I received an advance ebook copy of Hello by David Carpenter. Thank you netgalley.

The idea behind the story is great. Having seven short stories.

Unfortunately, after trying for months, I DNF (did not finish). I don't know what it is that doesn't hold my attention. But I couldn't continue.

I am giving it 3 stars, though I didn't finish, because I did like what I read. I am hoping for it to become available on audiobook in the future. I'm sure I would finish and enjoy this particular writing in audio version.

Gold. Fortune Teller. Genie. Trout. Cougar. Connecting threads. This collection of short stories sure took me on a ride. I never knew what was coming next. So unexpected, interesting, and very human. The writing is smooth, the pace very good. The page breaks, helpful - to prep for change but also to take breaks. The characters, full of life. I can’t imagine any of the stories with any of the characters missing. I would definitely recommend this!

This is a series of short stories that rivals the TV show Black Mirror. Unlike in the show, technology is not the enemy; instead, human frailty is the theme. I really enjoyed Reincarnation.

It's always a gamble when getting a book of short stories to read. Some stories resonate with you and others don't. Unfortunately, these did not, at least not the ones I read. The first story in the book, entitled "The Ethel Suite", was quite readable, but I somehow missed the point of it. When I reached the end, I had little idea what the author was trying to say. Another story about a man calling himself as a child on the phone was engaging, but it was like an interesting idea that didn't get developed. It was too short a short story. Netgalley will be the only place I leave a review, and three stars for a neutral rating, since I only read the first 50% of the book.

P.S. If the ARC was available on Kindle, I probably would have read to the end. Unfortunately, I find the page turning and font sizes on the NetGalley shelf detrimental to reading.

Not all short stories are made the same, and that is quite evident in this collection. While I did not find these stories too relatable, I did find enjoyment in reading some of these. Although, there was also a few stories I struggled to get through.