Thank you random house for the review copy of Show Don't Tell. I have adored Curtis Sittenfeld and her messy but ultimately lovable main characters since I read Prep in the early 2000s. I remain a Lee Fiora fan and I can't tell you how excited I was to discover one of these short stories returned me to that character and that world. That alone made this a standout collection! Sittenfeld is expert at the little turns in plot, the curves you can't predict because life is unpredictable, and she takes those curves, makes them work, and does so in short story form, telling a complete story in small space.
But overall what is the win is the writing once again, the way Sittenfeld has me embracing my flaws, celebrating my own messiness and realizing that is just who I am, and that there is a little joy perhaps, a little rebellion, in being 100% exactly the messy woman that I am and the woman I am meant to be.

I'm not a big reader of short stories, but I enjoyed the previous book I read by Sittenfeld, and I seen a few friends that loved this, so I decided to give it a try. Overall, I enjoyed these stories. Some I liked .more than others. They are about regular life things such as friendships, marriage, divorce….and many of them I found pretty funny. Sittenfeld is a talented writer and I did enjoy reading this one.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

I love Curtis Sittenfeld. There hasn't been a book that has disappointed me. She is a great author and creates down-to-earth, relatable stories. In Show Don't Tell, Sittenfeld writes short stories about Midwestern women exploring marrage, friendship, careers and embracing (or not) middle age. If you enjoy reading short stories, then I would highly recommend this book. Personally, I struggle with short story collections, never finding my momentum. By the time I start engaging with the story and characters, everything comes to an end.

Show Don't Tell: Stories by Curtis Sittenfeld

In her second short story collection, Show Don't Tell, Curtis Sittenfeld offers twelve narratives that delve into the complexities of modern life, relationships, and personal introspection. Each story introduces characters navigating pivotal moments, reflecting Sittenfeld's keen observation of human nature and societal nuances.​

The collection features memorable stories. Sittenfeld's writing is characterized by her sharp wit and tender exploration of her characters' inner lives, peeling back layers to reveal their vulnerabilities and strengths. The stories evoke a range of emotions, from amusement at the protagonists' predicaments to deep empathy for their personal struggles.​

Show Don't Tell is recommended for readers who appreciate character-driven narratives that explore the intricacies of human relationships and personal growth.

I’m not a huge fan of Curtis Sittenfeld, but I’ve been fairly 50/50 on her work, so I gave this a try. The stories weren’t very interesting to me, but the biggest frustration I took from it (which I recognize is small, but nonetheless) is that this woman wrote an entire book about a faux SNL show and still doesn’t know that what they do is called “sketches” and not “skits.”

I’m not usually a fan of short stories, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading these slowly throughout February. They don’t have any big, shocking twists, but they are thoughtful and insightful stories about women’s inner lives and relationships.

3.5/I found Sittenfield's characters to be very well developed, but struggled to get pulled into most of the short stories. I appreciate the writing, but seem to prefer her novels.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

While I am not a typical short story enthusiast, I am a lifelong fan of Curtis Sittenfeld (since Prep) and her writing style. As always, she has done a brilliant job of using her writing to communicate topics that are sometimes controversial, sometimes political, and sometimes humorous or satirical. In Show Don't Tell, she examines life with an objective lens and provides an intuitive and reflective work on a number of different topics. One of my favorite short stories was the last in the compilation - a wonderful piece on Lee Fiora (the main character from Prep) at the Ault class reunion - an epilogue of sorts. Thank you to NetGalley and Ms. Sittenfeld for the opportunity to review this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

These short stories are gold. Realistic & thought provoking, Sittenfeld's writing really shines in this format. She taps upon some hot button issues and some stories hit the mark more than others....I thought she specifically ended upon a really lovely note with both The Hug & Lost, but Not Forgotten. With an anthology of short stories, some are going to be more memorable than others- I also thought the Marriage Clock, The Richest Babysitter in the World and White Woman, LOL were particularly memorable maybe because they were particularly evocative especially in light of the world we live in. Curtis Sittenfeld has quickly become an author I love (With Romantic Comedy being one of my all time faves)...can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Random House for the ARC.

Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld is a captivating collection of 12 short stories that delve into the complexities of human relationships, emotions, and societal norms. Each story offers a slice of life from the American Midwest, primarily from the perspective of middle-aged women. Sittenfeld's writing is both witty and achingly real, allowing readers to experience the characters' actions, thoughts, and feelings without overt explanations, which is really something I have grown to love about short story writing.

The stories explore a range of themes, including love, friendship, privilege, and the challenges of middle age. Sittenfeld's characters are well-developed and relatable, often finding themselves in comically awkward situations that reveal deeper truths about their lives and the world around them. The title story, originally published in The New Yorker in 2017, sets the tone for the collection by focusing on memory and the process of becoming oneself. Some of my favorites were The Richest Babysitter in the World, Follow-Up, The Tomorrow Box, and A for Alone.

Sittenfeld's prose is sharp and insightful, with a keen eye for detail that brings each story to life. The collection is both entertaining and thought-provoking, offering readers a window into the everyday struggles and triumphs of its characters. Whether dealing with the aftermath of a viral video or navigating the complexities of a creative writing program, Sittenfeld's characters are always engaging and deeply human.

Show Don’t Tell* is a must-read for fans of literary fiction and short stories. Curtis Sittenfeld's ability to capture the nuances of human experience makes this collection a standout addition to her body of work.

Curtis Sittenfeld is an auto-read author for me, and this short story collection didn't disappoint. Well-written with characters that felt real.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this collection in exchange for my honest opinions.

