Reviews

So We Can Glow: Stories by Leesa Cross-Smith

cortingbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

4.5 stars

My favorites in this collection are:


We, Moons: Soulful & Poetic


The Great Barrier Reef Is Dying And So Are We: this story had me holding my breath


Chateau Marmont , Champagne, Chanel: Felt indulgent and decadent. Felt like I was watching it play out on screen but not in color. Only black and white would do.

Some Are Dark, Some Are Light, Summer Melts:
So poignant. Brought tears to my eyes.

And Down We Go!: So cute! I wish this one was a full novel.

Crepuscular: this story was hilarious.

Cloud Report: heartwarming and beautiful

mdemanatee's review against another edition

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5.0

These stories do such an excellent job at establishing mood. There is such a beautiful longing to this collection and the way these stories weave in and out of each other. They are often short, because they encapsulate a particular mood or moment. While I usually like my short stories weird and supernatural, there was an emotional rawness here that I undeniably connected to. I loved how some stories connect back in on each other. But what really struck me was how Cross-Smith writes about different angles of womanhood with compassion and depth.

susiedoom's review against another edition

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5.0

Forty-two short stories about female desire and obsession. Cross-Smith shows a stunning amount of range in these stories. I'm blown away by how quickly she can introduce a character and situation - some as short as only a couple of pages, but still so robust. It's so easy to get lost in these stories, from a grocery store flirtation to an obsession with a TV animal show host to teenage girls sneaking out together. Each story was intriguing and left me wanting more, which made me the woman obsessed. Can't wait to read more by Leesa Cross-Smith!

authorstalker's review against another edition

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5.0

Did Leesa Cross-Smith have a vision that the world would desperately need stories like hers right now? Bite-size, lyrical, delicious, with titles like “Tim Riggins Would’ve Smoked” and “Girlheart Cake with Glitter Frosting.” I opened this collection every time I needed to counteract the news. It's a treat!

janet's review against another edition

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5.0

Oh my gosh. This book. The stories are smart, thought-provoking, funny, and poignant. Cross-Smith has a gift for turns of phrase and imagery that depict something (a sensation, an emotion, a craving) in such a perfect way you wonder how you never thought of it yourself. I read this too fast because I was hungry for every sentence; I know I missed a lot so plan to re-read.

alannashelfhelp's review against another edition

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5.0

You know why I picked this one up? I’ll give you my selling points: A) it’s short stories and B) Roxane Gay recommends. And that should be all you need to be convinced to read this one too. My work here is done.

Oh, what’s that? You wanted an actual review? Seems pretty needy, but sure. Know that the stories vary in length—from traditional short story to more flash style fiction of a page or two. The settings move all across the US—the south, the unnamed desert highway, the California sunshine—you’re going on a road trip with this book. We’ve got a couple both convinced the other is cheating. We’ve got a bunch of teenage girls sneaking out to shoot their shot with the boys at the railroad tracks. A waitress at a roadside diner just itching to know what’s going on with the mysterious trucker that shows up on occasion few and far between. A couple that is only a couple in the hotels they fly to meet up in. Some best friends that’d rather be kissing each other than the boys they’re supposed to want. We’ve got pop culture and celebrity references. Lusting over the people we want and can or cannot have. Lots of mention of particular songs you can almost hear playing in the background as you read—I recommend actually playing said songs. You’ll kinda just want to throw on Neil Young and imagine that you plan to book it outta this town, never to be seen again.

sarahsbookstack's review against another edition

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4.0

I don't know how best to review short stories. I enjoyed this read. Some of them are so short, I don't exactly know what I was supposed to get out of it. But as you get in further, you get to see some of the stories connect and come from a different perspective. Or even the same person relaying the story in a different way.
All are from the viewpoint of women and show their inner most thoughts and feelings that aren't always expressed.
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