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The Hack
Sometimes the best lessons are learned in the most terrible ways.
This is a story about two writers.
One is published, rich, and famous; the other, unpublished, poor, and unknown.
The rich guy is me, Max McMillan. I’m the greatest hack ever. I swear I am.
On most days, I walk around the house naked and publish best-selling books every few months or whatever.
The women come and go like it’s a goddamn whorehouse. But I’m thinking about marriage. See, there’s this girl. She’s got a name, but I can’t remember it. I call her Cowgirl Up. It suits her well.
I don’t love her because I don’t think I can. I only love four people: my poor writer friend, Jack, his wife, Jane, and their two kids, Lucy and Nathan.
I hate everyone else.
Did I say Jane is dying from cancer?
And I hate cancer.
This is my story. It’s absurd and outrageous. It really is.
If you’re an asshole like me, you’ll really love this story. I swear you will. It’s that crazy.
And if you buy this book, I just might buy myself another Corvette. (Hell, at least you know that I’m also honest.)
Goddamn, I fucking hate cancer.
This is a story about two writers.
One is published, rich, and famous; the other, unpublished, poor, and unknown.
The rich guy is me, Max McMillan. I’m the greatest hack ever. I swear I am.
On most days, I walk around the house naked and publish best-selling books every few months or whatever.
The women come and go like it’s a goddamn whorehouse. But I’m thinking about marriage. See, there’s this girl. She’s got a name, but I can’t remember it. I call her Cowgirl Up. It suits her well.
I don’t love her because I don’t think I can. I only love four people: my poor writer friend, Jack, his wife, Jane, and their two kids, Lucy and Nathan.
I hate everyone else.
Did I say Jane is dying from cancer?
And I hate cancer.
This is my story. It’s absurd and outrageous. It really is.
If you’re an asshole like me, you’ll really love this story. I swear you will. It’s that crazy.
And if you buy this book, I just might buy myself another Corvette. (Hell, at least you know that I’m also honest.)
Goddamn, I fucking hate cancer.
203 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2020
125 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev
9 books39 followersMoses Yuriyvich Mikheyev is a Russian American novelist who studied theology and philosophy at Whitworth University before obtaining his graduate degree in theological studies from Emory University. He is the author of numerous novels, including Of All Things Sacred, The Hack, Vanishing Bodies, This Time Next Summer, the fantasy children's book Olivia & the Gentleman from Outer Space, and the poetry collection A Fire in the Sunset: A Decade of Love Poems. He is currently working on his seventh novel F2F, a collection of poetry A Sparkle in the Sea, a collection of essays titled The End of Human, and a contemporary romance titled Notes on a Romance Novel. He is also an alternative rock musician; his debut album I Only Have a Hundred Years to Love You was released in 2025. He lives with his wife and family in the Pacific Northwest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 13, 2020
When I first started posting reviews, I promised myself that I would always be honest and forthright so for what it is worth here are my thoughts:
Based on the description, I expected this book to be a satirical version of a romance. I thought it might be a bit vulgar, but wrought with humor. I was correct that it was vulgar, but otherwise it is nothing more than discombobulated mind vomit. It is like trying to follow a story being told by a 3 year old, although the 3 year old would probably be able to string a more coherent plot together. The best thing I can say is that it is a book and it has words. I'm honestly wondering if the author wrote it as a joke to see if people who read it would be honest about what they thought of it.
Based on the description, I expected this book to be a satirical version of a romance. I thought it might be a bit vulgar, but wrought with humor. I was correct that it was vulgar, but otherwise it is nothing more than discombobulated mind vomit. It is like trying to follow a story being told by a 3 year old, although the 3 year old would probably be able to string a more coherent plot together. The best thing I can say is that it is a book and it has words. I'm honestly wondering if the author wrote it as a joke to see if people who read it would be honest about what they thought of it.
August 30, 2020
I couldn't finish this book. I think I got about 20% in and just couldn't take it anymore. I felt like I was wasting time for no good reason and reading a book for enjoyment should never feel like a waste of time.
