Review: No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July

No One Belongs Here More Than You is a unique little collection of short stories that focus on the bewildering double lives led by seemingly ordinary people. In Majesty, the reader meets a woman who has sexual fantasises about Prince William and blames herself for the tragic passing of a stranger's lost dog. In I Kiss a Door the main character is left bewildered when she discovers the unsavoury truth about a former friend. And that basically sums up each of these stories. Life is odd, icky and full of unwanted discovery.

The stories are clever and hold a great deal of insight into the private and internal lives of the characters. They are also uncomfortable and deliberate so. For those who enjoy a dash of dark humour with dysfunction and an insight into other people's lives, this is probably an ideal collection. For those looking for escapism and easy answers however ...

Ultimately, No One Belongs Here More Than You is what it is. Literary fiction with a dark humour, dysfunction and the ability to appeal to readers who are in a certain mood. If you've read Miranda July's novel The First Bad Man, then there's good odds that you'll enjoy this one.

Recommended to fans of Ottessa Moshfegh and Jen Beagin.

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