I am so thrilled to acquire this book! I feel like with the state of the world these days people long for a but if nostalgia. It is so great to read about a less digital time where three friends navigate NYC together! It almost gives me Friends vibes! I cannot wait to share more on this and I know our readers are going to love it!

The plot was engaging and I did enjoy how the three main characters were intertwined throughout the book. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced copy.

I loved this book. It felt from the very beginning like I knew these people. I’ve been through a lot of those situations and it felt so real.

The writing in this is empathetic, but brutal in places. The characters are so beautifully fleshed out that you know exactly why people made the decisions they did. Parents don’t come off particularly well, but they rarely do in life.

The decisions they made were real and true. New York is also a main character. Please read this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Don't Poke the Bear by Robin D'Amato feels like it takes place in a Rent-adjacent world. The story is told from the multiple view points of a loosely connected group of buddies. Each person is figuring out how to make a life in New York and the books details the struggles of work, love, and family expectations. The book felt very real which made it entertaining to read, like the conversations you have with friends over coffee. The realness also made it frustrating, because the characters made obvious bad choices that as an outside observer you want to prevent. Overall, this book was worth reading and helped to contextualize New York in the 90s.

Don't Poke the Bear, written by Robin D'Amato, immerses readers in a world reminiscent of Rent, capturing the essence of 90s New York. The story unfolds through the perspectives of a connected group of friends navigating the challenges of life in the city. From work and love to family expectations, the book delves into their struggles, providing an entertaining and relatable reading experience akin to heartfelt conversations with close friends over coffee.

One of the strengths of Don't Poke the Bear lies in its authentic portrayal of everyday life. The characters and their experiences feel remarkably genuine, allowing readers to connect on a personal level. The book's realism enhances its entertainment value, pulling readers deeper into the narrative and making their choices and predicaments all the more compelling. As an outside observer, it's easy to become frustrated with the characters as they make obvious bad choices, feeling a desire to intervene and guide them towards better paths.