Fun, chilling short story with a twist. I enjoyed reading it, thanks for the free copy!

Tiny tale, but perfectly formed, twisty and fun. ( )

Reviewed By Deborah Lloyd for Readers’ Favorite

Justine Avery’s short story, It Gets Easier: A Short Tale of Comical Catastrophe, is a fascinating fictional work. The story begins with Jake repeating his newly-conceived mantra, “It Gets Easier.” He is driving his girlfriend Samantha to an outlying reservoir, in her mother’s borrowed car. Although Samantha seems anxious, wanting to make sure he does not have an accident and cause damage to her mother’s car, there is also a comfortable, easy feeling between the two characters. He is feeling confident in their growing relationship, silently contemplating their future together. The intriguing story continues ... and ends with the mantra, “It Gets Easier.”

The art of writing a short story includes the elements of character, setting, plot and conflict; Justine Avery skillfully molds these elements together in her fictional short story. Ms. Avery is certainly a master writer in the short story genre. In just a few pages, the reader has a good understanding of the two characters, the car in which they ride, and the area where they park. The plot and conflict are revealed – this review will not include a spoiler, you simply have to read the story. One way to judge a superb short story is the “unexpected twist” test. The reader should want to re-read the story immediately, to see all the overlooked subtle hints and clues. Ms. Avery’s short story met this test. It is an exciting and surprising romp that the short story lover will not want to miss! ( )