I absolutely LOVED this book! Normally I'd avoid books about writers like the plague, but this was so absorbing, authentic and intimate. I read it in basically one sitting. Its depiction of deeper themes such as grief, anxiety and depression were so affecting and true - it really is a moving work. Meanwhile, its illustration of a young creative trying, not only to pursue her passions, but merely to survive in the modern world, was hilarious, troubling and totally convincing. It's told with such heart and real passion. Highly recommended!

This was a good read, which kept me interested from beginning to end.  I enjoyed the prose, and was intrigued by the characters, and where their stories would lead.

This was my first Lily King book and it won’t be my last.

It’s been a long time since I last read a book about writers. I felt for Casey and her many struggles. She’s thirty-one, lives in a smelly, tiny potting shed, works as a waitress, has huge debts and is chased by collection agencies. She’d recently lost her beloved mother so grief is still at its peak.
She’s been working on her novel for six years. She’s stuck, can’t sleep, and has some health scares. Men tend to complicate her life as well. The poor Casey, nothing is going well for her. But what is one to do but put one step in front of the other.

While I never had any aspirations to become a writer, King’s novel felt authentic. She takes a few jabs at male writers, which, of course, I loved. The thing about the male author’s photos vs the female writer’s cracked me up.

The only thing that disconcerted me was that the novel was set in the 1990s and I only realised that in the second half of the novel. Yes, there are typewriters, writing on paper, riding a banana seat bike – but I thought it was just artists being unconventional. It wasn’t a big deal, it didn’t distract from the story. Other than that, it was smooth sailing.

Highly recommended -- loved this so much!! 😭♥️
This is not a plot-based novel, although there are many developments throughout. This is a character study of a young woman's struggles with grief and finances, finding her way in life, and romantic relationships. I just adored it. And that cover 😍

I don't typically like to read books that are "overly hyped". I often times will have them built so, so much up in my head and then they will either be just "meh" or actually, horrible. I am very, very happy to report that this book was neither "meh" or horrible. In fact, it was just the opposite. It was incredible!

The best part of this book was Casey's inner turmoil over which man she should be with. I couldn't stop reading about that. In addition, while it doesn't have to be said, the book certainly speaks for itself, King's writing is extraordinary. It just is.

Highly, Highly Recommended.

A wonderful novel about a writer trying to complete her novel while life gets in the way.

Casey is a thirty something who works as a waitress while she tries to finish her novel that she has been working on for 6 years.  Her mother has died, she is estranged from her father, her only sibling lives far away and she owes a lot of money in student loans..  She recently had a relationship fail and is reluctant to begin a new one.  Casey lives in a shed on the property of a friend of her brother's while waiting tables at a restaurant with a whole cast of characters.  Casey begins dating two very different men, both of whom are writers, while finishing her novel and sending it out into the world.

This is a novel about novels, about books and writing and how it can save us.  It is also a look at how sometimes we need to appreciated just how much we go through and that it is okay to be afraid.   Casey is a character that stays with you and makes you believe anything is possible.

I can absolutely see why Book of the Month offered this book as an option this year. I'm glad I was able to receive a hardback copy from them after reading this ARC.

Writers & Lovers was one of those books that immediately hooked me and I loved it all the way through. I was especially excited to read it because I loved Lily King's 2014 release, Euphoria. ⁠
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The story follows Casey, a writer, who is dealing with the recent death of her mother. At the age of 31, she's not where she thinks she should be in life and is struggling to accept transition in her life. She's clung to her creative ambitions as other friends have given them up for more fruitful careers and families and houses. She becomes romantically involved with two different men who offer her different perspectives on happiness. ⁠
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I loved the main character, Casey, and found her relatable. I also loved the focus on transitioning to a new phase of life, the end of young adulthood and accepting that, and struggling with artistic ambitions vs. reality. ⁠
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One of my favourite books of the year so far. The writing is exquisite and I easily connected with the characters, despite their flaws. I enjoyed the pace of the book and didn't mind that it was slower in some parts. Will continue to seek Lily King's works - including her earlier novel, Euphoria. Thank you publishers for one of my first ARCs!

This is wonderful literary fiction. I really like Lily King's writing style and this book flowed so nicely. I couldn't put it down. The main character, Casey, is in her thirties and trying to get her life together. Wonderful story.

“Writers and Lovers” was a very realistic tale of a writer struggling. The  pacing was pretty slow. I had to really push myself to finish. I did not connect with the characters but that is not to say that they were not developed. I just did not connect with them personally.

