Not Meant for Each Other

by Ashley Hutchison

Sometimes, there is no happily ever after.

In this anthology, talented writers craft 10 diverse tales of heartbreak and failed love.

Tragic, absurd, beautiful, and sometimes horrific, this collection of reverse romance stories explores what it means to be 'Not Meant for Each Other.

'Featuring Stories by:
LT Ward
Harry F. Rey
Priscilla M. Goins
Scotty Milder
Jess L. Tong
Stephen Howard
Jamie Perrault
J.F. Capps
Joseph Anderson
K.A. Warhurst

Edited By: Ashley Hutchison

279 pages, Hardcover

Published June 22, 2021

About the author

Editor, writer, and painter with experience working for Triplicity Publishing, New London Writers, and Jorvik Press. She is the editor-in-chief of Lost Boys Press, and when not dabbling in books and art, you'll find Ashley searching for the weird and wonderful in local bookstores.

Reviews

[Tabatha Shipley · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this collection stole my heart (and then promptly broke it).

This was an electronic Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher.

Sometimes, there is no happily ever after. In this anthology, you’ll find 10 diverse stories of heartbreak and failed love. These reverse romance stories explore what it means to not be meant for each other.

What I Didn’t Like:
-Not all equal. I’m actually going to come back to this one in a second because the reasoning behind this is sort of beautiful when you bring it around to why, but it’s worth mentioning. You’ll love at least one story in this collection, I just know it. But you likely won’t love them all … at least not equally.
-Some stories need more time to settle. There were a few that were thrusting you into entirely new worlds. When this happens you need time to acclimate yourself. But in short stories, time is valuable. This is a difficult balance and, in my opinion, a few of these stories struggle with that balance.

What I Did Like:
-Stand out stories. Nameless broke my freaking heart. The Poe story that opens the book is AMAZING and sets the tone in a way I wasn’t expecting. Mouth could’ve been in the Chimera anthology from the same press, it will haunt my nightmares. Really, these are ORIGINAL stories that JUMP off the page.
-Diverse. This anthology features a whole host of romantic and platonic relationships running the gambit of LGBTQ+. Basically the anthology sets out to show the variety of different people and relationships that exist and that is beautiful.
-Something for everyone. Really the introduction says it best. This anthology has a little bit of everything, which reminds us what we all have in common. We’re taking diverse characters from diverse lifestyles in a multitude of genres and bringing them all together in an anthology with a common theme. There’s a HUGE message there and I’m HERE for it.

Who Should Read This One:
-There really IS something for everyone in this anti-romance anthology. Horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and contemporary all feature. Pick it up -- read all 10 -- you’ll find at least one new favorite.

My Rating: With the something for everyone vibe I really have to go 5 stars. There is a short story here for every reader and linking them all together to show us that all genres (and people) share this heartbreak -- the message is worth the read.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be up front, I was given an advanced reader copy of this book for an open and honest review. That said, here we go.

This is a collection of 10 short stories, all with the common theme indicated by the anthology title: "Not Meant for Each Other." The stories were all about romance, or rather, romance that either never should have been or was never meant to be, or anywhere along those lines. Each author took the theme and made it their own, and twisted the knife in their own way. No story left me untouched and all of them were heart rending in their own way.

I wanted to devour the stories one after another but for my own sake and sanity I simply could not. The stories were too powerful, too raw, too much to consume in one sitting. Even so, I could hardly put the book down at times and was drawn in time and time again. There were a mix of genres that all played up the theme in their own way, and that made for a very interesting mix of stories. From fantasy to real world to horror, there's something for everyone here.

Each of the ten authors delivered above and beyond and were an amazing slice of fiction to read. Every story made me want more; whether it was the mythology presented, the characters, or the world developed, all of it left me hungering for more. More pain, more heartache, more.

Do yourself a favor and read this book. Especially if you need a heart-breaking good time.

[N Bookstagram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing and Diverse

This was an interesting collection of short stories based around the theme of people not ending up together. Nameless was my favourite by miles. That could easily be its own book. The settings and style varied. A good collection and interesting read.

[Roni Falk · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Not Meant for Each Other Anthology is a beautifully tragic collection of stories from the fantastic to everyday life. The short stories, though vastly different, are also woven together through theme and story telling. As a reader, my heart was broken, mended, then broken again—yet I kept reading on. It was a rollercoaster of highs and lows, each ride leaving me wanting to get on again and again. I read this first then went back and read Chimera and was not disappointed to find those stories just as captivating. I’ll be looking forward to more anthologies from Lost Boys Press.

[Medhya R Samarasinghe · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the title sort of gives away the ending of the story. Still, the journey to that known destination is what’s worth reading in this anthology. And there is so much variety made available, to potentially suit every taste.

[Veronica Faline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good not happily ever after so this book was perfect. Each tale pulls at your heartstrings a little differently making the pain that much better. If you love to feel something when you read, this is the book for you. Sorrowful and just bittersweet, I loved this whole anthology.

[Great Owl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of stories offers more than a greatest hits of love and loss. It plays the b sides as well. I loved it.

[Armanis Ar-Feinial · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I don't read a tone of romance.
Great stories all things considered, but some stories had some WTF did I just read moments.

[Stephen Smyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and heartbreaking in the best way.