Beautiful, Complicated Family

Volume 1

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Nov 05 2019 | Archive Date Dec 25 2019

Talking about this book? Use #BeautifulComplicatedFamily #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

Beautiful, Complicated Family: Volume 1 is a collection of five flash fiction stories exploring the connections that can hold people together or tear them apart.

Like most families, the relationships in this uplifting collection consist of intricate elements. Sometimes things get messy, but it’s always beautiful.

Read each story in about 5 minutes and get Volume 2 of the collection for free using a link within the book.

The stories are perfect for readers who enjoy contemporary fiction novels as well as those who only have time for a quick read.

This collection is filled with relatable characters and endings that pull at your heartstrings, so don’t be surprised if you laugh or cry along the way.

Beautiful, Complicated Family: Volume 1 is a collection of five flash fiction stories exploring the connections that can hold people together or tear them apart.

Like most families, the relationships...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781733455701
PRICE $0.99 (USD)

Average rating from 41 members


Featured Reviews

Swift and intriguing. This is a wonderful example of flash fiction at its best. With believable characters, relatable situational stories, tears and laugh out loud moments it is hard to put down. You can’t help feel warmed by the familiarity of each character as their unique story unfolds. Even the twist at the end makes you feel rewarded and eager to dive in to the next one. Rosey Lee delivers each story with ease and in language that is as comfortable your favourite slippers. An easy book to recommend to all my friends.

Was this review helpful?

Rosey Lee gives us a volume of flash fiction, to be followed by another. Lee displays why I love flash fiction -- in just a small written space, we are provided with characters, detail, and story. Of course, this means that the reading is brief, but nevertheless enjoyable.

Was this review helpful?

Quick reads but very good. I really enjoyed the story about the daughter and her mother. What a warm, cute ending. I enjoyed all the stories. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.

Was this review helpful?

This is a very quick read but none the less enjoyable because of it. The five flash fiction stories are about family but not the same one in each. Written to make you smile and feel good, none will set the world alight but all will make you grateful for the gift of those you love most, whether they are related to you or not.

I was  able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys short stories just a few pages long. There is a link to  free copy of book two included.

Was this review helpful?

Beautiful, Complicated Family Vol 1 by Rosey Lee offers irrefutable proof that good things really do come in small packages. This is a lightning quick read of five short stories, each providing a brief glimpse into the lives of individuals who demonstrate their unique perspectives on what it means to be a family. This was my first experience of 'flash fiction', and I am certainly interested in reading more from this distinctive genre, and from this author in particular.

Many thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I love the swift stories.No time for a short story? Read this!! Some were light-hearted, some were touching.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy to review.

Was this review helpful?

This is a lovely collection of flash fiction stories about relationships within different families. Flash fiction story is a very short story. Volume one of this collection contains five stories, and it is an enjoyable read for those who like flash fiction and those who don't have a lot of time to read.

Was this review helpful?

This is a very quick read and very enjoyable read. There are five flash fiction stories are about family but all different families. A feel good book. Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I took this book on vacation because I tend to get a headache while reading in cars and on airplanes (which is a bummer because that's prime reading time!), so I figured a short story collection would be idea. I was so captivated by Rosey Lee's writing, however, that I got caught up in the five stories before my first flight ended!

Disclaimer: short story collections are hit or miss for me. I either love them so much and wish they were a full-fledged story or they fail to capture my attention. That wasn't an issue with Lee's book because her five stories are flash fiction -- very short and to the point. Each one also focuses on a different family, which is always great fodder for writing/reading. This was my first experience with flash fiction and I'm a fan. I look forward to exploring more of this genre.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

A sweet set of short stories about a variety of different family circumstances. A short read/collection of short stories but gives pause for thought.

Was this review helpful?

Most people, even seasoned readers, think that writing a short piece is easy because it is short. I argue that the opposite is true. It is much more difficult to develop a story with good characters, tight plot and action in less than 1500 words. buy Rosey Lee does just that. I am new to flash fiction, but i am hooked now. These stories are so satisfying to finish and this book is a nice break for a reader who has just read a long books. I will be looking for more flash fiction, and particularly more titles from Ms. Lee.

Was this review helpful?

