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The Trouble with Drowning
When author Eden Hart floats into Tucson’s Antigone Books in all her dazzling perfection to give a reading, Kat, a struggling writer, can’t help but compare herself. Professionally, physically, socially—Eden is Kat’s aspiration. Thankfully, Kat’s life starts to take on its own Eden-like glow when her literary future takes shape and she falls madly in love with Jacob, the effortlessly charismatic son of her literary hero. Kat’s life is finally her fantasy realized: a burgeoning career, mentoring from her idol, and a wildly fulfilling relationship. But how long can she keep this up? And when will disappointment tap Kat on the shoulder yet again?
As demons from her past begin to surface, Kat’s mental health craters, and this halcyon dream slips through her fingers. Obsessed with reclaiming her idealized life, Kat develops an insidious plan to not only bring Jacob back into her world but also punish anyone who dares to replace her.
As demons from her past begin to surface, Kat’s mental health craters, and this halcyon dream slips through her fingers. Obsessed with reclaiming her idealized life, Kat develops an insidious plan to not only bring Jacob back into her world but also punish anyone who dares to replace her.
Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2023
53 people are currently reading
8462 people want to read
About the author
Heather Hach
5 books59 followersHeather Hach is an American screenwriter, librettist and novelist.
Hach graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder's School of Journalism, and later worked as a research assistant at The New York Times' Denver bureau and as a magazine editor at Sports and Fitness Publishing.
A 1999 recipient of the Walt Disney Screenwriting Fellowship, Hach wrote the screenplay for the 2003 remake Freaky Friday with Leslie Dixon, and both were nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Screenplay for the film.
Hach wrote the libretto for the 2007 musical Legally Blonde, based on the Amanda Brown novel and the 2001 film of the same name, and was subsequently nominated for a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical. In 2008, Hach appeared on MTV's Legally Blonde - The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods, a series created to find a replacement for the lead actress then appearing in the musical on Broadway.
Hach is the co-author (with Mary Rodgers) of Freaky Monday, a novel released by HarperCollins on May 5, 2009.
Hach graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder's School of Journalism, and later worked as a research assistant at The New York Times' Denver bureau and as a magazine editor at Sports and Fitness Publishing.
A 1999 recipient of the Walt Disney Screenwriting Fellowship, Hach wrote the screenplay for the 2003 remake Freaky Friday with Leslie Dixon, and both were nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Screenplay for the film.
Hach wrote the libretto for the 2007 musical Legally Blonde, based on the Amanda Brown novel and the 2001 film of the same name, and was subsequently nominated for a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical. In 2008, Hach appeared on MTV's Legally Blonde - The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods, a series created to find a replacement for the lead actress then appearing in the musical on Broadway.
Hach is the co-author (with Mary Rodgers) of Freaky Monday, a novel released by HarperCollins on May 5, 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
December 2, 2024
This was the perfect mix between Fatal Attraction and Yellowface. It is a book about mental illness set in the backdrop of the literary world.
We follow Kat an aspiring author who struggles daily with life until it all starts falling into place, she meets one of her literary heroes, finishes her memoir and subsequently lands a book deal and meets the love of her life. Her life is perfect...until it's not. In a character outburst Kat's life come crashing down hard and sends her into a downward spiral she can't get out of. Struggling with her mental illness diagnosis she becomes obsessed with the love of her life that becomes deadly to everyone including herself.
The book has brilliant pacing, not too fast not too slow. It sets up the characters and backgrounds and moves the chess pieces brilliantly. The scheming is brilliant and made me root for Kat even though it was wrong! A great insight into this world from both perspectives, the ending leaves you with a rather sly grin!
Thanks to Greenleaf Audio who provided me with an audio copy via NetGalley for review. I devoured it in 3 days.
We follow Kat an aspiring author who struggles daily with life until it all starts falling into place, she meets one of her literary heroes, finishes her memoir and subsequently lands a book deal and meets the love of her life. Her life is perfect...until it's not. In a character outburst Kat's life come crashing down hard and sends her into a downward spiral she can't get out of. Struggling with her mental illness diagnosis she becomes obsessed with the love of her life that becomes deadly to everyone including herself.
The book has brilliant pacing, not too fast not too slow. It sets up the characters and backgrounds and moves the chess pieces brilliantly. The scheming is brilliant and made me root for Kat even though it was wrong! A great insight into this world from both perspectives, the ending leaves you with a rather sly grin!
Thanks to Greenleaf Audio who provided me with an audio copy via NetGalley for review. I devoured it in 3 days.
December 10, 2024
The Trouble with Drowning by Heather Hach was one of the better books I have read that addressed the topic of mental illness. I listened to the audiobook that was very well narrated by Laura Bell Bundy. It was my first time hearing this narrator but I hope to listen to more books that she narrated in the future. The Trouble with Drowning took place in Tucson, Arizona. Kat Lamb had settled there and found employment at Antigone Books, a local bookstore who often hosted up and coming and well known authors representing their books. What a perfect position for an aspiring author! Kat had recently started writing her own memoir about her own childhood in the foster care system. When her roommate invited her to swim at her mother’s house, Kat made the acquaintance of Jacob, her roommate’s very handsome brother and her roommate’s mother, Carol, a well known and famous author. Both Jacob and Carol would become very instrumental in shaping Kat’s story.
The characters in The Trouble with Drowning all felt real yet flawed at times to me. I particularly liked Kat’s character even when she was at her worst. Author, Heather Hach, was able to focus on the themes of mental illness, relationships, family, resilience, following dreams and being able to see the truth even when it was hard to detect. I enjoyed all the twists and turns The Trouble with Drowning provided. I couldn’t put this book down! Read this book. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Greenleaf Audiobooks for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Trouble with Drowning by Heather Hach through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The characters in The Trouble with Drowning all felt real yet flawed at times to me. I particularly liked Kat’s character even when she was at her worst. Author, Heather Hach, was able to focus on the themes of mental illness, relationships, family, resilience, following dreams and being able to see the truth even when it was hard to detect. I enjoyed all the twists and turns The Trouble with Drowning provided. I couldn’t put this book down! Read this book. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Greenleaf Audiobooks for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Trouble with Drowning by Heather Hach through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 18, 2023
4.5 stars 💫
Firstly, I would like to say a massive thank you to Smith Publicity for providing me with an early copy of The Trouble With Drowning by Heather Hach to read and review.
Potential TW’s:
• depression
• anxiety
• bipolar disorder
• schizophrenia
• self harm
• attempted suicide
• stalking
• physical and emotional abuse
Synopsis:
This story follows a young woman named Kat, who is an aspiring writer and currently working on a memoir about her very troubled childhood.
One day, she meets and falls head over heels for a young man named Jacob who just so happens to be the son of one of Kat’s literary heroes.
Everything begins to fall into place for Kat. Her dreams are really starting to take shape with her writing and she is in a loving and fulfilling relationship. Everything is beginning to look up in her life.
But one day it all essentially comes crashing down. Demons from Kat’s past are resurfaced and when her relationship with Jacob falls apart, so does she.
After certain events occur, Kat begins to take the steps to try and aid her mental health. Whilst she still hasn’t fully healed for her recent breakup with Jacob, she puts all her focus and energy back into finishing off her memoir.
Soon after, Kat learns that Jacob has recently entered into a new relationship and has now moved on. Kat becomes obsessed with regaining that life she once had with Jacob and will stop at nothing to completely replace and rid of his new girlfriend.
