Curtis Sittenfeld is a star. I have long been a fan of her fiction and and enjoyed her last short story collection. Show Don't Tell was even more of a win for me. The writing is always strong, but the topics she chose to explore in this collection were particularly compelling. I'll read anything she writes.

Sittenfeld employs her usual wit and sharp observations about the human condition in this collection of short stories. For lovers of Prep, the main character from that novel features in the concluding story (which was a cherry on top, for me.) For anyone who loves her writing...this is for you!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

As a woman who recently turned 40, each of these stories resonated with me as I become a Mom, age, and deal with family dynamics. I love Curtis Sittenfeld and will read anything she writes. I enjoyed her short stories, but I also look forward to her next novel!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I love a book os short stories and this one is fantastic. I'm a woman in my 40s and I loved that I could relate to most of the stories.

I greatly enjoyed this collection of stories! We need more books like this. Curtis Sittenfeld never disappoints

Felt a bit overwhelming to read and none of the stories/characters really stayed with me. Maybe it was the length of the stories or the banality of the plot, but I do not think I will be recommending to others.

Sittenfeld's signature sharp wit, dry humor, and brutal honestly are all on display in the subdued yet dynamic, slice of life stories told in this collection. With stories touching on racism, sexism, reconnection, infidelity, friendship, and more Sittenfeld puts the vulnerabilites, whims, prejudices, and delights of our society on display. I appreciated that so many of these works centered on middle aged characters and felt relatable. I highly recommend!

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Sittenfeld is an author I typically enjoy reading - not a must read, but a "oh there's a new book out? let me get on that Libby hold".

Short stories, however, are much more hit or miss for me. I find that, typically, there are a few stories that I love, that linger with me, and more that fall flat. This one was no exception.

There's not much connection between the stories, which I think hinders my ability to really fall into them. That being said, there were a couple that really stuck with me ("White Women LOL" omg). Hit or miss, but if you typically enjoy short story anthologies, this is a fun one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.

No one does suburban ennui quite like Curtis Sittenfeld.

The stories center around women (mostly) in their 50's, generally married or divorced. Many of the stories reflect on the past, sometimes with various timelines. All the stories are very well written and thoughtful. Themes of fulfillment, coping with events of the past, and human relationships are front and center in all of the stories. In fact, in some ways all of the stories seem like the same story, with a few adjustments, which maybe reflects the universality of (Wealthy, white) modern middle age. I do wish there was one story about someone who never married, just as a contrast. The last story takes us back to Ault for Lee Fiora's 30th anniversary. I haven't reread prep, but I was still able to fall into the story.

Show Don't Tell is a collection of short stories and each is almost a window into a brief time, usually a day or so, in someone's life. Every character, was written so well! We're given a glimpse of their lives, whether it be a work trip, a meeting with an old friend, or a high school reunion, and we also get the tiniest look at what the rest of their story might have held. Those few sentences of epilogue simultaneously made me feel as if each story was complete, and also like I wanted to keep it going. (But maybe I'm also just a nosy person.) The stories weren't connected, other than most of them were in the midwest and from the perspective of someone (mostly women) in mid-life. One of the characters describes how her mother used to tell anecdotes that didn't seem that important and didn't contain a lesson at the end, but as she grew older she realized that they were important after all; and that's kind of how I'm processing this book now that I've finished it. I'm not usually a short story reader, but I may be after this!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

As a collection this was a good one, with enough variety to not become repetitive. I really liked some of the stories, and the ones I liked least were still good, just not ones I related to as much. The recurring theme of relationships offered quite a few variations on the ways men and women interact, within relationships and in general.

This is my second collection of stories by this author and it is so good! I loved being immersed in the experiences of these characters and loved the nostalgia of flashing back to the 80s and 90s. Each story included the perspective of middle-aged characters reflecting on youthful ambitions, relationships, sexuality, and marriage. It touches on the randomness of privilege, class, race, wealth, and celebrity. These stories are real and more than a little uncomfortable at times.

There was only one story that I didn’t love, but they were all good. I didn’t like the one novel I read by this author, but I will definitely giver her another shot.

My favourite stories are GIRAFFE AND FLAMINGO, THE HUG, and LOST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.

I had to DNF after 2 stories. The first was good but I had a hard time getting into the second one. This wasn't for me sorry. It wasn't interesting to keep on reading.

I was lucky enough to see Curtis Sittenfeld when she was doing publicity for Prep, probably around 2005, and I remember it so well. I've been a huge fan of hers since then and have loved to see how her career has taken off and the wide breadth of her work.

This short story collection is so good!! I am so amazed at how I felt so truly invested in each story and cared about the characters -- which is not true of all short stories I read. The characters were all so endearing, so unique, and I would have read full length books about them all.

My favorite was the follow-up to Prep, Lost But Not Forgotten, where we see Lee returning to her boarding school for a reunion. I loved revisiting Lee and I was glad that I had re-read Prep prior to reading this collection.

I would recommend this to everyone -- even if you don't think you like short stories, take a chance on this one. Curtis Sittenfeld is such a skilled writer, her descriptions are so lovely and her characters feel like people we know.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Show Don’t Tell is another smart, sharp, and engaging novel from Curtis Sittenfeld. With her signature wit and keen observations of human behavior, Sittenfeld dives into the world of writing workshops, ambition, and the blurry lines between fiction and real life.
The characters are layered and complex, and the story moves with a mix of humor, honesty, and emotional depth. Sittenfeld captures the vulnerability of creative pursuits and the messiness of relationships with a voice that feels both insightful and relatable.
This book is a treat for readers who love character-driven stories and meta explorations of the writing world. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this clever and compelling novel!

A collection of short stories on a range of different topics. An easy read, and nice to read a few stories at a time.

I haven't read many short stories, but I knew anything by Curtis Sittenfeld would be worth the read! Her storytelling is compelling and well-rounded throughout this collection. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy read.

I have been a Curtis Sittenfeld fan since Prep, and this newest collection certainly didn't disappoint. This collection is a rich and insightful exploration of midlife, akin to catching up with a wise, slightly world-weary but utterly charming old friend. Each story felt perfectly paced, leaving me both wanting more and completely satisfied with its precise ending. Sittenfeld's signature flawed yet keenly self-aware characters navigate complex relationships with her characteristic wit and disarming poignancy. She masterfully reflects the intricacies of female friendship, marriage, and the subtle shifts of middle age with a light but confident touch. Highlights include the bittersweet "The Richest Babysitter in the World" and the revealing "A for Alone." The brilliant final story, "Lost but Not Forgotten," a poignant revisit to Lee Fiora from Prep, beautifully captures the bittersweetness of nostalgia while offering a hopeful reminder of life's unexpected turns. A masterful and intimate portrayal of universal midlife moments, this collection is a generous gift for longtime readers.

Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld
Genre: contemporary fiction, short stories
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After really enjoying Sittenfeld’s writing in Romantic Comedy, I was super excited to get an eARC of her newest book, Show Don’t Tell. As collection of short stories, I loved being able to read a story in one sitting. Even though the stories are short, they leave the reader with a lot to think about. I found the characters relatable and the writing smart. Although I liked some of the stories more than others, as a whole I would recommend! Especially if you’re looking for compelling stories that follow various women in the middle of their life - all the highs and lows, the lovely and the messy, and everything in between. I laughed, I cringed, and I pondered.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for my eARC. All thoughts are my own. Show Don’t Tell is out now!