Have you ever rehearsed
a phone call before making one?
For everyone who has it mostly together
— except when they don't.
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For everyone who has it mostly together
—except when they don't.
Ada would like to be brave. And stop overthinking.
Instead, she deletes messages, avoids phone calls and might have been spotted hiding from her therapist in the gym. Which is, of course, exactly what a functioning adult would do.
If I Weren't Afraid is a collection of short stories about overthinking, social awkwardness, imagined disasters, and the surprisingly small distance between courage and complete avoidance.
If I Weren't Afraid will be released in August 2026.
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Ada Linley is a scientist by day and a writer by evenings, nights, and weekends. Originally from Germany, she has called Switzerland home for more than a decade.
When she is not working or writing, she can usually be found with a book in hand, together with her friends, on long walks, exploring mountains or on a yoga mat.
If I Weren't Afraid is her debut collection.