Less Is More: Short Stories and Novellas

I’m a maximalist in most instances. When it comes to the material, more is more. This is why I have so many books on my shelves still unread. The short story collections and novellas that comprise this list make my to-be-read pile a little less daunting. May is National Short Story Month! It’s time to pick one of these up. - Aatia

Stories From The Tenants Downstairs, Sidik Fofana

This is one of the most unique collections of short stories I’ve read in a long, long time. Through a vibrant cast of characters, Sidik Fofana transports you to a low-income, high-rise apartment building in Harlem. His writing captures so much raw, human emotion, it’s easy to forget that this is a book of stories and not essays. - Amali

The Dark Dark: Stories, Samantha Hunt

“Her sensibility is like an antenna for the uncanny.” That’s what Samantha Hunt’s former colleague, Ed Park said about her work. Samantha Hunt’s stories are dark, yes, but at their best, The Dark, Dark pierces into the reader’s suspicions, our fears about the nefarious intentions of those around us.

These dark, dark stories are everything you want a short story collection to be. - Aatia

Secret Lives Church Ladies, Deesha Philyaw

People often tell me they don't enjoy short stories because they're not able to invest in the characters enough. I'm not sure what's in Philyaw's writing, but it is mouth-watering, languorous and full of women you want to root for long after you've put this down. —Ericka

How to Breathe Underwater, Julie Orringer

So much love for this collection. Orringer’s How to Breathe Underwater tells nine stories of the innocence, heartbreaks and triumphs of girlhood. Each story is set firmly in the real world, they are grounded and even quiet scenes that still burn with intensity.

In one of my favorite stories, Rebecca spends the summer in the care of her Orthodox Jewish family while her mother is in the hospital. Rebecca and her cousin Esty, defy their conservative community by swimming in a nearby lake. For Esty, who lives permanently in the Orthodox community, these are the last breaths of her childhood, her last summer of defiance. When summer’s over, Rebecca returns to the ‘normalcy’ of life outside of the Orthodox community where Esty must remain. It’s beautiful.

Rainbow Rainbow, Lydia Conklin

This bold debut about queer, nonbinary and trans characters doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable, and even the perverse side of humanity. There are several content warnings readers should be aware of as Rainbow Rainbow explores deep questions of identity and self-discovery, often in the face of disturbing events – so while this collection probably isn’t for the faint of heart, Conklin brings skill, grace, and nuance to some of the more complex aspects of queer existence. - Colleen

Let The Dead Bury Their Dead, Randall Kenan

First published in 1992, these interconnected short stories explore the world of Tim’s Creek, a fictional town in North Carolina. Beneath the idyllic charm of this southern town, the sweeping nature scenes and enviable slow pace, the town is afflicted by racism, classism and homophobia. Kenan navigates these social and political issues expertly. The short stories are so surprising with wry humor, especially “Foundations of The Earth” which is a ghost story. - Aatia

Sarahland, Sarah Cohen

Oh how I love this weird little book! Each story centers on a different Sarah, including a queer version of the biblical Sarah, a young college student in the #MeToo era, Sarah Schulman, two lesbians who turn into trees, and many more. Sam Cohen’s writing is subversive, it’s evocative, and it’s full of sharp observations and strange moments. —Julia