The main character was so full of himself that it was off-putting. He couldn't complete a sentence without interrupting it with some rambling, non-nonsensical thought that left me wondering exactly what point he was trying to make. He was all over the place and I just couldn't get the gist of the book. I wish that I had something positive to say about it, but sadly I don't. I can't recommend this book because I can't think of anyone who would stick with it long enough to see the end result.
The main character was so full of himself that it was off-putting. He couldn't complete a sentence without interrupting it with some rambling, non-nonsensical thought that left me wondering exactly what point he was trying to make. He was all over the place and I just couldn't get the gist of the book. I wish that I had something positive to say about it, but sadly I don't. I can't recommend this book because I can't think of anyone who would stick with it long enough to see the end result.
September 21, 2020
This was okay. The language was bit over the top for my tastes and while I understand it was part of the character, it was just too much for me at times. This affected my opinion because I had to stop reading every once in a while and the interruptions messed with the flow of the story for me. It took a while to read.
August 21, 2020
I don't even know what to say. The book is about a narcissist, full of himself, writer. He does have very brief moments of almost being human. The best part of the entire book was probably the last, last chapter. Other than then that I just had to get through it.
Read
January 16, 2021I don't know what I was expecting from an author named Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev, but it certainly wasn't this! I rather enjoyed it, though, it was certainly something different. Thank you, Moses!
May 6, 2020
Dear Goodreads followers,
You may rightly be shocked at first glance that I have read to the end such a book as this. It indeed goes against some of my aesthetic preferences: its diction is dreadfully low and vulgar (as is some of the humor), and it is a fiction in which only one character is very interesting. At some points I couldn't help but read in my head with the voice of my most vulgar-mouthed acquaintances. I am reminded of a book that came up in my Philosophy of Education class which, among other distinctions, brought my attention to the difference between literature that is poisonous to the soul or merely trash. I am not decided (when am I?) on which of these categories best describes The Hack, but first I would like to explain a bit how I came to be aware of this book in the first place. It's author is one whose work I have been following for about seven years. His blogs were witty and thought-stirring. At the time he appeared to me as one associating himself with Christianity, introducing me to Kierkegaard, but over time his work pitched farther towards the unorthodox, and it may have influenced me in that direction, too. I wonder if reading Mikheyev has only been to my detriment.
I feel I must give, if not a defense, at least an explanation of why I still read Mikheyev, and then more specifically why I kept reading the book. Back when I first was reading Moses, he was very generous with replying to my comments at length. Reading his work is more about a relationship with him, whom I do not know in person. Moses likes attention, and I like giving it to him. The glory of being one of his top readers is more easily attained than with other more deserving writers, but MM rewards me well for it. In the Hack I thought I could sense some themes and ideas from his previous work, and being used to some of his notions/shenanigans I was looking forward to seeing them in his making.
Now to the book itself. There were certainly poisonous passages whose images and words I do not Want in my head, but other places were genuinely funny, which is the one of the purposes of the book. Sometimes the narrator says "you may want to sit down to read this", which prevented me from falling over laughing. The writing feels conversational most of the time, which is a skill. The references to other writers are a plus, even if inorganic (would Max really read X?). Really, it's Moses who has read X. His favorites inevitably show up. Despite whatever he tells you, Moses is more like Max than Jack, but maybe that's because Moses only writes what he knows, and Max is the narrator. At least once, Max, who is 33, as compared with Jesus of Nazareth, but to me he's more a John the Baptizer figure. One thing morally to be admired throughout the story is Max's hatred of cancer, which I wish I shared. His hatred of cancer may be a love of what it takes away disguised in grumpiness. And perhaps in this book there is a love hidden behind the ugly, overused words and bawdy scenes, peeping up from time to time. The love of a son? I am not claiming that all these sentences are true or reflect my opinion, you can try to figure that out on your own if you want to. I have to go to bed!
