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cemoses's review against another edition
2.0
Not my type of book nor was it what I expected. I expected a book on the ups and downs of female friendship. However, I would call the book a psychological thriller.
A big problem of the book is that I felt did not understand or identify with either of the female characters. Also I was not sure of what the "point" of the book was.
I received a free cop[y of the book from Negalley in exchange for an honest review.
A big problem of the book is that I felt did not understand or identify with either of the female characters. Also I was not sure of what the "point" of the book was.
I received a free cop[y of the book from Negalley in exchange for an honest review.
debtat2's review against another edition
4.0
Two childhood best friends, Abby and Elise having taken different paths following school drifted apart and lost contact meet up again at their 10 year school reunion. Whilst Abby still lives at home with her parents after dropping out of college and working in the local supermarket, Elise now lives in California and has become a famous Hollywood actress. Told from Abby’s point of view it follows both women as they rekindle their friendship.
Abby has been following Elises career which would be natural being that they were once best friends but it soon becomes apparent that Abby is not just a fan or friend, she is dangerously obsessed and jealous of her old friend. She takes the label super fan to whole new level.
At the reunion after a few too many drinks Elise invites Abby to come and visit her in LA, it was more of a polite throwaway comment as opposed to a genuine invite. A few weeks later Abby turns up on Elise’s doorstep and the short visit turns into a long term stay and Abby becomes Elise’s personal assistant, integrating herself into every aspect of Elise’s life.
Some of the narration is told via Abby’s dreams and visions bringing a whole other level to the story which follows the women friendships which turns into something dark and complex. The whole story is filled with jealously, obsession, ambitions, desires and mental health issues.
The book is extremely well written, filled with vivid descriptions that make the whole story come to life in your minds eye. The characters are complex, relatable at times as well as a little disturbing. Neither women are particularly likeable but that’s what makes this book so great.
A complex, character driven plot with a dark chilling plot line that comes to life on the pages. The writing style and storyline may not be to everyone’s liking, I think this book will be a bit like marmite, you will either love it or hate it!
The Paper Wasp will be published in the UK on 13 June 2019 and can be preordered now. I highly recommend it to literally everyone so you can judge for yourself.
A big thank you to the writer Lauren Acampora, publishers Grove Atlantic and Quercus, and NetGalley for my digital advance copy in exchange for an honest and independent review.
https://debbiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/2019/06/07/the-paper-wasp-by-lauren-acampora/
Abby has been following Elises career which would be natural being that they were once best friends but it soon becomes apparent that Abby is not just a fan or friend, she is dangerously obsessed and jealous of her old friend. She takes the label super fan to whole new level.
At the reunion after a few too many drinks Elise invites Abby to come and visit her in LA, it was more of a polite throwaway comment as opposed to a genuine invite. A few weeks later Abby turns up on Elise’s doorstep and the short visit turns into a long term stay and Abby becomes Elise’s personal assistant, integrating herself into every aspect of Elise’s life.
Some of the narration is told via Abby’s dreams and visions bringing a whole other level to the story which follows the women friendships which turns into something dark and complex. The whole story is filled with jealously, obsession, ambitions, desires and mental health issues.
The book is extremely well written, filled with vivid descriptions that make the whole story come to life in your minds eye. The characters are complex, relatable at times as well as a little disturbing. Neither women are particularly likeable but that’s what makes this book so great.
A complex, character driven plot with a dark chilling plot line that comes to life on the pages. The writing style and storyline may not be to everyone’s liking, I think this book will be a bit like marmite, you will either love it or hate it!
The Paper Wasp will be published in the UK on 13 June 2019 and can be preordered now. I highly recommend it to literally everyone so you can judge for yourself.
A big thank you to the writer Lauren Acampora, publishers Grove Atlantic and Quercus, and NetGalley for my digital advance copy in exchange for an honest and independent review.
https://debbiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/2019/06/07/the-paper-wasp-by-lauren-acampora/
gabbyhm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.25
cassandralovesfeta's review against another edition
4.0
Fabulous So very worth your time. Bonus points for Michigan getting some love. The novel is well thought out $ executed well. Good work.
rmarcin's review against another edition
3.0
This book was bizarre! Abby and Elise have been friends since they were in kindergarten, but grew apart when Elise starting getting acting jobs in high school. As Elise’s start rose, Abby obsessively tracks Elise through magazine articles. After reconnecting at their high school reunion, Abby decides to visit Elise in CA. Abby works her way into Elise’s life, wanting more out of their friendship than Elise is prepared to give.
