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She's a Lamb!
A darkly comic suspense in the vein of
All’s Well
and
Yellowface
,
She’s a Lamb!
is an edgy and incisive novel that marches toward showtime with a growing unease about the dangers of magical thinking and the depths of delusion.
Jessamyn St. Germain is meant to be a star. Not an actor who occasionally books yogurt commercials and certainly not a lowly usher at one of Vancouver’s smallest regional theaters. No, she is bound for greatness, and that’s why the part of Maria in the theater’s upcoming production of The Sound of Music is hers. Or it’s going to be.
Jessamyn may have been relegated to the position of childminder for the little brats playing the von Trapp children, but it’s so obvious she’s there for a different reason—the director wants her close to the role so when Samantha, the lead, inevitably fails, Jessamyn will be there to take her place in the spotlight.
This must be it. Because if it isn’t, well, then every skipped meal, every brutal rehearsal, every inch won against a man attempting to drag her down will have all been for nothing.
Sharp, relentless, and darkly funny, She’s a Lamb! is a cutting satire about the grotesque pall patriarchy casts over one woman’s delusional quest to achieve her dreams and the depths she will sink to for a chance at the life she’s convinced she deserves.
Jessamyn St. Germain is meant to be a star. Not an actor who occasionally books yogurt commercials and certainly not a lowly usher at one of Vancouver’s smallest regional theaters. No, she is bound for greatness, and that’s why the part of Maria in the theater’s upcoming production of The Sound of Music is hers. Or it’s going to be.
Jessamyn may have been relegated to the position of childminder for the little brats playing the von Trapp children, but it’s so obvious she’s there for a different reason—the director wants her close to the role so when Samantha, the lead, inevitably fails, Jessamyn will be there to take her place in the spotlight.
This must be it. Because if it isn’t, well, then every skipped meal, every brutal rehearsal, every inch won against a man attempting to drag her down will have all been for nothing.
Sharp, relentless, and darkly funny, She’s a Lamb! is a cutting satire about the grotesque pall patriarchy casts over one woman’s delusional quest to achieve her dreams and the depths she will sink to for a chance at the life she’s convinced she deserves.
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First published April 8, 2025
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April 8, 2025
I used to work for a small theatre company started by a group of friends that I was tangentially connected to in those early and fearless years after everyone had finished their various college degrees. They were idealistic and had visions of making bold theatre that stood out amongst the typical fare of the city that we had all adopted and all had begun to refer to as home. They formed as a collective of about a dozen large, all from various backgrounds and all having some general idea of what they specialized in and could bring to the group. By the time I made my move to the city and joined the party, things had dwindled down to a few remaining stalwarts that kept the tent poles propped up and continued to produce shows on a regular basis. Initially, I joined on as a bit of a last minute favour to help design and manage the sound for an upcoming performance. I expected to do my time, have a bit of fun and then go back to my own thing. What I didn’t expect was how deeply I would lap up the Kool-Aid like I’d been lost in the desert for years.
There are few feelings as powerful as that of delusion. And while it is often presented as a negative thing, it is through the power of delusion that we are often able to accomplish things that feel out of reach or even otherworldly. You would be hard pressed to find a celebrity or politician alive that hadn’t ever subscribed to some sort of overhyped belief in themselves that made them truly feel that they were the answer to people’s need for direction, for guidance, for entertainment or for their well-being.
Jessamyn St. Germain is the beating heart of Meredith Hambrock’s She’s A Lamb. And while she appears to be the epitome of the most unreliable narrator, she exists more so in a near-consistent state of blurred vision with small pockets of extreme focus in which the genuine article that is her appears right before it is handily shoved back into the muck and the haze of her delusions of grandeur. Jessamyn is an actor, but not an actor that is satisfied with playing young moms in laundry commercials or taking the lead role in a serious and dialogue-heavy theatre production. Instead, Jessamyn believes that she is destined to star in the only aspect of performance that she bears any credence to: musical theatre.
From the get go, we are presented with a version of Jessamyn that despite being intelligent, witty and admirably dedicated to her craft, is wholly unlikable as a person. She’s narcissistic, snobby and the cloud of rage that simmers just underneath the surface is apparent almost immediately. And while in most cases, it would be hard to find any modicum of sympathy for a character that made the decision to turn her stalker into her boyfriend (simply because it made her feel like she had her first fan) while she also dates another man purely for the fact that he spoils her with money, food and Uber rides, somehow Meredith Hambrock pulls off the near impossible and has crafted a character in Jessamyn St. Germain that is supremely easy to be frustrated with while also catching yourself rooting for her at the same time.
As the story unfolds, Jessamyn becomes singularly focused on securing the lead role of Maria Von Trapp in a small local theatre’s production of The Sound Of Music through whatever means necessary. That the theatre hosting the performance also happens to be where she works part-time as an usher for the mostly geriatric crowds that fill the theatre on weekends doesn’t deter her strident belief that she isn’t just the right choice for the role, she was born to play and perform this part. However, it quickly becomes clear that Jessamyn’s belief in herself remains solely with herself as those around her generally appear baffled when she sings and gently encourage her to keep taking legitimate acting roles where they are convinced she will shine and where Jessamyn is certain she will drown in boredom and sadness.
What follows is a spiral into levels of frustration and desperation that Jessamyn is unprepared for, but does little to ward off her delusion that she was meant to play this particular role in this particular performance. Along the way, we get small glimpses into her relationships with both of her boyfriends, as well as the burgeoning friendship/relationship with Rudy, a co-worker at the theatre that actually seems to take the time to look for the real Jessamyn behind the facade that she presents. As we learn more about Jessamyn’s past with her father, about her past involvement in a Shakespearean festival, about her competitiveness with her peer and nemesis, Samantha, about all the myriad of ways that she’s been strung along, lied to, used for money, the underlying rage that exists as a growing fever inside of her and the seemingly disconnected and uncaring way that she traverses through the world and with the people that she interacts with as she moves toward her goals start to line up and make sense. In the end, the greatest role that Jessamyn continually plays is that of someone that has their shit together and isn’t always five seconds away from losing it.
As I’ve started to spend more time writing about the books that I am reading, I find myself taking notes as I go along; marking down thoughts or revelations that I have as I absorb the text or just copying down a quote that I want to make sure I don’t forget. The biggest compliment that I can give to She’s A Lamb is that just under halfway through my time with it, I completely stopped taking notes because I was just enjoying the act of reading this book and the time that I got to spend with it so much. Walking up the stairs in my house and trying not to trip as I read, standing over the sink to eat toast and drink coffee while I block out the world and read, sitting in the car eking out every last second possible that I can take in just a bit more of Jessamyn’s wild story.
My own time working with a theatre company was relatively short, but the delusion hit all of us as the rehearsals went on and we felt like we had come up with something that was going to shake the world. Even through performances where less than ten people arrived to witness the show, we still held onto that belief that we were doing something important, something vital. And while it’s easy to look at She’s A Lamb and marvel at the depths to which someone like Jessamyn can sink into delusion, it’s also just as easy to forget that without that burning feeling that we are absolutely destined for something great, whether it be a fleeting thought or a persistent hum that drowns out all other rational thought, none of us would ever achieve even a fraction of the things that we dream about.
I’d like to thank Meredith Hambrock for sending me an advanced copy of her truly wonderful book to read and review.
