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A review by kelly_e
The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
2.75
Title: The Messy Lives of Book People
Author: Phaedra Patrick
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: May 31, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Dull • Far-fetched • Bookish
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Mother of two Liv Green barely scrapes by as a maid to make ends meet, often finding escape in a good book while daydreaming of becoming a writer herself. So she can't believe her luck when she lands a job housekeeping for her personal hero, megabestselling author Essie Starling, a mysterious and intimidating recluse. The last thing Liv expected was to be the only person Essie talks to, which leads to a tenuous friendship.
When Essie passes away suddenly, Liv is astonished to learn that her dying wish was for Liv to complete her final novel. But to do so Liv will have to step into Essie’s shoes. As Liv begins to write, she uncovers secrets from the past that reveal a surprising connection between the two women—one that will change Liv’s own story forever…
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was originally drawn to The Messy Lives of Book People because of the absolutely stunning cover. After reading the synopsis, the idea sounded promising, so I was grateful when a friend sent me her copy.
I will start out by saying that I adored the idea behind this book, however, the execution just wasn't there for me. I was never particularly drawn into the lives of the characters, nor did I ever feel the connection I so desperately wanted to feel. The pacing is very slow and as the plot was revealed it became harder and harder to believe. The writing also felt over indulgent at times, which I suppose is to be expected in a novel about books.
Despite being able to see the 'twist' coming a mile away, I still enjoyed how the book concluded. I thought this part of the book came together nicely and offered a satisfying ending to what was a rather slow developing plot.
Unfortunately, The Messy Lives of Book People felt like one that has been done a million times before. It constantly felt like the author was borrowing too many elements from other books and packing them all into this one book. Given this was my first time reading Phaedra Patrick, I will give her another chance, but I will likely do a little research before deciding on where to go next.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• self-discovery
• happy endings
⚠️ CW: alcohol, alcoholism, mental illness, terminal illness, death, death of parent, grief, classism, infidelity, infertility, pregnancy
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"If you meet something insurmountable, don't try and fight it. It will only leave you with bruises. The trick is to outsmart it and do something it wouldn't expect."
Author: Phaedra Patrick
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: May 31, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Dull • Far-fetched • Bookish
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Mother of two Liv Green barely scrapes by as a maid to make ends meet, often finding escape in a good book while daydreaming of becoming a writer herself. So she can't believe her luck when she lands a job housekeeping for her personal hero, megabestselling author Essie Starling, a mysterious and intimidating recluse. The last thing Liv expected was to be the only person Essie talks to, which leads to a tenuous friendship.
When Essie passes away suddenly, Liv is astonished to learn that her dying wish was for Liv to complete her final novel. But to do so Liv will have to step into Essie’s shoes. As Liv begins to write, she uncovers secrets from the past that reveal a surprising connection between the two women—one that will change Liv’s own story forever…
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was originally drawn to The Messy Lives of Book People because of the absolutely stunning cover. After reading the synopsis, the idea sounded promising, so I was grateful when a friend sent me her copy.
I will start out by saying that I adored the idea behind this book, however, the execution just wasn't there for me. I was never particularly drawn into the lives of the characters, nor did I ever feel the connection I so desperately wanted to feel. The pacing is very slow and as the plot was revealed it became harder and harder to believe. The writing also felt over indulgent at times, which I suppose is to be expected in a novel about books.
Despite being able to see the 'twist' coming a mile away, I still enjoyed how the book concluded. I thought this part of the book came together nicely and offered a satisfying ending to what was a rather slow developing plot.
Unfortunately, The Messy Lives of Book People felt like one that has been done a million times before. It constantly felt like the author was borrowing too many elements from other books and packing them all into this one book. Given this was my first time reading Phaedra Patrick, I will give her another chance, but I will likely do a little research before deciding on where to go next.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• self-discovery
• happy endings
⚠️ CW: alcohol, alcoholism, mental illness, terminal illness, death, death of parent, grief, classism, infidelity, infertility, pregnancy
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"If you meet something insurmountable, don't try and fight it. It will only leave you with bruises. The trick is to outsmart it and do something it wouldn't expect."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism