2.5 rounded up to 3. This book had so much potential, but Shelly drove me crazy. It was funny to an extent, but the constant need for the next big thing and spending money wasn’t enjoyable to me.

This is a fast paced, funny and heartwarming story, makes a great beach read. It is smartly written with sharp humor and an interesting premise. However, I had a little trouble connecting with the characters. Thank you NetGalley, Mariner Books and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be released September 6, 2022

DNF

The premise sounds fun. I read the first chapter and thought it would be funny, over the top and completely ridiculous. After reading more, that was not the case, or maybe this just isn't my type of humor. I didn't like any of the characters, started to get bored of the story, and in the end, just could not justify picking up this book over others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advanced copy of these ebook. This cover is too cute, and I was so excited to read it! This debit novel is described as a tragicomic family saga. Throughout the story, we read from the perspective of Shelly Means - a stay at home mom searching for a Hampton beach house - as she juggles financial struggles and motherhood. As a social work student, I loved the pieces where Shelly discussed her CBT interventions with her therapist.

This is definitely character-focused with little plot, and it’s written mostly in a narrative form. This isn’t something I usually read, but I did enjoy our main character’s wit, and I can tell the author has a great sense of humor just from reading this. This wasn’t my favorite, but I can definitely see it’s appeal.

Shelly is a an average (or at least what this Midwesterner assumes to be thus) New Yorker obsessed with having a house in the Hamptons. Any house. Even if it ends up being a glorified trailer blocks from the beach which they can't afford set on a sliver of tick-infested land, but maybe it can still have the "standard" high end finishes like quartz countertops, heated floors, and a jazzy Japanese toilet. After all, as Space Jam taught us, if I can see it, then I can do it, if I just believe it, there's nothing to it, right?

The Means is meant to be a satirical commentary of class and money and the way these things are central to our identity whether we want them to be or not. Unfortunately despite some funny moments and somewhat disjointed insights the story just fell flat for me.

I walked into this book not knowing what to expect and u walk out with a smile on my face. It was complete entertainment!

Shelly is a stay at home mom in NYC that longs for a beach house…with a Japanese toilet! This book is filled with humor and stereotypes about money. For example, Shelly and her husbands last name is Means…and the book talks all about how they don’t have the “means” to really build a beach house.

The author, Fusselman, is witty and smart with her dialogue and the internal thought processes Shelly has, such as why a Japanese toilet is MANDAToRY and what corners she’s willing to cut to build her beach house!

Read this for a palate cleanser between hard books. Read this on the beach. Read this if you’re wanting a quick paced book. Read this for pure enjoyment!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the advance e-copy.

This was a fun, quick read. A book I would definitely take to read at the beach. Nothing too heavy, a woman wants a beach house and tells us all about her life as well as the travails of building a beach house in a snooty community. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of this book.

The writing style was not clear. I wasn't a fan . DNF after a few pages.


*********************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley.*******************

Shelly Means, mother of two, former PTA president, and New York City resident, has one dream -- to own a house in the Hamptons, and she will stop at basically nothing to get it. From her vision board, she finds a plot of land (which may be in the least desirable part of the Hamptons) and a plan (which may be to build the house using recycled shipping containers). Her best laid plans don't get quite as she expects, as Shelly faces recalcitrant neighbors, a struggle to find shipping containers with the "right" backstory, and money troubles -- but Shelly refuses to give up, even as her dream becomes increasingly tenuous.

This was an entertaining, and perceptive, exploration of class, work, status, and family life. This is a quick and enjoyable read.

Recommended!

I absolutely loved the style and pacing of The Means. Super fun, yet insightful, summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley, Amy Fusselman and Mariner Books for the ARC of The Means. This is my personal review.
I read this book but did not find it anything I would recommend to others to read. It was not a fun read, and I did not like any of the characters in the story. I wanted to but it never happened.

The Means had me laughing out loud, literally. The main character's prose is so funny and somewhat unhinged, The story was entertaining and fast paced with off the wall commentary and humor. There were some themes that I felt like were a little too aggressive compared to the tone of the book, but overall it was a very enjoyable read.
This is a perfect summer book to escape into a world of rich people with rich people problems, in the best possible way.
This book is available September 6th!

My sincere thanks to the author and Mariner Books for the gifted review copy via NetGalley.

Rich white people problems.

Not the time or place to be complaining about things like this.

Honestly.....who cares.

An enjoyable book with quite a few laugh out loud moments. I will definitely purchase her next novel.

Funny and lighthearted narrator. Unfortunately thin plot and skimmable stories keep this book from achieving its potential. The POV of a candidly and harmlessly selfish and unaware white woman felt unique to me, in that most authors would write more likable protagonists. Shelly is at best goofy and at worst cringey, short-sighted, and obnoxious. And yes, she starts “talking” to her dog. I felt like the 1st half of the book was satisfying enough, but the HOA plotline was killed like a balloon being popped - sudden and unfulfilling. Also, every character was “a character” if you know what I mean?

I wanted to like this book. The summary sounded like it was right up my book alley as I’ve longed (and finally bought!) my beach house.

I will start by saying the fast pace writing reminded me of The Gilmore Girls writing. It’s for a certain audience that likes that, satire, and has a certain sense of humor. Unfortunately, I didn’t fall into that category.

This book gave me anxiety and I really disliked the character. A woman that complains about everything, has no concept of money (or lack thereof), has a talking dog… the list could go on.

Not my cup of tea.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I’m rounding up from 2.5 because I very much like what Fusselman tries to do with her debut novel. Unfortunately, the execution falls flat which is so disappointing because I actually laughed out loud in multiple places in the first chapter. I thought it was going to continue in that vein. Instead, Shelly falls flat in her one-dimensional caricature of a woman trying to prove her success through a Hamptons house. The only way the character and story would work is if she went completely over the top. Instead, it falls flat. I have no doubt that many people will enjoy this book, but it wasn’t great for me.

I liked it! I'd recommend this to those who want to chuckle and have an easy read. Thank you netgalley & the publisher for the arc!

The Means by Amy Fusselman was laugh out loud funny while being very relatable. Shelly Means is a stay-at-home mom in New York City who is trying to overcome many obstacles to get her vacation home in the Hamptons. The Means has a comical premise that left me laughing and tuning the page. What a quick, wonderful summer read! Thanks to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader's copy of the book.

What a fun quick read. If you love witty chick lit this is the read for you!
Quirky main character and fun family to boot.