What Others Say about Us: Stories

By Jonathan Ayala

A man is visited by his now famous ex-boyfriend, and he ponders a life that might have been. A new roommate destabilizes the close friendship between two twenty-somethings. A homesick immigrant plans an eightieth birthday party for the neighborhood grouch. A grisly crime sweeps up an unassuming history teacher, throwing him into the role of outcast.

El Paso serves as a backdrop for many of stories in this deeply human debut collection by Jonathan Ayala. Offering a portrait of contemporary gay Chicano lives, Ayala's characters contend with the complexities found in navigating belonging, homecoming, falling in love, falling out of love, friendship, and what it means to be Mexican American in the United States today.

These thirteen emotionally rich, character-driven stories are filled with humor, tenderness, and insight into love, friendship, and community.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0816557896
• ISBN13: 9780816557899
• Release Date: January 2027
• Publisher: University of Arizona Press
• Length: 236 Pages