Wild Failure: Stories By Zoe Whittall

Wild Failure is an electrifying debut collection by bestselling author Zoe Whittall, featuring ten fiercely feminist and queer short stories that delve into the complexities of desire, shame, and human connection. Whittall’s characters, each vividly drawn and richly nuanced, grapple with the messiness of life as they navigate bad decisions, fraught relationships, and unconventional situations.

In the story “Oh, El,” a dominant woman cruelly toys with the emotions of a tender-hearted co-worker, exposing the darker sides of power dynamics in relationships. The title story, “Wild Failure,” tells the doomed love tale of an agoraphobic and a wilderness hiker, two people whose very natures make their connection tragically impossible. “Half-Pipe” explores the chaos that ensues at a skate park when a teenage girl’s confusion over her heterosexuality causes a ripple effect of emotional upheaval. In “Murder at the Elm Street Collective House,” a group of idealistic roommates finds themselves thrust into the limelight as the subject of a true crime podcast, blurring the lines between idealism and reality. Meanwhile, “The Sex Castle Lunch Buffet” follows a woman reflecting on her past as a nineties strip club dancer after learning of a former client’s death, capturing the poignancy of lost time and forgotten connections.

Whittall’s Wild Failure is as witty as it is wrenching, offering sharp insights into the human condition while celebrating the vibrancy of femininity and queerness in a world that often overlooks them. This collection is a powerful testament to the resilience of those who live on the margins and the complex beauty of their stories.