This is the first book I read by King. I heard great things about it and trust when Jenna Bush Hager picks books for her “read with Jenna” selection. This was March’s pick. This book is so real. I could identify with Casey’s struggle to figure out her life while struggling in work, love and home. It’s a great story and I recommend it!

Author captured the very realistic struggles of a struggling writer. I loved the honest imperfections of all of the characters portrayed by the author. Fantastic character development, which I find to be a rare thing. From minor characters, such as coworkers at a restaurant, to the main character, Casey, the characters truly were life giving to this story. Well done!

this book was perfection to me.
is not a plot-driven book for sure, not a character driven book either. it's simply the telling of a woman's life in the most beautiful way possible. 
the writing is the perfect kind that flows nicely, reads fast and also says something more than the words themselfs. it reached my soul. i didn't thought i could care so much about Casey. her heartbreak, her pain, her anxiety. 
i loved it so much. it's a new favorite for me, one i'll reread many, many times in the future, and will fall in love with it even more.

A beautifully constructed, introverted and quite claustrophobic tale of Casey, a 31 year old debt-saddled and grief stricken writer striving to finish her first manuscript. 

The novel uses the cast of characters to build depth to Casey and to drive her story. It’s smart, witty and hugely enjoyable. The themes are subtle, the dialogue is sharp and the ending is satisfying. 

Thanks to Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for an ARC in consideration of an honest review.

Lily King is a gifted author. Writers & Lovers is an accurate depiction of the struggling life of aspiring novelists. Casey is an ambitious woman coming to terms with the loss of her mother. She’s balancing two relationships, finishing a novel she started six years ago and trying really hard to succeed despite everything that’s been thrown at her (her dad’s past actions, her debt, living far away from her brother). It was a beautifully written story, it felt intimate, and the ending was uplifting and inspiring. I’d recommend this book to anyone wanting to get into the publishing industry or anyone with an artistic side.

I was quite hopeful with this one being a #readwithjenna pick. But unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. 
I had a difficult time connecting with the characters, they were a bit too brazen, and self-deprecating. It felt like the whole book was a pity party. 
I will say it had some excellent literary elements, and references to classic literature, and the food was described extremely well, which is always a win in my book. 
A down-on-her-luck thirty one year old writer, struggles to write her novel, while juggling a waitressing gig, two unfortunate relationships, and the death of her absent mother.

Writers and Lovers was such an interesting insight into the life of a writer struggling to get their big break… something I imagine having been the reality at one point for most authors we read and love! Its hard not to feel incredibly sad for the main character Casey- once a child prodigy in the golfing world she is now drowning in grief from her mothers passing, living in a garden shed and up to her eyeballs in debt while on her sixth year writing the same novel. I desperately wanted a happy ending for her and was pleased when two equally wonderful men were introduced into her life! I spent the whole book changing my mind about which of them I wanted her to end up with, but I can’t say I wasn’t a bit disappointed with the one she chose! This is where my only criticism of the book comes in- I wish it had been a bit longer, so we could’ve seen that the other character had a happy ending too.
To make ends meet Casey works part time at a restaurant and these were some of my favourite parts of the book! There were always some incredibly eccentric characters in the restaurant and somehow Lily’s writing really upped its pace to fit with the rushed environment! Lily manages to turn a novel consisting of so much sadness into a lovely, uplifting story of love and determination. Now I just need to scout out Euphoria to read as I’m sure id really enjoy that one too!

Sadly a DNF for me. I got this book from my wish-list, and was so excited! And, with the praise and love this book was getting from everyone and everywhere, I couldn't wait to start this book.

After reading this for an hour, a very painful hour, I decided to DNF. There were so many side characters, that I don't feel even really mattered that I was getting lost. I also did not enjoy reading every single mundane tasks the protagonist was doing. I think that's the point of the story though - this is a story about a lost woman, dealing with grief and heartbreak.

I've come to realize that I don't think I like literary fiction - nothing really ever happens. Thank you to the publisher for granting this wish!

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of Writers and Lovers by Lily King. I really enjoyed reading my first book by Lilly King. It was nice to see a women as an authorial voice in a book about writers. Overall I liked the story arch and found the different themes that the book explored compelling. I found Casey to be a more lovable Rory Gilmore character, who's decisions to end her youthful struggles really resonated with me. 

This is such an intimate portrayal of the many issues young women who are artists can face. Her grief about her mother was painful to read but also beautiful.