Show Don't Tell, Curtis Sittenfeld's warm and insightful ninth book (and second story collection after You Think It, I'll Say It), features characters negotiating principles and privilege in midlife as they look back on their youth.
Split equally between first- and third-person perspectives, the 12 contemporary stories spotlight everyday marital and parenting challenges. Women weigh the possibility of platonic friendships with men ("A for Alone" and the Covid pandemic-set "The Hug") or seek to behave gracefully toward an ex's family ("The Patron Saints of Middle Age"). Several stories, such as "White Women LOL," question the sense of entitlement that leads to casual racism.
Sittenfield (American Wife; Eligible) uses dual timelines in her stories, offering her characters opportunities for hindsight. College and boarding school experiences, in particular, are pivotal. "Lost but Not Forgotten" treats fans of Sittenfeld's debut novel, Prep, to a mini sequel: Lee Fiora, at Ault School in Massachusetts for her class's 30th reunion, remembers a brush with a pop idol and wonders if there's romance to be found after divorce.
In one standout, "The Marriage Clock," film producer Heather tries to convince Brock Lewis, author of a bestselling self-help guide, to okay a same-sex couple appearing in his book's movie adaptation. Given his conservative Christian values, Brock surprises Heather by being down-to-earth--and flirtatious.
Such moral compromises and the disjuncture between appearances and reality are recurring elements. Often, retrospection prompts the protagonists to ponder "the absurd plot twists of time." Nostalgic yet candid, these witty stories exploring how small decisions determine the future are perfect for fans of Rebecca Makkai, Kiley Reid, and Emma Straub. --Rebecca Foster, freelance reviewer, proofreader, and blogger at Bookish Beck