Smart, dark, and humorous, this was a really fascinating collection of short stories that had me snickering one moment, followed by a heartbroken sigh. Thompson-Spires has a vibrant cast of characters, some making reappearances, that reveals the struggles of modern Black Americans in various spaces. I was really drawn to the the decisions Thompson-Spires seems to have made to create Black characters taking part in activities and be in careers that so frequently exclude them. Whether it be anime or academia, it was wonderful that she never failed to assert the presence of Black people.