Hmmm, very difficult read. The writing was tortured. Run on sentences with parenthetical remarks inserted in between barely understandable thoughts. But I kept wondering if that was the intention of the author: how these amateur and terribly self-involved writers would write. And then I thought perhaps the author was exactly that (the only exception being a book contract). But it did not make for an easy or enjoyable read.

I thought going in that the narrators would rotate. But it’s written in first person plural, which made it impossible to know WHO was telling the story. The word “we” became akin to a Greek chorus, and not in a good way.

It finally focused in the last 60 pages or so, although the outcome was no secret by that point.

I can’t recommend this. There were many times when I thought of giving up on it and in fact, I probably should have.

Reading the blurbs on the back cover had me howling in amusement and disbelief. “Tightly controlled.” “…thrilling tale.” “…richly imagined characters.” “…prose is precise, deft, cutting.” No. Not any of those things.

Sorry Susie. I should listen to my gut.

It really varies for me. If it’s an ARC I try to read about 20% (so about 60-70 pages) before quitting, but if it’s a library book I may give it even less. Audiobooks I try to give about an hour.

At what point do you DNF a book? I usually try to get to 100 pages but maybe I’m waiting too long!

50 pages is quite a bit. If it’s not working for you, don’t feel bad about giving up. There are PLENTY of other books out there!

I’m glad you liked it in the end. That collective voice does take some getting used to. I’ve only read it a few times, but I actually like it a lot. I have another review coming up soon that also used that voice.

I read is worth the wait!

I hope you enjoy it, Madeline. Please let me know.