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A review by cora_hreads
The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
When I began reading The Messy Lives of Book People, I was expecting a story that was about the close-knit relationship between an author and her cleaner, but I was vastly disproven and introduced to a much wider perspective with numerous characters that held, even if small, a significant part for both Liv and Essie. At times they blended together — namely Essie’s husbands & Marlon — but one-on-one it was clear to understand how they each affected Essie, and subsequently how they impacted Liv.
I liked that there was a good amount of personal struggle for Liv that was unrelated to Essie and finishing the book. Her marital struggles and trying to find herself within all of it was a process in which I not only enjoyed reading about, but that I felt was necessary to the plot; it made the whole story make sense instead of breaking it into Plot A and Plot B. Patrick wove the two aspects of Liv’s life together very well, IMO.
Essie seemed a bit too idolized, even with the people closest to her. None of the letters to or from her made Essie seem like a more personable prescience — she always seemed like Essie Starling, not Elsbeth or an employer. Maybe it was a directed move, but I felt more connected to Liv than Essie. I would’ve preferred to see a bit more of Essie and her inner workings, but she was a recluse for 10 years… Makes sense, but would’ve been preferable.
Jake, honestly, wasn’t as strong of a character as he could’ve been. Yes, he rearranged his business and started working out the kinks in his and Liv’s marriage, but it didn’t seem like there was an arc of change in him like there was for Liv — he only started changing when Liv discovered the student flat, which was significantly closer to the end of the book than it should’ve been. I also wish Mack was a bit stronger, more like a figure to look up to for Johnny and a reason to be on his own.
Overall, The Messy Lives of Book People was a lovely read and delivered in all its strongest aspects — 4/5 stars!
I liked that there was a good amount of personal struggle for Liv that was unrelated to Essie and finishing the book. Her marital struggles and trying to find herself within all of it was a process in which I not only enjoyed reading about, but that I felt was necessary to the plot; it made the whole story make sense instead of breaking it into Plot A and Plot B. Patrick wove the two aspects of Liv’s life together very well, IMO.
Essie seemed a bit too idolized, even with the people closest to her. None of the letters to or from her made Essie seem like a more personable prescience — she always seemed like Essie Starling, not Elsbeth or an employer. Maybe it was a directed move, but I felt more connected to Liv than Essie. I would’ve preferred to see a bit more of Essie and her inner workings, but she was a recluse for 10 years… Makes sense, but would’ve been preferable.
Jake, honestly, wasn’t as strong of a character as he could’ve been. Yes, he rearranged his business and started working out the kinks in his and Liv’s marriage, but it didn’t seem like there was an arc of change in him like there was for Liv — he only started changing when Liv discovered the student flat, which was significantly closer to the end of the book than it should’ve been. I also wish Mack was a bit stronger, more like a figure to look up to for Johnny and a reason to be on his own.
Overall, The Messy Lives of Book People was a lovely read and delivered in all its strongest aspects — 4/5 stars!