Overall I enjoyed the read and it was very well written. I would recommend it to somebody looking for a quick read and are craving that nostalgic feeling.
3.5/5

Compelling short stories that intertwine family and the passage of time, with the nostalgic 80s as the backdrop.

A collection of short stories, 1986 (2025) by Will Stepp is his debut literary fiction novel. The ten stories are interconnected by the young lad growing up in rural Georgia in the 1980s. The narrative has a nostalgic feel with its captured glimpses of childhood memories. The unnamed boy experiences various changes, getting lost, moving houses, friendships and family, in a dreamlike series of tales. There are also hints of the supernatural or otherworldly elements, adding to the ambiguity and hazy recollection of days long gone. An interesting read, which is somewhat surreal, yet captures the essence of childhood in a delightful 164-page novella with a four star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Brody & Malachi Press and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

Gosh, this was good. I lost an entire day reading it as the book was so gripping. Highly recommended. Will be watching out for more offerings from this talented author.

4 stars

An engrossing read with several short stories that all connect through the life of the young protagonist. The stories are nostalgic and sometimes bittersweet, but there's usually a weirdly uncanny feeling of eeriness hiding in there. Or sometimes not hiding at all. The eerie veers into the bizarre in certain places, but not in an off-putting way. There were times when I would be reading a passage and it would trigger a memory of my own childhood in the 80's and it was really fun to reminisce about toys and shows and games, and then BAM! We'd veer right into spooky territory and it would no longer be about my experiences but those of this kid again. It's definitely worthwhile to pick up a copy of this book to read if you'd like an atmospheric trip down memory lane - perhaps as an elder millenial - and also for the fact that these vignettes are pretty well-written and engaging. I think my favourite stories were the ones set at the truck stop and the YMCA.

Thanks to NetGalley, author Will Stepp, and Brody & Malachi Press for giving me access to a digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

This was out of the genre-norm for my current reading phase, but I'm glad I gave it a go. I didn't realise until the third story however, that they were connected - a theme I quite liked in the end and was glad to see littered throughout. I didn't always align with the writing style, which did feel changed somewhat throughout, but the stories were vivid and imaginative enoThis was out of the genre-norm for my current reading phase, but I'm glad I gave it a go. I didn't realise until the third story however, that they were connected - a theme I quite liked in the end and was glad to see littered throughout. I didn't always align with the writing style, which did feel changed somewhat throughout, but the stories were vivid and imaginative enough.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this collection.

The story was good, stepping into someone’s memory growing up in the 80s is a bit of nostalgic.

I did enjoy the interconnected stories.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the arc.

This collection had a slow start for me, but I did like the mood and time period, and overall, it was a solid group of stories. Other readers have noted some abrupt endings, and I agree although that doesn't personally bother me much. Very nostalgic read! (If you're of the age to be nostalgic for the '80s.)

Story Concepts 4/5
Quality of Writing 4/5
Pacing 3/5
Plot Development 3/5
Character Development 3/5

Overall Enjoyability 3/5

The stories were well written and very intricately detailed. Though they did not seem to intertwine with each other and almost ended abruptly.

A dreamy, nostalgic exploration of childhood that culminates in a final grown up story from our protagonist. The stories are interconnected with the same characters, but weave through an ambiguous timeline.

My favorites of the collection were “Truck Stop,” about getting lost & separated from your parent, and “YMCA,” about a single day at a YMCA after school camp. Both really showcase the author’s ability to describe the world in the eyes of a child- the world seems bigger, supporting characters seem more mysterious, and mundane tasks turn into frightening adventures. There’s a Christmas story that wanders into lengthy descriptions of each 80s gift, the richness of holiday food, and the snowstorm outside. It really puts words to the yearning a lot of us feel for the holidays of our youth.

The final story, “2006,” brings us to a bittersweet. reunion of the characters as adults. I found this quote relatable and moving as I grapple with aging & changing relationships myself: “My family was no more than an arm’s length away, but it may as well have been a million miles. I felt like a stranger to them. I was overcome with unbearable sadness, of loss of a world I had always known, slipping through my fingers, and being helpless to catch it.”

There a few stories where the morality felt heavy handed, or they’re just a bit weaker than the others. Overall a solid, quick read for a quiet night.

This was a quick read of 10 interconnected stories. It had me reminiscing about growing up in the 80’s which is always a fun trip down memory lane. Most of the stories held my attention, while a few did not.

Thank you to the publisher, authors and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this arc.

I had no idea what I was getting into but this collection of stories was fantastic. I devoured each one. I finished in one sitting. My only complaint was the stories weren’t long enough. I gave this book a 4.5 star rating.

Each story left me feeling dazed and like I didn’t know how to feel. If I could read it for the first time again I would. A book you can’t put down and that will keep you deeply invested. A gripping must read.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Brody and Malachi Press for the eARC.

This book will transport you back to being a child in the 80s! It's very nostalgic and well written. Each chapter is a different story from the main characters' childhood.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if it wasn't 10 disconnected stories. You just bounce around different memories, and there doesn't seem to be a reason for it. It just wasn't for me. I know there are readers out there who will love this for the nostalgia and shared experiences!

This is a nostalgic and atmospheric set of interconnected stories, with a strong sense of place and time.

Set in Georgia, while all the stories are not equally interesting, many are enjoyable. The pace of the story telling is a little uneven at times, and some judicious editing might help with that.

Worth checking out if you like the coming-of-age genre, in particular. I do, which is what gets it 3 stars.

This book is ten interconnecting stories, it is a good read but slow at times. It gave me a nostalgic feeling. I felt it all did not come together, but would suggest reading it anyway.

2 Stars

This book was just okay for me. Some of the stories were good but others, not so much. They didn't really come together for me in the end like I think they had planned either.

I got a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, a big thanks to Brody and Malachi Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.

3 stars :)

I thought this was a quick read and kept my attention but at times it felt quite slow. I liked the main character's 'voice', but I think that it was a better decision to keep it a collection of short stories. I saw a review earlier saying that it would be good if it was a longer more complete novel. Although I get where this is coming from, the writing was more of a show-not-tell and although that may have been its target to make it seem more in style of the rest of the plot, it was still wasn't what I was used to. I think because each story was short and easy to get through and there being new things happening quite often is what made it interesting.

Thank you again :)

This collection was reminiscent of The Twilight Zone to me, which is one of my favorites. The writing itself was full of great imagery and kept me engaged for the most part. I’ll say it took me a couple stories to get immersed, but once I got to stories like “Mail Walk”, “Drainage Pipe”, and especially “Truck Stop” I knew I found my type of horror and it checked all of my boxes while reading. Unfortunately, stories like “Blizzard” and “YMCA” felt unfinished and left me wanting to know more, in more of a confused way. While I didn’t feel particularly connected to any characters in this collection, there were standouts such as Grandpa in “New Knife” (and the rest of the collection) and Mary Beth in “Truck Stop”. Of all ten stories, I’d say “Truck Stop” was my favorite. The last story “2006” concluded this collection quite nicely. “1986” captured what it’s like growing up from 80s into the 90s and I enjoyed my experience reading this.

"Ten interconnected stories about a boy growing up in a small town in Georgia, set against the backdrop of the 1980s. From a secret pond nestled in the woods to the fog-shrouded rooftop of an interstate truck stop, to the shadowy corridors of a YMCA basement, familiar landscapes transform into realms of childhood wonder and discovery. Together, these dreamlike and often surreal tales weave a nostalgic meditation on family, home, memory, and time."

You can't get more 80s than a YMCA basement.

There are 10 interconnecting stories in ghe book. They are well written. It was an enjoyable read but nothing memorable. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book