In eighteen stories that shine a light on people who are far from champions, Like a Champion is an ode to underdogs and long shots, sad office parties and one-sided basketball games, disappointed worker bees and hopeful lovers.A lonely businessman on a cruise finds comfort in an unlikely companion. Two high school friends try to survive their last backyard wrestling match only to learn that not all endings can be choreographed. An expat teacher struggles with her new life overseas until a familiar stranger joins the faculty. A young woman fails to make progress in a strip mall boxing gym before discovering strength in her breaking point. Vincent Chu’s work is funny and big-hearted, like the best short stories of Sherman Alexie, and imbued with a generosity and warmth that reminds us that moments of glory can happen when we least expect it.
"Chu finds ways to turn the everyday into the revelatory... He covers a host of relationships - familial, romantic, occupational - and, in doing so, showcases the complexities of the characters on display. Chu's stories are solidly realistic in their scope, exploring everyday issues with charm and empathy - and occasional moments of unexpected humor"
Kirkus Reviews
"Vincent Chu takes us on a journey through real life, with brief glimpses into the lives of diverse characters. While each character and story is different, there is something relatable about them all. You'll find yourself among friends in these stories"
San Francisco Book Review
"Like a Champion is a lighthearted testimony to life's unexpected turns... Chu creates a context where the lonely feel loved, connections thrive through conflicts, and private issues unfold in public spaces. Above all, each story retains a sense of hope or new beginning"
Forth Magazine
"With gentle precision, Chu moves beyond the writerly adage of show don't tell; he doesn't want the reader to be shown or told anything, rather asking the reader to experience the feeling of being sucked into another person's head... by the end of the book, we're not just cheering for his characters, but for Chu himself"
East Bay Review
"Chu decidedly hands us a triumphant collection of surprising, energetic stories and good, weird, sometimes sad people. It is an intimate book that made me laugh out loud more than once... I read this book thinking, oh bless their hearts, bless all of our hearts"
Leesa Cross-Smith, author of Whiskey & Ribbons
"Vincent Chu can do many things, tell a story, create indelible characters, and craft spot-on dialogue, but what he does most movingly in Like a Champion is unpack our greatest fears, hopes and desires, in other words, what makes us human"
Ben Tanzer, author of Be Cool
"The brilliance of this collection is not only these complex portrayals but the surprising twists that make us nod in recognition at what makes us hopeful and human. A fun and deeply moving read"
Jimin Han, author of A Small Revolution
"The characters in each story reminded me of either myself or someone I know. Cannot wait for more from Vincent Chu. At the end of Like a Champion, I felt as if each story could be a full-fledged novel on its own"
Shamala Palanappian, author of Elephant's Breath
"These stories surprise and delight. Vincent Chu sees into the longings, quirks, and humanity of his characters, revealing the small moments that touch their lives with gravity and, often, grace"
Lindsey Crittenden, author of The Water Will Hold You