You may rightly be shocked at first glance that I have read to the end such a book as this. It indeed goes against some of my aesthetic preferences: its diction is dreadfully low and vulgar (as is some of the humor), and it is a fiction in which only one character is very interesting. At some points I couldn't help but read in my head with the voice of my most vulgar-mouthed acquaintances. I am reminded of a book that came up in my Philosophy of Education class which, among other distinctions, brought my attention to the difference between literature that is poisonous to the soul or merely trash. I am not decided (when am I?) on which of these categories best describes The Hack, but first I would like to explain a bit how I came to be aware of this book in the first place. It's author is one whose work I have been following for about seven years. His blogs were witty and thought-stirring. At the time he appeared to me as one associating himself with Christianity, introducing me to Kierkegaard, but over time his work pitched farther towards the unorthodox, and it may have influenced me in that direction, too. I wonder if reading Mikheyev has only been to my detriment.
I feel I must give, if not a defense, at least an explanation of why I still read Mikheyev, and then more specifically why I kept reading the book. Back when I first was reading Moses, he was very generous with replying to my comments at length. Reading his work is more about a relationship with him, whom I do not know in person. Moses likes attention, and I like giving it to him. The glory of being one of his top readers is more easily attained than with other more deserving writers, but MM rewards me well for it. In the Hack I thought I could sense some themes and ideas from his previous work, and being used to some of his notions/shenanigans I was looking forward to seeing them in his making.
Now to the book itself. There were certainly poisonous passages whose images and words I do not Want in my head, but other places were genuinely funny, which is the one of the purposes of the book. Sometimes the narrator says "you may want to sit down to read this", which prevented me from falling over laughing. The writing feels conversational most of the time, which is a skill. The references to other writers are a plus, even if inorganic (would Max really read X?). Really, it's Moses who has read X. His favorites inevitably show up. Despite whatever he tells you, Moses is more like Max than Jack, but maybe that's because Moses only writes what he knows, and Max is the narrator. At least once, Max, who is 33, as compared with Jesus of Nazareth, but to me he's more a John the Baptizer figure. One thing morally to be admired throughout the story is Max's hatred of cancer, which I wish I shared. His hatred of cancer may be a love of what it takes away disguised in grumpiness. And perhaps in this book there is a love hidden behind the ugly, overused words and bawdy scenes, peeping up from time to time. The love of a son? I am not claiming that all these sentences are true or reflect my opinion, you can try to figure that out on your own if you want to. I have to go to bed!
June 29, 2020
Wildly unconventional satire of the publishing world.
This is a humorous but wildly improbable story related in the first-person narrative by Max, a world famous and immensely successful author. Cursing on a continuous basis, he relates the process as to how he manages to get married but also to save his friend, Jack, who is a virtually unpublished and an obscure author.
Max describes his wildly perambulous and erratic journey, which includes some erotic diversions with his bride to be, and a daring plan to raise the status and the credibility of his friend, as an author. The dryly humorous episodes include such things as unlikely episodes of him assuming the mantle of the president of the United States for a few hours, on social media, and crashing a helicopter into a pond whilst simultaneously occupied intimately with his wife to be.
Reading this book is rather akin to sitting and sharing a drink with the author in a rowdy pub and listening to him chatting while he sips his drink. If explicit language and erotic, but dark humor, appeals to you, then grab a drink of something strong, and relax somewhere quiet to enjoy this unusual read.
This is a humorous but wildly improbable story related in the first-person narrative by Max, a world famous and immensely successful author. Cursing on a continuous basis, he relates the process as to how he manages to get married but also to save his friend, Jack, who is a virtually unpublished and an obscure author.
Max describes his wildly perambulous and erratic journey, which includes some erotic diversions with his bride to be, and a daring plan to raise the status and the credibility of his friend, as an author. The dryly humorous episodes include such things as unlikely episodes of him assuming the mantle of the president of the United States for a few hours, on social media, and crashing a helicopter into a pond whilst simultaneously occupied intimately with his wife to be.
Reading this book is rather akin to sitting and sharing a drink with the author in a rowdy pub and listening to him chatting while he sips his drink. If explicit language and erotic, but dark humor, appeals to you, then grab a drink of something strong, and relax somewhere quiet to enjoy this unusual read.
August 20, 2020
Thank you NetGalley for a free copy of The Hack in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Lewd, crass, bold, poignant, evocative.... simply brilliant!! Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev certainly knows how to capture a reader. The Hack is written in true Holden Caufield-esque style, crude, narcissistic language and all. I think I even detected a slight nod to 1984.