There are few feelings as powerful as that of delusion. And while it is often presented as a negative thing, it is through the power of delusion that we are often able to accomplish things that feel out of reach or even otherworldly. You would be hard pressed to find a celebrity or politician alive that hadn’t ever subscribed to some sort of overhyped belief in themselves that made them truly feel that they were the answer to people’s need for direction, for guidance, for entertainment or for their well-being.
Jessamyn St. Germain is the beating heart of Meredith Hambrock’s She’s A Lamb. And while she appears to be the epitome of the most unreliable narrator, she exists more so in a near-consistent state of blurred vision with small pockets of extreme focus in which the genuine article that is her appears right before it is handily shoved back into the muck and the haze of her delusions of grandeur. Jessamyn is an actor, but not an actor that is satisfied with playing young moms in laundry commercials or taking the lead role in a serious and dialogue-heavy theatre production. Instead, Jessamyn believes that she is destined to star in the only aspect of performance that she bears any credence to: musical theatre.
From the get go, we are presented with a version of Jessamyn that despite being intelligent, witty and admirably dedicated to her craft, is wholly unlikable as a person. She’s narcissistic, snobby and the cloud of rage that simmers just underneath the surface is apparent almost immediately. And while in most cases, it would be hard to find any modicum of sympathy for a character that made the decision to turn her stalker into her boyfriend (simply because it made her feel like she had her first fan) while she also dates another man purely for the fact that he spoils her with money, food and Uber rides, somehow Meredith Hambrock pulls off the near impossible and has crafted a character in Jessamyn St. Germain that is supremely easy to be frustrated with while also catching yourself rooting for her at the same time.
As the story unfolds, Jessamyn becomes singularly focused on securing the lead role of Maria Von Trapp in a small local theatre’s production of The Sound Of Music through whatever means necessary. That the theatre hosting the performance also happens to be where she works part-time as an usher for the mostly geriatric crowds that fill the theatre on weekends doesn’t deter her strident belief that she isn’t just the right choice for the role, she was born to play and perform this part. However, it quickly becomes clear that Jessamyn’s belief in herself remains solely with herself as those around her generally appear baffled when she sings and gently encourage her to keep taking legitimate acting roles where they are convinced she will shine and where Jessamyn is certain she will drown in boredom and sadness.
What follows is a spiral into levels of frustration and desperation that Jessamyn is unprepared for, but does little to ward off her delusion that she was meant to play this particular role in this particular performance. Along the way, we get small glimpses into her relationships with both of her boyfriends, as well as the burgeoning friendship/relationship with Rudy, a co-worker at the theatre that actually seems to take the time to look for the real Jessamyn behind the facade that she presents. As we learn more about Jessamyn’s past with her father, about her past involvement in a Shakespearean festival, about her competitiveness with her peer and nemesis, Samantha, about all the myriad of ways that she’s been strung along, lied to, used for money, the underlying rage that exists as a growing fever inside of her and the seemingly disconnected and uncaring way that she traverses through the world and with the people that she interacts with as she moves toward her goals start to line up and make sense. In the end, the greatest role that Jessamyn continually plays is that of someone that has their shit together and isn’t always five seconds away from losing it.
As I’ve started to spend more time writing about the books that I am reading, I find myself taking notes as I go along; marking down thoughts or revelations that I have as I absorb the text or just copying down a quote that I want to make sure I don’t forget. The biggest compliment that I can give to She’s A Lamb is that just under halfway through my time with it, I completely stopped taking notes because I was just enjoying the act of reading this book and the time that I got to spend with it so much. Walking up the stairs in my house and trying not to trip as I read, standing over the sink to eat toast and drink coffee while I block out the world and read, sitting in the car eking out every last second possible that I can take in just a bit more of Jessamyn’s wild story.
My own time working with a theatre company was relatively short, but the delusion hit all of us as the rehearsals went on and we felt like we had come up with something that was going to shake the world. Even through performances where less than ten people arrived to witness the show, we still held onto that belief that we were doing something important, something vital. And while it’s easy to look at She’s A Lamb and marvel at the depths to which someone like Jessamyn can sink into delusion, it’s also just as easy to forget that without that burning feeling that we are absolutely destined for something great, whether it be a fleeting thought or a persistent hum that drowns out all other rational thought, none of us would ever achieve even a fraction of the things that we dream about.
I’d like to thank Meredith Hambrock for sending me an advanced copy of her truly wonderful book to read and review.
June 27, 2025
Jessamyn will stop at nothing to become a Broadway star. But she’s a long way off from that goal. Currently, she juggles working as an usher at a theatre in Vancouver with auditioning for TV commercials. So when she gets the opportunity to try out for the main role in a local performance of The Sound of Music, she’s convinced that this will be her big break. The only problem is she doesn’t book the part. Or any part, actually. She is offered a job—as a babysitter for the child actors. Jessamyn knows in her heart that she could do a better job than the woman cast as the lead…and she’ll go to great lengths to try and snatch the role out from under her.
I expected this book to be darkly hilarious (which it absolutely was) but I didn’t expect it to be so emotionally stirring. Even though Jessamyn is a deluded and amoral character, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for her and wanting her to succeed.
I think what this book depicts especially well is how some men project the personalities they want to see onto women who are beautiful. Jessamyn is gorgeous, and one suitor is convinced that she has hidden intellectual depths while another is sure she is craving a life of domesticity. Jessamyn’s actual personality traits and opinions don’t really factor into their perceptions of her. As much as she wields her beauty for her own gain, it is also one of her greatest liabilities.
I love when a book gives me a villain I want to root for. Jessamyn isn’t particularly likeable or relatable, but by the end of the book I was cheering her on…despite some VERY questionable choices.
I expected this book to be darkly hilarious (which it absolutely was) but I didn’t expect it to be so emotionally stirring. Even though Jessamyn is a deluded and amoral character, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for her and wanting her to succeed.
I think what this book depicts especially well is how some men project the personalities they want to see onto women who are beautiful. Jessamyn is gorgeous, and one suitor is convinced that she has hidden intellectual depths while another is sure she is craving a life of domesticity. Jessamyn’s actual personality traits and opinions don’t really factor into their perceptions of her. As much as she wields her beauty for her own gain, it is also one of her greatest liabilities.
I love when a book gives me a villain I want to root for. Jessamyn isn’t particularly likeable or relatable, but by the end of the book I was cheering her on…despite some VERY questionable choices.
December 21, 2025
a favorite read of 2025🩵
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!
PLEASE check trigger warnings because this is an extremely dark book that talks about very serious topics (sexual assault, stalking, abuse) in a light manner due to the POV of our mc, who is quite literally delusional and obsessive.
instant five stars — this was a WILD ride, and the narrator totally added to the chaotic energy with her spectacular performance.
our fmc jessamyn is quite literally a psycho — she is a danger not only to herself but to others, especially those she is jealous of. she has no empathy for others; she uses (emotionally, mentally, financially), and physically harms others in an attempt to clear obstructions and achieve her own delusional goals: to become an award winning actress.
despite jessamyn herself being a victim, she is not sympathetic to other victims, or even herself.
the narrator captured the chaotic delusion of a narcissist PERFECTLY.
i’m excited to read whatever else the author writes!
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!
