I’m always looking forward to read socially awkward, nerds characters and the more interesting the job description of a main character is, the better.
While I enjoyed the overall experience, there are many things I cannot pass over as in their supposed growing arc characters throughout the book which I couldn’t find it in my opinion.
While it’s a nice and good read, it’s not a favourite or memorable story for me.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

There seems to be a trend for novels with people who are odd-bods in them - and I love them. Greta is socially awkward and prefers insect to people, especially butterflies. I also loved the reference to Edward N. Lorenz's theory that the tiniest of things can have big consequences.

This novel is concerned with individual growth and maturing, and although there is an element of romance in the story, it's far from the driving force. Greta seemed to me to be stuck in a childlike mental stage of seeing things in black and white, and when she is forced to deal with issues and people she doesn't want to, it sets in motion a chance for her to develop and see the world in shades of grey.

An interesting and unusual premise, with a strangely relatable main character

I was looking forward to reading this novel because I could relate to the protagonist, Greta, so much. She has a nerdy, analyzing personality and looks at life scientifically with very little to no emotion at all. There is a very interesting dynamic between Greta and her twin brother and I was hoping McKenny would have explored that in more depth. The initial plot she laid out was interesting, but then it seemed to go backward. Greta is doing research that really intrigued me, but then she gets called home to be with her brother who has had an accident and is in a coma. From then on, nothing happens. We are in a perpetual state of waiting and the space is filled with a lot of awkward family meetings and gatherings. I really liked how Greta as a character was drawn, but I wanted more. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I'd like to thank the publisher via NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really struggled with this book. I put it down a few times and then came back. I found I really had to force myself to finish it because nothing really grabbed me and hooked me to the story. I found Greta to be depressing and sad. Her relationships with everyone in the book were strained. I feel there could have been so much more promise with this book, especially if the relationships were more developed between characters and the dialogue was more engaging. I really wanted to like this book based on the description but I just couldn't.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
An interesting take on the classic romance novel. There is a engagaign and fascinating cast of characters in this sorry.
However, there is a lot of descriptions about bugs which became boring and slowed the pace of the story.
A good book

Although there was a decent storyline, it fell flat for me. This story is predominantly about Greta who doesn’t really like people and finds it hard to connect with them whereas her twin, Danny is the complete opposite. Greta moves back to Iowa to look after Danny after he has brain surgery - she clashes with his fiancée (Meg) and her mom (Martha) who left them 15 years prior. I enjoyed the premise of Greta learning more about herself and the people around her while trying to work on her phd but I wish there was more. I disliked a few parts of the story - especially Pam not being nice when wasn’t that her actual job? I did like how the author fleshed out the relationship with Martha but again, wish there was more. A good story and a great ending.

I did enjoy this book overall but, if I am honest I did skim some parts {the flash backs} as I found them a bit unneeded.
This is a different but interesting read and the author definitely knows her butterflies.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what I expected but it somehow wasn’t that. It was a lot more serious and less romantic that I thought it would be. That is nothing bad, just not what I expected.

I really enjoyed the characters‘ relationships with each other. For me, this part was really the best of the book. I liked the dynamics and how they changed, not only in the book but also what we get to know from before. Especially with Greta and Danny, we find out how they became who they are and what that means for their relationships and lives in general. The changes they went through and the realizations they made were well written.

My favourite character had to be Max, Greta’s best (and only) friend who likes puns and is usually there to support Greta. He’s just so nice and sweet and I wish there was more of him in the book.

I also liked Greta. She doesn’t like people much and isn’t liked by many people in return. She can come across as not caring or even cold. But she has learned from an early age that the people in her life don’t care the same way she does and she somehow estranged herself from everyone a bit. She’s not good with words and expressing herself and coming out of her shell. And that’s what I liked about her. Greta isn’t a likeable main character, but she’s a good main character in the way she’s written. Her (academic) interest in bugs and especially butterflies was also something I enjoyed reading about, it was something different.

I had some problems with the plot because I wasn’t sure where it was going. I couldn’t really get behind the different characters‘ goals and where they were going. I already mentioned that the book didn’t turn out to be what I expected. I thought there woud be more romance but when the romance part wasn’t really dominant, I started to wonder where it was going instead. And yes, the book is about finding to yourself and finding family, both by blood and the people you find along the way, it is about getting to know yourself. And while that was something I realized while reading, I still was unsure how it would all be tied up in the end.

