Blog Blitz: A Short Story Review of Don’t Forget the Crazy by Lucy Kaufman
Today I am taking part in the Blog Blitz for Don’t Forget the Crazy by Lucy Kaufman! I am sharing my review for this short story. If you are lucky enough to be in the UK, there is a giveaway going on!
Short Story Description:
Her lists are life or death.
“If it’s on the list, I have to do it.”
Milli Morgan lives by her lists. Groceries, goals, organising her boss – nothing escapes being ticked off her ever-growing to-do lists. Order brings her comfort; control keeps the chaos at bay. Everyone can rely on Milli.
Until the day new items start appearing on her list in red ink.
At first, she blames stress. A prank. Someone playing mind-games. But one instruction on the list refuses to be erased and demands to be completed.
A command so terrible she would have to be crazy to tick it off.
Don’t Forget the Crazy is a dark psychological suspense short story about obsession, perfection, and the dangerous pressure of always being “the good girl.” Fans of Gillian Flynn, Lisa Jewell, Patricia Highsmith, and Shirley Jackson will devour this chilling portrait of order unravelling into darkness.
Don’t Forget the Crazy
Author: Lucy Kaufman
Published: November 30, 2025
Kindle: 57 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: December 7-9, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Jessica’s Review:
This was a fun and quick read. Milli Morgan writes down lists. Not on her phone, but on paper in blue ink. She lives by these lists, everything she does is part of a list. Until strange things start showing up on her list. Not in the blue ink she uses, but red ink. These add ons get stranger until one item that appears on her list demands to be done.
I did enjoy this short story. I myself make lists on paper, yet not as extreme as Milli. I have to have physical lists! This short story starts by taking place at Christmastime, and its that time of year currently, so that added to my enjoyment. I did giggle out loud a couple of times, but then we get serious with the very demanding item. Will Millie do this demand? What will happen? And why is there a cat on the cover??!?!! If you read this short story then you will find the answers!
I’m a reader who doesn’t have to have a definitive conclusion, but in the case of this short story a few more pages with a definitive conclusion would have worked best for me. I look forward to seeing what Kaufman writes next.
Many thanks to the author and Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy that I could read for the blog blitz.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
UK Giveaway
To enter the Giveaway: All you have to do is follow Lucy Kaufman on Instagram by 24th December 2025 to win an Audrey’s solid milk chocolate Scaredy Cat. *You must live in the UK to win**
Again, WHAT is the deal with cats?!?!? You must read this short story to find out!
About the Author:
Lucy Kaufman is an award-winning author, playwright, audio dramatist and poet. 40 of her plays have been performed professionally around the UK and Australia, to critical acclaim. She has lectured in Playwriting and Screenwriting for Pen to Print and Canterbury Christ Church University and is a mentor at The Writing Coach. Originally from London, she now lives by the sea with her husband, sons, dogs and cats.
Contact Lucy:
IG: @kaufmanlucy
@sepiainkpublishing
Sepia Ink Website
Short Story Sunday: Orion’s Story Does Not Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Orion’s Story Does Not Die at the End
Series: They Both Die At the End short story
Author: Adam Silvera
Published: May 6, 2025
Hardback: Barnes and Noble exclusive edition- 11 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: September 14, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 3 stars
Jessica’s Review:
This is a short story featuring Orion that takes place after both They Both Die at the End and The First to Die at the End. It’s been nine years and Orion has written his book Golden Heart to keep Valentino alive in print since he can’t be fully present in the flesh. Orion is about to have an appearance at a book signing. We see Orion experience a variety of emotions with things that happen at the signing. Orion also has a new boyfriend, so the reader gets to meet Joel, who of course has a connection in They Both Die at the End.
Unlike the previous short stories that Silvera has written: The Father Does Not Die at the End and Dalma Does Not Die at the End, this short story featuring Orion did not feel like it added much to the universe. The other two enhanced the universe for me, especially The Father Does Not Die at the End. It was nice to see Orion at a book signing, and thus it seems like we get to experience what Silvera feels when he does signings himself. This was also a shorter short story and it just felt a bit rushed and something Silvera was contracted to do for the Barnes and Noble exclusive edition. But this Death-Cast world just intrigues me, so I will read anything that Silvera writes in this world!
Purchase Links:
**Please note that this short story is only available in the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition
Barnes and Noble
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Short Story Sunday: Dalma Does Not Die at the End
Dalma Does Not Die at the End
Series: Death-Cast short story
Author: Adam Silvera
Published: October 4, 2022
40 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: July 7, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Jessica’s Review:
Dalma Does Not Die at the End is a short story taking place directly after The First to Die at the End. If you have read They Both Die (which you should have if you are then reading this shirt story) then you know that Dalma created The Last Friend app where Rufus and Mateo met. Dalma is a main character in First to Die and also Orion’s best friend. We see Orion and him having to come to terms with what happened in First to Die. The reader also gets to experience the up and down journey that Alma goes and through to eventually create The Last Friend app. And a journey it is. We see several characters returning in this short story.
This short story just did not have as much magic as the two full length novels, I think ironically it may be because no one was going to die. I enjoyed seeing the app come to creation knowing what Alma wants it to become in this short story and actually seeing it in full bloom in They Both Die at the End.
This short story comes in the Barnes and Noble exclusive edition of The First to Die at the End. I wanted this version for the short story. A love reading anything in this Death Cast world! This edition is now out of print so it is not available new, only used if you can find it.
Pictures of the Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition:
