“Can I share some secrets,” he said.

“Can’t take anymore secrets,” she said.

“A small one,” he said. (36)

Everything Inside (2019, 223 pages ) authored by Edwidge Danticat. Thinking how to review this book, I hear a whisper “It is there story to tell?” I do feel like I have to give you the reader something, so, if you asked me to sum this book of short stories up in one sentence I would say, the words at the start of this post are a beautiful warning, and if that’s not enough take the words of one of the male protagonists “As long as you’re breathing you can be hurt” (38). If you saw this book on my desk or in my tote bag, I would tell you it’s “A poignant, melancholy, heartbreaking, hopeful read that leaves the reader emotional” “He wanted them to see him or, if they could not see him, sense him.” (212), self-reflecting on life, “Sometimes you just have to shake the devil off you, whatever that devil is .. “(144). The eight stories in this collection focus on the intricate and complex nature of relationships: familial, personal, and friendships; of love, loss, grief, trauma, and heartbreak. The complexity of the Haitian diaspora manifests in twists and turns into compelling tales which grab you right away and don’t let go until the last page. Then it starts all over again as this is a book of short stories ranging from twenty to thirty pages each. There are no wasted words in Everything Inside, Danticat writes with soul. The reader feels connected to Danticat’s characters, and the journey they are each on.