Katherine Heiny is probably my favourite living comic writer - I adored her novels 'Standard Deviation' and 'Early Morning Riser' so I was very excited to read this collection and relieved to discover that Heiny has brought her same trademark wit and insight to these stories.

Heiny has a gift for characterisation and has fun putting her charmingly eccentric characters into all manner of relationships - married couples, lovers, families, friends, colleagues and even virtual strangers - and these are beautifully observed. I loved her eye for office politics, whether describing a driving test centre in the opening story, 'Chicken-Flavoured and Lemon-Scented', night shift at a suicide prevention hotline in '561' or a photocopier showroom in 'Bridesmaid, Revisited'.

There are also some brilliant one-liners about marriages in trouble; for instance, 'CobRa' (about a wife's Marie Kondo craze) begins "William had begun to worry that he no longer sparked joy in his wife and that she would give him to the Goodwill", while '561' finds the protagonist ruefully reflecting on "the true price of infidelity: twenty years later, you and your husband have to help his ex-wife move out of the former family home." I also loved the suggestion in 'Bridesmaid. Revisited' that "being a bridesmaid is like a prison sentence where you try to serve your time and keep your head down and hope no one will rough you up in the shower."

There are plenty of other similar laugh-out-loud moments throughout this collection, and anyone who has enjoyed Heiny's novels is sure to love this volume. It has certainly whetted my appetite for her next novel, which I hope we don't have to wait for too long! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this excellent book.

I have been a fan of Katherine Heiny’s writing since I stumbled upon ‘Standard Deviation’ a few years ago so was delighted to be offered an ARC of this collection of short stories. Her style is perfect for the short story format. I found these snippets of daily life and odd situations (and some not so odd as they were a wry reminder of my own youthful adventures) a delightful showcase for her witty observations and gentle humour. Having said that, I thought the tone of several of them was darker than I’d noticed in her writing before - once or twice I was willing a character to just not go down that road. All ends well, though, or as well as it does in complicated everyday lives.

My favourite was ‘561’ which details a second wife’s dealings with her predecessor, both before and after she steals her husband away and marries him - a moving, bittersweet story, especially the description of work in a Samaritans call centre. For much the same reason, another stand-out story for me was the first in the collection, ‘Chicken-flavoured and lemon-scented’, about working as a driving examiner - lovely characters and spot-on observation. Highly recommended.

With thanks to 4th Estate via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I had been looking forward to the release of Katherine Heiny's Games and Rituals and it was as good as I hoped. Engaging and authentic short stories.

I loved Katherine Heiny's Early Morning Riser which reminded me of Anne Tyler with its astute, funny observations and affectionate characterisation. Games and Rituals is made up of eleven stories, each one a joy to read, ranging from an amusing role reversal between a mother with a lurid past and her teenage son which results in an epiphany for her to a middle-aged liberal finding herself reacquainted with her inner rebellious teenage self when her Fox News watching father's health emergency summons her home,.One piece serves as a vivid reminder of early Covid days as two very different roommates somehow get each other through lockdown.

Heiny draws her readers into her characters’ worlds, portraying domestic situations with a witty perception and intimacy. They think vengeful thoughts, regret their past relationships, are ambivalent about familial bonds, fall in and out of love, feel guilty and long for each other. They're likeable but often deeply flawed just as so many of us are. A very satisfying set of stories, read with a smile on my face for much of the time. If you're a Heiny fan who’s not so keen on short fiction, don't let that put you off. Her collection has all the qualities that make her novels so appealing.

4-5 stars

I really like the way Katherine Heiny writes, her novels are always relatable and entertaining and she does exactly that in this excellent and varied collection of short stories. Some are funny but also reflective on humanity, some are poignant and perceptive, some concern ‘everyday‘ worries such as parenting a teen with all the potential pitfalls. They’re about people who are all mostly likeable and who you can empathise with, at times the tone is tender and thoughtful and some are about failing which everyone feels they do sometimes. All human emotions are here from love to lust to grief, from worry to happiness to a desire to please. The tone is wry, dry and witty and hits the right notes. The author manages to paint vivid pictures with so few words, mastering the art of the succinct. There are some beautiful and original descriptions with cleverly named short stories such as Bridesmaid, Revisited in which Marlee wears an unsuitable dress to work following a laundry crisis - we’ve all been there! It leads to an uncomfortable memory revisit.

In my opinion the strongest stories are those in the first two thirds. I love Chicken Flavoured and Lemon Scented which is a funny story centred around a test driving examiner and how at times the test and the car can be a confessional. One of my favourites is Damascus which is so acutely observed and amusing but so apt about motherhood. However, my absolute standout is Twist and Shout which so resonates if you have an elderly parent or relative. I love Edgar the father, it’s funny, perceptive but also moving and sad.

Overall, if you like short stories this is a wonderful collection which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Thanks to NetGalley and especially to 4th Estate for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I inhale Heiny’s novel and “Early Morning Riser” is one of my favorite books, so I was so happy to be approved to read these little chunks of microHeinyweirdness. And they did not disappoint! If you like quirky writing on human relationships, this one’s a keeper.

I’m such a fan of Katherine Heiny - this book of short stories definitely didn’t disappoint! Heiny writes about relationships so well, whether they’re familial, romantic or friendships, she covers it all.

Would thoroughly recommend, one of my favourite reads of the year so far.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!