She’s a Lamb is an edgy, irreverent novel that I enjoyed immensely. Packed to the brim with satire and with a protagonist that is the very definition of morally grey. This book follows our MC Jessamyn as she descends (not so) slowly into madness and all out delusions of grandeur, the depths she will sink to to achieve her dreams are wild. This book is also surprisingly deep, it highlights the problematic obsession with ‘magical thinking’ as well as how repressing our history can cause so many problems in our present. There is a fine line between confidence and delusion and Jessamyn St. Germaine crossed the line miles back.
Despite this it is almost impossible not to feel some empathy for her, she really is a villain that you want to root for. Overall this is a deliciously compelling read with both heart and dark humour. I highly recommend.

Thanks to ECW press and netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this remarkable book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m rounding this one up because I kept reading to find out what was going to happen. But it wasn’t the kind of book I enjoy. The main character, Jessamyn, is a terrible person. There is nothing to redeem her. So if you like reading gossip or social media posts about people behaving so badly that it’s impossible to relate to them because they are narcissists, then this one might be for you. I didn’t really enjoy it. Very sensationalist. I felt like it was trying to be Bunny but was just too plot driven.

Loveeee unreliable narrators, and this one was just that and more. Couldn't get enough of how out-of-touch and delusional the narrator was. So good! And so suspenseful!

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

I read this during an island-wide blackout, and somehow it amplified the chaos. This book is so wonderfully unhinged — like if Maeve Fly took a chill pill but kept the delusions and spirals. It’s messy, it’s dramatic, and it knows exactly what it’s doing. I was cringing, laughing, and whispering “oh no she didn’t” like I was watching someone self-destruct in real time — and loving every second of it.

4 stars because I couldn’t stop reading, and I’m still thinking about the main character like she’s my problematic friend who refuses to log off.

I couldn’t get into this at all so didn’t finish. I usually like a messy female main character but this one wasn’t for me.

This was a very thoughtful, engaging read about what it means to hold onto a dream amidst a maelstrom of chaos about you. I felt that some of the main character's personal, romantic relationships distracted a bit from the world of theater, which I felt was far more engaging. I was invested in her journey, and I thought the choice to have the play be "The Sound of Music" was an absolutely perfect juxtaposition against all of the frantic scenery outside the heart of the play going against Maria's mission.

While I kind of saw where this was going, I didn't predict it fully, and there was so much that aligned with "Sunset Boulevard," one of the all-time classic films of Hollywood - and that's a great compliment. Kudos to the author!

After several attempts I ended up DNFinf this book. The main character was very unlikeable and while that usually isn’t an issue for me. In this case I couldn’t get past it. I don’t hate this book and might give it another try in the future, but for now it didn’t work for me.

Unfortunately I couldn't finish this one, the narrator just was not for me in terms of tone! If you like that sort of highly unreliable, Bunny-esque voice though, you may enjoy!

Wow. This was “unlikeable delusional woman” final boss in the BEST way. I instantly detested Jessamyn, and yet I was following her on the edge of my set and genuinely laughing out loud. She’s A Lamb! is chaos and mania perfected, with a nice musical theater bow.

The first half of the book was much slower than the second half, where the darkness that you see hints of in Jessamyn in the first half quickly begins to take hold and unravel. Jessamyn is a deeply unlikeable character (although there are hints of moments where you feel sorry for her self-pity and desperation). Truly a tale of the lengths delusion can take you, and the darkness desperation for love, accolation, and admiration can materialize as.

I've read about many a delusional and unlikable main character....but this one has kind of taken the cake. And not in a good way. I think Jessamyn was a hard character to follow simply because the writing of her felt too obvious. I could feel the author moving her around and setting up scenes in a way that took me out of the book. Unfortunately, that means this wasn't a new favorite

This was fine and had the potential to be great, but it ultimately fell flat for me. It is the ever trendy unhinged woman story right now, but what I love about this was that she was unlikeable and totally delusional. I also couldn’t help but laugh at all the commentary about the world of theater and the total ego that often comes along with it. I consumed this on audio, and I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook version. I had previously tried the book, and it wasn’t catching my attention, but the audio narrator was FANTASTIC. She absolutely sold her performance, humor intended. My biggest gripe with this is the pacing. It was a SLOW burn, which usually works for me when the payoff is there, but ultimately the payoff wasn’t big or extravagent enough for me, which led to the 3-star rating.

Some “If you liked” style comparisons: This was going for Yellowface, and it definitely achieves that to some extent. I am also reminded of the movie Pearl, but wish this went into full horror like that.

There is something to be said about writing a character that is so damn delusional and self righteous that you almost find yourself agreeing with them. Jessamyn St. Germain, I never once doubted you.

She's a Lamb! is a story about a struggling triple threat who hasn't been given the chance she deserves. She's one breakout role away from stardom, and it's a total injustice that her talent is rarely acknowledged. Sure, she's dropped out of theatre school (why learn from people less talented than you?) and struggles to book anything in regional theatre whatsoever... but she's completed a litany of vocal lessons from a Tony-award-winning coach and has a robust repertoire of low-budget commercials under her belt. She's a star waiting to be discovered.

