Sadly a DNF for me. I got this book from my wish-list, and was so excited! And, with the praise and love this book was getting from everyone and everywhere, I couldn't wait to start this book.

After reading this for an hour, a very painful hour, I decided to DNF. There were so many side characters, that I don't feel even really mattered that I was getting lost. I also did not enjoy reading every single mundane tasks the protagonist was doing. I think that's the point of the story though - this is a story about a lost woman, dealing with grief and heartbreak.

I've come to realize that I don't think I like literary fiction - nothing really ever happens. Thank you to the publisher for granting this wish!

Author Lily King has written an emotional and sweet account of a young writer struggling to become an adult. WRITERS & LOVERS covers the arc of emotions, jobs, relationships, and financial challenges of a 32 year old woman not-quite-making-it in her chosen profession. She has much to deal with as she struggles to find her direction in a world that constantly changes whether she is ready or not. King has some amazingly apt descriptions within a book that is generational; I believe it will have its greatest impact on readers closest to the maelstrom she is describing. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley .

Achingly real story of an aspiring writer holding on to her dreams of being a novelist while questioning whether or not she's too old to hold on to that dream. This novel is leisurely-paced, character-driven, and memorable. Told in the first person, Casey's voice is introspective and vulnerable with quick wit and wise-beyond-her-years observations. I loved this book and cheered for her endlessly.

Beautifully written, complicated characters, and a unique voice. This felt like the perfect quarantine read, not too heavy but still substantial and interesting. I loved it!

This book surprised me in a good way. It had so much more depth than I originally thought.
Thirty year old Casey does NOT have life figured out yet. Struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of her mother, burdened financially with student loans and debt, working as a waiter and living in a mold smelling shed, all the wile being an aspiring writer that has been working on her debut novel for the past six years.
And did I mention her love life is complicated?!
This book has some keen observations what it means being a woman in your thirties and coming into your own.
It deals with issues such as fertility, sexism, anxiety, partner intimacy and loss.
This one definitely falls into the Literary fiction category for me, so I am not sure if it will be for everyone, but I loved it.
"It's a particular kind of pleasure, of intimacy, loving a book with someone."
Thank you netgalley and GroveAtlantic for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Writers & Lovers is about a 31 year old struggling writer that works in the service industry (hitting close to home for me) who is juggling financial pit falls, the loss of her mother and as the title suggests not one but a few lovers plural.

The core of the novel was entertaining and realistic. The way Lily King describes the crushing feeling of loss was devastatingly palpable. Her uncanny descriptions of the craziness of working in the service industry was so on point it actually started giving me anxiety about all the times I was in the weeds or had to deal with a sociopathic and sexist Chef. I also loved our female protagonist Casey she wasn't a push over, and even though she was at a vulnerable point in her life she still seemed to make mature and responsible decisions like the adult woman she is. I know I shouldn't be giving such a round of applause for writing an adult woman as an actual adult woman but that shit can be rare.

My biggest problem which is definitely a personal preference so you might not mind this but I though the writer really tied a pretty bow on that ending. My God didn't know I was reading a fairy tale. I'm don't need no doom and gloom but Jesus let's be realistic life's tough it has got it's struggles why would you end a book so grounded in reality with such a fluffy lets ride into the sunset nonsense? It just kind of ruined the book for me. I think that our lead protagonist should definitely have won some battles but all of them? No sorry I call bullshit on that. I think she was appeasing her readers with that ending and it read that way. So if you love every possible solution happily solved, you'll enjoy this read. BUT if you've got a cynical heart like myself you might prefer to find a book that doesn't placate the reader like All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg.

Okay, I really wanted to like this book, it seemed my kind of book ___Writers and Lovers, but it wasn't and I didn't really like it. I, to be very frank, didn't get it.

I liked the cover, I liked the blurb and the reviews are fantastic, so I had high expectations. It is interesting sometimes, but sometimes, well, most of the time, it seems like nattering. Too much telling. I am not a fan of this kind of narration. There are so many characters but none of them seem interesting. Except, maybe, Harry. I liked him. I liked when Casey talks about her mother. But overall it seems like she is in a hurry to tell everything.

Even though I am a writer, I couldn't connect with the protagonist. And I didn't feel anything for her love life.

Overall, for me, it was a rambling piece of writing. I am very disappointed.