It is a joy to find a really good book of short stories. Each of the five stories is quite short (flash fiction), only a few pages long. The stories are about relationships and families. Many stories are medically related, as the author is a physician. Some stories were very touching, and others made me smile. This is volume one of two volumes, and they are absolute gems! I would love to read more from this author!

Was this review helpful?

Two best friends - on a new path.
A grandmother and her two granddaughters.
A modern take on an old classic story.
An unexpected reunion.
A mother and daughter who rub each other up wrong.

Five short, short stories that leave you with a glow in the heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read these stories.

Was this review helpful?

Beautiful, Complicated Family are a collection of Flash Fiction works by Rosey Lee; I'm fairly new to flash fiction but as the name suggests they're extremely short and you get a very slim snippet of the characters and story.  The description suggests you can read each story in around 5 minutes, obviously, that depends on your reading speed but it was right for me.

While short in length these stories give you plenty to think about; not a sentence gets wasted in flash fiction, its all in there for a reason so there's no getting annoyed at filler content or whimsical descriptions. If you're someone who has very little spare time but still wants to get a bit of reading in these would be absolutely perfect as you can read them in the time it takes to have a cup of tea and I actually think these are enjoyed more as individual stories rather than trying to blast through the entire volume in 20mins to give your mind a little time to let the characters and their situations settle slightly before moving onto the next one.

My favourite from Volume One was 'To Establish Care'; so much emotion was packed into such a short snippet of one woman's doctors appointment.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to the publishers for sharing this one. It's a lovely, uplifting little book, which made a nice change from some of the darker stuff I've been reading lately. My full review appears on Weekend Notes.

Was this review helpful?

Nice collection of short stories. Very quick but enjoyable read! This is perfect for days when you don't want to get into a long book or are short on reading time.

Was this review helpful?

As a compelling collection of 5 flash fiction stories exploring the familial connections, each story has its own complications, yet is portrayed so beautifully. This collection truly lived up to what the insight the description provided!

The Reverse Escape: It surrounds two best friends and a truth which might end their friendship or make their bond stronger than ever. I loved how this story revolved around the theme: acceptance.
Gran's Escape: This take is set with two granddaughters looking after their gran after a terrible incident. This began sadly but ended with hope. The hope of revival. The hope of return.
Wind Chill: This tale surrounds a family and their baby sitter who is now, a renowned chef. Its theme is based on forgiveness and I loved the confident tone in this story.
To Establish Care: Possibly my favourite in this collection and a tale which surrounds between a mother whose has to give up on her baby and a doctor who has to go through foster homes yet succeeded by being her own cheerleader. I just loved this one so much.
Vocal Rest: This is about a relationship with a mother and daughter. This one was good but I felt it was slightly off but the end really made me happy.

Each story takes max. 5 minutes and for me, this healed my book slump. I didn't realise until I am writing this review that I was having an episode of a book slump. This collection will always be cherished!

Recommendation: This heartfelt and heart-warming collection is a must-read to anyone questioning their relationship with family or knows the true essence of having a family. Anyone looking for an emotional light read this book is perfect for them!

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for providing me with a review copy.

Was this review helpful?

These were thought-provoking short stories that really made me think about the relationships in my own life. This collection was well written and an enjoyable read.

Was this review helpful?

Flash Fiction is new to me. The definition is that its fiction of a type characterized by being very short, typically consisting of only a few hundred words. I normally read novels along with a few novellas but I found flash fiction very enjoyable.

All of these stories are quick reads some of them will make you laugh out loud and some will bring tears to your eyes. I highly recommend these flash fiction stories for you to read when you don't have a lot of time. I'll definitely search for more of these types of stories.

Was this review helpful?

I wasn’t expecting to like this type of writing! I tend to lean towards books that are hundreds of hundreds of pages so this was a nice change of pace. Be warned they’re quick reads, but I enjoyed them just the same :) looking forward to finding volume 2!

Was this review helpful?

I read these out of order, so I read book 2 before book 1, and I have to say, I appreciate both all the more. Lean, complex, with good layers, and great style both books are well worth a look.

Was this review helpful?

