Thank you Random House and Netgalley for an advanced review egalley of "You Think It, I'll Say It"

I have long been a fan of Curtis Sittenfeld's sharp, dry wit and smart writing. Last year's "Eligible" and her prior published work ("Prep" and "American Wife") are among some of my favorite works. I've enjoyed her pieces published in The New Yorker - and so it is no surprise that I loved this collection of short stories.

Read over the course of a day I found Sittenfeld's latest offering to be just as sharp witted and smart as her other work. This is a cohesive collection of stories that I found to be thought provoking and at times slightly satirical in nature. A couple of my favorites were "Bad Latch" - a story about best laid plans gone awry and new motherhood. Another of the stories, "You Think It, I'll Say It" details the inner thoughts of a woman who wants to say what she thinks - but finds that she can't unless her thoughts are presented as part of a secret party game played with her husband's coworker.

Overall, a cohesive collection of short stories that are thought provoking beyond the last page.
If you're a fan of Sittenfeld's other work you'll like this as well.

From GoodReads: Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy from one of my all time favorite authors. This did not disappoint! Curtis Sittenfeld knows how to tell a story, whether it is in the form of a novel or in 20 pages. As quirky as the characters may be, I always seem to identify with some part of them. Great collection of short stories.

This is actually the first Curtis Sittenfeld book that I've read and boy, was it worth it. I was already hearing some hype for it at the end of last year and I love short stories so I decided to give it a shot and I ended up loving it. Usually with short story collections I can stop at bedtime easier because there's a definitive conclusion for each title; however, last night I had two stories left and I had to stay up to finish both of them because I was so invested in reading as much of it as I could. This book is going to be all over the place as far as reviews go and accolades go and I can't wait to put it into the hands of eager patrons.

I have loved everything Curtis Sittenfeld has ever written. Well, I liked the book about sisters, but I LOVED everything else. Her writing is strong, solid, and straight-forward while showing the depths of human emotions like shame and hope. I love that she manages all that without having to take her characters or her material too seriously. By that I mean, she can choose seemingly less serious topics while still conveying how people really feel and act. These stories are no exception. (Thank you netgalley.com for the review copy.)

Fantastic! I've loved every one of Curtis Siftenfeld's books and have been eagerly awaiting her newest one. It was definitely worth the wait and did not disappoint!

These short stories almost all deal with themes of interpersonal deception, often within complicated marriages, while not demonizing the characters. One of my favorites was “The World Has Many Butterflies”, about a man and a woman, both married but not to each other, who like to play the game that gives the collection its name, but have very different feelings about the connection that game engenders. “Vox Clamantis in Deserto” reminded me of the closed in sense of campus life I found so effective in Sittenfeld’s debut novel Prep, and “Do-Over” reminded me of its character work. Sittenfeld’s characters often feel recognizable, which serves to ground the stories in the real world in a way that I find very satisfying.

The stories are at their best when they honestly examine the protagonists' propensities for jealousy, and when they insightfully plumb the anxieties of what it means to be "not pretty" in a culture that venerates beauty.

This is a wonderful collection of short stories. Poignant, relevant, sad, funny, and cohesive. Another winner from the talented Curtis Sittenfeld.

I'd rate this 4.5 stars.

Many of us, whether we'll admit it or not, have made snap judgments about people. Sometimes we judge people we might have met once, or known a long time ago, and are coming into contact with them again after a while. Sometimes we believe something about a person we know well, while other times, it's people we don't know, but we formulate an opinion based on something we hear them say or do.

The characters in Curtis Sittenfeld's first story collection, You Think It, I'll Say It, are all guilty of judging others, but the tension in the 10 stories occurs when those judgments are revealed to be incorrect, either gradually or all at once. The end result are thought-provoking stories which leave their mark in your head, and at times, in your heart.

