Valentines (short story collection)

Valentines is a collection of interconnected short stories by American author Joyce Carol Oates, first published in 1999. The stories explore themes of love, loss, obsession, violence, and the complexities of human relationships, often set against the backdrop of small-town or suburban America. Recurring characters and locations link the stories, creating a mosaic portrait of a community and the dark undercurrents that lie beneath its seemingly ordinary surface. The collection is known for its unsettling atmosphere, psychological depth, and exploration of the darker aspects of human desire and connection. Many stories within the collection examine the shifting power dynamics in relationships, and the potential for betrayal and manipulation.