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aksmith92's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The setup: Casey Peabody is struggling. It's 1997 - she's in debt from a prestigious school where she intended to play golf on a scholarship, but that fell through. She's now working as a waitress at a fancy restaurant where many Harvard folks go and eat and talk, which usually makes her life a bit challenging. She's also wholly unraveling from her mother's death and a rather love bomb—a fallout from someone whom she developed feelings for quite quickly and thought was reciprocated until it wasn't. On top of that, she's trying to be a writer and seems to be just scraping by.
Casey is battling with the idea that you can be a creative and live happily - she's watched many friends give up their goals and dreams to do something to earn money or continue a status quo. We watch as Casey goes through life navigating the grief of her mother's death, her very complicated relationship with a distant father, working at the restaurant to ensure she pays her bills, trying to write a novel where she seems to get stuck, and navigate dating and falling in love after a rocky relationship. We see Casey trying to get her life together, even as she begins dating two different men and begins to conclude a book. It's about Casey's fictional life; I ate this one up!
What I loved: Lilly King can write a book, that's for sure. I was engrossed in Casey's life, particularly her writing journey and the idea that even back in 1997, living creatively can be painful in America. King could intersect grief, love, family, and mental health very well while still making a realistic story. It was nice to have more of a literary and contemporary fiction novel end on a relatively good note. While this was not a happy story, this book made me feel good, and I appreciated all the nuances King gave Casey and her little bubble of a life.
Lastly, it was satisfying to read a book about a thirty-something who navigated her youth and continued working through some past traumas and journeys as someone more mature. As someone around her age, that felt relatable, and overall, it was done well.
What could've made it five stars: This novel was a trope in itself—a white, sad, broke girl who takes on the city and tries to make it. These types of stories are really hit or miss for me, and while this hit, I still kept thinking about this trope/subgenre. I can't articulate it well, but we've read this story before. However, I will say that just because it has been done before doesn't mean I hated this book by any means.
Additionally, there were times when the writing tried to be a bit too profound, and Casey would go on with metaphors, similes, and analogies. Sometimes it was just a lot.
Lastly, while there was a focus on Casey's mom and how her death impacted her and continued to impact her, I felt disconnected from that narrative a bit because we didn't get a ton of information about the memories with her mom other than a bit of abandonment. It's a minor qualm because overall, I felt that everything was done well, including Casey's grief, but at times, it felt like King put this subplot in there to make Casey even sadder. While acceptable for a novel like this, its execution didn't always feel right.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to seeing what King puts out in the future!
Casey is battling with the idea that you can be a creative and live happily - she's watched many friends give up their goals and dreams to do something to earn money or continue a status quo. We watch as Casey goes through life navigating the grief of her mother's death, her very complicated relationship with a distant father, working at the restaurant to ensure she pays her bills, trying to write a novel where she seems to get stuck, and navigate dating and falling in love after a rocky relationship. We see Casey trying to get her life together, even as she begins dating two different men and begins to conclude a book. It's about Casey's fictional life; I ate this one up!
What I loved: Lilly King can write a book, that's for sure. I was engrossed in Casey's life, particularly her writing journey and the idea that even back in 1997, living creatively can be painful in America. King could intersect grief, love, family, and mental health very well while still making a realistic story. It was nice to have more of a literary and contemporary fiction novel end on a relatively good note. While this was not a happy story, this book made me feel good, and I appreciated all the nuances King gave Casey and her little bubble of a life.
Lastly, it was satisfying to read a book about a thirty-something who navigated her youth and continued working through some past traumas and journeys as someone more mature. As someone around her age, that felt relatable, and overall, it was done well.
What could've made it five stars: This novel was a trope in itself—a white, sad, broke girl who takes on the city and tries to make it. These types of stories are really hit or miss for me, and while this hit, I still kept thinking about this trope/subgenre. I can't articulate it well, but we've read this story before. However, I will say that just because it has been done before doesn't mean I hated this book by any means.
Additionally, there were times when the writing tried to be a bit too profound, and Casey would go on with metaphors, similes, and analogies. Sometimes it was just a lot.
Lastly, while there was a focus on Casey's mom and how her death impacted her and continued to impact her, I felt disconnected from that narrative a bit because we didn't get a ton of information about the memories with her mom other than a bit of abandonment. It's a minor qualm because overall, I felt that everything was done well, including Casey's grief, but at times, it felt like King put this subplot in there to make Casey even sadder. While acceptable for a novel like this, its execution didn't always feel right.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to seeing what King puts out in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Grief, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Gaslighting, Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Infertility
lovelymisanthrope's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I picked this book up because it was a Patreon monthly book club pick for someone I am subscribed to.
