In The Accidentals, Guadalupe Nettel creates various surreal worlds around belonging or the lack of. I was immediately confronted by the uncharacteristic formatting (or lack of) of the stories. There was no way to immediately tell when one story ended and another began, especially since the stories had mostly open ended final sentences. With some stories, this formatting error worked, with others, it took maybe an entire paragraph to realize I was reading a different story. This gave the entire collection a dreamy, half awake quality.

The stand out stories for me were “Imprinting,” “The Fellowship of Orphans,” and “The Pink Door.” “Imprinting” has a slightly incestious undertone to it. In this story, a niece finds a long lost uncle while visiting a friend’s mother in a hospital. The way their conversation flows and that Nettel describes their caressing feels like an Almodóvar movie. It's sensuous but dangerous. It’s one of the stories that I would definitely want to be expanded into a full novel of its own. As a whole, all the stories in The Accidentals are extremely appealing, visually. But a few stories fall flat because you can feel the author pulling back or rushing into the story unfolding. Such was the case with “Playing with Fire.” Overall, the collection was a worthwhile read and the translation from spanish (by Rosalind Harvey) felt mostly natural and concise. The Accidentals is not a lighthearted read per se but its preoccupation with the dark side of the human psyche leans more towards the nightmare of Luis Buñuel’s The Exterminating Angel than any number of gory horror films.

Short story collection exploring grief, loss, longing and family. Beautifully captures the human experience and its kaleidoscope of colours. Well written and translated.

I absolutely loved this collection, Nettel is a true powerhouse in her ability to dip her toes in so many different genres, as well as in her open, accessible, and atmospheric style of writing that makes you want to stop and really think/imagine what exactly it is you're reading and visualizing as a result of it. THE ACCIDENTALS manages to absolutely excel in curating a collection of short stories that tackle themes such as, but not limited to: loneliness, [fear of] the unknown, isolation/estrangement; how are actions define us and how easy it is to blur the boundaries of our lives a a result, etc. All in all, each story successfully works to serve their own specific purpose within the overarching thematic narrative and are all engaging in their own right; because honestly—? There were simply no misses for me, which is really, really rare for an anthology collection. 10000% would highly recommend and can't wait for it to come out officially on pub day!

The Accidentals by Guadalupe Nettel is a deeply absorbing collection of stories that captures the quiet, often unexpected, moments that shape our lives. Each story unfolds with a sense of intimacy, drawing readers into the inner worlds of characters facing change, uncertainty and the weight of unspoken truths.

The writing is both precise and lyrical. She expertly weaves together emotion and observation.The stories feel deeply personal yet universally resonant, exploring the complexities of human relationships with a subtlety that lingers. There’s an undeniable sense of tension running through the collection of stories that make each story pulse with quiet intensity.

It’s a stunning read and Nettel proves again that some of the most powerful stories come from the spaces between what is said and what is left unsaid.

This was fantastic. Of the eight stories, I really enjoyed seven of them, which is a pretty solid collection in my opinion. The topics covered were interesting, and the characters felt real and fleshed out, even with the brevity of the stories compared to a novel. A must-read for fans of quality literature and literature in translation, particularly for those who liked Still Born.

This short story collection follows eight characters who are struggling with loss and looking for connection with the people around them. Each character, story, and their desires for connection, and how they approach it is vastly different. There is a quite lesson in each story that teaches us to listen, be brave, and appreciate what we have. The stories were/are situations that happen to many people, or at least the sentiment of it. My favorite stories we Imprinting, The Pink Door, Life Elsewhere, and The Tapor. All of the stories are beautiful and beautifully written.
This was my first Guadalupe Nettlel read and I absolutely need to read more of her work!

Thank NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the e-ARC!

Guadalupe Nettel’s The Accidentals is a hauntingly beautiful collection that explores estrangement, isolation, and the unknown through the lives of eight unmoored characters. Like an albatross that loses its way, Nettel’s protagonists are thrust into unfamiliar terrain by unexpected disruptions—fractured family ties, mysterious forces, and quiet battles within their own minds.

From a niece uncovering secrets about her exiled uncle to a family navigating the stifling torpor of a collapsing world, Nettel blends the real with the fantastical in stories that are piercing, unsettling, and deeply human. With razor-sharp prose and unflinching insight, The Accidentals is a masterful meditation on the fragility of connection and the resilience of the human spirit.

#bloomsbury #theaccidentals #guadalupenettel