Brawler

Stories

By: Lauren Groff

Narrated by: Lauren Groff

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026 BY NEW YORK TIMES, THE NEW YORKER, PEOPLE, TIME, HARPER'S BAZAAR, OPRAH DAILY, AND VULTURE

“Groff is one of this country’s most successful and versatile literary figures.”—New York Times

“Required reading.”—Los Angeles Times

“A knockout.”—Minnesota Star Tribune

A stunning, fierce collection from a master of the short story and one of the most important writers of our time

Read alone, each story in Lauren Groff’s electric collection is an individual triumph, bold, agile, and packed with power. Read together, they hum in exhilarating resonance. Ranging from the 1950s to the present day and moving across age, class, and region -- from New England to Florida to California -- these nine stories reflect and expand upon a shared theme: the ceaseless battle between humans’ dark and light angels.

“In every human there is both an animal and a god wrestling unto death,“ one character tells us. Among those we see caught in this match are a young woman suddenly responsible for her disabled sibling, a hot-tempered high school swimmer in need of an adult, a mother blinded by the loss of her family, and a banking scion endowed with a different kind of inheritance. Motivated by love, impeded by the double edges of other peoples’ good intentions, they try to do the right thing for as long as they can.

Precise, surprising, and provocative, anchored by profound insight into human nature, Brawler reveals the repeated, sometimes heartbreaking turning points between love and fear, compassion and violence, reason and instinct, altruism and what it takes to survive.

Eloquent language, delivered authentically

Groff’s delivery perfectly matched the plaintive and heartfelt tone of her stories. Her voice seemed to embody her characters.

What a wistful voice…

The stories and characters were interesting, varied and engaging. The language is gorgeous and luscious.

Excellence

Absolutely wonderful. I’m not usually a fan of short stories, but each one was remarkable and the kind of writing that leaves you thinking about the story long after you finished.
My only criticism is the narrator. While I usually enjoy hearing an author read their own stories, this was the exception. The author’s sing-song delivery was a distraction from her wonderful stories.