Admittedly, I am friends with the author, still I have some things to say.

In 2017, Kristen Arnett wrote and article called the “problem with writing about florida”. This came out around the time I moved out of Florida for grad school. Fragments of that leaving found in the chapter “migratory patterns”. When my homesickness for florida peaked I ran to that article to teleport home. Florida is americas punchline, and I am in love with Florida — in its wildness and inconsistency. It barely allows us to live there. That commands a certain reverence for it. A Small Apocalypse provides a similar balm. Broadly, the stories are freakish, trans, haunting and bold. But the details are so clear and familiar— I am locked into the minutia. One of my favorite stories from this collection is subtle, and meandering. “Suwannee” describes a birthday weekend, spikes of drama and tenderness. In the background these characters- a composite of many florida queers I am in love with- drove past confederate effigies, defunct tourist traps and one million threats to get to this moment, a sanctuary in each other. I have not experienced this outside of the south. The acknowledgement of our messiness the necessity and delight of our messy company. In this story, and others you can see Laura’s background in restorative justice work. Her sight is integrated and unwavering, “It wasn’t easy, holding so many feelings in your hands when the place they lives was already small and hostile. It was better to keep each other close, to try not to dispose of one another, even if doing so ravaged your lonely and sad heart.” (Pg. 56) There is a map in this book I will keep returning to hoping to reach the commitments -to hauntings, to friends and lovers, to florida- that Laura has carefully drawn out. Im so grateful for what she sees in Florida and I hope others will see it too.