I enjoyed all of the stories in the collection, although I felt eight of them were the strongest. My favorites included: "The Prairie Wife," in which an unappreciated housewife realizes a popular celebrity was a girl she was romantically involved with briefly during summer camp, although the celebrity is now a married darling of conservatives; "Gender Studies," which follows a college professor's fling with her airport shuttle driver—for the wrong reason; "Off the Record," about a freelance writer lined up to interview an actress on the cusp of major fame, someone she had connected with when interviewing them a few years earlier; "The World Has Many Butterflies," in which a man and a woman engage in a gossipy game every time they see each other, but only one interprets that as the sign of something deeper; and "Do-Over," about a reunion between two boarding school classmates who each have different interpretations of past events.

I've been a fan of Sittenfeld's since I read her debut novel, Prep, back in 2005. I found it so engaging and surprising, and I've followed her work ever since. That same talent is more than evident in You Think It, I'll Say It—these stories aren't outlandish or unrealistic, and you could imagine the situations the characters face happening to you, or hearing about them from people you know. Her writing style is so breezy and approachable, and there were times I didn't realize how dazzling her words were until after they passed me by, kind of like a person wearing a cologne or perfume you suddenly catch the scent of.

I know short stories aren't for everyone, but this is one of those collections I think even non-story lovers might enjoy. Most of the stories feel like mini-novels, and there were at least a few I'd love to see developed into something more expansive. You Think It, I'll Say It is a prime example of why I love stories, and the incredible talent it takes to make a collection work. Come on, give it a shot!

NetGalley and Random House provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!

A great pick up read. Her short stories are fun and interesting.. You can't read just one.

A wonderland of short stories that I've sprinted through twice. Well, first was the sprint; second was the stroll. I wanted to get every morsel, every tidbit of meaning or laugh and lesson. Each story is an independent book full of characters with full on emotion, yours or theirs.
Ten stories.
Gender Studies - A story about a mistake.
The World has Many Butterflies - Petty banter leads a woman to signals crossed.
Vox clamantis in Deserto - Never assume by words on a shirt.
Bad Latch - Babies change us.
Plausible Deniability - "Neither 'plausible deniability' nor 'lie of omission' is really a legal term. They're more like movie or TV versions of the law."
Regular Couple - Do we ever stop playing our high school roles?
Off the Record - Are actors always on?
The Prairie Wife - A person can change and still stay themselves inside.
Volunteers are Shining Stars - Are we doing it for them or for us?
Do Over - "Be your own advocate." You can never go back.

*All comments on each story are my own.

I do not typically pick up short story collections because I often find that inconsistency leads me to value the whole less. No worries here!!! Every single story in this collection hits it out of the park. So smart, so funny and so true. Absolutely fabulous.

This book is unlike anything I've ever read before... a collection of stories that made me laugh, smile, feel and so much more. Feelings are not always my strong suit, although I love books that make me feel, but attempting to describe them is extremely difficult.

If you want to read a collection of shorts that make you think, feel and wish you could say the things that others think - then it's it's exactly what you need!

If you are a fan of short stories, or of Curtis Sittenfeld, then this would be a great book to pick up. I am not a short story fan. When I picked up this book, I could not recall why that was, but once I started reading, I was reminded that short stories are just too short. Even though the stories are long enough to make their point, I often wanted more. Which, I suppose is a good thing. Since I am a Curtis Sittenfeld, I happy read the short stories, regardless of my overall feeling about the shortness, as I have never read a book by Sittenfeld that I did not like. I am happy to say that this book does not go down as my first. Each story shows the facets of human behavior, and the inner workings of the minds of a variety of characters. The story that bears the books title, for example is an interesting depiction of the back and forth of two people who perhaps, should not be going back and forth in the way that they are. Even more surprising is the misunderstanding of one of the characters in reference to the meaning of the game they start to play. Another story shows just how much acting an actress may do, to get what she wants. Yet another looks at how a connection with someone from high school, plays itself out many years in the future when they bump into each other at a resort. Each story has a bit of an unexpected twist, and each one ends with the reader desiring just a bit more.... more explanation, more understanding, more conflict, more.... just more. If you have the time to read a story, and then walk away for a bit, or think the story over, before moving on, I would recommend it. Otherwise, they can blend together a bit, and you might forget how the last story tied up while you are in the midst of the next one.

