God I love Curtis Sittenfeld. I would read any of these short stories as novels if she wrote even more. There is such intelligence and humor in her writing. SO many moments I stopped to highlight because I wanted to remember them. I am trying to think of a way that I can summarize these stories, but they really run the gamut. Women of different ages, jobs, means. Everyone's trying to figure out who they are. In the first short story, Ruth is waiting to see if she's won a writing prize, and in order to distract herself from that and her ex Doug, she ends up talking to a misogynistic guy in her writing program named Bhadveer. They get into a discussion about whether or not female writers can be beautiful and successful. She asks him, "Arundhati Roy?" and he says, "Don't pander." I mean. It's hilarious and there's so much there that Sittenfeld doesn't have to say, and it's in the eponymous short story "Show Don't Tell." I just don't know anyone who writes about people with such depth. I loved every bit of this. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: I usually do not love short story collections as much as I did this one. Curtis Sittenfeld really has a way of writing, complex, believable, raw, actually human, stories. Every story tackles something that is hard to hear/ understand. I would say this collection is for fans of Jodi Picoult in that it takes on some uncomfortable (for some) and tough topics to talk about. Sittenfeld just writes in a way that easily invests me and keeps me wanting more from the characters. The last couple of stories I didn't enjoy as much but I LOVED the rest. Many of these will stick with me. Would highly recommend if you enjoy Jodi Picoult, Sally Rooney, and the like.

I love Curtis Sittenfeld's writing, that was a reason I requested this book. It is all consuming and crisp. I am not much of a short stories reader so sometimes I have trouble connecting with the stories. Here, I did have a little of that difficulty but I don't believe that's due to Sittenfeld's story writing. The stories that stood out to me were The Richest Babysitter in the World and Creative Differences. The theme of marriage across the stories is something that had me thinking throughout. I am not married and younger than some of the characters in the stories so maybe that lack of perspective is affecting my understanding. I wouldn't say that the viewpoint of marriage came across as cynical, not exactly, but as someone still young and dating it was a little dampening to see depictions of marriage throughout someone's life. Maybe its me being naïve but why couldn't any of the women have depictions of a fulfilling marriage. The happiest was from a man's perspective of a marriage, and I would love to see from a woman's too. What I did like from a woman's perspective is the identity of self and what women want for themselves outside of marriage and children through the stories. Sittenfeld never lets a character disappear which I appreciate.

Rating a 3.5. I don't think I am a short stories person but I did enjoy Sittenfeld's work.

I have been a Curtis Sittenfeld fan since her stunning debut novel, Prep, and was so excited with all the love and attention that she got from Prep, so I was so excited to see her second short story collection was being released. With short stories, Sittenfeld has space to play with her characters in a way she can't in a larger book. The book hooked me when I started laughing out loud at the titular Show Not Tell - only a Sittenfeld heroine would insult an ex-boyfriend using a selectively biting critique of his autobiographical stories, but mixed in with the humorous are the ones who stay with you: Jill from White Women LOL, who maybe thinks might kind of be racist or maybe the whole thing is overblown? Ben from Creative Differences who thinks maybe his job is soul sucking or maybe he just needs to get laid. If Sittenfeld heroes are good are observing the nuances and idiosyncrasies of the world, they are (often deliberately) less focused on self-examination, And after all, when it comes down to it - who does really want to upset the apple cart of their own life?

I've been spending most of my reading time with rom coms and fantasy novels, because right now, it has felt far nicer to be living in another world. But Curtis Sittenfeld's short stories are about protagonists who are feeling just as ambiguous as I am - and feel some of the realest characters I've ever met.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

This is a wonderful collection of short stories, short enough to read each story and move on but deep and detailed enough to fell a connection with the characters of each one. The characters are of different ages and none of the stories are connected but all have humor and characters worthy of getting to know, even if just for a short time.

I'll be honest I read this one because I like Sittenfeld’s writing but I can take or leave short stories usually, especially when they do not tie together. That being said - I loved this one, there was maybe one story I could have skipped but all of the rest had me immediately. I got attached to characters and their stories so quickly and yet was ok when the story ended. This is a collection of short stories for the reader who doesn't generally love them. I wish there had been more of them!