Max McMillan, mega famous literary genius, only loves four people: Jack, his wife Jane, and their two young children, Lucy and Nathan. Max really @#$%#^ hates cancer. Jane is dying from cancer, and Max is an a-hole.
I'll say this first, if you are opposed to foul language, move on. This is not the book for you. Depending on how the foul language is used in a book, it typically does not offend me. My first impression of The Hack made me think of The Catcher in the Rye's Holden Caulfield. I was immediately amused by the thought, "Holy crap! This is Holden all grown up!!" Max's inflections and stories he tells throughout the whole book are outrageous and implausible, but his running rude commentary on society is pretty spot on. His narcissism knows no bounds and it's hysterical! But he speaks the naked truth about himself, too. You can't help but love the guy.
I hope Mikheyev didn't really mean it when he said this is his least favorite novel he has written. I think he has written a hilarious bold metaphor for today's social climate
Lewd, crass, bold, poignant, evocative.... simply brilliant!! Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev certainly knows how to capture a reader. The Hack is written in true Holden Caufield-esque style, crude, narcissistic language and all. I think I even detected a slight nod to 1984.
Max McMillan, mega famous literary genius, only loves four people: Jack, his wife Jane, and their two young children, Lucy and Nathan. Max really @#$%#^ hates cancer. Jane is dying from cancer, and Max is an a-hole.
I'll say this first, if you are opposed to foul language, move on. This is not the book for you. Depending on how the foul language is used in a book, it typically does not offend me. My first impression of The Hack made me think of The Catcher in the Rye's Holden Caulfield. I was immediately amused by the thought, "Holy crap! This is Holden all grown up!!" Max's inflections and stories he tells throughout the whole book are outrageous and implausible, but his running rude commentary on society is pretty spot on. His narcissism knows no bounds and it's hysterical! But he speaks the naked truth about himself, too. You can't help but love the guy.
I hope Mikheyev didn't really mean it when he said this is his least favorite novel he has written. I think he has written a hilarious bold metaphor for today's social climate
June 25, 2020
The Hack by Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev is a book that while coarse on the outside, has an undercurrent of heart and deeper meaning. The main character Max, a writer, is truly unlikeable, a huge ego, brash and unappealing. He does however have a best friend Jack, whose wife is dying from cancer. This is where under the unabashed writing style, you can find some humanity, some depth and emotion to the writing. It's hard to get to that point though, a lot is lost through the harsh narrative. The themes of grief and disappointment are there but could be further developed to truly resonate and give more humanity to Max. Overall an interesting book with a rather harsh style, but also with an important message underneath.
September 1, 2020
A man convinced of his own place on the higher rungs of humanities ladder, the fictional author this story revolves around has a very jaded opinion of everyone else. The language is a little over the top, but it fits the character and his daily interactions with those he loathes most. When this outrageous excuse for a man finds that one of the very few people he considers his peer has cancer and the prognosis is not good, he must step outside his self centered lifestyle and actually think of someone else. The consequences are pretty entertaining. This book is not for everyone. The language alone will turn off some readers and the way the story unwinds will have you turning back pages to see what you missed, but stick with it....the story and the characters are redeemed in the end.
Want to read
June 4, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/4/2020)! 🎁
August 14, 2020
From the description it sounded like a good read but that’s not my experience.
Max is all over the place and I was ready for this based on the description but I seriously couldn’t keep up. Half the time I didn’t know how things applied to the story and I really struggled to stay in the story. If Max’s inner monologue was reeled in a bit, maybe that would have made it easier for me to read.
Max is all over the place and I was ready for this based on the description but I seriously couldn’t keep up. Half the time I didn’t know how things applied to the story and I really struggled to stay in the story. If Max’s inner monologue was reeled in a bit, maybe that would have made it easier for me to read.
September 9, 2020
The narcissistic, self-centered, arrogant Max McMillan has a lot to say about his life, his friends, and especially his sexual pursuits. He is rich, entitled, and loyal to his friends. The language used in this book is rough, but it does help the reader to understand Max. The story, despite some meandering, kept my attention and all turned out well in the end.
September 9, 2020
What a ride !
Hilarious, rude, offensive in parts. A narrative delivered at a breakneck speed, making me read this extremely quickly, and I felt exhausted come the end of it.
