Joy — Erin McGraw

“McGraw is wise and occasionally laughâ€"outâ€"loud funny, with a seventh sense for the perfect turn of phrase . . . This quintessential collection of stories serves as an homage to the form while showcasing McGraw's stunning talent and deep empathy for the idiosyncrasies, small joys, and despairs of human nature." -- Publishers Weekly (starred and boxed review)

In Joy, narrators step out of themselves to explain their lives to us, sometimes defensively, sometimes regretfully, other times deceitfully. Voices include those of the impulsive firstâ€"time murderer, the depressed pet sitter, the assistant of Patsy Cline, the anxietyâ€"riddled new mother, the aged rockâ€"andâ€"roller, the girlfriend of your husband -- human beings often (incredibly) unaware of the turning points staring them in the face.

"How can stories this brief be so satisfying? . . . [McGraw] deals with the profound, the dire, the mundane, and the ridiculous, paying particular attention to relationships between parents and children, siblings, spouses, criminals, and their victims. While some stories are meant purely to amuse, many are intense and beautiful . . . Fiftyâ€"three gems that demonstrate all the things a short story can do. Wow." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)