In her first book, Katherine Heiny brings us 11 short stories focused on the lives of women as both individuals and family centers. These aren’t your everyday short stories though; Heiny gives importance to the lives of ordinary women dealing with everyday challenges. From love affairs to doctor visits to children’s birthday parties, Heiny’s characters are candid in their experiences.

In a review that I think really hits the nail on the head, Lena Dunham writes that Single, Carefree, Mellow, “ …gives women’s interior lives the gravity they so richly deserve – and makes you laugh along the way.”

Overall, these short stories are a quick and engaging read for the summer.