I do love a good collection of short stories, and this latest work from Heiny does not disappoint.

It takes a talented author to present the slice of life that is a short story, without the luxury of a full-blown novel, or even novella, to allow for maximum plot and character development.

Games and Rituals is a collection of 11 stories, mostly based in the urban areas of the United States, and covers a wide territory. One details the dynamics of a group of driving examiners; another echoes a mother’s fears for her sweet teenager; the titular story, ‘Games and Rituals’, is a delight, showcasing the life of a young woman in New York; and there is sadness in the story of a wife catching out her husband in infidelity; as well as a husband who sees his relationship with a girlfriend splutter to a close. Many people will identify with a husband’s bewilderment as his wife tidies the house … and their life … in accordance with Marie Kondo principles.

Ever bonded with strangers at an airport bar when flights are cancelled? Imagine the undercurrents seething when a man and his wife help his ex-wife prepare to move house; or the pandemic lockdown for two roommates punctuated with migraines and mango margaritas. Any woman who has ever been a reluctant bridesmaid will recognise the emotions, though maybe they did not snog the bride’s father. And the visual image of that young woman wearing her hated bridesmaid’s dress to work, travelling on the New York subway, will stay with me.

Games and Rituals shows succinct slices of life. The characters are so memorable that readers will find it hard to let them go at the end of each story.

Reviewed by Jennifer Somerville

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katherine Heiny is the author of Single, Carefree Mellow, a collection of short stories. Her fiction has been published in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, and many other places. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband and children.

Visit Katherine Heiny’s website