PLEASE check trigger warnings because this is an extremely dark book that talks about very serious topics (sexual assault, stalking, abuse) in a light manner due to the POV of our mc, who is quite literally delusional and obsessive.
instant five stars — this was a WILD ride, and the narrator totally added to the chaotic energy with her spectacular performance.
our fmc jessamyn is quite literally a psycho — she is a danger not only to herself but to others, especially those she is jealous of. she has no empathy for others; she uses (emotionally, mentally, financially), and physically harms others in an attempt to clear obstructions and achieve her own delusional goals: to become an award winning actress.
despite jessamyn herself being a victim, she is not sympathetic to other victims, or even herself.
the narrator captured the chaotic delusion of a narcissist PERFECTLY.
i’m excited to read whatever else the author writes!
May 16, 2025
“The hills are alive, with the sound of music!” 🎶
Jessamyn St. Germain is a delusional narcissist who believes she is a star bound for greatness. Of course she is born to play the lead role of Maria in The Sound of Music at the small Vancouver theater where she works as an usher. However, when Samantha gets the lead and she is relegated to the child minder for the child actors who play the von Trapp children, Jessamyn decides she is Samantha’s understudy. She will play the part of Maria come hell or high water and no one will stand in her way.
She’s a Lamb is a campy satire with dark comedic undertones. That’s not to say that this book is humorous, so don’t expect a laugh out loud type of read. Jessamyn is a well-written deeply flawed character who starts to unravel when her secrets come to light.
Thanks to reviewer Cassie for putting this crazy book on my radar! It hit most of my expectations, considering how much I enjoy unreliable narrators and love The Sound of Music. I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla read by Stephanie Willing, who absolutely knocked it out of the park. I highly recommend listening to this one!
I did hope for a little more out of the ending, but overall really enjoyed Jessamyn’s brand of crazy!
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Jessamyn St. Germain is a delusional narcissist who believes she is a star bound for greatness. Of course she is born to play the lead role of Maria in The Sound of Music at the small Vancouver theater where she works as an usher. However, when Samantha gets the lead and she is relegated to the child minder for the child actors who play the von Trapp children, Jessamyn decides she is Samantha’s understudy. She will play the part of Maria come hell or high water and no one will stand in her way.
She’s a Lamb is a campy satire with dark comedic undertones. That’s not to say that this book is humorous, so don’t expect a laugh out loud type of read. Jessamyn is a well-written deeply flawed character who starts to unravel when her secrets come to light.
Thanks to reviewer Cassie for putting this crazy book on my radar! It hit most of my expectations, considering how much I enjoy unreliable narrators and love The Sound of Music. I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla read by Stephanie Willing, who absolutely knocked it out of the park. I highly recommend listening to this one!
I did hope for a little more out of the ending, but overall really enjoyed Jessamyn’s brand of crazy!
3.5/5 stars rounded up
May 23, 2025
THIS WAS FUCKING INSANEEEEEE I LOVED IT!!! a story about an insane white woman crashing tf out. 10000/10
July 16, 2025
Jessamyn St. Germain has always been destined to be a Broadway star. She has worked tirelessly to get to where she is by doing commercials that are, frankly, well below her level of talent and she's sick of it. She should be on a stage, shining, admired. She deserves weeps and applause for her flawless performances.
When an opportunity arises for her to try out for an upcoming production of The Sound of Music to play the lead of Maria she knows she has the part. How can they deny her?
Until she doesn't. Instead they give the role to some talentless loser. Now it's time for Jessamyn to make things right. The part will be hers one way or another.
I recently read another book with a similar premise that I found rather disappointing. What I wanted from that book Hambrock delivered in this book. Talk about cuckoo for cocoa puffs. This woman was a hoot. Absolute lunacy and I loved it. I will say that this does have an abrupt ending but the lead up was everything I had hoped for. I will definitely check out more books from this author in the future. 4 stars!
When an opportunity arises for her to try out for an upcoming production of The Sound of Music to play the lead of Maria she knows she has the part. How can they deny her?
Until she doesn't. Instead they give the role to some talentless loser. Now it's time for Jessamyn to make things right. The part will be hers one way or another.
I recently read another book with a similar premise that I found rather disappointing. What I wanted from that book Hambrock delivered in this book. Talk about cuckoo for cocoa puffs. This woman was a hoot. Absolute lunacy and I loved it. I will say that this does have an abrupt ending but the lead up was everything I had hoped for. I will definitely check out more books from this author in the future. 4 stars!
March 21, 2025
wow! i couldn’t put this down. immediate 5 stars. i love a delusional woman, and this was the epitome of that. and somehow deeply emotionally all at the same time. unhinged and creepy, and well worth the read! this says it isn’t published yet but i found a copy in store, so odd
April 16, 2025
I listened to the audiobook on hoopla!
https://www.hoopladigital.com/audiobo...
Witty, whipcrack smart satire and over-the-top, unhinged female in a delusional pursuit of her broadway dreams. I had so much fun listening to this on my walks. I have no idea how people listen to books at x2 speed (it sounded like warp speed at 1.5) but anyways, my only complaint was that it ends very abruptly. I was a little shocked, honestly and thought hoopla skipped a chapter.
Other than that, as a major drama nerd in school who did musicals and theater, this hit the spot. More soon in my April edition of my ongoing article at the LineUp
https://the-line-up.com/mother-horror...
https://www.hoopladigital.com/audiobo...
Witty, whipcrack smart satire and over-the-top, unhinged female in a delusional pursuit of her broadway dreams. I had so much fun listening to this on my walks. I have no idea how people listen to books at x2 speed (it sounded like warp speed at 1.5) but anyways, my only complaint was that it ends very abruptly. I was a little shocked, honestly and thought hoopla skipped a chapter.
Other than that, as a major drama nerd in school who did musicals and theater, this hit the spot. More soon in my April edition of my ongoing article at the LineUp
https://the-line-up.com/mother-horror...
March 7, 2025
There were some things I loved about this campy novel and then some that fell a bit flat, but overall I’m not mad at the experience of reading She’s A Lamb!
The cover truly says it all about this book and camp is truly the best way to describe it. Campy, theatrical violence from a truly despicable and unhinged main character. I absolutely love a messy protagonist and our musical loving weirdo is just that. My biggest miss from her though was that I wanted MORE.
I bet the authour would think, what more could I give you?! She’s unhinged, dark, twisted, despicable but I wanted a bit more when it came to the internal processing. I wanted more depth to her thoughts and we got more of that nearing the 70% mark when she starts losing her grip on reality but I desired it much sooner than it came. I wanted more of a push and pull of her sanity instead of the straight and narrow psychopathy she exuded. She’s demented but not a true blood psycho, so I wanted that unhinged mentality she gave us outwardly, internally.
I’m definitely not mad at this and if you love a good violent protagonist that loses her ever living mind, this is it.
The cover truly says it all about this book and camp is truly the best way to describe it. Campy, theatrical violence from a truly despicable and unhinged main character. I absolutely love a messy protagonist and our musical loving weirdo is just that. My biggest miss from her though was that I wanted MORE.
I bet the authour would think, what more could I give you?! She’s unhinged, dark, twisted, despicable but I wanted a bit more when it came to the internal processing. I wanted more depth to her thoughts and we got more of that nearing the 70% mark when she starts losing her grip on reality but I desired it much sooner than it came. I wanted more of a push and pull of her sanity instead of the straight and narrow psychopathy she exuded. She’s demented but not a true blood psycho, so I wanted that unhinged mentality she gave us outwardly, internally.
