Marni Appleton’s bittersweet debut collection of short stories focuses on the experiences of millennial women – their obsessions, friendships, betrayals and crushes. Appleton is good on mother-daughter relationships. In the title story, Ana is alienated by the realisation that everyone around her is pregnant. As she obsesses about the breakdown of her friendship with Chloe, tormented by her upbeat social media posts, we realise there is more going on: Ana is projecting her pain about her bipolar mother and conflicted emotions about having children.
In Road Trip, 17-year-old Allie hangs out with older friends. Her mother’s coldness is palpable when she picks up her hungover daughter. Driving home, they have to stop so Allie can vomit. Left there by her mother, Allie recalls other incidents of maternal cruelty: “How bad do you have to be to be rejected by the person whose body was your first home?”
Positive Vibes explores how social media erodes one’s confidence and sense of identity. Lia, an art student, works in a coffee shop. She becomes obsessed with Sara, a local influencer, and her Instagram posts advocating positivity: “Like having a friend in your pocket.” When Lia realises that Cora, fellow barista and art graduate, has stolen one of her ideas and posted it on Insta (gaining prized followers), Lia’s meltdown is excruciating and darkly comic.
The curse of social media is everywhere in the 11 tales: the scrutiny, the need to perform, the desire for “likes”, and relentless fear of being blocked. This is best exemplified in Shut Your Mouth: when photos of women eating go viral, the sale of voiles, mouth coverings, soar. Appleton’s wry observational style is well suited to these tales of young women navigating the modern world. She writes with empathy for her vulnerable protagonists, conveying their inner conflicts and deceptions.
• I Hope You’re Happy by Marni Appleton is published by Indigo Press (£12.99). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply
