I loved this story collection by Curtis Sittenfeld. Full of fully imagined, timely characters. Loved the “Prep” follow-up as well.

While generally not a short story reader, I'll read anything by Curtis Sittenfeld and loved her latest collection, Show Don't Tell.
Most of the stories in this collection are based in the Midwest and feature a variety of female main characters, including a graduate student, movie producer, and a suburban woman (and her Karen moment). The characters are generally facing a change or a challenge in their lives and are middle-aged, a demographic we don't always see in fiction. Ms. Sittenfeld's characters are believable and relatable, and I especially liked the stories that delved back into their high school or college experiences of many years ago. A special treat in Lost But Not Forgotten was the return of a character from Prep. Another favorite costarred what I interpreted as versions of Jeff Bezos and Mackenzie Scott.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read Show Don't Tell. I received a complimentary copy of the book and opinions expressed are completely my own.

Curtis Sittenfeld has this uncanny ability to take everyday moments—seemingly mundane, often unspoken—and turn them into something deeply compelling. In "Show Don't Tell," her latest short story collection, she once again proves why she's a master of character-driven fiction.

This collection highlights the minds of "middle-aged" women—new concerns and revelations, shifting priorities, and the thoughts women have but don't always say out loud. Stories about this stage of life are surprisingly rare. But Sittenfeld? She nails it. Each story feels like a brief look into a life you recognize, even if it's not your own. The emotions, the inner monologues, the small but significant moments—they all hit in a way that makes you wonder if the author has a direct line to your brain.

I've been a fan of Sittenfeld since I first read "Prep" in my early 20s, and she's one of those authors - whatever she writes, I'm reading it. Her work is not always my favorite, but it's always worth reading. "Show Don't Tell" is no exception. The short stories are very relatable and engaging. Whether you're in the thick of "middle age" or just appreciate a good story about everyday life, this collection is absolutely worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In her second story collection, Sittenfeld shows why she’s as beloved for her short fiction as she is for her novels. In these dazzling stories, she conjures up characters so real that they seem like old friends, laying bare the moments when their long held beliefs are overturned.

In “The Patron Saints of Middle Age,” a woman visits two friends she hasn’t seen since her divorce. In “A for Alone,” a married artist embarks on a creative project intended to disprove the so-called Mike Pence Rule, which suggests that women and men can’t spend time alone together without lusting after each other. And in “Lost but Not Forgotten,” Sittenfeld gives readers of her novel Prep a window into the world of her beloved character Lee Fiora, decades later, when Lee attends an alumni reunion at her boarding school.

Hilarious, thought-provoking, and full of tenderness for her characters, Sittenfeld’s stories peel back layer after layer of our inner lives, keeping us riveted to the page with her utterly distinctive voice.

I don't read short stories often, but wanted to give Sittenfeld another try after not enjoying Romantic Comedy. I really enjoy her writing, and she makes insightful observations about life experiences. As with Romantic Comedy, there were a few references to politics, specifically conservatives/Republicans etc. that I found to be off-putting. I'm in the center politically, and dislike both ends of the political spectrum, (especially these days) but it always feels condescending/arrogant when the comments, especially when it's written in as a casual thought or in a disparaging way like it's assumed everyone agrees with it. This isn't exclusive to her, however, and I find it off-putting whenever I come across it in general. I'm sure there are many people who it doesn't bother, and every book isn't for every person, so it's probably just something I'll have to keep in mind as I read her books in the future. Overall though, I liked the stories and want to read some of her back catalog.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this collection of stories, none of them were earth shattering but I just enjoyed her quiet exploration of particular moments in older women’s lives. It’s refreshing to read about characters that aren’t 25, and have more of the same life experiences and concerns I do. The stories explore marriage, friendship, family and careers, and though not all the characters were especially likable, all were compelling.

I usually don’t like short stories, but I quite enjoyed this collection. It certainly made me think. I didn’t read her novel Prep, but the last story based on it was my favorite. She does a great job of enacting both the heart and mind here.

I loved this collection of stories by Curtis Sittenfeld. I've only read one of her novels, but when I received the opportunity to read this ARC, I jumped at it. I normally don't love short stories, but Sittenfeld has a magical way of making even the slimmest of stories come alive through her phenomenal character development and interesting situations. I really enjoyed this collection, and highly recommend it to anyone who's enjoyed Sittenfeld's novels in the past. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Curtis Sittenfeld is such a strong and talented contemporary author, equally able to create full-length novels (such as ROMANTIC COMEDY) as well as complete worlds in the length of a short story (such as YOU THINK IT, I'LL SAY IT).

In SHOW DON'T TELL, Sittenfeld creates dynamic characters in these dozen stories. It's an immersive experience, and readers are pulled into a range of situations: what it is like to have once babysat for a family whose father would become a tech billionaire; whether the Billy Graham/Mike Pence rule has anything to it; considering as an adult the impact of the night in high school when a famous celebrity returns to his old dorm room/your current dorm room one reunion weekend and you spend hours in conversation.