Max McMillan is a mass selling author - wealthy, self-absorbed and totally over the top. This is his story and the story of his friend, unpublished author Jack.
Hilarious, rude, offensive in parts. A narrative delivered at a breakneck speed, making me read this extremely quickly, and I felt exhausted come the end of it.
Max McMillan is a mass selling author - wealthy, self-absorbed and totally over the top. This is his story and the story of his friend, unpublished author Jack.
August 18, 2020
Read the first 10 pages and the language is so atrocious. I would never finish or enjoy this book. The curse, swear words are not necessary but then this author may not be able to talk if he is denied those words. I would give it 0 stars if I could.....
August 7, 2021
Thank you to the author Moses Yurivich Mikheyev, the publsiher, and NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for my candid opinion.
Wow, this is a tough one to review. At first it is a horrible first person rant of an egotistical, grotesque, horrifying, very successful modern day author that is wildly successful by writing the most horrifically inane drivel possible. This author, who is an internationally famous author, admits that he has absolutely no talent at all, while his friend, who writes the most achingly beautiful novels ever, cannot get published.
The book started by introducing this horrible, horrible famous author by his stream of counciousness profane rant. Not only did he hate himself, but all readers did too at this point. But that was the point.
Then the story, still told in first person, ranting, evens out and becomes a more believable and introspective story.
The book is a reflection on societal tastes and mores and how the masses are far more likely to believe the most outlandish lies, so long as they are published via some reliable source such as the internet (sarcasm highly intended) instead of believing a more realistic, but far less dramatic truth. It is a criticism of social media, journalism, publishing, the movie industry and just about every one that gives credence to them.
It was a very vulgar, profane way to get the point across, but I am glad that I stuck it out. This book will not be for everybody because you have to commit to get past the initial spew of garbage to get to the relevant part.
Ultimately, I am glad that I stuck with it.
Wow, this is a tough one to review. At first it is a horrible first person rant of an egotistical, grotesque, horrifying, very successful modern day author that is wildly successful by writing the most horrifically inane drivel possible. This author, who is an internationally famous author, admits that he has absolutely no talent at all, while his friend, who writes the most achingly beautiful novels ever, cannot get published.
The book started by introducing this horrible, horrible famous author by his stream of counciousness profane rant. Not only did he hate himself, but all readers did too at this point. But that was the point.
Then the story, still told in first person, ranting, evens out and becomes a more believable and introspective story.
The book is a reflection on societal tastes and mores and how the masses are far more likely to believe the most outlandish lies, so long as they are published via some reliable source such as the internet (sarcasm highly intended) instead of believing a more realistic, but far less dramatic truth. It is a criticism of social media, journalism, publishing, the movie industry and just about every one that gives credence to them.
It was a very vulgar, profane way to get the point across, but I am glad that I stuck it out. This book will not be for everybody because you have to commit to get past the initial spew of garbage to get to the relevant part.
Ultimately, I am glad that I stuck with it.
September 18, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.
I wanted to love this book, but it had me going in so many circles I wasn't sure if I could or not. I have to admit that I'm still uncertain even as I write this review so I'm giving it 3 stars. I've sat for a few days before writing to try to really delve into my thoughts on it.
This novel is about two writer friends, one extremely successful (Max) and one who has been dealt a really bad hand of cards (Jack). Jack writes beautifully according to Max, but yet he can't get published while Max is an author that no matter what he does, he is loved and respected.
This novel brought me in and then brought me out in the way he wrote that was in too many circles and made no sense at times. I learned to take some of it with a grain of salt because I realized the writer was trying to make a point about how you can fake your life and have people believe you. Max, the wealthy writer is far from a normal person and he wants to help his friend Jack, Jane (who is dying of cancer) and their young children, Lucy and Nathan who are the only 4 people he truly loves. He steals Jack's manuscript as a grand gesture to get it published only to let the world know that he, Max McMillan is a liar and a cheat. When Max gets married to a woman whose name he can't remember, it is only then that you truly find out Max really is.
I wanted to love this book, but it had me going in so many circles I wasn't sure if I could or not. I have to admit that I'm still uncertain even as I write this review so I'm giving it 3 stars. I've sat for a few days before writing to try to really delve into my thoughts on it.