"Writers & Lovers" follows Casey, a thirty-one year old woman who has lost her way and is trying to survive this crazy thing called life. Grappling with the recent death of her mother, Casey, a once ambitious writer, now has to wait tables so she can barely scrap by. She feels like she is surrounded by success and she cannot help but feel jealous of her peers who seem to have everything figured out. Casey always wanted to write, but she is now questioning if she can make that dream a reality.
I did not have any expectations when I picked up this novel, but I was blown away by how much I loved it! As a thirty-year-old myself, I entirely empathize with the internal struggle of pursuing creative ambitions and trying to remain set in reality and build a life. Writing feeds the soul and is so imperative to the human experience, but it does not always provide enough financial stability to make a living.
Casey is an incredibly flawed character, but that is why I loved her and related to her so deeply. She does not always make the best decisions and she is not always perfectly kind to everyone, but she has a good heart, and she is trying. I really enjoyed seeing her character develop throughout the story and for her to really find herself and define her identity apart from the men in her life.
I would love to indulge in more from Lily King in the future, because I have not stopped thinking about this book.
"Writers & Lovers" follows Casey, a thirty-one year old woman who has lost her way and is trying to survive this crazy thing called life. Grappling with the recent death of her mother, Casey, a once ambitious writer, now has to wait tables so she can barely scrap by. She feels like she is surrounded by success and she cannot help but feel jealous of her peers who seem to have everything figured out. Casey always wanted to write, but she is now questioning if she can make that dream a reality.
I did not have any expectations when I picked up this novel, but I was blown away by how much I loved it! As a thirty-year-old myself, I entirely empathize with the internal struggle of pursuing creative ambitions and trying to remain set in reality and build a life. Writing feeds the soul and is so imperative to the human experience, but it does not always provide enough financial stability to make a living.
Casey is an incredibly flawed character, but that is why I loved her and related to her so deeply. She does not always make the best decisions and she is not always perfectly kind to everyone, but she has a good heart, and she is trying. I really enjoyed seeing her character develop throughout the story and for her to really find herself and define her identity apart from the men in her life.
I would love to indulge in more from Lily King in the future, because I have not stopped thinking about this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent
amgarrido's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Grief, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
zoiejanelle's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
while i understand the merits of this book (its examination of grief, commentary on publishing, feminist themes, messaging about identity, adulthood, and relationships) it wasn’t for me.
truly, men are trash. i don’t need to read more books about how men consistently screw women over in every aspect of life. i liked Casey’s voice, and i heavily related to her constant crises about writing, who she was outside of her craft, and wondering when life was really supposed to start, but the writing style and pacing didn’t stick the landing for me.
i do think this would be something i could recommend to someone going through similar things—career changes, losing a loved one, questioning what it means to be a grown up—but it wouldn’t be my first choice.
truly, men are trash. i don’t need to read more books about how men consistently screw women over in every aspect of life. i liked Casey’s voice, and i heavily related to her constant crises about writing, who she was outside of her craft, and wondering when life was really supposed to start, but the writing style and pacing didn’t stick the landing for me.
i do think this would be something i could recommend to someone going through similar things—career changes, losing a loved one, questioning what it means to be a grown up—but it wouldn’t be my first choice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Pregnancy and Cancer
savvylit's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Writers & Lovers is a slice-of-life novel with an incredibly accurate title. The book is about exactly what it describes: Casey's lovers and fellow writers. The characterization of those writers and lovers is what makes this novel work so well. Silas, Oscar, Harry, Jasper, John, and Muriel are all incredibly real-seeming. I became so invested in their lives that I began to think of them as actual people rather than characters. I closed the book wondering how they were all doing. And now I wish that I could read Muriel's and Casey's novels.
Additionally, I loved the way that Writers & Lovers read like a coming-of-age story: Casey is still figuring things out at 31. Often in literature, people of this age range are portrayed as settling in and knowing what they want. However, as someone who is currently thirty-one, I think that portrayal is inaccurate. (Especially in this current economic climate.) There are so many of us who are still "figuring it out." And so many of us who don't have careers but have jumped from hourly wage position to hourly wage position. Thank you, Lily King for giving us messy-early-30s folks some representation in literature!