This is a story of obsession, strange dreams, and taking what isn’t yours. Really strange!
This is a story of obsession, strange dreams, and taking what isn’t yours. Really strange!
katgage's review against another edition
3.0
A fast read but by the end you have no idea what you just read or why.
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
Cynical Abby is 28, working at a grocery store, living with her parents and hiding from the world. She is obsessed with her childhood best friend, Elise, who is making movies in Hollywood. Abby follows Elise's every move and keeps a scrapbook full of pictures and articles about her. Her fondest memories are of the stories she used to write for Elise to act out, when they were children. Now Abby spends time in her bedroom, drawing her vivid dreams and imagining her favorite director, Auguste Perren, directing movies based on her artwork.
Elise graces the school with an appearance at their 10th high school reunion and gushes about her fond memories of Abby writing stories for Elise to act out. When Elise mentions that Abby should visit her in Hollywood, little does she know that Abby will do just that...dropping in on her unannounced. The unexpected visit turns into Abby living with Elise and working as her assistant. During this time Abby goes from being obsessed with Elise to resenting Elise for many reasons.
Abby is very unstable and her dreams are a big part of the way she sees the world. In fact, her dreams are so vivid that she is basically following them, using the dreams to determine where she goes and what she does. Abby is brilliant and uses that brilliance in a demented way, after all those years of languishing in her bedroom, at her parents house. As she gains confidence from her dreams, she manipulates, lies, and steals her way to making her dreams come true. I was horrified that she could so callously treat people the way she treated them, do the things she does, and have no remorse over what she does.
The entire book is told from Abby's viewpoint and that clouds everything because Abby's thinking is so warped. It's hard to understand just how real her dreams are and how people really see her. The end of the book is strange because it's hard to believe Abby's version of where she ends up but at the same time, her REAL obsession may have allowed her to get there.
The writing is very good but I would have liked more help in understanding what was real and what might have been Abby's imagination. Mostly I came away from the book feeling sad for the people who came in contact with Abby. Thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for this ARC.
Elise graces the school with an appearance at their 10th high school reunion and gushes about her fond memories of Abby writing stories for Elise to act out. When Elise mentions that Abby should visit her in Hollywood, little does she know that Abby will do just that...dropping in on her unannounced. The unexpected visit turns into Abby living with Elise and working as her assistant. During this time Abby goes from being obsessed with Elise to resenting Elise for many reasons.
Abby is very unstable and her dreams are a big part of the way she sees the world. In fact, her dreams are so vivid that she is basically following them, using the dreams to determine where she goes and what she does. Abby is brilliant and uses that brilliance in a demented way, after all those years of languishing in her bedroom, at her parents house. As she gains confidence from her dreams, she manipulates, lies, and steals her way to making her dreams come true. I was horrified that she could so callously treat people the way she treated them, do the things she does, and have no remorse over what she does.
The entire book is told from Abby's viewpoint and that clouds everything because Abby's thinking is so warped. It's hard to understand just how real her dreams are and how people really see her. The end of the book is strange because it's hard to believe Abby's version of where she ends up but at the same time, her REAL obsession may have allowed her to get there.
The writing is very good but I would have liked more help in understanding what was real and what might have been Abby's imagination. Mostly I came away from the book feeling sad for the people who came in contact with Abby. Thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for this ARC.
champagneandfigs10's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jessica_patient's review against another edition
The Paper Wasp is an intense thriller and you might need to get your shoulders massaged after reading this one! Lauren Acampora tells the story of a dark friendship of two women. Twisted, ambition and jealously drive Abby to the brink. Set in the backdrop of Hollywood, obsession for perfection drives lots of people but in Abby she's prepared at no cost to twist her friendship with her childhood friend, and now a rising star, Elise.