I enjoyed this collection of short stories, though some more than others. The stories compiled in The Boundaries of Their Dwelling largely focus on Latinx people making their way in the world. The author explores relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and friends along the way. There is a great commentary on the stereotypical way Latinx are treated in America. Most of the stories also take place in Louisiana, so if you like southern literature I would also recommend.

My favorite stories included:
Lives of the Saints ¡Hablamos! - two best friends win a trip to appear on a Jerry Springer-esque talk show. During the trip, the friends are forced to play the part of “typical” Latinas. The friends becomes closer during the trip and their sisterly bond becomes stronger.
Hurricane Gothic - a heartbreaking story about a son who struggles to overcome his past demons, while dealing with the aftermath of his parent’s deaths. We also see the struggles his father faced in the past.
In the City of Murals - a Mexican struggling with the difficulties of starting a new business in America

Thank you to NetGalley and the University of Iowa Press for an advanced copy.

The short stories in Blake Sanz's The Boundaries of Their Dwelling offer original, surprising characters and settings. They balance humor and sorrow effectively, letting readers laugh, while also refusing to allow them to forget the seriousness of the issues underlying that laughter. Sanz takes us behind the scenes at a not-what-it-appears-to-be talk show, on migrant journeys, into a father-son relationship that grows increasingly complex over the years. If you enjoy short stories and/or Latinx literature, you have a delightful time making your way through The Boundaries of Their Dwelling.

I received a free electronic ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

This was an interesting story collection, but I didn't love it as much as I'd hoped. It's not a favorite of the year, but I'm definitely ordering a few copies for my store to carry.

Thank you to the author, the University of Iowa Press and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This collection of short stories (and one longer, novella-length story) is a fantastic read. The author masterfully creates worlds that drew me in and absorbed me in each individual story. Looking at the question of identity and belonging, how you define yourself in regions where both geography and social class are rigid constructs that open and close doors, the boundaries of possibility are hard-edged - and yet the stories left me with a feeling of hope. Highly recommend.

Interestingly interconnected well-written and entertaining short stories that rely just a tad too much on a near-end twist.

This is a fantastic collection of short stories.
The characters in these stories come across as very real people all trying to navigate through life with the tools they have available to them.
Very well written.
I adore the cover!

2 stars
This could have been so good. It was a huge miss for me unfortunately. I was very excited about it.

A nice collection of stories. There is a pretty wide variety, well-written, and include some very interesting and well-crafted characters. This is probably best for literary fiction fans that enjoy short stories.

I really appreciate the free ARC for review!!