No one writes better characters than Curtis Sittenfeld. I will fight that argument to the grave! Every single person she’s ever created feels so undeniably real, I have a hard time believing they’re not.

On that same note, it’s very hard to root for most of them, especially in a short story format. I had to go so deep on real human problems with minimal resolutions that I found myself overwhelmingly anxious after every chapter.

I’ve also read two of the stories in previous formats, so I was disappointed by the repurposed content.

Overall, excellent writing and if you’re a short story lover, you may like this. I personally wouldn’t have finished if I didn’t already love the author as much as I do.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the early review copy! I’m not sure I’ve ever been more excited to read an arc.

I'm a proud long-time reader of Curtis' work, thanks to her ability to weave topical moments in culture into interesting, fictional narratives. I always know I'm going to walk away from her writing satisfied, plus giving me more to think about afterwards. "Show Don't Tell" definitely lives up to that description, and these short stories give such interesting jumping off points, especially during this moment in history. A great antidote to those times when you want to get lost in a book, but don't have all the time in the world to do it! Thank you to #NetGalley and Random House for my copy.

I really enjoy Curtis Sittenfeld's writing style and this book is no different. Her style lends itself to short stories. They pack a punch. They'll absorb you. I would recommend this to any short story readers.

Curtis Sittenfeld can do absolutely no wrong. I love her short stories and had some of them before because I'm a super fan, and really enjoyed the Lee Fiora one. Total heaven because Prep is one of my favorite books of all time.Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Will definitely be recommending.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an advance copy of this book.

I am not usually a short story reader, but since I have enjoyed Curtis Sittenfeld's writing before, I wanted to give this collection a chance. I was glad I did - the variety of stories shone with her insightful writing style, giving the reader snapshots of memorable characters and relationships. I have strongly identified with past protagonists of hers, and I felt the same here. The uncertainty and self-questioning of many of the characters reads as very true to me.

I don't know much about the author's background, but the stories do come strongly from the perspective of a mid-life affluent white woman. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but this is not a book for those wishing for diversity in their writing.

I thought the stories surrounding marriage and friendship were the most interesting and insightful pieces, and I was amazed how invested I became in characters in such a short time. Excellent writing.

She never misses!! I have been on every book journey Curtis Sittenfeld has invited me to take with her and never been disappointed. Thinking about this book, I realized ultimately her writing is MEMORABLE. Whether peeking into a woman exploring the impact of her prep school on her past and future or the gift of friendship and why some stand the test of time, and others are just a memory.
This collection of short stories has been published separately in other mediums but this is the first time you can hold them together in your hand and as a fan I’m grateful!
Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance and share my thoughts.

I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling, thought-provoking collection of short stories. Each one featured someone at a crucial point in their life, and the author managed to immediately draw me in and immerse me in her beautifully written words. She was able to craft a well-developed plot and complex characters in a short span of time, and ended each story in a way that was both satisfying but also made me want to read more. All of the characters in these stories were complex and flawed, and some were downright unlikable. Yet I truly felt for each one and found myself empathizing with what they were going through. There was a story about a college senior on the cusp of real life, a career woman tempted to cheat on her husband during a business trip, a suburban mother forced to face her complicated feelings on race, and many more. I can't imagine anyone reading these stories and not finding something to relate to. I'm not always a huge fan of short stories, but I am a huge fan of Curtis Sittenfield, so the fact that I enjoyed this collection as much as I did is a true testament to how talented she is as a writer. I highly recommend you pick up this book, you won't regret it.

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the arc edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Curtis Sittenfeld has such a neat way of writing relationships. While it seems that a lot of these stories have been previously published, this was my first time with all of them. Each story is like being dropped into a persons life in the middle of something going on and the story is just long enough to learn about the character before we’re gone and on our way to the next. Plus there is a story about Lee from Prep that I was so excited to read. Sittenfeld is always an automatic read for me and these stories were so warm and engaging, offering tiny little snapshots into everyday lives.

Thank you to Random House, NetGalley, and Curtis Sittenfeld for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks for the review copy. This is a great collection of short stories. Very wonderful title. The writing is really impressive. I also like the cover.

