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The Style of Your Life
Not yet published
Expected 23 Feb 27- GenresFiction
288 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 23, 2027
About the author
Brittany Ackerman
4 books64 followersBrittany Ackerman is a writer from Riverdale, New York. She earned her BA in English from Indiana University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Florida Atlantic University. She has led workshops for UCLA’s Extension, The Porch, HerStry, Write or Die, and Lighthouse Writers. She is a 3x Pushcart Prize Nominee and her work has been featured in The Sun, MUTHA, Jewish Book Council, Lit Hub, The Los Angeles Review, No Tokens, Joyland, and more. Her first collection of essays, The Perpetual Motion Machine, was published with Red Hen Press in 2018, and her debut novel, The Brittanys, is out now with Vintage.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 23, 2026
2.5
This is a women’s fiction novel centered on the relationship between a mother and daughter. I usually love mother-daughter stories, but unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me.
I absolutely love the cover, and I did enjoy certain aspects of the story. However, I struggled to find a clear plot. Maybe I missed something, but it often felt like events were simply happening rather than building toward a larger narrative. I liked the overall premise and enjoyed the mall and shopping atmosphere in the book, though.
The author’s writing style wasn’t a good fit for me and didn’t resonate with my reading preferences. The book often felt more like reading someone’s journal, and the descriptions were far too detailed. Spending over a page describing an inanimate object that has little relevance to the story is excessive and pulled me out of the reading experience.
Overall, I’m still glad I had the opportunity to read and experience this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Clash Books for providing me with an ARC.
This is a women’s fiction novel centered on the relationship between a mother and daughter. I usually love mother-daughter stories, but unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me.
I absolutely love the cover, and I did enjoy certain aspects of the story. However, I struggled to find a clear plot. Maybe I missed something, but it often felt like events were simply happening rather than building toward a larger narrative. I liked the overall premise and enjoyed the mall and shopping atmosphere in the book, though.
The author’s writing style wasn’t a good fit for me and didn’t resonate with my reading preferences. The book often felt more like reading someone’s journal, and the descriptions were far too detailed. Spending over a page describing an inanimate object that has little relevance to the story is excessive and pulled me out of the reading experience.
Overall, I’m still glad I had the opportunity to read and experience this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Clash Books for providing me with an ARC.
April 16, 2026
Thank you netgalley for the arc
This book is not 300 pages but it reads like it’s 500 pages of boring story telling and weak fmc who is horrible to her mother. I don’t even understand why Israel if even mentioned in here, 146 other countries to mention and that shit is mentioned.
This book is not 300 pages but it reads like it’s 500 pages of boring story telling and weak fmc who is horrible to her mother. I don’t even understand why Israel if even mentioned in here, 146 other countries to mention and that shit is mentioned.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
** WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!**
I enjoyed this read. Immensely! I was not expecting it to mostly be about the relationship between a mother and a daughter, a strained relationship at that, and it struck a cord with me. There are some things going on between myself and my daughter as we speak that really made the emotional tone of this story resonate with me in ways I never could’ve imagined possible. The book is slightly slower in pace than what I’m used to reading, but I didn’t mind that at all. What it lacked in intensity, it more than made up for in heart and soul. The twist that ends the storyline between Trevor and Stephanie absolutely wrecked me. Again, personal experience. But more than anything else, it reads like real life. Which I can appreciate. Not everyone’s life is this grand adventure or something that has a set path right from the beginning where they know what they want to do with their life to find fulfillment and instinctually know exactly how to make it happen. A young woman who has always struggled with depression and who feels like her life has been nothing but a burden to her parents, who wonders if her parents even love her? A young woman who has discovered writing is her outlet to try and make some kind of sense out of her life, but questions whether or not she’s actually good enough at it to get herself to the point of doing anything with it? As a millennial myself, I could almost swear that someone must’ve been watching me and been inside my mind at that age and, to be honest, it feels kind of good to feel represented in an honest way for once. And for that, Brittany, I thank you. I truly hope you plan on providing readers with a follow up book of Stephanie, possibly beginning when her plane lands in Paris. In closing, thank you so much for the opportunity to enjoy and review your book. It’s a true gem, you should be proud of it!
