I don't typically read chick lit, so maybe I shouldn't have asked for this, but the premise sounded promising, the cover was great, I love books about books, and I do like Emily Henry so was expecting something similar. This...is not Emily Henry. The humor just didn't land for me, the story was verrrry slow and repetitive, and the characters fell flat, no real character growth. (I usually like unlikable characters, but Victoria just annoyed me. The author may have been going for a Moshfeghian protagonist, Moshfegh is actually mentioned here, but...this also wasn't Moshfegh.) The writing was decent for the most part, but the sporadic attempt at magical realism (likely V's imagination), seemed really out of place. And each time I put my Kindle down, I never looked forward to picking it up again. 1.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher for a review e-copy.

Thank you Harper for Robin Yeatman's Bookworm! This was a surprising read for me, the dark humor and edginess was unexpected but generally welcome for me. I admit that the writing style wasn't always working for me but the story and Victoria were unique and engaging and I appreciated the approach taken to tell this story, even if it didn't always work for me in terms of style.

What worked overall was the development of victoria's world, her thoughts, her experiences, her humor and deft touches of suspense and an efficient plot (the pacing worked for me). I was reminded a bit of a darker Bridget Jones with the humor and internal dialogue or a dark Nina Hill in terms of the book lover theme.

This isn't going to be a win for everyone, I think the cover leads a reader to think it is a light hearted ode to bookworms but it's dark, edgier with a writing style that may not engage those readers looking for a light read.

One Sentence Summary: When Victoria sees a man she deems to be her soulmate, she’ll do anything to make him hers, even make sure her husband meets an unfortunate end.

Overall
Bookworm is all about Victoria trying half-baked ideas to get rid of her husband so she can be with the man she thinks is her soulmate all because they were reading the same book. Or are they half-baked? This managed to be both dark and lighthearted with some truly odd and bizarre events, but I couldn’t pull my eyes away from this one. I found the writing to be compelling and Victoria to be either crazy or a mastermind. The ending has me looking at the entire story in a different way, which is good because I truly didn’t like Victoria, and none of the other characters were any better, though I did appreciate the bit of depth given to Eric. Bookworm is such a strange story, but it did make me think and wonder once I finished it, and I did like that it reminded me of a thriller in an unexpected way.

Extended Thoughts
Bookworm captured my attention from the first chapter, keeping me engaged from page to page for the entirety of the novel, which is quite a rare thing for me to find these days. Of course, I did have some issues with the book, but I found the writing style to be engaging and Victoria to be absolutely nuts. My favorite part was getting to the end and feeling like this was something of a thriller from the opposite point of view. I mean, if this were from Eric’s point of view, it may very well be a thriller about a man on edge because his wife is unstable. I didn’t care for the cheating aspects, but watching Victoria slowly spiral was like watching a slow train wreck, and I could not look away.

Victoria didn’t actually have a lot of depth to her. The daughter of two people who didn’t actually care much to raise a child and instead went out to make tons of money, she’s basically been pushed to marry a man handpicked by her parents. Eric is from old money and makes plenty of his own as a lawyer up for making partner, so he’s constantly busy, but there’s no love lost between him and Victoria so she doesn’t mind. After a stint running off and living something of a hippy lifestyle, she’s now stuck living in a white gilded cage with no exit. It takes about 25% of the way in for the reader to start to understand why Victoria is so stuck. There’s a lot of pressure on her from literally all fronts, even from her best friend who basically worships Eric, to make the marriage a go, never mind all the constraints she lives under that she doesn’t like. It’s a good thing she has her books, but everyone seems to think she reads a little too much. She’s kind of an odd character to follow in that she doesn’t seem to have much of a backbone or independent streak. Or, at least, not enough of one to just leave her marriage and everyone’s expectations behind. I think she quite likes the pampered lifestyle and that’s why she plots and plans what she does.

