I struggled to get get into this book and did not finish it. I put it down one day and just never picked it back up. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right state of mind or maybe it wasn’t my style.

This book is so quirky and funny. The subject matter reminded me of "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" and at times made me laugh out loud. We are all Janet sometimes. At least I hope we are, because I sure am.

I’m judging a 2020 fiction contest. It’d be generous to call what I’m doing upon my first cursory glance—reading. I also don’t take this task lightly. As a fellow writer and lover of words and books, I took this position—in hopes of being a good literary citizen. My heart aches for all the writers who have a debut at this time. What I can share now is the thing that held my attention and got this book from the perspective pile into the read further pile.

Sad Janet is witty and fun something to rip through in bleak times.

A very realistic story of mental health struggles, with comedic relief and unexpected twists. While this book was overall lighthearted, Janet's depression was a main focus of the book, which could make it hard to read for individuals themselves experiencing depression.

It's no wonder I loved "Sad Janet" because I too am a Sad Janet. Lucie Britsch captures the realities of being a Sad person so clearly, spot-on in its humor. The premise of the book—the invention of a "Christmas Pill" to get you through the holidays—is the most unbelievably funny thing I had ever heard, and I already knew that I would love this book. Almost like a novel version of "Fleabag," I didn't care how bad Janet became, I wanted to live in her head forever.

Sad Janet is a very charismatic book about an very uncharismatic character. Janet is depressed and okay with being depressed. She fully understands how her sadness negatively affects her relationships. However, she considers her sadness to be an essential part of her personality and is unwilling to separate herself from it. Medication and therapy are out of the question until she is bullied into taking a pill designed to make the holiday season more bearable. While the author conveys just how debilitating depression can be, Janet is not a character to be pitied. She is firmly in control of her life in that she understands it is her choice to be sad, just as it is her choice to enjoy being sad. This book is funny and thought-provoking and will be of interest to anyone who has been told their life choices are outside the boundaries of "normalcy".

A harrowing, accurate depiction of depression, but with a disappointing, misguided message regarding medication. The weak ending just fizzles out , and seemed to be tacked on at the last minute.

It's not necessarily fun being inside of Janet's head for all of SAD JANET, but Lucie Britsch's debut novel is unexpectedly funny and cunning, which is surprising for a book about depression. Janet, a recent college grad, is sad and adrift following a breakup with a boy she never really liked, and an intervention from her family telling her she needs to take pills to improve her mood. Despite being very smart, she works with two other women running a dog shelter in the middle of the woods (which she feels is the only place that can truly handle her sadness). The plot develops as she decides to try a new miracle drug, that will make you happy specifically on Christmas. It's satire, surreal, and sad all at the same time.

I ended up liking Janet, and weirdly kind of wanted to be her friend at the end, which I didn't expect when I cracked the novel open. She certainly has some unlikeable qualities, but she's trying her best, like all of us are, and while the trope of the sad white girl is still pretty prevalent in this book, I did feel for her struggles and bad family card she was dealt. Britsch's writing is fresh and dry, and was probably my favorite part of reading SAD JANET. She is funny in unexpected ways, and I can't wait to read more from her in the future.

While everyone around her seems to be on pills, Janet carries her sadness with her almost as a badge of honor. She has decided to quietly live her life, working at a dog shelter in the woods, living an almost solitary life with her boyfriend that she doesn't like any more. But then her family and boyfriend stage an intervention. There's a new "Christmas Pill" that promises to make you happy throughout the holiday season. And when Janet decides to take the pills her life begins to slowly change.

I almost gave up on "Sad Janet" but I am glad I stuck around and at the end found myself drawn to Janet as she struggles to find her place in the world.

Story of a depressed woman who wants desperately to break out of this mindstate, especially in order to participate in the Christmas season. She is offered the opportunity of partake in a trial of a medication purported to ease symptoms for a limited time, participate in group therapy with other participants, and be evaluated at the end of the trial period (after Christmas, in January).

What transpires is an interesting change in her thinking and feeling as well as the feedback of others close to her. Without giving spoilers, it is really a study of how we create our own realities and how the people around us respond to us given the information they feel they have about us.

Interesting premise and executed engrossingly by this first-time novelist.

This was a quirky read I couldn't get into. It has a very abrupt writing style. I was hoping to enjoy it more, as the subject matter seemed relevant to me.

I definitely think there are readers for this book, but it wasn't me. The premise sounded good, because so many people do suffer from depression, but the writing and main character just did not engage me as I had hoped.

Sad Janet is dark, funny, and painfully relatable. If you liked Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag, this will be right up your alley. There are brief moments where the narrative feels a bit rambly, but that only adds to the authenticity of the main character's experiences. I tend to prefer non-fiction as I often find real life more interesting than fiction; however, this book maintained enough realism and humor to keep me joyfully engaged. If you're looking to embrace the comedy within the tragedy of modern, twenty/thirty-something existence, this book is for you. Also, there are dogs. It's a win-win.