Part of Casey’s trouble appears from the beginning of Lily King’s novel, Writers and Lovers, with a broken romantic relationship and her mother’s death. Her childhood backstory clues in even the amateur who only had Psych 101 to reasons why she may have a blindside in choosing her relationships. Abandoned by her mother when she was growing up, but establishing a later close relationship with her, juxtaposes with living with her coach father whom she ultimately has to report for the hole in his office wall that he uses to peer into the girls’ locker room.

The heart of the story revolves around her life with friends in her day job as a restaurant server, dodging bill collectors since she has maxed out her credit with college bills, six years of working on her novel, and two men offering different prospects for a life together. Unresolved grief over her mother’s unexpected death complicates her decision-making process with two main issues at stake for her. The first concern involves two men, one with two little boys who have an appeal to her that may stem from the lack of a family centered childhood and the other who has no additional attachments but shares her love of writing.

That six-year novel-in-the-making becomes the second big concern. Realistic pictures of her own doubts about its worth, encouragement from a friend in the writing business who has read and loved it, and an abundance of rejection letters make for an accurate picture of the angst and effort required of a debut novelist. Also true to the writing life, her glimpses of success cause as much anxiety as her failures.

The book was so intimate and realistic that I checked back a couple of times as I read to be sure this was a novel by Lily King and not an autobiography by Casey Peabody.

I’m judging a 2020 fiction contest. It’d be generous to call what I’m doing upon my first cursory glance—reading. I also don’t take this task lightly. As a fellow writer and lover of words and books, I took this position—in hopes of being a good literary citizen. My heart aches for all the writers who have a debut at this time. What I can share now is the thing that held my attention and got this book from the perspective pile into the read further pile.

"How's the novel" He says it like I made the word up myself. He's still leaning against his car and turning only his head in my direction, as if he likes his pose too much to undo it. "It's all right." The bees in my chest stir. A few creep down the inside of my arm. One conversation can destroy my whole morning.

If you are looking for a fast-paced, plot-driven novel, this is not it. Writers & Lovers instead reads like a study of loss, grief, and the healing that slowly, but surely will come. To say that I loved this novel feels like such an understatement. King's writing made Casey come alive and I am sad that I won't be able to see what will come next for her.

Easily one of my favorite books of the year so far!

In it we follow Casey, who is a young woman, trying to come to terms with the sudden death of her mother and struggling to become a published writer, and not just a waitress anymore (not that there's anything wrong with that). She also starts dating two men at the same time because she doesn't know which one to choose ; I wouldn't typically enjoy that but I completely understood why it wasn't an easy choice, both men bringing her completely different things.

This book reminded me a lot of Normal People by Sally Rooney, as it focused a lot on relationships and feelings but also because of the writing style that is very similar (sparse but beautiful imo) but it differs in that writing is at the core of the novel ; we hear about the novel Casey is trying to write, both the men she's dating are writers, as well as her ex and they all talk about what if feels like to write and to become a writer. I adored those bits as I've always been fascinated by writing and one of my dreams is to write a book one day.

I also really enjoyed Casey's friends and how supportive they always were, beautiful friendships are some of my favorite things in books. And I couldn't help but cheer all of them on in their endeavors.

Loved this overall and definitely plan on reading more by Lily King!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was so excited to get a chance to read this book (after hearing SO many rave reviews) and it truly lived up to expectations. I will say that the beginning was a little slow for me to get into, but once it took off I was enthralled. Beautiful writing & story!

“You don't realize how much effort you've put into covering things up until you try to dig them out.”

Went in blind again!⁣ All I knew of this one is that other bookstagrammers loved it.⁣
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It is on the #mmdsummerreading list as well so I thought I'd give it a try. You follow Casey deal with life after a few bumps in the road and the depth of her character has made me pretty attached to her story.⁣ There isn't anything fancy about the plot but somehow King has written a story that made me not want to put it down. I look forward to reading Euphoria now as it has been on my shelf for far too long. I'm also going to need a physical copy of this one because it will be one I reread and want to see on my shelves.

Lily King is a master of writing about and sharing grief; she has a gift for portraying it truthfully. Euphoria often became too dark for me; however, this book never quite crossed over into that same space. Instead, it's a portrait of a real life. A woman in her 30s, struggling to complete her novel, to pay her bills, and to process the death of her money.

A highlight of this novel for me was how likeable Casey is, in a way that felt so relatable and so real. Her struggles felt like those of my friends, and I found myself wanting to know more about Lily King herself - it feels impossible she could write in this way without having experienced it exactly herself. As Casey navigates her life, you continue to cheer for her and hope for her happy ending, whatever that seems to mean. I would recommend this book if you enjoy contemporary literary fiction, particularly if you don't mind it echoing your own life.

