DECEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
Rebecca Lowman narrates eight of the nine romantic stories in Rainbow Rowell’s first short story collection. The stories involve new, diverse settings. In one, a line of people wait for days for a Star Wars opening; in another, a fantastical imaginary girl falls for an imaginary boy as both await becoming characters in a book. Whether she’s portraying whimsical or realistic, returning or new characters, Lowman emits a quality that helps listeners savor the slow-burn quality of friendships building to love, tensions easing into romance. Euan Morton, who previously narrated Rowell’s Simon Snow series, delivers a short story featuring Simon and Baz, two favorite Rowell characters. Mostly set in winter, the stories make for warm seasonal listening. S.W. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
09/26/2022
Fangirl’s Reagan, Simon and Baz from the Simon Snow trilogy, and protagonists from Attachments feature alongside new Rowell characters in this frothy, genre-spanning short story amalgam. Tierney’s silhouette illustrations, rendered in energetic teals and magentas, precede the tales, introducing each story’s individual theme and central couple. In collection opener “Midnights,” reserved Mags recounts four New Year’s Eve parties over the course of her developing relationship with laid-back jokester Noel. College student Summer contends with a contentious neighbor while mourning a breakup in “Winter Songs for Summer.” In “Kindred Spirits,” a romance unfolds in a queue for the newest Star Wars release, and Reagan navigates family drama against a Covid-19 backdrop in “If the Fates Allow.” While most of the stories employ contemporary settings, others embody a more fanciful approach: “The Prince and the Troll” takes place in a world seemingly on the edge of ecological disaster, and “In Waiting” is set in a land of authorial imagination, where characters wait for the author to stop fiddling with the backstory to finish their novels. A playful mash-up of new fare and fan favorites for Rowell completists, and an inviting introduction for new readers. Most characters read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Christopher Schelling, Selectric Artists. (Nov.)
From the Publisher
An instant New York Times bestseller!
An instant Indie bestseller!
Goodreads, "39 of the Most Anticipated YA Books for the Rest of the Year"
“The remarkable Rowell offers readers a generous serving of nine exemplary short stories that are, from the first to the last, romances of a sort… the appeal of these enchanting stories is universal, and their publication provides an occasion for celebration. Lots of love has gone into the bookmaking as well, with the text printed in teal and aubergine, interior illustrations, a ribbon bookmark, and stained page edges all creating an appealing package. Best-selling and beloved, Rowell’s writing will entice readers to the library in droves, whatever the weather.” - Booklist (starred review)
"Rowell offers more of what she does best: character-driven stories interlaced with a healthy dose of nerdiness and a little sappy indulgence thrown in as a treat. It’s easy to get swept up in these tales and root so passionately for the protagonists that it almost hurts, but readers will close the covers feeling satisfied...A treat." - Kirkus Reviews
“A playful mash-up of new fare and fan favorites for Rowell completists, and an inviting introduction for new readers.” - Publishers Weekly
"This stunning short story collection full of Rainbow Rowell’s signature romantic writing is a must-read for romance fans of all ages. Bright, bold, and fun, this gorgeously packaged tome will make a beautiful addition to any bookshelf. And bonus for Simon Snow fans – he makes a guest appearance." - B&N Reads, "Our Most Anticipated New YA Book Releases of November 2022"
“What's better than one tale from the bestselling author of Eleanor & Park and Fangirl? Nine romances, which is exactly what readers are getting in Rowell's first collection of short stories. Get ready to swoon over a meet-cute between two people camping outside of a movie theater, a prince romancing a troll and a girl falling in love with an imaginary boy. Plus, Rowell's beloved character Simon Snow even gets his own holiday adventure.” - E! News, "14 Books to Add to Your Reading List in November"
“Rowell fans will recognize a few familiar characters in the author's first collection of short fiction, nine love stories largely set during the winter and holiday season.” - USA Today, "5 New Books Not to Miss"
“a collection of love stories, perfect for reading with a cup of warm tea and a cozy blanket.” - Sarasota Magazine
“Rowell is talented enough to be uncategorizable.” —Janet Maslin, The New York Times, on Landline
“Rowell nails the voices of her teen protagonists—her writing swings from profane to profound, but it’s always real and always raw.”—Petra Mayer, NPR Books, on Eleanor & Park
“Absolutely captivating.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on Fangirl
School Library Journal
11/01/2022
Gr 9 Up—Nine romantic short stories set predominantly during the Christmas season will delight fans of Rowell's previous work. Four stories have been previously published; all are driven by the author's talent for clever banter and infused with her characteristic tenderness. Common themes include anxiety and opposites-attract romances with overlooked people—in "Winter Songs for Summer," a college student gets over her breakup with the help of mix CDs from a gym-rat neighbor, while in "Kindred Spirits," Elena camps out in line for the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and falls for a boy her friends bully. Older versions of characters from some of Rowell's earlier work reappear, including adult Reagan (from Fangirl) coping with PTSD during the Covid-19 pandemic and Beth and Jennifer from Attachments confronting aging and fertility issues. "Snow for Christmas," a relatable look at the anxieties of enduring family homophobia at the holiday season, catches up with Simon and Baz after the events of Any Way the Wind Blows and offers a rich combination of expanded backstory and emotionally rewarding character development that is sure to satisfy the "Simon Snow" readership. A relatively even mix of adult and teen protagonists across stories makes this collection best suited to high school collections. Most protagonists are white or presumed white; Elena is of Vietnamese descent. VERDICT A heartwarming collection filled with Rowell's signature wit and charm that also hits some heavier notes; a must-purchase where the "Simon Snow" trilogy has been popular.—Elizabeth Giles
DECEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
Rebecca Lowman narrates eight of the nine romantic stories in Rainbow Rowell’s first short story collection. The stories involve new, diverse settings. In one, a line of people wait for days for a Star Wars opening; in another, a fantastical imaginary girl falls for an imaginary boy as both await becoming characters in a book. Whether she’s portraying whimsical or realistic, returning or new characters, Lowman emits a quality that helps listeners savor the slow-burn quality of friendships building to love, tensions easing into romance. Euan Morton, who previously narrated Rowell’s Simon Snow series, delivers a short story featuring Simon and Baz, two favorite Rowell characters. Mostly set in winter, the stories make for warm seasonal listening. S.W. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2022-08-31
Romance blooms even during turbulent winters.
Missed chances on New Year’s Eve, a Star Wars movie premiere, the soundtrack to grieving a breakup, breaking traditions for a school dance, celebrating holidays amid a pandemic, a modern fairy tale, stark realizations about life passing by, the awkwardness of bringing a boyfriend home for Christmas, and characters in limbo, waiting to be written into the story: Rowell weaves these scenarios into nine short stories, some realistic and some fantasy and most taking place during the winter or relating to holidays. A number are set in the author’s home state of Nebraska. Fans will recognize a few familiar characters, including Simon and Baz from Carry On(2015), the sole queer couple in this collection. All but one story ends in a definite romance, but they are all about the honest, layers-peeled-back connections by which people feel seen by one another. With this volume, which includes four previously published entries, Rowell offers more of what she does best: character-driven stories interlaced with a healthy dose of nerdiness and a little sappy indulgence thrown in as a treat. It’s easy to get swept up in these tales and root so passionately for the protagonists that it almost hurts, but readers will close the covers feeling satisfied. Except for one Vietnamese American protagonist, the cast is predominantly White. Each story is prefaced by an attractive mulberry- or mint green–and-white, full-page illustration that helps set the mood.
A treat. (Short stories. 14-18)
