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A Bit Much
For fans of Sally Rooney and Ottessa Moshfegh, A Bit Much is a darkly funny novel about the complexity of friendships, the agony of insecurity, and the beautiful and embarrassing nature of loving someone.
Alice is twenty-four and falling apart. She’s lost her job, her appetite, her ability to sleep. And now she’s worried she’s going to lose Mia, her closest friend, who’s being treated for a serious illness. On the days Alice can get herself out of bed, she visits Mia at the hospital. While they sink into familiar patterns—Alice makes Mia laugh, Mia tells Alice she needs to get laid—they know their friendship is changing, and they can’t control what will happen in the days ahead.
Still focused on Mia, while trying to convince others she’s a stable, happy person, Alice meets her neighbour James—someone she used to try to avoid. They’re interested in each other, but Alice, who is a lethal combination of judgmental and insecure, is hesitant; she has never had luck with dating, and she thinks now is a weird time since Mia needs her. And Alice figures he probably sucks anyway. Mia encourages Alice to be social, while attempting to hide her own loneliness and fear as her body breaks down. But as Alice tries to push herself to do more, including allowing herself to get close to James, she struggles to move forward knowing Mia can’t.
A Bit Much takes an intimate look at female friendships, new relationships, and the disorienting times in which we live. Brilliantly caustic and strangely funny, it introduces Sarah Jackson as a captivating new voice in Canadian literature.
Alice is twenty-four and falling apart. She’s lost her job, her appetite, her ability to sleep. And now she’s worried she’s going to lose Mia, her closest friend, who’s being treated for a serious illness. On the days Alice can get herself out of bed, she visits Mia at the hospital. While they sink into familiar patterns—Alice makes Mia laugh, Mia tells Alice she needs to get laid—they know their friendship is changing, and they can’t control what will happen in the days ahead.
Still focused on Mia, while trying to convince others she’s a stable, happy person, Alice meets her neighbour James—someone she used to try to avoid. They’re interested in each other, but Alice, who is a lethal combination of judgmental and insecure, is hesitant; she has never had luck with dating, and she thinks now is a weird time since Mia needs her. And Alice figures he probably sucks anyway. Mia encourages Alice to be social, while attempting to hide her own loneliness and fear as her body breaks down. But as Alice tries to push herself to do more, including allowing herself to get close to James, she struggles to move forward knowing Mia can’t.
A Bit Much takes an intimate look at female friendships, new relationships, and the disorienting times in which we live. Brilliantly caustic and strangely funny, it introduces Sarah Jackson as a captivating new voice in Canadian literature.
264 pages, Hardcover
Published June 7, 2022
32 people are currently reading
7351 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Jackson
1 book52 followersSarah Jackson is a writer and editor. She lives in Toronto. A BIT MUCH is Sarah's first book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
June 25, 2022
This book made me feel SO SEEN. I had a very deep emotional connection to most of these characters, I cared about them very much and wanted to know what they were doing and what they were up to. I wanted to text them to see how they were like I was in their friend group. The friendships in this book were so real and relatable to me. Mia and Alice made me feel at ease and were very familiar. The funnies were FUNNY, and the sads were SAD. All of the movie/music/show references were 10/10. There was some heartbreaking stuff in this one, but it made me FEEL THINGS so deeply.
Seeing things through Mia's eyes was also relatable in some ways; dealing with a chronic illness can be difficult, especially when you don't want to appear a burden to others and just want people to act normally around you. You want to fit in and do what you always do because it makes you feel safe and comfy. This book definitely belongs in the sad-awkward girl genre (the comparisons to Moshfegh and Rooney are accurate), but it's also very different from a lot of those other books - it was so unique to me and I adored it. Please.. Please read this — if you enjoy the sad/awkward/horny/hot/depressed/quirky girl genre, you will most likely enjoy this one. I will end this review with two things: Tell your friends you love them and READ THIS BOOK.
Seeing things through Mia's eyes was also relatable in some ways; dealing with a chronic illness can be difficult, especially when you don't want to appear a burden to others and just want people to act normally around you. You want to fit in and do what you always do because it makes you feel safe and comfy. This book definitely belongs in the sad-awkward girl genre (the comparisons to Moshfegh and Rooney are accurate), but it's also very different from a lot of those other books - it was so unique to me and I adored it. Please.. Please read this — if you enjoy the sad/awkward/horny/hot/depressed/quirky girl genre, you will most likely enjoy this one. I will end this review with two things: Tell your friends you love them and READ THIS BOOK.
June 10, 2022
I finished this book in two sittings. My brain is rotted in a way where I'm not absolutely sucked in it usually takes me months to finish anything. I could not stop reading this one and when it finished I wanted to read more. I saw so much of myself in the characters and it wasn't always things that I wanted to see. Sarah's writing is smart and funny and the people that she writes feel like people that you already know.
