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phrasecollector13___'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I believe I should have finished this book earlier, but I have a life outside books and I took my precious time with it. Did I enjoyed this tiny little bitty book? Yes, it was a good book. It's not the in-depth thriller with a huge story and character development (which most of the times does not work for me), but, O.M.G., if something I enjoyed in this book is the bizarre relationship between main characters. The relationship between them (or more like from one of them) was bizarre, disturbing and upsetting. I love the touch of temerarious and obsessive behavior in the character. And Laura's science behind the main character's psychology and behavior was amazingly develop.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Sexual content
cassidylee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This book delivered exactly what I expected. If you’re looking for unsettling and quietly violent librarians, it’s a great choice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Death
Moderate: Murder, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
kelseyr713's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Entertaining read (especially since I used to work in a library), but I wished for a little more insight into both characters, especially as this is essentially a character study (the Margot chapters moreso) with some thriller trappings. Villain protagonist is always fun though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent and Child death
starrfishandcoffee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a unique, creepy, horrifying experience this book was. This is certainly not your typical thriller; it is a much richer story, almost more of a character study.
Margo/Jane and Patricia are the two main characters and both narrate the story, often narrating the same scene in their own POV. There is a tense, obsessive, and almost erotic connection between the two women. The author brings fresh twist to the ‘cat and mouse’ theme you often find in a suspense/thriller novel. Highly recommend this wild tale.
Margo/Jane and Patricia are the two main characters and both narrate the story, often narrating the same scene in their own POV. There is a tense, obsessive, and almost erotic connection between the two women. The author brings fresh twist to the ‘cat and mouse’ theme you often find in a suspense/thriller novel. Highly recommend this wild tale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Mental illness, and Medical trauma
ebpertner's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual content
seawarrior's review against another edition
dark
3.0
This was a straightforward novel that never spiraled into madness the way that I'd hoped. Secrets were revealed too soon, personalities were never fully developed, and Sims played it too safe by adapting the true story of a historical serial killer into her lead character. The only highlight of the story for me was the accuracy regarding library work and the gulf between those who view it as an exile or a safe haven. Ultimately, this mystery is dry and disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Sexual content
cassiealexandra's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Margo has been working at a small-town public library for a couple of years. She left her previous job as a nurse in a bigger city and abandoned her life and name. She gets along with her coworkers and enjoys the purpose in her daily activities, all until a new reference librarian is hired. Patricia never thought she'd really become a librarian; she was certain she'd be a novelist. But fresh from rejection, she is also starting a new life and becomes suspicious of, even obsessed, with Margo's past.
I liked the dual point of view and two incredibly unreliable narrators in this thriller. I also appreciated the short length. As a former library assistant, I am a sucker for library settings. I recognized some of my own experiences with library patrons (good, bad, and ugly) in this book. I am used to and enjoy being surprised in my thriller reads, and this one was not that. This one revealed a lot about each of the characters from the beginning. There wasn't a lot to guess at or discover along the way. It was much more of a character-driven game of cat and mouse, which I think would be wonderful for some readers, and was not as suited to my taste. I also struggled with the pacing. While I liked how quick of a read this was, the fact that sometimes one voice would sometimes repeat the same scene from the other woman's point of view was frustrating and didn't serve to move the plot ahead. I understand why it was written that way though, and again, I think I am just not the right audience for a character-driven thriller. I also think that I would have liked to see more information and background on both pasts and what shaped these women into the people they were in this moment in time.
Overall, I think if I had come into this knowing it was more character than plot, I would have had a better experience.
I liked the dual point of view and two incredibly unreliable narrators in this thriller. I also appreciated the short length. As a former library assistant, I am a sucker for library settings. I recognized some of my own experiences with library patrons (good, bad, and ugly) in this book. I am used to and enjoy being surprised in my thriller reads, and this one was not that. This one revealed a lot about each of the characters from the beginning. There wasn't a lot to guess at or discover along the way. It was much more of a character-driven game of cat and mouse, which I think would be wonderful for some readers, and was not as suited to my taste. I also struggled with the pacing. While I liked how quick of a read this was, the fact that sometimes one voice would sometimes repeat the same scene from the other woman's point of view was frustrating and didn't serve to move the plot ahead. I understand why it was written that way though, and again, I think I am just not the right audience for a character-driven thriller. I also think that I would have liked to see more information and background on both pasts and what shaped these women into the people they were in this moment in time.
