2.3k reviews for:

The New Me

Halle Butler

3.35 AVERAGE

emotional funny medium-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
reflective slow-paced

felt like an Ottessa Moshfegh book but is missing something essential

Millie is lost. Having broken up with her boyfriend, she lives alone in her apartment and watches episode after episode of the Forensic Files to pass the time. She seems to not care about much; she is financially dependent on her parents, she has friends who she doesn't really like, and let's face it, she's kind of a filthy slob. She's been working a temp job that she thinks is a joke, but once the idea of full time employment enters the picture, Millie’s actions begin to shift.

I'm not gonna lie: I love a good book about a millennial being lost (just take a look at my 2018 reads, they pretty much plague that list!). However, this particular book fell flat for me. It was almost as though it was trying to be Otessa Moshfegh's My Year of Rest and Relaxation... only it was not nearly as interesting or well written. I know this book was satirical, but come on, even a satire requires a bit more of a plot than "depressed millennial is depressed".

Anyway, there is one thing that really saved this book from being a one star read: the Millie/Karen dynamic feels so real! How many times have you met a Karen in your life? That one person who is so off putting and so observant that you can feel their eyes judging you when you turn your back? The. Worst.

A special thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this one really grew on me as I read it, I ended up determined to finish it before going to bed

halle butler might just be the queen of writing girlfailures……such an incredibly accurate depiction of depression, felt more seen than I should have

also very funny commentary on office culture and politics
dark emotional reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark funny fast-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
funny reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
reflective sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark reflective slow-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