Such a great collection of short stories. Each one was so well written and was just as good as the one before it and the one after it. I love the cover too

Anything that Candice Brathwait has touched I loved and this curated collection on motherhood was extra special. Such intentional pieces woven together this is a fantastic book to dip in and out of. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.

Short stories collections are generally a risky business. Usually there are some really good and captivating ones with some "less than" thrown into the mix. But "Hurricanes in Perfect Power" is an enjoyable read through and through. All the authors show pure wordsmithery and create immersive worlds, even when they're based only on listing what one will know from their mother. Very atmospheric collection that doesn't shy away from complicated topics, executed beautifully.

There is an excellent range of writing in this volume.
Ali Smith alongside Toni Morrison.
It reminded me a little of Virago or Women's Press compilations from the 80s and 90s, which I love and tend to collect.
The editor, Candice Braithwaite, is probably best known for 'I am not your baby mother' so she is known for challenging stereotypical, white-centric conceptions of motherhood.
Her introduction is well-judged and had me impatient to read the stories.
When my children were small, I found it hard to get into focusing on a novel, so this selection of shorter pieces might have encouraged me to engage with a particular writer and read more of her work.

Hurricanes in Perfect Power is a varied and well put together collection of short stories about experiences of motherhood. Some were already familiar to me and some were new.