I’m definitely not mad at this and if you love a good violent protagonist that loses her ever living mind, this is it.
November 27, 2024
she's a lamb! follows jessamyn, an aspiring musical theatre actress who is desperate to get her big break and find fame. when she auditions for her regional theatre’s production of ‘the sound of music’, it’s not the lead of maria she gets, but instead the role of a childminder for the group playing the von trapp children. but jessamyn is convinced that this is tactical: the director just wants to keep jessamyn close to the production so that when the lead messes up, she’s right there to step in. jessamyn has to be maria, and she’ll do anything she can to make her dreams come true.
by far the strongest aspect of this book is jessamyn’s voice and characterisation, as a reader you know exactly what kind of person she is from the beginning. jessamyn is the epitome of an unreliable narrator and a deeply unlikeable person, but it is entertaining to get a peek into her inner monologue as she becomes increasingly delusional and unhinged. the climax of the story felt a little rushed, with important events all crammed together, but overall it’s a fast-paced book that feels like a fever dream. if you’re a fan of the film ‘black swan’ or the book ‘boy parts’ by eliza clark, i’d recommend this one.
thank you ECW Press for the netgalley arc!
by far the strongest aspect of this book is jessamyn’s voice and characterisation, as a reader you know exactly what kind of person she is from the beginning. jessamyn is the epitome of an unreliable narrator and a deeply unlikeable person, but it is entertaining to get a peek into her inner monologue as she becomes increasingly delusional and unhinged. the climax of the story felt a little rushed, with important events all crammed together, but overall it’s a fast-paced book that feels like a fever dream. if you’re a fan of the film ‘black swan’ or the book ‘boy parts’ by eliza clark, i’d recommend this one.
thank you ECW Press for the netgalley arc!
December 14, 2025
Happy pub day! Wow, She’s a Lamb was absolutely unhinged, in the best way possible. Hilarious, chaotic, and completely off-the-wall, this book had me laughing out loud and fully along for the ride. It starts with a bang and only gets more insane from there, spiraling toward an explosive, unforgettable end.
Reading this felt like watching a dark comedy unfold on screen, I could totally see it being adapted into a movie someday. It gave me Motherthing (book) meets Pearl (movie, “please, I’m a star!”) meets All’s Well (book) vibes. The main character is so delusional, I never knew what was coming next, but I knew it would be unhinged and exciting (it was).
She’s a Lamb is out today (April 8), don’t sleep on this one! Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
Reading this felt like watching a dark comedy unfold on screen, I could totally see it being adapted into a movie someday. It gave me Motherthing (book) meets Pearl (movie, “please, I’m a star!”) meets All’s Well (book) vibes. The main character is so delusional, I never knew what was coming next, but I knew it would be unhinged and exciting (it was).
She’s a Lamb is out today (April 8), don’t sleep on this one! Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
May 13, 2025
She's a Lamb! is one of those hidden gems that will resonate with readers across genres. It had me gripped from start to finish, pulling me through a whirlwind of adrenaline-fueled twists and turns that left my heart racing. Hambrock’s character development is nothing short of brilliant; her characters are as vibrant and relatable as your favorite sitcom cast, but they're navigating situations with far more serious stakes.
The pace of this book is relentless—there’s hardly a moment to catch your breath. Each exhilarating twist hits like a burst of sugar just before the scare in a horror film. And let’s not overlook the sharp wit that Hambrock weaves throughout the narrative. Her ability to infuse humor into moments of tension was so seamless that I often found myself pausing, appreciating the cleverness before diving back into the action.
So, take my advice: grab a coffee when you pick up this book. Trust me, you’ll need it to keep pace with the rollercoaster of thrills and insights waiting for you!
The pace of this book is relentless—there’s hardly a moment to catch your breath. Each exhilarating twist hits like a burst of sugar just before the scare in a horror film. And let’s not overlook the sharp wit that Hambrock weaves throughout the narrative. Her ability to infuse humor into moments of tension was so seamless that I often found myself pausing, appreciating the cleverness before diving back into the action.
So, take my advice: grab a coffee when you pick up this book. Trust me, you’ll need it to keep pace with the rollercoaster of thrills and insights waiting for you!
March 24, 2025
AHHHH THIS IS SUCH A GEM! I initially gave this a 4/5 because in terms of some other 5 star ratings this wouldn't hold up on paper—but the vibesssss ugh I loved literally every sec. I feel like I lived it.
I was laughing out loud, smirking along with Meredith and reaching for my meds to make sure my mania never brings me anywhere near this point.
I joke because of the extreme measures taken here, but truly—this is an extremely accurate depiction of mania &/or delusions of grandeur in my experience. I'm no doctor, but I sure do go to a bunch of em ;)
I highly highly recommend this to fans of satirical fiction. And if you loved High School Musical, too?? Just stop what you're doing rn and go get She's a Lamb! already.
{Thank you bunches to ECW, Meredith Hambrock and NetGalley for the DRC & ALC in exchange for my honest review!}
I was laughing out loud, smirking along with Meredith and reaching for my meds to make sure my mania never brings me anywhere near this point.
I joke because of the extreme measures taken here, but truly—this is an extremely accurate depiction of mania &/or delusions of grandeur in my experience. I'm no doctor, but I sure do go to a bunch of em ;)
I highly highly recommend this to fans of satirical fiction. And if you loved High School Musical, too?? Just stop what you're doing rn and go get She's a Lamb! already.
{Thank you bunches to ECW, Meredith Hambrock and NetGalley for the DRC & ALC in exchange for my honest review!}
April 25, 2025
I support women’s rights and also women’s wrongs.
January 24, 2025
It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the book's subject matters & those detailed in my review overwhelming. I suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters that contain reflections on financial insecurity, graphic depictions of self-harm, the physical endangerment of children, rape, sexual abuse, violent crime, bigotry, & others.
Succumbing to trends may lead one to lose oneself in the sludge. Certainly, trends may serve some purpose, be beneficial, & advocate for insight & intellectualism. Rarely do trends spur from thin air though, often they are carried away on the whims of those who wander with their eyes closed. The literary climate has not been particularly harsh towards trends in the past decade. Numerous novels have coveted the same plots with characters cultishly similar, one from the other. Yet, readers regale the patterns they find comforting, familiar, & easy to consume.
In the last five years, I have had the pleasure & twilight blaring experience of reading books that present twinklingly familiar plots with characters whom I can hardly distinguish from their strange counterparts. This is an unfortunate situation. I struggle to understand how publishing houses have encouraged so many writers in the same direction. Readers are likely to appreciate a book that comes their way; the right reader will adore it & the wrong reader will glare at faults, flaws, & holes with aplomb & precision. I find myself in the latter group.
In essence, this is a story about Jessamyn, a twenty-six-year-old actress living in Vancouver who dreams about life as a celebrity. The plot follows Jessamyn as she auditions for roles that are outside her range of talent, spends time with two men she calls her boyfriends, & murders three people in a bid to take on the role of Maria von Trapp in her local production of “The Sound of Music” (1965). The story revolves around her distinctly decreasing mental stability & the environment that will leave readers wondering whether Jessamyn’s psychosis is a result of nature or nurture.