Everybody needs to read this so that Sarah Jackson will be forced to write a sequel.
Everybody needs to read this so that Sarah Jackson will be forced to write a sequel.
March 25, 2022
this book was deeply cathartic and made me feel very Seen
May 13, 2022
Bravo to Sarah Jackson, this was a wonderful debut.
I picked it up Wednesday evening and couldn't peel myself away, devouring the book over the course of one day. Jackson introduces us to an unforgettable protagonist named Alice. She's a young, quirky, and entertaining gal.
What felt so special about this book was Alice's relationship with her best friend Mia, and their strong bond. The pair have known each other since Alice was four, and share an apartment together. Mia is struggling with an unnamed illness, and her symptoms, treatment protocol, and repeat hospital admissions give readers insight as to just how severe it is.
We follow Alice as she makes regular visits to see Mia at the hospital, bringing with her a unique sense of humour to lighten the mood and keep things as normal as she can for her best friend. The two disclose everything to each other. It'll make you think of that one friend you cherish more than anyone.
Another thing that felt so great about this book was learning of Alice's thought patterns, mannerisms, and behaviours. Watching her observations and interactions with other folks was really hilarious. There were times that I was literally laughing out loud. Despite the dark subject, Jackson brings a great sense of humour to the book.
We're also introduced to some other characters along the way that develop quite well as we read. Anne, a feisty little see you next Tuesday, who I actually grew to like, and Dylan, James, and even a lovely cat called Gus.
All in all, Sarah's debut was brilliant. Full review and interview with Sarah to follow soon on Avocado Diaries.
My thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for the advanced reader copy.
I picked it up Wednesday evening and couldn't peel myself away, devouring the book over the course of one day. Jackson introduces us to an unforgettable protagonist named Alice. She's a young, quirky, and entertaining gal.
What felt so special about this book was Alice's relationship with her best friend Mia, and their strong bond. The pair have known each other since Alice was four, and share an apartment together. Mia is struggling with an unnamed illness, and her symptoms, treatment protocol, and repeat hospital admissions give readers insight as to just how severe it is.
We follow Alice as she makes regular visits to see Mia at the hospital, bringing with her a unique sense of humour to lighten the mood and keep things as normal as she can for her best friend. The two disclose everything to each other. It'll make you think of that one friend you cherish more than anyone.
Another thing that felt so great about this book was learning of Alice's thought patterns, mannerisms, and behaviours. Watching her observations and interactions with other folks was really hilarious. There were times that I was literally laughing out loud. Despite the dark subject, Jackson brings a great sense of humour to the book.
We're also introduced to some other characters along the way that develop quite well as we read. Anne, a feisty little see you next Tuesday, who I actually grew to like, and Dylan, James, and even a lovely cat called Gus.
All in all, Sarah's debut was brilliant. Full review and interview with Sarah to follow soon on Avocado Diaries.
My thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for the advanced reader copy.
June 30, 2022
I liked this, but I thought I was going to LOVE it. The writing felt a bit juvenile? The main character Alice was 24 but it felt I was reading a 14 year olds diary. I enjoyed the story. The characters were quirky yet still very relatable. I felt Alice’s awkwardness. I just wish it was more “grown up”.
December 18, 2022
Finally a book compared to Sally Rooney that actually has things in common with her other than being written by a woman about women lol. I really did love this though…. I think I have to sit with the ending because it did wrap up suddenly and I was surprised that was the cut off but overall I really liked it.
June 12, 2022
4.5
Have you ever felt the weight of the mundane?
In Sarah Jackson’s debut novel A Bit Much we go through the motions of 24 year old Alice, she’s found herself in stagnant waters, unable to grapple with daily life and choices and on top of it all she may lose her best friend Mia.
As we watch Alice push to overcome even the hardest of daily tasks like getting out of bed, eating, socializing, you come to understand and see how she is trying but hindered by this hidden darkness.
When I read this I felt like I was reading about my younger self, or reading something a close friend wrote about their own struggles with, well, just life. And although the word anxiety isn’t used you know and feel it and relate deeply to it with Alice.
There is lightheartedness mixed with cynicism that had me laughing through a lot of this book. It all just felt so very true and real. Jackson was able to make Alice so very lovable because it was hard not to see yourself in her.
Witty, smart, real are all words that come to mind while reading this and with the underlying buzz of hope beneath all the rubble of life made this debut something special.
If you like books like Writers and Lovers or Ghosts I think this would be a perfect read.
Have you ever felt the weight of the mundane?
In Sarah Jackson’s debut novel A Bit Much we go through the motions of 24 year old Alice, she’s found herself in stagnant waters, unable to grapple with daily life and choices and on top of it all she may lose her best friend Mia.
As we watch Alice push to overcome even the hardest of daily tasks like getting out of bed, eating, socializing, you come to understand and see how she is trying but hindered by this hidden darkness.
