A sharply observed, darkly funny collection of short stories about modern life, love, and the quiet struggles of ordinary people.
 
In Nine Inches, bestselling author Tom Perrotta (Little Children, The Leftovers) turns his keen eye and wry humor to suburbia, adolescence, and the moral gray zones of modern America. Through a series of interconnected stories, he reveals how small decisions can lead to big consequences—and how desire, fear, and regret shape the human experience.
From a high school teacher crossing the line between mentorship and attraction to a father confronting his son’s mistakes, Perrotta’s characters navigate the messy, heartfelt, and sometimes absurd realities of contemporary life.
 
Tom Perrotta’s Nine Inches captures the emotional and ethical turbulence of everyday people caught in life’s turning points. Each story brims with wit, empathy, and uncomfortable truth as Perrotta examines relationships, parenthood, ambition, and morality with unflinching honesty.
Known for his sharp dialogue and uncanny ability to find humor in human frailty, Perrotta writes about moments when people slip—morally, emotionally, or just slightly off course. Together, these stories paint a vivid picture of modern life in all its awkwardness, irony, and grace.
 
Intelligent, accessible, and bittersweet, Nine Inches confirms Perrotta as one of America’s most perceptive chroniclers of suburban existence.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
A witty, poignant collection from a master of suburban storytelling.
Blends humor and heartbreak in equal measure.
Sharp, relatable insights into modern relationships and regrets.
Perfect for fans of short fiction that reads like miniature novels.
Accessible yet deeply reflective writing with Perrotta’s trademark voice.
 
🌟 Perfect For
Readers who enjoyed Little Children or The Leftovers.
Fans of Jhumpa Lahiri, Raymond Carver, or Ann Beattie.
Book clubs exploring moral complexity in short stories.
Readers who love fiction that’s realistic, witty, and human.
 
❤️ Fans Also Liked
If you enjoyed Nine Inches, you might also like:
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri — tender, award-winning short fiction.
The Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank — humor and heartbreak in modern life.
Runaway by Alice Munro — intimate portraits of love and loss.