In So as Not to Die Alone, Lisa Johnson Mitchell shares stories of people yearning for a human connection to, arguably, not die alone. The stories are filled with quirky characters who are off-putting yet endearing and full of potential.

The characters show the author’s skill in capturing the complexities of the human experience with compassion. Each person is portrayed with depth and subtlety as they carry their own burdens, allowing readers to empathize with their struggles and root for them despite their flaws.

The situations characters find themselves in are raw and relatable: first dates, high school reunions, crashing a Zoom meeting. Awkward encounters are handled with humor, which balances the introspection characters experience.

Overall, this story collection is fantastic. I reviewed it for MicroLit Almanac so you can read the full piece here: https://www.birchbarkediting.com/microlit-almanac-reviews/so-as-not-to-die-alone-mitchell-renner