Finna

Retail workers Ava and Jules face an unusual workplace crisis when a customer disappears through a wormhole at LitenVärld, their big-box furniture store. The former couple must work together to navigate parallel universes using a device called FINNA to locate the missing woman. The story moves through multiple alternate realities, each containing a different version of the furniture store. What begins as a standard work assignment transforms into a dangerous mission across dimensions, testing both the physical and emotional limits of the protagonists. Their retail environment serves as a backdrop for exploring corporate exploitation and worker rights. The company's casual approach to interdimensional travel and employee safety reveals the absurdity of modern workplace expectations. The novella examines themes of post-relationship dynamics and queer identity while questioning the nature of reality and corporate power structures. Through its multiverse premise, the story creates space to explore how relationships evolve when romantic connections end but workplace ties remain.

Readers appreciate the novella's fresh take on parallel universes through a retail setting. Many note its commentary on capitalism, relationships, and gender identity resonates strongly. The queer representation and authentic portrayal of retail work draw frequent mentions in positive reviews. Readers highlight the concise pacing and humor, with several pointing to specific scenes in the IKEA-like store as standout moments. Multiple reviews praise how much story fits into the short length. Common criticisms focus on wanting more character development and world-building. Some readers find the ending unsatisfying or rushed. A portion of reviews mention the premise could support a longer work. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (5,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (240+ ratings) StoryGraph: 3.75/5 (850+ ratings) Sample reader quote: "A weird, wonderful exploration of retail hell and parallel dimensions. Quick read but packs an emotional punch." - Goodreads reviewer

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🌟 The term "FINNA" comes from African American Vernacular English (AAVE), meaning "going to" or "about to," cleverly repurposed as a fictional device name. 🌟 The book challenges retail culture by drawing parallels between the maze-like layout of stores like IKEA and the concept of infinite parallel universes. 🌟 This novella won the 2021 Locus Award for Best Novella, establishing itself as a significant work in contemporary speculative fiction. 🌟 Author Nino Cipri identifies as trans/nonbinary, and their personal experience influences the authentic representation of queer relationships in the story. 🌟 The book's length (144 pages) was specifically chosen to mirror the quick-paced nature of retail work shifts, allowing readers to complete it in roughly the same time as a typical workday.