Karen’s Pick
April, 2026
Brawler: Stories
Lauren Groff
Riverhead Books, February 24.2026
I’ve always been a fan of Lauren Groff’s books, especially her novel “The Vaster Wilds” and her previous short story collection “Florida”. Given my recent interest in exploring more books in the novella and short story format, I chose to review her newest book of nine short stories, “Brawler”. I no longer feel like I’m depriving myself of a “real” literary experience, that can only be provided by a 400-page book! In the past few months reading and rereading the short works of Denis Johnson, Sigrid Nunez, Claire Keegan, I’ve gained insight into the reasons why a story in less than 40,000 words can be highly compelling.
For the first time reader of Groff’s books, it’s important to understand her writing style. What stands out most is her language. It’s quite precise, sometimes blunt but often surprisingly poetic. I find that she structures sentences in a way that cause the reader to pause, not because they’re complicated, but because they express an emotion so precisely.
The stories in Brawler move through different historical periods to modern day. They represent no specific, age, or economic levels. The geographic region in the collection cover Maine to Florida to California. If one were asked to use one word to describe each of the nine stories, I would use Transcendent, Fierce, Cathartic, Haunting, Formative, Nurturing, Formative, Layered, and Gritty.
Groff does not ease you into a character or plot gently. Rather, she presents you with an intensity and keeps you there. Her nine stories focus on women dealing with abuse, abandonment, confrontation and neglect, both internal and external. Groff is especially good at capturing the quiet in ways people clash with each other and with themselves. There’s fermenting tension in her characters throughout the book; however, she also writes about the resiliency of women and how they hold on to how ever little power they might have to gain agency in their lives. Be prepared, the emotionally charged stories and characters will stick with you long after finishing the book.
Lauren Groff is a masterful storyteller-writer. A NYT’s book critic wrote that her book, Brawler, “is most destined to become a classic”. This collection of stories feels like a close, unflinching look at what it means to wrestle with the chaotic world you may be given; “a ceaseless battle between humans’ dark and light angels”“ This is not a light read, but it’s a memorable one—especially if you enjoy writings that prioritize emotional depth over easy answers.