this short story collection was, for the most part, good. it leans heavily into fabulism and body horror, threading surreal or speculative elements through vignettes of girlhood, trauma, and societal rot. it's stylish, strange, and clearly ambitious, but occasionally to the point of confusion. several stories felt like they were reaching for a metaphor or punchline i couldn't quite grasp, and a few leaned so far into the absurd or grotesque that they lost me entirely (story 3 opens with a decapitated dog, story 9 ends on a shart).

that said, there were glimmers of something sharper beneath the weirdness. the heiress offered a haunting reflection on capitalism and exploitation exacted on poorer people, while tails explored the violence of inherited trauma in a way that stuck with me. and community hole, the final story, was easily the most compelling. it was a low-simmer haunted house tale that actually built tension and felt like it had narrative momentum. it made me wish for a full length book and that the rest of the collection had followed through with as much clarity and intention.

i'm not usually a short story reader and this collection didn't fully change that for me. but if you like your fiction surreal, visceral, and a little unhinged, this may be worth a read, especially for fans of melissa lozada-oliva's previous work.

i have not read too many short story collections, but from what i have read i find i do not enjoy them as much as a full novel. that being said, i did enjoy this short story collection, overall. i'm sure someone could write a whole analysis of the themes and discussions Lozada-Oliva explores throughout these stories, especially regarding the experiences of being a woman, and, in particular, a child of Latine immigrants, in the 21st century in america. Lozada-Oliva explores these ideas through interesting and creative ways -- as explored through body horror and monsters, among other things.

the writing and dialogue is modern a la 'gen z,' yet remains engaging and not to be written off as annoying or cringe. this is the first work of Melissa Lozada-Oliva i have read and it definitely has me interested in reading her longer works! favorite stories from the collection: heads and community hole. honorable mentions: tails, but i'm still the king, and the first story which shares the title of the book.

thank you to astra house and netgalley for the e-arc!

What a weird set of short stories (compliment). A lot of cool horror, tense moments, graphic depictions, interesting scenes. I was really moved by this work and impressed by Lozada-Olivia. Excited for this collection to hit the world!

Thank you Astra House for providing me with an arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
My Goodreads review will be posted on August 26, 2025.

This was incredible! I don't usually enjoy short story collections, but I thoroughly enjoyed almost every story in this collection. They were dark, sometimes gross, and unlike anything I have read before. Each story was so different while still feeling very cohesive as a collection. I especially loved the stories that included vague dystopian settings.
What really sold me on this collection, however, is the writing. Lozada-Oliva has such a way with words, and there was always one specific line that impacted me deeply in each story. I cannot wait to read more from this author, and I would highly recommend this collection if you love weird books!

Just a phenomenal collection of short stories. The visceral nature of the horror and body imagery depicted intertwined with revelations on place, home, and family resulted in both a physical and emotional reaction in many cases.

Thank you to netgalley and Astra House for a complimentary earc in exchange for an honest review.

I read it in two days, it is absolutely captivating. Once I started reading a story I needed to know what happened next. The stories are so well written and tense. Lozada-Olivia manages to create such fleshed out and real characters.

My favourite stories were The Heiress, Heads, Pool House and But I’m Still King. As a mixed latina woman, I related to a lot of different little elements in each story.

Made for a great summer read, during a hot sticky day. Absolutely great book, absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves weird girl lit!

This is a fascinating and disturbing story collection, much like Lozada-Oliva's earlier works in that way. They're very unique and weird AF, with a voice at times unlike anyone else publishing today.

Incredible collection of short stories! Visceral, twisted horror stories that set you on edge in a million different ways. Casts swirling shadows over girlhood, teeth, Cristo Negro, third-grade teachers, panthers and the very places we call home. Melissa Lozada-Oliva's writing is captivating.

Thank you to Astra House and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really wanted to love this more. I am the only person I know that enjoys reading short story collections. I had high hopes for this based on the synopsis. The various plots of each story were actually very good, unique, and interesting. The main problem I had was with the writing style. I am a very picky reader and if I am not gelling with the prose then it is difficult for me to like the finished product. Something about the writing style left me feeling frustrated and detached. The prose is very clunky and awkward. Some sentences I had to read more than once because I found the word choices to be downright odd. I think the author has potential but I think her prose needs to be more refined and specific.

Beyond All Reasonable Doubt, Jesus Is Alive!: Stories by Melissa Lozada-Oliva is a book you should definitely have on your radar this summer. Wow, this book was so much fun and wonderfully strange. I had an amazing time reading it. I was beyond thrilled to receive this ARC, and after reading it, I can confidently say that this might be one of the best short story collections I’ve ever read. Melissa Lozada-Oliva is a talented writer who truly understands her audience. I devoured these stories. The opener, which shares the book’s title, was captivating and eerie, pulling me in right from the start. It gave me subtle Todd Solondz, Ghost World and old school Creepypasta vibes, which I absolutely loved. I found myself particularly drawn to Pool House, Dream Man, and Community Living, those stories were especially memorable for me. I highly recommend this book and suggest you keep an eye on this author! I also loved her other book Candelaria which I read while I was reading this collection because I was loving it so much. Put this book on your TBR’s right now! Beyond All Reasonable Doubt, Jesus Is Alive! Comes out September 2, 2025. Thanks very much to Astra House for giving me access to an arc of this one.