Someplace Generous

Starred review from April 22, 2024
Editor Ellis and poet Flame (Apocrifa) bring together 21 exquisite love stories that reflect the mission of Generous Press: “to publish lush, high-caliber romance fiction written by brilliant BIPOC, queer, and disabled authors.” Whether readers are in the mood for a goofy and fantastical romance between an assassin and her impossible-to-kill target (“Why Won’t You Die?” by Jessica P. Pryde) or a tender, sensual meet-cute between two middle-aged Orthodox Jewish women during Shavuot (“The All-Night Deluxe Tea Room” by Temim Fruchter), there’s something for any taste. Lengthy, luxurious stories, like Ayla Vejdani’s “Luna x Noura,” in which a recently divorced woman on the verge of giving up on online dating meets someone shockingly well suited, intermingle with brief, sexy entries, like Richard Siken’s “Stunt Man,” which comprises an imagery-rich moment of longing from the unnamed narrator. There are no duds in the bunch and each story will leave readers wishing they could remain submerged in that world a little longer. This is a triumph.

December 1, 2024

Editors and poets Ellis (Write About an Empty Birdcage) and Flame (Ordinary Cruelty), cofounders of Generous Press, bring together 22 wide-ranging stories exploring the breadth of love and desire. This inaugural offering from Generous Press celebrates romantic possibilities through the writings of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and neurodivergent authors, many of whom are also poets. In one story, a veteran assassin slowly realizes she's falling for her mark, a secret superheroine. In another, two gamers fall in love through their werewolf avatars. With a robust scope and variety of subgenres, additional stories feature a Chinese American grandmother in a care facility, a psychic nonbinary sex worker, and disabled young adults exploring newfound intimacy and trust. The stories, centered on the overarching theme of consent, showcase the joy and heart behind love in its many forms. Listeners will be charmed by the audio presentation, performed by a talented and carefully selected ensemble, including Dani Mu�oz, Mieko Gavia, Jennifer Pickens, Percy Blythe, Torian Brackett, Carolina Hoyos, Si Chen, Corina Boettger, and the authors themselves. VERDICT This affirming, empowering romance anthology is a must-buy for all libraries. Patrons will be delighted by the stories and the narrators' heartfelt performances.--Elizabeth Gabriel

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