When I read this I felt like I was reading about my younger self, or reading something a close friend wrote about their own struggles with, well, just life. And although the word anxiety isn’t used you know and feel it and relate deeply to it with Alice.
There is lightheartedness mixed with cynicism that had me laughing through a lot of this book. It all just felt so very true and real. Jackson was able to make Alice so very lovable because it was hard not to see yourself in her.
Witty, smart, real are all words that come to mind while reading this and with the underlying buzz of hope beneath all the rubble of life made this debut something special.
If you like books like Writers and Lovers or Ghosts I think this would be a perfect read.
June 17, 2022
Adding additional thoughts to my review now that I’ve sat with it for a few hours!
WOW. This book was stunning. It made me laugh and it made me cry, and it left me wanting so much MORE, but I think that was the point. I wish I could read it again for the first time.
Sarah Jackson does a beautiful job of evoking the same feelings in the reader as she does her characters. This deep desire for more, this underlying current of insecurity - she makes the reader feel all of it. I finished the book frustrated that things weren’t tied up perfectly, and I think that’s exactly how she wanted the reader to feel. The characters are constantly craving more and so she makes the reader feel that too. She also pulls out the insecurities of each character in such a painfully relatable way, it’s like being forced to look into a mirror sometimes.
She’s been compared to Sally Rooney, and her writing reminds me of Sally Rooney’s in the sense that they aren’t flowery writers yet they articulate these deep and complicated feelings in a way that just makes your heart ache.
You’re amazing, Sarah!
WOW. This book was stunning. It made me laugh and it made me cry, and it left me wanting so much MORE, but I think that was the point. I wish I could read it again for the first time.
Sarah Jackson does a beautiful job of evoking the same feelings in the reader as she does her characters. This deep desire for more, this underlying current of insecurity - she makes the reader feel all of it. I finished the book frustrated that things weren’t tied up perfectly, and I think that’s exactly how she wanted the reader to feel. The characters are constantly craving more and so she makes the reader feel that too. She also pulls out the insecurities of each character in such a painfully relatable way, it’s like being forced to look into a mirror sometimes.
She’s been compared to Sally Rooney, and her writing reminds me of Sally Rooney’s in the sense that they aren’t flowery writers yet they articulate these deep and complicated feelings in a way that just makes your heart ache.
You’re amazing, Sarah!
June 21, 2022
I loved this book! If you love a good Sally Rooney, young artsy (but not too artsy) woman trying to figure it out trope mixed with intricate friendships this books for you!! I loved the dynamics of Alice’s friendships / their progression throughout the novel. Sarah Jackson, what a debut!
July 4, 2022
I LOVED this book. And I saw so much of myself in these pages, which made it such a beautiful experience. What a brilliant debut for fellow Canadian Sarah Jackson. Full review below.
Our main character, Alice, is wildly insecure and overly critical of others and herself — sometimes to a fault. Unemployed, chronically antisocial, and in denial about her burgeoning mental illness, Alice navigates her life by…avoiding it.
Her best friend Mia is sick. It’s easy to tell that Mia’s friendship is what guides Alice’s views about the world and about herself. Mia is confident, adventurous, easy-going. I think that Alice feels like Mia is one half of herself; specifically, the part that the world finds easy to love. The idea of losing her is terrifying, and potentially life-altering. The dynamic here is written expertly and intricately. In fact, every relationship in this novel had me invested. I love these characters. I want more of them.
I laughed out loud!! Multiple times!! Which is something I honestly don’t say a lot when it comes to books. Jackson’s sense of humour is dry and witty, sharply self-aware and reflective of the current world we live in.
Finally, Alice, fallible as she may be, is so honest and real that it’s hard not to see myself reflected back in her — both as a human, and as a writer who has yet to truly “become” such. I can’t tell you the amount of pages I dog-eared (whoops, yes, I do this) because this author managed to put so many of my feelings to words: even those that I am not proud of, nor would ever like to admit. The line I’ve copied below is by far my favourite:
“I can’t articulate it well, but I’m supposed to be good with words, so if I can’t explain myself, maybe that means I’m a bad writer, or that my pain has no foundation.”
Ugh. So good.
My only complaint: I really really really wanted more for an ending. Yes, I know — I get it. I get it. I do. But I really felt like I was left hanging, or the book was unfinished. It dropped off from a cliff and I landed promptly on my face, and I had to pick myself up and keep moving. Sarah. If you’re reading this. Sequel???
This is one of my favourite books so far this year. I can’t wait to see what this author does next!
Our main character, Alice, is wildly insecure and overly critical of others and herself — sometimes to a fault. Unemployed, chronically antisocial, and in denial about her burgeoning mental illness, Alice navigates her life by…avoiding it.