This novel is about two writer friends, one extremely successful (Max) and one who has been dealt a really bad hand of cards (Jack). Jack writes beautifully according to Max, but yet he can't get published while Max is an author that no matter what he does, he is loved and respected.
This novel brought me in and then brought me out in the way he wrote that was in too many circles and made no sense at times. I learned to take some of it with a grain of salt because I realized the writer was trying to make a point about how you can fake your life and have people believe you. Max, the wealthy writer is far from a normal person and he wants to help his friend Jack, Jane (who is dying of cancer) and their young children, Lucy and Nathan who are the only 4 people he truly loves. He steals Jack's manuscript as a grand gesture to get it published only to let the world know that he, Max McMillan is a liar and a cheat. When Max gets married to a woman whose name he can't remember, it is only then that you truly find out Max really is.
February 1, 2023
#thehack
#MosesYuriyvichMikheyev
#NetGalley published 4/24/2020
#humorsatire
📖 Book Review 📖
I won't leave a ⭐ rating here because it was a DNF for me. I made it 43% and said, "I'm done." I chose this book bc I loved his other book that I read as a brand new ARC, Strange Deaths of the Last Romantic. I searched NetGalley to see if he had other books. He even had this one available for download when I first found it. (It's now archived) This one one did sound interesting. Nope. Ended up not being for me.
The genre is supposed to be satire. I felt like I was being constantly yelled at. Even though he has a best friend. Actually loves him, the wife and the kid. But he HATES everything else. When things don't go his way it's always, I hate this, I hate that. But he does end up supposedly falling in love and getting, married before I dropped the book. I thought I'd give the book and the MC a chance for a little while after that. Hoping marriage would soften him. Nope. Not quick enough for this girl.
The sound of the voice reminds me of The Catcher in the Rye. I could not stand that one either. That was the longest short book ever!
#romance
#youngadult
#teen
#bookstagram #booknerds #bookworm #booklover #bookdragon #readalot #ilovereading #inkdrinker #librarymouse #bookaddict #bookaholic
#MosesYuriyvichMikheyev
#NetGalley published 4/24/2020
#humorsatire
📖 Book Review 📖
I won't leave a ⭐ rating here because it was a DNF for me. I made it 43% and said, "I'm done." I chose this book bc I loved his other book that I read as a brand new ARC, Strange Deaths of the Last Romantic. I searched NetGalley to see if he had other books. He even had this one available for download when I first found it. (It's now archived) This one one did sound interesting. Nope. Ended up not being for me.
The genre is supposed to be satire. I felt like I was being constantly yelled at. Even though he has a best friend. Actually loves him, the wife and the kid. But he HATES everything else. When things don't go his way it's always, I hate this, I hate that. But he does end up supposedly falling in love and getting, married before I dropped the book. I thought I'd give the book and the MC a chance for a little while after that. Hoping marriage would soften him. Nope. Not quick enough for this girl.
The sound of the voice reminds me of The Catcher in the Rye. I could not stand that one either. That was the longest short book ever!
#romance
#youngadult
#teen
#bookstagram #booknerds #bookworm #booklover #bookdragon #readalot #ilovereading #inkdrinker #librarymouse #bookaddict #bookaholic
Read
February 6, 2023#thehack
#MosesYuriyvichMikheyev
#NetGalley published 4/24/2020
#humorsatire
📖 Book Review 📖
I won't leave a ⭐ rating here because it was a DNF for me. I made it 43% and said, "I'm done." I chose this book bc I loved his other book that I read as a brand new ARC, Strange Deaths of the Last Romantic. I searched NetGalley to see if he had other books. He even had this one available for download when I first found it. (It's now archived) This one one did sound interesting. Nope. Ended up not being for me.
The genre is supposed to be satire. I felt like I was being constantly yelled at. Even though he has a best friend. Actually loves him, the wife and the kid. But he HATES everything else. When things don't go his way it's always, I hate this, I hate that. But he does end up supposedly falling in love and getting, married before I dropped the book. I thought I'd give the book and the MC a chance for a little while after that. Hoping marriage would soften him. Nope. Not quick enough for this girl.
