This book takes a set of slightly down and out characters, caught in a general unease of being in your mid-20s. The voice of this book I thought was compelling- keeping things hidden and at a distance as she tries to navigate it all.

mudflowers by aley waterman is a beautifully crafted novel that dives deep into the complexities of human emotions and the resilience of the human spirit. set against the backdrop of a rural town, the story follows the protagonist as she navigates through life's challenges with unwavering determination and grace.
waterman's prose is both evocative and lyrical, painting vivid imagery that transports the reader to the heart of the story. the characters are richly developed, each with their own struggles and triumphs, making them feel incredibly real and relatable.
one of the standout aspects of mudflowers is its exploration of themes such as love, loss, and the healing power of nature. The author weaves these themes seamlessly into the narrative, creating a story that is both heart-wrenching and uplifting.

This isn't normally something I would reach for so I'm glad to have had the opportunity to have read this. The characters are well-formed, and—frankly—they made me feel things. The prose style is quite different, and did remind me a little bit of Sally Rooney. I think the exploration of grief was fantastic and well-needed. I also loved the setting of Toronto, it was so well flushed out I feel like I have been there myself. I think the exploration of family and what family means is definitely well done. I would love to explore more works by this author.

I found myself unable to get absorbed into the book, and so did not finish reading it. Perhaps I will pick it up in a few months and believe differently.

"Mudflowers" by Aley Waterman is a poignant and evocative exploration of resilience, family bonds, and the enduring power of hope. Waterman's lyrical prose and vivid imagery paint a rich tapestry of emotions, drawing readers into the lives of her characters with empathy and grace. With its raw honesty and compelling narrative, "Mudflowers" is a captivating read that leaves a lasting impression.

I really really really tried to like this, it just wasn't an enjoyable experience.

Every time I felt like we were getting deep and actually getting something of substance, we changed subjects. This book was honestly a jumbled mess of thoughts. Felt like one super long run-on sentence.

As others have said, Mudflowers has elements of Sally Rooney novels, but almost trying too hard. The main character is not very likeable although we learn she is dealing with the grief of losing her mother which can explain the emotional distance between her and her actions.
The setting was done well, and at times the writing was good, it just meandered too much. I think Aley Waterman has a lot of potential once they find their feet and style a bit more. I was interested enough to see what would happen and finish the book, and I liked the side character of Alex. It is more a character study and exploration of modern dating, and the family you create for yourself.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc.

Aley Waterman is a talented writer and clearly a sensitive soul. She perceives the world in such a tender, artistic way that comes across in her writing. This book was an absolute delight, and reminded me a lot of Sally Rooney's novels-- which is high praise because she may be my favorite author! The relationships contained in it are complex and easy to get invested in.

Normally I really like stories like this and had high hopes but it felt a little underwhelming. Was still glad to have read this though as I’d like to read more by Canadian authors.

This reading experience was defined by one through line: ambivalence. (Which is likely why it took me three-and-a-half months to finish.) I enjoyed the technical aspects of this writing; the prose was fluid and mature. That said, I was not particularly moved by the story—I found myself frequently asking, "Why?" in response to certain plot decisions or attempts at thematic reveals. Were we as readers meant to have a stake in the protagonist's journey? I felt there was a facade of profundity without the proper execution. I am, however, interested to learn more about Waterman's in-progress second novel as this was by no means a "bad" book and certainly did harbor elements that piqued my interest.

It was good, but I'm not so much into this type of lit fic anymore.

Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really want to love this one as I am interested in the topic but unfortunately it felt just average, it could have executed better.

Thank you netgalley for this arc

Enjoyed the dynamic between all of the characters, but couldn't feel connected totally to the story or to any of them. Felt like reading a journal which probable was the point but I just wanted more.

A woman's thoughtful look into her own life, and her most important relationships. Sophie is an artist, one who works with stained glass. She's twenty-seven, and the most important person in her life is Alex, her best friend since childhood and sometimes lover. Then she meets Maggie, and is instantly drawn to her. They become close, but relationships are always complicated... particularly those between artistic twentysomethings.

I liked Sophie as a protagonist. She's definitely a bit weird, but also fascinating. I enjoyed the emotion of the story, the realness helped along by the first person narration. The novel is well written, and the narrative style quickly drew me in. Worth the read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I thoroughly revered the
exultations and perils of exploring relationship, grief, and navigating
the complicated offspring.

Boy oh boy. From about 10% in right up til the end, this was an emotional gut punch! There’s a steady enjoyable plot and the characters are fully fleshed out, heavily intricate and nuanced with many flaws and contradictions (which I always love the most) that I could feel myself connect to - what more could you ask for?

I had many moments of introspection reading this. There was so much beauty, so many lines that I stopped to think on. It opened up lots of new perspectives for me; specifically on the different ways of defining family. Everything these characters felt I seemed to feel along with them. The sharp prickle of betrayal caught me in my chest. The warmth, ease and familiarity of their relationships. The struggle of fraught childhood memories resurfacing. I became cocooned in Sophie, Alex & Maggie’s little world and really didn’t want to leave.

My only real criticism is that there are unnecessary slurs and some generally questionable language. I counted 2, but possibly more, uses of s*** which there’s really no reason for. It felt out of place and confused me, particularly when otherwise the writing was so gorgeous.

Despite this I would still definitely recommend as it’s a searing debut, a complex & intimate portrayal of modern dating, relationship dynamics, and the painful accuracy of navigating trauma. Very grateful to have received this arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC.

I liked the story but unfortunately it wasn’t executed well.

This book felt pointless and mundane. I enjoyed while I was actively reading, but never felt excited to pick it up. Some books can pull off not having a strong plot, this one can not. With that being said, some parts of this book were generally interesting and enjoyable. Some things felt like they were just added to sound smart, but it was not fulfilling.

fleabag insipred and trying to be something a la rooney but feels affected and ultimately shallow tbh.

This book was different from what I normally read but I found it intriguing and I'm glad I gave it a chance.