Her best friend Mia is sick. It’s easy to tell that Mia’s friendship is what guides Alice’s views about the world and about herself. Mia is confident, adventurous, easy-going. I think that Alice feels like Mia is one half of herself; specifically, the part that the world finds easy to love. The idea of losing her is terrifying, and potentially life-altering. The dynamic here is written expertly and intricately. In fact, every relationship in this novel had me invested. I love these characters. I want more of them.
I laughed out loud!! Multiple times!! Which is something I honestly don’t say a lot when it comes to books. Jackson’s sense of humour is dry and witty, sharply self-aware and reflective of the current world we live in.
Finally, Alice, fallible as she may be, is so honest and real that it’s hard not to see myself reflected back in her — both as a human, and as a writer who has yet to truly “become” such. I can’t tell you the amount of pages I dog-eared (whoops, yes, I do this) because this author managed to put so many of my feelings to words: even those that I am not proud of, nor would ever like to admit. The line I’ve copied below is by far my favourite:
“I can’t articulate it well, but I’m supposed to be good with words, so if I can’t explain myself, maybe that means I’m a bad writer, or that my pain has no foundation.”
Ugh. So good.
My only complaint: I really really really wanted more for an ending. Yes, I know — I get it. I get it. I do. But I really felt like I was left hanging, or the book was unfinished. It dropped off from a cliff and I landed promptly on my face, and I had to pick myself up and keep moving. Sarah. If you’re reading this. Sequel???
This is one of my favourite books so far this year. I can’t wait to see what this author does next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2022
I knew as soon as I heard about this book description I would love it and I am happy to say it exceeded my expectations! Also, the cover is beautiful.
I really related to the main character in a lot of ways and my only complaint is that I wish the book were longer just because I liked reading from her POV. The way the author paints such a real picture of depression and also feeling aimless while walking through life and trying to figure out what you want is just the kind of stuff I enjoy reading, but also something I really needed to read because it is comforting knowing that I am not alone even if it’s a fictional character I deeply relate to, a lot of times these characters are based on experiences the author has had themselves, and I love that. Also, the ending was open and quite abrupt. I like to think this means I can make up my own story of what happens to Alice, and I just hope she is someday able to find peace, as well a few other things I will imagine have to happen, but I obviously will not spoil anything 🤪
All in all, definitely worth the read for anyone!
I really related to the main character in a lot of ways and my only complaint is that I wish the book were longer just because I liked reading from her POV. The way the author paints such a real picture of depression and also feeling aimless while walking through life and trying to figure out what you want is just the kind of stuff I enjoy reading, but also something I really needed to read because it is comforting knowing that I am not alone even if it’s a fictional character I deeply relate to, a lot of times these characters are based on experiences the author has had themselves, and I love that. Also, the ending was open and quite abrupt. I like to think this means I can make up my own story of what happens to Alice, and I just hope she is someday able to find peace, as well a few other things I will imagine have to happen, but I obviously will not spoil anything 🤪
All in all, definitely worth the read for anyone!
June 6, 2022
this book was like holding up a mirror to my life and having to deal w all the ugliness but also being okay w that because I had been seen
thanks NetGalley for the review copy
thanks NetGalley for the review copy
May 26, 2022
A Bit Much explores the daily life of an unemployed twenty-something named Alice. Alice navigates new-adulthood while her life is seemingly falling apart. Her best friend, Mia, is in the hospital being treated for a serious illness and Alice struggles to find a balance between being there for Mia and her social life.
This novel was exactly what I needed as a twenty-two year old just trying to figure out life. As Alice struggles to maintain her childhood friendships and build new relationships, I find myself relating to her introverted personality and her thought process. Jackson’s writing really transports you into the mind of Alice. Every thought and feeling that Alice is going through is transcribed beautifully and truly connects you to the characters. Every story that Alice shares of her childhood with Mia is like a snapshot into how their relationship became what it is today.
While reading, I felt that this novel conveyed similar vibes to Margaret Atwood’s The Edible Woman. Alice’s mention of food and struggling to eat felt like a connection to Atwood’s Marian. Marian and Alice both have everything slipping out from underneath them, struggling to find a sense of control in their lives.
Overall, this novel was witty, heartbreaking, cathartic, relatable, and an amazing read. This was such a great debut novel and I cannot wait to see what Jackson does next!
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Canada for the ARC!
This novel was exactly what I needed as a twenty-two year old just trying to figure out life. As Alice struggles to maintain her childhood friendships and build new relationships, I find myself relating to her introverted personality and her thought process. Jackson’s writing really transports you into the mind of Alice. Every thought and feeling that Alice is going through is transcribed beautifully and truly connects you to the characters. Every story that Alice shares of her childhood with Mia is like a snapshot into how their relationship became what it is today.
While reading, I felt that this novel conveyed similar vibes to Margaret Atwood’s The Edible Woman. Alice’s mention of food and struggling to eat felt like a connection to Atwood’s Marian. Marian and Alice both have everything slipping out from underneath them, struggling to find a sense of control in their lives.
