"𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙. 𝙸 𝚝𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚗."
•
This was a story of love, loss and grief. It felt reminiscent of some indie movies; more revolved around the lives and complexities of each character rather than centred around a main plot. The general vibe of Mudflowers felt so nostalgic which was made more so by Aley's poetic way of writing and I really enjoyed that side of it.
•
The thing that knocked the rating down slightly for me was the messiness throughout. The dialogue is written in a similar format to Normal People (without speech marks) but I couldn't get as used to it in this like I could with the former, which caused my attention to waver a few times and so had me confused with what was going on. Besides that, I did like the general writing style otherwise, especially when it came to scene setting.
•
I think this was one of those where I did judge the book by it's cover and expected something more from it. It was an okay contemporary fiction but I had hoped to have more feelings after reading it. I still think there'll be plenty of readers that will enjoy this but for me, it was a slight miss.

~Thank you Netgalley for the free eARC~

Mudflowers by Aley Waterman

Thank you for Dundurn Press for providing me with this e-galley for review purposes. This in no way impacted my review, and my opinions are all my own.

Overview: Sophie is 27, an artist, and grappling with her mother's death. Having moved from Newfoundland to Toronto with her best friend Alex, Sophie is doing a bit of aimless floating through the world. She and Alex go between being completely platonic friends and casually hooking up with, relationship boundaries that match the hazy quality of the rest of their lives. Then Sophie meets Maggie at work and becomes instantly obsessed with her in a way that she can't completely work out where it falls on the platonic/romantic line either. As Maggie gets introduced into the inner circle of Sophie's life, things get messy, and Sophie has to reconcile that even in a small, carefully curated world, things are always going to change. Overall: 3.5

Characters: 3 I like the idea of these characters, lost in their later twenties, making art, and falling for each other in messy constellations. There's an implied emotional intensity between these three people that never quite lands. Even though we spend the entire book stuck in a giant monologue of Sophie's every thought, she still feels very unclear to me, and reflecting back on the book, it's hard to work out how she's really grown from the beginning of the book to the end. The biggest change is Maggie's introduction to their lives, but that doesn't really alter who they are. The connections built with Maggie feel poorly defined and so hot and cold that we never really sink into why we're meant to like Maggie. We're just told that we should. The relationship between Sophie and Alex and how it's challenged is definitely the most interesting character aspect as the bounds of friendship and dating are so elastic and constantly changing between them. There's is a connection that does hold interest in its development.

Plot: 3 If you're looking for a plot, please do not pick up this book. Especially the opening section is almost entirely drifting through the world of Sophie's various thoughts without her doing much of anything. The latter half of the book has a big injection of plot sending Sophie on a quest, but at that point, the choice feels jarring and against the grain of the book. It's very clearly going for that Sally Rooney-esque no plot just vibes approach, but for that to succeed, it requires such powerful characterization, writing, and vibe building that just didn't quite come together with this one.

Writing: 4 I enjoyed my time reading this book, despite how it looks here. Certain passages got a bit tedious, and it felt much longer than 232 pages, but I did have a definite will to keep going and see how this triangle would settle things. There is a charm here that I don't want to discount and a sense of promise. It just felt like it needed a bit more refining to find its footing. Characters and details about them were created and then mysteriously dropped out of nowhere, there somehow wasn't enough time given to providing depth to these characters despite the focus of the book, and it just felt aimless. I'm okay with a certain aimlessness in plot (I'm not a big plot girlie) but then the character needs to scream off the page or the themes need to be a rock solid guiding force.

I had to sadly DNF Mudflowers. I really wanted to like it and the writing style was very dreamy and pretty. However, I just couldn’t focus with the stream of consciousness and it didn’t really grab my attention in all the times I picked it up. I’m sure it will have an audience, it just wasn’t for me. I truly appreciate the opportunity from NetGalley and the publisher to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley & Dundurn Press for providing the opportunity to read this e-gallery!

I wanted to love this book; its description of it was irresistible. The writing is beautiful and I appreciate how Aley Waterman's sentences build line-by-line, creating such a specific mood and tone. Where things felt flat was at the character level. The main character felt over-developed, as though the author had been creating this character's backstory for years, while the other two characters felt under-developed. I am curious about what Waterman writes next and will definitely keep an eye out for her next book.

What to expect;
• A love triangle
• A character driven novel
• Messy characters
• An exploration of grief and friendship
• Beautiful writing.

First line;
"I wanted so badly to love in a good way."

The main character, Sophie, has a lot of depth and complexity. Her inner struggles and emotions feel real and this adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative.

I enjoyed reading Mudflowers, but for me this novel isn't truly exceptional. While the main character is (very) well-developed, the plot feels thin and somewhat underdeveloped. It left me wanting more, because the writing style is so beautiful.

Even though the plot may have its shortcomings, the elegance of the writing and the complex characters make this a worthwhile read.

☆☆☆ - 3 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for the e-ARC!