My thoughts:
I genuinely loved this book so much. I feel like the pacing was perfect and kept me engaged the whole way through.
The first part of the story is a little bit slower, but I always find this to be expected, as there is character building that occurs. However, the story really takes off in the second part and this is where we really start to see the suspense and psychological thriller aspects.
I feel like it was a book that included so many layers and is one I will be thinking about for a long time.
Our main character is one who struggles with the ups and downs of her mental health. There were moments where I truly fell for Kat, given everything she was currently and had previously been through. But there were also times where I felt completely against her due to all of the manipulative scheming
I would definitely recommend this book!
Thank you again to Smith Publicity for providing me with an early access copy to this book! 💜
Firstly, I would like to say a massive thank you to Smith Publicity for providing me with an early copy of The Trouble With Drowning by Heather Hach to read and review.
Potential TW’s:
• depression
• anxiety
• bipolar disorder
• schizophrenia
• self harm
• attempted suicide
• stalking
• physical and emotional abuse
Synopsis:
This story follows a young woman named Kat, who is an aspiring writer and currently working on a memoir about her very troubled childhood.
One day, she meets and falls head over heels for a young man named Jacob who just so happens to be the son of one of Kat’s literary heroes.
Everything begins to fall into place for Kat. Her dreams are really starting to take shape with her writing and she is in a loving and fulfilling relationship. Everything is beginning to look up in her life.
But one day it all essentially comes crashing down. Demons from Kat’s past are resurfaced and when her relationship with Jacob falls apart, so does she.
After certain events occur, Kat begins to take the steps to try and aid her mental health. Whilst she still hasn’t fully healed for her recent breakup with Jacob, she puts all her focus and energy back into finishing off her memoir.
Soon after, Kat learns that Jacob has recently entered into a new relationship and has now moved on. Kat becomes obsessed with regaining that life she once had with Jacob and will stop at nothing to completely replace and rid of his new girlfriend.
My thoughts:
I genuinely loved this book so much. I feel like the pacing was perfect and kept me engaged the whole way through.
The first part of the story is a little bit slower, but I always find this to be expected, as there is character building that occurs. However, the story really takes off in the second part and this is where we really start to see the suspense and psychological thriller aspects.
I feel like it was a book that included so many layers and is one I will be thinking about for a long time.
Our main character is one who struggles with the ups and downs of her mental health. There were moments where I truly fell for Kat, given everything she was currently and had previously been through. But there were also times where I felt completely against her due to all of the manipulative scheming
I would definitely recommend this book!
Thank you again to Smith Publicity for providing me with an early access copy to this book! 💜
October 25, 2024
The Trouble with Drowning (audio)
4.25⭐️
This audiobook grabbed my attention at the beginning, lost me for a little bit in the middle, and picked up towards the end. The ending didn’t wow me the way I was expecting it to.
I’m learning I really enjoy reading books written by screenwriters. I can truly see these type of books play out as a movie in my mind. I was impressed with how real and raw the characters felt without being overly complicated. I thought it was a good representation of mental illness. The good, bad, and toxic parts of relationships were represented. I appreciated that none of the characters felt overly stereotypical, but instead read as real complex humans.
Audio specific feedback: I’m glad I got to hear the audio version. I feel like this is one I would enjoy more by listening vs reading. My opinion on the narrator ebbed and flowed throughout. Overall I enjoyed the narration and distinct voices, but some of the accents made me feel some sort of way.
Thank you NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks for this audio ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.
Audio Pub Date Nov 21 2024
4.25⭐️
This audiobook grabbed my attention at the beginning, lost me for a little bit in the middle, and picked up towards the end. The ending didn’t wow me the way I was expecting it to.
I’m learning I really enjoy reading books written by screenwriters. I can truly see these type of books play out as a movie in my mind. I was impressed with how real and raw the characters felt without being overly complicated. I thought it was a good representation of mental illness. The good, bad, and toxic parts of relationships were represented. I appreciated that none of the characters felt overly stereotypical, but instead read as real complex humans.
Audio specific feedback: I’m glad I got to hear the audio version. I feel like this is one I would enjoy more by listening vs reading. My opinion on the narrator ebbed and flowed throughout. Overall I enjoyed the narration and distinct voices, but some of the accents made me feel some sort of way.
Thank you NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks for this audio ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.
Audio Pub Date Nov 21 2024
November 8, 2024
Just finished listening to the book, The Trouble with Drowning. This book was released last year but the audio is about to be released on November 21st, and I was chosen to receive an arc of the audio. I was not expecting the twists and events that occurred in this book, I was pleasantly surprised! It was about a struggling writer, who finds her stride in life in more ways than one and things start going her way. But when they come crashing down and she can't cope, things take a turn, and she makes some decisions that had me anxiously on the edge of my seat. This audiobook kept my attention, and the twists had me fully captivated until the very end. This was really enjoyable to listen to! 💚📚
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this audio ARC of The Trouble with Drowning, in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this audio ARC of The Trouble with Drowning, in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2025
Kat is a struggling writer working in a bookstore, hoping to make it big one day. She meets the charismatic son, Jacob, of one of her literary idols, and can’t help but to fall for him. Things seem to be going well, until a few normal speed bumps turn into insurmountable mountains. Kat attributes this to her childhood growing up in the foster system, but it becomes too much for Jacob and he tries to move on. After a suicide attempt and a new diagnosis, Kat seems to be moving on as well. That is, until Jacob meets Eden, a children’s book author already more successful than Kat. Kat’s rage rises and mental health falters, and she tries to sabotage Jacob and Eden’s relationship - and will stop at nothing until she’s back on top.
I never knew the Freaky Friday (2003) screenwriter and libretto writer for Legally Blonde - The Musical could create such an intense thriller! In retrospect I see some of the signature quirks, but nothing that distracted from the dark and chilling aspects of this thriller. Overall, I enjoyed this book, with all due respect and diligence to state that folks with mental health diagnoses are far more likely to be victims of violent crimes rather than perpetrators. Kat was eerie and repeatedly gave me goosebumps, and I oscillated between sympathizing with her and being terrified of her. I hope that Heather Hach converts this to a screenplay some day, I’ll personally be one of the first in line for tickets!
Reviewed as part of #GoodreadsGiveaways. Many thanks to Greenleaf Book Group for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read this book if you:
📖 loved Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
🥀 watched any or all variations of Cruel Intentions
👱🏼♀️ “Bend and Snap” but a neck instead? I’m desperately trying (and failing) to tie in Legally Blonde lol
Follow me on Instagram for more book reviews!
I never knew the Freaky Friday (2003) screenwriter and libretto writer for Legally Blonde - The Musical could create such an intense thriller! In retrospect I see some of the signature quirks, but nothing that distracted from the dark and chilling aspects of this thriller. Overall, I enjoyed this book, with all due respect and diligence to state that folks with mental health diagnoses are far more likely to be victims of violent crimes rather than perpetrators. Kat was eerie and repeatedly gave me goosebumps, and I oscillated between sympathizing with her and being terrified of her. I hope that Heather Hach converts this to a screenplay some day, I’ll personally be one of the first in line for tickets!
Reviewed as part of #GoodreadsGiveaways. Many thanks to Greenleaf Book Group for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read this book if you:
📖 loved Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
🥀 watched any or all variations of Cruel Intentions
👱🏼♀️ “Bend and Snap” but a neck instead? I’m desperately trying (and failing) to tie in Legally Blonde lol
Follow me on Instagram for more book reviews!
