"When I saw her bright red hair, my heart lifted, that old balloon," recalls a mother at the sight of her daughter in this collection of nine intertwined tales about the highs and lows of motherhood. Furman writes in a concerto-inspired form, with three trios of stories, each one pertaining to a different set of characters whose lives are connected.

Set in Africa and the United States, Wyss's debut novel-in-stories follows Adjoa, a Ghanian woman who dreams of opening a beauty parlor; Ophelia, the wife of an American diplomat; and Janice, an American aid worker. Here, their lives intersect in unexpected and sometimes explosive ways.

English author Drabble's short stories come together for the first time in this new collection. Written over four decades, Drabble explores marriage, female friendships, the English tourist abroad, pop culture and love affairs with houses—"Pink peeling walls, grey-yellow lichen encrusted stone, single white roses, white doves. It had reached the moment before decay that is perfection."

In his sparkling new story collection, Lychack shines a light on the small moments of everyday life: A ghostwriter inhabits a house of worship; a policeman bring's himself to shoot an injured dog; and a son visits his mother's grave.

An all-star cast of writers, including Junot Diaz, Deborah Eisenberg, Jeffrey Eugenides and Elizabeth Strout, chronicle themes of employment and obligation in this unique, relatable new anthology.

For a slideshow of Spring 2011 Books We're Buzzing About, click here.

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