Review by alainareading - Shmutz

alainareading 's review for:

Shmutz by Felicia Berliner

4.0

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the eARC.

I was first drawn to Shmutz by the cover and plot, which was unlike any other book I have read. It did not disappoint! It’s hard to believe this is Felicia Berliner’s first novel, as the world that was built through Raizl’s eyes and inner dialogue was both complex and compelling. At no point did I predict what would happen next; even when Raizl made surprising choices, I ultimately understood her reasons and, by the end of the book, felt I had a more complete understanding of her as a person.

I didn’t realize there was a glossary of Yiddish words at the end of the book, so I definitely missed some context but was still able to understand the plot and dialogue. Overall, I recommend this thoughtful and smart read — I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for Berliner’s future novels.

Content Warnings