I picked up this book multiple times and it just wasn’t for me.

I love theatre and spent many years in high school as a stage director. I also love thrillers so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. Also the cover looks fun. I was expecting The Black Swan with humor or something along those lines. This book was not that.

Jessamyn is insufferable. She’s a delusional and unreliable narrator. While I do believe that style is overdone I can sometimes get into it but this character was so annoying. She thinks she’s meant to be a star. She wants to be the leading actress in a musical. The problem for me is she thinks she’s too good to take small roles or do any other form of theater. I couldn’t get into this listening to this entitled brat whine about wanting a part.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.

Now this is how you write an antihero.

When I started She’s a Lamb!, I found the main character, Jessamyn, vain, delusional, and mean-spirited. And she is, but eventually I also saw her determination (i.e., desperation), savvy, and loneliness, and I couldn’t help rooting for her. This is a young woman who put forth a monumental effort to succeed in her chosen career but found herself betrayed and victimised by those she trusted and turned to in her time of need.

I also couldn’t help but feel a certain sympathy for Renee, Jessamyn’s vocal coach and a bit of a conwoman. Seeing her standing outside the theatre on opening night with her “cheap” flowers—proud of her protégé but unknowingly despised by her—melted my heart.

The book is well-paced, and the narrative unfolds smoothly. However, the ending felt cliched and unrealistic. It’s hard to believe that someone could suddenly realise they’re no good at the craft they’ve worked on for years.

Also, and maybe this colours my view, I would have loved for Jessamyn to get her win before her inevitable comeuppance.

She’s a Lamb! is heartbreaking and compelling. A worthwhile read.

this was a dark and actually pretty funny story! this is a story about Jessamyn, a twenty-six-year-old actress living in Vancouver who dreams about life as a celebrity. The plot follows Jessamyn as she auditions for roles that are outside her range of talent, spends time with two men she calls her boyfriends, & murders three people in a bid to take on the role of Maria von Trapp in her local production of “The Sound of Music” (1965). The story revolves around her distinctly decreasing mental stability & the environment that will leave readers wondering whether Jessamyn’s psychosis is a result of nature or nurture. i loved the cover it reminded me alot of motherthing which is a 5 star read for me!

2.5 ⭐️
I loved the concept, and it really did the whole ‘spiralling down into more and more unhinged territory’ thing quite well but honestly, the narrative voice of Jessamyn was so grating that I had to drag myself through this. I’m a little disappointed because I really wanted to love this more, I think on paper this is definitely a book for me but in reality, I just didn’t enjoy it that much.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book. (And Meredith for writing it!)

I loved this. A dark, witty, unhinged, full frontal F you to the societal pressures, double standards, and misogyny towards women trying to live their lives, and how women are expected to fight tooth and nail to be the star of the show.

We follow Jessamyn, an aspiring musical theatre star. She is trying her hardest to be the main character but is struggling to book jobs outside of TV commercials. She ends up landing a role helping the child actors on the upcoming production at the theatre she works at when all she really wants is to be the female lead. We get to visit the entire cast of her life, and we see how each person impacts her behaviours and has helped form this unstable mentality and the at times outrageous self-righteous personality we grow to love her for. As we reach the crescendo- the opening night of the upcoming production, the delusion begins to reveal itself. The curtains quite literally fall, and all is revealed.

This is a book that will sink a hook into you and then reel you in at an unnatural pace.

Highly recommend for fans of Yellowface (R.F. Kuang), Animal (Lisa Taddeo), and My Husband (Maud Ventura).

What a fun, sharp, and darkly funny look at one woman’s obsession with fame and the lengths she’ll go to in order to make her dreams come true. Jessamyn is convinced she’s destined for greatness — so when she's not, her delusions only grow, leading to some wild and cringe-worthy moments that’ll have you hooked until the very end.

This book was giving me almost everything I was looking for. Unreliable narrator 100% achieved. The book started off a little slow and it took me a hot minute to get into it, but once the pace started picking up I was hooked. Jessamyn is definitely the delusional and unhinged woman of the hour. This books embodies the sound from Pearl of her screaming please I’m a star and I am so here for it. I would have liked a little more horror components, but overall a great read.

Thank you to Netgally for providing this ARC.