Beautiful, Complicated Family Volume 1 is like a book of poetry. Crafting flash fiction is an art, and the author chooses each word with care and precision. All of the pieces were excellent, but my heart was particularly moved by "Wind Chill," and "Gran's Return."

Each piece in this collection packs a powerful punch and there is so much emotion in each story. In "Wind Chill," the author uses literary allusions to Gone with the Wind in order to inspire the reader to think more deeply about issues related to race and social class. The piece "Gran's Return," tugged on my heartstrings because I also have a love of gospel music and a deep respect for my grandparents. All of the pieces were powerful, and the surprise ending to the final piece inspired me to immediately click through and read the second volume. 

Note: I received a free copy of each of these books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Beautiful, Complicated Family is a splendid collection of flash fiction; five short stories that really pack a lot of punch and will really giver readers cause to think. The stories take you through a range of circumstances and emotions – some will make you laugh, and some will make you well up with tears. Stories covering love, loss and heartbreak; they are all wonderfully written, so good you will wish they were longer reads.

I’m not used to quick, short reads but this was an ideal introduction and will now be something I will seek more of, especially at Rosey’s hand.

Was this review helpful?

Earlier this year, I was approached by author Rosey Lee about reading and reviewing her upcoming fast fiction novels: Beautiful, Complicated Family, volumes 1 and 2. I enjoy helping new authors, especially authors of color get exposure, so I eagerly agreed.

Volume 1 is 33 pages, and Volume 2 is 29 pages. I had never read the fast fiction genre until reviewing these books. Fast fiction is just what it indicates ... fast. Both books could probably be read in an hour or less by a dedicated reader. However, because of the short and fast-paced nature of the books and the short stories contained within them, the reader should not mistake this for light content. Rosey Lee tackles tough topics that we might all find familiar being part of complicated, and maybe even dysfunctional, families. Her writing style is quick but engaging and the stories leave you thinking and wanting more from the characters.

I have to say that is probably my main criticism with these compilations. They are just a little too short for me. Rosey Lee teases the reader with some intriguing content and just when I was getting invested, the stories abruptly ended. I'd love to see the author flesh out some of these stories in to full fledge novels. I think the characters deserve that, and I definitely think Rosey Lee has the talent to write a more traditional-sized novel.

Recommendation: With such a short bit of content, my review is also short. I definitely think the books are worth the read, and I hope to see more from this author in the future. If you have an hour or so of free time, why not download the books ... for free ... using the "buy now" links below. Until next time ... Read on!

Thanks to Fiction Physician, LLC and Netgalley for the advance readers copy of these books. Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful?

Beautiful, Complicated Family by Rosey Lee is the second book in this beautifully written series of short stories of Complicated family series. This short collection contains five stories that are fiction and they explore the connections of family life and the things that old them together and that can tear them apart. These stories are very short but strong and they made me think about my family especially as I could relate to some of these stories.
The saying "Life is so short before you know it it may all change!" It like this book by Rosey Lee..........Before you know it things around you can all suddenly change!
This book and the first volume contain short stories and each read is about five minutes. These are perfect for all readers who enjoy woman's fiction novels and only have a short time to read them.

Big Thank you to Netgalley and to the author Rosey Lee for this second volume of stories in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Was this review helpful?

“Didn’t you tell me he doesn’t like surprises?
🦄🦄🦄
Beautiful Complicated Family by Rosey Lee is a collection of 5 short stories.
This particular book is the first volume.
These stories are short, hilarious and sad and has something for everyone.
My absolute favorite is the one of the 2 best friends because the endingng was unexpected and hilarious.
If your looking for a fast but good read I would recommend this book.
🦄🦄🦄
Rated 100/100.

Was this review helpful?

An interesting flash-fiction collection that tackles the subject of family, and all the complexities that go with it. These are quick reads (think 5 minutes each), so you'll be able to fly through this pretty quickly, or read whenever you get a few minutes and don't want to have to stop mid-chapter. Family is one of those difficult things, with people you might love, hate, or both. Even though these are extremely short, Lee does a great job of evoking emotions in each story. I look forward to volume 2!

Was this review helpful?

These stories were quick reads and yet thought provoking. Lee did a wonderful job in putting this together.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: