Reviews

It's Not a Cult: A Novel by Lauren Danhof

mollyjordan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

Could’ve been a few hours shorter and probably would’ve been better.

hbrxnnxmxn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This was a really fun read from the beginning . I was immediately hooked by the characters and the premise, as it unfolded it became even more beautiful and heartwarming. It felt perfectly paced, engaging, realistic even in its nonsensical elements. Very solid read. 

hbradley7292's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.5

emmymk's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

taralmassie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

dlarkin's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Such a fun and dark comedy. What starts off as a light hearted, kind of goofy romp, quickly turns into a thriller to fight for Glinda’s family. Danhof does a wonderful job in giving us an unlikable character at the start then giving us no choice but to fall in love with her.

trr51591's review against another edition

4.25

This book and the main character's situation in general stressed me out so much, I really had to sit and think about how I was going to rate it. But ultimately, I think that strong reaction is a mark of how good the writing is. But if reading desperate characters negatively impacts your mental health, skip this one (Mom, I'm talking to you.)

Glinda has dropped out of grad school and moved back in with her mom and 17-year-old sister, West, and the only job she's been able to get is at the Renaissance Faire. Her coworker at the Dunk the Wench booth, Troy, is just happy to be there and deserves the world. I will not be taking questions on this.

Glinda's whole family has been struggling to process their grief after her father's death, and her mom's way of coping was to join the Starlight Pioneer Society. Don't let the book title fool you, it is in fact a cult. 

Glinda is happy to ignore her mom's quirky way of coping when it's just burning incense to illuminate their inner light, but when suddenly the cult leader is about to become her new stepdad and the family house is being turned into a commune, she has to do something. 

The humor in this book was great, which I expected, but the emotional weight of this story surprised me. The portrayal of grief was well-done, and I got choked up at a couple of parts, but mainly I just found myself just so stressed out for Glinda. She is a pretty unlikable FMC, but the way her loved ones kept writing off her concerns about the cult and her mom had me on her side anyway. I was gaslit FOR her. By the end of the book, I was hard-pressed to think of a reason why she should talk to most of these people ever again. But maybe that's a me problem...

I would definitely read more from this author, though!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, & the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. 

emilyrainsford's review against another edition

emotional

3.0

This was a very odd book. Essentially the main character is trying to rescue her mother from an increasingly sinister cult. The main character was EXTREMELY unlikeable. Like, she was a real B. And yet somehow I found the story compelling enough to continue reading. Towards the end it becomes almost thriller-ish with an action-filled climax.

The hardest part of this book for me was how awful the main character was. It was hard to root for her. Other characters would tell her what a self centred B she was and I got the sense we were meant to feel outraged on her behalf? But in fact I was like... um yeah, they're right?

Somehow her personal issues were meant to make it understandable for her to treat other people like absolute garbage and I just couldn't find any sympathy for her.

The story was interesting and different though. Just an odd reading experience overall.

paperbackdietitian's review

dark funny medium-paced

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

3.75

acarter's review against another edition

4.5

How can you not love a book about a girl named Glinda with a twin named Dorothy?! Glinda is such a fun heroine -- she's kind of selfish, kind of self-obsessed, not really trying very hard, but also she has the vague desire to make things right. I mean, she does so in the worst possible ways, but she kind of tries! Danhof offers a fresh and funny voice so irreverent that I laughed out loud at several points. So many details in this bonkers novel prompt the reader to throw their  hands up and say "Sure! Why not?!" which is ultimately a very fun reaction to have. Hidden in this wacky romp is a very tender novel about grief, too -- ooh boy, Danhof is certainly one to watch!