I thought this book was interesting and well written, but it did take me a little while to finish. I liked it enough to finish the book, but not enough to say I’d read it again. It was a slow burn, which might turn some readers away, and I didn’t get really into it until about 60% in. The plot was fine, nothing new or groundbreaking. I did like the “book within a book” in this case and how it paralleled with the main story and brought the plot together.

The strength of this novel lies within the way the characters were written and the family dynamic. This is a very character driven novel. All of the characters are flawed and complex. I didn’t like all of the characters, but I understood why they were flawed.

I found the two MCs, Ward or Isabelle, extremely unlikeable. They both frustrated me with how incredibly self-centered they were and how they treated others. But I still wanted to read about them because I felt they had good development, and I understood why they were unlikeable. That was what kept me reading despite how I felt about them. It felt real and authentic.

Overall I thought this was an interesting book with complex characters, and as a debut novel it was good. But I do think the slow pacing might turn some readers away.

I found this book a fascinating look into family dynamics and how they (and a parent's behavior towards us and in general) affect us in ways we don't even think about sometimes.

Yes, the main characters are extremely unlikeable, and that's ok. Not everyone you meet in life is. Their behavior is also the result of the rarified lives they live. I don't understand people that read books about other people that are just like them. Why even bother reading? I wasn't a big fan of the story within the story at first, but it grew on me, and I liked having insight into Claire's story.

I did like how well written the story was, I enjoyed the writing very much. This book is not for everybody, especially not for people that only want to read about pleasant people that are similar to them in their sexuality, political opinions and way of life.

Thank you to NetGAlley and Atria Books for this ARC

Thank you to Atria for the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I really enjoyed this family drama, even though it took me a little while to get into it. While reading, I didn’t know quite where it was heading, which is a feeling I've grown to love in a book! The beginning was a little slow to develop all of the characters and establish the storylines while still developing some intriguing secrets. Told in alternating timelines of modern day (2017) versus flashbacks to the 1970s/80s/90s, A Likely Story follows the family of a famous writer, as the daughter attempts to become a novelist, too. I don’t want to say too much, because I enjoyed going into this without knowing much. If you’re a fan of messy family drama and privileged people using what they have in unsavory ways, I think you’ll enjoy reading this book.

This book was engaging and I think well done in many ways. I loved the idea of a book within a book, especially as the back story of that book became fleshed out partway through and therefore even more interesting and relevant. I think the characters were well done, even if -- and maybe *because* -- some were downright hate-worthy (Isabelle was unlikeable but I think more relatable, but Ward was almost evil). I also really enjoyed Glenda, far more than I thought I would - she may have been the character that I could see the most vividly in my mind's eye. As interesting as it was, I found the dialogue in particular to sort of fade in and out as far as how well done or complex it was. I also felt like the end wrapped up a little too neatly and unrealistically, especially in terms of Ward. But it kept me engaged and I will be checking out more of Leigh McMullan's work!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was released March 14, 2023.
I really struggled to finish this one. The characters were unlikeable and I felt the story was slow moving. There is a story within the story and a lot of different timelines, POVs, etc.
What I did enjoy was Claire’s timeline. She was by far the most likable character and I enjoyed reading about her.
There were some parts that I found myself liking, but for much of the book I found myself skimming through or skipping ahead to try to get to the end.

This book is a powerhouse! I cannot overstate how much I loved it. It was smart, honest, precise and real. The sincere portrayal of a marriage, a family and a life from different perspectives and point of views was enlightening and remarkable. The characters were not only relatable but raw and unvarnished. This will probably be my favorite book of the year and I can’t wait to read much more from this brilliant author.

Can you imagine growing up in the house of a famous writer? Having a great man, loved by the world for your father? Well, that was the world for Isabelle Manning in 𝗔 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗟𝗬 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 by debut author Leigh Abramson. Isabelle adored her father and wanted nothing more than to emulate his career with her own writing, but all was not well in Isabelle’s world. Her father was most often remote and unsupportive with an ego to rival the best. Her mother, Claire, was wonderful, loving, and still funneling money to Isabelle at nearly 35 years old. All that changed as the book opened with Claire having just passed away.⁣
⁣
In going through Claire’s things, Isabelle discovers that the parents she had always known, might not be exactly the people she believed them to be. 𝘈 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 unfolds from there. I tend to like books about writers and the writing process, so this was one I was very much looking forward to and it did not disappoint. I thought Abramson did a great job adding layers and depth to her story, keeping me engaged in this audiobook throughout. The book was read by a full cast of narrators, who were okay. I can’t rave about their performances, but I wasn’t annoyed by them either. The story itself was enough to keep me happy! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
⁣
Thanks to @simon.audio and @atriabooks for advanced copies of #ALikelyStory.