Additionally, I loved the way that Writers & Lovers read like a coming-of-age story: Casey is still figuring things out at 31. Often in literature, people of this age range are portrayed as settling in and knowing what they want. However, as someone who is currently thirty-one, I think that portrayal is inaccurate. (Especially in this current economic climate.) There are so many of us who are still "figuring it out." And so many of us who don't have careers but have jumped from hourly wage position to hourly wage position. Thank you, Lily King for giving us messy-early-30s folks some representation in literature!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, and Toxic relationship
jswisher36's review
dark
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If this book was a song, it would be Funeral by Phoebe Bridgers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Rape
inspireflyreads's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
What kept me from putting it a 4 is I really don't know if I would recommend it to anyone. It is a hard one to recommend! A 4 is a definite recommend star for me. It was just odd. It took a minute to get into, I thought it would be a literary fiction book with the author just whining about how hard writing life is. However, once I got committed to the main character I really wanted to follow her story. The ending is what gave it the .5 too...so good! Exactly what I wanted and a great end to the character arc
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
abigailbrooks's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
love, love, love!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Pedophilia, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape
char_j's review
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I love this book, but I’m a writer. It felt like home, like a book that inspired me but didn’t make me feel incapable. There are so many poignant descriptions and little moments that resonate so effortlessly. lots of beauty in the mundane in this book.
it is, however, entirely slice of life. Frankly, if i weren’t a writer, I might have been somewhat bored by this book. Don’t go into it expecting intrigue or sweeping romance; it’s more like a long hug from an old, familiar friend. Comfort brings both boredom and relief, in my experience.
It’s shy of five stars for me for a few reasons. I wish there had been clearer character development of fewer characters. there is a large supplemental cast who were imo mostly unnecessary and i got bogged down trying to remember who was who. i felt that the ending was rushed, which was unfortunate because it didn’t seem beyond the realm of the story, but it should have taken more time than it did to be wrapped up in a bow. Finally, this isn’t very specific, but there was just a kind of spark missing for me. i’m not sure if it’s because Casey never really took on a discernable form for me (beyond a grieving woman with anxiety) and so i didn’t fully relate to her decisions, or if it was perhaps a lack of stakes, but i did feel that the story itself didn’t pull me in as much as i would have liked. that being said, i can also see this becoming a book that i return to later to find warmth and comfort in its pages.
I do think that if you are going through loss, particularly that of a parent, this book might be good for you. It depicts with such care the absolute hell of grief, the physicality of it, the way it permeates your life. It gives you permission to feel all of the disgusting feelings that loss (in various forms) stirs up, and that can be such a beautiful gift, to see that hardship normalized without shame.
if you like listening to your friends tell long, detailed, objectively uninteresting stories because you just like to hear how they put words to their experiences, you’ll like this book. if you just want to be gently held by something and reminded that human beings are messy, messy creatures, you’ll like this book.
it is, however, entirely slice of life. Frankly, if i weren’t a writer, I might have been somewhat bored by this book. Don’t go into it expecting intrigue or sweeping romance; it’s more like a long hug from an old, familiar friend. Comfort brings both boredom and relief, in my experience.
It’s shy of five stars for me for a few reasons. I wish there had been clearer character development of fewer characters. there is a large supplemental cast who were imo mostly unnecessary and i got bogged down trying to remember who was who. i felt that the ending was rushed, which was unfortunate because it didn’t seem beyond the realm of the story, but it should have taken more time than it did to be wrapped up in a bow. Finally, this isn’t very specific, but there was just a kind of spark missing for me. i’m not sure if it’s because Casey never really took on a discernable form for me (beyond a grieving woman with anxiety) and so i didn’t fully relate to her decisions, or if it was perhaps a lack of stakes, but i did feel that the story itself didn’t pull me in as much as i would have liked. that being said, i can also see this becoming a book that i return to later to find warmth and comfort in its pages.
I do think that if you are going through loss, particularly that of a parent, this book might be good for you. It depicts with such care the absolute hell of grief, the physicality of it, the way it permeates your life. It gives you permission to feel all of the disgusting feelings that loss (in various forms) stirs up, and that can be such a beautiful gift, to see that hardship normalized without shame.
if you like listening to your friends tell long, detailed, objectively uninteresting stories because you just like to hear how they put words to their experiences, you’ll like this book. if you just want to be gently held by something and reminded that human beings are messy, messy creatures, you’ll like this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Medical content, Toxic relationship, and Pedophilia
Minor: Infertility and Infidelity
jayjm94's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity and Toxic relationship