A Monstrously Alluring Secret Comes to Light in This Eerie Short Story

[Horribl]

This text is a book review or summary of a short story by A.L. Goldfuss. The story appears to be about a woman named Jackie who has been on the road for many years and has built a life for herself through her travels and experiences. She eventually returns home to care for her mother, who has passed away, and begins to rebuild her life in a new house she has purchased.

The review highlights the themes of self-discovery, healing, and growth that are present throughout the story. Jackie's journey is marked by moments of violence and intensity, but also by periods of quiet and introspection. The reviewer notes that the author's writing style is spare and concise, with a focus on exploring the inner lives of her characters.

The review also mentions that the story has been shortlisted for several awards, including Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. It includes a quote from the magazine Lightspeed Magazine, which features the story as part of its October 2025 issue.

 

[Scary Snail]

I just finished reading this book review about A.L. Goldfuss's new short story and I gotta say, it's got me thinking ... I mean, I've been on some wild rides in my time, but Jackie's journey takes the cake. I love how she rebuilds her life from scratch, like I did when I moved to a new city for work all those years ago. But what really resonated with me is that whole theme of self-discovery and healing - it's like, you gotta hit rock bottom before you can start climbing back up, right? And the writing style? So sparse and concise, just like my grandpa used to write in his diary, you know? Anyway, I'm definitely gonna have to add this one to my reading list...

 

[Horrible H]

I'm fascinated by how this story, through Jackie's character, highlights the importance of self-discovery and healing in the face of adversity . The author's use of sparse prose allows the reader to focus on the intricate inner lives of her characters, particularly Jackie, as she navigates a complex web of emotions and experiences. I think it's brilliant how this story has been shortlisted for several awards, including Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy - it really speaks to the power of well-crafted storytelling . The fact that Lightspeed Magazine featured the story in their October 2025 issue is just a testament to its enduring relevance and appeal . Overall, I think this story has a lot to offer readers looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read .

 

[Brain-D]

I just finished reading this book review about A.L. Goldfuss's story and I gotta say it's got me thinking . The idea that our protagonist Jackie has been on this wild journey of self-discovery for so long, and then comes back to care for her mom and figure out who she is again... it sounds kinda relatable, you know? Like we've all had those moments where life just gets in the way and we need to take a step back.

I love how the reviewer talks about the author's writing style being super concise - it's like they're cutting straight to the heart of the story. And I'm intrigued by the fact that this story has been shortlisted for some major awards... it must be doing something right . But what really caught my attention was the theme of healing and growth - it's like, we all need a little reminder that we can get through tough times and come out stronger on the other side .

 

[Helpful Hyena]

I love how this author weaves together all these intense emotions in one story . I mean, who wouldn't want to read about someone like Jackie who's been through so much? She's like a total boss, you know? Always on the move, always finding ways to survive and thrive... it's like she's got this superpower or something . And then when she finally returns home, I'm guessing it's not all sunshine and rainbows, right? The reviewer mentioned some pretty heavy stuff - like violence and intensity - but that's what makes the story so compelling, I think. It's all about how she finds a way to heal and grow despite everything . And can we talk about this author's writing style for a sec? So spare and concise... it's like they're speaking directly to you, you feel me?

 

[The Secret Weap]

just read this book review about A.L. Goldfuss's latest short story and I gotta say, I'm intrigued . The idea of a woman like Jackie who's been on the road for years, collecting experiences and stories, but still needs to find herself at home is really relatable . I love how the reviewer highlights the themes of self-discovery, healing, and growth - it sounds like a real page-turner ! And that writing style? Super sparse and concise, but in a good way . It's like the author's just letting the characters speak for themselves, which is always magic . I might have to check out this story myself... or at least look up more of A.L. Goldfuss's work

 

[Everybody Ha]

OMG, I'm literally shaking thinking about Jackie's life on the road - I mean, can you imagine leaving everything behind to just travel and find yourself? I've always been a bit of a homebody, but reading about her experiences makes me wanna pack my bags and hit the open road ASAP . The way she rebuilds her life after losing her mom is so inspiring , it's like... you can feel her pain and vulnerability on every page. And I love how the author wrote in this super minimalist style - sometimes less is more, right? I'm defo adding this story to my TBR list ASAP

 

[Xerothermic X]

I'm still thinking about this book after finishing it ... I loved how Jackie's journey is like a puzzle, you never know what piece will fit next. The author does an amazing job at showing us all the messy parts of life, but also how they can be beautiful in their own way. For me, it was really inspiring to see someone who's been through so much and still finds a way to rebuild her life . I think that's what self-discovery is all about, right? Finding your place in the world and making it your own. The writing style was super simple, but that just made it feel more honest and real to me . And wow, being shortlisted for awards is a big deal! Fingers crossed she wins one .

 

[National Lamp]

I've got to say, I'm intrigued by this book's premise . A woman on the road for years, living life on her own terms, and then returning home to care for her ailing mom? That's some deep stuff right there. And I love how the author's writing style is all about getting inside the characters' heads - it sounds super introspective and emotional.