And what plots and plans she has! Much of this book really made me feel like Victoria was losing it. After seeing a man reading the same book as her, she thinks they’re fated to be together, going so far as to letting herself literally drift away from her body at night to go and visit him. I prefer to think she’s just dreaming, otherwise I’ll have to believe she’s delusional, which might not be too far off base. I couldn’t look away as she appeared to only have sort of an idea of how to off her husband. I did like the tension all of it provided, and I liked that she just didn’t seem to know what she was doing or how to do it. And then the end hits and I find myself thinking back through it all and feeling sorry for Luke, her dream man. The ending was absolutely nuts, but it really gave a good look into Victoria, casting doubt onto everything I was led to believe about her, which was good because she came off as mostly bland to me.

Then again, all of the characters felt kind of like caricatures. Her parents are stereotypical new money while her in-laws are stereotypical old money. Eric did have some depth to him, but he wants his cake and to eat it, too, and he was just came off as a bit too off, though there were certain signs I like to think Victoria saw since I saw it a mile away. Her best friend was entirely too perky and she felt like she didn’t actually have much of a brain. Luke had a lumberjack feel to him and just lacked the sophistication I had the feeling Victoria really did want. I just didn’t see the two together, and I’m starting to think Victoria might agree.

Fortunately, I did find myself having a great time wanting to see what Victoria’s next half-baked idea would be. It was fascinating to see what she was and wasn’t capable of. Maybe. I mean, the ending just makes me question everything I read, and how many other partners she might have tried to get rid of. Like the guy she ran off to be with before the start of the story. Whatever happened to him? Anyways, this was definitely on the dark side and had me thinking of this as a thriller from a non-traditional point of view (that I know of. I haven’t read as many thrillers I would like). But it was also oddly lighthearted, as though the story was poking a bit of fun at itself. It was such a fascinating combination, though Victoria’s daydreaming and weird out of body experiences just had me kind of side eyeing this story.

Reading Bookworm was a fascinating experience. I didn’t care for Victoria, but I also couldn’t look away from everything she was doing or not doing. I tend to think she has the idea that things are better on the other side and will ultimately never be satisfied, but I kind of hope there’s an investigator out there who is starting to be on to her. Lighthearted and dark, I actually had a good time reading this despite all the things I didn’t like. It was such a fun blend and Victoria’s thought processes were just so bizarre. The ending was probably my favorite part of this because it still has me thinking of what actually happened in the book, and what Victoria might do in the future


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I wanted to like this book. The writing was okay, but all of the characters were the worst people ever, including Victoria to an extent. Victoria is married to Eric, who is controlling, rude, mentally and emotionally abusive, and their parents are just as bad. Victoria loves to read and often fantasizes about Eric’s death and how it would happen. Victoria experiences what she thinks is love at first sight (really lust) when she meets Luke in her usually cafe reading the same book she is. From there, the people and story just gets worse. Every single character is rude to Victoria, degrading to her, and treats her at best like a servant. Her friend isn’t a friend at all, and the only decent person is Luke. I can’t say I would recommend this one, unfortunately.

I really struggled with this one. It needed to pull back and find itself, and that may be generous to say, given that I am accustomed to this brand of humor from my workplace. I'm not sure how well this will sit with the crow it seems to be marketed towards. Solid premise for something that goes a little further out-of-bounds with it, or plays the emotional cards well along the established and expected lines. Wish I had seen more of it. Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity with this title.

Wow! Just when you think the genre of books about people who love books might be getting a bit overdue (ha! library humor!), along comes a book like this one. Victoria hates her husband. She has to try and remind herself of his good qualities but it doesn't really work for her, or me! And, he spends most of the book making her feel insecure and gross. Great way to abuse your spouse and keep them in line! Sadly, her family helps him right along. So it should come as no shock, other than those who thought this was another cute book about someone who loves books and reading, when Victoria starts fantasizing about her husband dying. And fantasizing about flying through the air to meet her imagined soulmate. This book was an unexpected joy to read when I wasn't gnashing my teeth at how horrible Victoria's husband and family treated her!

