Florida by Lauren Groff

When is the last time you picked up a collection of short stories? It had been a while for me and I’m thrown by how much I thoroughly enjoyed these stories. Groff does a fantastic job of weaving tales that suck you in quickly and keep you turning pages. I didn’t want to set the book down, even between stories, because I couldn’t wait to see what could possibly be next. While each one stands on its own, the common thread is that they all take place in Florida. Some are haunting, some are mysterious. Many involve children and domestic life and all give intricate description and detail of the setting that has left me thinking about it long after finishing.  Her talent doesn’t end with setting, though. The characters are just as entrancing.

Just to back up my claims, Florida was a finalist for the 2018 National Book Award. Do not delay, put Florida on hold today!