I really enjoyed Curtis Sittenfeld's second story collection, Show Don't Tell. Like those in many of her previous works, the characters in these stories are largely upper-middle class, based in the Midwest, and have some degree of awareness of social injustices. While this might be irritating or grating from other writers, I find myself endlessly charmed by Sittenfeld's writing and, specifically, her characters. My favorite story from this collection, "White Women LOL," centers on a woman who commits a social faux-pas when she asks a group of black people to leave a restaurant where her friend is having a birthday party, and the ensuing anxiety that she feels as a result. While the character herself is not charming, the way Sittenfeld writes about her is. The way she writes about the social neuroses that many people experience in the modern world, as well as the indescribable combination of joy and sadness of nostalgia, has created a lifelong fan in me. Thank you to Random House for my free eARC of Show Don't Tell in exchange for my honest review!

I've been a big fan of Curtis Sittenfield's for years, and I really enjoyed a new take on her writing through the short story format. These stories introduced me to characters who felt like my real-life friends, because Sittenfield expertly writes them to feel so relatable. I found this collection full of humor, heart, and insight. I would recommend this with enthusiasm to both fans of Sittenfield's previous works, but also folks new to her writing.

I am not a big fan of short stories, I prefer a novel. The exception to this for me is Curtis Sittenfeld short stories. I really enjoyed Show Don't Tell, her latest collection of short stories. Some were published previously, but I had not read any of them before. The situations weren't any I ever found myself in, but I still related and wanted to know how each character solved the problems facing them.
Thank you #NetGalley & #RandomHousePublishing for an advance readers copy to review.

I thoroughly liked this!!!! The different short stories were so different yet so amazing. Show Don't Tell, Follow-up, and The Hug were my favorite!! Every Curtis Sittenfeld book that I have read has been amazing. She writes so well and they're pretty relatable. I hope everyone picks this up! It was quick and easy.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld. This is a collection of short stories, mainly about women, and different scenarios they face. They all make you think, and have humor, sadness and fun. Good read. #showdonttell #curtissittenfeld #advancedreadercopy #netgalley #shortstories #bookstagram #booklover #reader #bookblog #lovetoread #fictionreader #bookreview #bookrecommendation #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #takeapagefrommybook #readallthebooks #booksbooksbooks #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #booknerd #whattoread #readingtime #bookaddict #ilovetoread #ilovebooks #needtoread #readallday

I solely requested this book based off the fact that I loved the author’s debut novel. I had no idea that this was short stories until I had opened it up. I have never been a short story reader I’m not able to get as invested in them as I am a full novel however, I may have changed my mind after reading this book. The short stories are very contemporary in nature, focusing on families, friendship, and marriage. The author has a deadpan sense of humor that has me giggling through the otherwise serious nature of the stories.

I read a lot of short story collections, and it’s rare for me to like every single story within a collection—but Show Don’t Tell was a win for me all the way around. Sittenfeld has the ability to drop you into a story and almost immediately you know the characters and are invested in what happens to them. It doesn’t hurt that this collection featured stories of women in midlife, which I found very relatable and a breath of fresh air. 4.5 stars

I requested this arc because I’ve read other work by this author and enjoyed them. While I’m not a fan of short stories, this collection is mostly wonderful to read. I prefer to really get to know characters thru a slow process and yet this author manages to give me a glimpse that satisfies with her stories. Most of her stories in this collection are about women in their midlife which is where I find myself. I would definitely recommend this title especially to those who enjoy short story collections.

I loved Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld, so was intrigued to read her short stories. Show Don’t Tell just didn’t work for me. Although well written, none of these tales dealing with modern themes spoke to me.

Thanks NetGalley and Random House for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Exactly the fun, charismatic, wit and introspection that I would expect from a Sittenfeld!

It’s hard to review a collection of short stories, especially ones like these that are all uniquely different. However, I will say that I enjoyed all of them (though some a little more than others) which is rarely the case in a collection. It was fun not knowing what to expect - a nice wraparound story with a comedic ending, a tangential nonsensical story, or just a happy ending.

I was personally on the cusp of a reading slump, and this was just the thing to win me back. They are all such quick, bite-sized stories. While getting to know so many characters/settings/tribulations might seem daunting, Sittenfeld does it so artfully you are immediately drawn in each time.

I received this book as an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you Curtis Sittenfeld and Random House!

Show Don't Tell is a collection of short stories that show Curtis Sittenfeld's typical humorous, thoughtful, and inciteful writing. Many of the stories focus on relationships, with protagonists in a range of ages. I found myself connecting to multiple characters and the short snippets of their lives that Sittenfeld gave us access to. A highly enjoyable read.

To be honest, I’m not a big fan of short stories. So when I requested an arc of Curtis Sittenfeld’s latest, I didn’t realize it was a short story collection. However, I am SO glad I read this one!

