I love short stories! An author can write fifty number-one bestsellers and be the most popular wordsmith in the world, but is unable to write short stories. It takes a special kind of person to deliver a story in a few pages with no superfluous words. These people are a bit of a rarity, and always have been, I feel - however, I can now add Kate Atkinson to my list (along with my all-time favourite in sci-fi shorts, Jason Werbeloff). I loved this collection of stories. The subtle (and not so subtle) interconnectedness, the fantastical, the ordinary, the extraordinary, and the apocalyptic. Normal Rules Don't Apply, indeed. There will be stories that go straight to your heart, your head, your gut, and your funny bone (one in particular made me laugh out loud and read parts of it to my husband). You'll enjoy spotting the links in each story. In fact, I'm going to read the book again! An easy five star rating. I was offered an ARC of this work, which I voluntarily and honestly read and reviewed. All opinions are my own. My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author.

Another brilliant book by one of Britain's best contemporary fiction writers. In Normal Rules Don't Apply, Kate Atkinson flexes her literary muscles to create a collection of short stories with a cast of fun, quirky characters whose lives are one after another turned on their heads. Through the eyes of not only people like you and me but larger than life characters and even omnipotent gods with day jobs, Atkinson beautifully depicts the human condition. All the individual stories share small connections with eachother which helps to create an incredibly deep world simultaneously filled with wholesome mundanity and magic out of this world. The result, in my opinion, can best be described as a sort of lighthearted literary twin peaks. Absolutely fantastically written and highly entertaining Normal Rules Don't Apply is an exciting new book for fans of Kate Atkinson or a perfect starting point for those who have yet to read some of her amazing work!

Not a fan of short stories but no reader can avoid the rewarding experience of a Kate Atkinson book. This collection of short stories are interconnected, involving characters who appear in more than one story . Individuals all demonstrating the strengths and weaknesses, flaws and imperfections of the human psyche. Written with humour, pathos and covering all aspects of human nature and its ability to act or react in differing situations. Three dimensional characters, sharp dialogue and wit drawing in the reader with magical efficiency. Many thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

These are interlinked short stories with some characters cropping up in various stories. I am not inclined generally to read many short stories, but it's Kate Atkinson and I will happily devour anything she writes. I would urge other readers to do the same. Once again we have the laugh out loud pithy one liners counterbalance by her "dark materials" Literary fiction can often make the reader "work" rather than just "entertain". Atkinson is skilled at leaving readers to make connections and see the water below the "iceberg" that she gives us. You are left to find your own way through and forge your own relationship with the text. in this spirit I won't outline the themes that I thought were in the stories. Hope she is writing the next one soon ! Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC. Tracey Exeter Roman Gate

This was my first time reading a Kate Atkinson book and I can now see why there is such an obsession and love for her writing! Throughout this book I was captivated by the characters and stories being told. Her writing is so immersive and inventing that it kept me guessing the entire time reading this book. There’s a haunting and creepy nature to what she’s writing about, whether it’s something you can relate to or not, there’s something that keys you into the stories. While I’m not normally one to go for short story collections, this one definitely kept me reading and my mind reeling. I’m definitely gonna dive into more of her books now after reading this one!