When I tell you this debut short story collection is sublime, magnificent, phenomenonal, please understand that I mean it is perfection.

Watching Women & Girls is a comprehensive reflection on the female experience which examines friendship, sex and relationships, family, work and gender dynamics in contemporary society. Every story holds a recognition, a commiseration, a lesson, and my heart hurtled between soaring at the tender joys, and aching at the familiar injustices.

I can't say that I have a particular favourite among them, but the directness of Window Display is an exquisite introduction. It establishes Pender's voice, and the tone of the collection, beautifully. I will say that my favourite quotes came from Window Display, Bar Italia, Junction 64, Look at Me Mummy, Single Serve and Self-Portrait (swipe for the ones that are still dancing around my mind).

I feel the need to express my sincere thanks to Danielle Pender for this bittersweet ode to modern womanhood. Our female bodies are held hostage by the observation of a thousand critical eyes, but often the harshest are our own. These stories have challenged me to take a longer look at the way I see and think of myself, as well as the ways I engage with others.

More than anything though, this incredible collection has made me even more appreciative of all the kind, courageous, resilient women in my life. It's not always an easy thing to be a woman in this world, but the world is a little easier to bear with their companionship.

This is definitely a new favourite for me and I can’t wait to read it again and again and again over the years.