High expectations based on the premise but this just wasn’t for me. I’m the wrong audience. But I know people who would love it!

Mudflowers was one of my favourite novels of 2023. It took me absolutely by surprise. Waterman's Prose is beyond stunning. I was absolutely invested in the story, felt with and for ts characters. Though their experiences aren't in any way relatable to me, I found myself rooting for them. The setting was beautiful, spanning from Canada's big cities to Newfoundland. A very accomplished novel that I will reread again and again.

I read this on holiday which I think was perfect - if I read this during my daily life I’m not sure I’d have enjoyed it as much, as it didn’t keep me gripped as much as I’d like.

The characters were well developed and complex and felt real which I appreciated. I don’t usually like a dual timeline, but it worked well for this story.

I was hoping for a bit more of a thriller story, so I’d say a more accurate description of this would be lit fic with a hint of thriller.

A little slow paced, but the voice was compelling and the prose is gorgeous, evocative, lyrical. I did find it wandered a little much for my tastes, and left me feeling a little disconnected, but overall I did enjoy it.

As a person in her own grief journey, sometimes it's just hard(er) to get into stories of someone's grief. I'll pick this one back up at another time.

Not the best I've read, but no where near the worst. Personally, I felt like a drag. Maybe I didn't have enough interest, but it was such a slow book.

Set mainly in Toronto's art scene, Aley Waterman's debut novel follows 27 year-old Sophie in the year after her mother's death. She is grieving and trying her best to navigate all of the messiness that grief entails. She is also in an on again, off again relationship with her childhood friend Alex.

Enter Maggie, a poet who Sophie immediately falls for. Which complicates her relationship with Alex. The blurb describes it as a 'complicated love triangle', so you can probably guess how at least some of the plot goes.

I liked Mudflowers well enough while I was reading it – that's the category I put it in my April wrap-up. Yet, nothing about the story or the characters have stuck with me in any way. Overall, I'd sum Mudflowers up as grand (in the Irish sense of okay/fine) but bland.

This book takes a set of slightly down and out characters, caught in a general unease of being in your mid-20s. The voice of this book I thought was compelling- keeping things hidden and at a distance as she tries to navigate it all.

mudflowers by aley waterman is a beautifully crafted novel that dives deep into the complexities of human emotions and the resilience of the human spirit. set against the backdrop of a rural town, the story follows the protagonist as she navigates through life's challenges with unwavering determination and grace.
waterman's prose is both evocative and lyrical, painting vivid imagery that transports the reader to the heart of the story. the characters are richly developed, each with their own struggles and triumphs, making them feel incredibly real and relatable.
one of the standout aspects of mudflowers is its exploration of themes such as love, loss, and the healing power of nature. The author weaves these themes seamlessly into the narrative, creating a story that is both heart-wrenching and uplifting.

This isn't normally something I would reach for so I'm glad to have had the opportunity to have read this. The characters are well-formed, and—frankly—they made me feel things. The prose style is quite different, and did remind me a little bit of Sally Rooney. I think the exploration of grief was fantastic and well-needed. I also loved the setting of Toronto, it was so well flushed out I feel like I have been there myself. I think the exploration of family and what family means is definitely well done. I would love to explore more works by this author.

I found myself unable to get absorbed into the book, and so did not finish reading it. Perhaps I will pick it up in a few months and believe differently.

"Mudflowers" by Aley Waterman is a poignant and evocative exploration of resilience, family bonds, and the enduring power of hope. Waterman's lyrical prose and vivid imagery paint a rich tapestry of emotions, drawing readers into the lives of her characters with empathy and grace. With its raw honesty and compelling narrative, "Mudflowers" is a captivating read that leaves a lasting impression.

I really really really tried to like this, it just wasn't an enjoyable experience.

Every time I felt like we were getting deep and actually getting something of substance, we changed subjects. This book was honestly a jumbled mess of thoughts. Felt like one super long run-on sentence.

As others have said, Mudflowers has elements of Sally Rooney novels, but almost trying too hard. The main character is not very likeable although we learn she is dealing with the grief of losing her mother which can explain the emotional distance between her and her actions.
The setting was done well, and at times the writing was good, it just meandered too much. I think Aley Waterman has a lot of potential once they find their feet and style a bit more. I was interested enough to see what would happen and finish the book, and I liked the side character of Alex. It is more a character study and exploration of modern dating, and the family you create for yourself.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc.

Aley Waterman is a talented writer and clearly a sensitive soul. She perceives the world in such a tender, artistic way that comes across in her writing. This book was an absolute delight, and reminded me a lot of Sally Rooney's novels-- which is high praise because she may be my favorite author! The relationships contained in it are complex and easy to get invested in.

Normally I really like stories like this and had high hopes but it felt a little underwhelming. Was still glad to have read this though as I’d like to read more by Canadian authors.

This reading experience was defined by one through line: ambivalence. (Which is likely why it took me three-and-a-half months to finish.) I enjoyed the technical aspects of this writing; the prose was fluid and mature. That said, I was not particularly moved by the story—I found myself frequently asking, "Why?" in response to certain plot decisions or attempts at thematic reveals. Were we as readers meant to have a stake in the protagonist's journey? I felt there was a facade of profundity without the proper execution. I am, however, interested to learn more about Waterman's in-progress second novel as this was by no means a "bad" book and certainly did harbor elements that piqued my interest.

It was good, but I'm not so much into this type of lit fic anymore.

Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really want to love this one as I am interested in the topic but unfortunately it felt just average, it could have executed better.

Thank you netgalley for this arc

Enjoyed the dynamic between all of the characters, but couldn't feel connected totally to the story or to any of them. Felt like reading a journal which probable was the point but I just wanted more.