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hatrireads's review against another edition
3.0
Fun debut novel by Zibby Owens, book publisher, book shop owner, and book lover, about a writer who is having trouble coming up with a book idea. On the nose about being a mother of teenagers and being a writer. Funny, light read.
texas_tricia's review against another edition
4.0
I got Blank as my February First Reads book from Amazon Prime.
Four stars--rounded up from 3.5 because it was fun, and it was a quick, easy read that I completed in one day.
On the plus side, the characters were mostly likeable, and the story was kind of fun.
On the negative side, parts of it seemed a little (a lot?) implausible: the changes in people and the world seemed too great, and certainly too fast. Some of the motivations of characters seemed really far-fetched. It also got a little preachy at the end, and again, wrapped up really quickly.
Four stars--rounded up from 3.5 because it was fun, and it was a quick, easy read that I completed in one day.
On the plus side, the characters were mostly likeable, and the story was kind of fun.
On the negative side, parts of it seemed a little (a lot?) implausible: the changes in people and the world seemed too great, and certainly too fast. Some of the motivations of characters seemed really far-fetched. It also got a little preachy at the end, and again, wrapped up really quickly.
browsingthebookshelf's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
author_slcollins's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
kristinaw66's review against another edition
4.0
I saw ZO on GMA or elsewhere when this dropped and it sounded interesting. When I noticed it on KU, I went for it. I started with the accompanying Audible because I needed to work through my queue and it seemed a good housecleaning fit. Audible is pretty good! But I read a huge chunk on my kindle to make more of a dent in the story, then finished on Audible just now. I liked it! It wasn't completely even, it took me a while to really be engrossed in the story. But the 2nd half definitely kept me going!
_christymaguire's review against another edition
5.0
A clever plot with a zany tone/wild ride that makes for a quick, satisfying read. Leave it to Zibby to get the name of her actual podcast in the book and create IG accounts for the characters! I can almost see having the BLANK book by Pippa at Zibby's actual readings. That would be fun.
dana_ob's review against another edition
3.0
Very silly/immature in places and writing is sub-par, but it was entertaining for the most part.
jeanstehle's review against another edition
5.0
This book checked all the boxes for me! If you identify as a writer [b:Blank|162505506|Blank|Zibby Owens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1693956328l/162505506._SY75_.jpg|173870723] by [a:Zibby Owens|4103998|Zibby Owens|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1705185224p2/4103998.jpg] is a must. If you aren't a writer, but a book lover, you will find this "peek under the hood" story about writing and the publishing industry just as entertaining as fascinating.
The main character Pippa Jones was memorable. I loved her plucky, self-deprecating, honest, and funny persona and deeply related to her struggles of wrestling with her inner critic who says her ideas for her next book (due in 5 days!) aren't good enough, original enough, or worthy enough to pursue. In this race against-the-clock storytelling framework, Owens created a fresh and clever solution for Pippa which brilliantly provided commentary on the inequities in publishing today.
Also to note, I love how Blank explored the challenges of being a mother when you're also a creative, and the imbalanced expectations placed on mothers versus fathers in our society. The book also highlights the difficulties of staying connected to your closest friends while also balancing a career, family, and the ups and downs of marriage. The supporting cast of characters was distinct, colorful and fresh.
With excellent plotting, fast-paced storytelling, and a surprising yet oh-so-satisfying ending, Blank is a fun and rewarding read!
The main character Pippa Jones was memorable. I loved her plucky, self-deprecating, honest, and funny persona and deeply related to her struggles of wrestling with her inner critic who says her ideas for her next book (due in 5 days!) aren't good enough, original enough, or worthy enough to pursue. In this race against-the-clock storytelling framework, Owens created a fresh and clever solution for Pippa which brilliantly provided commentary on the inequities in publishing today.
Also to note, I love how Blank explored the challenges of being a mother when you're also a creative, and the imbalanced expectations placed on mothers versus fathers in our society. The book also highlights the difficulties of staying connected to your closest friends while also balancing a career, family, and the ups and downs of marriage. The supporting cast of characters was distinct, colorful and fresh.
With excellent plotting, fast-paced storytelling, and a surprising yet oh-so-satisfying ending, Blank is a fun and rewarding read!