Show Don't Tell

Stories

By: Curtis Sittenfeld

Narrated by: Michael Crouch, Curtis Sittenfeld, George Newbern, Xe Sands, Emily Rankin, Nicole Lewis, Kristen Sieh

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The bestselling author of Eligible and Romantic Comedy “blends acerbic wit, shrewd insight and sharp-eyed observation [in this] bravura collection” (The Washington Post), including a story that revisits the main character from her iconic novel Prep

“Each of these witty, intelligent stories is a slice of modern life.”—People

A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice

In her second story collection, Sittenfeld shows why she’s as beloved for her short fiction as she is for her novels. In these dazzling stories, she conjures up characters so real that they seem like old friends, laying bare the moments when their long held beliefs are overturned.

In “The Patron Saints of Middle Age,” a woman visits two friends she hasn’t seen since her divorce. In “A for Alone,” a married artist embarks on a creative project intended to disprove the so-called Mike Pence Rule, which suggests that women and men can’t spend time alone together without lusting after each other. And in “Lost but Not Forgotten,” Sittenfeld gives fans of her novel Prep a window into the world of her beloved character Lee Fiora, decades later, when Lee attends an alumni reunion at her boarding school.

Hilarious, thought-provoking, and full of tenderness for her characters, Sittenfeld’s stories peel back layer after layer of our inner lives, keeping us riveted with her utterly distinctive voice.

©2025 Curtis Sittenfeld (P)2025 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A bit like sitting down with a good friend who’s about to dish on some major life business…. messy, delicious, spun through with bits of quotable wisdom . . . and complete with endings that will make you sit and think. . . . Showcasing the glory of her characters’ complicated lives and allowing them to speak with voices all their own is a kind of rebellion, and it’s exhilarating.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Utterly diverting . . . Sittenfeld’s worldview is more utopian than dystopian; Jane Austen-like, she treats her characters with humanity, even when their actions are cringe-inducing. . . . Sittenfeld is a sharp observer of social mores and an astute judge of character.”—The Los Angeles Times

“A bravura collection [that] blends acerbic wit, shrewd insight and sharp-eyed observation to explore frustrated lives and the thornier, messier and grittier aspects of human relationships. . . . Expertly crafted and hugely engaging . . . supremely accomplished storytelling.”—The Washington Post

Irritating Narrator

Stories were good. The narrator of Lost But Not Forgotten was difficult for me to even listen to.
Her voice was flat, and she came across as totally bored!

Not impressed

I found Show Don’t Tell to be over the top in analyzing race relations , privilege, gender concerns and other controversial issues. I have no problem reading about such topics but by the time I finished the book I thought the author was pushing topics for some ulterior reason. I enjoyed the last story in the collection.

Love Curtis

I loved all the stories!! Maybe Curtis shouldn’t haven’t narrated the last story. There were too few pauses between sentences and a bit of vocal fry. Other narrators were great!

Loved it

As others have said, I’m not usually a short story fan but I found all of these tales engaging and relatable, reflecting on all of our complicated inner worlds. I especially loved the follow up to Lee’s story, with Prep being one of my all time favorites. One touch I would have loved is if the same narrator was used for Prep was used for Lee’s short story, though I think this narrator still did a great job. Thanks to this always talented author!

Enjoyed most

Loved it until the last story which was silly and way to repetitive. It also had the worst narration. I forced myself to finish it but the voice was grating to listen to.

Always a pleasure

She is a wonderful chronicler of our modern life. Great readers; it is a pleasure throughout!

Some were better than others.

Some of the short stories were better than others. Not inclined to purchase short stories again.

sooo good

stories with real people, authentic story lines, loved the follow up to Prep. a fav writer!!

An excellent batch of stories

Loved every story. Beware, however… the reader of the final story has an horrendous vocal fry, such that I had to quit listening. Otherwise, it’s a great book & listen.

Another wonderful anthology

I love the deceptive simplicity of these stories. They’re thought provoking and lift up off the page with relatability. Such a fan of Curtis Sittenfeld!