I enjoyed this read. Immensely! I was not expecting it to mostly be about the relationship between a mother and a daughter, a strained relationship at that, and it struck a cord with me. There are some things going on between myself and my daughter as we speak that really made the emotional tone of this story resonate with me in ways I never could’ve imagined possible. The book is slightly slower in pace than what I’m used to reading, but I didn’t mind that at all. What it lacked in intensity, it more than made up for in heart and soul. The twist that ends the storyline between Trevor and Stephanie absolutely wrecked me. Again, personal experience. But more than anything else, it reads like real life. Which I can appreciate. Not everyone’s life is this grand adventure or something that has a set path right from the beginning where they know what they want to do with their life to find fulfillment and instinctually know exactly how to make it happen. A young woman who has always struggled with depression and who feels like her life has been nothing but a burden to her parents, who wonders if her parents even love her? A young woman who has discovered writing is her outlet to try and make some kind of sense out of her life, but questions whether or not she’s actually good enough at it to get herself to the point of doing anything with it? As a millennial myself, I could almost swear that someone must’ve been watching me and been inside my mind at that age and, to be honest, it feels kind of good to feel represented in an honest way for once. And for that, Brittany, I thank you. I truly hope you plan on providing readers with a follow up book of Stephanie, possibly beginning when her plane lands in Paris. In closing, thank you so much for the opportunity to enjoy and review your book. It’s a true gem, you should be proud of it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!
THE STYLE OF YOUR LIFE is a fun and compelling read. Ackerman nails the New Adult, just-out-of-college voice in her main character Steph. Steph's mom is also excellent. The way she downplays her health problems but exaggerates her work problems - how she doesn't want anyone to pity her yet still has a flair for the dramatic - will feel spot-on to any millennial daughter. I loved Ackerman's exploration of a fraught mother-daughter relationship: The moments when Steph feels compelled toward affection but something - irritation, resentment, or nagging worry - stops her from taking her mother's hand, saying I love you, are subtly heartbreaking.
I wanted the book to go deeper into Steph's severe mental illness. It's not brushed over by any means; we know Steph feels inadequate, suffers from OCD, and is still mourning her parents' marriage. But that wasn't enough for me to understand her breakdown in college. I would have liked to know more about the days leading up to the breakdown.
Still, Steph is a very believable and relatable character. She's right out of college and aimless, and she's convinced that everyone around her expects her to be grown up, a real adult. She understands her values and strengths better than she used to, yet she's still very insecure.
The mall scenes have an energizing yet confined, almost clammy feel (which is totally accurate to my experience in malls), while the outdoor beachy scenes feel like a short-lived hug, relief from blasting air conditioning until the Florida heat becomes too much. I love a playfully immersive novel.
THE STYLE OF YOUR LIFE is a fun and compelling read. Ackerman nails the New Adult, just-out-of-college voice in her main character Steph. Steph's mom is also excellent. The way she downplays her health problems but exaggerates her work problems - how she doesn't want anyone to pity her yet still has a flair for the dramatic - will feel spot-on to any millennial daughter. I loved Ackerman's exploration of a fraught mother-daughter relationship: The moments when Steph feels compelled toward affection but something - irritation, resentment, or nagging worry - stops her from taking her mother's hand, saying I love you, are subtly heartbreaking.
I wanted the book to go deeper into Steph's severe mental illness. It's not brushed over by any means; we know Steph feels inadequate, suffers from OCD, and is still mourning her parents' marriage. But that wasn't enough for me to understand her breakdown in college. I would have liked to know more about the days leading up to the breakdown.
Still, Steph is a very believable and relatable character. She's right out of college and aimless, and she's convinced that everyone around her expects her to be grown up, a real adult. She understands her values and strengths better than she used to, yet she's still very insecure.