Overall, this novel was witty, heartbreaking, cathartic, relatable, and an amazing read. This was such a great debut novel and I cannot wait to see what Jackson does next!
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Canada for the ARC!
July 4, 2022
Another book for the sad girlies! We love to see it!!! A Bit Much truly does capture what it’s like to be a 20-something year old in this world. Reading this felt like holding up a mirror. There were so many parts of this book that were comedically and uncomfortably relatable - I’ve never felt so seen (especially with the main character being a former English lit major & writer). I already can’t wait to reread!!!
April 29, 2022
A Bit Much, while in the vein of several other books I have read and enjoyed, was uniquely different than those titles. The characters are so believable and real that you gain a deeper emotional connection than most other books like this.
The novel has such a wide range of tones that it is hard to call it just one thing. It is hilarious, dark, romantic and depressing. It really is unlike any other book I've read.
Highly recommend!
The novel has such a wide range of tones that it is hard to call it just one thing. It is hilarious, dark, romantic and depressing. It really is unlike any other book I've read.
Highly recommend!
February 24, 2022
I tore through this novel in two sittings—sad, funny, contained. Very very good!
Disclaimer: I work for Sarah’s agent
Disclaimer: I work for Sarah’s agent
June 19, 2022
This book made me feel a bit too much.
September 28, 2022
very good soup. high 4 stars
February 11, 2023
Sometimes I wish publishers would stop using Sally Rooney in their comps, because then I have certain expectations for that book. In the end, it read more like Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (which I loved) but without the same character depth and growth, and the secondary characters weren’t as well-rounded either.
The story is told in the first person from the POV of Alice, an unemployed 25-year-old whose best friend Mia is undergoing treatment for a severe illness. She’s not only constantly worrying for Mia, but she also suffers from mental health and body image issues, which prevent her from establishing true connections with others, so her reflections were incredibly (and sadly) relatable and accurate to me.
However, Alice’s voice is unreliable and judgemental. She knows she’s an overly critical and snobby person as it’s being constantly pointed out by her friends, but she seems to make little to no effort to change this and keeps judging people based on the books they read or films they watch.
Aside from Mia, she has few other friends and one of these friendships, with model/bartender Anne, is petty and high-school-ish. We come to judge Anne ourselves but only because we see her from Alice’s biased perspective. I do wonder if the book could’ve benefited from different POVs to better explore secondary characters and see them in a kinder, more empathetic light.
While I do feel for Alice and I know how depressive episodes, anxiety and a lack of self-esteem can affect your relationships, I wish she’d had more space for growth. And this still doesn’t justify her behaviours towards others.
I really wanted to give this book a chance and while I appreciate the relatability factor and the accurate mental health rep, the lack of a fully-developed character arc and the unnecessarily abrupt ending left me wondering “what was all this for then?”.
PR product: The book was sent by the publisher Penguin Canada.
The story is told in the first person from the POV of Alice, an unemployed 25-year-old whose best friend Mia is undergoing treatment for a severe illness. She’s not only constantly worrying for Mia, but she also suffers from mental health and body image issues, which prevent her from establishing true connections with others, so her reflections were incredibly (and sadly) relatable and accurate to me.
However, Alice’s voice is unreliable and judgemental. She knows she’s an overly critical and snobby person as it’s being constantly pointed out by her friends, but she seems to make little to no effort to change this and keeps judging people based on the books they read or films they watch.
Aside from Mia, she has few other friends and one of these friendships, with model/bartender Anne, is petty and high-school-ish. We come to judge Anne ourselves but only because we see her from Alice’s biased perspective. I do wonder if the book could’ve benefited from different POVs to better explore secondary characters and see them in a kinder, more empathetic light.
While I do feel for Alice and I know how depressive episodes, anxiety and a lack of self-esteem can affect your relationships, I wish she’d had more space for growth. And this still doesn’t justify her behaviours towards others.
I really wanted to give this book a chance and while I appreciate the relatability factor and the accurate mental health rep, the lack of a fully-developed character arc and the unnecessarily abrupt ending left me wondering “what was all this for then?”.
PR product: The book was sent by the publisher Penguin Canada.
June 20, 2022
I was captivated by Sarah’s characters and their relationships. I want to see this as a movie!
July 15, 2022
I loved this book so much! I wrote down a few quotes that I have actually said myself before...I found Alice to be SO relatable and could not put this down!
Alice has been struggling to find motivation for anything since her best friend Mia became ill. She lost her job, and some days cannot eat or leave the apartment. Other days she visits Mia, sees the friends she's been ignoring, and even meets someone new. I loved all of the quirky, unique characters, and the analysis of Alice's different friendships, including the problematic ones! There are some very funny moments, but it is also a realistic look at change, loss, and depression. I only wish it was a bit longer!
Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for my copy!
