Insightful glimpses into hearts and minds - Rated 
Darkly entertaining short stories that are not so much stories as glimpses into hearts and minds - little snippets that, at different times, shock; amuse; confuse; and disturb the reader. Some are less satisfying than others (in terms of their endings) but the genre can be interpreted in different ways so this isn't really a criticism, more of an observation.
The first story is the only one which concludes in a truly satisfying way. However, the others certainly get you thinking and the title of the collection reflects what you will find within its pages: a fantastic book of everybody's secrets.
Great short stories - Rated 
Excellent book of short stories, full of fascinating insights into the darker and weirder side of the human psyche. Great control of tone, structure, voice and suspense. Highly recommended.
Hail Sophie Hannah! - Rated
A great collection of short stories from a writer who shows she's comfortable writing in any genre. I felt scared reading The Octopus Nest - an emotion I've never felt before when reading. Sophie Hannah comes up with unusual idea after unusual idea, many of which keep you guessing to the end and many of which keep you wanting more.
A superb book - and an amazing collection to use in the classroom if you're a teacher.
Sadly Lacking - Rated 
After having read and thoroughly enjoyed Sophie Hannah's Little Face, I looked forward to reading this selection of short stories as something I could pick up and read around looking after my seven month old. However, after reading the first five stories in the book, i'm afraid I gave up. The first short story - The Octopus Nest - is rather good and what I expected but the others I found lacking substance. I felt that she had picked up those ideas that she had had that never were good enough to make a full novel and put all of these together in this book.
If this is your first introduction to Sophie Hannah, please don't let it put you off as Little Face is worth a few days of anyone's time.
Wonderful! - Rated
I loved this book! These stories by Sophie Hannah grab you from the first; snappy in plot, with twists and revelations, they manage to portray the dark sides of obsession and secrecy. Each is perfectly crafted. The very first story, `The Octopus Nest', was one of my favourites, throwing the reader immediately into the mystery of a strange woman in the family photographs. They are easy and thoroughly enjoyable to read, told through a wonderful writing style. Some of the stories are very funny - I found `We All Say What We Want' absolutely hilarious; it flawlessly brings to light everything you've ever wanted to say to your boss but didn't dare, whilst highlighting the undercurrents implicit in conversation and office relationships that are never truly vocalised. Others are really very dark. Hannah manages her characters brilliantly; they are both to be empathised with and held in revulsion as they hover between sanity and madness. The stories keep tapping into the internal desires of the reader as the boundaries of normal social behaviour are transgressed. By turns amusing, horrifying, chilling and thought-provoking, but never for a moment dull, the range of stories is wonderful. I am now making all of my friends read it, and I thoroughly recommend it to any who enjoy great short stories!
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