The mall scenes have an energizing yet confined, almost clammy feel (which is totally accurate to my experience in malls), while the outdoor beachy scenes feel like a short-lived hug, relief from blasting air conditioning until the Florida heat becomes too much. I love a playfully immersive novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
★ 3.75 ★
Now this is an interesting book, and I've had to give myself a day to think about it before even trying to write something resembling a review.
What I most want to say is that this book is not a romance, and I genuinely wish that it was not tagged as one on netgalley, and in the same way I also hope the publisher does not label it as such when its released. I feel that readers are going to see the cover (which despite the fact that this book is not a romance, the cover is somehow perfect, I love it) and see the book labelled as romance, and then they're going to read it and wait on it to be something that it simply is not, and rather than enjoy the book for what it is- I can see people DNFing or being upset because of what they thought it would be.
Which, what is it about, if it's not a romance? This is a character driven story, about a 22 year old woman, Stephanie/Steph, who is essentially in the middle of a crisis regarding who she is, who she is supposed to be, what she is supposed to be doing in life. This book follows her for a summer, while she is trying to find the answers to those questions. It's almost like...a coming of age novel, an adult version? And sure, there is a guy, one who I imagine plenty of readers will be able to compare to someone from their own lives (I know I did), but he does not ever take center stage in this story. Steph might think about him a lot, but their interactions are quite limited, far too limited for this to merit being called a romance or even a love story. The author does a great job though of showing how he impacts her life at a time when she is so lost. But the key relationship here is between Steph and her mother. The mother-daughter relationship in this book is not something I knew I wanted to read about until I read this, but I seriously enjoyed it. You have to give this book a little time to get going. I would say it took me almost halfway in to really understand and appreciate what I was reading. People always need things to make sense right away, but really, with this one- if you just stop wondering "where is this going?" and give yourself a chance to simply read the story that has been told, it is worth it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Clash books, for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Now this is an interesting book, and I've had to give myself a day to think about it before even trying to write something resembling a review.
What I most want to say is that this book is not a romance, and I genuinely wish that it was not tagged as one on netgalley, and in the same way I also hope the publisher does not label it as such when its released. I feel that readers are going to see the cover (which despite the fact that this book is not a romance, the cover is somehow perfect, I love it) and see the book labelled as romance, and then they're going to read it and wait on it to be something that it simply is not, and rather than enjoy the book for what it is- I can see people DNFing or being upset because of what they thought it would be.
Which, what is it about, if it's not a romance? This is a character driven story, about a 22 year old woman, Stephanie/Steph, who is essentially in the middle of a crisis regarding who she is, who she is supposed to be, what she is supposed to be doing in life. This book follows her for a summer, while she is trying to find the answers to those questions. It's almost like...a coming of age novel, an adult version? And sure, there is a guy, one who I imagine plenty of readers will be able to compare to someone from their own lives (I know I did), but he does not ever take center stage in this story. Steph might think about him a lot, but their interactions are quite limited, far too limited for this to merit being called a romance or even a love story. The author does a great job though of showing how he impacts her life at a time when she is so lost. But the key relationship here is between Steph and her mother. The mother-daughter relationship in this book is not something I knew I wanted to read about until I read this, but I seriously enjoyed it. You have to give this book a little time to get going. I would say it took me almost halfway in to really understand and appreciate what I was reading. People always need things to make sense right away, but really, with this one- if you just stop wondering "where is this going?" and give yourself a chance to simply read the story that has been told, it is worth it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Clash books, for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unfortunately this book was really disappointing. I felt throughout the entire book like I was waiting for the plot to start; it felt so utterly mundane to read about a young woman with very normal ‘problems’ working in retail.
This book cannot conceivably be called a romance, as the main character goes on one date with some guy double her age, who takes her to a gun range (???) and the real love interest treats her terribly and has about half a conversation with her in the entire novel. I don’t think it was made clear enough that these ‘relationships’ were a crash course in what not to do, and some young girls could potentially be influenced by Steph’s high tolerance for disrespect.
