“Something to Look Forward To” by Fannie Flagg is a joyful and character driven collection of interconnected short stories, where every day moments have unexpected meanings. Each vignette is told from a different charming character’s perspective weaving a patchwork of life lessons about love, loss and reinvention. .The stories are told with charm, depth, and honesty with the added touch of Ms. Flagg’s trademark sense of compassion. I recommend this entertaining book to everyone who needs a hug and a good laugh.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Fannie Flagg’s books are character-driven, and I wasn’t sure she could pull it off in short story form. Superb storyteller that she is, she hit the mark. Her previous stories focus on people, and she does that here but with a modern twist this time. The stories weave a tapestry of how we cope, individually and as a community, to our ever-changing new world. Some stories are interconnected, some stand-alone, but all share her warmth and humor. There are some that begin with a bit of darkness, but she is able to turn the story around to hope, and something to look forward to.

Loved it!

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This was a very mixed experience for me. I’ve been enjoying short stories a lot lately and since I’ve really enjoyed this author in the past, I thought it’d be fun to give this a try.

Some of the stories were great, but some I really struggled with. Emotional depth is pretty important to me when I read, but that’s obviously difficult to do when you’ve got the very limited page count of short stories. Sometimes, this was done really well. Some of these stories really hit me in the feels. But at other times, I either struggled to connect at all or I thought the bones were pretty good but that that the story really needed to be longer to get the depth it deserved. I did enjoy how some characters continued to show up in various stories, whether directly or through small connections. I laughed pretty hard at some of them, but there were also a couple that felt too forced in their themes, making the reading experience a bit awkward for me.

I don’t think Fannie Flag will be a go-to author for me for short stories, but I do think I will pick up another of her books again in the future to get that depth again that I’ve enjoyed in the past.

I’ve always enjoyed Fannie Flagg’s writing, and Something to Look Forward To offers her signature warmth and insight. This book takes a different approach, with each chapter focusing on a different woman’s story. While I usually prefer a single, continuous narrative, I still appreciated the unique voices and life lessons in each vignette. Thank you Net Galley.

I've read every Fannie Flagg book i could get my hands on for years now and this one did not disappoint me! I have laughed all night long reading this book and can't wait until i can get it in physical copy!

As a longtime fan of Fannie Flagg, I was honored to receive an early copy of Remember the Time. Her earlier books—especially A Redbird Christmas and Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café—are personal favorites, and once again, she delivers a thoughtful and engaging story.

The novel opens with a slightly fantastical tone, setting the stage for a world where everyday moments carry unexpected meaning. Ms. Flagg shows how the ordinary details of life can hold real emotional weight, and how, at our core, we all share the desire to love and be loved. Several well-placed plot twists bring earlier scenes into sharper focus. In many ways, Ms. Flagg reveals herself as part mystery writer, quietly laying clues along the way.

Each chapter is told from a different character’s point of view, offering fresh perspectives that gradually reveal how their lives intersect. The structure feels deliberate and intimate—almost as if Ms. Flagg is discovering each character one at a time and stitching them together as she goes. I couldn’t help but wonder if she plans to revisit some of them in future books. Maybe that’s the "Something to Look Forward To?" I hope so.

The novel is full of humor, warmth, and emotional honesty. Ms. Flagg’s writing is grounded and accessible, and her characters are multidimensional and familiar. She explores themes of love, memory, and belonging without drifting into sentimentality. No "brown elephants" here. 😉

The book also offers a gentle reminder that certain moments in life are too important to miss—and that we shouldn’t let pride, politics, social conventions, distance, or finances keep us from the people we care about. Do we create these barriers to grow, learn, and find our way back? Perhaps. But the story reminds us not to wait too long.

Remember the Time is a comforting, well-crafted novel that both new and longtime readers of Fannie Flagg will enjoy. Reading it felt like spending time with a dear friend.

Thank you, Ms. Flagg.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. This is another hilarious and enjoyable book by Fannie Flagg. This delightful book consists of thirty different short stories about people across America trying to cope with their lives and circumstances in our every changing world . One woman has to downsize to move to senior living, another person has to learn that her great granddaughter is now “they” instead of “she”, another woman has to deal with her husband leaving her for a trophy wife. This is a light, humorous and enjoyable book.

Something to Look Forward To by Fannie Flagg, a series of short vignettes, like a patchwork quilt of life. What looks small might be the most important, a reminder to offer kindness. Reading this collection was a bit like hearing the wandering porch or diner stories that are sparked by “remember when?” and “what ever happened to . . . ?”
Connections might not be clear at first, a reminder that we are all more connected than we might realize. It’s a sweet and soothing work, and came to me when I needed soothing distraction.
Pub. date August, so there’s time to read a few other Flagg books until then.

I love Fannie Flagg, but this wasn’t my favorite. I think the extraterrestrial element will bring in a lot of readers, but it’s not for me. The writing was still amazing!

Heartwarming with delightfully quirky characters. A charming collection of stories that celebrate resilience, humor, and the unexpected twists of life. My favorite was Cathy and Velma, Velma was a trip!
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love Fannie Flagg. I was lucky to receive an advance copy. It comes out August 25. This was a book of many short, endearing stories about different people and times. Some of the characters showed up again in different stories. I highly recommend this book. Makes you feel good.

I was so excited to read this new beautiful piece if writing by Fannie Flagg. A series of stories connected by the people and the lives they live. Emotive, funny, and relationship driven.

This is a collection of short (very short!) stories. If you are a Fannie Flagg devotee, this book will be a lovely chance to read what is (presumably) her final book. If you’re unfamiliar with her previous books, you may be puzzled as to why this one was published. The stories are thin and not as satisfying as her big, ambitious, heart-warming, and thoroughly enjoyable novels. I had a sense that she published this collection to fulfill a contractual obligation.

That being said, I am a fan and did enjoy reading this book. It was pleasant and nostalgic if not particularly engrossing.

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.

Unlike Flagg’s other books, which are novels, this is set up as a series of short stories. Some are told completely in a few pages, while others are told piece by piece with new parts of the story spread throughout the book.

As with most short story books I read, I enjoyed some of the stories more than others. Still, Flagg’s humor was found throughout the book.

It was a pleasure to read something new from Fannie Flagg, and her many fans will not be disappointed with this latest release from her.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of this book.

I absolutely adore all of Fannie Flagg’s books and was thrilled to read this. This collection of short stories is so fun and entertaining. Flagg’s characters are always unique and leave me wanting more. I’d love to see some of these stories developed into full length novels!

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

Fannie Flagg has been a favorite of mine forever, way back when she appeared on Match Game in the 1970's. She has a warm personality, which is reflected in all her books. I love the southern charm and humor. While I prefer her other books, this compilation was cute. Great short reads for when I only had a few minutes at a time. I would recommend it to anyone, especially older ladies, who just wants a short story to give them a smile.

Short stories that don't necessarily merge together into one (just a heads up, I thought it was going to be one story). Lighthearted, brings a smile to your face. A quick, enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley, Ms Flagg & Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always love Fannie Flagg's charming small towns that call back to the 50s. She is an American Treasure and this book does not disappoint.

I have been a fan of Ms. Flagg and have read a lot of her books so I was excited to read the book at first but then had a hard time getting into the book. First it is a collection of short stories about different characters in small town life that are not connected. I think that my issue is that I first had different expectation of this book and was not expecting it to be short stories and secondly with it being about different characters I had a hard time connecting and staying interested in the book itself. I wanted to like it more but am unable to. Overall, this is just an okay read for me.