A review by shereadstales
The Best American Short Stories 2023 by Heidi Pitlor, Min Jin Lee

4.0

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the digital galley of this anthology.

I don’t do too many short stories, but every once in a while, I come across an anthology, and the yearly wrap ones are a good way to not completely lose touch with short fiction. From the publisher:

These twenty pieces of short fiction that reflect a world full of fractured relationships, but also wondrous hope. A lifelong friendship may become a casualty of the Russia-Ukraine war. Rejected by his lover, a man seeks to reconcile with his family. Twitter users miraculously muster enough empathy to help a lost cat find a forever home. Enlightening, poignant, and undeniably human, the stories in this anthology bravely confront societal darkness and offer, in Lee’s words, “our emotional truths, restoring our sanity and providing comfort for the days ahead.”

Authors include: Cherline Bazile • Maya Binyam • Tom Bissell • Taryn Bowe • Da-Lin • Benjamin Ehrlich• Sara Freeman • Lauren Groff • Nathan Harris • Jared Jackson • Sana Krasikov • Danica Li • Ling Ma • Manuel Muñoz • Joanna Pearson • Souvankham Thammavongsa • Kosiso Ugwueze • Corinna Vallianatos • Azareen Van Der Vliet Oloomi • Esther Yi.

I really enjoyed this collection. Since the only theme is the best of, these stories run the gamut of plot, characterization, theme, and genre. It was an excellent mix, and I definitely recommend to see what happened this year in the world of short stories.