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A review by me_alley
Nothing Serious: A Novel by Emily J Smith
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Edie at age 35 is insecure and intelligent. The insecurity is what causes her to be carrying a torch for Peter, her college friend and eternal best friend. Peter is a giant tool bag, terrible to women, drug abuser and pusher, and generally arrogant privileged jerk. It is cringy how she pines for him. Peter is the kind of guy who dates women in their early 20s because women in their mid thirties want to settle down and be in a serious relationship. Honestly, gross.
After 4 dates with Anaya, she turns up dead and Peter is the primary suspect. The rest of the book is Edie trying to figure out what happened and the mystery to solve.
It kills me that because romantic comedies are the top selling genre in the US, publishers put the wrong cover on it. If you’re expecting a book of millennial malaise (and why wouldn’t you) you may be disappointed. Also/ who named this book “Nothing serious”? It’s literally about EVERYTHING serious- addiction and drug abuse, sexual assault, overdose, suicidal ideation, eating disorders. It is a book that looks like it will deliver a happy ending, which it’s definitely not.
For a debut author; this is some really strong prose. The cultural observations are really intriguing and this book is intensely readable. I read it in one sitting. If you like mysteries with a FMC and feminist themes and are okay with some triggering subject matter, you will enjoy reading this book.
Thanks to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the ARC. Book to be published February 18, 2025.
After 4 dates with Anaya, she turns up dead and Peter is the primary suspect. The rest of the book is Edie trying to figure out what happened and the mystery to solve.
It kills me that because romantic comedies are the top selling genre in the US, publishers put the wrong cover on it. If you’re expecting a book of millennial malaise (and why wouldn’t you) you may be disappointed. Also/ who named this book “Nothing serious”? It’s literally about EVERYTHING serious- addiction and drug abuse, sexual assault, overdose, suicidal ideation, eating disorders. It is a book that looks like it will deliver a happy ending, which it’s definitely not.
For a debut author; this is some really strong prose. The cultural observations are really intriguing and this book is intensely readable. I read it in one sitting. If you like mysteries with a FMC and feminist themes and are okay with some triggering subject matter, you will enjoy reading this book.
Thanks to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the ARC. Book to be published February 18, 2025.