Short stories provide readers with an efficient entry to different worlds, allowing us to jump in and out of various tales and quickly explore an author’s broader worldview and ideological pursuits. And they’re the perfect package for fall, giving us the chance to immerse ourselves in a story over a quick cup of tea on a gloomy day. These five short story collections, all of which are brand-new this fall, vary greatly in subject matter and literary tactics; however, they tell compelling stories that interpret the lives of femmes in authentic and intimate ways.