This is probably the best collection of short stories that I have read. I’m not sure how she did it but I felt connected to every single story and fully engaged and interested. The author’s writing is amazing and I can’t wait to read more from her.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc

I loved the first few stories in this collection but then didn’t feel like the last couple were as strong which brought down my rating to 4 stars.

I loved this story collection by Curtis Sittenfeld. Full of fully imagined, timely characters. Loved the “Prep” follow-up as well.

While generally not a short story reader, I'll read anything by Curtis Sittenfeld and loved her latest collection, Show Don't Tell.
Most of the stories in this collection are based in the Midwest and feature a variety of female main characters, including a graduate student, movie producer, and a suburban woman (and her Karen moment). The characters are generally facing a change or a challenge in their lives and are middle-aged, a demographic we don't always see in fiction. Ms. Sittenfeld's characters are believable and relatable, and I especially liked the stories that delved back into their high school or college experiences of many years ago. A special treat in Lost But Not Forgotten was the return of a character from Prep. Another favorite costarred what I interpreted as versions of Jeff Bezos and Mackenzie Scott.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read Show Don't Tell. I received a complimentary copy of the book and opinions expressed are completely my own.

Curtis Sittenfeld has this uncanny ability to take everyday moments—seemingly mundane, often unspoken—and turn them into something deeply compelling. In "Show Don't Tell," her latest short story collection, she once again proves why she's a master of character-driven fiction.

This collection highlights the minds of "middle-aged" women—new concerns and revelations, shifting priorities, and the thoughts women have but don't always say out loud. Stories about this stage of life are surprisingly rare. But Sittenfeld? She nails it. Each story feels like a brief look into a life you recognize, even if it's not your own. The emotions, the inner monologues, the small but significant moments—they all hit in a way that makes you wonder if the author has a direct line to your brain.

I've been a fan of Sittenfeld since I first read "Prep" in my early 20s, and she's one of those authors - whatever she writes, I'm reading it. Her work is not always my favorite, but it's always worth reading. "Show Don't Tell" is no exception. The short stories are very relatable and engaging. Whether you're in the thick of "middle age" or just appreciate a good story about everyday life, this collection is absolutely worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In her second story collection, Sittenfeld shows why she’s as beloved for her short fiction as she is for her novels. In these dazzling stories, she conjures up characters so real that they seem like old friends, laying bare the moments when their long held beliefs are overturned.

In “The Patron Saints of Middle Age,” a woman visits two friends she hasn’t seen since her divorce. In “A for Alone,” a married artist embarks on a creative project intended to disprove the so-called Mike Pence Rule, which suggests that women and men can’t spend time alone together without lusting after each other. And in “Lost but Not Forgotten,” Sittenfeld gives readers of her novel Prep a window into the world of her beloved character Lee Fiora, decades later, when Lee attends an alumni reunion at her boarding school.

Hilarious, thought-provoking, and full of tenderness for her characters, Sittenfeld’s stories peel back layer after layer of our inner lives, keeping us riveted to the page with her utterly distinctive voice.

I don't read short stories often, but wanted to give Sittenfeld another try after not enjoying Romantic Comedy. I really enjoy her writing, and she makes insightful observations about life experiences. As with Romantic Comedy, there were a few references to politics, specifically conservatives/Republicans etc. that I found to be off-putting. I'm in the center politically, and dislike both ends of the political spectrum, (especially these days) but it always feels condescending/arrogant when the comments, especially when it's written in as a casual thought or in a disparaging way like it's assumed everyone agrees with it. This isn't exclusive to her, however, and I find it off-putting whenever I come across it in general. I'm sure there are many people who it doesn't bother, and every book isn't for every person, so it's probably just something I'll have to keep in mind as I read her books in the future. Overall though, I liked the stories and want to read some of her back catalog.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this collection of stories, none of them were earth shattering but I just enjoyed her quiet exploration of particular moments in older women’s lives. It’s refreshing to read about characters that aren’t 25, and have more of the same life experiences and concerns I do. The stories explore marriage, friendship, family and careers, and though not all the characters were especially likable, all were compelling.

I usually don’t like short stories, but I quite enjoyed this collection. It certainly made me think. I didn’t read her novel Prep, but the last story based on it was my favorite. She does a great job of enacting both the heart and mind here.

I loved this collection of stories by Curtis Sittenfeld. I've only read one of her novels, but when I received the opportunity to read this ARC, I jumped at it. I normally don't love short stories, but Sittenfeld has a magical way of making even the slimmest of stories come alive through her phenomenal character development and interesting situations. I really enjoyed this collection, and highly recommend it to anyone who's enjoyed Sittenfeld's novels in the past. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!