Sadly, this book was not for me. I gave up on it exactly half way through the novel. It is said to be a 'black-comedy,' but I did not laugh once. I think the writing style clashed with the humor! It was also really hard for me to connect with the characters, even Victoria, the main one. Again, the writing style may have had some effect on this. I just felt distanced from the entire story, due to how choppy some sentences were.

I kept waiting and waiting for something to happen, but nothing exciting or enthralling ever did.

I would be interested in reading other books by this author though.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

Bookworm
by Robin Yeatman
Pub Date: 14 Feb 2023

First, let me say, I loved the cover for this book...but from that I think I had different expectations from what the book was going to be. Yes, I knew this was a dark comedy. And the premise was totally intriguing. However, I think I was hoping for a more quirky, rom-com type story along with the dark humor. I still am not quite sure what I read or how I feel about it. Did Victoria have some kind of powers that allowed her to know the story behind the people she saw? Could she really mind travel? Was she dreaming? Was she simply psycho? Honestly, I just couldn't connect with the characters even Victoria who I could commiserate with, but still...I also am never a fan with cheating.

3 stars

this Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my honest review!

Unfortunately, this book is just not for me. I really struggle with not finishing a book and this was the first book in a few years that I DNF’d. I just couldn’t get into the writing style that was used in this book.

I absolutely loved the cover and since I consider myself a bookworm too, I thought this would be a fabulous pick for me but I just didn’t like the main character. The book was described as wickedly funny and I just didn’t find the humor at all. The MC was just such a hateful person in my opinion. I am very much an emotional reader and I just didn't like how the main character made me feel - crabby and unhappy.

Stories in our heads can be a great thing however when we take those stories too far and try to make them reality that’s when we have issues. Victoria falls in love with a man at first site. There is a slight issue though, she is already married. While I do not like her husband in this book, she spends the majority of the book thinking of ways for her husband to die so she can be free. The twist at the end was great but the book was kinda all over the place and didn’t seem to have a point other than getting out of the marriage..

One day, in a favorite cafe, Victoria notices an attractive man reading the same talked-about bestselling novel that she is reading. A woman yearning for her own happy ending, she is sure it's fate. The handsome book lover must be her soul mate.
There's only one small problem. Victoria is already married.
Wickedly infused with dark humor, Bookworm is a speedy and engaging read. Poor Victoria just wants to be left alone so she can devour more books she can get her hands into in exchange of living a miserable, daily planned life with his career oriented, condescending husband Eric and cooking him chicken for dinner, obeying her pre arranged Saturday hanky panky time with him.While some characters are a little unlikable, with the added wit thrown in I didn't mind and I definitely wanted to see how it would end!

All the hype about this book maybe it’s undoing. I started it with high expectations and the book did not live up to them.

Victoria is unhappily married to Eric, a very controlling lawyer who is up for partner. He constantly berates her, belittles her, tells her if she leaves she will walk away with nothing, and complains incessantly about how much she reads, Victoria's best friend, Holly, is envious of her lifestyle, and sees Eric as some sort of knight in shining armor. Victoria feels stuck and lives vicariously through the books she reads. Then one day, while she is sitting in the cafe reading, she sees "The One". He is reading the same book she is reading. Victoria is convinced they are meant to be, and starts imagining all the ways she could get rid of her husband and be with the man she is destined to be with.
This dark comedy was so much fun. I laughed so hard at all of the ways she imagined (as well as some of the pathetic attempts she made) of getting rid of her husband. You had to feel bad for Victoria Her mother was a nightmare. So was his mother. Her husband was a controlling jerk, to put it nicely. I mean really.... what kind of man bans his wife from reading books? Although I questioned her taste in books, I definitely empathized with her wanting to escape into another world with the stories she read. Isn't that what books are for? I definitely recommend this for all of the book lovers out there!