And here we come to my main problem: the ending. I don’t care if books have happy or bad endings, I just want them to fit the story. And in this case, it wasn’t a good fit, unfortunately. It all went too fast, things I had seen coming were wrapped up quickly on the last few pages and I just would have wanted some more focus or explanation on that part.

All in all, I did enjoy this book. It was heavily character focused with a sprinkle of familial love, some bugs and just a dash of romance. The Butterfly Effect was well written and gives the reader some interesting things to think about, especially when it comes to the own place in life and what you want to do with it.

In the debut novel from Rachel Mans McKenny, The Butterfly Effect, Greta Oto is more a spiny caterpillar than beautiful butterfly. Even though she’s an entomology graduate student, specializing in the winged creatures. She’s not socially comfortable in most situations. Her relationships are off kilter, mostly because of her own tendencies. But McKenny lets us into Greta’s thoughts and her heart, so we understand her more than the people around her.

It’s not just relationships. Greta faces a year that’s not going the least bit how she planned. (Boy, is that 2020 …) She starts an intense Ph.D. research project in Costa Rica, studying glasswing butterflies. Before her research even gets underway, Greta receives a fateful phone call. Her twin brother Danny had a stroke back in Iowa. And at 29 years old, this is a life changer for them both.

Of course, Greta immediately gets on a plane headed home. The research and funding go away and she’s flat broke. Plus, she’s worried about Danny. Did I also mention they haven’t spoken much in the last year? But Greta being Greta, she doesn’t quite know how to manage all this.

Great news—her friend and office mate Max suggests she ask her ex-boyfriend for a job. He manages the University’s Butterfly House, so it’s a good fit for Greta’s skills. Unless you count the inevitable discomfort of working for your ex.

Now that the job situation is settled, Greta needs a place to live besides the nearest cheap hotel. So, she moves into Danny’s apartment with his fiancé Meg. But Meg is pretty much the opposite of Greta in terms of personality. Well really, in terms of everything.

So, you see, Greta is not having the year she planned. And she just has to buck it up and manage. We get that.

My conclusions
I’d be lying if I said Greta was a joy. But she is endearing and relatable, all the same. She loves her brother, struggles with work, worries about where to live. Pretty much like most 29-year-olds. And Mans McKenny knows just how to balance the prickly moments with the sweeter ones.

Greta made me laugh with her awkwardness. And yet there are no tropes here—she is wholly unique in her blend of science, Star Trek geekiness, and self knowledge. Yes, she knows her inclination is to say or do the wrong thing. But that doesn’t stop Greta from caring about her people, being angry when it’s warranted, and growing into a more mature human by the novel’s end.

Having lived with my own neurological issues, I also related to Danny’s recovery process. He’s a music teacher who may never experience music the same way again. And Greta doesn’t know whether to do too much for him or let him fail a bit. That’s a common caregiver concern. Again, Mans McKenny writes the situation like real caregiving feels—not easy but also possible with a little time and adjustment.

Mans McKenny walks the fine line between humor and insight into humanity. She writes a feel-good novel that had me giggling, groaning, and caring about its characters. I recommend this if you like character-driven contemporary fiction with a savory side helping of real life.

Acknowledgements
Many thanks to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and the author for a digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for this honest review.

The Butterfly Effect // by Rachel Mans McKenny

This book really took me by surprise! I found the description of the book intriguing but did not have many expectations going in. As a fellow introvert, I expected to be able to relate to the main character Greta pretty well and I was right. While I am not quite as anti-social as she is, I did very much understand her line of thinking and her motivations, hopes, and dreams felt understandable and reasonable to me based on her past experiences and feelings towards humanity in general. At the same time, it was satisfying to also be able to see the faults in her actions and thoughts, which made it even more satisfying to see her growth throughout this book. I don't know if McKenny set out to write an unlikable character, which is how I saw other reviewers describe Greta, but to me she was likable exactly because of her honesty and straightforwardness (I do understand why they felt that way though).

