by Dahl Botterill
"How much do I cost?" Devin asked.
"I don't know yet," Jenny answered.
Amy Jones' debut collection of short stories What Boys Like and Other Stories is an engrossing read. The stories cover a lot of ground, populated by a wide variety of characters that share a world of possibility, disappointment, and everything in between. The stories vary in tone and approach, as Jones employs first-, third-, and even second-person perspectives while weaving her tales, but one thing they all share is her comfortable prose. Her writing draws the reader in until they aren't reading so much as experiencing the story blossoming around them.
What Boys Like collects 15 stories under one cover, and none of them feel like an outright miss. There's sufficient variety that any given reader will have their own personal preferences, but every story offers up something special.
“A Good Girl” introduces a young man in his early thirties entangled with an 18-year-old who views their relationship through very different lenses than his own. He's not completely oblivious to this—he moves on romantically to other, more stable situations—but his everyday actions are at odds with his reactions whenever she pops back into his life. He just can't shake his desire, nor can he rid himself of the idea that she could somehow change into the person he wants her to be, despite all evidence to the contrary.
“Army of One” draws the reader into a bit of a reversal, following two people who are long-time best friends—and occasionally more—who similarly find themselves on very different pages. He's getting married, and she's not quite able or willing to let go of this man who never really chooses her. Their relationship is messy, comfortable, and totally broken all at the same time.
“Twelve Weeks” is about a young woman returning to her childhood home, seeking comfort and resolution from a place that may no longer be capable of providing such things. There's a palpable sense of loss, regret, and hopelessness that lingers in the air between Jenny and her father.
Amy Jones creates characters that feel and sound real, and the combination of clean prose and smart dialogue place her reader in the middle of every scene. The result is a very solid book of short stories that's an absolute pleasure to read.