This book took me by surprise. This is the perfect book for a book club. I want to start a book club just so I can discuss this book. I don’t want to give too much away because I want everyone to have the same experience I had with this book.
If you are on Bookstagram, you should read this. If you love books, you should read this. If you have ever escaped reality into a book, you should read this. If you live inside of a book more than real life, you should read this. If you like to people watch, you should read this. If you are human, just read this!
The story is witty. It is somewhat relatable. It is a little dark. It is a tiny bit spicy.
I am posting my review on Instagram (link below) as well as Amazon and Goodreads.

"She borrowed the books from the library, much to Eric's bewilderment. "Who knows who touched those books," he said once, disgust creasing his brow at a battered copy of Ethan Frome. "It's probably covered in mold and larvae. And God knows what else."

That evening, in a quiet stolen moment, she had wiped both sides of the cover on his pillow."

Meet Victoria. She has a job she doesn't like, one friend she's very critical of, and a husband who's so awful he's like a caricature. Just about the only thing that brings her joy is sitting in a cafe, sipping flavored coffee, inventing stories about the other customers. (Somehow they all lead lives even more depressing than her own.) Then one day, she sees HIM - the perfect man who just happens to be reading the same book as she. Apparently this means they are destined to be together . . . just as soon as she can rid herself of her dreadful spouse.

Quite honestly, the only thing I liked about this book was the bit I quoted at the beginning of this review.

You think Victoria's husband is bad? Isn't she worse for making herself subservient to his every stupid whim? He asks her to give up reading for two weeks? And, she does it! Instead of moving out, she spends her time fantasizing about his death. Fantasy after fantasy about her husband's demise; it gets old pretty quickly.

The tag line "A wickedly funny debut novel--a black comedy with a generous heart that explores the power of imagination and reading..." is what snared me, but the author didn't really deliver. Black comedy I get, though the surprisingly serious ending didn't seem to fit the tone of the rest of the book. Generous heart? I didn't hear it beating.

I really wanted to like this book because it’s about an avid reader who finds more comfort in books than her life but I found that it was a bit chaotic for me. At times i couldn’t tell if we were in her head or if the situation was really happening.

For Victoria she uses her books to escape a bad marriage but it’s a crutch for her. She doesn’t want to deal with what is in front of her.

Obviously as a avid reader I get escaping from the real world but you always have to return to it.

As a bookworm, the title of Robin Yeatman’s upcoming novel, Bookworm easily caught my attention. The description then caught my interest. But when it came to actually reading the novel, for all that elements of it were relatable, it just wasn’t as interesting as I’d hoped it would be. Much like the novel’s protagonist, every time I built up my hopes about an element of the story, I was ultimately left feeling a little… disappointed. It’s not a terrible book by any stretch, but it didn’t really capture and hold my attention well either.

Books are Victoria’s beloved escape from the boredom and dissatisfaction of her life – especially her marriage to straight-laced lawyer, Eric. She believes herself to be a prolific reader of people as well, watching them and envisioning the intimate details of their lives as she sits and reads in her usual spot at her favorite café. One day, she spots a stranger reading the same book she is and when he makes eye contact, Victoria immediately realizes that HE is her true soul mate and her dissatisfaction with Eric and their life kick into overdrive. Every controlling and overbearing thing Eric says and does grates on her more than ever and her day dreams of him meeting an untimely end – leaving her free to pursue her actual soul mate – become increasingly vivid… and her behavior begins to draw Eric’s attention and suspicion.

There was a lot of Bookworm that I related to from daydreaming about strangers’ backstories when out and about in public to pushing through books I’m not particularly enjoying because persevering and finishing it becomes personal (and I’ve been pleasantly surprised just enough times that I have a really hard time giving up hope that the ending will make it worth it). But even as I found so many things in Victoria’s life relatable, I still found the overall story tedious and boring. If I’m being generous, I can tell myself that some of that is the form of the story reflecting some of its themes… I’m just not convinced that it was an effective choice.

