This collection consistently took my breath away. Mariana Enríquez is a master of slow, contemplative horror. There is almost no spectacle or violence, and only brief glimpses of what might be the supernatural. Instead, each story investigates the horrific in an almost meditative way. The writing is beautiful, (credit to the translator Megan McDowell as well), and the stories definitely share a tone or an ethos, a deliberate nature that really excels at getting sneakily getting under the skin, flaying you before you even notice the cut. Just because I describe them as slow, maybe even languorous on occasion, doesn’t mean they don’t have action. There is always a sense of movement, along with pops of excitement and a constant sense of threat or danger that makes each story remarkably compelling.
I truly enjoyed every story in this collection. Their content is different enough that each feels unique, even though many look at issues of prejudice, inequality, and the oppression of societal expectations. However, since they do all share, for the most part, a similar tone, reading this collection straight through can feel just a little repetitive. That said, there is nothing in this collection that necessitates they all be read together, and they are well-served by taking your time with them and letting each settle into your bones.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Random House Publishing Group, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This short story collection by Mariana Enriquez is a masterclass in horror, delivering a dark, intoxicating array of tales that you won't be able to put down, no matter how unsettling they become. Each story is a journey into the eerie and the bizarre, from a woman whose face slowly disappears, sealing off her senses, to a young girl who finds solace in the cold touch of the dead. Enriquez’s genius lies in her ability to craft narratives that are both creepy and deeply meaningful, pushing the boundaries of horror in creative and unexpected ways.

As someone well-versed in horror, I found myself constantly surprised, never quite able to predict where each story would lead. The collection is filled with supernatural elements—family curses, haunted houses, and unsettling local legends—yet it also dives into the real horrors of our world, touching on themes of homelessness, drug abuse, and Argentina’s political history. The mix of these elements makes for a reading experience that is as intellectually engaging as it is terrifying.

Each tale is imbued with just the right amount of detail, ensuring that the stories are fleshed out and satisfying, without ever feeling overly long or dull. There’s a perfect balance here; the stories are short and sweet, yet their impact lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.

Among the many standout pieces, "Metamorphosis" is a personal favorite—a twisted and unforgettable exploration of a woman reclaiming her body in the most unique and chilling way. It haunted me for days, a true testament to the power of Enriquez’s storytelling.

Despite my initial hesitation, having been less enamored with Our Share of Night, this collection won me over completely. Each story is distinct, yet the recurring themes tie them together into a cohesive and compelling whole. While some stories inevitably stand out more than others, there is something to appreciate in every single one.

This collection has not only reignited my admiration for Enriquez’s work but has also inspired me to revisit her earlier collections like The Dangers of Smoking in Bed. I eagerly anticipate whatever she creates next. My gratitude to Granta Publications for providing this ARC via NetGalley—this is a collection that will stay with me for a long time.

I remain in awe of what Mariana Enriquez can do with a short story. Each story tows the line between horror and heartbreak, delving into poverty and human monsters to illustrate an unsettling view of the world outside Enriquez's window. Her use of first person, rather than getting tired and overused, becomes clear as the right way to tell each story where it's employed. It's exceedingly rare that I pick up a collection and find that each entry has something to say, value to contribute to the overall product, but that was the case with Things We Lost in the Fire and it's the case again with A Sunny Place for Shady People. Some of my favorite entries included "Julie", "The Refrigerator Cemetery", and "A Local Artist."

A Sunny Place for Shady People
Mariana Enriquez
September 2024


Ok, so ...

Unfortunately, this collection wasn't for me.

I absolutely loved this authors previous collections, but this one just didn't land. I felt there was a repetitive nature to the stories, and it became more apparent to me during the second half. I did find more enjoyment in the first several stories than I did the rest, though I had issues with those as well.

I don't love how the book is marketed either. I feel it's setting up expectations of themes being explored that I personal didn't notice... Unless things went over my head... But it didn't feel that way... Many of the stories seemed to end before they were finished. I'm all about ambiguity, but I don't love having to fill in more than half a story with my own imagination in order for it to make sense or feel completed.

Enriquez's writing is as beautiful and descriptive as always.
And some of the body horror in these stories is truly stomach churning. But the positives just didn't outweigh the negatives for me.