October 26, 2024
Audiobook publishes Nov. 21
4.5
This went really differently than I expected, in a good surprise kind of way.
These characters are so well fleshed out and we get a really honest look at their motivations and relationships, and they're not all pretty inside.
I found Kat's character to be refreshing. She's certainly unwell in several parts, but even when she was quite a bit off the rails, I was absolutely rooting for her. I think it's because she ended up so openly and completely herself, embracing her strengths even when she was obviously struggling with her weaknesses.
LOVED the way this all came together at the end. Narration by Bell Laura Bundy was excellent.
Thank you to Greenleaf Audiobooks | Greenleaf Book Group Press and NetGalley for an audio ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
4.5
This went really differently than I expected, in a good surprise kind of way.
These characters are so well fleshed out and we get a really honest look at their motivations and relationships, and they're not all pretty inside.
I found Kat's character to be refreshing. She's certainly unwell in several parts, but even when she was quite a bit off the rails, I was absolutely rooting for her. I think it's because she ended up so openly and completely herself, embracing her strengths even when she was obviously struggling with her weaknesses.
LOVED the way this all came together at the end. Narration by Bell Laura Bundy was excellent.
Thank you to Greenleaf Audiobooks | Greenleaf Book Group Press and NetGalley for an audio ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
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April 11, 2024*4.5
This book was fascinating and impossible to put down! The main character, Kat, is such a complex and complicated person who we learn has suffered such a neglectful childhood that it leads to her becoming diagnosed with severe mental illness. We see as she becomes completely obsessed with her first love Jacob and does everything she can to keep him in her life even after they break up. Not only is she obsessed with him, but with his new girlfriend Eden, another author who is living Kat’s dream life. We get to experience Kat’s manic and depressive moods and how she tries to jeopardise Eden and Jacob’s relationship and create a version of Eden’s life for herself.
I love how we got to read about each characters’ life and how they dealt with their struggles and Kat’s turbulent character. My feelings towards Kat are complicated as I am also someone who has been diagnosed with a mood disorder so I can understand why she reacts the way she does at times but some of her actions are still unjustifiable and harmful to others around her.
There was never a dull moment in this book so I definitely recommend this to readers who are interested in exploring mental illness and love complex characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for a copy of an ARC in exchange for an honest review~
This book was fascinating and impossible to put down! The main character, Kat, is such a complex and complicated person who we learn has suffered such a neglectful childhood that it leads to her becoming diagnosed with severe mental illness. We see as she becomes completely obsessed with her first love Jacob and does everything she can to keep him in her life even after they break up. Not only is she obsessed with him, but with his new girlfriend Eden, another author who is living Kat’s dream life. We get to experience Kat’s manic and depressive moods and how she tries to jeopardise Eden and Jacob’s relationship and create a version of Eden’s life for herself.
I love how we got to read about each characters’ life and how they dealt with their struggles and Kat’s turbulent character. My feelings towards Kat are complicated as I am also someone who has been diagnosed with a mood disorder so I can understand why she reacts the way she does at times but some of her actions are still unjustifiable and harmful to others around her.
There was never a dull moment in this book so I definitely recommend this to readers who are interested in exploring mental illness and love complex characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for a copy of an ARC in exchange for an honest review~
July 15, 2024
I am always up for reading a psychological thriller, so I jumped at the chance to read THE TROUBLE WITH DROWNING by famous author and screenwriter, Heather Hach. This story got me engaged from the start. I am usually a fan of multiple points of view and this book used that technique perfectly. This story certainly highlights mental health issues and I thought it was done in an effective and compelling manner. The ending was great and I can certainly recommend this book!
Many thanks to Greenleaf Book Group Press and Heather Hach for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
Many thanks to Greenleaf Book Group Press and Heather Hach for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
December 6, 2023
I really enjoyed this engaging psychological thriller from the author's note in the beginning to the very end. There are some trigger warnings to be aware of so check those before reading. Heather does a great job using several of the characters to tell the story and I appreciated the multiple points of view. It was fascinating to get a peek into Kat's thought processes and how she reacted to the world around her. The why's of her actions are more complicated and I was kept off balance in my feelings about her right up to the conclusion. And what a conclusion! This novel is one you can't put down and you immediately wish you could read it again for the first time.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2024
“The trouble with drowning” .. the cover is so unique and the premise had me super interested in this book, I was really excited for it to come into NetGalley as an audiobook so I could finally get to read it.
Sadly that excitement did not last long, I feel very sorry to say but this is the first book I’ll ever be DNFing on NetGalley.. I made it to 70% after promises from other readers that the pacing and action picks up speed after the half way mark; but I just didn’t find that to be the case and didn’t want to prolong the unenjoyment I was experiencing.
Let me start by saying that the *writing* is NOT in any way bad. I can tell the author put a lot of time and effort into the book and it’s not the writing or dialogue that’s the problem for me, I felt entirely disconnected from all the characters after finding none of them likeable, I found the pacing of the book to be very slowwwww burn (if you like character focussed books then you will probably enjoy this).
I just wanted more from the plot, more action more thrill, something to get my blood pumping, but I just found my conscious drifting due to the lack of anything really happening.
Don’t let me put you off reading this book, there’s a chance you will still enjoy it, I may be the outlier here.
I will say the narrator was doing a good job, I just wasn’t giving with the plot.
Thank you to Heather Hach and Greenleaf audiobooks for giving me a chance, hopefully we can try again with something new in the future that will be a better fit for me.
Sadly that excitement did not last long, I feel very sorry to say but this is the first book I’ll ever be DNFing on NetGalley.. I made it to 70% after promises from other readers that the pacing and action picks up speed after the half way mark; but I just didn’t find that to be the case and didn’t want to prolong the unenjoyment I was experiencing.
Let me start by saying that the *writing* is NOT in any way bad. I can tell the author put a lot of time and effort into the book and it’s not the writing or dialogue that’s the problem for me, I felt entirely disconnected from all the characters after finding none of them likeable, I found the pacing of the book to be very slowwwww burn (if you like character focussed books then you will probably enjoy this).
I just wanted more from the plot, more action more thrill, something to get my blood pumping, but I just found my conscious drifting due to the lack of anything really happening.
Don’t let me put you off reading this book, there’s a chance you will still enjoy it, I may be the outlier here.
I will say the narrator was doing a good job, I just wasn’t giving with the plot.
Thank you to Heather Hach and Greenleaf audiobooks for giving me a chance, hopefully we can try again with something new in the future that will be a better fit for me.
April 11, 2024
Loved the start of this book with a note from the author. Also loved hearing different views from the characters. Being in a relationship with family that struggles with mental illness put this book close to home for me. I could understand points coming from Kat and understand the feelings from all sides. Really quick and easy read. Many emotions for me resonating with each character living so close to someone with mental illness.
November 11, 2024
The Trouble with Drowning by Heather Hach, audio book. 4.25 stars
This book was a great read. I was pulled in immediately by the detailed imagery and word choice. The story and plot were easy to follow and shifted to a true thriller by the end. I enjoyed that the beginning of the book focused on introducing and building the characters and the second half was more plot heavy.
I wish I could have read this with a book club so I could discuss it in a group, specifically the behavior of all characters surrounding mental health. All in all, this was a unique, entertaining story!
Big thank you to NetGalley, Heather Hach, and Greenleaf Book Group Press for an ARC copy of this audio book in exchange for my honest review.
