Starting this review by saying: I loved this book!

This story has the making of everything I would like - an aspiring 31 year old writer who works at a restaurant in Cambridge, MA in the 1990's, trying to complete her first novel while grappling to make sense of her mother's sudden death. It was executed perfectly! I loved the main character, I loved its witty tone, I loved the restaurant scene depictions (you'll appreciate the lingo if you've worked in a restaurant before), and the depictions of anxiety were spot on. I wish this book was an indie movie because I'd want to watch it too. 

I'm hoping by the time this one is published they've added chapters in (in my e-ARC there were none.) That is my only complaint. Add those chapters!!

Writers and Lovers comes out in March - thanks Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for the change to review it early - it's one of my new favorites! (Will be posting this review to my Instagram handle: @bookish_molly)

I couldn't put this book down! I found myself quickly and almost painfully invested in Casey's story. I posted a positive review in my Instagram stories with the pub date.

Lily King is incredibly adept at creating characters and settings that stay with you long after you finish reading, and Writers & Lovers was no different. Beautifully written and crafted.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. It is the first Lily King book I have read, so I had no expectations. I loved it. Casey, is a struggling writer, working as a waitress barely staying afloat while grieving her mother’s sudden death. She is intelligent and creative, but suffering anxiety attacks and questioning her life choices. Most of her writer friends have given up the dream of creative expression and may be leading more successful lives. The language is beautiful, the main character totally relatable, and although we are shown Casey’s struggle there is much humor in this book. This is one I will reread.

Theres not much that happens in this book but the narrator's voice is so very compelling. Kind of wish it hadnt all been tied up in a neat bow at the end.

My first 5 stars in 2020 and only five days in!  Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I absolutely loved this book. It is nothing like Euphoria, which I also loved, except maybe the connection to authors and writing.  If Lily King wants to make up more stories about writers and writing, what happens in their every day lives, their families, their grief over loss, I will be first in line for my copy.  I loved the story of 31 year old Casey Peabody, $70,000 in debt from college, with waitressing being the only job she can hold down while spending the last 6 years writing her first novel.  Her friends who wanted to become authors gave up on it years ago and are doing adult things now, while Casey is stuck.  The men she meets are writers, her best friend is a writer, yet none seem as poor or unhappy as Casey.  

Lots of humor in this book despite the sadness, a couple of adorable little boys, and great conversations about books, about words, about the writing process, and emotions.  I just ate it up.

Lily King's new novel spoke to me. Casey is a struggling novelist, 31 years old, at the end of her coming of age and the beginning of real adulthood and independence. Casy lives in Boston, writes every day, she has for six years. She works as a waitress at a popular upscale restaurant near Harvard Square. Casey's struggles include grieving for her recently departed mother, finishing her novel, and trying to find true love.

I remember those years of the early thirties when the whole world was open to me, and I needed to know, really know, what I wanted. Casey suffers from anxiety attacks. These kinds of physical reactions to stress are different for everyone, but all come from a place of fear and dread, hidden deep inside. Casey calls her physical symptoms, "the bees." The episodes can occur frequently and are always terrifying. I got what the author was describing, and I felt genuine empathy for Casey.

Casey has too much to deal with, and no one besides Muriel, her best friend, to help. Various men come in and out of Casey's life, but she keeps looking for the one who makes her feel still and calm. Even her cheap rent in a detached shed is a miserable place to go home to every night. I remember those days and rejoice when she has small victories and sit on the edge of my seat, hoping for the brass ring to come around. Lily King knows writers, deep in their souls, and this novel is a gift to them and to us readers who love them as well.

Thank you to the author, Grove Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC (March 3).

This is the story of an aspiring writer who is struggling through the recent and unexpected passing of her mother and the strong sense that life is passing her by as she continues to pursue her writing.  Although the central character is 31, in many ways this is a coming of age story.  In a less capable writer's hand, the central character and her journey could have come off as unsympathetic.  But this author creates rich interior and exterior worlds that make the reader understand and empathize with the central character's situation and path, as she navigates her jobs, relationships, and writing.  I was fully engaged from beginning to end.  Recommended.

Casey has been working on her novel for 6 years. 31 years old, with debt collectors on her tail, she returns to Boston after her mother's sudden death and a failed love affair. Still clinging to her dreams to author a novel, Casey finds herself involved with two different men while attempting to stay afloat financially. This is a wonderful story of a young woman hoping to make sense of a world without her mother, and attempting to define her adult self. Often funny, sometimes sad, and a very well-written novel, readers will enjoy embarking on Casey's journey.

