Single, Carefree, Mellow

Stories

By: Katherine Heiny

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Rebecca Lowman, Emily Rankin, Julia Whelan

“Katherine Heiny's work does something magical: elevates the mundane so that it has the stakes of a mystery novel, gives women's interior lives the gravity they so richly deserve -- and makes you laugh along the way.”
—Lena Dunham

Single, Carefree, Mellow is that rare and wonderful thing: a debut that is superbly accomplished, endlessly entertaining, and laugh-out-loud funny.

Maya is in love with both her boyfriend and her boss. Sadie’s lover calls her as he drives to meet his wife at marriage counseling. Gwen pines for her roommate, a man who will hold her hand but then tells her that her palm is sweaty. And Sasha agrees to have a drink with her married lover’s wife and then immediately regrets it. These are the women of Single, Carefree, Mellow, and in these eleven sublime stories they are grappling with unwelcome houseguests, disastrous birthday parties, needy but loyal friends, and all manner of love, secrets, and betrayal.

In “Cranberry Relish” Josie’s ex—a man she met on Facebook—has a new girlfriend he found on Twitter. In “Blue Heron Bridge” Nina is more worried that the Presbyterian minister living in her garage will hear her kids swearing than about his finding out that she’s sleeping with her running partner. And in “The Rhett Butlers” a teenager loses her virginity to her history teacher and then outgrows him.

In snappy, glittering prose that is both utterly hilarious and achingly poignant, Katherine Heiny chronicles the ways in which we are unfaithful to each other, both willfully and unwittingly. Maya, who appears in the title story and again in various states of love, forms the spine of this linked collection, and shows us through her moments of pleasure, loss, deceit, and kindness just how fickle the human heart can be.


Read by a Full Cast:
THE DIVE BAR, read by Julia Whelan

HOW TO GIVE THE WRONG IMPRESSION, read by Emily Rankin

SINGLE, CAREFREE, MELLOW, read by Rebecca Lowman

BLUE HERON BRIDGE, read by Cassandra Campbell

THAT DANCE YOU DO, read by Julia Whelan

DARK MATTER, read by Rebecca Lowman

CRANBERRY RELISH, read by Cassandra Campbell

THOUGHTS OF A BRIDESMAID, read by Julia Whelan

THE RHETT BUTLERS, read by Emily Rankin

GRENDEL’S MOTHER, read by Rebecca Lowman

ANDORRA, read by Cassandra Campbell

Impressive Debut

I am not a short story collection fan. Short stories and Novellas require the most precise editing and have to be master written, in order to become memorable.
I gave this collection a chance, as it turned out to be a pleasent introduction to a new voice.
The collection buildup from one story to another, reminded me a bit of Alice Munro's "Runaway", but Katherine Heiny's voice is unique.

Some of the stories were disturbing - looking into the superficial focus in day to day life details, while missing any content or purpose. those stories criticized and showed empathy at the same time.

The trilogy novella - starting with "Single, Carefree, Mellow" - was touching and funny at times.

The Rhet Buttlers - started as amuzing but turned out to be deeply distressing.

The narration was flawless.

Excellent Short Story Collection

Interesting characters, insightful & emotional stories, excellent narrators. What's not to like? I enjoyed these stories immensely.

Who read which stories?

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The stories reminded me of John Updike's writing. The book was just OK for me. I find as I get older, it's harder to find books I can relate to. This would have been relatable to my 30 year-old self. Now I am 53. I actually found this because I was seeking more books narrated by Emily Rankin...she's very good. But, there is another narrator on her - who I want to avoid. I think it's Julia Whelan.

In love

I love this book. It’s such a great read. Everyone can relate to someone in these short stories ♥️ The narrators are amazing and you’re never bored when listening to these stories.

Sickened

This is simply my opinion. The book made it seem like everyone in the world has affairs and it is completely fine and will not affect marriage in the slightest. The stories made me sick to my stomach due to all the lies and deceit and selfishness.

The writing in itself was good as well as the readers. I just hated the story.