Get in Trouble

Get in Trouble is a collection of nine short stories that blend fantasy, horror, and magical realism. The book received critical acclaim as a Pulitzer Prize Finalist and won multiple literary awards, including the Shirley Jackson Award for the story "The Summer People." The stories transport readers to unusual settings - from a ghost-hunting TV show to a hotel hosting both superhero and dentist conventions. Characters encounter mysterious summer neighbors, navigate online relationships, and deal with the consequences of hiring actors to replace family members in public. Link creates scenarios where the supernatural exists alongside the ordinary, where teenagers make dangerous choices, and where reality bends in unexpected ways. The collection explores themes of identity, deception, and the blurred lines between what is real and what is performance.

Readers appreciate Link's imaginative blend of magical realism and contemporary settings, with many highlighting her ability to create unsettling atmospheres. The short story "The Summer People" receives frequent mentions as a standout. Several reviews note Link's skill at leaving stories open-ended, letting readers draw their own conclusions. Positive reviews focus on: - Unpredictable plot twists - Unique character perspectives - Dark humor throughout - Precise, memorable prose Common criticisms: - Stories feel unfinished or inconclusive - Some plots are hard to follow - Writing style can be too detached - Collection feels uneven in quality Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (7,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (180+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.0/5 (300+ ratings) "Like dreams that stick with you for days," writes one Goodreads reviewer. Another on Amazon notes: "These stories make you work - they don't give up their meanings easily."

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado Stories blend horror and feminism through tales of women's bodies, desires, and transformations in ways that echo Link's mix of the supernatural and personal.

Revenge by Yoko Ogawa These interconnected stories weave reality and surrealism through tales of ordinary people encountering the bizarre, matching Link's talent for making the strange feel familiar.

Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Tales set in near-future worlds examine human nature through a lens of magical realism and dark humor, creating the same unsettling atmosphere found in Link's work.

Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez Stories set in contemporary Argentina mix urban horror with social commentary, delivering the same blend of supernatural and mundane that characterizes Link's writing.

What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah Collection combines magical realism with family dynamics and Nigerian folklore, presenting the same careful balance of fantasy and emotional truth found in Link's stories.

🌟 Kelly Link was awarded a MacArthur "Genius Grant" in 2018, recognizing her innovative contributions to literary fiction. 🏆 "Get in Trouble" was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, making it the first short story collection in several years to receive this honor. 📚 Link and her husband Gavin Grant founded Small Beer Press, an independent publishing house that specializes in literary fiction and fantasy, helping launch careers of numerous speculative fiction writers. 🎭 The author drew inspiration for several stories in the collection from her experience working at a comic book store and her lifelong interest in genre-blending narratives. 🌈 The book's cover art, featuring a surreal rainbow-colored eye, was designed by Jennifer Heuer and perfectly captures the collection's blend of magical realism and contemporary elements.