Furthermore, when this book wasn’t making depression seem like a completely new and unique problem that only Steph has ever had, it spends most of its time monologuing about the merits of malls. Yes, malls. At times it felt like it must be satire, but no, this book treats the mall like it’s the main love interest. I understand that it was set over a decade ago when malls were still relevant and thriving but this novel is set to be released in 2027; it’s hard to see the point as a reader in a novel singing the praises of the cold, anonymous hubs of capitalism that malls are. Maybe I’m being unnecessarily harsh, but I haven’t even mentioned the diabolical relationship Steph has with her mother, or the bizarre and completely out of place tangents about religion!
I really don’t like leaving bad reviews but this book felt a little meaningless and I can’t recommend it, unfortunately.
Thank you to Netgalley for the e-copy.
This book cannot conceivably be called a romance, as the main character goes on one date with some guy double her age, who takes her to a gun range (???) and the real love interest treats her terribly and has about half a conversation with her in the entire novel. I don’t think it was made clear enough that these ‘relationships’ were a crash course in what not to do, and some young girls could potentially be influenced by Steph’s high tolerance for disrespect.
Furthermore, when this book wasn’t making depression seem like a completely new and unique problem that only Steph has ever had, it spends most of its time monologuing about the merits of malls. Yes, malls. At times it felt like it must be satire, but no, this book treats the mall like it’s the main love interest. I understand that it was set over a decade ago when malls were still relevant and thriving but this novel is set to be released in 2027; it’s hard to see the point as a reader in a novel singing the praises of the cold, anonymous hubs of capitalism that malls are. Maybe I’m being unnecessarily harsh, but I haven’t even mentioned the diabolical relationship Steph has with her mother, or the bizarre and completely out of place tangents about religion!
I really don’t like leaving bad reviews but this book felt a little meaningless and I can’t recommend it, unfortunately.
Thank you to Netgalley for the e-copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Style of Your Life felt messy, honest, and painfully relatable in the best way. This is one of those books that really captures the strange in between stage of life where you’re technically an adult, but still trying to figure out who you are and what comes next.
Stephanie was such a compelling main character because she doesn’t have everything together, and the book never pretends she should. She’s dealing with the aftermath of a mental health crisis, family baggage, uncertainty about the future, and that pressure to somehow have a plan when life feels anything but clear.
I really loved the mother daughter dynamic in this story. Working together at Dillard’s while carrying years of emotional history made their relationship feel layered, complicated, frustrating, and real. Some of the most impactful moments for me came from the tension and tenderness between them.
Trevor brings that classic temptation of escape, the kind of person who feels exciting when your life feels stuck. I liked that the story understood how easy it is to confuse distraction with direction.
What stood out most was how grounded everything felt. The writing captures loneliness, longing, and self sabotage in a way that feels sharp without being heavy handed.
This is not a flashy plot driven read. It is more character focused and emotional, centered on healing, identity, and learning how to choose yourself.
A thoughtful and deeply human coming of age story about family, mental health, and finding your own way when nothing feels certain.
Stephanie was such a compelling main character because she doesn’t have everything together, and the book never pretends she should. She’s dealing with the aftermath of a mental health crisis, family baggage, uncertainty about the future, and that pressure to somehow have a plan when life feels anything but clear.
I really loved the mother daughter dynamic in this story. Working together at Dillard’s while carrying years of emotional history made their relationship feel layered, complicated, frustrating, and real. Some of the most impactful moments for me came from the tension and tenderness between them.
Trevor brings that classic temptation of escape, the kind of person who feels exciting when your life feels stuck. I liked that the story understood how easy it is to confuse distraction with direction.
What stood out most was how grounded everything felt. The writing captures loneliness, longing, and self sabotage in a way that feels sharp without being heavy handed.
This is not a flashy plot driven read. It is more character focused and emotional, centered on healing, identity, and learning how to choose yourself.