As a theatre major and a theater kid, this book was a must for me. I am also always drawn to unhinged narrators (i.e. Ottessa Moshfegh's work). Very unsettling, and brimming with dark humor-- so this won't be for everyone, but it's definitely for me! I also love the cover, very eye catching and will attract the right audience for this book, no question.

Jessamyn is an actress whose dream is to be in musical theatre. She gets passed over for the main role in the Sound of Music in favour of her rival, but instead gets to be the babysitter for the actors playing the Von Trapp children. Jessamyn will do anything to get to be in the show, and things get increasingly chaotic as the rehearsals progress, and then completely out of control.
The story is about Jessamyn, her messy relationships, past trauma and self-delusion. It is difficult to know what is true about her talent.
I loved the passages with the children, who completely accept Jessamyn for herself. They are really funny.
Despite Jessamyn's actions, I was still hoping that she would get to fulfil her dream.

What a weird little twisted book. From the incredible cover (come on, it's such a good cover!) to its campy nature, I had so much fun reading this. I loved how Hambrock wrote Jessamyn St. Germain. I was rooting for her since day one as she navigates misogyny in the entertainment world, in the real world, and just simply existing.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc!

So I heard this book had similar vibes to Mona Awad's All's Well, I knew I had to request it. This was very enjoyable and I can't wait to see what this author puts out next! I seriously love unlikeable characters so your mileage may vary on Jessamyn.

4.5/5

This book was such a wild ride. I am always a sucker for an unreliable narrator. This is the perfect weird girl lit book that makes you route for a very morally black character. I love that this is marketed as a combination of All's Well and Yellowface because that was exactly the vibes it gave me.

Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A huge thank you to Meredith Hambrock, ECW and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!

Trigger warning: This book includes themes of sexual abuse.

This is, without a doubt, one of the best books I’ve read in 2024. Intense, emotive, thrilling and, at times, very funny.

Jessamyn is an absolutely hilarious main character, with sheer delusion at the heart of it all. She’s A Lamb! is a wired and dark story; after reading it’s very clear why it’s been likened to Yellowface.

It’s Jessamyn’s world and everyone else is just living in it. She’s destined to be a musical theatre star - right? - but when her nemesis Samantha gets the lead as Maria in The Sound of Music! Jessamyn is determined to make her way to the role. No matter what it takes.

I personally loved the slower burn before the epic climax and I found the book so enjoyable to read. It’s heavy - being in Jessamyn’s head isn’t easy - and Hambrock has done such a great job of making this deranged woman somewhat likeable.

My only complaint is the ending. Specifically, the last sentence. It left it all quite open-ended (for your own interpretation, I guess) but I wanted more closure. This is a very personal preference, I’d imagine!

All in all, an absolute corker of a book. It was tonnes of fun to read and I’ll be hunting down more of Hambrock’s work in the future.

In Meredith Hambrock's »She's a Lamb!«, we dive headfirst into a darkly humorous exploration of ambition, delusion, and the often bizarre world of chasing fame.

The story revolves around Jessamyn St. Germain, a woman who dreams of stardom but finds herself working as a childminder at a small Vancouver theater. Jessamyn is convinced she's destined to take over the role of Maria in »The Sound of Music« when the current lead falters—a belief that fuels her aspirations and sets the stage for an intense, suspenseful narrative filled with biting wit and astute commentary on societal pressures faced by women.

The novel's atmosphere is both vivid and claustrophobic, reflecting Jessamyn's internal battle as she struggles to reconcile her lofty dreams with the harsh realities of her life. The tension is palpable as Jessamyn's delusions become more pronounced, creating an unsettling environment that mirrors her growing fixation on success. Hambrock skillfully portrays the emotional highs and lows of ambition, drawing readers into Jessamyn's world and making us feel every triumph and setback alongside her.

Hambrock's writing is sharp and humorous, employing satire to critique societal expectations. The characters are richly drawn, particularly Jessamyn, whose relentless determination and skewed perspective make her both relatable and tragic. While some might dismiss her as merely delusional, others may see her as a reflection of anyone who has ever felt underestimated or overlooked.

While »She's a Lamb!« offers insightful social commentary, it occasionally veers into absurdity, potentially alienating readers seeking a more conventional narrative. However, this absurdity is part of the book's appeal; it forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about ambition and self-worth, inviting introspection and reflection.