I can't say that there was a lot of action in this book that kept the story moving forward. If that is what you enjoy in a book, then this may not be the right one for you. It is slow despite covering an entire year at least (I think) and focuses a lot more on the characters than a specific big event. We get to dive deeply into why Greta feels the way she does about the people in her life and why she goes about her life in the way that she does. If you enjoy learning about people motivations and why they make certain choices, then this is more likely to be your kind of book. The ending tied up neatly, more neatly than I usually enjoy, but it was done so beautifully that I really didn't mind it this time.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I am looking forward to seeing more from this author!

Does the thought of peopling exhaust you? Ever find yourself wondering how long until you can go home and bury yourself under a blanket?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then this is the book for you. Greta only gets along with butterflies and her brother. Except, she hasn't really spoken to her brother since he proposed to his girlfriend, and she won't be able to hide in the Costa Rican forest forever. When her brother suffers an aneurysm, she runs to his bedside only to discover that his fiancee has everything under control. Greta wants to be there for her brother, so she finds a job in her ex-boyfriend's lab, manages to alienate the one friend she has outside of her brother, and almost loses her graduate position on campus.

I appreciate the care McKenny took in creating Greta's character. She isn't just an introvert. There are reasons she hides in the world. She doesn't trust people, and she doesn't trust herself around people, and all I wanted to do was wrap her up in a weighted blanket, give her hot cocoa and let her be.

Yes, she makes a lot of her own problems, and normally that would irritate me in the main character, but the layering of past hurts makes her protectionary measures legitimate. She has been hurt, and she does all she can from feeling that way again.

Lastly, I found myself in the character of Greta. I am happier at home than with a large group of people. Family is everything, and even in all that us quiet people want to find love and companionship.

I was surprised by the book's nuance and highly recommend this to people who enjoyed books like Me Before You and Evie Drake Starts Again.

I was drawn to this book by the cover and description. I started multiple times but found I was re-reading the same page because I was having trouble concentrating. While the main character is supposed to be quirky, I struggled to connect with her negativity. Unfortunately, I DNF this book.

Thank you to Rachel Mans McKenny, Alcove Press, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGally, Alcove Press and Rachel Mans McKenny for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
What is one thing you thing is very hard to get right in books? I think one of the most difficult things is writing a likeable book with an unlikeable main character. There is serious room for error and I think while there are PLENTY of crappy main characters, it takes a certain author to write a story you still care about. Rachel Mans McKenny did just that! The writing in this one is what made The Butterfly Effect really shine. Getting into the story of Greta and her trip back home to a whole lot of past memories was easy and I finished the majority of the book in one sitting! I will admit I think a more likeable main character may have led to a more memorable book in the long term, but this is still a so.id and likeable read!
Greta isn’t what you would call a people person. She’s dedicated her adult academic career to bugs because she understands them a lot more than her peers. When she gets the opportunity to study in Costa Rica, she immediately takes it. After a falling out with her twin brother she decides a break is exactly what she needs. When she gets a call from home that her brother has suffered an aneurysm she immediately drops everything and flies home to help him recover. Unfortunately coming home means being faced with everything she’d rather avoid. Like old classmates, her less than likeable sister in law and Brandon, her ex. In desperate need to finish her PHD program, and Brandon’s butterfly conservatory being her only option to do so, she soon finds herself in some sticky situations.

At first, I wasn’t absolutely happy with this book. It took a long time for me to understand what it was that it was exactly about. But as I got further along into it, I started to enjoy it. It shows the hardships that come with being an adult. Whether its family, school, relationships, or finances. Greta had to grow and overcome in order to achieve overall happiness. I think that it is important, especially to see her forgive and put the past behind her so that she can grow. Greta put up so many walls to keep herself from getting hurt that she had been hurting herself. I am looking forward to more Rachel Mans McKenny’s future novels because she is such a great writer!

This was a pretty good read that reminded me of A Man Called Ove. Even though I knew how this book would end, it was an enjoyable read and the characters were well-developed.

BOOK PREVIEW: The Butterfly Effect by Rachel Mans McKenny

Let's see how the story starts…

STORY... An entomologist, Greta far prefers the company of bugs to humans. But when she learns that her twin brother, Danny, has suffered an aneurysm, she abandons her research in the rainforest to hurry home to the middle of nowhere America to be there for her brother.

