By Danielle Evans
Lately, my attention span has been shot. Between the election, the pandemic, and trying to keep life moving despite them both, I haven’t had the energy to read a whole novel. Luckily, Danielle Evans has just released a new book of short stories that hit the spot. The book is comprised of six short stories and the titular novella. The book was hyped in reviews as having a timely focus on race, but a more accurate description would be that the book takes deep looks at relationships. In one story, a woman switches her loyalties while attending a friend’s wedding, and in another, a college student’s relationship with a -Confederate-supporting boyfriend reflects on her previous relationship with a Black neighbor. In another, an artist turns apologies into an art form, throwing his sincerity into doubt.
Each of the stories has a unique premise, rather than sticking to tired themes and tropes. However, there is still some unevenness in their success. Certain stories manage to make the characters feel alive even in their short space, while others come off as thought experiments lacking in the emotional stakes of a good story. The best story is saved for last, in the novella that takes up most of the book. Given the space to explore a more complicated character, Evans excels in showing a woman with a nuanced response to the impact of her race on her life. In this story, Cassie is foiled by Genevieve, who responds to race entirely differently. Both women actively question their own responses, complicating issues for readers who are turned off by clearly right and wrong answers.
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