Like any collection of short stories, I enjoyed some more than others, but I loved being able to pick it up and enjoy a bit at a time.

For me, Curtis Sittenfeld is the master of writing characters that feel so familiar and specific they must have been ripped from my own memory. These stories offer a thoughtful exploration of seemingly mundane, everyday moments that will have you reflecting on your own life.

Sittenfeld’s best short-story collection to date. Always thought provoking musings that stick with you long after the book ends.

Each story felt like there was an agenda and I ended up stopping halfway and feeling disappointed. I really enjoyed her last collection of short stories but not these.

4.25 stars! Curtis Sittenfeld is one of my all-time favorite authors, and her latest short story collection, SHOW DON'T TELL, definitely did not disappoint! Most of the stories follow flawed, complex women (mostly in middle age) and the lessons they learn about life, love, friendship, fame, ambition, nostalgia, and more.

Sittenfeld always captures even the smallest, seemingly mundane details about everyday life with such wit and precision, and readers get a real sense of who these characters are, even though we aren't spending hundreds of pages with them like one might in a novel, compared to a short story collection. I also love how she often tackles that sort of liminal space between college and feeling like a "real adult," or just those times in a person's life when they're trying to figure out who they are and where they belong, as well as how their past might have shaped the choices they've made and what they've decided they "deserve" in terms of career, romance, etc. Each story wraps up in an overall satisfying way, yet somehow I still felt like I could have spent even more time with these characters, and wanted to see what might happen next! Some of my favorites included The Marriage Clock, The Richest Babysitter in the World, The Follow-Up, The Patron Saints of Middle Age, and, most of all, Lost But Not Forgotten, which revisits Lee Fiora, heroine of Sittenfeld's novel PREP, showing where life has taken her in the years since she graduated from boarding school (once again reminding me that I need to reread that book ASAP). Even if you haven't read any of Curtis Sittenfeld's work yet, or are not usually a fan of short stories, I would still recommend SHOW DON'T TELL—I think so many readers will find something to enjoy from this collection! And, as always, I can't wait to see what Sittenfeld writes next. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

Loved this collection of sharp, engaging short stories. Had an easy time getting into each one, and was invested in each of them through the end. Curtis Sittenfeld is so easy to read that you can miss that she's also really, really smart.

In "Show Don't Tell," Curtis Sittenfeld's collection of short stories demonstrates her technical skill as a writer while raising questions about the delicate balance between craft and connection. While Sittenfeld's prose remains precise and observant, this collection reveals both the possibilities and limitations of the short story format.

The title itself speaks to a fundamental rule of writing, and Sittenfeld certainly shows her mastery of the craft through carefully constructed narratives and keen observations. However, the collection struggles with a more essential task: creating meaningful emotional resonance with readers. The stories, while competently crafted, often feel like exercises in technique rather than gateways to deeper understanding or connection.

Each story presents a distinct slice of life, but these glimpses frequently leave readers questioning their investment in the characters' journeys. Sittenfeld's attention to detail and literary craftsmanship is evident throughout, yet the emotional distance between reader and narrative creates a barrier that's difficult to overcome.

The short story format poses unique challenges, demanding that authors create compelling worlds and characters in limited space. While Sittenfeld's writing demonstrates considerable skill, the brevity of each piece combined with their emotional restraint may leave readers feeling like observers rather than participants in these carefully constructed worlds.

This collection might best serve readers who appreciate technical precision in writing and don't require deep emotional investment in their reading experience. However, those seeking stories that leave a lasting impression or forge strong connections with characters may find themselves wanting more.

This is a collection of short stories that may not have much action but are rich in commentary on life, marriage, family, and friendship. Curtis Sittenfeld is an exceptionally talented and engaging writer. This collection is perfect for readers who enjoy analyzing stories and discovering the deeper messages within them.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Curtis Sittenfeld
Show don’t tell
Random House
ISBN 9780593446737

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy.

I love a good short story and have read many collections over the years. For me, any set of short stories is best consumed by reading no more than a chapter or two per day. Sittenfeld’s latest offering was a satisfying introduction to some of her shorter fiction. I was impressed with the range of themes and the path the author took to highlight the thoughts and emotions of the characters in each story. Other reviewers have done a fine job of offering brief summaries of the items contained in this volume so I will defer to them for the contents of individual offerings. I have enjoyed Sittenfeld’s earlier publications (Eligible; You think it, I’ll say it; Sisterland; Romantic comedy) and will continue to seek out her releases.

I'm not very well-versed in short stories, but I've been wanting to broaden my genres this year, so I was excited to get an early look at this book. I didn't really like Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld, but my main criticism was that it dragged on too long, so I was optimistic that the short story format was going to fix that. And I think I was right! I found the stories to be concise and well-written.

My main critique of these was that I just didn't really find myself connecting with any of the stories. I was reading most of them and going Okay? And why should I care? But once I got past that hump, I did enjoy reading these.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! While I loved Romantic Comedy by this author, I don’t think this one is for me. After reading the first short story, I’m not sure that I’m vibing with the writing style

I think readers would really enjoy this if they like more of a literary fiction genre style and explorations of artistic creativity and academia

Show Don’t Tell is an upcoming collection of short stories from Curtis Sittenfeld. I usually love a short story collection. There were definitely some good ones in here, primarily in the first half of the novel. But probably half of them lost my interest. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for my ARC in exchange for my review!

I fell in love with short stories while reading Curtis Sittenfeld's first collection, You Think It, I'll Say It. She's a master at making them feel like a full story, instead of a slice taken out of a novel. Multiple times I would finish a story and put my kindle down, thinking "that was a great book!" before realizing...it wasn't a whole book. There was enough characterization and plot and ideas to keep thinking about after the story was over that it would fool me. If you prefer tightly edited books with no mushy middle, as I do, this collection is for you.