This book felt so refreshingly real and raw. Something about it felt different from other books I have read lately. The author writes the characters who feel so human and make mistakes, but through it all, you continue to root for their happiness in whatever form it takes. It shows the ways that love and relationships are complicated between lovers, friends, family, and anything in between.

I found this book very intense. The writing is a cross between stream of consciousness and lyrical prose, with no punctuation to denote speech, a stylistic choice I usually abhor but didn’t mind so much here.
Story follows Sophie, a deeply flawed and self conscious MC, as she navigates life and relationships. After a betrayal, Sophie finds herself rebuilding the two most important relationships in her life, while reflecting on why these people are so important to her.
To be honest, this book got to the point of self absorption too often for my liking. Sophie has BIG feelings, but she acts as if her feelings are more important that anyone else’s - they are certainly more dramatic.
I did like all the twists and turns. I didn’t actually see the first twist coming, let alone the rest!
The prose in this book is just gorgeous, if the main character is a bit bougie the book makes up for it with stunning writing. I buddy read this with a group of girls from Canada and we really enjoyed it.

Mudflowers is the story of Sophie, an artists in her 20's who seems to be generally struggling with life. She's struggling to navigate friendships and relationships and she has lots of feelings that are expressed in quite a meandering, inner monologue style text.

It's quite reminiscent of Sally Rooney, Naoise Dolan, and Coco Mellors. Quite a lot of 'no plot, just vibes', and creative people being quite unrelatable.

I think personally I'm just a bit over sad/messy girl fiction, and that's probably due to being quite oversaturated with the stuff. So if that's the kind of book you're looking for, you may really enjoy this!

Mudflowers follows Sophie in the aftermath of her mother's death. She is a young woman learning her grief through her messy relationships with her childhood best friend Alex and a new connection, Maggie.

As stated by many other readers, Mudflower is extremely reminiscent of Sally Rooney (heavy no plot just vibes which I usually love, but I Do Not like Sally Rooney). It's more character study than story but even then I struggled to connect to the characters. I love feeling like I'm reading the narrator's diary but prose just didn't do it for me.

Mudflowers is very clearly a debut but there is some great writing within it and I hope the author continues to find her voice. I know this book will be enjoyed but unfortunately it didn't work for me.

Thank you to Dundurn Press/Rare Machines and Netgalley for the ARC

Confusing, Different, Slow.

I really liked and was intrigued by the blurb when I read it for this book. However, when reading this book I felt no connection to the characters which made reading of this book awfully slow. I thought the characters were very individual. I would have preferred more information on Maggie and Alex at the end as I felt it was a little unfinished for them and the baby. I do know this book is definitely a favourite for someone but unfortunately it didn't click for me.

This week’s headline? Self-involvement doesn’t mean self-reflection

Why this book? I liked the title, cover, and synopsis

Which book format? ARC

Primary reading environment? Couch and train

Any preconceived notions? Maybe? I have a idea of how this could play out as there’s similar books out there

Identify most with? “breaking the fourth wall”

Three little words? “cute and desperate”

Goes well with? Long conversations

Recommend this to? People in their 20s who like reading about messy 20 somethings

Other cultural accompaniments: https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/debut-novel-about-friendship-love-and-rebuilding-after-grief-announces-a-new-writer-to-watch/article_1964cdbb-9285-5f63-86f3-e7c743cb0d63.html

I leave you with this: “Desire is like fear in that they both take up what hasn’t happened yet and let it consume the present.”
.
I really wanted to love this one. I’m actually a little disappointed that I didn’t. What I did appreciate was the stream of conscious writing, but the characters felt hollow, formless. It’s like having acquaintances; you know some things about them but never truly get to the core of their being. And then you wonder, do you even want to?

Mudflowers will be available on October 17, 2023.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rare Machines Books for sharing this title~

Mudflowers follows Sophie, a twenty something woman living in Toronto in the aftermath of her mother's death. She is a young woman who is coping with her grief through her messy relationships with both her childhood best friend Alex and a new connection, Maggie.

As many of the reviews have stated, the story and characters and themes are extremely reminiscent of Sally Rooney (heavy on the no plot, just vibes). The book ends up being more of a character study than a story anchored in a detailed plot line. I happen to love books like this so, that, wasn't an issue for me at all. I like stories where it feels like I'm sort of just reading someone's diary, but with better prose. There was some fantastic writing in this. It also is very clearly a debut and I have no doubt this author will continue to find her voice.

With that being said-- I enjoyed it while reading it, but it will probably not stick with me forever.

dnf! 😔

I got maybe 10% into this book and I’m not sure what I was expecting (sometimes i think covers are pretty when i request ARCs and don’t read the description) but I don’t think this book is the right fit for me. That doesn’t mean it won’t be for you so check it out!

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!

