Reviews

How Can I Help You by Laura Sims

sarcasticnerdette's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

therags's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Premise was interesting but unfortunately did not find myself really invested in either Margo or Patricia. The plot kinda just trudged on and the ending especially felt a little lackluster. Really wish there was more motive or suspense around anything anyone was ever doing.

jmtcalero's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

webdoyenne's review

3.0

If you've ever worked in a public library, you'll probably enjoy this.

kellyannforever's review

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

spanamontana's review

Just did not care to find out what happens and did not want to push myself to. 

cathurynn's review

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

tenderthunder970611's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book was quite a read. I found it at the library on full display. It looked intriguing so I started this book not knowing a single thing. Margo is a very complicated but also entertaining character. At some points, I found her overthinking to be almost relatable except obviously the murder part. I do think it’s interesting that to her she didn’t really claim it as murder until later in the book. Patricia is the more….. confusing character to me. 

At least Margo knew who she was. But Patricia went from a normal gal to something much more complex. All for her writing. Honestly it made me think about ethics - how much can you let go before you become an accomplice?

Overall, an amazing book! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

zachzakku's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This is a great spooky-season read. Margo is such a unique POV character--totally unreliable and obviously uhh, troubled, from page one. As the story goes on, she unravels more and more, and unwittingly pulls Patricia into her orbit. Usually I hate the trope of writers writing writers, but (as a writer) I found Patricia's clinical detachment from everything that isn't writing to be pretty dang relatable. Both of these women are so very well-written, and the ending is so propulsive, that I devoured the entire second half of this book in one sitting.

etakloknok's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0