A thoughtful and deeply human coming of age story about family, mental health, and finding your own way when nothing feels certain.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Steph finds her self back with her mom after having a mental break at her college. She spends the summer working with her mom at a clothing store while facing mental battles on her self esteem and what she wants for her future. She meets friends and a guy along the way through her summer in Florida.
This hit close to home literally and figuratively.
As a Floridian, this was very accurate and first time I read a book that I basically know where the majority of the places mentioned, so very cool.
I really related to Steph and enjoyed reading her talks with her therapist, her struggles with depression, how to stop comparing her life to others, and questioning why she doesn’t have her life established like her peers back at school.
Critiques:
I didn’t enjoy the “romance” portion of this. It honestly felt like an afterthought, forgot about Trevor and then he would just randomly show up and FMC would be immediately swooned?
It just didn’t make any sense since there wasn’t even any meaningful conversation/interaction between them. Like I get if it was just one hookup but for Steph to be in near tears over him? No way.
Trevor was also the biggest red flag possible lol.
Lastly, there was just LOTS of filler in this. I felt like it was clunky and boring at times.
This hit close to home literally and figuratively.
As a Floridian, this was very accurate and first time I read a book that I basically know where the majority of the places mentioned, so very cool.
I really related to Steph and enjoyed reading her talks with her therapist, her struggles with depression, how to stop comparing her life to others, and questioning why she doesn’t have her life established like her peers back at school.
Critiques:
I didn’t enjoy the “romance” portion of this. It honestly felt like an afterthought, forgot about Trevor and then he would just randomly show up and FMC would be immediately swooned?
It just didn’t make any sense since there wasn’t even any meaningful conversation/interaction between them. Like I get if it was just one hookup but for Steph to be in near tears over him? No way.
Trevor was also the biggest red flag possible lol.
Lastly, there was just LOTS of filler in this. I felt like it was clunky and boring at times.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This story is not my usual read, and yet it got me.
It’s slow, character driven, and quietly devastating in a way I didn’t expect. The heart of the story is Steph and her mom, and that dynamic is written with a kind of uncomfortable honesty that’s hard to shake. The love is there but so is everything that gets in the way of it and that tension carries the whole book.
Steph is the kind of protagonist you recognize immediately. Lost after college, struggling with her mental health, convinced she’s the only one who doesn’t have it together. Her OCD and the emotional fallout from her parents’ divorce are woven into the story but I wanted the book to go further there to really sit with her at her lowest point rather than just reference it.
The pacing won’t be for everyone but if you let it, the story wraps around you. It doesn’t try to be more than it is just an honest portrait of a girl trying to figure out who she is and whether she’s loveable. And that’s enough.
The ending with Trevor hit harder than I expected. That’s all I’ll say.
Give it a try I think is a good read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of The Style of Your Life from NetGalley, and unfortunately this one really didn’t work for me.
I went into it very excited, the cover drew me in right away, and the premise sounded like it had so much potential. I was expecting something engaging and cohesive, but the story came across as scattered and unfocused, like a series of ramblings rather than a structured plot. I never felt grounded in where the narrative was going.
The main character, in particular, felt disorganized in a way that didn’t add depth or intrigue. Because of that, I struggled to connect with her or care about what was happening.
It’s honestly disappointing because I really wanted to love this book. I had very high hopes going in, and it pains me that it ended up being a miss for me. Sadly, it just wasn’t what I wanted it to be at all.
Final rating: 2.5 stars.
I went into it very excited, the cover drew me in right away, and the premise sounded like it had so much potential. I was expecting something engaging and cohesive, but the story came across as scattered and unfocused, like a series of ramblings rather than a structured plot. I never felt grounded in where the narrative was going.
The main character, in particular, felt disorganized in a way that didn’t add depth or intrigue. Because of that, I struggled to connect with her or care about what was happening.
It’s honestly disappointing because I really wanted to love this book. I had very high hopes going in, and it pains me that it ended up being a miss for me. Sadly, it just wasn’t what I wanted it to be at all.