Finished ✔️ A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson

3.5 ⭐️’s
Publish Day: March 14th, 2023
Kindle Unlimited: No
A thoroughly modern story of family mistakes and redemption that I couldn’t put down.
I honestly feel like it was just missing something for me.
The only child of an iconic American novelist discovers a shocking tangle of family secrets that upends everything she thought she knew about her parents, her gilded childhood, and her own stalled writing career in this brilliantly observed standout debut.
It was a very interesting story that was brilliantly told and written but I feel like just something was missing.
I enjoyed the characters.
Yes, I’d recommend to others

#DeesReading #DeesRecs #DeesBookRecommendations #BookNerds #BookNerdProblems #BookProblems #BookProblems101 #BookNerds101 #Bookworms #BookwormProblems #BooksOfFacebook #DeeTheBookReviewer #DeesReadOfTheDay #DeesBookOfTheDay #DeesBookReviewsOfTheDay #BookReviewer #NewToMeAuthor #ReadOfTheDay #BookOfTheDay #LeighMcMullanAbramson #ALikelyStory #NetGalley

Novelists writing novels about struggling novelists in literary fiction always feels just a little too on the nose, or perhaps just a little staid and safe, but “write what you know”
usually tends to work, at least in the academic sense, and that’s the case here.

The book reads slow and steady, which is fine, and isn’t really showing anything new because, y’know, novelists writing about novelists. We’ve gotten some really good literary fiction out of this trope over the years, and this, while well-written and enjoyable enough, doesn’t really offer enough uniqueness or wow factor to meet that criteria. I expect it will be best received by those who don’t read much in this little subgenre, because for all its shopworn material, it’s absolutely well executed.

I liked the sweet and hopeful ending as well as the writing itself, but I needed a little more originality out of a book trading on a theme we’ve seen many times before.

A Likely Story features unlikeable and a story with a story.

Since her childhood, Isabelle Manning has always admired Ward, her father and bestselling author. Her mother, Claire, has recently passed, and it has never been clearer that she was the glue that held them together.

Isabelle has always wanted to be a writer like her father but has not had the success she dreamed she would. Meanwhile, Ward is struggling to write his next novel and with the realization that he is not the hot commodity he once was.

One day, Isabelle comes across some shocking information that throws into doubt everything she thought she knew about her family.

This novel features multiple POVs, alternating timelines, and a story within a story. It’s also a slow burn. The big reveal doesn’t happen until around 100 pages in.

Exception for Claire, many of the characters were hard to like. Ward is a mediocre man who needs to be lauded by others to feel good about himself. Isabelle’s whole personality, initially, is merely to exist as Ward’s daughter. She’s also incredibly self-centred. Usually, I don’t mind reading about unlikeable characters. However, I’d prefer them to have some interesting qualities, which these two did not.

At first, I did enjoy the story within the story, but it lost steam part way through.

There are discussions on nepotism and Isabelle’s feelings of failure and insecurities as a nepo baby.

I did like how things eventually came together in the end, hence the three stars. Although this book didn’t completely work for me, it is getting high ratings from other reviewers, so you may have better luck with it than me.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson is a compelling debut novel, one that drew me in right away into what was ultimately, for me, a story of women's lives and strengths perhaps being overshadowed or neglected by domineering men. Thank you to Atria for the ebook copy on NetGalley.

The narrative, written from multiple POVs, blends in a present day timeline with earlier timelines, all related to the characters; this works very well for the suspense and tension in the story as often events alluded too that inform actions/feelings in the present day are events that are revealed later as the story more fully unfolds. There is also a novel within a novel theme which for me worked really well again in terms of the suspense and story development, adding to me a darker edgier mood to the book. A lot of intertwined events come together in thoughtful ways and plot points make for strong book club discussions,

At times though I felt some of the secondary characters (such as Brian) added less to the story/weighed me down in ways that took away from the story. I also felt as a reader that the story was headed to a possibly dark, messy and edgy resolution and the conclusion for me didn't match the tone of the rest of the book.

I am though super interested in reading more from this author, to see what she offers next!

this was a fine, if unmemorable, family drama. I feel like i’ve read several similar books lately (WASPish families with an author parent) and this one didn’t really stand out for me. Isabella’s character wasn’t really enjoyable to follow but i liked the other perspectives.

Leigh McMullan Abramson, the daughter of a children's author and an illustrator, published her debut novel A Likely Story on March 14 about a young woman who is the daughter of a well-known novelist who lives in New York City. Isabelle Manning grew up feeling that to be successful in her father’s eyes that she must become a fruitful author herself.