This is a very relatable story.  Everyone has that time in their lives when it seems that things fall apart.  The heroine of Writers & Lovers, Casey, finds herself at a crossroads.  Her mother passes away, her lover returns to his wife, her job as a waitress is challenging in all the wrong ways, and she is facing crushing debt.  What keeps her afloat are a circle of friends and her writing.  Everyone faces a terrible time, and Lily King has given readers a heroine to root for; she breaks through her personal logjam after being able to health insurance and access to a therapist. Casey is able to get out of a potential relationship with a man who is bad for her, apply for several jobs (and finally get one that is a great fit), and get a book deal.  Everything comes together at the same time, and a bit conveniently.  However, this is a satisfying read and a good introduction to Lily King's writing.

Interesting story. I honestly didn’t know what to expect since I decided to go in blind for the read.

Unlike previous titles by this author, this was set in a contemporary time period. The story follows an aspiring author through the trials of trying to get her book published and navigate the dating scene of artistic people in her area. It doesn't sound very fascinating, but King does an incredible job of creating a character arc for Casey that surprisingly touched me in ways that I did not expect. Having lost my mother, I really related to the emotions that the character was feeling and how she dealt with her grief. It was a clearly very well researched and well executed plot for this wonderful read. A great read for anyone looking for something to touch your heart. 

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A must read book for the contemporary times and the struggles a young adult has to go through nowadays. I enjoyed it more than expected and I’m looking forward to read more by the author.

I’ve never totally understood what makes a genre. But I have always counted “Novelists Writing about Writing” to be a genre. From my earliest memories, I can’t get enough. “Little Women”, “Democracy”, “Orlando”, “The World According to Garp”, “The Wonder Boys” and on and on. 

And here comes “Writers & Lovers” by Lily King. It’s just wonderful! It perfectly captures the world of the modern pure, true writer. Casey has mountains of Student Loan debt, but not because she had to get an MFA. She can’t stand workshops. Her mother went off twice, and the last time she didn’t make it back alive. Her father is a pervert. She has no money and can not sleep. Yet Casey powers on. She is lovable, strong, and resilient. 
I’m not sure where Lily King “found” Casey, but she sure knows her protagonist. I have previously read and enjoyed “Father of the Rain”. I skipped “Euphoria”, but now know that was a mistake.  Back to the top of the list.

Thanks to Grover Atlantic and NetGalley for the eARC. Much appreciated.

I loved this so much! Of course I was eager to read the next from Lily King: this story was nothing like I expected but I inhaled it, reading it in one blissful afternoon. I can't wait to recommend it to every reader—and writer!—I know.

Casey is an interesting character that I believe many will relate to.  This was her interesting story and the author has a way of putting us inside Casey so that we may experience her thoughts and feelings.  
Many thanks to Grove Atlantic and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am not a romance fan, but I found myself enjoying this book.  Casey is a 31 year old with a masters in creative writing, a novel she wants to finish and a huge debt. She works as a waitress so she can write during the day. Her love life seems to be in shambles and her anxiety gets the better of her. But she is strong and gets encouragement from her friends and learns more about herself from having to decide between the two men who are interested in her.

As I said, I don't really gravitate toward romances, but this one looked interesting. I enjoyed it as it focused more on the protagonist than it did on the romance. The author did a great job in her descriptions of Casey's emotions and the struggles she was going through. I enjoyed the journey she went through to find her happiness. It is a lovely, quick read.

I really enjoyed this story. From the very beginning I was intrigued while she was walking the dog and intimating the owner. 

The title is so superficial while there is sooo much introspection in the story. Dealing with grief is never easy but this story definitely spoke to me. The writing was spot on. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you so much to #NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for letting me read and review this book. I loved this book SO.  VERY.  MUCH!!!  I heard about this on the podcast What should I Read Next and it sounded somewhat interesting. But once I started reading, I literally could NOT put it down. I am a lover of stories that feature a character who is struggling with their life but then overcome their obstacles through hard work and sheer determination. And this is definitely one of those characters. But it wasn’t just the story. It was the way it was told so beautifully. Such wonderful description that made me feel like I was right there. It was so visceral. I loved every minute of it and plan on going back to read the authors back list. Thank you Lily King!  #writerslovers

This book was seriously great writing. It's simple but not at all simplistic -- just the opposite, actually. The complexities that King is able to capture in regard to Casey's situation in life and relationships is boggling. I don't want to write much of a summary as I believe the beauty in this one was much in the unfolding of the characters and situations. 
One of my favorite aspects of this novel is that no one is 100% perfect or likeable -- no Mary Sues here. I love Roxane Gay's essay in "Bad Feminist" that explores how meaningless and basic it is of readers to dismiss authors' work when they "can't relate" to a character or find them "unlikeable." 
Who the hell am I to write a review of Lily King's work?! I have read every novel she's published. I *love* Lily King. Her writing is always genuine and heart wrenching. 
I am grateful to NetGalley for providing me an opportunity to get my hands on King's work before the common plebeian.