This book was a great read. I was pulled in immediately by the detailed imagery and word choice. The story and plot were easy to follow and shifted to a true thriller by the end. I enjoyed that the beginning of the book focused on introducing and building the characters and the second half was more plot heavy.
I wish I could have read this with a book club so I could discuss it in a group, specifically the behavior of all characters surrounding mental health. All in all, this was a unique, entertaining story!
Big thank you to NetGalley, Heather Hach, and Greenleaf Book Group Press for an ARC copy of this audio book in exchange for my honest review.
September 24, 2023
"The Trouble with Drowning" drew me in right away, when Kat, a struggling writer develops a girl crush on Eden, someone who seems to have everything Kat doesn't.
While the themes are something that we can all relate to, as this goes down the rabbit hole of believing that her dreams of having it all can mirror Eden's. It gets a bit darker, and I would consider this a psychological thriller.
The book started losing me a bit in the middle, and then I regained interest. I would recommend the book, with the caveat that it is a thriller...not a fun beach read as you might think from the cover.
While the themes are something that we can all relate to, as this goes down the rabbit hole of believing that her dreams of having it all can mirror Eden's. It gets a bit darker, and I would consider this a psychological thriller.
The book started losing me a bit in the middle, and then I regained interest. I would recommend the book, with the caveat that it is a thriller...not a fun beach read as you might think from the cover.
November 18, 2024
Wow! Not at ALL what I expected!
This one takes you on a thrill ride and doesn’t let you take a full breath in until the last page…and, even then, it was iffy! 😮😮😮
Kat is living in Tuscon on a wing and a prayer. She works in a book shop (Antigone’s) and is striving to be an author. She has a roommate and is hoping to one day meet her Mom, who is her idol, and an established, well known author.
When she is invited to her pool one day, Kat is so excited that she might finally get to meet the Mom! 😬 Instead, she meets her brother, Jacob, and an instant attraction is formed!
And, things seem to be going very well…very quickly!
As she starts to open up to Jacob, she begins painting a picture of a horrific childhood filled with torment, neglect and some forms of abuse….
Once she starts feeling a bit more secure around Jacob and his family, she gets into writing and a groove! And she thinks she might just have a hit on her hands! A book portraying her childhood and all its problems…
But as time goes on we get to see the TRUE Kat emerging…one who has a lot of dark secrets and an even shadier history….
I’m going to end it here, as I don’t want to give the plot away….but, wow! My mouth was hanging open several times, and I actually GASPED out loud at one point while washing the dishes! (Thank God my family is use to my antics and didn’t immediately call 911! )
From what I’ve read, the author is a screenwriter, but worked on this during the Covid Isolation Times. I sincerely hope she continues writing, as this was phenomenal!
**** TRIGGER WARNINGS **** This one touches on a whole realm of triggers:
Abuse, Attempted Suicide, Bipolar Disease and Schizophrenia, Deception and Lies…as well as the mentality of: If I can’t have you….
Love that they threaded ‘flabbergasted’ (and another one, that of course, I can’t recall now…🫣) right into the fabric of the story!
4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 5!!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #GreenleafAudiobooks for an ARC of the audiobook which is ***** DUE TO BE RELEASED on 11/21/24!! *****
#TheTroubleWithDrowning by #HeatherHach and narrated beautifully by #BellLauraBundy.
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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
This one takes you on a thrill ride and doesn’t let you take a full breath in until the last page…and, even then, it was iffy! 😮😮😮
Kat is living in Tuscon on a wing and a prayer. She works in a book shop (Antigone’s) and is striving to be an author. She has a roommate and is hoping to one day meet her Mom, who is her idol, and an established, well known author.
When she is invited to her pool one day, Kat is so excited that she might finally get to meet the Mom! 😬 Instead, she meets her brother, Jacob, and an instant attraction is formed!
And, things seem to be going very well…very quickly!
As she starts to open up to Jacob, she begins painting a picture of a horrific childhood filled with torment, neglect and some forms of abuse….
Once she starts feeling a bit more secure around Jacob and his family, she gets into writing and a groove! And she thinks she might just have a hit on her hands! A book portraying her childhood and all its problems…
But as time goes on we get to see the TRUE Kat emerging…one who has a lot of dark secrets and an even shadier history….
I’m going to end it here, as I don’t want to give the plot away….but, wow! My mouth was hanging open several times, and I actually GASPED out loud at one point while washing the dishes! (Thank God my family is use to my antics and didn’t immediately call 911! )
From what I’ve read, the author is a screenwriter, but worked on this during the Covid Isolation Times. I sincerely hope she continues writing, as this was phenomenal!
**** TRIGGER WARNINGS **** This one touches on a whole realm of triggers:
Abuse, Attempted Suicide, Bipolar Disease and Schizophrenia, Deception and Lies…as well as the mentality of: If I can’t have you….
Love that they threaded ‘flabbergasted’ (and another one, that of course, I can’t recall now…🫣) right into the fabric of the story!
4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 5!!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #GreenleafAudiobooks for an ARC of the audiobook which is ***** DUE TO BE RELEASED on 11/21/24!! *****
#TheTroubleWithDrowning by #HeatherHach and narrated beautifully by #BellLauraBundy.
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November 21, 2024
Struggling writer Kat becomes infatuated with author Eden Hart and starts to emulate her in every aspect of her life. As Kat's career and love life start to mirror Eden's, she struggles to maintain this perfect facade. When her mental health deteriorates and her past demons resurface, Kat concocts a dangerous plan to regain control of her life.
I must admit, this audiobook was quite captivating. While I can imagine that as a book it may have been a bit slow, as an audiobook, it flowed beautifully with a wonderful narrator that kept me engaged throughout.
The storyline was rich with events, yet I remained intrigued to see how it would all unfold. While I do not have personal experience with mental health issues in my family, I have come across similar themes in books and movies. It is often the case that when individuals stop taking their medication, things take a turn.
Kat, the protagonist, had a challenging start in life, but as the truth unraveled, she finally received the help she needed. I understand the importance of medication, but I also recognize that some individuals struggle with it as it may alter their sense of self, leading to unpredictable and potentially dangerous behavior once medications are stopped.
It is evident that a great deal of research went into this book, or perhaps the author has personal experience with mental health. The pacing of the audiobook was swift, with unexpected twists that kept me on my toes. I was drawn to the book initially by its cover, and I am grateful that I gave it a chance, as it felt incredibly real.
This story lingers in my mind, prompting me to consider what I would do to assist someone in a similar situation, or how I would cope if faced with such challenges myself. If you are not sensitive to the themes presented in this book, I highly recommend it. The writing is engaging, with well-developed characters whose actions are portrayed vividly.
This book sheds light on the existence of individuals grappling with mental health issues, encouraging readers to empathize and understand their struggles. I find myself reflecting on the narrative long after finishing the book, a testament to its impact and thought-provoking nature.
Thank you, Greenleaf Audiobooks for an audio ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I must admit, this audiobook was quite captivating. While I can imagine that as a book it may have been a bit slow, as an audiobook, it flowed beautifully with a wonderful narrator that kept me engaged throughout.
The storyline was rich with events, yet I remained intrigued to see how it would all unfold. While I do not have personal experience with mental health issues in my family, I have come across similar themes in books and movies. It is often the case that when individuals stop taking their medication, things take a turn.
