You know you want this : "Cat person" and other stories

A compulsively readable collection of short stories that explore the complex — and often darkly funny — connections between gender, sex, and power across genres. Previously published as You Know You Want This, “Cat Person” and Other Stories brilliantly explore the ways in which women are horrifying as much as it captures the horrors that are done to them. “If you think you know what this collection will be like, you’re wrong. These stories are sharp and perverse, dark and bizarre, unrelenting and utterly bananas. I love them so, so much.” - Carmen Maria MachadoAmong its pages is a couple who becomes obsessed with their friend hearing them have sex, then seeing them have sex...until they can’t have sex without him; a ten-year-old whose birthday party takes a sinister turn when she wishes for “something mean”; a woman who finds a book of spells half hidden at the library and summons her heart’s desire: a nameless, naked man; and a self-proclaimed “biter” who dreams of sneaking up behind and sinking her teeth into a green-eyed, long-haired, pink-cheeked coworker. Spanning a range of genres and topics—from the mundane to the murderous and supernatural—these are stories about sex and punishment, guilt and anger, the pleasure and terror of inflicting and experiencing pain. “What’s special about ‘Cat Person,’ and the rest of the stories in You Know You Want This, is the author’s expert control of language, character, story — her ability to write stories that feel told, and yet so unpretentious and accessible that we think they must be true.” - The New York Times Book Review “Kristen Roupenian isn’t just an uncannily great writer, she also knows things about the human psyche—things that I always supposed I would learn at some point, but never did...The world has made a lot more sense since reading this book.” - Miranda July “what’s Special About ‘cat Person,’ And The Rest Of The Stories In You Know You Want This, Is The Author’s Expert Control Of Language, Character, Story—her Ability To Write Stories That Feel Told, And Yet So Unpretentious And Accessible That We Think They Must Be True.” —the New York Times Book Review “kristen Roupenian Isn’t Just An Uncannily Great Writer, She Also Knows Things About The Human Psyche—things That I Always Supposed I Would Learn At Some Point, But Never Did. Some Of These Things Are About Men’s Minds In Particular And I’m Pretty Sure She’s Right. The World Has Made A Lot More Sense Since Reading This Book.” —miranda July, New York Times Bestselling Author Of The First Bad Man “if You Think You Know What This Collection Will Be Like, You’re Wrong. These Stories Are Sharp And Perverse, Dark And Bizarre, Unrelenting And Utterly Bananas. I Love Them So, So Much.” —carmen Maria Machado, National Book Award Finalist And Author Of Her Body And Other Parties A Compulsively Readable Collection Of Short Stories That Explore The Complex—and Often Darkly Funny—connections Between Gender, Sex, And Power Across Genres. You Know You Want This Brilliantly Explores The Ways In Which Women Are Horrifying As Much As It Captures The Horrors That Are Done To Them. Among Its Pages Are A Couple Who Becomes Obsessed With Their Friend Hearing Them Have Sex, Then Seeing Them Have Sex...until They Can’t Have Sex Without Him; A Ten-year-old Whose Birthday Party Takes A Sinister Turn When She Wishes For “something Mean”; A Woman Who Finds A Book Of Spells Half Hidden At The Library And Summons Her Heart’s Desire: A Nameless, Naked Man; And A Self-proclaimed “biter” Who Dreams Of Sneaking Up Behind And Sinking Her Teeth Into A Green-eyed, Long-haired, Pink-cheeked Coworker. Spanning A Range Of Genres And Topics—from The Mundane To The Murderous And Supernatural—these Are Stories About Sex And Punishment, Guilt And Anger, The Pleasure And Terror Of Inflicting And Experiencing Pain. These Stories Fascinate And Repel, Revolt And Arouse, Scare And Delight In Equal Measure. And, As A Collection, They Point A Finger At You, Daring You To Feel Uncomfortable—or Worse, Understood—as If To Say, “you Want This, Right? You Know You Want This.” FEATURING A BRAND NEW STORY "What's special about 'Cat Person,' and the rest of the stories in You Know You Want This , is the author's expert control of language, character, story?her ability to write stories that feel told, and yet so unpretentious and accessible that we think they must be true." ?The New York Times Book Review "Kristen Roupenian isn't just an uncannily great writer, she also knows things about the human psyche?things that I always supposed I would learn at some point, but never did...The world has made a lot more sense since reading this book." ?Miranda July, New York Times bestselling author "If you think you know what this collection will be like, you're wrong. These stories are sharp and perverse, dark and bizarre, unrelenting and utterly bananas. I love them so, so much." ?Carmen Maria Machado, National Book Award Finalist and author of Her Body and Other Parties A compulsively readable collection of short stories that explore the complex?and often darkly funny?connections between gender, sex, and power across genres. Previously published as You Know You Want This , "Cat Person" and Other Stories brilliantly explores the ways in which women are horrifying as much as it captures the horrors that are done to them. Among its pages are a couple who becomes obsessed with their friend hearing them have sex, then seeing them have sex...until they can't have sex without him; a ten-year-old whose birthday party takes a sinister turn when she wishes for "something mean"; a woman who finds a book of spells half hidden at the library and summons her heart's desire: a nameless, naked man; and a self-proclaimed "biter" who dreams of sneaking up behind and sinking her teeth into a green-eyed, long-haired, pink-cheeked coworker. Spanning a range of genres and topics?from the mundane to the murderous and supernatural?these are stories about sex and punishment, guilt and anger, the pleasure and terror of inflicting and experiencing pain. These stories fascinate and repel, revolt and arouse, scare and delight in equal measure. And, as a