When I came across this book, the cover art promised me great things. I will not be absurdly mean in this review & state that the promise was a lie or that the author failed to deliver any semblance of quality in her work. The truth is that I did appreciate certain aspects of this book but there is work yet to be done for the final product to reflect a unique story & one that was given the chance to shine.
As I said in the introduction, this is a story I have read before with a main character who is nearly identical to at least three other protagonists of the past five years. Due to this, the book does not have the opportunity to stand on its own two feet. Rather than regard the plot for what it is—a reflection of poor mental health & a series of abuses—the author has quaintly nestled the tale between other larger-looming characters with louder voices to speak on their tedium.
I will begin with what I enjoyed, as is only fair. Jessamyn is not a common name in Canada—yet here comes the protagonist with an oddly lettered calling card believing herself the roll off the tongue that will leave her a star on the Walk of Fame. As odd as Jessamyn is, overall, Hambrock understood who her main character was & this is apparent throughout the story. The main character is flawed & cruel, she is ignorant but not naïve; while simultaneously being a raging lunatic, Jessamyn is also horribly insecure, so much so that she has veered to the extreme & developed a Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
The dissection of the protagonist’s early life does not reveal too much & the reader will need to have a reason for reading this book or they might leave off feeling as I did, rather confused about why they read the story at all.
The familiar traits that I appreciated in other characters did influence my appreciation for the sheepishly cruel behaviour that Jessamyn exhibited. Her life was filled with a series of disappointments & occurrences wherein she was the victim of sexual assault.
However, I wondered if this was enough to lend my care to her plight. This is not meant to come across as pedantic & sardonically holier-than-thou, readers will need to ask themselves what makes Jessamyn either a hero or a villain, while quickly concluding that she will perhaps hold the middle ground until the end.
This seems silly to say because Jessamyn is a Serial Killer—by definition. Yet, her personality is so entirely ailed as a consequence of her experiences that one will be forgiven if one chooses to support Jessamyn throughout all of her antics.
Rather than explore the duality of life as a person who persistently performs as someone other than themselves, the author relays Jessamyn’s experiences through a looking glass; gaunt & gleaming, too far away to actually understand, each of the sequences of events that take place off the page are mysterious to the plot & nearly do not matter enough to rank as traumatic events. Jessamyn was raised by a father who, though of a cold temperament, provided her with all of the necessities in life. She never needed for anything.
If one argues that Jessamyn is a born psychotic, her father’s distant behaviours due to long working hours & a bachelor status will not serve as odd indicators but rather, that the apple did not fall far from the tree. Though, one may need to look closely when dissecting Jessamyn’s childhood. She had everything she needed & yet she recalls watching “The Phantom of the Opera” (1909) on Broadway & feeling cured of her sadness. What would have made her feel such sorrow?
There is no way for the reader to know what would have led Jessamyn to embody sadness as she describes it. Her mother could have died; her schoolmates could have bullied her; her house might not have had central air; the list is long & the possibilities, are endless.
What matters here is that the main character wanted to be the protagonist in everyone’s life. As the online community has flourished in recent years, Jessamyn would have found herself well-placed among those who suffer from Main Character Syndrome.
Forgetting the world around her by performing musical feats which she was ill-equipped to attempt, left her fascinated by the power of music & the freedom of a person to disappear in the lives of others. It is odd that Jessamyn had so much confidence in her talents, or lack thereof, as no one in her environment, for years, led her to believe that she was worth anything.
This leads me to ponder the psychosis that Jessamyn developed. Throughout her childhood, she was never faced with the poverty she forced on herself in adulthood. Certainly, one may argue that her father was cruel for withdrawing his financial backing from her casual career pursuits but, one must not forget that she stole his money to pay someone random to help her learn how to sing better. She did not have to go hungry but chose to do so in spite of everything she knew existed around her; having seen everything her father’s money could buy. Why did she do this?
Which part of this character’s makeup led her to make the choices that she did? Her end goal was clear from the beginning; she wanted fame. This is not unusual, especially with the insecurity & waning interests of the general population when it comes to internet sensations. Yet, Jessamyn chose a dying industry—rather, a niche industry where one needs to be particularly & exuberantly talented, well-connected, & skilled to succeed. Why did she not view stardom as it is regarded now? Why is her perception of fame so antiquated?
As the story progressed, I did find myself feeling pity towards Jessamyn. Every time she thought she was on the right path, she floundered. Her vocal teacher was a hack, her aspirations were being squashed compared to the talent around her, every time she auditioned.
Why would she think herself capable of breaking through in an industry that relied on the tools she did not want to use? Why wasn’t Jessamyn able to be honest with herself & acknowledge that she just wasn’t good enough to make it to Hollywood?
As always, I must ask who the book is for. For its stark similarities to other popular novels, the target reader might be found among the slew of easy readers who nibble on chips of any wooden beam that floats their way.
The current trend in literature that presents a deranged female main character who has traits of the sullen, morbid, trauma that encases her, has been found in the work of: Jen Beagin’s “Big Swiss” (2023), Ainslie Hogarth’s “Motherthing” (2022), Emily Austin’s “Interesting Facts About Space” (2024), Mona Awad’s “Rouge” (2023), Bea Seatton’s “Plaything” (2024), & Elliott Gish’s “Grey Dog” (2024).
Masquerading as hilariously as Gacy in his clown suit, the story attempts to present the complexities of existence & salivates over the possibility that any person could be a killer in disguise. However, I cannot help but feel this is untrue. Though Jessamyn, with her life of exuberant wealth, privilege & freedom to choose to go hungry, to pursue violent men, to pursue a low-paying job in a high-rent city, & to revel in the error of her ways without consequence, blooms in a city that offers her the opportunity to diverge from the path she selected on the road she walks, few appear as gaunt as she, in reality.
Unkind as this conclusion might be, it remains true. Jessamyn did not deserve to be sexually abused nor did she deserve to be stalked or harassed. Perhaps there is an earnest pursuit in her reaction to these situations but, pulling a knife to the throat of an innocent child has vetoed Jessamyn’s freedom to pretend that her decisions were not her own to make.
No star shines brighter than one in hiding as it keeps itself warm amongst the throttle of poachers. Readers will note the passing of time as the pages draw to a close accompanied by a void of detail that would sneak the genre through mysterious performances into the range of terror that wallowed in the Austrian society during the rise of the Nazi Party.
This is too complex a reflection, Jessamyn views Maria von Trapp as purity & ease whereas in reality, she is a human being with emotions who fled the country that was her home when it was taken over by ideology that she did not feel represented her own.
Ultimately, I am not disappointed in this book as much as I am confused by the need to inflict repetition upon a reader. For readers who have found enjoyment in the new-age linguistic quickening of the tongue with the amputation of profound pensiveness, will surely seethe with pleasure when encountering this book.
The author has them in mind, this is evident, & I should hope they appreciate the ghoulish nature of the character, the meandering of an unresolved series of events, & the tormented sprinkling of bigotry; mirroring the reality of their own societies, which they may choose to acknowledge or ignore.
This will not be my last round of time spent with this author. I believe they are capable of more depth than the seabed that has cracked to plates already served. Regardless of the smoothness of this story, which did not offer me the challenge I hope to find when reading about complex individuals & their paraplegic nature; my afternoon of reading was well-spent. I consumed a book—an activity I enjoy almost as much as the doomed & desecrated monsters cherish the face paint that clouds the grooves of lunacy they’ve carved into their skin.
