⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review - Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King @lilybooks #FiveTuesdaysinWinter
#FiveTuesdaysinWinter
Thanks to Pan Macmillan @panmacmillan and @NetGalley for providing me with a proof copy in advance of publication. 📚
"King has a very unique way with words, and she has a distinct style to her narrative voice that I could only compare with how iconic Sally Rooney’s writing is. King might be the American counterpart to Rooney, not only for style but also for content and the deep dives into the details in moments between characters. Five Tuesdays in Winter is a collection of short stories about the different kinds of relationships and little moments in peoples lives. They all look into a conversation, a day in the life, the beginning or ending of relationships and really focus on the details that otherwise might get lost.
I didn’t know it was a collection of short stories when I read it, which was jarring after the first chapter or story, but overall I really enjoyed it and probably will revisit King’s writing agian"

advanced review copy kindly provided by NetGalley and Pan Macmillan Publishing

this collection of short stories was so incredibly beautiful. stories fluctuated between wholesome and sweet, to eerie and unpredictable and I really enjoyed the variety - not knowing what kind of story was coming next. King writes relationships so well, I loved the tenderness of male friendships in ‘When in the Dordogne’, the recurring theme of parenthood which was both tense and soothing.

some stories were much more abstract and felt like a puzzle to be solved, whereas others felt more straightforward and uncomplicated. all of them were gorgeous though, with my standouts being the first three stories: Creature, Five Tuesdays in Winter, and When in the Dordogne. I often forgot that I was reading a collection of short stories because King’s ability to set the scene so efficiently is so good - I was immediately drawn into a new set of characters with their own story lines, with the thread of King’s writing style providing the consistency needed for the reader not to feel jarred. All stories could easily have been longer novels in their own right which I would happily read!

**trigger warnings for sexual assault in some stories**

This would be a fantastic gateway into short story reading, for anyone who is not yet sold on them. Having loved Writers and Lovers, I was ecstatic to be approved for this, and it lived up to my expectations.

These stories quietly hum with emotion and with drama. There were unexpected turns and twists that kept me turning the pages long into the night. King's prose is perfection: full of depth and subtlety, and these stories felt really emotionally authentic and astute.

Favourites for me were When in Dordogne and Five Tuesdays in Winter, but I genuinely enjoyed every story - every page, even. I sincerely hope that King has another hit on her hands here.

Creature: This was an interesting opening to the collection. The writing was great. It felt like it was set in the 80’s

Five Tuesdays in winter: Loved this story. Didn’t want it to be over.

When in the dordogne: this was was just ok for me.

North Sea: wanted this to be longer. Really enjoyed it.

Timeline: short and sweet. Enjoyable story.

Hotel Seattle: wished this was a whole book.

Waiting for Charlie: The writing of this story was visceral and enjoyable.

South: the way the writer writes relationships is so vivid.

The man at the door: saved the best story for last.

Having loved Lily King’s Writers & Lovers I was looking forward to reading more of her work and I can happily say (or write) that her first-ever collection of short stories did not disappoint. More often than not I find short story collections to be a mixed bag (with some good ones, some meh ones, and even a bad egg or two). But, I found myself drawn to all of the stories in Five Tuesdays in Winter. While the stories focus on characters who don’t always have much in common (be it their age, the time when and/or place where they are living, their fears or desires) their narratives are characterised by a bittersweet tone that will elicit feelings of nostalgia in the reader (regardless of whether they have experienced what the characters are experiencing). Despite the title of this collection many of these stories are set during the summer and easily transport us right there alongside the characters so that we too are experiencing the heat, elation, and almost-surreality of their summer holidays (that feeling of being free from the usual routines etc). King captures with unsparing clarity the thoughts and feelings of her characters, and conveys their wide range of emotions, honing in on the longing, unease, giddiness, and sadness they experience over the course of their stories. Some are in love with someone who may or may not reciprocate their feelings, others are in a phase of transition, for example, from childhood to adulthood, or mired in the confusion of adolescence.

In the first story, ‘Creature’, Cara, a fourteen-year-girl, is employed by a well-off family as a babysitter for the summer holidays. During the time she spends at this family’s house she becomes infatuated with Hugh, her employer's son, who is much older than her. Our narrator is an aspiring author who likes to envision herself as a Jane Eyre sort of figure but, one thing is to daydream about Hugh, another is realising that Hugh has no compunction about making a move on her (when she’s very much underage).
In ‘Five Tuesdays in Winter’ a single-father and bookseller falls for his employer who is also tutoring his daughter in Spanish. Mitchell is however unable to express his feelings and spends much of his time longing to confess his love to her. In ‘When in the Dordogne’ the son of two professors bonds with the two college students who have been hired to housesit his home and keep an eye on him. In ‘North Sea’ a mother and daughter are on vacation together but their strained relationship results in a less than idyllic time. While the following stories also present us with different perspectives and scenarios they explore similar themes (hope, connection, love). I liked how King manages to be both a gentle and an unflinching storyteller, that is able to make you happy one moment and sad the next. I also appreciated that the stories didn’t have neat endings or ‘valuable’ life lessons but often read like a slice-of-life that is providing us with a glimpse into a specific period of her characters’ lives. King captures how confusing feelings can be sometimes, so that we have characters both longing for something or someone while at the same time feeling uneasy at the possibility of attaining what, or who, they’d thought they desired.
My favourites were ‘Creature’, ‘When in the Dordogne’, ‘Timeline’, and ‘Hotel Seattle’.
King’s understated prose is a marvel to read and I had a wonderful time with this collection. If you were a fan of Writers & Lovers you should definitely pick this one up. Moving and wistful Five Tuesdays in Winter is a scintillating collection!

Lily King is an incredibly skilled writer, and each of these stories were really engrossing and gripping. I felt completely immersed in each of the characters she created, and could have easily read more of some of these short stories!

This was my first time reading short stories and I loved it. All stories provided for an interesting read throughout.

I absolutely loved this—easily one of my favourite short story collections of all time. Truly just a perfect collection—every story vivid & distinct & moving & unforgettable.

Short stories that discusses loss, griefs and growing ups in such an exquisite way! Ive been a gig fan of Lily King since Writer and Lovers and this will not disappoint you.

Dear Ms King, if you’re reading this, can you make When i. The Dordogne asa a full novel? I’ll give u all my fortune.

Loved this, King is an amazing writer.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.

I really loved Lily King’s previous work so I was intrigued by her collection of short stories. I was so surprised how every story and character was truly individual and every theme was played out eloquently. I think it is such a skill to create a complete timeline and also an atmosphere in the short story form so for that King should really be praised for this release.

There were some stories that I enjoyed more than others, some had some heavier themes which was quite jarring- but it generally made for a satisfying read.