I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

TRIGGER WARNING: THEMES OF SELF-HARM, ABUSE, AND MORE RUN THROUGHOUT THESE STORIES AND MAY FEATURE SCENES DEPICTING AS SUCH. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

In author Lynda Williams’s “The Beauty and the Hell of It & Other Stories,” people tackle the expectations of who they are told they are and instead quietly resist being who they know they are.

The Synopsis

A woman comes face to face with her rapist at his engagement party. A teen reluctantly celebrating the first Christmas after her mother’s death gets caught cutting her wrists by a stranger. A student hands in a box of Kraft Dinner as her final assignment, and a bipolar art teacher grieves her divorce by online shopping. Don’t Look Back is a collection of stories about women (and one man) who quietly resist and the resulting moments of transition, acceptance, and vindication. Whether they wrestle with grief, growth, trauma, or all three, these characters don’t give in to expectations about who or how they should be. These stories will appeal to readers who enjoyed the pivotal moments of ordinary life in Sophie Stocking’s Walking Leonard and Other Stories and those who want a slice of contemporary womanhood served up with dark humour as offered in Meghan Bell’s Erase and Rewind.

The Review

This was such a compelling and engaging collection of short stories. The author perfectly captured the trials and injustices of life that so many women and people in general have to face on any given day. The balance the author found in bringing these difficult events and conversations to light in the dialogue and stories themselves, with the humor and wit of the characters’ conversations and personal character growth, was remarkable to see come to life on the page.

Throughout these painful and relatable experiences, the author showcased a unique voice in the writing style of each story that spoke to the reader on a deeper level. The featured stories played on themes of abuse, loss, grief, and so much more, and each tale held an emotional and introspective look into how these events affect the mind. At the same time, the rest of the world refuses to slow down with those afflicted by these triggering events.

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The Verdict 

Profound, thoughtfully written, and engaging, author Lynda Williams’ “The Beauty and the Hell of It” is a must-read collection of short stories. The heart and realism featured in these stories will spark a relatability within many readers, and the emotional depth of each character’s struggles and the fantastic pacing of each tale will keep readers invested in every story being told. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on September 1st, 2025 or preorder your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Lynda Williams (she/her) is a short fiction writer and champion of unlikeable female characters. Her debut collection, The Beauty and the Hell Of It & Other Stories, is forthcoming from Guernica Editions in 2025.

https://www.lyndawilliams.ca/