Rachel Khong’s collection of ten short stories, "My Dear You," published by Knopf, has drawn praise for its emotional depth and unique narratives. Author Edan Lepucki describes the stories as "bold and delightful tales" that blend fantastical elements with emotional realism, featuring plots such as a woman forming a friendship with a sex robot and a heroine discovering her inability to conceive due to her extraterrestrial nature. Khong attributes her approach to storytelling to her childhood love of fairy tales that presented surreal occurrences in a matter-of-fact way.
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Vanessa Hua’s novel "Coyoteland," from Flatiron Books, explores the tensions among four East Bay families amid the challenges of COVID-19, wildfires, and increasing surveillance. The story centers on Jin Chang, an Asian American man who conflicts with his privileged white neighbor, Blair Belle, after moving to her neighborhood. Critic Jackie DesForges reflects on the novel’s exploration of human and animal behavior amidst chaos, stating, "maybe that shriek in the night sounds so familiar to us because we recognize a creature who, like us, is just trying to adapt to an ever-changing new normal."
T.C. Boyle’s "No Way Home," published by Liveright, is described by Alta Journal contributing editor David L. Ulin as a “vigorous and chilling” tale involving a Los Angeles medical resident and a violent middle school teacher competing for the attention of a receptionist. Ulin notes that the conflict arises not from intentional malice but from a series of misunderstandings and grievances, reflecting the complexities of everyday life.
In her collection "Freedom: Essays," Zinzi Clemmons, published by Viking, presents eight essays addressing both personal and political liberation. The essay "Freedom, Pt. 2" discusses Clemmons’s #MeToo allegations involving Junot Diaz, while "Chasing Robbie" examines school segregation in the Philadelphia suburbs. Critic Kristen Martin highlights Clemmons’s ability to intertwine memoir with sharp criticism to explore the constraints of various forms of liberation.
Dave Eggers's novel "Contrapposto," from Knopf, follows Cricket, a boy from Indiana, as he navigates the art world through his friendship with Olympia, an older girl. Their relationship spans 65 years and is marked by differing artistic philosophies. Anna E. Clark notes Cricket's persevering spirit and existential relationship with art, likening him to other Eggers characters who grapple with their place in a world that often misunderstands them.
Greg Sarris’s "The Last Human Bear," published by Heyday Books, is commended by Joan Frank for its distinctive voice and the character of Mary Hatcher, a Pomo girl facing life in 1930s Santa Rosa. This sprawling bildungsroman charts her journey of self-discovery amidst local myths, particularly regarding her stepmother’s possible identity as a shape-shifting Human Bear. Frank emphasizes Sarris’s exploration of identity and belonging, suggesting that Mary Hatcher’s story is earned through her remarkable experiences.