Wonderful and intriguing short stories. I didn't read all of them, but really enjoyed the ones I've read.

The Accidentals by Guadalupe Nettel is a brilliantly written collection of short stories, brimming with quiet suspense, subtle unease, and sharp societal insight. With short story collections, it’s not uncommon to find a few standouts alongside others that feel forgettable - but that’s not the case here. Every story in this collection is compelling, thought-provoking, and beautifully crafted. I found myself fully absorbed in each one. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

This is a collection of 8 short stories dealing with familial relationships in some way. I really enjoyed the "the pink door" - where a bored husband visits a mysterious house with a pink door and is given something that changes his life in subtle ways, "the accidentals" - about two childhood friends, Uruguayans escaping persecution and living in Mexico with their families, this story studies how their life diverges in interesting ways and their connection to homeland/ where they consider as their homeland. The last story was "The torpor" - which is set in a world post COVID-19 pandemic, except here there was a second wave leaving people living in insolation with their families. This was very thought provoking, especially the conversation on what people will accept due to fear and for convenience. I would highly recommend this particular story. Overall, an interesting collection with some excellent stories while others were just okay.

Disclaimer: I received this ebook ARC from NetGalley and Fitzcarraldo Editions in exchange for a free and honest review

The Accidentals by Guadalupe Nettel (trans. by Rosalind Harvey, thanks to @fitzcarraldoeditions via @netgalley for the review copy) reminded me a lot of a previous short story collection of hers I had read before, Natural Histories, in the way the complexities of relationships between family and loved ones are explored. The opening story, ‘Imprinting’, is about a young woman who reconnects with an estranged uncle who is terminally ill. It brought to the fore the deep-seated tensions that can occur within families and although Nettel never explicitly uncovers why the uncle has been estranged, there is an unsettling feeling about the relationship that has been struck up between him and his niece.

Unsettling is how I would describe quite a few (if not all) of the stories in this collection, and Nettel does this so well through her precise observations and the way some stories - such as ‘The Pink Door’ - verge on the fantastical almost fable-like. There are also stories that touch on dystopian elements, exploring what would happen to a society that never came out of lockdown; a difficult and unflinching look at authoritarianism. The title story, ‘The Accidentals’ - the name given to when an albatross strays too far from its home becoming an unmoored wanderer - returns to a more realist style, about two childhood friends who stay in touch despite their separation across continents has a feeling of displacement and exile that can never be overcome.

The stories in this collection lingered with me long after finishing, as did the ones in Natural Histories, and although none had the same emotional pull as Still Born (one of my all time favourite books) I thoroughly enjoyed every story.

The Accidentals by Guadalupe Nettel, translated by Rosalind Harvey
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
Publication date: 10th April 2025

Thanks to Fitzcarraldo Editions and Netgalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When an albatross strays too far from its home, or loses its bearings, it becomes an ‘accidental’, an unmoored wanderer. The protagonists of these eight stories each find the ordinary courses of their lives disrupted by an unexpected event and are pushed into unfamiliar terrain.

This is my first book by Guadalupe Nettel, and it certainly won't be the last. I so enjoyed the writing, and I was really pleasantly surprised by the speculative, sometimes borderline dystopian, nature of some of the stories. They are about relationships, loneliness, the impact of society and the environment. There was an element of uneasiness in some of the stories - in some cases, downright dissatisfaction and a need for change, with all the consequences this might bring.
I particularly enjoyed Playing With Fire, which was quite a stressful story of fraught family relationships, while The Pink Door was the epitome of “be careful what you wish for.”
But my favourite story was Life Elsewhere; it is very mundane at first - a tale of envy and unfulfilled dreams - and then it turns odd, and unsettling and obsessive.
I have Still Born by this author on my TBR trolley, and now I really want to get to it sooner rather than later.

I forgot that this was a short story collection and I wish the first story was the whole book.
Nettel’s writing is really good and leaves some details to the reader’s imagination, particularly in the first short story. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any of the others as intriguing as the first.

A striking, unsettling collection from Mexican writer Guadalupe Nettel first published in 2023 as Los Divagantes (The Wanderers). Keenly observed, admirably restrained, these are piercing, powerful yet elegant pieces. There’s an emphasis on family relationships, on fragile intimacies, the known and the unknowable. Often elliptical and enigmatic, these range from realist like “Imprinting” to the fantastical in “The Pink Door” and the dystopian in “The Torpor.”