Kat, the protagonist, had a challenging start in life, but as the truth unraveled, she finally received the help she needed. I understand the importance of medication, but I also recognize that some individuals struggle with it as it may alter their sense of self, leading to unpredictable and potentially dangerous behavior once medications are stopped.
It is evident that a great deal of research went into this book, or perhaps the author has personal experience with mental health. The pacing of the audiobook was swift, with unexpected twists that kept me on my toes. I was drawn to the book initially by its cover, and I am grateful that I gave it a chance, as it felt incredibly real.
This story lingers in my mind, prompting me to consider what I would do to assist someone in a similar situation, or how I would cope if faced with such challenges myself. If you are not sensitive to the themes presented in this book, I highly recommend it. The writing is engaging, with well-developed characters whose actions are portrayed vividly.
This book sheds light on the existence of individuals grappling with mental health issues, encouraging readers to empathize and understand their struggles. I find myself reflecting on the narrative long after finishing the book, a testament to its impact and thought-provoking nature.
Thank you, Greenleaf Audiobooks for an audio ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 4, 2024
{2.5 Stars} If you are a fan of "You" on Netflix or the 2017 film "Ingrid Goes West," this book is for you. There are three parts of this book that focus on three different characters: Kat, Carol, and Eden. As the story unfolds, so does Kat's mental health. This book is an excellent reminder of why you should always take your meds, and has many funny little quips. (I shared my two favorites down below.)
But overall, this book fell short for me. I was lost in the beginning and kind of found my way in middle, but I didn't quite understand the point of the plot until the end. Once I reached that point, things were great, and I really enjoyed how the rest of the book played out. Prior to that, there was so much setup that I felt bored (and kind of lost like I just mentioned) and didn't really want to turn the book back on. The setup is super helpful to understand Kat's character, but I feel like it would've been more compelling if it was written in a dual timeline instead of just a linear one.
When it comes to the audiobook features alone, I feel like the narrator did an okay job. There were a lot of different voices that were all very distinct. However, Lucia's accent specifically lead me to believe that she was maybe Asian or maybe from a different area of the States. It wasn't until she said "Dios mio," that I realized she was Hispanic. But other accents, particularly with other Hispanic characters, felt very over the top. Finally, the thing that bothered me the most was during the epilogue when instead of saying Antigone, like the Sophocles play, that she said it like "anti-gone." Overall, the audiobook was good, I'm just nit-picky.
Although this book wasn't for me, thank you NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks for this ALC.
"Tucson knows it's the desert and doesn't pretend to be a suburb of LA." Ch 12
"Kat was JoJo Siwa, and Eden was Taylor Swift." Ch 24
But overall, this book fell short for me. I was lost in the beginning and kind of found my way in middle, but I didn't quite understand the point of the plot until the end. Once I reached that point, things were great, and I really enjoyed how the rest of the book played out. Prior to that, there was so much setup that I felt bored (and kind of lost like I just mentioned) and didn't really want to turn the book back on. The setup is super helpful to understand Kat's character, but I feel like it would've been more compelling if it was written in a dual timeline instead of just a linear one.
When it comes to the audiobook features alone, I feel like the narrator did an okay job. There were a lot of different voices that were all very distinct. However, Lucia's accent specifically lead me to believe that she was maybe Asian or maybe from a different area of the States. It wasn't until she said "Dios mio," that I realized she was Hispanic. But other accents, particularly with other Hispanic characters, felt very over the top. Finally, the thing that bothered me the most was during the epilogue when instead of saying Antigone, like the Sophocles play, that she said it like "anti-gone." Overall, the audiobook was good, I'm just nit-picky.
Although this book wasn't for me, thank you NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks for this ALC.
"Tucson knows it's the desert and doesn't pretend to be a suburb of LA." Ch 12
"Kat was JoJo Siwa, and Eden was Taylor Swift." Ch 24
November 6, 2024
I liked this, I didn't love it. It has the potential to be an incredible story, but the characters are too shallow and the pace was so slow, that I lost interest. The pace did pick up at the end, and if you can suspend your disbelief at the timing of all the events that occur simultaneously, then you have a wowser of an ending!
Kat is a young woman with a mental illness and sadly, she is alone in battling her illness, as, once she reveals a glimmer of perceived weakness to Jacob, the love of her life, he unceremoniously dumps her. Jacob's mother, Carol, continues to be supportive of Kat, encouraging her to have her memoir published, but when she realises Kat is no longer useful to her own career, she too walks away. Kat's character is portrayed as being stalker ish, when what she really needs is someone to help her. I found it difficult to like any of the characters, but when the truth about Kat's upbringing is revealed, at the end of the book, I really felt for her.
I listened to this on audiobook and was really impressed with Laura Bell Bundy's portrayal of the characters in the story.
3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Heather Hach and Greenleaf for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Kat is a young woman with a mental illness and sadly, she is alone in battling her illness, as, once she reveals a glimmer of perceived weakness to Jacob, the love of her life, he unceremoniously dumps her. Jacob's mother, Carol, continues to be supportive of Kat, encouraging her to have her memoir published, but when she realises Kat is no longer useful to her own career, she too walks away. Kat's character is portrayed as being stalker ish, when what she really needs is someone to help her. I found it difficult to like any of the characters, but when the truth about Kat's upbringing is revealed, at the end of the book, I really felt for her.
I listened to this on audiobook and was really impressed with Laura Bell Bundy's portrayal of the characters in the story.
3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Heather Hach and Greenleaf for an ARC in return for an honest review.
November 9, 2024
Wow this book was a RIDE I loved and hated this book in equal parts! This book was so well written. These characters were complex and the plot although general and just following everyday life ensured I was hooked the entire time. I didn’t know if this was a romance, drama or thriller and I think i’m still confused but it definitely had aspects of all including an unreliable narrator that will ensure a difficult reading experience at times but allowed significant immersion in the story. Although this book has been out for a year now, the audiobook comes out November 21st and I had such a great experience with it! It had me hooked throughout and allowed me to follow each character as if I was in their heads. I respected the mental health representation and believed it truthfully represented what it can be like for oneself and outsiders such as family, friends and partners to experience such disorders. I also enjoyed the complexity of being in the arts professionally, being an author and the struggles and personal judgement that comes with that. Although it got a bit over the top in my opinion towards the end it ultimately was a thoroughly enjoyable read and needs to be adapted because I would watch that in a heartbeat!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of the audiobook!! 4⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of the audiobook!! 4⭐️
October 23, 2023
I would like to thank NetGalley, Heather Hach and Greenleaf Book Group for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
4⭐ - I definitely recommend reading this book, although the book starts slow, this book sure has its twists and turns in the second half.
Based in sunny Tucson, Arizona. Kat Lamb is in her mid twenties and didn't have an easy time growing up. She's writing a memoir about being a foster kid and has a boyfriend whose mother is an author who can proofread her memoir.
Life at the moment is good for Kat, right? Well.. not exactly. When Kat doesn't get her way she gets violent and has mood swings. Jacob can't deal with Kat's antics anymore and breaks up with her.
Kat doesn't see any other way out than suicide, luckily Jacob's mum Carol saves her and brings her to the hospital, where she gets her diagnosis and is prescribed medication but still very much invested in Jacob and cannot seem to let him go. She makes a plan to get Jacob back.
Lastly this book hits close to home, I also had a friend with mental issues. At times I felt like Carol in this book and felt sad for Kat - as sad as I felt for Kat, she at times was a manipulative person and I couldn't get behind her schemes.