Overall, I think if I had come into this knowing it was more character than plot, I would have had a better experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual content
ms_elchert's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Murder, and Sexual content
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I stumbled across this book on Libby and was drawn in by the cover.
"How Can I Help You" follows Margo, or at least that is what her colleagues and patrons at the small local library think her name is. No one suspects that she actually has a very sinister past and may have played a part in countless deaths. No one really sees how hard Margo tries to play her role, until Patricia, a recent college graduate, starts at the library. Patricia aspires to be a novelist, and she thinks Margo may be the perfect inspiration for a character.
I am not exactly sure what I expected from this book, but I was blown away! Margo is a highly unlikeable character, in fact I really and truly despised her, but I also could not stop reading from her perspective. I NEEDED to know her story and I was highly invested in uncovering why she was at this small-town library after a seemingly successful career as a nurse. I did really enjoy her mentality of why she was working at the library. She sought a quiet life that she could help people, which made the library seem like the perfect fit for her.
I really empathized with Patricia and her failed writing career. Patricia so desperately just wants to write; in fact, she has to write to keep her sane. But the more she becomes invested in a story, the more she seems to lose herself and the less good writing is actually doing for her. Patricia so easily succumbs to obsession and almost jeopardizes everything to get a good story. That all-encompassing need to create is a feeling I think any artist can relate to.
I was expecting a sweet story about meek women who lead quiet lives and work in the library, but what I got was pure anarchy. I did not know where the story was going, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride to get there. This story is both strange and familiar, and it just worked for me.
I highly recommend this book (if you too like the strange), and I cannot wait to read more from Laura Sims in the future.
"How Can I Help You" follows Margo, or at least that is what her colleagues and patrons at the small local library think her name is. No one suspects that she actually has a very sinister past and may have played a part in countless deaths. No one really sees how hard Margo tries to play her role, until Patricia, a recent college graduate, starts at the library. Patricia aspires to be a novelist, and she thinks Margo may be the perfect inspiration for a character.
I am not exactly sure what I expected from this book, but I was blown away! Margo is a highly unlikeable character, in fact I really and truly despised her, but I also could not stop reading from her perspective. I NEEDED to know her story and I was highly invested in uncovering why she was at this small-town library after a seemingly successful career as a nurse. I did really enjoy her mentality of why she was working at the library. She sought a quiet life that she could help people, which made the library seem like the perfect fit for her.
I really empathized with Patricia and her failed writing career. Patricia so desperately just wants to write; in fact, she has to write to keep her sane. But the more she becomes invested in a story, the more she seems to lose herself and the less good writing is actually doing for her. Patricia so easily succumbs to obsession and almost jeopardizes everything to get a good story. That all-encompassing need to create is a feeling I think any artist can relate to.
I was expecting a sweet story about meek women who lead quiet lives and work in the library, but what I got was pure anarchy. I did not know where the story was going, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride to get there. This story is both strange and familiar, and it just worked for me.
I highly recommend this book (if you too like the strange), and I cannot wait to read more from Laura Sims in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Medical content and Sexual content
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is absolutely unhinged, and I loved it. Formerly a nurse on the run, Margo is a new woman upon settling in a small town as an “experienced” librarian. Two years in, and still no one knows about her past until Margo lets something slip to Patricia, her new coworker. The dual narrators become fast frenemies, equally obsessed with their exploits—Patricia secretly writing her next novel about Margo, and Margo “helping” people under the guise of a warm yet no-nonsense librarian. Fact and fiction blur into one in this darkly funny tale of two driven women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Medical content, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
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