But again, these are just my opinions based on preferences and expectations that may be much different than yours.

I'd encourage you to read it yourself, and see what you think; especially if you're a fan of Mariana Enriquez. But I'd say just go in prepared for a collection that feels very different than the others.

I never read reviews before writing my own, but I happened to catch one as I was pulling up the novel on Goodreads to write my own review, and it mentioned not liking how there are instances where disability and diseases are used to incite fear. And I hate to say it, but I have to wholeheartedly agree. It made me uncomfortable.

Also, I've just gotta say ... the Elise Lam story felt a bit exploitative to me, personally.

2.75 / 5

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC eBook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-aRC of this upcoming title.

Let me summarize this by giving descriptive words for how this made me feel.
Unsettling
Frantic
Anxious
Spooked
Dark
Watched


Mariana Enriquez is a tour de force and no one can convince me otherwise.


4.75 stars

I love this author. She is a magnificent story teller. This collection, honestly, just had me wanting more. The stories are short and well crafted. The horror element is on pointe. I honestly love some of her earlier collections a bit more, but I still think this is a phenomenal addition to her body of work.

I definitely recommend this and I will continue to read all of this author's books.

A Sunny Place for Shady People is a fantastic short story collection following an array of different characters in a variety of creepy and disturbing scenarios. Through twelve different stories, Enriquez gives the readers glimpses into Argentinian life while exploring occult and horror themes.

I enjoyed the collection and absolutely see myself revisiting these stories, although some of them worked more for me than others. Enriquez has a great voice and this is my first time reading her work, so I will be exploring her previous titles too.

Of the dozen stories, the one that has stayed in my brain the most is Different Colors Made of Tears, which comes about halfway through the book. Our narrator (in the majority of the stories, we don't know the name of the person who's telling them) meets an old man named Noah who is selling his deceased wife's designer clothing and jewelry to the thrift store where she works. However, when she takes them to the store, horrific injuries happen to the wearer. This was a fascinating take on abuse and the literal scars it leaves behind not just to the person who experiences it, but those around them.

I recommend the collection to anyone who is looking for a unique take on horror. Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy.

I want Enriquez to be for me, but it just hasn't worked out. DNFed this one at 40%.

This is a short story collection that is a little weird, unsettling, and speculative to varying degrees. Some comps might be Never Have I Ever by Isabel Yap, Through the Night Like a Snake, or The Houseguest by Amparo Davila. The stories are largely rooted in the real world but add in something paranormal or horrific.

My struggle with the stories - and with Enriquez's writing in general - is the way she meanders. I don't enjoy getting lots of backstory for an intense moment at the end. I don't enjoy stories where the stakes and intensity feel pretty low. So I find myself liking the concepts more than the execution with her work. And this is not unique to her. I have this same complaint about lots of short story writers, and it's subjective/just a preference. Plenty of readers will enjoy this one, especially readers who are already fans of Enriquez.

My favorite of the ones I read (the first four) would be Face of Disgrace for the creep factor.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the ARC. This book was my first Mariana Enriquez and it won't be my last. I loved all the stories. The first one in particular (Sad Dead) really got to me on a personal level. I can't wait to get into some more work from this author. Check this collection out when it publishes September 17, 2024!

I have heard a lot of praise for Mariana Enriquez in the horror author community, so I was intrigued to read this collection and get a sampling of her work. Unfortunately, I found these stories hard to follow - maybe it's something lost in the translation, but this collection of stories was just not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! This was really hit or miss. Some of the stories were really great and some of them felt like they were trying too hard to spark a reaction in the reader and lost the plot a little. Not that there was an extensive plot since these are short stories but some of them had even less plot than would be expected and needed.

I loved these short stories - they're dark and spooky and I tore through them so quickly! I will definitely be recommending this to others.

I read and loved Enríquez's full-length novel Our Share of Night when I read it last year. Because I know she is more well-known for her short stories, I was excited to check out her latest short story collection, A Sunny Place for Shady People.

