorite story because I wanted to see how she would be held accountable for her actions!)

This is not a fast-paced drama. This is not a heartfelt comedy. This is not a book to be binged in a weekend. This is a book to savor and to connect with. It is a collection of “slice of life” stories that speak to who we are.

That being said, do I prefer the author’s novels to short story collections? Yes. But that’s more about a preference for format and less about the merits. Because this book certainly has them in spades.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A delightful book of very entertaining short stories. They are all similar but with different characters except for the first and last stories. Something to read when you need to escape from a stressful situation. This author tells a good story. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Curtis Sittenfeld is back with Show Don't Tell: Stories, which is her second short story collection. In this assemblage, she rummages through deep topics such as relationships (all kinds), fame and celebrity, artistic aspirations, and inner purpose. The intelligence and humor that Curtis brings to each story is unparalleled. She is such a smart writer to follow yet brings a certain aspect of tenderness to all of her characters (including those who are not very likable) that is rarely found in this sort of storytelling.

Each tale is unique in what is happening, and even when. Each story is so thought-provoking, and in my case, deserving of a bit of a break after each ended so that I could digest what I had just read. That is part of the beauty of a format like this; when you pick back up you don't feel as if you've missed anything.

If you are a past fan of Sittenfeld's work, one story includes a former character, Lee, from the novel Prep. These nuggets of intentionality are so delightful to readers who are familiar and curious about 'what ever happened to ...'.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Sittenfeld's work, or who enjoys an intellectual, humorous, and sensitive take on life.

Thank you so much to Random House, NetGalley, and Curtis Sittenfeld for the opportunity to read and review Show Don't Tell with my honest thoughts and opinions. Eternally grateful!

I love how smart, incisive, and sincere this author is. I've read and enjoyed a couple of her previous novels. She brings the same to this short story collection. Her work is dense... there's a lot to unpack and it takes longer for me to read than some of the other things I usually read. But, it's very much worth it. Readers who enjoy her novels should enjoy this collection.

After reading this collection, I felt like I'd just left the company of an old friend (and by that I am describing a longtime, honest, self-aware friend who is not afraid to be vulnerable). I feel like I've grown up with Curtis Sittenfeld and I am positive that a lot of readers feel the same way (especially if they've been a longtime reader of the author -- starting with PREP (which is revisited in this collection - such an exciting bonus for a longtime reader).

I loved the "woulda/coulda" reflections in many of the stories; the things we did or did not say (and do) that still haunts (or thrills) us decades later. That's a perfect example of what I mean by growing older (and wiser!) in this collection.

A lot of themes and topics are covered within the twelve stories here: LOTS of growing up, growing older, parenting, nostalgia, consequences of the pandemic, all manners of relationship(s), divorce, and new love. I found all of them relatable but I am "that" reader who already relates (which is why I requested the ARC).

I wholeheartedly recommend this collection to anyone who falls into the above "pool" AND anyone who loves a well-written short story. Curtis Sittenfeld is an enormous talent and these poignant stories are unique and worthwhile (and in my opinion hopeful)! Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHouse for the ARC of "Show Don't Tell." (out in Feb 2025).

This was a delightful short story collection! I had only read one of Curtis Sittenfeld’s books before (Romantic Comedy) so I didn’t really know what to expect going into this. All of the stories were so well written and engaging, I liked how each story slowly unraveled to reveal their secrets and how different they all were. I also liked how the stories were told across different time periods and settings. They were also perfect to read in several sittings and really sold me on short stories as a genre. Definitely one I will be looking to re read when it comes out!

Really enjoyed the short story formatting for a change of pace and the focus on different elements of women’s lives.