A fun collection of entertaining short stories from Fannie Flagg. I was a bit skeptical when the first chapter started out with aliens, but I was pleasantly surprised. Aliens were the last thing I expected from Fannie Flagg hahaha.
A nice summer read.
3.5

A new Fannie Flagg book is always something to look forward to, and this one was no disappointment. It had her typical warmth and humor, and held my interest throughout. Highly recommended!

What is better than a good Fannie Flagg story? LOTS of Fannie Flagg short stories. This collection is wonderful as usual.
She is a national treasure!

I read this book Something To Look Forward To by Fannie Flagg because it was written by Fannie Flagg. I have read all of her books and was so excited to see that she had a new one that I didn't bother to read the synopsis. Something To Look Forward To was a wonderful surprise. It's a series of short stories that interweave a group of people through time and across the country. I would read one of the short stories and have to read the next one. There's really not a stopping point. Well, there is but you really don't want to. I loved the characters that popped up throughout the different stories. I probably read four or five of the stories before I realized that the previous story might possibly be continued into other stories. Sorry if this review sounds confusing. Let me put it very simply. Read the book! It is quintessential Fanny Flagg and you will not regret it. I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

This is a book of 31 short stories of varying lengths about every-day people. These folksy tales are somewhat witty and sometimes silly, but all of them show the warmth that has made Fannie Flagg a beloved author.

Thank you, Random House and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book.

“Something to Look Forward To” is a collection of short stories by Fannie Flagg. I have very fond memories of reading Ms. Flagg’s previous books - so it was with great joy that I started into this one. I didn’t know that it was a collection of short stories that weren’t related to each other - other than being stories of joy or hope. This book covers small town America - where little things like butterflies in a backyard bring excitement and when discovering cats can bring one joy. When Ms. Flagg’s story was on point, it was fantastic reading. However, for me, this book wasn’t always on point and interesting. Some of the stories felt a bit forced - or too short or too long - which, for me, took away some of the enjoyment. However, if short stories are your thing and if you enjoy little slices of Midwestern life, this might be a book you want to check out. I will probably go back and read some of Ms. Flagg’s other stories - just to remind myself of how wonderful her writing can be in longer form.

Love this author! This series of stories is like a box of chocolates. You can read one or a couple and thoroughly enjoy each gem. I hope she does more of these. We all need stories of everyday wonderful people and moments.

Fannie Flagg is just The Best! I have read and loved several of her novels. This book of short stories was a different experience for me - I'm typically not a fan of short stories. But Fannie's writing is like a warm blanket on a chilly day, or a glass of cold lemonade in the summer to my soul. These stories did not disappoint, for the most part. There are lots of stories and lots of intertwining of the stories, and it was both unexpected and fun to meet up with familiar characters throughout the book. I could just hear Fannie's sweet southern voice reading each of these tales to me. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection, and look forward to her next novel.

Different than normal Fannie Flagg style - a series of short stories but, some are still intertwined giving the book true Fannie Flagg warmth and hometown feel. I'm still glad I read it for sure. Who doesn't like something that makes you relax, chuckle and feel hopeful?

“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.