Final rating: 2.5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you liked "Deep Cuts" by Holly Brickley this book is for you.
The story of Stephanie who struggles with anxiety of the future. A perfect portrait of the youth of every generation. I feel like her relationship with her monther are very relatable. We can feel different emotions toward our parents, and they are not always good and I think book portraits it decently.
The mall and the idea of it as a place that could suck the life out of you and be a safe heaven is what I liked the best. Descriptions, a glimpse into retail work, other characters, all done beautifully. Writing is slow but relaxing.
The ending felt a bit abrupt. Like there should have been at least another chapter that could tie everything together. And Stephanie at the end seemed the same as Stephanie at the beginning.
Overall great vibes. A good lazy summer read.
The story of Stephanie who struggles with anxiety of the future. A perfect portrait of the youth of every generation. I feel like her relationship with her monther are very relatable. We can feel different emotions toward our parents, and they are not always good and I think book portraits it decently.
The mall and the idea of it as a place that could suck the life out of you and be a safe heaven is what I liked the best. Descriptions, a glimpse into retail work, other characters, all done beautifully. Writing is slow but relaxing.
The ending felt a bit abrupt. Like there should have been at least another chapter that could tie everything together. And Stephanie at the end seemed the same as Stephanie at the beginning.
Overall great vibes. A good lazy summer read.
June 2, 2026
Well… this one was a tough read.
Going in blind absolutely tore me up.
This is a story about a girl and her mom, their relationship and life. It seems much longer than it really is because it’s slow paced but it’s also filled with so much information.
The vibe is perfect! If you ever wanted to go back in time, this is it. Made me feel like a kid again with the setting and everything else.
This made me feel like it was real life and not just a story to read from a book. Imagine yourself journaling then turning it into a book…. That’s what this reminded me of.
Keep this on your radar!
Going in blind absolutely tore me up.
This is a story about a girl and her mom, their relationship and life. It seems much longer than it really is because it’s slow paced but it’s also filled with so much information.
The vibe is perfect! If you ever wanted to go back in time, this is it. Made me feel like a kid again with the setting and everything else.
This made me feel like it was real life and not just a story to read from a book. Imagine yourself journaling then turning it into a book…. That’s what this reminded me of.
Keep this on your radar!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was drawn in to the cover of this book and really, really wanted to like Stephanie. I do feel like she was well written enough to be this...brooding type of character who's misunderstood and I wanted to feel for her, however the pacing was SO long and drawn out for me. It felt like a book filled with fluff. I think had this been written in the style of a short story or a novella with faster pacing, it would have unironically gotten to the point of relationship dynamics and kept the reader interested.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First, this book’s premise immediately drew me in. So many of my early and always memories are shopping with my mom. And I worked retail for four years while in college, so I was so excited when NetGalley gave me an ARC! So much of this book had potential; I relate so much to Steph’s crisis and the depictions of mall life are realistic beyond belief. But there isn’t a plot, the writing rambles too much and I wasn’t sure what the author was really trying to say after the first 100 pages. With tighter prose and more focus, this book would be a real coming of age stunner.
July 11, 2026
This should not be tagged as a romance. If this is published with the romance tag, I can see a lot of readers DNFing.
It’s a character driven story about a young woman who has left college and moved back home to Florida. She gets a temp job in retail at a store her mum works at - I had nostalgia from when I used to work retail after I left uni. Steph enters a new part of her life her new co-workers, notably Trevor who is nothing good, her mum and dad.
If you like a book with little plot, pick it up. The book wasn’t overly gripping in my opinion but it was, at times, relatable
It’s a character driven story about a young woman who has left college and moved back home to Florida. She gets a temp job in retail at a store her mum works at - I had nostalgia from when I used to work retail after I left uni. Steph enters a new part of her life her new co-workers, notably Trevor who is nothing good, her mum and dad.