4⭐ - I definitely recommend reading this book, although the book starts slow, this book sure has its twists and turns in the second half.
Based in sunny Tucson, Arizona. Kat Lamb is in her mid twenties and didn't have an easy time growing up. She's writing a memoir about being a foster kid and has a boyfriend whose mother is an author who can proofread her memoir.
Life at the moment is good for Kat, right? Well.. not exactly. When Kat doesn't get her way she gets violent and has mood swings. Jacob can't deal with Kat's antics anymore and breaks up with her.
Kat doesn't see any other way out than suicide, luckily Jacob's mum Carol saves her and brings her to the hospital, where she gets her diagnosis and is prescribed medication but still very much invested in Jacob and cannot seem to let him go. She makes a plan to get Jacob back.
Lastly this book hits close to home, I also had a friend with mental issues. At times I felt like Carol in this book and felt sad for Kat - as sad as I felt for Kat, she at times was a manipulative person and I couldn't get behind her schemes.
July 31, 2024
Ok so let me start of saying I totally only read this book because I won it through a Goodreads giveaway! So i went into it very blind..
The story starts off V E R Y S L O O O O W!!
I get it, character and story building but man it was torture.
The story is about Kat, an aspiring author, who becomes madly obsessed with her roommate’s brother Jacob, who also happens to be the son of her literary idol, Carol Walsh! Things start stirring up real quick for K&J and totally flip Kat’s world upside down when things go from bad to worse. With her life in shambles, you really start to see Kat’s dark side come out, and you quickly learn Kat is totally unwell. TW for suicide, mental health, obsessive behaviors. As Jacob tries to move on with his life, Kat is lurking in the shadows, and unknowing to him trying to win back her love, Jacob.
The story picks up speed in part 2 and really flies off in Part 3. There are some parts where you really start to empathize for Kat and what she’s been through and then there’s time where you’re just there like GIRL NO!!
In the end your left on a little cliff hanger…I would defs like a second book picking up where this one left off.
The story starts off V E R Y S L O O O O W!!
I get it, character and story building but man it was torture.
The story is about Kat, an aspiring author, who becomes madly obsessed with her roommate’s brother Jacob, who also happens to be the son of her literary idol, Carol Walsh! Things start stirring up real quick for K&J and totally flip Kat’s world upside down when things go from bad to worse. With her life in shambles, you really start to see Kat’s dark side come out, and you quickly learn Kat is totally unwell. TW for suicide, mental health, obsessive behaviors. As Jacob tries to move on with his life, Kat is lurking in the shadows, and unknowing to him trying to win back her love, Jacob.
The story picks up speed in part 2 and really flies off in Part 3. There are some parts where you really start to empathize for Kat and what she’s been through and then there’s time where you’re just there like GIRL NO!!
In the end your left on a little cliff hanger…I would defs like a second book picking up where this one left off.
January 31, 2024
I detested the first third of this book. Continued reading it for book club. I’m not sure what the turning point was but I ended up enjoying it. Looking forward to discussing.
November 20, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the Audio-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book follows Kat, an aspiring author struggling with mental illness as she navigates her first "real" relationship.
The book started out quite okay but then slowed down a lot in the middle and then ending was.. something.
There was a lot of suspension of disbelief required to get into this book especially in the last 1/3 with all of those events taking place at once.
I was excited to see the depiction of mental illness but over all it leaned towards being problematic when it came to Kat, but Jacob's interaction with it seemed realistic enough.
The writing itself and the author's style were really good and I wasn't bored during the slow parts. I liked being inside Kat's head and seeing her reason out her actions from the inside.
The book follows Kat, an aspiring author struggling with mental illness as she navigates her first "real" relationship.
The book started out quite okay but then slowed down a lot in the middle and then ending was.. something.
There was a lot of suspension of disbelief required to get into this book especially in the last 1/3 with all of those events taking place at once.
I was excited to see the depiction of mental illness but over all it leaned towards being problematic when it came to Kat, but Jacob's interaction with it seemed realistic enough.
The writing itself and the author's style were really good and I wasn't bored during the slow parts. I liked being inside Kat's head and seeing her reason out her actions from the inside.
December 22, 2023
Thank you to my partner, Suzy Approved Book Tours, and the author. I appreciate the gifted and signed paperback ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!
1. 𝑵𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 - If there is one moral to this story, it is that mental health is a real thing and society needs to be more aware that the brain is just like any other organ. At times, things don’t work as they should, so medicinal help is needed.
2. 𝑶𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 - Such an interesting look into how a brain can dive into the depths of obsession when not properly taken care of. The dire consequences of Kat deciding to take care of it on her own affect everyone in her life.
3. 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍-𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 - The events that take place in this story are so relevant to things that do actually happen in real-life. It is both frightening and a breathe of fresh air when the storyline is actually realistic.
4. 𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 - A testament to the gift of a strong loving family compared to an upbringing of questionable compassion. Kat has had so much trauma and strife in her life and we learn of even more as the story comes to a conclusion. She felt the affection of true familial ties with Jacob’s family and that had to be a hard thing to lose once she had realized it.
5. 𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 - And there it is. That ending that begs for more. Books never cease to amaze me because I get so invested that I can envision what happens as life progresses for the characters. But I’d love a tiny glimpse from the author’s perspective!
1. 𝑵𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 - If there is one moral to this story, it is that mental health is a real thing and society needs to be more aware that the brain is just like any other organ. At times, things don’t work as they should, so medicinal help is needed.
2. 𝑶𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 - Such an interesting look into how a brain can dive into the depths of obsession when not properly taken care of. The dire consequences of Kat deciding to take care of it on her own affect everyone in her life.
3. 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍-𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 - The events that take place in this story are so relevant to things that do actually happen in real-life. It is both frightening and a breathe of fresh air when the storyline is actually realistic.
4. 𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 - A testament to the gift of a strong loving family compared to an upbringing of questionable compassion. Kat has had so much trauma and strife in her life and we learn of even more as the story comes to a conclusion. She felt the affection of true familial ties with Jacob’s family and that had to be a hard thing to lose once she had realized it.
5. 𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 - And there it is. That ending that begs for more. Books never cease to amaze me because I get so invested that I can envision what happens as life progresses for the characters. But I’d love a tiny glimpse from the author’s perspective!
September 22, 2023
4.5 rounded up.
Distraught, enervated, insistent.
Our MC is in their mid-twenties writing a memoir about their childhood experiences. They are searching for the love they never had growing up, but their judgement is hampered by trauma and mental health issues, causing them to go off the rails in an effort to evade rejection.
🇺🇸 Set in Tucson, Arizona, USA.
🐺🐕Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags:
👌 The first half of this is more character study with slow-building suspense. The second half is where we start to experience twists, mysteries, and all the drama. I found the pacing of both kept me hooked.
🫢 This seemed like an excellent portrayal of how someone with unprocessed traumas, mental illness, chemical imbalances, possible personality and attachment disorders faces day-to-day life and interpersonal relationships. There are moments where I felt for Kat, especially how others use her to make themselves feel better. There were also moments where I hated her and how she relied on manipulative scheming, feeling entitled because of how rough her early life was. I think it was realistic watching everything unfold and showing how an abused person can become the abuser, without making it seem like ALL people with trauma in their early life turn out that way.