It’s difficult to single out specific entries, these are uniformly strong, but I was particularly impressed by the subtle “Imprinting” which revolves around schoolgirl Antonia’s chance encounter with a dying uncle. Frank has been all but written out of her family’s history, for reasons that remain shrouded in mystery. It’s a carefully-crafted exploration of family secrets, Nettel never reveals the true nature of Frank’s transgressions but his behaviour hints at something dangerous and predatory. The slightly surreal, fable-like “The Pink Door” - a marvellous variation on a careful-what-you-wish-for narrative - highlights the dangers of nostalgia, the unintended consequences of the choices we make. The title story is an unusual take on domestic upheaval, exile, and political instability presented through the experiences of two childhood friends; while “The Torpor” imagines a society in which lockdown never ends, opening up issues around creeping authoritarianism and troubling responses to climate change. Set in Barcelona “Life Elsewhere” plays with ideas around envy, obsession, and doubling – a subject Nettel clearly finds fascinating.

There’s an all-pervasive air of claustrophobic melancholy, of loss and disorientation, which partly reflects the collection’s origins in the pandemic years, its mirroring of Nettel’s thoughts and feelings during this time: her experience of lockdowns, confinement, and sense of a world bizarrely altered. Overall, gripping and memorable. Translated by Rosalind Harvey.

When an albatross strays too far from its home, or loses its bearings, it becomes an ‘accidental’, an unmoored wanderer.

The protagonists of these eight stories each find the ordinary courses of their lives disrupted by an unexpected event and are pushed into unfamiliar a girl encounters her uncle in hospital, who was cast out of the family for reasons unknown; a menacing force hovers over a fracturing family on a rural holiday; a couple and their children inhabit a stifling world where it is better to be asleep than awake; a man’s desire for a solution to his marital dissatisfaction has unforeseen consequences.

Deft and disquieting, oscillating between the real and the fantastical, The Accidentals is the brilliant new book from International Booker-shortlisted duo Guadalupe Nettel and Rosalind Harvey.

Unsurprisingly, THE ACCIDENTALS is another smashing short story collection from Mexican writer Guadalupe Nettel (translated by Rosalind Harvey who also translated Still Born).

The stories, though standalone, somehow fit perfectly together but it’s tricky to say what exactly binds them. There are individuals dealing with transition and the consequences of their relationships leading to isolation, estrangement and longing and lapses in communication. There are no easy answers to the moments of disruption and unease.

See?! It’s a hard collection to describe!

What is easy to see though is Nettel’s famous clear, crisp prose that still manages to pack an emotional punch when you least expect it. Her ability to reach the emotional depth and range she does within the confines of a short story that, by its nature, often only really skims the surface, is so impressive.

There is a really gentle, yet profound, hum to these stories and I didn’t find any particular one more or less moving or affecting than another - which speaks to how strong I found them as a collection and how skilled the translation is again this time around

It is so rare to come across a short story collection where every story just hits! This was an absolute masterpiece. I haven't read anything by this author before but this will be changing immediately. The stories had such an emotional range for such a short piece of writing. Some were dystopian, some nature focused, others exploring complex familial relationships. The key takehome for me was that the writing was so crisp and yet also emotional. All of them had a visceral impact on me despite having taken some time to ruminate. Highly recommend. 5 stars.

The Accidentals by Guadalupe Nettel is an engaging read that offers a unique blend of emotional depth and beautiful storytelling. The author's skillful use of language draws the reader into the lives of the characters. Nettel's talent shines through, showcasing her ability to weave complex themes with subtlety and grace. Her writing is thought-provoking, leaving you wanting to explore more of her work. The stories are short but impactful read but each of them has the potential to evolve into a full-sized novel, delving even deeper into its characters' journeys. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Reviewing for the next print issue of Mslexia (106), "What's New in Short Stories" column. Thank you for the arc!

This is what great short story collections are made of. A cohesive theme but a broad range of equally rich and succinct narratives. Several of which have left a lasting impression on me since I finished it at the start of the month. Recommend for fans of Carmen Maria Machado.

What a fantastic book of short stories! This is exactly the kind of collection I would expect from Fitzcarraldo and it did not disappoint. I am not quite sure how it is possible to communicate the calibre of the original stories via translation into English but there was no doubt. The translator has preserved the flavour and character of the original language and created a compelling voice in English.

Inevitably in any short story collection there will be favourites but after finishing the collection I am struck by how each story has taken up residence in my head.

These stories are satisfying to read and live on after they have been enjoyed. I was impressed by how deftly the writer sketched out scenarios and characters.; reading each of these stories satisfies a desire for story telling and characterisation. I wholeheartedly recommend them.