4.25 stars

Thank you to Random House for the ARC to review

These stories drew me in immediately, more easily than i expected. I cared about the central characters, found their voices believable, and just kept reading story after story. I tend to shy away from the genre, preferring to lose myself in novels instead. But I love Sittenfeld’s writing every time, and this was no exception.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy for review.

Curtis Sittenfeld’s Show Don’t Tell is a brilliantly crafted collection of twelve short stories that explore the intricacies of modern life, from the pitfalls of privilege to the quiet turmoil of marriage, friendship, and ambition. Known for her sharp social observations and wit, Sittenfeld once again proves her mastery of character-driven storytelling, delivering narratives that feel both timely and timeless.

The protagonists in these stories—mostly middle-aged, middle-class Midwesterners—grapple with the messiness of life, from professional disappointments to personal reckonings. Whether revisiting Prep’s Lee Fiora at her 30-year high school reunion in Lost but Not Forgotten, unpacking racial dynamics in White Women LOL, or examining the fragile boundaries of gender and power in A for Alone, Sittenfeld effortlessly dissects human nature with humor, insight, and emotional depth.

What makes this collection particularly engaging is Sittenfeld’s ability to turn the mundane into the profound. Her characters navigate awkward encounters, career anxieties, romantic missteps, and social faux pas with a level of self-awareness that is both cringeworthy and endearing. These aren’t grand, sweeping narratives but rather slices of life that feel so authentic they could be your own.

Sittenfeld’s writing remains as sharp as ever—each story is rich with nuance, filled with humor, and tinged with the bittersweet reality of aging and change. The stories don’t always have traditional resolutions, but that only adds to their realism. Instead of neat conclusions, they offer moments of quiet revelation and lingering impact.

For fans of Sittenfeld’s previous work, Show Don’t Tell is a must-read. It’s witty, observant, and endlessly engaging—a collection that cements her place as one of the most compelling contemporary voices in fiction.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

I have read and thoroughly enjoyed many C. Sittenfeld books. This was my first foray into the short story genre and, it turns out, it is not for me. I prefer a full length book with more in depth character development. However, the stories in Show Don't Tell are somewhat interesting, cute, thought provoking. A for Alone was one of my favorites.
So, although this book was not for me I think that a fan of short stories would definitely enjoy it!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I don't usually pick up books of short stories, but I love the author so I figured this was going to be a good one. WOW! I absolutely wanted more, and were so sad that some of the stories came to an abrupt ending. It was so incredibly refreshing to see women in their mid-life being depicted in such a real and honest way. I was not expecting a follow up to Prep, and it was such a pleasant surprise. This is such a great read for someone who doesnt have a lot of time to devour a whole book at once, and I am sure the audiobook is great too!

Curtis Sittenfeld is one of my favorite authors—this short story collection had some 5-star stories and some that fell a bit flat for me. I liked the subtle connection from story to story, and would say the overall line that connected each was about modern life. I’m a huge Curtis fan, and it was fun to see the little glimpses of herself in these characters!!

Fans of Prep will loveeee the final story

This was my first short story collection! Sittenfeld’s writing is incredibly insightful, and brings characters to life in a way that feels really authentic. I enjoyed many of the storylines but felt like some of the endings were a bit too abrupt for my liking (yes, I know.. short stories... lol), but I can see why she’s so beloved and will definitely continue to read more of her work.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review and pub day graphic was posted (Instagram, Goodreads, Storygraph) on February 25, 2025. Amazon review posted on February 26, 2025 (links below)

Short story collections aren't my thing, but Curtis Sittenfeld absolutely is, and I LOVED Show Don't Tell. Middle aged women will so so many facets of their lives on these pages and it feels so good to be seen.