Though Victoria’s daydreams were vivid and fleshed out (dark as they might be), there were several aspects of the story that felt underdeveloped or possibly they were intended to be red herrings for which direction the story was really headed. In most of cases, I found those threads that popped up and vanished more compelling than most of what actually ended up happening. Similarly, there’s just enough ambiguity for the reader to question how much of what’s going on is real and how much is Victoria’s imagination. There’s certainly enough material around that for a number of college essays and discussions… but unless I were reading and discussing this book in the context a class assignment, it hasn’t left a strong enough impression on me one way or another to think about it longer than it’ll take me to switch to the next book in the pile (no danger of a book hangover for me here).

Bookworm will be available February 14, 2023.

“With a dreamy, far-off look, and her nose stuck in a book…”

Her name is Victoria, not Belle, and his name is Eric, not Gaston, and she’s not only disgusted by her husband but is also pretty sure the world would be no worse for wear if he were to die in, well, any number of ways.

I was delighted by this book. It combined immense whimsy with morbid comedy. How the heck am I supposed to resist that? This is like a sky full of colorful balloons all bursting at once only to find a sky raining blood on a gala full of ultra rich people dressed all in white and dripping in diamonds. That’s whimsical, morbid, and funny as heck. I’d pay to watch that.

Victoria has that rare and precious jewel a lot of people covet: a wild and active imagination. It’s too bad everyone in her life not only hates her tendency to daydream, but also to bury her nose in a book at every available opportunity (same girl, same). Her parents wanted her to be a lawyer and have never stopped belittling her or causing her to feel like she’s a disappointment to them. Her husband won’t allow physical books in the house because he feels they cause clutter, hates her bringing home books from the library, and doesn’t like hearing or seeing her react to the books she reads. And her best friend would rather shop and browse dating apps. But books have been with Victoria since she was a small child, and she’s not letting go of them now.

Whimsical, isolated, bored Victoria finds a possible answer to her prayers for an escape from the entropy of her life when she spies a handsome, working-class man reading the same book club-type book at her usual cafe one day. She sees it as a sign they’re meant to be together, and she aims to reach that goal. Sure, her husband will have to go, but that can’t be too hard, surely?

So much of what follows in this book are sparkling passages of differing types: dark, morbid, funny, and detailed scenarios in which Eric dies in various ways; Victoria’s vivid imagination creating backstories for the people she sees as she sits in the cafe, the narrator’s whimsical and erotic writing during the astral projection scenes, and the placid, Suzie Homemaker scenes later in the book when Victoria decides to take up baking in a fit of small rebellion.

Is this book perfect? No. But it’s a treat.

I was provided a copy of this book by NetGalley and Harper Perennial. All views and opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Literary Fiction/Psychological Fiction/Satire/Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Dark Comedy/Magical Realism

Victoria has a very full interior life, imaging snippets of the life stories of everyone around her. She escapes her life by constantly reading. Magical thinking brings her to the conclusion that because she and a handsome stranger are reading the same book, they are meant to be together. She is in a loveless marriage to a controlling man. Even her parents and her in-laws are controlling. Example after example after example is given to show us how she is burdened with her lonely life.

Victoria tells us that since childhood she has escaped her life stating she cannot sleep unless she soothes herself by seemingly floating above her bed. Later in the book she develops the ability to travel this way to sleep with her perfect man. Is astral projection even possible? Our heroine turns out to be a unreliable narrator. All the characters are unlikable. This book dragged on and on for me, and it took forever to finish. Maybe some could recommend this book, but I cannot.

This was not for me. Victoria was insufferable. If she hates her husband so much why not just divorce or split up instead of mooning over strangers and barking at her husband? This is not dark humor it’s just rudeness on her part. Eric is not a prince, but don’t people deserve honesty at least?