Thank you to NetGalley, ECW Press, & Meredith Hambrock for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Succumbing to trends may lead one to lose oneself in the sludge. Certainly, trends may serve some purpose, be beneficial, & advocate for insight & intellectualism. Rarely do trends spur from thin air though, often they are carried away on the whims of those who wander with their eyes closed. The literary climate has not been particularly harsh towards trends in the past decade. Numerous novels have coveted the same plots with characters cultishly similar, one from the other. Yet, readers regale the patterns they find comforting, familiar, & easy to consume.
In the last five years, I have had the pleasure & twilight blaring experience of reading books that present twinklingly familiar plots with characters whom I can hardly distinguish from their strange counterparts. This is an unfortunate situation. I struggle to understand how publishing houses have encouraged so many writers in the same direction. Readers are likely to appreciate a book that comes their way; the right reader will adore it & the wrong reader will glare at faults, flaws, & holes with aplomb & precision. I find myself in the latter group.
In essence, this is a story about Jessamyn, a twenty-six-year-old actress living in Vancouver who dreams about life as a celebrity. The plot follows Jessamyn as she auditions for roles that are outside her range of talent, spends time with two men she calls her boyfriends, & murders three people in a bid to take on the role of Maria von Trapp in her local production of “The Sound of Music” (1965). The story revolves around her distinctly decreasing mental stability & the environment that will leave readers wondering whether Jessamyn’s psychosis is a result of nature or nurture.
When I came across this book, the cover art promised me great things. I will not be absurdly mean in this review & state that the promise was a lie or that the author failed to deliver any semblance of quality in her work. The truth is that I did appreciate certain aspects of this book but there is work yet to be done for the final product to reflect a unique story & one that was given the chance to shine.
As I said in the introduction, this is a story I have read before with a main character who is nearly identical to at least three other protagonists of the past five years. Due to this, the book does not have the opportunity to stand on its own two feet. Rather than regard the plot for what it is—a reflection of poor mental health & a series of abuses—the author has quaintly nestled the tale between other larger-looming characters with louder voices to speak on their tedium.
I will begin with what I enjoyed, as is only fair. Jessamyn is not a common name in Canada—yet here comes the protagonist with an oddly lettered calling card believing herself the roll off the tongue that will leave her a star on the Walk of Fame. As odd as Jessamyn is, overall, Hambrock understood who her main character was & this is apparent throughout the story. The main character is flawed & cruel, she is ignorant but not naïve; while simultaneously being a raging lunatic, Jessamyn is also horribly insecure, so much so that she has veered to the extreme & developed a Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
The dissection of the protagonist’s early life does not reveal too much & the reader will need to have a reason for reading this book or they might leave off feeling as I did, rather confused about why they read the story at all.
The familiar traits that I appreciated in other characters did influence my appreciation for the sheepishly cruel behaviour that Jessamyn exhibited. Her life was filled with a series of disappointments & occurrences wherein she was the victim of sexual assault.
However, I wondered if this was enough to lend my care to her plight. This is not meant to come across as pedantic & sardonically holier-than-thou, readers will need to ask themselves what makes Jessamyn either a hero or a villain, while quickly concluding that she will perhaps hold the middle ground until the end.
This seems silly to say because Jessamyn is a Serial Killer—by definition. Yet, her personality is so entirely ailed as a consequence of her experiences that one will be forgiven if one chooses to support Jessamyn throughout all of her antics.
Rather than explore the duality of life as a person who persistently performs as someone other than themselves, the author relays Jessamyn’s experiences through a looking glass; gaunt & gleaming, too far away to actually understand, each of the sequences of events that take place off the page are mysterious to the plot & nearly do not matter enough to rank as traumatic events. Jessamyn was raised by a father who, though of a cold temperament, provided her with all of the necessities in life. She never needed for anything.
If one argues that Jessamyn is a born psychotic, her father’s distant behaviours due to long working hours & a bachelor status will not serve as odd indicators but rather, that the apple did not fall far from the tree. Though, one may need to look closely when dissecting Jessamyn’s childhood. She had everything she needed & yet she recalls watching “The Phantom of the Opera” (1909) on Broadway & feeling cured of her sadness. What would have made her feel such sorrow?
There is no way for the reader to know what would have led Jessamyn to embody sadness as she describes it. Her mother could have died; her schoolmates could have bullied her; her house might not have had central air; the list is long & the possibilities, are endless.
What matters here is that the main character wanted to be the protagonist in everyone’s life. As the online community has flourished in recent years, Jessamyn would have found herself well-placed among those who suffer from Main Character Syndrome.
Forgetting the world around her by performing musical feats which she was ill-equipped to attempt, left her fascinated by the power of music & the freedom of a person to disappear in the lives of others. It is odd that Jessamyn had so much confidence in her talents, or lack thereof, as no one in her environment, for years, led her to believe that she was worth anything.
This leads me to ponder the psychosis that Jessamyn developed. Throughout her childhood, she was never faced with the poverty she forced on herself in adulthood. Certainly, one may argue that her father was cruel for withdrawing his financial backing from her casual career pursuits but, one must not forget that she stole his money to pay someone random to help her learn how to sing better. She did not have to go hungry but chose to do so in spite of everything she knew existed around her; having seen everything her father’s money could buy. Why did she do this?
Which part of this character’s makeup led her to make the choices that she did? Her end goal was clear from the beginning; she wanted fame. This is not unusual, especially with the insecurity & waning interests of the general population when it comes to internet sensations. Yet, Jessamyn chose a dying industry—rather, a niche industry where one needs to be particularly & exuberantly talented, well-connected, & skilled to succeed. Why did she not view stardom as it is regarded now? Why is her perception of fame so antiquated?
As the story progressed, I did find myself feeling pity towards Jessamyn. Every time she thought she was on the right path, she floundered. Her vocal teacher was a hack, her aspirations were being squashed compared to the talent around her, every time she auditioned.
Why would she think herself capable of breaking through in an industry that relied on the tools she did not want to use? Why wasn’t Jessamyn able to be honest with herself & acknowledge that she just wasn’t good enough to make it to Hollywood?
As always, I must ask who the book is for. For its stark similarities to other popular novels, the target reader might be found among the slew of easy readers who nibble on chips of any wooden beam that floats their way.
The current trend in literature that presents a deranged female main character who has traits of the sullen, morbid, trauma that encases her, has been found in the work of: Jen Beagin’s “Big Swiss” (2023), Ainslie Hogarth’s “Motherthing” (2022), Emily Austin’s “Interesting Facts About Space” (2024), Mona Awad’s “Rouge” (2023), Bea Seatton’s “Plaything” (2024), & Elliott Gish’s “Grey Dog” (2024).
Masquerading as hilariously as Gacy in his clown suit, the story attempts to present the complexities of existence & salivates over the possibility that any person could be a killer in disguise. However, I cannot help but feel this is untrue. Though Jessamyn, with her life of exuberant wealth, privilege & freedom to choose to go hungry, to pursue violent men, to pursue a low-paying job in a high-rent city, & to revel in the error of her ways without consequence, blooms in a city that offers her the opportunity to diverge from the path she selected on the road she walks, few appear as gaunt as she, in reality.
Unkind as this conclusion might be, it remains true. Jessamyn did not deserve to be sexually abused nor did she deserve to be stalked or harassed. Perhaps there is an earnest pursuit in her reaction to these situations but, pulling a knife to the throat of an innocent child has vetoed Jessamyn’s freedom to pretend that her decisions were not her own to make.
