I found the writing style very hard to engage with- that made it a bit of a struggle to finish the book but I am glad that I did.

I was very excited for this book, but honestly I just wasn't a fan. The characters didn't feel three-dimensional to me at all, and for a book that's a character study having fully fleshed out characters seems like the most important element. In addition, the chapters of the mom talking as a ghost just felt extremely out of place and clunky.

(3.5/5 ⭐, rounded up)

Gotta start by making it clear I'm 110% a Lulu. If you're a Louie, either stop reading my review or go into it knowing your thoughts would be the inverse. Okay, now we can move on.

This started off strong. Astute, artful and extremely funny in the representation of both partisans. You still can't convince me Meredith O'Brien didn't bug my father in law's house and use direct quotes of his vapid unintelligence. This was done without ever making me so genuinely angry I wanted to stop reading, which was a fear I had going into it.

The ingenuity of Meredith O'Brien's formatting propels the story forward in a way that reminded me a little of [book:Clean|205435919]. I was surprised to find that toward the back quarter of the novel, this formatting I'd loved so much was starting to feel <i>too</i> intentional. I started to sense when Meredith was about to pull one over on me. If I had gotten that sense from the start there's a chance I'd have accepted it as a charming component of her satire, but it was only toward the end I felt the disconnect. While I understand the function of a life-changing plot point, the ending felt too abrupt - even for satire. I appreciate this novel most when I step back and look at it from a perspective in the family of "no plot, just vibes". That's not at all to say there isn't a plot, the plot just isn't what will steal the show here.

While reading I couldn't help but wish there was an audiobook format available, using a different narrator for each documents' corresponding author (this will make 0 sense to you if you haven't read yet, but iykyk). This is certainly one of those novels that could only improve with those added layers when done right.

{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Meredith O'Brien and SparkPress for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!}

This book is coming out just after we'll all have cast our votes for what is likely the most important election of my life. It was a good read, and didn't provoke more anxiety, which is what I needed right now.

Thank you to Spark Press, the author and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#LouieOnTheRocks #MeredithOBrien #NetGalley #SparkPress

Very excited for this take on what was such a poignant year in my life. I think many willl relate to what went on and how they felt in this life changing year.