Casey Peabody has experienced more loss than most and she's only 31 years old. She is struggling with the recent, unexpected death of her mother. In addition, she's been writing her novel for the last six years and is barely able to pay the bills by waiting tables at an upscale restaurant. Her vulnerability is absolutely heartbreaking at times; she's working so hard and shouldn't be struggling this much. Her passion is driving her to the edge though; she's anxious and stressed all the time. Casey ends up in two very different relationships at the same time, unsure if she can or should commit to someone else considering her shattered state.
Books about books and writers always make me want to read the fictional books within the fiction book. I really wish Casey's book was actually a published book!

Writers and Lovers is not what I expected and I don't mean that in a good way. This novel's plot moves at a glacial pace. Most of the plot takes place within the main character's introspection of her life. She is a writer and maybe that is supposed to make us listen and care in a different way, but I just didn't feel those things for this book or this main character. If this novel were a main dish, it would be bland cauliflower mashed potatoes. A substitution for something that could have been more filling and satisfying but that fell short in texture as much as flavor.

I received this book for free in return for an honest review.

I genuinely enjoyed this book and most of the characters. I did feel like the beginning was a little slow but through that you become attached to the characters in a way. I really enjoyed being in the mind of a writer and hearing the struggles through life that she faced, as well as seeing how that effected her writing.

It's 1997 and 31 year old Casey Peabody is a waitress at a high end restaurant in Boston but nearly penniless and renting a friend's moldy potting shed to live in due to her mounting and oppressive education debt. She's been working through the daunting task of writing her first novel over the course of the previous six years, and during the same time found herself wandering the planet falling in love and then nursing wounds from her past and a string of less than stellar bad relationships. She also unexpectedly loses her mother.

The novel continues as Casey tries to navigate her current less than glamorous life. It should seem utterly boring to follow a woman through her worst times but I found it absolutely captivating. I was enthralled to learn about her past, witness her crippling anxiety, traverse through romantic relationships with her. Having worked for many years in the restaurant business I loved re-living the insanity of waitressing through Casey. The author's attention to detail was incredible.

I loved this book. It was so quirky and delicious. I felt like it was so incredibly parallel to my own life and past. I swear there were times I thought I was reading my own thoughts. I was enraptured by this book. I felt such a deep connection to these characters, especially Casey, almost as if I was woven into the plot myself. I cheered for her, felt her pain and anxiety, fumbled through her awkward courtships, laughed at her jokes, felt the crippling weight as life continued to dog pile on top of her. I just adored everything about this novel.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this book!

When Ann Patchett recommends a book, you listen. Lily King has written a book that will continue to be recommended for years to come. It has beautiful writing, relatable and endearing characters, insights about relationships, lots of clever quips, and interesting facts about authors, writing, and all sorts of other things, all while keeping the plot moving with a nice flow. It manages to be realistic without being depressing. Although the main protagonist, 31 year old Casey, deals with grief, debt, and faces many adversities, she works hard at a restaurant while working to perfect her first novel. While she perserveres in her creative endeavors, she also has the attention of two men who will be difficult to choose between. Casey's journey is one many readers will want to join in on, and it is so satisfying to see where it takes her, and to hear the funny things she will think and say along the way.

A compulsively readable novel following the trials of the artist as a young woman. We meet Casey Peabody as she arrives back in Massachusetts after the tragic death of her mother and tries to figure out what she's meant to do next. She spends her time alternating between working on her perpetually incomplete novel and bussing tables as a waitress at Harvard Square all while dodging final notices from debt collectors and wedding invitations from distant friends. While recovering from a emotional breakup, she falls for two very different men and now must fight to balance her creative ambitions and life's demands without tumbling over the edge.
Casey is an engaging protagonist; smart, nuanced and achingly vulnerable. And while writing about writing runs the risk of turning into an exercise in navel-gazing, King is talented enough to pull it off. The act of writing itself becomes central to the story, a silent companion for Casey that acts as a reprieve through which she can speak the words she could never say out loud and that ultimately helps her resolve her internal conflict reconciling her past and present and opening up her future.
King has crafted a story full of wit and heart that intelligently explores the sublime agony of the creative process as well as the trials and tribulations of coming of age in your late twenties/early thirties, an age when you should have already grown up.