In Nettel’s new short story collection, translated by Rosalind Harvey, she presents a series of more suggestive than definitive tales, adding to the collection's uneasiness. She explores a mix of genres, from horror to fantasy, without fully committing to them, instead just brushing the surface. By doing so, she creates unique and magnetic stories that have a lasting impact.

While different, these stories all have something in common: disruptions, whether in the form of a man who finds a way to fix his dissatisfaction only to land in unforeseen consequences or an Uncle with a mysterious past. While exploring the political climates and personal turmoil, Nettel’s unique storytelling ensures that each story, despite its length, lingers in the mind long after reading.

That being said, a fault I often see in short stories is that there are always a few dull ones. This isn’t the case here; every story is powerful and enthralling, contributing to a collection that will leave readers reflecting on its subtle yet profound exploration of the human condition.

Slightly dystopian, slightly magical, realistic and relatable short stories. Well-written, engaging, cliff hangery stories that I loved so so much. Musings on marriage, childhood, displacement all wrapped up into incredibly entertaining pieces.

Stunning.

The Accidentals is collection of short stories where the protagnists find their lives unexectedly altered and the consequences of changing their lives. I particularly enjoyed the title story The Fellowship of Orphans. The pacing felt just right in this collection, and the overarching theme of (intentionally or not) creating a new life was well-explored. Personally, all of the references to Mexican culture was a pleasure, as I am originally from Texas. Reading this collection took me back a bit! The translator did an excellent job as well, and overall this is a great collection for someone like me, who typically doesn't read short stories. I look forward to reading more of Guadalupe Nettel in the future.

Although ready a book of short stories might take away some of my engagement, this one kept me fully there, eager for the next one.

Nettel's messages are not direct and easily discernible, but instead are steadily ephemeral. What is right? What is wrong? What does the heart desire? What does the mind say? It gets blurry. Nettel writes with a steady pen which successfully captures the blurriness in our lives, in the decisions that we take, how every unsteady step might lead to one ending or another. We but peer through the glass darkly.

The Stories themselves:

Imprinting - but tell me what happened.
The Fellowship of Orphans - do onto others what you'd want done to you.
Playing with Fire - oh no, there might be a cuckoo in our nest
The Pink Door - be very very careful what you wish for.
A forest under the Earth - me and the tree that defines me.
Life Elsewhere - finely a glove that fits me.
The Accidentals - here, there, but where?
The Torpor - real, scarily so.

An ARC kindly give by author/publisher via Netgalley.

I greatly enjoyed this series of short stories. They revolve around interpersonal relationships between families and the secrets (both known and unknown) that exist within them. The collection begins more grounded and progresses to being more speculative. There is nothing better than a short story collection that has a shared motif to raise the experience and this has that. However, a couple of stories brought the average down for the collection. Still, a greatly enjoyable reading experience that had a couple of 'ohhh' moments with revelations.

💫 From the epigraph:
“We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.” (Anaïs Nin)

💫 “Rarely do we decide how we should act based on the present, and much less on the intuition of the moment. We do it based on the good or bad experiences that we have had before, and on the prejudices about reality that we form as a consequence of these.”

💫 “Liberty always has a price, which is why there are so many different, personal forms of dissidence. […]
I don’t regret it; it’s the price I pay for what I believe in. Life leaves its mark upon those who dare to look at it head on, lucidly.”

Loved this collection of short stories by Guadalupe Nettel, first published in Spanish as Los divagantes in 2023, and translated into English by Rosalind Harvey (pub. April 2025).

The stories ranged in style and tone; some more speculative, others drawing on gothic elements, some more insular and others told with a more macroscopic feel. All had an undercurrent of darkness and melancholy, that uncanny sense of something being set in motion by the series of choices one makes in the flow of life, not always stilling and seeing things as they are in the moment, how these choices then have consequences for us and those around us in ways we don’t immediately grasp.

The stories explored our social and political climates (migration, pandemic, experiences of childhood and womanhood) as well as universal aspects of the human condition (nostalgia, regret, desire, loneliness). A few were notably influenced by the recent pandemic lockdowns, at once a personal and global experience. As in Stillborn, I love her engagement with science and the natural world, drawing their language into the world of her stories to great effect, underlining the nature of ourselves and our climates as inextricable from our non-human kin. These stories confront our interconnectedness just as they do our inherent aloneness in this solitary, shared voyage called life.

There wasn’t a dud here imo, each story left an impression on me. Thank you so much @fitzcarraldoeditions for this copy, I loved every minute! 💙