There is a feeling of tragedy in these pages, of the complexity of life and the ability or lack thereof to find meaning or happiness. I can't always agree with her conclusions, but I found myself challenged, entertained, and drawn in.

(Thank you to Random House for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

An odd choice for me in that I have never been a fan of short stories-but these are interesting and though-provoking. Every reader will have their favorite(s) but the general theme of nearly all of them revolves around middle aged women dealing with aging, marriage, divorce, friendships-in short the problems of daily life. All of them are very well written. In short a new favorite author for me.

It's a true testament to how much I enjoy an author if I follow them to a short story collection as I've come to realize short stories just aren't my jam. I found myself enjoying these stories more than expected, and I think an entire set of stories that feature women in mid-life who are at times reminiscing but also looking forward and enjoying their present felt oddly poignant and familiar.

I don’t possess the words to articulate how much I loved this book of short stories!

Each story felt as though I was either talking to a version of myself, at various stages in life, in an alternate universe OR that I was catching up with a close friend over a delightful cup of coffee!

That being said, the stories were written with characters who were raw, real, and relatable. While the stories were short, the author masterfully captured the characters succinctly without leaving me feeling like I had unanswered questions about them. What an amazing skill to create characters so wholly in a short story!

I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend checking this out as soon as possible! Sit back, relax, and be prepared to catch up with yourself or a close friend!

Thank you NetGalley, Curtis Sittenfeld, and Random House for allowing me the opportunity to read the book in exchange for a review. Thoughts and words are my own.

I love Sittenfeld's writing and many of her other books (Romantic Comedy, for one) rank at the top of my list. This is a short story collection that left me wanting more. I wish each vignette could have continued into a full length novel. The last story was a bit slow and boring for me so I am bummed that is where I left the book. I shall remain a Sittenfeld fan and look forward to more novels from her but would only suggest this one for short story lovers. Thank you Netgalley for the the ARC.

Very nice collection, but I think I just prefer novels from this author instead of short stories. The writing is great, but I was left wanting more.

My favorite story was the richest babysitter one. I liked that it was a riff on a current political scene the way that some of Sittenfeld's other novels are. There were only one or two stories that fell flat. The other story I enjoyed was the one with the friends discussing their children together.

Thank you @netgalley for my free preview ebook copy of ‘Show Don’t Tell’ by @csittenfeld — what a perfect early bday gift for me!

I’ve been dying to read this because I already love her writing AND there’s a companion story to ‘Prep’ 🩷🤍💚 that’s set at Lee’s boarding school reunion.

These short stories get into what is like to be of middle age. It’s a fun time but I know for a fact that it sure is weird as well. Topics in the stories range from knowing an online bookstore titan way back when, to MFA program awards drama, to making art from lunch dates, to best friendship, capitalism, politics, white privilege, viral videos, and St. Louis & Minnesota.

I’m so sad that I’m almost finished reading it. It’s on sale this Tuesday, 2/25!

#NetGalley #ShowDontTell #bookstagram

📖: @randomhouse @atrandombooks
#CurtisSittenfeld #CurtisSittenfeldBooks

If Curtis writes it, I’m reading it. This collection was incredible and I look forward to flipping through my print copy.

As someone who does not typically read/enjoy short stories, I absolutely loved this collection. Each one was very “a day in the life” coded and featured relatable and easily perceivable main characters. Most, if not all, of the main characters were middle-aged women, and the topics of each story ranged but each one had me captured and left me engaging/thinking about the character’s perceptions/experiences and my own experiences. Several of the stories discussed life during the pandemic, and even more of them referenced the political climate during that time & even presently. I think this made the stories even more enthralling because it felt like they were accounts from real women, and had me reading as if I were reading their journals almost. Each is expertly observational, and I had to sit with and absorb each one after reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading these stories, and will be adding this collection to the list of “Works by Curtis Sittenfeld writes that I love.”

My favorites were: The Hug, White Women LOL, and The Richest Babysitter in the World

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the digital ARC of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review after reading.

I have enjoyed reading Curtis Sittenfeld, especially her last novel, Romantic Comedy. I may not be the reader for short stories because I did not feel as invested in these as I do her novels. They are well written and I liked that I could relate to some of the women in these stories, but overall I felt like I forgot about them soon after. If you enjoy short stories, I feel like most readers would like these. Thank you Random House for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

I’m a big Curtis Sittenfeld fan and now a completist, and after really liking her last short story collection, You Think It, I’ll Say It, I was excited to read Show Don’t Tell — It did not disappoint!

The sign of a great short story is one that feels complete enough as is yet leaves me interested enough to want to continue reading more about the characters or what’s happening.

Show Don’t Tell largely achieved this and I appreciate how Sittenfeld can write so many different stories capturing authentic human behavior well. I recognized one short story I’d previously listened to as an Audible Original a few years ago and long-time Sittenfeld fans are in for a surprise with a brief return to one her past books. This is an interesting, entertaining, contemporary collection

I read the first story in this book, and while I think the author is very talented, the profanity and frank sexual commentary were too much for me. I started the next story, but found the contempt toward people who don't share the author's politics very off-putting and decided not to continue.