Isabelle is talented but she struggles getting her book published although The New Yorker published a piece of her work. Her agent cannot get her novel placed with publishers, and he encourages her to try again. Her mother Olivia understands her daughter’s disappointment as Olivia knows the great effort to get published because she reworked some of her husband’s novels before he submitted them to the publisher, although Ward never gave her any credit for her help.

When Olivia dies, Isabelle is directed to a place in her Sag Harbor vacation home where Olivia saved certain items for Isabelle, including most of Olivia’s own book that only her best friend knows about. The manuscript reveals family secrets that cause Isabelle to rethink everything she thought she knew about her parents and her upbringing.

She is devastated to find out the real reason her first book could not find a publisher. Without her mother’s support, she struggles to deal with a closed-off father who believes Isabelle needs to make it on her own without any financial support from him.

Isabelle’s account provides the frame story for excerpts from Olivia’s book that unravels so much about Isabelle’s family as Olivia’s writing is about a demanding artist husband who relies on his wife to help with his paintings. This alter-ego Livia is soon “finding” lost art when her husband dies as she is soon secretly creating more of “his” art to sell so she can stay solvent. Isabelle realizes her only chance to find success is to continue this twisty tale where her mother left off.

Leigh McMullan Abramson had a prior career of practicing law before pursuing her interest in writing. She has written for The Atlantic, The New York Times, Tablet Magazine and more. Leigh lives in New York City and Vermont with her husband and two young children.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting March 15, 2023.

I would like to thank Atria Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, Inc., and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

A Likely Story
By Leigh McMullan Abramson
Pub Date: Mar 14
Atria
Books about books #
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion .
This book was a disappointment to me. Unlikeable characters, stereotypical, racial tones, political throughout.
I will not be recommending this book.
2 stars

DNF at about 10% - didn't really like or connect with any of the characters and found the Dad particularly awful. Trusted reviewers also said this one wouldn't be for me.

I was really excited for this debut bookish thriller but I found it really hard to get into. The beginning is really slow and I couldn't connect to the main character at all. I've seen other reviews mention it does pick up towards the middle but this one ended up being a DNF for me unfortunately. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I may try to pick it up again at a later time but it wasn't for me right now.

A Likely Story is engulfing, transportive and incredibly unique. The story-telling in the book is truly a page-turner and you won’t want to put this down after starting it.

Isabelle Manning is the only child of acclaimed novelist Ward Manning and philanthropist Claire Manning. Her childhood was defined by being the child of Ward and Claire, a blessing and a curse. Ward was often preoccupied with writing to attend to Isabelle, but Claire never faltered in being a doting mother, making sure Isabelle never felt her father’s absence.

As an adult, Isabelle wants to follow her father’s career path, but it comes to a halt when her mother unexpectedly dies. On her thirty-fifth birthday, alone and fearing that her career has stalled out, she is on the brink of a breakdown, only amplified by an uncovered secret her mother tasked her with taking care of, while on her deathbed. She begins to question her childhood and if her parents are truly who she thought they were, or if they were just characters they had perfected.

This is a book with two deeply unlikable characters, so be warned, if that isn’t a thing that you tend to enjoy in books, I’d probably skip this one. I do think, however, that these two characters are unlikable intentionally and I’d argue that this drives the book and makes the plot so compelling.

I loved how compelling Isabelle’s storytelling is in particular, as unlikable as she is, a part of me still felt sympathy for her especially when she initially discovers her mom’s secret. I adored Isabelle discovering the woman that her mom was independently from just being her father’s wife and her doting mother.

I did roll my eyes a few times at how egotistical and self absorbed Ward and Isabelle are. Ward especially was incredibly unbearable, especially because he is aware how terrible a father he is to his daughter and he acknowledges it early on in the book.

Overall, this book is captivating and a quick read.

3.5 rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for the eArc.

While I loved the idea of art and life colliding, I felt the story itself just rambled on to it’s obvious conclusion. It all just left me feeling angry or sad for everyone involved. I was hoping for something deeper, I think. The story was ok. Nothing that will stay with me, but I could get through it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson. What an impressive debut! This story could gone in many different directions, the characters making different choices. Trying to guess which way we might go was futile. The story, and the characters are pitch perfect.

🖼️🖼️🖼️🖼️ / 5

Happy pub day! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I was kind of lost in the beginning because the plot slowly came together, and the characters were slowly introduced, but everything finally picked up about halfway through. From that point on, I was super invested! The concept of a book within a book isn’t new, but the way the author used this writing style was unique and captivating! Also, I was so excited that part of the book takes place in Dallas/Fort Worth mentioned because I live in FW! I think this was a great debut novel!