Thanks to @riverheadbooks for an ARC of Seven Empty Houses by Samantha Schweblin. I devoured this book - I couldn’t get enough of the way Schweblin creates a disquieting atmosphere in seemingly everyday settings. From the very first story, I knew this collection would be a standout for me. The first story follows a mom and daughter driving around in neighborhoods they can’t afford. Even before the mom got the car stuck in the mud in front of a wealthy family’s house, I felt such a palpable sense of discomfort and dread. I think bringing up feelings so quickly and powerfully with short stories is such a special and rare talent. Every story in this collection had some element that felt jarring or uneasy, yet I stayed completely enthralled the entire time.