“Ann Beattie at her most magnificent…Her first new collection in ten years...These tales explore the range of emotional states the author is famous for: longing, disaffection, ambivalence, love, regret. It’s nice to hear her voice again” ( People ). “A peerless, contemplative page-turner” ( Vanity Fair ), The State We’re In is about how we live in the places we have chosen—or been chosen by. It’s about the stories we tell our families, our friends, and ourselves, the truths we may or may not see, how our affinities unite or repel us, and where we look for love. Many of these stories are set in Maine, but The State We’re In is about more than geographical location. Some characters have arrived in Maine by accident, others are trying to escape. The collection is woven around Jocelyn, a wry, disaffected teenager living with her aunt and uncle while attending summer school. As in life, the narratives of other characters interrupt Jocelyn’s, sometimes challenging, sometimes embellishing her view. “Ann Beattie slips into a short story as flawlessly as Audrey Hepburn wore a Givenchy gown: an iconic presentation, each line and fold falling into place but allowing room for surprise” ( O, The Oprah Magazine ). “Splendid...memorable...every page…fitted out with the blessed finery of hypnotic storytelling” ( The Washington Post ), these stories describe a state of mind, a manner of being. The State We’re In explores, through women’s voices, the unexpected moments and glancing epiphanies of daily life. “The collection demonstrates Beattie’s craftsmanship, precise language, and her knack for revealing psychological truths.” ― Publishers Weekly, STARRED review “ Beattie is a master at depicting the peculiarly painful valor necessary for contending with troubled family members,spouses, lovers, neighbors, even pets. She is also that rarest of beings, a brilliantly comic literary writer … Most often, it’s her skirmishing dialogue that makes us laugh out loud… [a] stellar collection by Beattie, a writer revered and honored for her keen insights and wit.” -- Donna Seaman ― Booklist, STARRED review " Short-story queen Beattie is back with her first new collection in 10 years... These tales explore the range of emotional states the author is famous for: longing, disaffection, ambivalence, love, regret. It's nice to hear her voice again." ― People Magazine "Beattie’s signature gifts – her finely tuned language, droll wit, unerring feel for popular culture– are on rich display here …vivid…More than a paean to the Pine Tree State, The State We’re In underscores the indelible contribution Beattie has made to American short fiction .” -- Hamilton Cain ― O, The Oprah Magazine “Ann Beattie’s gorgeous The State We’re In makes a strong case for the significance of place." ― W magazine “ A real keeper …[these stories] give voice to teens in turmoil, bad parents, tête-à-têtes of all sorts, and so much more.” -- Steph Optiz ― Marie Claire “Interconnected stories from a master of the form.” ― Elle “One of America’s finest authors—and arguably best living short-story writer.” -- Heidi Julavits ― Interview “The veteran short story master explores the peculiarities of summer life…What unifies these stories outside of their setting is Beattie’s nuanced understanding of relationships …An engaging collection of varied characters.” ― Kirkus Reviews "Sparkling.... [her stories] finish with a quiet flourish, throwing a sudden subtle twist at us... In the end, these carefully drawn, minutely illustrated portraits of women-- and men-- depict slices of life in all its complexity." -- Tom Lavoie ― Shelf Awareness "Splendid... memorable... Beattie’s sociological wit and probity are truly unsurpassed in our literature... though I didn’t think this was possible, I experienced an even more heightened awe of Beattie’s skills... The dexterity of tone, fearless honesty, and close mapping of lives that may lead to ghastly revelations or even redemption are sheer gifts of reading... this collection has many, many moments of utter surprise. In fact, every page is fitted out with the blessed finery of hypnotic storytelling." -- Howard Norman ― Washington Post "Moving fluidly between adolescents and septuagenarians, it leaves us with the sense that uncertainty, disconnection, is not a matter of chronology but rather of being alive." -- David Ulin ― Los Angeles Times “A peerless, contemplative page-turner.” -- Nicole Jones ― Vanity Fair "Edgy, funny and dark... Beattie’s unerring dialogue exposes each story’s truths... effortless grace." -- Carol Memmott ― Minneapolis Star-Tribune “Slyly funny, still exhibiting the author’s nonlinear narrative style and unique gift of reflecting our inner angst with our surroundings... With a few deft strokes and not a little humor, Beattie paints the nuances... A sense of discomfort pervades The State We’re In , but thanks to the Beattie’s trademark sleek pro