No star shines brighter than one in hiding as it keeps itself warm amongst the throttle of poachers. Readers will note the passing of time as the pages draw to a close accompanied by a void of detail that would sneak the genre through mysterious performances into the range of terror that wallowed in the Austrian society during the rise of the Nazi Party.
This is too complex a reflection, Jessamyn views Maria von Trapp as purity & ease whereas in reality, she is a human being with emotions who fled the country that was her home when it was taken over by ideology that she did not feel represented her own.
Ultimately, I am not disappointed in this book as much as I am confused by the need to inflict repetition upon a reader. For readers who have found enjoyment in the new-age linguistic quickening of the tongue with the amputation of profound pensiveness, will surely seethe with pleasure when encountering this book.
The author has them in mind, this is evident, & I should hope they appreciate the ghoulish nature of the character, the meandering of an unresolved series of events, & the tormented sprinkling of bigotry; mirroring the reality of their own societies, which they may choose to acknowledge or ignore.
This will not be my last round of time spent with this author. I believe they are capable of more depth than the seabed that has cracked to plates already served. Regardless of the smoothness of this story, which did not offer me the challenge I hope to find when reading about complex individuals & their paraplegic nature; my afternoon of reading was well-spent. I consumed a book—an activity I enjoy almost as much as the doomed & desecrated monsters cherish the face paint that clouds the grooves of lunacy they’ve carved into their skin.
Thank you to NetGalley, ECW Press, & Meredith Hambrock for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 24, 2025Lord grant me the confidence of a delusional white woman, but also enough sanity and genuine talent to make it ACTUALLY work in my favor.
what a spectacular girl boss failure.
what a spectacular girl boss failure.
April 26, 2025
the endinggggggg
March 17, 2025
One of my favorite kinds of books is women spiraling on the edge and She’s A Lamb definitely delivered on that. Holy hell. It reminded me of Temper by Layne Fargo but with the main character an unhinged, delusional, hilarious lunatic.
The book had me hooked when we find out Jessamyn is dating her stalker. “If you’re going to be consistently harassed and abused, and if no one is going to do anything about it, you may as well find a way to enjoy it. Make it work for you.” This is just one of many balls to the wall insane things she does and I love her for it.
As much as you (well, I at least) wanted Jessamyn to win, it’s clear from the start things aren’t going to end well. Like watching a tornado barreling down on a house in slow motion.
This book was just so much fun to read and had me laughing out loud at certain parts. Absolutely loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
The book had me hooked when we find out Jessamyn is dating her stalker. “If you’re going to be consistently harassed and abused, and if no one is going to do anything about it, you may as well find a way to enjoy it. Make it work for you.” This is just one of many balls to the wall insane things she does and I love her for it.
As much as you (well, I at least) wanted Jessamyn to win, it’s clear from the start things aren’t going to end well. Like watching a tornado barreling down on a house in slow motion.
This book was just so much fun to read and had me laughing out loud at certain parts. Absolutely loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
November 13, 2025
⭐️“SHE’S A STARRRR…”⭐️for anyone who is a fan of Mia Goth’s Pearl from the “X” trilogy, this one is for you. This book was BRILLIANT, all consuming, full throttle entertainment. This story does not walk, it RUNS to the final act with growing dread and anticipation. I love reading about unhinged women, & this books protagonist -Jessamyn St Germain- takes the crown. This characters total lack of self awareness & completely self obsessed nature was propulsive to read. “She’s a Darling, She’s a Demon, She’s a Lamb!” I also adored the twisted and poetic take on the Sound of Music. This book is such a hidden gem from a new & exciting voice in the horror genre. I genuinely did not want this story to end and cannot wait to see what this author writes next!🙌🏻
May 14, 2025
3.75/5
I liked this novel more than I thought I would! Apparently I can’t get enough of these books featuring unhinged women rapidly losing their shit (think Sky Daddy or Mrs. March).
It’s ever so engaging reading about women, fed up with society’s bullshit, losing themselves within their neurotic delusions. They always culminate in a reign of terror and I’m here for it, popcorn in hand, captivated.
I liked this novel more than I thought I would! Apparently I can’t get enough of these books featuring unhinged women rapidly losing their shit (think Sky Daddy or Mrs. March).
It’s ever so engaging reading about women, fed up with society’s bullshit, losing themselves within their neurotic delusions. They always culminate in a reign of terror and I’m here for it, popcorn in hand, captivated.
April 10, 2025
3.75 stars - fun, bloody, twisted
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjJKe4Px/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjJKe4Px/
September 21, 2024
Well written and intriguing, but uncomfortable and very dark. “Black Swan” vibes. Reading a book with a narrator that is clearly disturbed can be tough for me. The internal dialogue has so much rationalization and theatre rhetoric, it was transparent and sad. Some may find this depressing and others may find it melancholic. The ending is a bit ambiguous. Reading this book feels like circling a drain. If you like a dark character study, this book may be a good fit for you.
Jessamyn knows she is meant to play Maria in a regional production of The Sound of Music, but instead she is given the chance to be a childminder for the Von Trapp children actors. She talks herself into that she is really the understudy without being called that, and tells everyone in her life that she is playing the lead. Drama ensues.
Thanks to @netgalley and ECW Press for the ARC. Book to be published April 8, 2025.
#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booklover #arcreview #booktok #netgalley #bookrecommendations #shesalamb
Jessamyn knows she is meant to play Maria in a regional production of The Sound of Music, but instead she is given the chance to be a childminder for the Von Trapp children actors. She talks herself into that she is really the understudy without being called that, and tells everyone in her life that she is playing the lead. Drama ensues.
Thanks to @netgalley and ECW Press for the ARC. Book to be published April 8, 2025.
#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booklover #arcreview #booktok #netgalley #bookrecommendations #shesalamb
February 12, 2025
3.5*
Wow I love a good spiral and hated being in the mind of Jessamyn St. Germain, so I think this book accomplished what it set out to do. Seeing the world through Jessamyn's eyes and experiencing her delusions of grandeur was a trainwreck I couldn't look away from
I did have a difficult time getting stuck into this book because the first half was repetitive and meandering. Once things started to ramp up at around 50%, I couldn't get enough and I completely devoured the second half in a couple hours
Thank you to ECW Press for the ARC on Netgalley 🫶🏼
Wow I love a good spiral and hated being in the mind of Jessamyn St. Germain, so I think this book accomplished what it set out to do. Seeing the world through Jessamyn's eyes and experiencing her delusions of grandeur was a trainwreck I couldn't look away from
I did have a difficult time getting stuck into this book because the first half was repetitive and meandering. Once things started to ramp up at around 50%, I couldn't get enough and I completely devoured the second half in a couple hours
Thank you to ECW Press for the ARC on Netgalley 🫶🏼
April 10, 2025
4.25
If the “I don't understand, I thought you liked me!” and “PLEASE I’M A STAAAAAAAR” scenes from Pearl were a book.
Loved EVERY second of this insane journey inside Jessamyn’s mind except the ending seemed a little… simple for such a bombastic character. AND fuck this was funny!!!
If the “I don't understand, I thought you liked me!” and “PLEASE I’M A STAAAAAAAR” scenes from Pearl were a book.
