Tote Bag Tales To-Go: Short Fiction to Take Anywhere

Pushed and pulled between her parents and her children, a woman faces her past and her future, in a story about the ins and outs and joy of life. Think Vintage Contemporaries by Dan Kois or anything by Laurie Colwin.  

We love immersive books you can read in one sitting, and Jessica Anthony’s novel of a housewife at her wits end packs a punch. The clever premise and unflinching narrative voice might remind you of The Swimmer by John Cheever. 

For fans of Carys Davies’ Clear, Whale Fall is a stunning coming-of-age tale of a girl caught on the precipice between adulthood and childhood, familiarity and the unknown. 

The author of Small Things Like These takes us to rural Ireland through the eyes of a young girl. A sharp story that brings humanity into startling clarity, we always love the way Claire Keegan writes about life — and this is no exception

This poignant and touching novel sums up childhood, middle age and growing older with such grace that every character, from the kids to their parents, will move you. You will be smitten by this book. 

A beautifully written short novel about the price of isolation and the desire for community and connection that’s perfect for fans of one of our fiction monthly picks, Paul’s Harding’s This Other Eden. 

Part desert survival story, part examination of grief — Melissa Broder mixes the absurd with the profoundly human in a feat of imagination. Weird, tender and wild, this is an unforgettable journey into the unknown. 

Part love story, part ghost story, a book about a book, Moore’s latest is a witty — and stunning — novel of love, grief and joy. 

A girl, an old house, and one haunting poem. This story of mothers, daughters and family mythologies is perfect for readers of Paul Harding and Ann Patchett. 

An absolute marvel of a book, Open Throat packs a serious punch in its 176 unforgettable pages. It’s both a literal and emotional journey, and it’s all told in the completely original voice of a mountain lion living beneath the Hollywood sign. 

Messy, truthful and raw — Caldwell’s novella of Queer identity and painful love may be a quick read, but its impact is lasting.