I'm a well read grad student who's bluntly honest about all things, although I try to be most honest about myself.
Batman swings around Gotham, and these are the stories taking place right before that night - or leading up to it - or set during that night. Alfred gets him a dog and he fails to realize that is his gift. Harley Quinn proves she's out to do something nice for a change and he comes to a temporary understanding with her.
There are even quiet moments of peace.
Some of the stories are loud, some more subtle, but all were touching. Even the one setting up the antagonist for later on in the series - or so I assume. (It was a little vague: coming in 2017. Why would they set the up if it wasn't going to happen in this series? I don't know, but I've seen weirder things happen in comics.)