The twelve short stories in this collection have range-- you'll find ghosts and other supernatural elements, body horror, cults, and horror elements that are more grounded in reality but are no less unsettling. As in Our Share of the Night, Enríquez explores a variety of themes, including personal and political violence, classism, misogyny, selfishness, and greed. Although some of the stories worked better for me than others, all of them created a sense of dread and tension that built until the story's conclusion. The opening story, "My Sad Dead," in which a retired physician communicates with ghosts in her neighborhood, was one of my favorites in its explorations of classicism, isolation, and complicity through indifference. "Face of Disgrace" very literally explores the erasure of victims and in "Metamorphosis," a woman on the cusp of menopause explores body modification in an unnerving bid to regain agency over her changing body. Other stories I liked a lot included "Different Colors Made of Tears," "The Refrigerator Cemetery," and "Black Eyes."

Reading this collection made me excited to check out more of Enríquez's backlist. I recommend this collection to those looking for smart, unsettling literary horror.

I love being in Mariana Enriquez’s world. I’ve now read all of her works translated into English and they are so distinct from what other horror authors are doing. Gritty city slums, sweltering rural Argentina, haunted homes and souls, manifestations of grief, childhood fears, mundane magic… the themes are endless and yet feel new & exciting in each story. It’s interesting to see Enriquez grapple with terror in a post-pandemic setting.

Great collection and well-arranged like a music album. The stories are long enough to savor but short enough to keep your attention. Each one is a banger, but a few stand out to me: the title story set in Los Angeles, the dark underbelly of Skid Row and an infamous death at Hotel Cecil, all tied up with a haunting bow; and, the Refrigerator Cemetery story that focuses on mistakes of latchkey kids in a neglected Buenos Aires neighborhood.

If you haven’t yet read Enriquez, this is a great place to start - on par with “Things We Lost In The Fire”. I was getting vibes of Shirley Jackson and Carmen Maria Machado in a few stories.

I was unbelievably excited for this ARC. I took my time with this collection. I really enjoyed it and think it is her best work to date. I can't wait for it's release so I can get a copy for myself and for friends.

A Sunny Place for Shady People is an appt title for this collection of stories. I really enjoyed reading this collection as they started in the "normal" every day and ended in the spooky and even evil place. The stories cover a wide range of topics and all left me with some type of feeling. I really enjoyed getting into the story, the characters and the places. Enriquez sure has a talent for the shady side of humanity and "other." I think this collection would be perfect for those rainy dreary fall days that are coming. I look forward to reading them again during that time!

I found this collection quite fun! some stories were a lot stronger than others but most of them had a good level of spooky. I actually was not that crazy about our share of night when I read it last year, so I was a little worried I wouldn't like this one, but Enriquez really shines in short stories. I feel like some of these stories genuinely made my skin crawl, I feel like even the ones that weren't as scary had elements that'll kinda haunt me for a while. very stoked I gave this one a chance and excited to tell people about it!

thanks netgalley and Random House for the arc :)

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Hogarth via Netgalley for providing me with this ARC. Mariana Enriquez never disappoints, I’ve read her two other short story collections, and like those this collection is dark, haunting, and alluring. Her writing can make my skin crawl in the best way. Highly recommend and can’t wait to purchase a hard copy when it releases in September. It will be a great spooky read in the fall.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Hogarth books for this ARC. I loved The Dangers of Smoking in Bed so when I saw this author had another collection of stories out, I knew I had to read them. This collection definitely did not disappoint. I love this author's dark and weird stories. All of her stories seem normal at first and then they get a little creepy or slightly evil. I love it. They are wonderful. I will read anything this author writes.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there is so much amazing horror lit coming out of Argentina. I was fortunate to have to chance to read A Sunny Place For Shady People which is a compilation of short stories by Mariana Enriquez. Having read Our Share of Night, I was eager to read her short form work and it is fantastic. The writing is haunting and impactful and intrinsically tied to Argentina and its people. This writer has become an instabuy for me.

I really enjoyed every story in this collection and feel that it offered a nice variety. Some touched on the more modern with urban legends and online fixations such as black eyed kids, ouija boards, and Elisa Lam. Some were reflective and focused on trauma of the past rippling out into the present. A pervasive feeling of dread? Something reflective? Some wicked humor? It’s all here.

If you are looking for a great well rounded short story horror collection or are a fan of Mariana Enriquez’s writing this is a must read.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.