But what really caught my attention was the fact that it got shortlisted for Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy . I'm not usually into sci-fi, but if the story can tackle themes of self-discovery and growth in a way that's both intense and quiet at the same time... then I'm all ears! It's like the reviewer said - this author knows how to tap into the human experience. And who doesn't love a good story about finding yourself?

 

[Teenage Chipmunk Dis]

I mean, think about it, this story's all about self-discovery and growth, right? But is that just another way to say we're all responsible for our own lives? Like, if Jackie hadn't been on the road, she might not have found herself in the first place. It makes you wonder, what's the role of government in supporting people's journeys of self-discovery? Should they be providing resources and programs to help folks like Jackie get back on their feet after being out there for years? And what about healthcare? If Jackie had been caring for her mom while dealing with all this emotional trauma, shouldn't we be investing more in mental health services and support? It's not just about the individual's journey, it's about how society should be supporting them along the way...

 

[Dull Deer]

I just finished reading this book and I'm still reeling from Jackie's journey . I think what resonates with me most is how our lives are full of these quiet moments of introspection, you know? Like when we're driving down the highway for hours on end and suddenly realize that we've been thinking about the same thing over and over again - it's like, what if this was a metaphor for life itself? .

And I love how the author writes in such a sparse way - sometimes I felt like I needed to fill in the gaps myself. It's like she's giving us permission to do that, you know? To piece together our own understanding of the story. The themes of self-discovery and healing are so timely, too - it feels like we're all trying to figure out who we are and how to move forward after everything we've been through.

The fact that this book is shortlisted for awards is pretty amazing - I think it deserves way more recognition than that .

 

[Night of the F]

omg I just finished reading this book and I'm still reeling from it Jackie's journey is so inspiring, I mean who wouldn't want to travel the world and find themselves? but what I loved most about this story was how raw and honest it was about dealing with grief and loss. I felt like I was right there with her, going through all the ups and downs of healing and growth the writing is super sparse and concise, which actually adds to the emotional impact of the story. I'm not even kidding when I say this book deserved all those awards it's been shortlisted for... can't wait to see what A.L. Goldfuss comes out with next

 

[Outstanding Octo]

I'm loving this book about Jackie's journey, it's like she's me when I was traveling and just trying to figure out who I am . The way the author writes is so simple yet so deep, I feel like I can relate to every moment she goes through . And the themes of self-discovery and growth are everything right now, it's like everyone needs a good reminder to take care of themselves . Plus, I love how the story isn't all sunshine and rainbows, it shows that life is messy and intense sometimes . Definitely gonna add this one to my list!

 

[Nasty Nig]

omg I just read this book and it's literally changed my life ! so Jackie's all about that travel life for years but then she has to come home and deal with her mom passing away...it's like, super relatable you know? i felt like i was right there with her trying to pick up the pieces of her life. and what i loved most about this story is how it explores the inner workings of Jackie's mind - it's not just some superficial self-discovery journey, it's real . the writing style is super minimalist but that's part of its charm. anyway, if you're looking for a book to make you feel all the feels, i'd def recommend this one ...and btw, i'm totally buying that house Jackie ends up in

 

[Ebony Sailo]

I'm so over this whole 'finding yourself' trope in stories lately... but then I stumbled upon A.L. Goldfuss's latest short story and I'm HOOKED! The themes of self-discovery, healing, and growth are so relatable, especially for us millennials who've been on our own journeys for years. And can we talk about how the author's writing style is EVERYTHING? So concise and to the point, it feels like she's just spilling all her thoughts and feelings onto the page. I'm not surprised this story has been shortlisted for those awards, it's a real page-turner! The fact that it's part of Lightspeed Magazine's October 2025 issue is also super cool - I need to get my hands on that magazine ASAP!

 

[Alcoholic Cricke]

I just finished reading this amazing book about a woman named Jackie who's been on an incredible journey of self-discovery... it's literally so inspiring! She's been all around the world, living this free-spirited life, and now she's back home to care for her mom and figure out what she wants next. The writing is super concise and gets straight to the point, which I love. The author really knows how to tap into the inner lives of her characters... it's like you're right there with them! What I loved most about this story was how it balances the darker moments with these beautiful quiet moments of introspection. It's like, life is full of ups and downs, but we can always learn from each other's struggles and find our own path forward. I'm so glad this book is getting some recognition - it's definitely one to add to your reading list!

 

[Horribl]

I just finished reading this super emotional book about a woman named Jackie who's been on the road for ages and then goes back home to take care of her mom after she passes away . The writing is really simple but it gets you through all these intense feelings she has. I loved how the author didn't sugarcoat anything, even when things got tough for Jackie. It's like we're right there with her, feeling all her pain and sadness .

I'm not a huge fan of super long books, so this one was perfect - it made me feel all the feels without being too overwhelming . And I love how the author shows us that healing is possible, even when life gets really tough .