In eighteen stories that shine a light on people who are far from champions, Like a Champion is an ode to underdogs and long shots, sad office parties and one-sided basketball games, disappointed worker bees and hopeful lovers.A lonely businessman on a cruise finds comfort in an unlikely companion. Two high school friends try to survive their last backyard wrestling match only to learn that not all endings can be choreographed. An expat teacher struggles with her new life overseas until a familiar stranger joins the faculty. A young woman fails to make progress in a strip mall boxing gym before discovering strength in her breaking point. Vincent Chu’s work is funny and big-hearted, like the best short stories of Sherman Alexie, and imbued with a generosity and warmth that reminds us that moments of glory can happen when we least expect it. "Vincent Chu decidedly hands us a triumphant collection of surprising, energetic stories and good, weird, sometimes sad people. It is an intimate book that made me laugh out loud more than once." Leesa Cross-Smith, author of Whiskey & Ribbons "The brilliance of this collection is not only these complex portrayals but the surprising twists that make us nod in recognition at what makes us hopeful and human. A fun and deeply moving read!" Jimin Han, author of A Small Revolution "Vincent Chu can do many things, tell a story, create indelible characters, and craft spot-on dialogue, but what he does most movingly in Like a Champion is unpack our greatest fears, hopes and desires, in other words, what makes us human." Ben Tanzer, author of Be Cool "Vincent Chu takes us on a journey through real life, with brief glimpses into the lives of diverse characters. While each character and story is different, there is something relatable about them all. You'll find yourself among friends in these stories." San Francisco Book Review "I cried with them, laughed many times, cheered them on, or enjoyed their conversations. Like A Champion fits well in the satire genre, yet also goes beyond this wit to show complexity, and the struggle of characters who are all too human." Heavy Feather Review Vincent Chu's work is funny and big-hearted, like the best short stories of Sherman Alexie, and imbued with a generosity and warmth that reminds us that moments of glory can happen when we least expect it. Vincent Chu was born in Oakland, California. His fiction has appeared in Muumuu House, STILL Magazine, Fjords Review, PANK Magazine, East Bay Review, Pithead Chapel, Stockholm Review and elsewhere. He has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Sundress Publications Best of the Net. This is his debut collection. He wrote most of the stories in Cologne, Germany. He can be found online at vincentchuwriter.com and @herrchu.