I love Sittenfeld, but I’m generally not a big short story reader. I gave it a shot but will stick to novels in this case.

Curtis Sittenfield's second collection of short stories fails to disappoint her most attentive readers. While I find short story collections difficult at times because you are constantly gaining footing and trying to figure out the characters, I did very much enjoy this collection. Each story waxes about the deep and complex nature of human relationships. I don't think this was have over arching broad appeal, but lovers of contemporary and literary fiction will enjoy this.

I very much enjoyed seeing Lee Fiora from Prep and how life had turned out for this character from one her most popular books. Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced copy of this one out February 25, 2025. I hope you enjoy it as much as me.

Curtis Sittenfeld's newest collection of short stories is delightfully readable but sneakily profound. Some readers may dismiss the characters and plots as just a bunch of ordinary middle-aged women. The protagonist of the collection's title story, a writer herself, acknowledges this tendency, and offers a corrective: "It took a long time, but eventually I stopped seeing women as inherently ridiculous."

This is the kind of quietly scathing observation that fills these stories. They are about marriage and divorce, parenthood and friendship, memory and aging. Mostly, they ask the same classic midlife question, sometimes out loud: what is this - this anecdote, this fiction, this life - a story about?

So many of these stories could be entire books, but the short versions were perfect!!! I felt like I really was able to see into the world of each character. That’s something I don’t always experience in full length novels. I loved that these stories were about middle aged women!! I’m 36 and finding more books that have much younger main characters. These stories did a great job at not making the age the important part of the story.

The marriage clock:
Incredible story with so many quotable parts!!! Such a fun plot!!!

White women lol:
Well written story about a needed topic!! Kept me reading and wishing it was longer!

The richest babysitter:
Turned out to be a really good story with an amazing ending that I didn’t see coming! What a fun story!!!

Creative differences:
That was a short but fun one and I loved that it mentioned a smallish town I know! Interesting vignette into the making of a documentary style commercial.

Follow-up:
Wow what a story! I loved the connection to St. Louis again! So cool! This one could be a full book that I would read! So many questions remain!!!!

The tomorrow box:
The first story with a male main character. It had a good message and was a great example of parents that care. Not everything is about money was the message with this one.

A for Alone:
I didn’t like the trope in this one. I saw it coming from a mile away. It was just okay. Probably my least favorite story so far.

The patron saint of middle age:
Another STL story lol, kinda memorable, but okay story about a lady and her friends.

Giraffe and flamingo:
Cute story! Not super memorable but I enjoyed reading it!

Lost but not forgotten:
I was so excited to get to this story!! I loved prep as a teenager and now I want to reread that story! Such an amazing follow up that I think other readers will truly love!

4.5 stars rounded up. This to me is about as solid as a short story collection can get. Since I first read Prep many years ago, I’ve been drawn to how Curtis Sittenfield allows characters to be complicated or human. In this collection of short stories, mostly focused on people in “middle-age”, the characters are no different. The characters feel real and relatable in an impressively short amount of time. I also like that she doesn’t force the reader to try and like characters or force a redemption arc, instead you just drop in alongside them.

“Show, Don’t Tell”, the title story, was actually one of my least favorite of the stories (which means keep reading if you’re meh on it) but the collection is aptly named because that’s what she does in this collection as you drop into moments in time/slices of life. The author masterfully makes the complicated feel uncomplicated and offers up perceptive questions about the realities of life in the society we live in. A few of my favorites included The Marriage Clock, White Women LOL, The Richest Babysitter in the World and The Patron Saints of Middle Age. Also thought COVID was used very effectively in The Hug. It was also fun to revisit Prep’s characters in Lost But Not Forgotten.

Shared on Goodreads and Fable.

This collection of short stories resonates with the middle aged woman. The stories are filled with wistful nostalgia and regret. Many stories deal with the realities of life and marriage, showing the disappointment her characters are saddled with when they begrudgingly follow the norms and expectations of society.

Sittenfeld creates a cohesive collection of stories that highlights the yearning for happiness that often alludes one as they reach middle age. Each of her characters come from a place of life experience, but flashbacks to the characters’ early twenties provide insight into missed opportunities or banished dreams. Her characters hide behind facades of expectations and, sometimes, decide that complacency is the easier course to take. While the short story genre is not my favorite, I loved the complexity Sittenfeld was able to create in a short story arc. I would read and be engrossed if any of these stories were developed into full-fledged novels.

I've enjoyed this author's novels in the past, but this was my first time reading her short fiction. I absolutely adored it. These stories are fun, funny, and serious. They're easily consumed but each one had me thinking for a while after I finished reading. Great for Sittenfeld fans, for those who enjoy short stories, and maybe those who are newer to reading the form.

Curtis Sittenfeld has been one of my favorite authors for years, so I was eager to dive into Show Don’t Tell. This collection of 11 essays touches on themes like marriage, friendship, ambition, and the shifting complexities of modern life. Sittenfeld’s ability to explore human nature with such precision and empathy makes each piece feel deeply personal, as though she’s confiding directly in the reader.

What made this collection even more special for me was the inclusion of one of my all-time favorite books, Prep, in one of the essays. It felt like a nod to longtime fans and a reminder of why Sittenfeld’s work continues to resonate so strongly.

While I connected more deeply with some essays than others, the collection as a whole showed Sittenfeld’s talent for capturing the quiet moments of change and introspection. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to Random House Publishing for my free review copy.