Alice has been struggling to find motivation for anything since her best friend Mia became ill. She lost her job, and some days cannot eat or leave the apartment. Other days she visits Mia, sees the friends she's been ignoring, and even meets someone new. I loved all of the quirky, unique characters, and the analysis of Alice's different friendships, including the problematic ones! There are some very funny moments, but it is also a realistic look at change, loss, and depression. I only wish it was a bit longer!
Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for my copy!
July 10, 2022
I’m so surprised that this book is a debut novel. I wasn’t able to put it down for even one second and flew through it in a day. Although this book can be called a sad-girl book, I thought it was so much more than that . Through Sarah Jackson’s darkly funny writing, the book explores the complexities of friendships and relationships in your mid-20s as a woman and it depicts all the ugly truths that come with these topics with humour. I loved how all the characters were layered and complex and felt so much; contrary to the impassive and ambivalent narrator trend we see so much in some of the booktok fav sad-girl books. As soon as I finished the book I felt like I suffered a loss because I was so engrossed in the protagonist’s life that I didn’t want the book to end.
June 18, 2022
Sometimes it's hard to find a protagonists I truly relate to. This book did it for me. For those who can see and appreciate the darkly funny, and sometimes tragic parts of life, it's easy to flow through Sarah Jackson's take on the intimacy of friendships, and how uncomfortable you can feel in your own skin. I read it in two sittings and then read it again. I loved it.
June 24, 2022
I love this book! Funny, emotional, relatable on every level.
May 26, 2023
Really well written I love this style of book but it was so sad :( I want to help her lol
July 22, 2022
I think I would sell my soul to read this book again for the first time.
August 7, 2022
Best book i’ve read this year.
July 30, 2022
*CANADIAN*
•
Thoughts~
A captivating debut, about the complexities of friendship, love, loss, and depression. I couldn't put this down!
The writing in A BIT MUCH caught me right away. I was immediately drawn onto our protagonist Alice's thoughts as she navigates her best friend Mia's illness, her own neuroses and anxieties, life, old friends and a new relationship with James.
This was another highly anticipated read for me! With darkly funny, intimate, flowing prose Jackson explores friendships in your 20's from close friends to the problematic ones. Female friendships are complex and Jackson captures this so wonderfully through Alice and Mia's relationship. How tied to Mia Alice is. Her spiraling grief over her illness. But we also see it explored through their old circle of college friends. Alice as a character felt so relatable. Her struggles to just live in this world day to day, trying meet everyone's expectations, be sociable and full of life but she is awkward and preoccupied about Mia and just wants to stay in bed because the world sucks and her best friend is very sick, it's all getting to be "A Bit Much" for Alice. But all this made her endearing and honest, a really fab debut! By the end I wished it could have been just a bit longer, I wasn't ready to leave Alice.
Another excellent addition to the Sad Girl Lit column. I'm looking forward to more from Jackson! If you enjoy Rooney's writing style I think you'll enjoy this book.
Thank You @penguinrandomca
for sending me this book opinions are my own.
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
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Thoughts~
A captivating debut, about the complexities of friendship, love, loss, and depression. I couldn't put this down!
The writing in A BIT MUCH caught me right away. I was immediately drawn onto our protagonist Alice's thoughts as she navigates her best friend Mia's illness, her own neuroses and anxieties, life, old friends and a new relationship with James.
This was another highly anticipated read for me! With darkly funny, intimate, flowing prose Jackson explores friendships in your 20's from close friends to the problematic ones. Female friendships are complex and Jackson captures this so wonderfully through Alice and Mia's relationship. How tied to Mia Alice is. Her spiraling grief over her illness. But we also see it explored through their old circle of college friends. Alice as a character felt so relatable. Her struggles to just live in this world day to day, trying meet everyone's expectations, be sociable and full of life but she is awkward and preoccupied about Mia and just wants to stay in bed because the world sucks and her best friend is very sick, it's all getting to be "A Bit Much" for Alice. But all this made her endearing and honest, a really fab debut! By the end I wished it could have been just a bit longer, I wasn't ready to leave Alice.
Another excellent addition to the Sad Girl Lit column. I'm looking forward to more from Jackson! If you enjoy Rooney's writing style I think you'll enjoy this book.
Thank You @penguinrandomca
for sending me this book opinions are my own.
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July 7, 2022
This is one of my favourite reads of the year. Although it is a bit heavier than what I've read previously, I really enjoyed Alice, Mia and the rest of the cast. I had to take breaks between reading occasionally but I loved this novel, and I already want to pick it up and read it again.
November 23, 2022
Update 21/11/2022
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at An Ode to Fiction.| Subscribe to my Booktube channel
Official Release Date : August 18th 2022
Buy the book :
Amazon|Book Depository
4.5/5 ⭐️
A Bit Much is a stunning articulate story about adulthood, grief, and friendship; A well crafted debut by up and coming Canadian author Sarah Jackson.