Coming home means confronting all that she left behind, including her ex-boyfriend Brandon (who also runs a local butterfly conservatory!) All creating chaos of Greta's perfectly catalogued and compartmentalized world. But real life is messy, and Greta will have to ask herself if she has the courage to open up for the people she loves, and for those who want to love her.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WITH THIS BOOK?.... Butterfly conservatories? Scientists who are star-crossed lovers? Yes… and yes!!

Definitely all in... ✨😎✨

The Butterfly Effect by Rachel Mans McKenny
2020 New Book Releases | December

Contemporary Romance Books | For The Love Of Science | Novels With Science Themes

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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Books & DIY Home Ideas | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com ... Including my video tutorials for DIY home ideas inspired by recommended books to support you in bringing your favorite books to life in your life and home.

You can see all my December Book Previews & additional features for The Butterfly Effect by Rachel Mans McKenny at https://www.thisismyeverybody.com/books/books-coming-out-in-2020-december


✨😎✨A big thank you to Rachel Mans McKenny, Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in my review are my own.

Know in advance that Greta's one redeeming quality might be her love for her twin Daniel. She's a distinctly unlikeable character who pushes people away in part as a defensive mechanism. A scientist who studies butterflies (I learned a bit about them), she heads home from Costa Rica when Daniel has an aneurysm. She's incapable of dealing with his fiance Meg (a cheery woman) or her estranged mother (no gem herself). There's also conflict with Brandon, her boss and former boyfriend, and Max. In fast, there's a lot of conflict between Greta and everyone and between Greta and herself. McKenny does not come out and state it but you will wonder if Greta is in the spectrum. This one wavered for me- with peaks and valleys in the plot and writing. On balance, however, it's an interesting portrait of a woman. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to more from McKenny.

I gave up on this book solely because of the writing. It takes a lot for me to really get bent out of shape because of writing, but this really did it. It was fractured, busy, all over the place and confusing. I kept having the feeling like I didn't get half of what was going on, because the writing bothered me so much.

I thought I would really like this book, but I didn't like any characters and the plot didn't leave me wanting more in any minute, and that is the most important thing for me.

The book tells the story of Greta, who had to leave her research and return to care for her brother who suffered an aneurysm. Greta is a scientist, who works with insects and especially butterflies, so for everything and any situation she uses the science and behavior of insects to explain everything and especially human behavior. And that was what attracted me to the book.
I marked the book a lot, all the comparisons of human and insect behaviors and the learnings of Greta, who has to learn to deal with her brother after a brain injury. And still learn to deal with people.

The book has great teachings and it's good to see Greta's change and growth, but I couldn't feel immersed in this reading. It's not a bad book, I just didn't like it.

Title: The Butterfly Effect
Author: Rachel Mans McKenny
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Is there such a thing as an anti-social butterfly? If there were, Greta Oto would know about it—and totally relate. Greta far prefers the company of bugs to humans, and that’s okay, because people don’t seem to like her all that much anyway, with the exception of her twin brother, Danny, though they've recently had a falling out. So when she lands a research gig in the rainforest, she leaves it all behind.

But when Greta learns that Danny has suffered an aneurysm and is now hospitalized, she abandons her research and hurries home to the middle of nowhere America to be there for her brother. But there's only so much she can do, and unfortunately just like insects, humans don't stay cooped up in their hives either--they buzz about and... socialize. Coming home means confronting all that she left behind, including her lousy soon-to-be sister-in-law, her estranged mother, and her ex-boyfriend Brandon who has conveniently found a new non-lab-exclusive partner with shiny hair, perfect teeth, and can actually remember the names of the people she meets right away. Being that Brandon runs the only butterfly conservatory in town, and her dissertation is now in jeopardy, taking that job, being back home, it's all creating chaos of Greta's perfectly catalogued and compartmentalized world.

Once I got past the idea that Greta was just an unlikable person, I enjoyed this book. But yeah, Greta is kind of a jerk. I mean, I get her being uncomfortable around people and not having any idea what to say, but…being deliberately mean and unfeeling is a bit much.

Good writing here and I like the concept—entomology fascinates me, and I’d love to work in the rainforest or a butterfly conservatory—but Greta was unlikable enough to detract from the read. And…the cover makes this look like a light rom com read, but it’s not. It’s really much more a journey of discovery for someone who’s never bothered to care about anyone besides herself.

Rachel Mans McKenny is from the Midwest. The Butterfly Effect is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Alcove Press in exchange for an honest review.)

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