In her latest, Curtis Sittenfeld presents 12 captivating short stories. While these stories may follow ordinary folks, it feels, for the most part, that these protagonists are in the midst of growth, on the edge of changes - once each story ends, I was left wanting more, seekint to continue following them on their journey. Compelling and well-written, these stories are must-reads!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

Prep was one of the first books I remember choosing to read for fun back when I was a senior in high school so anything by Curtis Sittenfeld feels so nostalgic. I was very excited to receive this ARC thanks to Random House and NetGalley.

I enjoy short stories, but they're not typically my go-to choice. That being said, I realllly enjoyed almost all of these stories. They were so relatable and thought provoking and delivered meaningful messages and lessons without being too obvious. Sittenfeld's characters feel incredibly real, and their struggles resonate on multiple levels. I also absolutely loved the return to Prep through Lee Fiora's story "Lost But Not Forgotten".

I highly recommend this collection of stories, especially if you're in a reflective mood!

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this short story collection. Not because I don’t think Curtis Sittenfeld isn’t a wonderful writer—she is, but because I just don’t enjoy short stories or even novellas the way I did when I was in college or just after. Now I generally want to sink my teeth into something where there is time for real character development and change.

A theme in these stories was that they would either start when someone was in college or was in middle age reflecting on life when they were younger. In The Richest Babysitter in the World, it begins when Kit is a senior in college and thinking of going to law school because she has no idea what else to do after graduation. When she gets a job babysitting the perfectly delightful three-year-old Sophie, she’s paid twice her minimum-wage job, a whopping 10 dollars an hour. It’s at a time in history when start-ups are starting up every day and either failing or making a few people very rich. The father of Sophie is a Jeff Bezos-type who launches an Amazon-type business and offers Kit a job, which she turns down. Years later with degrees in subjects that pay less than a bit of stock in his company would have, her husband wonders how life would have been different if she didn’t say no.

A few of the protagonists in the story were not necessarily comfortably likeable. I really enjoyed the short story of Show, Don’t Tell about a writer in a writers’ program and what success means in that world (money and/or critical acclaim don’t always go together in the literary community).

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this collection, which RELEASES FEBURARY 25, 2025.

Can’t say I enjoyed this collection. I felt smack dab like I had transported myself back to high school lit class. Hated that class.

One of my favorite authors, Curtis Sittenfeld, has a new collection of stories?? YES, PLEASE!! I really enjoyed quite a few of these, especially "Lost but not Forgotten", a revisiting of her novel "Prep" set at the class reunion. A really, really good writer, I love what Curtis has to say about life, relationships and the human experience. Recommend and many thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for my advanced readers copy - a true pleasure!

The stories were deeply engrossing and I wish them of them could become full length books. Thank you for the ARC!

The stories here touch on relatable themes, exploring middle-age dilemmas, friendships, and social dynamics. Sittenfeld’s skill in crafting realistic characters shines through, yet the collection feels uneven. While some stories stand out, others fall flat, lacking depth or impact.

Overall, Sittenfeld’s voice is sharp, and his fans will likely appreciate this collection for its insightful moments. It just wasn’t my favorite collection.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader copy.

Curtis Sittenfeld remains an "auto-read" author for me. I love her perspectives in short stories. While every story wasn't a banger (hence four stars instead of five), most were insightful and surprising in interesting ways. And I loved that we got to come back to Lee Fiora, to see what she's like as an adult.

The characters and situations are so engrossing, that I didn’t want them to end when they did. Sittenfeld does a good job of saying all she needs to say about each topic, so in that sense, each story was complete, but I am just a reader who wants more words, more details, more everything, so this wasn’t a perfect read for me.

Such a big fan of Curtis Sittenfeld! I loved this and feel so lucky to have read it early. Definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Curtis Sittenfeld!

Show Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld is a clever and insightful exploration of the art of storytelling, focusing on the intricacies of character development and narrative techniques. Through a collection of engaging essays, Sittenfeld shares her experiences as a writer and the lessons she's learned along the way. Her writing is both relatable and thought-provoking, making it easy to connect with her ideas about the creative process. I appreciated her candidness and the way she invites readers into her world, sparking inspiration for anyone interested in writing. This book is a must-read for aspiring authors and anyone who loves to delve into the craft of storytelling!