🥺 On that note, there are opinions regarding mental illness that are offensive or cruel, but they come from characters who think that way and we see how it affects Kat directly and indirectly. There is no sugar-coating of mental health so keep in mind subject matter and content. Kat has latched on to people who aren’t a good match for her - everyone from fair weather friends to mentors with a saviour complex to people who see her as a total write-off.
👌 Third person narrative is good because we can get insights into the motivation of other characters without relying on lie by omission or using mental illness as a gimmick to create suspense and drama. We spend a fair bit of time in other characters’ minds too, so it isn’t exhausting just following Kat and only Kat.
👍 The cringey, second-hand embarrassment moments that I love in stories didn’t feel exploitative. Our MC is SO hyperaware of any sign of rejection that cause her to panic or become enraged. She is able to keep things together by being an extreme people-pleaser, but when the facade cracks it often results in rejection because her actions become abusive toward others.
🤔 Good book club discussion pick. I enjoyed the subtle, slowly evolving themes around nature vs nurture. I found myself wondering how the other characters (and myself) would be affected by a childhood like Kat’s. “Self pity is a monster, but she fed it now.” How much of ones coping skills, mental health, and personality are innate and unchangeable vs learned…and does that mean they are changeable? I think people will have different thoughts about each of the characters actions throughout. For example, cutting off contact with Kat in some cases is the healthy thing to do because she is being abusive, but then she got to that point because on some level she perceived that she was being taken advantage of by that person.
🤭 There are some smutty, steamy sex scenes (all consentual). Not my fav type of cringe, but nothing wrong with it. Kat puts a lot of effort into coming across as a unique, ‘not-like-the-other-girls’, mysterious sex kitten in an effort to gain love and acceptance from men.
🤓 Tech nerd nit-picking: No iPhones to date have been manufactured with both Face and Touch ID. Perhaps this was set in the not so distant future or a parallel universe hehe
Mood Reading Match Up:
-Character study with unhinged, second-hand embarrassment moments (not gimmicky - sort of how that can happen to someone)
-Stories with authors as the main characters and publishing drama
-Contemporary fiction with themes about conditional and unconditional love, attachment, self-sabotage, the effects of childhood trauma, and mental health issues
-True crime vibe obsession and stalking (could be a Dateline NBC story)
Content Heads-Up: Mental health (anxiety, panic, rage, depression). Childhood sexual, emotional, and physical abuse (off page, insinuated/mentioned). Stalking. Obsession. Suicide attempt. Rejection (peers, parents, partners). Pharmaceutical drug use (unintentional). Attempted murder/physical abuse. Death of a romantic partner.
Format: Digital advanced review copy from Greenleaf Book Group and NetGalley.
Distraught, enervated, insistent.
Our MC is in their mid-twenties writing a memoir about their childhood experiences. They are searching for the love they never had growing up, but their judgement is hampered by trauma and mental health issues, causing them to go off the rails in an effort to evade rejection.
🇺🇸 Set in Tucson, Arizona, USA.
🐺🐕Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags:
👌 The first half of this is more character study with slow-building suspense. The second half is where we start to experience twists, mysteries, and all the drama. I found the pacing of both kept me hooked.
🫢 This seemed like an excellent portrayal of how someone with unprocessed traumas, mental illness, chemical imbalances, possible personality and attachment disorders faces day-to-day life and interpersonal relationships. There are moments where I felt for Kat, especially how others use her to make themselves feel better. There were also moments where I hated her and how she relied on manipulative scheming, feeling entitled because of how rough her early life was. I think it was realistic watching everything unfold and showing how an abused person can become the abuser, without making it seem like ALL people with trauma in their early life turn out that way.
🥺 On that note, there are opinions regarding mental illness that are offensive or cruel, but they come from characters who think that way and we see how it affects Kat directly and indirectly. There is no sugar-coating of mental health so keep in mind subject matter and content. Kat has latched on to people who aren’t a good match for her - everyone from fair weather friends to mentors with a saviour complex to people who see her as a total write-off.
👌 Third person narrative is good because we can get insights into the motivation of other characters without relying on lie by omission or using mental illness as a gimmick to create suspense and drama. We spend a fair bit of time in other characters’ minds too, so it isn’t exhausting just following Kat and only Kat.
👍 The cringey, second-hand embarrassment moments that I love in stories didn’t feel exploitative. Our MC is SO hyperaware of any sign of rejection that cause her to panic or become enraged. She is able to keep things together by being an extreme people-pleaser, but when the facade cracks it often results in rejection because her actions become abusive toward others.
🤔 Good book club discussion pick. I enjoyed the subtle, slowly evolving themes around nature vs nurture. I found myself wondering how the other characters (and myself) would be affected by a childhood like Kat’s. “Self pity is a monster, but she fed it now.” How much of ones coping skills, mental health, and personality are innate and unchangeable vs learned…and does that mean they are changeable? I think people will have different thoughts about each of the characters actions throughout. For example, cutting off contact with Kat in some cases is the healthy thing to do because she is being abusive, but then she got to that point because on some level she perceived that she was being taken advantage of by that person.
🤭 There are some smutty, steamy sex scenes (all consentual). Not my fav type of cringe, but nothing wrong with it. Kat puts a lot of effort into coming across as a unique, ‘not-like-the-other-girls’, mysterious sex kitten in an effort to gain love and acceptance from men.
🤓 Tech nerd nit-picking: No iPhones to date have been manufactured with both Face and Touch ID. Perhaps this was set in the not so distant future or a parallel universe hehe
Mood Reading Match Up:
-Character study with unhinged, second-hand embarrassment moments (not gimmicky - sort of how that can happen to someone)
-Stories with authors as the main characters and publishing drama
-Contemporary fiction with themes about conditional and unconditional love, attachment, self-sabotage, the effects of childhood trauma, and mental health issues
-True crime vibe obsession and stalking (could be a Dateline NBC story)
Content Heads-Up: Mental health (anxiety, panic, rage, depression). Childhood sexual, emotional, and physical abuse (off page, insinuated/mentioned). Stalking. Obsession. Suicide attempt. Rejection (peers, parents, partners). Pharmaceutical drug use (unintentional). Attempted murder/physical abuse. Death of a romantic partner.
Format: Digital advanced review copy from Greenleaf Book Group and NetGalley.
November 25, 2023
Fun, but also definitely felt like a novel from a (very talented!!) screenwriter, not a novelist.
Predictable from the start (up until the completely unbelievable deus ex machina of a finish), characters are enjoyable but merely tropes, and the language is simplistic. (The few use of metaphors drew attention to the text of the language’s plainness.).
The use of a real mental health drug initially felt like an ad for the product, but its proper use, and then misuse, by a character turned scary to the point that readers struggling with whether or not to medicate might overlook benefits due to side effect warnings.
Predictable from the start (up until the completely unbelievable deus ex machina of a finish), characters are enjoyable but merely tropes, and the language is simplistic. (The few use of metaphors drew attention to the text of the language’s plainness.).
The use of a real mental health drug initially felt like an ad for the product, but its proper use, and then misuse, by a character turned scary to the point that readers struggling with whether or not to medicate might overlook benefits due to side effect warnings.
January 16, 2024
When author Eden Hart floats into Tucson’s Antigone Books in all her dazzling perfection to give a reading, Kat, a struggling writer, can’t help but compare herself. Professionally, physically, socially—Eden is Kat’s aspiration. Thankfully, Kat’s life starts to take on its own Eden-like glow when her literary future takes shape and she falls madly in love with Jacob, the effortlessly charismatic son of her literary hero. Kat’s life is finally her fantasy realized: a burgeoning career, mentoring from her idol, and a wildly fulfilling relationship. But how long can she keep this up? And when will disappointment tap Kat on the shoulder yet again?