collection, they point a finger at you, daring you to feel uncomfortable?or worse, understood?as if to say, "You want this, right? You know you want this." * Includes the story " Cat Person " — now a major film* A compulsively readable collection of short stories that explore the complex—and often darkly funny—connections between gender, sex, and power across genres. "These stories are sharp and perverse, dark and bizarre, unrelenting and utterly bananas. I love them so, so much." —Carmen Maria Machado, National Book Award Finalist and author of Her Body and Other Parties "Kristen Roupenian isn't just an uncannily great writer, she also knows things about the human psyche...The world has made a lot more sense since reading this book." —Miranda July, New York Times bestselling author Previously published as You Know You Want This , "Cat Person" and Other Stories brilliantly explores the ways in which women are horrifying as much as it captures the horrors that are done to them. Among its pages are a couple who becomes obsessed with their friend hearing them have sex, then seeing them have sex...until they can't have sex without him; a ten-year-old whose birthday party takes a sinister turn when she wishes for "something mean"; a woman who finds a book of spells half hidden at the library and summons her heart's desire: a nameless, naked man; and a self-proclaimed "biter" who dreams of sneaking up behind and sinking her teeth into a green-eyed, long-haired, pink-cheeked coworker. Spanning a range of genres and topics—from the mundane to the murderous and supernatural—these are stories about sex and punishment, guilt and anger, the pleasure and terror of inflicting and experiencing pain. These stories fascinate and repel, revolt and arouse, scare and delight in equal measure. And, as a collection, they point a finger at you, daring you to feel uncomfortable—or worse, understood—as if to say, "You want this, right? You know you want this." INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER NAMED ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2019 BY VOGUE , HUFFPOST , ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY , PUREWOW , REFINERY29 , NYLON , MARIE CLAIRE , BUSTLE , AND KIRKUS REVIEWS ! From the author of "Cat Person"?"the short story that launched a thousand theories" ( The Guardian )?comes Kristen Roupenian's highly anticipated debut, a compulsively readable collection of short stories that explore the complex?and often darkly funny?connections between gender, sex, and power across genres. You Know You Want This brilliantly explores the ways in which women are horrifying as much as it captures the horrors that are done to them. Among its pages are a couple who becomes obsessed with their friend hearing them have sex, then seeing them have sex...until they can't have sex without him; a ten-year-old whose birthday party takes a sinister turn when she wishes for "something mean"; a woman who finds a book of spells half hidden at the library and summons her heart's desire: a nameless, naked man; and a self-proclaimed "biter" who dreams of sneaking up behind and sinking her teeth into a green-eyed, long-haired, pink-cheeked coworker. Spanning a range of genres and topics?from the mundane to the murderous and supernatural?these are stories about sex and punishment, guilt and anger, the pleasure and terror of inflicting and experiencing pain. These stories fascinate and repel, revolt and arouse, scare and delight in equal measure. And, as a collection, they point a finger at you, daring you to feel uncomfortable?or worse, understood?as if to say, "You want this, right? You know you want this." A compulsively readable collection of short stories that explore the complexand often darkly funnyconnections between gender, sex, and power across genres. You Know You Want This brilliantly explores the ways in which women are horrifying as much as it captures the horrors that are done to them. Among its pages are a couple who becomes obsessed with their friend hearing them have sex, then seeing them have sexuntil they cant have sex without him; a ten-year-old whose birthday party takes a sinister turn when she wishes for something mean; a woman who finds a book of spells half hidden at the library and summons her hearts desire: a nameless, naked man; and a self-proclaimed biter who dreams of sneaking up behind and sinking her teeth into a green-eyed, long-haired, pink-cheeked coworker. Spanning a range of genres and topicsfrom the mundane to the murderous and supernaturalthese are stories about sex and punishment, guilt and anger, the pleasure and terror of inflicting and experiencing pain. These stories fascinate and repel, revolt and arouse, scare and delight in equal measure. And, as a collection, they point a finger at you, daring you to feel uncomfortableor worse, understoodas if to say, You want this, right? You know you want this. Bad boy -- Look at your game, girl -- Sardines -- The night runner -- The mirror, the bucket, and the old thigh bone -- Cat person -- The good guy -- The boy in the pool -- Scarred -- The matchbox sign -- Death wish -- Biter -- Acknowledgments A couple becomes obsessed with their friend hearing them have sex, then seeing them have sex ... until they can't have sex without him; a ten-year-old's birthday party takes a sinister turn when she wishes for "something mean"; a woman finds a book of spells half hidden at the library and summons her heart's desire: a nameless, naked man; and a self-proclaimed "biter" dreams of sneaking up behind and sinking her teeth into a green-eyed, long-haired, pink-cheeked coworker In this collection, Roupenian's stories explore the ways in which women are horrifying-- as well as capturing the horrors that are done to them. These are stories about sex and punishment, guilt and anger, the pleasure and terror of inflicting and experiencing pain. Fascinating and repelling in equal measure, the stories range from the mundane to the supernatural. -- adapted from jacket A collection of short stories that includes the popular tale "Cat Person," as well as others that explore the complex--and often darkly funny--connections between gender, sex, and power across genres