The sound of the voice reminds me of The Catcher in the Rye. I could not stand that one either. That was the longest short book ever!
#romance
#youngadult
#teen
#bookstagram #booknerds #bookworm #booklover #bookdragon #readalot #ilovereading #inkdrinker #librarymouse #bookaddict #bookaholic
#MosesYuriyvichMikheyev
#NetGalley published 4/24/2020
#humorsatire
📖 Book Review 📖
I won't leave a ⭐ rating here because it was a DNF for me. I made it 43% and said, "I'm done." I chose this book bc I loved his other book that I read as a brand new ARC, Strange Deaths of the Last Romantic. I searched NetGalley to see if he had other books. He even had this one available for download when I first found it. (It's now archived) This one one did sound interesting. Nope. Ended up not being for me.
The genre is supposed to be satire. I felt like I was being constantly yelled at. Even though he has a best friend. Actually loves him, the wife and the kid. But he HATES everything else. When things don't go his way it's always, I hate this, I hate that. But he does end up supposedly falling in love and getting, married before I dropped the book. I thought I'd give the book and the MC a chance for a little while after that. Hoping marriage would soften him. Nope. Not quick enough for this girl.
The sound of the voice reminds me of The Catcher in the Rye. I could not stand that one either. That was the longest short book ever!
#romance
#youngadult
#teen
#bookstagram #booknerds #bookworm #booklover #bookdragon #readalot #ilovereading #inkdrinker #librarymouse #bookaddict #bookaholic
November 6, 2020
Sometimes the books I get from Netgalley are great. Other times, they really are not. This book would fall into the second category. As I started reading, I had high hopes. I found the narrator amusing and even highlighted this: “If you don’t believe me—which you probably shouldn’t—” I thought, okay, I could get into this sense of humor. I was wrong.
I managed to read the first two chapters before realizing the narrator sounds too much like an ex-boyfriend with ADHD who doesn’t know when to shut up (true story). It wasn’t amusing. It was just annoying, and just as I had to extricate myself from an unhealthy real-life relationship, I likewise had to extricate myself from an unpleasant reading experience. I have no doubt some people will enjoy this book (even my ex- found someone else to love him), but I am not one of those people and I cannot recommend this book to any lover of literature. I didn’t find anything clever or intelligent or poetic or consciousness-raising about this. Life is too short to waste any time on something that doesn’t make you happy. I’ll be looking for my happiness elsewhere.
I managed to read the first two chapters before realizing the narrator sounds too much like an ex-boyfriend with ADHD who doesn’t know when to shut up (true story). It wasn’t amusing. It was just annoying, and just as I had to extricate myself from an unhealthy real-life relationship, I likewise had to extricate myself from an unpleasant reading experience. I have no doubt some people will enjoy this book (even my ex- found someone else to love him), but I am not one of those people and I cannot recommend this book to any lover of literature. I didn’t find anything clever or intelligent or poetic or consciousness-raising about this. Life is too short to waste any time on something that doesn’t make you happy. I’ll be looking for my happiness elsewhere.
September 27, 2021
Max McMillian is a very successful author if you do not believe him just ask him. In his own words he is a hack of an author but very well compensated but he also is the very definition of conceited and arrogant look up either word in the dictionary and you would see a picture of this man. This all being said and in the description of this book it is listed as falling in the humor section . I do not see how honestly this has to be one of the worst books i have read in a long time. First this book reminds of the one friend or acquaintance you have that will not shut up they just ramble on as soon they finish one comment they are on to something else and hardly take a breath. This is how this book is it bounces all over the place with no real story. I have read books that have vulgarity in them but the way this author use it is really a bit much. I would not waste my money on this book. Thank you Netgalley for an ARC for an fair and honest review.
September 10, 2020
God, I hate.......this is the consistent line throughout this book. And while I endorse many of this narcissist's feelings. for a writer he is very repetitive. For a true jerk, who works hard at covering up any true signs of humanity in his soul, Max now and then does good things....
It was tough to make progress in this book, it seemed to circle back to how much Max hated things far too much. I did enjoy the opening, it seemed refreshing but sadly soon became predictable.