As demons from her past begin to surface, Kat’s mental health craters, and this halcyon dream slips through her fingers. Obsessed with reclaiming her idealized life, Kat develops an insidious plan to not only bring Jacob back into her world but also punish anyone who dares to replace her.
Mother of all plot twists. This book was amazing from start to finish. Will recommend to others who love thrillers.
As demons from her past begin to surface, Kat’s mental health craters, and this halcyon dream slips through her fingers. Obsessed with reclaiming her idealized life, Kat develops an insidious plan to not only bring Jacob back into her world but also punish anyone who dares to replace her.
Mother of all plot twists. This book was amazing from start to finish. Will recommend to others who love thrillers.
June 17, 2024
I have a lot to say about this one.
This book started out actually pretty fine for me. A lot of other reviewers thought the first 2/3 were slower and then the story ramped up, but honestly the first third was the most well written part, in my opinion. Everything just went down hill, and then down some more, and ended in a dumpster fire.
First of all, this was a harmful depiction of mental illness. Absolutely 0/10. Kat wasn’t even acting all that erratic while in a relationship with Jacob, and Jacob flew off the handle and decided she was the worst over…emotional outbursts? Tame ones, at that? Honestly, his reactions were more outrageous than hers!
Kat had issues, and she needed help. Unfortunately, finding the right medication that you jive with sometimes is more difficult than trying just one, and she didn’t like how she felt on antipsychotics which I think a lot of people feel when they start new psych medication. But this book made her out to be a “crazy lady” and she was just a traumatized person with a serious mood disorder. I hated how she was depicted.
Jacob is the actual worst. A woman starts to feel feelings or go through some emotional highs and lows and he just books it? Men like this one are why millennials don’t get married, or stay married. He broke up with these women for the most ridiculous reasons ever, and yet these women were groveling at his feet for them to take him back. Absurd.
And Carol! Carol is supposed to be this supportive maternal character but she actually only wants to help Kat so she can exploit Kat’s traumatic experience to keep her own career from crashing and burning, and when she decides she’s over Kat, she drops her like a hot potato.
And the ending was just…terrible. For some reason a full blood panel only took 2-3 days to get results on but a tox screen took a month(?!) and Eden just HAPPENED to make the poisoning discovery at the exact same time Kat HAPPENED to beat Jacob’s head in at the exact same time Kat’s parents HAPPENED to randomly stop by and everyone just HAPPENED to trauma dump Kat’s entire life story right in ear shot of Eden?
This book was slow. This book had awful characters. I didn’t like it. At all.
This book started out actually pretty fine for me. A lot of other reviewers thought the first 2/3 were slower and then the story ramped up, but honestly the first third was the most well written part, in my opinion. Everything just went down hill, and then down some more, and ended in a dumpster fire.
First of all, this was a harmful depiction of mental illness. Absolutely 0/10. Kat wasn’t even acting all that erratic while in a relationship with Jacob, and Jacob flew off the handle and decided she was the worst over…emotional outbursts? Tame ones, at that? Honestly, his reactions were more outrageous than hers!
Kat had issues, and she needed help. Unfortunately, finding the right medication that you jive with sometimes is more difficult than trying just one, and she didn’t like how she felt on antipsychotics which I think a lot of people feel when they start new psych medication. But this book made her out to be a “crazy lady” and she was just a traumatized person with a serious mood disorder. I hated how she was depicted.
Jacob is the actual worst. A woman starts to feel feelings or go through some emotional highs and lows and he just books it? Men like this one are why millennials don’t get married, or stay married. He broke up with these women for the most ridiculous reasons ever, and yet these women were groveling at his feet for them to take him back. Absurd.
And Carol! Carol is supposed to be this supportive maternal character but she actually only wants to help Kat so she can exploit Kat’s traumatic experience to keep her own career from crashing and burning, and when she decides she’s over Kat, she drops her like a hot potato.
And the ending was just…terrible. For some reason a full blood panel only took 2-3 days to get results on but a tox screen took a month(?!) and Eden just HAPPENED to make the poisoning discovery at the exact same time Kat HAPPENED to beat Jacob’s head in at the exact same time Kat’s parents HAPPENED to randomly stop by and everyone just HAPPENED to trauma dump Kat’s entire life story right in ear shot of Eden?
This book was slow. This book had awful characters. I didn’t like it. At all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2023
I was immediately drawn to this cover and intrigued by the title. I think this would be a good book club pick because there’s a lot to discuss. Mental health, grief, jealousy, unprocessed trauma, foster care, stalking and the publishing world are some of the things that come up.
Kat is in her 20s working on her memoir about being a foster child. She meets Jacob and falls head over heels. His mother, Carol, a fellow author and her literary hero, becomes her mentor. However, it’s not long until Kat's mood swings get more erratic and her relationship with Jacob collapses, leading to a suicide attempt.
Kat is diagnosed with a mental disorder in the hospital and prescribed medication and therapy. Kat eventually gets a book deal and things are looking up. Until there's a bad review... Then she learns Jacob is dating a very successful author, Eden... The jealous and unhinged version of Kat returns. Kat not only wants to knock Eden off her perch but replace her entirely. If you like dark books, you will love this. The ending was really good!
What if you had everything you could ever dream of? A developing career in a field you love, a mentor you have looked up to for years, and a loving and fulfilling relationship? What would you do if you lost it all? Who would you be if you weren’t loved?
Read if you're looking for:
☀️ A book setting in Arizona
📚 A psychological thriller that has a lot of layers
🧠 A character that struggles with mental illness and has ups and downs
👀 A book that explores jealousy, obsession and stalking
✍️ Author characters and publishing drama
🏠 Are interested in real estate and staging homes
Thank you Smith Publicity, Greenleaf Book Group and Heather Hach for my gifted copy.
Pub Date: October 17, 2023
Kat is in her 20s working on her memoir about being a foster child. She meets Jacob and falls head over heels. His mother, Carol, a fellow author and her literary hero, becomes her mentor. However, it’s not long until Kat's mood swings get more erratic and her relationship with Jacob collapses, leading to a suicide attempt.
Kat is diagnosed with a mental disorder in the hospital and prescribed medication and therapy. Kat eventually gets a book deal and things are looking up. Until there's a bad review... Then she learns Jacob is dating a very successful author, Eden... The jealous and unhinged version of Kat returns. Kat not only wants to knock Eden off her perch but replace her entirely. If you like dark books, you will love this. The ending was really good!
What if you had everything you could ever dream of? A developing career in a field you love, a mentor you have looked up to for years, and a loving and fulfilling relationship? What would you do if you lost it all? Who would you be if you weren’t loved?
Read if you're looking for:
☀️ A book setting in Arizona
📚 A psychological thriller that has a lot of layers
🧠 A character that struggles with mental illness and has ups and downs
👀 A book that explores jealousy, obsession and stalking
✍️ Author characters and publishing drama
🏠 Are interested in real estate and staging homes
Thank you Smith Publicity, Greenleaf Book Group and Heather Hach for my gifted copy.
Pub Date: October 17, 2023
March 8, 2024
Thank you for this free goodreads Kindle Copy! Wow! I really liked this book. It does have some trigger warnings, and deals with mental illness, but the characters are all really good. A fast read and good story line! 🦩🦩🦩
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