If you like a book with little plot, pick it up. The book wasn’t overly gripping in my opinion but it was, at times, relatable
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF @ 5%
This book stressed me out a bit. Within the first 5% I already felt suffocated in the department store at which the main character Steph and her mom work. The slow pace didn't bother me that much at the beginning and I felt that the world-building was intriguing. It felt more of a journal than a story, which I liked. I just really didn't connect with the FMC at all which made this a hard read.
Thanks to CLASH Books and Netgalley for the ARC
This book stressed me out a bit. Within the first 5% I already felt suffocated in the department store at which the main character Steph and her mom work. The slow pace didn't bother me that much at the beginning and I felt that the world-building was intriguing. It felt more of a journal than a story, which I liked. I just really didn't connect with the FMC at all which made this a hard read.
Thanks to CLASH Books and Netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Although the premise initially caught my interest, this book ultimately wasn't for me. The mother-daughter relationship had potential, but I struggled to connect with the story due to its slow pacing and lack of a clear narrative direction. The writing style didn't match my personal preferences, often feeling overly descriptive and monotonous. However, I appreciated the overall atmosphere and am grateful for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
July 10, 2026
**Thank you to NetGalley and Clash Books for this ARC**
I really wish I could have rated this one higher. The description sounded promising to me, but unfortunately I just couldn’t connect with it.
This story just reads like the FMC’s diary with no clear plot or direction of any kind. I liked the mall aspect, and the throwback mentions of certain brands or things that were popular during this timeframe. Other than that, it felt bland to me and I just didn’t connect.
I really wish I could have rated this one higher. The description sounded promising to me, but unfortunately I just couldn’t connect with it.
This story just reads like the FMC’s diary with no clear plot or direction of any kind. I liked the mall aspect, and the throwback mentions of certain brands or things that were popular during this timeframe. Other than that, it felt bland to me and I just didn’t connect.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was engrossed all the way through to the last sentence. The mall was beautifully brought to life, and the mother daughter relationship revealed itself to be so central to the themes of the book. I loved how Steph was written- there’s a naivety to her yet a willingness to grow despite lingering trauma and depression. I reread it to catch all of the nuances of the writing; It’s the first time I’ve done that!
May 5, 2026
Although I was excited to read The Style Of Your Life as the premise had appealed to me, it wasn’t for me. The writing style felt bland, almost dull. It did not particularly make sense to me. Thank you Netgaley and publishers for a copy of this arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This one just didn’t work for me. The writing is fine, I guess, but I didn’t connect with the characters or the story. Maybe this would work for someone else.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sigh.
I tried to push myself to finish this one but then I remembered how many books are on my TBR. I put it down at 40%.
This was a bit too slow paced for me and extremely descriptive in areas I dont think nessacarily needed as many adjectives. I didnt feel very connected to any of the characters or the story and just didnt find myself looking forward to reading this.
I tried to push myself to finish this one but then I remembered how many books are on my TBR. I put it down at 40%.
This was a bit too slow paced for me and extremely descriptive in areas I dont think nessacarily needed as many adjectives. I didnt feel very connected to any of the characters or the story and just didnt find myself looking forward to reading this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Overall I didn’t dislike the writing of this book, I will say at times it’s slow. I did love that the characters are realistic cause none are perfect and we are seeing how they interact. I love that the main character went to therapy in the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 8, 2026~Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review~
I tried to get into this but it was a solid DNF for me. Nothing gripped me about these characters and the storyline. I can't say much more than that as I didn't continue.
I tried to get into this but it was a solid DNF for me. Nothing gripped me about these characters and the storyline. I can't say much more than that as I didn't continue.
June 21, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I actually give this book a 3.5 star. As much as I I wanted to like this more it just did not catch and hold my interest
Did Not Finish
July 13, 2026Unfortunately DNF’d around 20%… was not going anywhere. Is anyone else confused by the cover? My understanding is this is a book about a mother/daughter relationship, not a romance.
July 16, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!
I wanted to enjoy this book because the premise seemed so interesting.
I wanted to enjoy this book because the premise seemed so interesting.
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