'The stories gathered here, from every corner of the globe, will delight and move you.'
—Julia Gillard

In Trinidad, a woman waits in line at the post office, in her hand is one last letter destined for her son in America. At a baby shower during a sweltering New York summer, an old friendship takes on a new shape. In a small Australian town, a group of high school friends reunite after decades of distance.

These are the prize-winning and highly commended stories from the 2025 Hope Prize, one of the world's leading short story competitions with judges including Julia Gillard, Dame Quentin Bryce and Kathy Lette.

In twenty stories from twenty distinctive voices, spanning continents, generations and perspectives, Bright Side reveals one enduring belief: that hope can be found in even the most troubled times.

All royalties from the anthology support CAMFED (The Campaign for Female Education), supporting education, leadership and mentoring for girls across rural Africa.