I am a big fan of this author and have read most of her books. While short stories are not my usual choice of book, I thought I'd give this one a try since I enjoy Sittenfeld so much! Each of these stories delves into relationships, friendships, marriage, etc, Mostly female main characters for this collection. I was also excited that one of the stories picks up on a character from Prep. Sadly, it has been 20 years since I read Prep and I don't remember a lot of the details.

Overall, great collection of short stories; however, my preference is Sittenfeld's full length novels - Prep, Rodham, and American Wife being my 3 favorites, If you like short stories or you want to sample this author, I would definitely recommend it.

I just love this author's writing. It's so easy to read-not simple, but easy to get right into the story right away. I don't usually like short stories, but these were great. The story was full fleshed out, and I didn't feel like she left me hanging. They are somewhat similar stories, but have some quirks in each. I will read anything she writes!

Curtis Sittenfeld delivers a compelling collection of short stories in Show Don't Tell. Each story is a slice of life, packed with nuance and quiet observation, biting humor, and a dash of sarcasm. Topic covered include the "Mike Pence rule", class differences, crushes that go nowhere, namedropping, art. vs. commercialism, acquaintances from the past reappearing in peoples' lives, parenting, marriage...and everything in between. The conversations and situations feel authentic, with weight given to the mundanity of everyday life.

In the last story, Lost But Not Forgotten, our main character Lee is psyching herself up for her 30th boarding school reunion. She's remembering a chance encounter she had with a returning graduate who was returning to the boarding school (and her dorm room) for his own reunion, a graduate who happened to be a famous rock star. Sittenfeld easily goes back and forth between teenaged Lee with her confused emotions and challenges and adult Lee, navigating the adult versions of her childhood tormenters. Lee Fiora is the main character in Sittenfeld's novel Prep, so it looks like I have another book to add to the list.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the digital ARC. (pub date 2/25/2025)

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House for this ARC for review. This collection of stories touches on family, race, gender. There are complex and complicated issues raised in these stories as very relevant topics are discussed in fictional worlds.

I thoroughly enjoyed Curtis Sittenfeld's short story collection, Show Don't Tell. These stories are incredibly character-driven, and I found myself deeply immersed in the nuanced portrayal of the characters' inner worlds. As a psychologist, I appreciated the rich insights into their thoughts and emotional experiences as they navigated everyday life.

One of the things I particularly loved about this collection was the relatability of the characters, especially since many were close to my own age. Although the stories often ended without traditional resolutions, this felt authentic and didn't detract from my enjoyment. In fact, it enhanced the realism and depth of the storytelling. My favorite stories included the title piece, "Show Don't Tell," "White Women LOL", and "A for Alone," each offering compelling explorations of human connection, isolation, and self-awareness.

This was definitely a five-star read from Curtis Sittenfeld, beautifully capturing the complexities of humans.

I have previously enjoyed Curtis Sittenfeld's work, so I was excited to pick up her newest book, Show Don't Tell, which is a collection of 12 short stories. While reading this collection, I realized that I don't particularly enjoy short stories because I prefer exploring characters in greater depth than what is typically offered in shorter formats. Sittenfeld's writing, however, is very engaging and well-crafted. Even though I didn’t love the shortness of the stories, I appreciated her writing style and can't wait to read her next novel.

I am a huge fan of Curtis Sittenfeld's writing and this short story collection is no exception. She writes about middle aged women and their marriages, friendships, memories, and work so realistically, honestly and with humor. I'm so impressed how she can create emotionally resonant, complicated and messy characters and stories in such a short amount of time. I really loved each one, but standouts to me are: Show Don't Tell, The Richest Babysitter in the World, White Women LOL, A for Alone, Giraffe and Flamingo and Lost But Not Forgotten. I am a Sittenfeld completist and I will continue to read anything she writes. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy. 4.5 stars

If you think you don't like short stories, you will if they are written by Curtis Sittenfeld! I consider myself a super-fan, I've read all of her books, and these short stories shine by showing off some of the most ordinary aspects of everyday life and turning them into beautiful and relatable vignettes. I found myself so deeply entrenched in each of the characters. Revisiting the character of Lee from Prep felt like the cherry on top - I loved this collection!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley for this ARC.