As a millennial, my first exposure to Curtis Sittenfeld’s writing was Prep, like so many of us. Over the years, her books have been there for me through some of the most pivotal moments of my life. Man of My Dreams helped me navigate my first real heartbreak in my twenties. Eligible was the light, distracting retelling of Pride and Prejudice that I needed when I was unemployed and feeling lost during the pandemic. Romantic Comedy was the book I stayed up late reading as my world crashed around me facing a cancer diagnosis, offering me an escape into someone else’s life when I needed it most.

I don’t typically read short story collections. But I will devour anything Curtis Sittenfeld writes. And Show Don’t Tell is no exception. These stories are as enthralling as everything else she’s written. She has a way of captivating the reader, even when writing about the most ordinary moments of life, turning them into something deeply compelling, insightful, and unforgettable. Her sharp observations, wit, and emotional depth shine in every story, proving once again why she is one of the best contemporary writers.

This is an easy 5/5 stars. Thank you, Curtis, for embracing that women are your audience and for writing for us. Your stories are my favorite stories.

I really loved this collection of short stories by Curtis Sittenfield. I've been a big fan of her novels for years, and really enjoyed being able to see how she distills her strengths as a novelist into this collection. I especially loved that we got to revisit the main character of <i>Prep</i> which was nostalgic and a nice way of rounding out the collection.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of this book.

To be honest, the 1 novel and 2 short story collections (including this one) that I’ve read from Curtis Sittenfeld in the last couple years have not blown me away. But a million years ago I read her YA novel Prep and it was a favorite for a long time, so when I saw this collection included a story that was essentially an epilogue to Prep, I had to pick it up. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the e-arc.

I'm late to the Curtis Sittenfeld fandom, but I feel like I've more than made up for my years of ignorance. I loved, loved, loved this collection of short stories that mostly -- though not all -- focused on middle-aged women who are either divorced or living in stagnating marriages.

It's hard to review a collection of short stories, but I guess I will say that the thread of this collection is Sittenfelds smart and perceptive writing about different times in a persons imperfect life. My favorite was White Women LOL, but I obviously have a soft spot for the Prep follow-up as well.

Very good. Very digestible. I loved Show Don't Tell.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 stars.

As always, Curtis Sittenfeld is a delight, beginning to end. I enjoyed every story in this collection, and loved that they were quite different from one another. Recommended for purchase by the Scottsboro Public Library.

Bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld is back with a collection of short stories. These stories explore what it means to be an artist, to be a woman in middle age, to be a parent, to be a friend. These stories are smart and moving and thoughtful, filled with moments from real life.

The collections starts with “Show Don’t Tell,” which tells the story of a young woman in an MFA program wondering if she got a prestigious fellowship for her next year of school. While she goes to a party and finds out who else got fellowships (and who didn’t), she knows that the answer may be back at her place waiting for her in her mailbox.

In “White Women LOL,” a viral video makes a mom’s life a nightmare as she tries to atone for a misunderstanding that was filmed. The woman comes across as entitles and racist, which was not what she meant, but all the other mothers at the school has seen the video and distanced themselves from her. Over Christmas break, she has a chance to redeem herself, but will she be able to?

“The Richest Babysitter in the World” is about a college student who takes on a babysitting job for a pregnant mom. The mom is trying to finish her doctorate, so she hires a babysitter to watch her older daughter. Her husband is working on a tech startup, so most of his time is spent working. At the end of the semester, she moves on, but she never forgets that family.

In “Lost But Not Forgotten,” OG Sittenfeld fans will recognize her character from Prep, as she returns to her school for a reunion.

I was an English major in college, so I was asked to read and dissect a lot of short stories along the way. And honestly, I got really tired of them. But every once in a while, I find a collection of short stories that reminds me of why I fell in love with reading, and Sittenfeld does that here. These stories are insightful and emotional, honest and meaningful. They explore the world of the artist, especially female artists and how they and their work are perceived in the world.

But they also look at lives of women, at friendship, at marriage, at parenting, and at midlife. Each of these stories have weight, so this is not a book to be rushed through. It needs to be savored, mulled, dreamed of, and talked about. I am a big fan of Sittenfeld, and I’m so happy and honored to read anything she writes. This is a book that changes you, for the better, so you see the breadth of the world with a new respect and curiosity.

Egalleys of Show Don’t Tell were provided by Random House through NetGalley, with many thanks.

If you like short stories that you wish were a little longer, with well-developed characters and great writing, you will enjoy this book! Each story stands alone, and the writing is tight. I still prefer the author’s longer works, but I’m glad I gave this book a try! Thanks to NetGalley for providing an early copy!

I've enjoyed other books by this offer but the short story collections always seem to fall short. I think it misses out on important world building and character development. Instead the stories feel stunted and rushed. I would not recommend this collection of stories.

I was very excited to receive an early copy of Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld. Show Don’t Tell is a collection of short stories that are both thought provoking and capture a snapshot of life.

While Sittenfeld is one of my favorites writers, I am usually a bit hesitant to pick up a collection of short stories. To no surprise, each story felt complete and captured the perfect snapshot of a a brief time in life. Both relatable and reflective. I was excited to read the final story Lost But Not Forgotten— a story about Lee, the main character from my first Curtis Sittenfeld book, Prep, which I read almost twenty years ago!

As always, I’ll be first in line to recommend anything Sittenfeld writes. Her novels (and short stories) stick with me. I look forward to what she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for an advanced copy of this book!