Loved EVERY second of this insane journey inside Jessamyn’s mind except the ending seemed a little… simple for such a bombastic character. AND fuck this was funny!!!
August 23, 2025
What.a.ride! I love and hate the delusional woman in this. So campy and fun!
![Profile Image for Kate [catching up].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1748423704i%2F51087392._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
May 23, 2025
I am obsessed with this book!!!
Jessamyn St. Germain is destined to be a star. She dreams of playing the lead in the world’s greatest musicals. So when the director of her theatre’s upcoming production of The Sound of Music asks her to help with childminding duties, Jessamyn is convinced this is her big break. Why else would a director assign her to the kids unless they were secretly preparing her to take over the lead role when the current star inevitably fails? This is her moment, and nothing will get in her way.
This a perfectly executed portrait of a delusional woman spiraling. A biting satire on privilege, ego, and artistic ambition, it’s unhinged and emotional in the best possible way. I originally intended to rate it 4 stars, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it, so it’s a 5.
The standout here is Jessamyn’s voice. She’s deeply unlikeable and wildly unreliable, but Hambrock cracks her open in brilliant ways, letting us glimpse the fragility behind the ego. Watching her descend is equal parts hilarious, horrifying, and strangely moving.
If you’re a fan of Mona Awad, Eliza Clark, or Mia Ballard, I highly recommend giving this a go.
Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jessamyn St. Germain is destined to be a star. She dreams of playing the lead in the world’s greatest musicals. So when the director of her theatre’s upcoming production of The Sound of Music asks her to help with childminding duties, Jessamyn is convinced this is her big break. Why else would a director assign her to the kids unless they were secretly preparing her to take over the lead role when the current star inevitably fails? This is her moment, and nothing will get in her way.
This a perfectly executed portrait of a delusional woman spiraling. A biting satire on privilege, ego, and artistic ambition, it’s unhinged and emotional in the best possible way. I originally intended to rate it 4 stars, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it, so it’s a 5.
The standout here is Jessamyn’s voice. She’s deeply unlikeable and wildly unreliable, but Hambrock cracks her open in brilliant ways, letting us glimpse the fragility behind the ego. Watching her descend is equal parts hilarious, horrifying, and strangely moving.
If you’re a fan of Mona Awad, Eliza Clark, or Mia Ballard, I highly recommend giving this a go.
Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2025
Happy publication day 🎉🥳🎧
The hills are alive with the sound of delulu!
What an absolute gem of a book if you llike a deluded, psychotic fmc you will love Jessamyn, if you’ve ever had any experience of theatre land you may even recognise her, she’s 100% dedicated to the role of Maria, a role that isn’t hers.
Sharp, funny and edgy. She’s a Lamb brings something a bit different to the table.
Trigger warnings apply for references to historical sexual assault and stalking.
The narration was fantastic.
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
Huge thanks to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC🎧
The hills are alive with the sound of delulu!
What an absolute gem of a book if you llike a deluded, psychotic fmc you will love Jessamyn, if you’ve ever had any experience of theatre land you may even recognise her, she’s 100% dedicated to the role of Maria, a role that isn’t hers.
Sharp, funny and edgy. She’s a Lamb brings something a bit different to the table.
Trigger warnings apply for references to historical sexual assault and stalking.
The narration was fantastic.
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
Huge thanks to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC🎧
April 14, 2025
3/5
Sunkoka knygos apie iš proto einančią moterį teatre nelyginti su „All‘s Well“, kuri man pasirodė artokai genialumo. O čia viskas tarsi pagal mano skonį ir užsakymą – ir panašumas su „Yellowface“, kur statomas „Sound of Music“ miuziklas, ir pagrindinė veikėja, kuri tobulai tinka į mano „girlbossed too hard“ lentyną, nes tikrai eina iš proto greitai ir užtikrintai, o ir dėl rimtų, pagrįstų priežasčių. Be to, jau viršelis žadėjo, kad knyga bus camp. Tai kodėl tada ne taip suveikė, kaip tikėjausi? Ir iki galo pati sau neradau atsakymo per visas tris skaitymo dienas. Ar nes užtrukau į knygą įsijausti, nes atrodė, kad gal tik po pirmo trečdalio veiksmas įsibėgėjo? Ar nes rašymo stilius labai labai paprastas, vietomis net primityvokas? Ar nes lyginau su geriausiais moterų išėjimo iš proto pavyzdžiais? O gal trūko kažko daugiau, nei to, kas čia buvo duota, kad patikėčiau viskuo, kas vyksta?
Labiausiai įtikino būtent pagrindinės veikėjos beprotystė – galėjau ją užuosti, galėjau ją matyti, jausti, girdėti. Tačiau aplinkiniai veikėjai nepasakyčiau, kad iki galo įtikino, o ir trūko aiškesnės, gal net paveikesnės priešistorės analizės. Didžiausi komplimentai autorei dėl to, kad kai kuriom pagrindinės veikėjos iliuzijom tikrai labai ilgai ir pati tikėjau. Todėl bendrai – ganėtinai solidus kūrinys savam žanre, tik kad per daug skaičiau kur kas geresnių – „Nightbitch“, „Mrs March“, „All Fours“, prieš tai minėtoji Awad knyga, „Big Swiss“, „Motherthing“ ir pan.
Sunkoka knygos apie iš proto einančią moterį teatre nelyginti su „All‘s Well“, kuri man pasirodė artokai genialumo. O čia viskas tarsi pagal mano skonį ir užsakymą – ir panašumas su „Yellowface“, kur statomas „Sound of Music“ miuziklas, ir pagrindinė veikėja, kuri tobulai tinka į mano „girlbossed too hard“ lentyną, nes tikrai eina iš proto greitai ir užtikrintai, o ir dėl rimtų, pagrįstų priežasčių. Be to, jau viršelis žadėjo, kad knyga bus camp. Tai kodėl tada ne taip suveikė, kaip tikėjausi? Ir iki galo pati sau neradau atsakymo per visas tris skaitymo dienas. Ar nes užtrukau į knygą įsijausti, nes atrodė, kad gal tik po pirmo trečdalio veiksmas įsibėgėjo? Ar nes rašymo stilius labai labai paprastas, vietomis net primityvokas? Ar nes lyginau su geriausiais moterų išėjimo iš proto pavyzdžiais? O gal trūko kažko daugiau, nei to, kas čia buvo duota, kad patikėčiau viskuo, kas vyksta?
Labiausiai įtikino būtent pagrindinės veikėjos beprotystė – galėjau ją užuosti, galėjau ją matyti, jausti, girdėti. Tačiau aplinkiniai veikėjai nepasakyčiau, kad iki galo įtikino, o ir trūko aiškesnės, gal net paveikesnės priešistorės analizės. Didžiausi komplimentai autorei dėl to, kad kai kuriom pagrindinės veikėjos iliuzijom tikrai labai ilgai ir pati tikėjau. Todėl bendrai – ganėtinai solidus kūrinys savam žanre, tik kad per daug skaičiau kur kas geresnių – „Nightbitch“, „Mrs March“, „All Fours“, prieš tai minėtoji Awad knyga, „Big Swiss“, „Motherthing“ ir pan.
May 17, 2025
Unhinged and so hilarious at certain parts. The satire is perfect!
July 17, 2025
4.5 ⭐️!! I loved this so much. It was funny, dark, and disturbing.
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