The cancer thing strikes home, that part was tough to read.
Not sure if I could say I would recommend the read, both liked and didn't like this story.
It was tough to make progress in this book, it seemed to circle back to how much Max hated things far too much. I did enjoy the opening, it seemed refreshing but sadly soon became predictable.
The cancer thing strikes home, that part was tough to read.
Not sure if I could say I would recommend the read, both liked and didn't like this story.
October 17, 2020
I received this book free of charged from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
By time I was 1/4 of the way into this book, I wanted to punch Max and not finish this book. He was so arrogant and irritating. I rarely not finish a book, so I stuck with it. I'm glad I did.
Max is an author who calls himself a hack and an asshole. The story seems to jump around like his train of thought. He can't stay focused on any one thing for more than 2 minutes. His close friend Jack is also an author who can't get published. Jack's wife is dying from cancer.
The best part of this book was probably the last 20 pages.
By time I was 1/4 of the way into this book, I wanted to punch Max and not finish this book. He was so arrogant and irritating. I rarely not finish a book, so I stuck with it. I'm glad I did.
Max is an author who calls himself a hack and an asshole. The story seems to jump around like his train of thought. He can't stay focused on any one thing for more than 2 minutes. His close friend Jack is also an author who can't get published. Jack's wife is dying from cancer.
The best part of this book was probably the last 20 pages.
November 15, 2020
Oh Goodness!! This book wasn’t my style, Max is all over the place and I cant seem to really like him as much, he is a narcissist hands down, and to make matters worst Jack is just trying to make it out in the world as an author and Max is a douche about it. But I am going to be totally honest here, at times I caught myself laughing, because the vulgar things in this book! I mean, even though the reviews were not all that great, I think this book, like all books are worth a try to read. Just got to prepare yourself for Max, hes for sure a wild character.
June 10, 2023
Book is genius!
Author takes reader on a journey through the lunacy of mind of character Max McMillan, an author and a self-proclaimed hack.
Max has a running commentary charging through his mind that is both relatable and yet a bit crazed.
Max has made a successful career as an author when he meets Jess, his girlfriend.
She may be the change i his all-over-the-place behavior or is it his sage and maturity?
Whatever it is-this satirical novel will have you laughing and crying and thinking well after book is ckosed.
Author takes reader on a journey through the lunacy of mind of character Max McMillan, an author and a self-proclaimed hack.
Max has a running commentary charging through his mind that is both relatable and yet a bit crazed.
Max has made a successful career as an author when he meets Jess, his girlfriend.
She may be the change i his all-over-the-place behavior or is it his sage and maturity?
Whatever it is-this satirical novel will have you laughing and crying and thinking well after book is ckosed.
September 30, 2020
One wild ride. Hard to get behind the central character, sometimes funny, sometimes just odd. I really felt this story could have been better. Too many storylines just fell flat rather than being humorous. It became hard to finish. Overall I didn’t care for the main character, he was a complete ass. I gave this book three stars for the attempts at humor. I would have a difficult time recommending this book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, my comments are my own and unsolicited.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, my comments are my own and unsolicited.
November 15, 2020
Netgalley recommended this book. I really tried to get interested, but I kept looking to see what percentage was left to read. The subject of the book was so annoying. His life as such an adored being was totally unbelievable. I pushed through waiting for some redemption, but none came. Not my kind of reading at all.
October 6, 2020
The Hack, a book full of colourful language so if you are not a lover of swear words best to stir clear of it as you won't find much of infinity with the book.
But if it doesn't bother you, then this an enjoyable read and very well crafted. Interesting plot and one that gets you thinking.
But if it doesn't bother you, then this an enjoyable read and very well crafted. Interesting plot and one that gets you thinking.
March 15, 2021
Funny book about two different writers.
A tale of two writers - one has gained fame and fortune; the other - not so much. Enjoyable, funny and escapist. I received a copy from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
A tale of two writers - one has gained fame and fortune; the other - not so much. Enjoyable, funny and escapist. I received a copy from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
September 30, 2020
I enjoyed this read.... it was engaging and kept me pulled in. I look forward to reading more of this author's and appreciate the opportunity to review this one!
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