The first time I heard about this book was when I was browsing the shelves of a local bookstore in Toronto. Immediately the cover caught my eye because of the colours and the sad faces on each finger. But I didn’t pick it up until it was available in my local library. One friend keeps raving about this book. I saw probably over 10 quotes from this book, so I was determined to read it once I got it from the library. As expected I understood why my friend keeps raving about A Bit Much after I read close to fifty pages of it.
A Bit Much is the debut book of Canadian author Sarah Jackson. The story follows the perspective of Alice, an unemployed twenty four year old woman, who is navigating through adulthood on the verge of falling apart as she struggles to find a job, write her book, and maintain a social life. On top of that Alice’s best friend, Mia, is currently being treated for a serious illness.
Jackson crafts a deeply emotional story that conveys a lot of weight implicitly through the actions of the characters and the words that were left unsaid between them. Reading the story there are many visual keys that I took note of, as it ties back to the cover of the book of hands. The description of hands and actions of characters using hands gives vivid imagery of the emotions that are trying to be conveyed in the scene. From scenes describing the flaking of nail polish, the size of a character’s hands, the wave of a hand brushing off a conversation, etc. It is hard to not notice these details as words contradict the action.
Another intricate detail of A Bit Much is the unsaid words and deafening silence shared between characters. These tense moments are blanketed by mundane conversations that do not hit any note of meaning. It is absolutely frustrating for me (in a good way) to see these characters just keep missing each other or keeping the words from being voiced out. There are so many moments of silence screaming with emotion backed with intent not fully taking form. This is what I love about Jackson’s writing as they paint a clear picture through the fine vivid intricacies and minimal meaningful conversations carefully placed throughout the book.
The characterization of the cast of characters introduced in A Bit Much is as close to reality as they can be, especially the main character Alice. As a twenty something year old myself I found a level of relatability in Alice. The struggles Alice is facing are some of those that any twenty something years old would face. The childhood relationships that grew apart with time but somehow linger, missed romantic opportunities, awkward dating experiences, the ups and downs of maintaining a relationship, and the balancing act between work, social life, dream, and romance. I spot myself in Alice multiple times in A Bit Much and I am sure future readers will too.
The way Jackson writes Alice’s thoughts and feelings did not drown me or feel suffocating in the slightest. A Bit Much is a story that focuses on mental illness and the toll it takes on a person, so in a way I expected to be affected in some way that I have to put the book down. But reading through the book there isn’t a moment when it was all too much for me. Jackson’s writing will put readers in a comfortable state of observation through the eyes of Alice.
Though what makes A Bit Much different and unlike any book telling a story about a twenty something year old woman living in the city is Mia, Alice’s best friend. The relationship Alice has with Mia transcends an ordinary friendship. They have a deep symbiotic relationship. Alice and Mia are childhood friends that have grown up together, experiencing many significant moments in life together. Throughout the story Alice will reminisce on the memories in her life and in all these memories almost all involve Mia.
Mia’s illness affected Alice deeply from the start of the book until the very end. It manifested within Alice a deep sorrow and pain that took the form of destructive behaviour. And when things look like it is taking a turn for the better in Alice, there is a blooming guilt that stops Alice from experiencing her life. Jackson writes the friendship between Alice and Mia in a subtle yet meaningful way that will pull readers into the shared complex feelings. The weight of the elephant in the room felt lighter than it is supposed to be.
A Bit Much is a book layered with emotion and tension that isn’t fully confronted. It is a book that highlights the unsaid, undiscussed, and brushed off moments in adulthood. Sarah Jackson shows how coming into adulthood it gets harder and harder to express feelings and confront the uncomfortable. Even when reality quickly catches up there are ways to make it avoidable. The story also highlights how mental illness affects parts of a person’s life and how debilitating it is. Jackson’s debut is clearly one of the most well crafted stories I’ve read that held my attention from the moment I cracked open the book to the very final page.
It is a book that I will recommend if you like stories about going through adulthood as a twenty something year old, dealing with grief and depression, and meaningful female friendships.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at An Ode to Fiction.| Subscribe to my Booktube channel
Official Release Date : August 18th 2022
Buy the book :
Amazon|Book Depository
4.5/5 ⭐️
I haven’t exactly handled her illness well.
A Bit Much is a stunning articulate story about adulthood, grief, and friendship; A well crafted debut by up and coming Canadian author Sarah Jackson.
The first time I heard about this book was when I was browsing the shelves of a local bookstore in Toronto. Immediately the cover caught my eye because of the colours and the sad faces on each finger. But I didn’t pick it up until it was available in my local library. One friend keeps raving about this book. I saw probably over 10 quotes from this book, so I was determined to read it once I got it from the library. As expected I understood why my friend keeps raving about A Bit Much after I read close to fifty pages of it.
