Reviews

Cuttle: a novel (hard cover edition) by Chelsea Britain

bookwormbunny's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Cuttle is the first book by Chelsea Britain and the minute I started reading this book I was immediately hooked in, smiling, and enjoying every second of this story. Introduced to Nora Novak as she spends time with her family and informs her dad that she and her boyfriend, Cam are over. The story follows beautifully from there and I couldn't put this book down.
This book is so well written and I have to say that I love all the fish and mollusk reverences sprinkled throughout. I'll be the first to admit that that is what probably really pulled me into the story because of how well they are used! They fit so beautifully and...I actually learn a few things with this book as well! LOL! I laughed more than once at some of the references used when describing individuals and some of the situations. Nora is interesting character and I must say I actually like how she's so awkward with people and is more comfortable with the fish and mollusks that she has been studying for so long. It's interesting to watch her develop as she moves past the years that she spent in a relationship with Cam and grows into becoming more comfortable a step at a time with other people and romance.
I like her relationship with her friends and family as well. The descriptions used in concern to her mother in the beginning...I laughed. Her mother is one of those types who wants her child to find a good man, get married, etc. Add in that her mother has "discovered" social media and "FOMO" I just laughed. I love her friends though and how they are there for her in such unique ways.
If you like a well balanced and fun romance novel with quite a few fish references then this book is a must read. You won't be able to put it down, because it is so enjoyable. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future. I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. So well written and fun to read.

books__brews_and_booze's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

What a wonderfully unusual book. Nora knows all about cuttlefish, but people? Not so much. When she finds herself in a transitional time in her life, a challenge for a creature who lives and loves routines, will she rise to the occasion?

Will her friends rise to the occasion too? Because she’s not the only one in a time of transition.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be sensitive to sound, or what your friends or family members experience when they’re over-stimulated, please read “Cuttle.”

This debut novel is unique and compelling. The friendship dynamics were especially interesting and I loved the full-circle moment with one of Nora’s friends toward the end of the book.

These kinds of books make my soul sing. The kind of books that show how nature and people are connected, and then how people and other people are connected too.

It’s a brilliant novel. Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read “Cuttle.”

anatomydetective's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The views expressed within are my own and unbiased.

This was a fun read that I couldn't put down. I finished it in a day. As a woman on the autism spectrum I was happy to find a book written from the point of view of an autistic woman. It's rare to read something from the point of view of an autistic adult who doesn't live with their parents and functions one their own in the world, albeit with occasional struggles. There are lots of autistic people who date, have jobs, advanced degrees and so on, but these are not the ones who are usually depicted in fiction or showcased by the media.

Though Nora is a research fellow with advanced degrees, she still struggles with sensory issues, hating disruptions of her routine, interpreting social cues and other issues that autistic people cope with constantly. I thought the author did a wonderful job capturing what it is like to live with sensory issues, such as how overwhelming scents and bright lights can be.

Nora sees the world through the filter of her special interest, marine biology. The author peppers the novel with images of sea life. Most of these worked for me, but a few seemed a bit strained or repetitive.

The plot itself kept me interested. I'm not usually one to go for plots that have a large focus on dating, but Nora's encounters were funny and sometimes painfully realistic. Besides handling the challenge of Dating with Autism, the novel also touched on the issues women deal with in STEM and academia. There's so much to love about this novel that its few awkward fish metaphors can be overlooked. I highly recommend it.

smeh17's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I received this ebook through a Goodreads giveaway, and I enjoyed it! Nora was an interesting character to follow and once I was used to her patterns she was easy to understand. It was nice to have an empowering story line with a happy ending during the current "unprecedented times."
More...