I went into this expecting a book that explored being in your late twenties. Instead, I read a book that explored three people being selfish for a year with no personal growth or any type of personal awareness. As a character-driven book, one of the key pieces of information is that the 3 main characters are all 27. As a current 27-year-old, I was interested. And while the rest of the description wasn’t quite my vibe (artists flitting around Toronto and hooking up with each other), I was still intrigued.
Getting past the first 10 pages was difficult, and finishing the book was a challenge. For being wholly character-driven, the main character, Sophie, is one-dimensional and lifeless. The whole book is written in a stream of consciousness flow that is almost impossible to follow. Sophie will go from complaining that her friends aren’t paying attention to her to reminiscing about her childhood to thinking about something she read in college. She, Alex, and Maggie, are all insufferable in their own ways, and seem to be living a life disconnected from reality.
I knew pretty early on that I was not the intended market for the book, but I can’t quite figure out who IS the target audience. I guess anyone who yearns for a life of actions without consequences, relationships without boundaries, and thinks they’re worse than everyone around them? For me, it felt like I was reading propaganda from a conservative parent about what life you live with an art degree.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rare Machines for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Giving this a 4.25. If you're a fan of Sally Rooney or books with characters that can just be so complicated and messy to the point it brings an enjoyable amount of stress, Mudflowers is for you.

What I like about this book is how it navigates a lot of the relationships and friendships the main character Sophie experiences. It feels so real and honest. Life is just as complicated and I love books that show these situations. Waterman writes so beautifully. I love how the sentences are structured and I love how there are passages and lines that just resonate with me so loudly. Mudflowers is full of emotion and heart. Its gripping when you least expect it and it builds so much urgency and tension that it catches you off guard. I wish there was more though

I really enjoyed this ARC, which publishes in a couple days. I rounded my 3.75 review up to 4 stars. I started this debut novel a long time ago (like, months) and just finished it. I became more engrossed in it the longer I read it. The story follows Sophie and her best friend Alex as they navigate the creative gig economy of Toronto in their late 20s. Sophie is still recovering from the recent death of her mother, but meets illustrious Maggie, and they quickly develop a special relationship. The three friends’ lives quickly become intertwined and lead to some interesting plot developments.

This novel explores the depth of different kinds of relationships, and what it means to let someone in. Similar to Sally Rooney and other authors, Waterman’s writing takes us into the hypersensitive and descriptive musings of a young woman trying to figure things out and find her place in the world. I enjoyed a lot of her descriptive phrasings and sentence structures, but thought there was too much random back detail that preceded more important dialogue that forwarded the plot. For example, Waterman would start a paragraph with a memory that runs on for a while and then dive into the pertinent info that forwards the plot. Those memory sections could be shorter.

I also craved more closure from the ending, which was abrupt and left me with questions. I’m not surprised the book ended how it did, but I think the relationships between the three main characters could have been further delineated. I did like all three characters and thought they all had a great level of depth that Waterman explored appropriately. The book starts very slow though, so I had to knock off one star for that.

Overall, this book does an exemplary role recasting what romance and family looks like, and is a great read for fans of Sally Rooney or similar authors. As always, thanks to NetGalley for providing me early reading access to this novel.

This book is kind of advertised like a book that could be compared to <i>Normal People</i> by Sally Rooney. Well... I don't think I can agree with that. I see what the author tried to do, writing a book where it is more about characters than plot, but it was simply not well done. The only thing the books had in common was the fact that there was a lack of quotation marks when using dialogue. (Why is this becoming a trend?)

I don't like giving 1 star ratings, but with this book I felt like I could not justify giving it more stars. For instance, the book was so not interesting once I started reading that I kept forgetting what the names were of the characters, and there are not that many characters with names in this book, so it should not be that difficult. The characters felt flat and incomplete. I even found them quite annoying most of the time. I just did not care about them at all, which resulted in me not caring about what would happen to them.

The book did not really have chapters, more like four parts and sometimes breaks using a white line. But to be honest the seperation of the parts felt off. It just did not make sense, probably due to the story being so jumpy and all over the place. It did not feel like it was written down with a purpose and knowledge of where the story was going. This got even worse towards the end of the story where I felt like the author did not want to work on it anymore and just wrote it down quickly to get over with. It was very unsatisfying.

(Actual 2.75⭐, rounded up) This book was......... I'm a bit disappointed because it felt like it was trying to serve up *so much* and yet it still wasn't enough? I enjoy messy stories about messy people, don't get me wrong, and I appreciate how this book delves into the idea of what being part of a "family" means, whether it's the one you were born into or the one you discover and/or create for yourself later on down the road. The characters were frustrating, however, in my opinion, because while I understand that strong connections can be difficult to let go of, it felt as though these characters had no true desire to try and forge relationships with others outside of their little bubble. Overall, I didn't hate this one, I just expected more.

I always feel so biased when I enjoy something so Sally Rooney-esque, but I like what I like, and this was perfectly executed in this prose fashion. Mudflowers explores everything contemporary and everything relevant with the human spectrum of emotions. I really enjoyed this. Bravo.

An interesting read, but I felt that the pacing was just off for me. I did enjoy the premise, and it certainly made me emotional at times. It just didn't grip me as much as I initially thought it would.