A Bit Much is the debut book of Canadian author Sarah Jackson. The story follows the perspective of Alice, an unemployed twenty four year old woman, who is navigating through adulthood on the verge of falling apart as she struggles to find a job, write her book, and maintain a social life. On top of that Alice’s best friend, Mia, is currently being treated for a serious illness.
I grab her hand and ask her to please not be mad at me and tell her I promise to try harder and push myself. I cringe at how pathetic I sound. I wouldn’t act like this around anyone else. She doesn’t say anything, but she squeezes my hand and it isn’t for-giveness, but I’ll take what I can get. Usually, she’s tougher on me. I can tell she’s exhausted.
Jackson crafts a deeply emotional story that conveys a lot of weight implicitly through the actions of the characters and the words that were left unsaid between them. Reading the story there are many visual keys that I took note of, as it ties back to the cover of the book of hands. The description of hands and actions of characters using hands gives vivid imagery of the emotions that are trying to be conveyed in the scene. From scenes describing the flaking of nail polish, the size of a character’s hands, the wave of a hand brushing off a conversation, etc. It is hard to not notice these details as words contradict the action.
Another intricate detail of A Bit Much is the unsaid words and deafening silence shared between characters. These tense moments are blanketed by mundane conversations that do not hit any note of meaning. It is absolutely frustrating for me (in a good way) to see these characters just keep missing each other or keeping the words from being voiced out. There are so many moments of silence screaming with emotion backed with intent not fully taking form. This is what I love about Jackson’s writing as they paint a clear picture through the fine vivid intricacies and minimal meaningful conversations carefully placed throughout the book.
I miss him sometimes after he leaves, but only sometimes. I like to examine the faint violet bruises on my thighs left by fingerprints after sex. I study them, looking for patterns, like they can tell me something crucial about James and how he feels about me.
The characterization of the cast of characters introduced in A Bit Much is as close to reality as they can be, especially the main character Alice. As a twenty something year old myself I found a level of relatability in Alice. The struggles Alice is facing are some of those that any twenty something years old would face. The childhood relationships that grew apart with time but somehow linger, missed romantic opportunities, awkward dating experiences, the ups and downs of maintaining a relationship, and the balancing act between work, social life, dream, and romance. I spot myself in Alice multiple times in A Bit Much and I am sure future readers will too.
The way Jackson writes Alice’s thoughts and feelings did not drown me or feel suffocating in the slightest. A Bit Much is a story that focuses on mental illness and the toll it takes on a person, so in a way I expected to be affected in some way that I have to put the book down. But reading through the book there isn’t a moment when it was all too much for me. Jackson’s writing will put readers in a comfortable state of observation through the eyes of Alice.
“I know this is confusing because I’ve been telling you to write, and get out and go on dates, and then I freak out on you When you’re away. I can’t really explain it. It’s not your fault.” She pauses. “I just feel like I’m not going to get it back.” “Get what back?” Her eyes are blue vats in a web of inky red. I’ll never be able to understand what she’s feeling, and she knows it.
Though what makes A Bit Much different and unlike any book telling a story about a twenty something year old woman living in the city is Mia, Alice’s best friend. The relationship Alice has with Mia transcends an ordinary friendship. They have a deep symbiotic relationship. Alice and Mia are childhood friends that have grown up together, experiencing many significant moments in life together. Throughout the story Alice will reminisce on the memories in her life and in all these memories almost all involve Mia.
Mia’s illness affected Alice deeply from the start of the book until the very end. It manifested within Alice a deep sorrow and pain that took the form of destructive behaviour. And when things look like it is taking a turn for the better in Alice, there is a blooming guilt that stops Alice from experiencing her life. Jackson writes the friendship between Alice and Mia in a subtle yet meaningful way that will pull readers into the shared complex feelings. The weight of the elephant in the room felt lighter than it is supposed to be.
I’ve had a hard time forgetting it since. I know I have to focus on the black, but sometimes it isn’t possible. I worry about everything and everyone. I worry about living incorrectly. I think about conversations from years ago and wonder if I hurt some-one, gave them a complex, and maybe they’ve lost sleep fixating on the dumb thing I said. I worry my heart will stop working. I think about time passing as I lie awake, and the rest I’m miss-ing. I calculate the hours until I have to wake up and then I think about how I’ll never sleep and then I think about how tired I’ll be in the morning. I won’t sleep tonight.
A Bit Much is a book layered with emotion and tension that isn’t fully confronted. It is a book that highlights the unsaid, undiscussed, and brushed off moments in adulthood. Sarah Jackson shows how coming into adulthood it gets harder and harder to express feelings and confront the uncomfortable. Even when reality quickly catches up there are ways to make it avoidable. The story also highlights how mental illness affects parts of a person’s life and how debilitating it is. Jackson’s debut is clearly one of the most well crafted stories I’ve read that held my attention from the moment I cracked open the book to the very final page.
It is a book that I will recommend if you like stories about going through adulthood as a twenty something year old, dealing with grief and depression, and meaningful female friendships.
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