Josh Denslow's short story collection Not Everyone Is Special didn't start off on the best foot with me. There were a number of moments that were ableist, fat shaming, and casually racist in that covert "joking" kind of way. BUT it seemed like, more often than not, the characters had moments of clarity about their flaws and learned from them. I enjoyed all of the stories, but they got better and better as the collection went on. I'm very glad I kept reading. Some are speculative fiction, others are slice of life. "Extra Ticket" was my favorite by far (have tissues handy). Denslow has a knack for diving deep into people's emotions and thought processes. The characters aren't always relatable,…

  I'm a sucker for short story collections, and By the Wayside hit the spot. Many of these stories are powerful slices of life. Some have a fable-like atmosphere; others, a dash of magical realism. This collection was a delight. Social commentary is cleverly woven in (especially in "Bree's Miracle" and "Patience," which allude to reproductive rights and Black Lives Matter, respectively). They pack a real punch, but it's subtle, never heavy-handed. And "How She Was Found" — this is a feminist love song, y'all. I loved the quiet little jabs. And oh my gosh, the ending had me scream-cheering! As in: By the Wayside grabbed me in a lot of the same ways Parrish's Our Love Could Light the World did: interesting characters, complex…