<i>I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Lovely, lyrical short stories from a fresh literary perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I absolutely loved this collection of short stories. (Almost) every single one touched me in a unique way in their humanness. I do not think I can pick a favourite, nor do I want to.

I can say, though, that especially the story of Mr. Nguyen and the psychiatrist resonated with me personally. I of course don't share Mr. Nguyen's experiences with war, but I have my fair share of experiences with psychiatries and psychiatrists, and the way the psychiatrist so stubbornly insisted on being right, on having the one true answer, not even entertaining Mr. Nguyen's own interpretations of his experiences, his own thoughts and wishes, reminded me (sadly) very much of my own experiences. The dismissive attitude towards hallucinations - "the point of hallucination [sic] is that it's never real" - is something I have met so many times, and something that ignores the impact hallucinations have on the person experiencing them. They ARE real, as real as it gets, and if you cannot acknowledge this, that is the first step to failure; as is the insistence on "the good of society", ignoring the individual, their circumstances and wishes. The individual does not matter in this system. The aim is to whittle away at them until they can safely be "released" back into society, regardless of what this means for them.

Similar themes on the human condition are found in all the short stories, and really, if I had to choose which stories touched me the most, which were my favourites, I'd probably list 90% of the stories in this collection. The prose is absolutely beautiful, making me want to read these stories over and over again, and I'm very glad I chose to pick up this collection. Definitely recommend, 10/10.

Love, Anyways is a beautifully written collection that explores love in its quietest, most vulnerable forms. Each story feels distinct yet connected by an emotional thread that runs deep — tenderness, longing, grief, and hope all woven together with precision and grace.

Thanh Dinh’s writing is stunning in its simplicity. Every sentence feels carefully crafted, yet never overworked. There’s a gentle rhythm to her prose that makes the emotions hit harder when they arrive. Some stories left me reflective, others heartbroken, but all made me feel deeply.

My favorite piece was “In the Box.” It carried a kind of fragile strength — haunting, introspective, and so human that it lingered long after I finished reading. What I loved most is how each story has its own essence, a quiet pulse that speaks to a different shade of love.

Love, Anyways is not just about romance — it’s about the love that stays even when words fail, the love that changes shape but never disappears. A deeply moving collection that I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

⭐ 4 stars — heartfelt, beautifully composed, and profoundly resonant.