The novel isn't just about one woman's pursuit of stardom; it's a thought-provoking examination of the lengths people will go to achieve their dreams and the painful realities that often accompany such endeavors. Fans of the film »Black Swan« will appreciate the feverish pace and surreal quality of Hambrock's writing.

Although the climax felt somewhat rushed, with key events happening in quick succession, the overall pacing is brisk and engaging, making for a riveting reading experience. »She's a Lamb!« is a captivating story that dares to explore the dark side of ambition and the blurred lines between reality and delusion.

This was so utterly unhinged and I was here for it. Jessamyn is one of the most entertaining characters I’ve read in a while. Her inner monologue paired with her complete delusion had me glued to the story. I would say I felt like the end happened super quickly and I felt that could have been better paced. But I loved this! Will definitely be recommending it

‘she’s a lamb’ follows jessamyn, an aspiring musical theatre actress who is desperate to get her big break and find fame. when she auditions for her regional theatre’s production of ‘the sound of music’, it’s not the lead of maria she gets, but instead the role of a childminder for the group playing the von trapp children. but jessamyn is convinced that this is tactical: the director just wants to keep jessamyn close to the production so that when the lead messes up, she’s right there to step in. jessamyn has to be maria, and she’ll do anything she can to make her dreams come true.

by far the strongest aspect of this book is jessamyn’s voice and characterisation, as a reader you know exactly what kind of person she is. jessamyn is the epitome of an unreliable narrator and a deeply unlikeable person, but it is entertaining to get a peek into her inner monologue as she becomes increasingly delusional and unhinged. if you’re a fan of ‘black swan’ or the book ‘boy parts’ by eliza clark, i’d recommend this!

If you love a unreliable, unhinged narrator, this book is for you! Extremely well written and well paced. I could not put this book down!

Synopsis: Jessamyn St. Germain is a wonderfully unhinged, struggling actress who believes she’s destined for stardom. She’s denied the lead role in The Sound of Music and instead relegated to the babysitter of the von Trapp children. She’s a Lamb! follows Jessamyn’s disturbing unraveling with page-turning satire and hilarious delusion.

The writing style was perfect for this book, making you feel as if you're inside Jessamyn’s hallucinatory mind, immersed in all her disturbing thoughts.

For fans of: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, Black Swan, Pearl

Thank you to #NetGalley and ECW Press for an advanced reader copy of #ShesALamb. To be published April 8, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Well, let it be said that the one thing this book absolutely is not is boring. The narrative style is hilarious, and the clearly unreliable narration of Jessamyn a psychotic delight. There is a certain glee in this book that pervades each and every nook and cranny of the author's approach, and it was so fun to read this book cover to cover, barely pausing for a breath.

Without spoiling too much, Jessamyn thinks she's all that, and it gets hard to tell whether her statements are part of her delusions or if they are things that are actually happening. The book does not shy away from awkward, difficult, or murderous comments, and the final scene in particular had a similar sort of vibe to 'The Substance', the recent film starring Demi Moore.

Most importantly, this book is fun. It relishes what it is, and makes everything so much more enjoyable. While following the actions of the lead can get difficult at times, there's definitely a fast-paced enjoyment in this book that makes it a psychopathic delight.

Wow, wow, wow! What a time to be a theater kid.

Jessamyn knows that the role of Maria in her regional theater's production of "Sound of Music" is her calling, at least to start with. Sure, she's 26 with no real professional theater credits, but she only takes work that's important (like this show) and so many people have no taste. Not to mention how casting directors are prioritizing diversity (so, so important, but makes things harder for Jessamyn!) So what is she to do when the role is given to someone else? Of course, assume that the director asking her to be the childminder on the production is really to make her an unofficial understudy.

Jessamyn is the juiciest, most unreliable, most hilarious narrator in recent literature. As we get to know the world she lives in through what she believes about it, only seeing the truth through the cracks of the story she tells, we're taken along for a ride that is horrifying, in part because of how well we can see our own reflections in it! (Speaking for myself anyway).

I'm going to recommending this book to everyone I know as soon as its out, if not sooner. You can't help but root for Jessamyn the more horrible she reveals herself to be. The big question: IS she talented? No one in this book is a good person really, but boy are they a joy. Enjoy this front row seat to the show of the year.