Curtis Sittenfeld is TERRIFIC!!! I LOVE THIS WOMAN...this author....her work! Oh....I’m not the only person nutty over this great woman/author.... ‘many’ of you feel the same.

I fell in love with Curtis years ago - 2005 - with her first novel “PREP”. Three years later, Sittenfeld wrote “American Wife”... and she blew me away. It was also fantastic... with a new level of maturity to boot.
I, personally, had a blast of fun reading “Eligible”: A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I read a few low reviews from readers missing their beloved characters ....but I loved the modernization updated story that took place in Cincinnati. I’ve had a new ‘thing’ for Cincinnati every since reading “Eligible”...

I wish I could be part of a seminar/group where we discussed ALL BOOKS by Curtis Sittenfeld. The icing on the cake would be if Curtis lead it.
When it comes to contemporary fiction - great laughs - insights - punch’s of truth in my gut - I don’t have to look much further than a Curtis Sittenfeld book.

“You Think It, I’ll Say It”, .....is A FABULOUS COLLECTION of short stories. The title of the book is actually ‘not’ the title of one of the short stories .... rather it is a GAME played between two people - Julie and Graham - in the short story called “The World Has Many Butterflies”. It’s a game I thought about ... as “DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME”.... why? ( I’ll let you figure that out)....BUT THIS IS ONE FRICKIN GREAT STORY....with an edge of caution.

“A Regular Couple” is another AWESOME STORY!!! Actually my favorite of the bunch.....so much so - I read it to Paul. He laughed - and enjoyed it as much as me! Then when we went hiking this morning- and I was tying my shoes....I had a private laugh to myself...( you’ll have to read the story to enjoy the inside joke).....
There’s a lot going on in the story - including - complete strangers were saying Maggie had betrayed feminism. She had been a prosecutor on a televised case where a man where is accused of raping a cocktail waitress there was not sufficient evidence against him, but many people in the public felt he was guilty. Sound familiar? :). There is much more to ‘this’ story.
Jason and Maggie are on their honeymoon. The year is 2008. Maggie sees an old nightmarish blonde woman, Ashley Frye, who attended her high school in Cleveland 1992....who happens to be on her honeymoon, too. She is married to a guy named Ed.
*Yippy-do-da*......Jason, Maggie, Ashley, and Ed are going to enjoy some couple-bonding! Oh, boy... things just start to get fun.
Maggie’s thoughts on the morning hike are:
“Below her daypack, I could see her little butt, encased in jogging shorts, and her tan, shapely legs, which ended in gray wool socks and hiking boots. Even though we were surrounded by birch trees and wildflowers and distance snow-peaked mountains, my attention was on Ashley— I detested myself for this, and I also couldn’t help it”.
And if you like that.....wait until they meet for dinner.

ALL THE STORIES ARE GREAT! I loved everything about it and I highly recommend it.... everyone needs a few short stories and a little Curtis Sittenfeld now and then!

Thank You Netgalley, Random House, and Curtis Sittenfeld!

A stellar collection of stories about love, relationships, and what it means to be a woman in today's America.

Exquisite! I love Curtis Sittenfeld, and I think that You Think It, I'll Say It is her best yet. The writing is absolute perfection. I typically don't read short stories, but this is a book that I will read again and again. My only warning is that if you are a ardent Trump supporter (I am not...), this might not be the book for you. While this book is not at all political and covers much deeper issues of love, identity, and gender equality, those who love Trump might not be able to see past her occasional political statements to see the beauty of this book.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This is a masterful collection. Curtis Sittenfeld is known for her novels, but this is some of her very best writing—thoughtful, incisive, and somehow both generous and prickly at once. She creates familiar worlds but upends them by allowing her characters to spill their secrets and confront their often unruly desires. Completely enjoyable and thought-provoking.