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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
marypr4's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have rated a total of 4 books 5 stars in the last 2 years, but this book changed everything for me. I’ve felt that buzzing, the buzzing Casey talks about, for years and years- it’s been humming along the surface of my skin, dormant at intervals, but always there, since I first wrote- and today when I finished “Writers and Lovers,” I felt like a shaken soda. Especially reading everything after the scene where she reads the Memoir of madness and her “insides burn in terrifying recognition.” I’ve been in that place for so long. I’m so absolutely full of things I’m finally ready to say. I’m so grateful. I’ve been on the verge for so long and this did it. Sometimes, like Muriel’s itchy ankles, when I read a good book I just go quiet for days. I only speak when absolutely necessary, I stop answering my texts. My roommates actually get worried about me. But today, when I finished this book, I opened my notes app and I wrote and wrote and I could hardly stop myself to drive home when the coffee shop I was in closed. I used voice-to-text on the drive home, till my phone died, and then I practically ran inside to plug it up and immediately pulled out my laptop for the first time in ages. I can FEEL the words and they bubble in me till I fizz over. I want to express how absolutely eternally grateful I am for this book. This is the most wonderful relief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Cancer, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pedophilia, and Medical content
Minor: Infidelity, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Body horror, Gaslighting, Infertility, and Alcohol
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