I laughed out loud at several moments in this, and the slow descent into sheer insanity was beautiful. The ending was expected, but the journey to get there had so many great moments that it made it all worth it. Jessamyn is a completely delusional and unhinged narrator, but seeing the world through her eyes is fascinating. The audiobook narrator does an excellent job of capturing her indignation and desperation.

If you're a fan of dark comedy like Motherthing, A Touch of Jen, Sky Daddy, Worry, Mood Swings or Patricia Wants to Cuddle then I'd highly recommend this!

Oh this was unhinged and I loved it. I can't say this book is completely re-inventing the wheel for weird girl lit fic, but man is it a fun ride. Jessamyn is so completely delusional, and I couldn't put this down.

There were some times at the end where this went a bit off the rails for me, but not in a way that ruined it. An aspect of that includes some past trauma that I'm not sure felt completely developed if I'm being honest, so I do wish there was a bit more time spent on that.

I love that this was set during a regional production that ultimately wouldn't have changed much for her career or made her famous, and seeing how other people view Jessamyn and her talent was so fascinating. The aspect of the kids was also really fun.

Being in her head was both frustrating and fun, and I actually think this would make a really great screen adaptation. I'll be very interested to read more by Meredish Hambrock!

I don't think this book hit it for me, but I did recommend it to a friend. Main character - I loved how much I hated her actual delulu.

SHE’S A LAMB! - Meredith Hambrock

Jessamyn St. Germain is destined for stardom.

At twenty-six, she’s still struggling to break into Vancouver’s musical theatre scene—but The Sound of Music could change everything.

She was born to play Maria von Trapp.

Except… she doesn’t get the part.

Instead, she’s hired to babysit the child actors. Still, she takes it in stride. It’s the perfect way to study the role—just in case.

If you love CJ Leede, Mona Awad, or Ottessa Moshfegh, She’s A Lamb! is your next obsession. Crackling with female rage, it’s laugh-out-loud funny, deeply disturbing, and utterly unhinged.

And Jessamyn?

Delusional—in the best possible way. I’ve never felt so much secondhand embarrassment for a main character. She’s awful in nearly every way that counts… and yet, you want her to win. Her passion is infectious, and she’ll pull you so deep into her fantasy, you’ll forget which way is up.

Everything is a sign. Proof she was meant for this role.

And she’ll do whatever it takes to get it.

Anything.

She’s A Lamb! is a heavy read, and Jessamyn’s spiral gets dark. But despite everything, there are moments when you feel for her—because her experience as a woman is painfully real. Used. Dismissed. Worn down by men who only take.

Highly recommended for fans of unhinged women, obsession, and stories that blur the line between ambition and madness. You’ll cringe. You’ll gasp. You might even root for her.

3.5 rounded up.

she's a lamb! by Meredith Hambrock was so much fun omg

Jessamyn was born to be a star, or at least that is what her core belief is. For now, at age twenty-six, she is only booking the odd commercial shoot while working at a small theater in Vancouver. At last, she has the opportunity to be seen. Only she doesn't receive her dream role as Maria in an upcoming production of The Sound of Music, so she sets out to make it hers.
Blowing off her agents calls, dating multiple men at once and child-minding on the set of The Sound of Music, Jessamyn waits for Samantha, the lead in the musical, to fail so that she can take her place.
What happens next is a whole lot of delusion, desperation, chaos, and total denial of the unravelling of a traumatic past that is oozing into her present reality.
At a quick glance, this book is a suspenseful and gripping tale of a delulu fmc. It's a fun and hilarious ride to be on.
On a deeper level this book explores grooming, exploitation, sexual assault and trauma. Jessamyn is such an intriguing character. At first she is arrogant, annoying and simply oblivious to the point of delusion. But as past and present are revealed to us readers, the reality is much more grim.
Close to half way I was wondering when the crazy, gory, horror elements were going to come into play (to set your expectations straight - this isn't a horror), but suddenly I was 95% in, concerned, creeped-out and wide-eyed, absolutely eating this up.

So this isn't so much the horror that I was led to expect, BUT I did find myself on-edge and anxiously awaiting the fate of these characters and events. Hambrock's writing is great, I felt Jessamyn's desperation in my own body.
I do wish the deeper, darker themes received a bit more attention and exploration because what we did get felt too brief.
Otherwise I loved to hate the characters, enjoyed the plot, dark humor, ideas and insight, and I thoroughly look forward to their next release (will also suss previous release).
This is definitely in line with the weird lil books following unhinged women doing unhinged things trend, so if you're also riding that train with me I think you could enjoy this one!

Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press for an eARC of She's A Lamb!

...what on earth was this book??? There was absolutely no plot and it just...ended?? The characters were all wildly annoying. The beginning was pretty funny, but it became over the top after about 40%.

The story is about Jessamyn, who is a struggling actress whose obsession with playing Maria in The Sound of Music leads her down a bizarre and unsettling path. She is assigned to supervise child actors instead, Jessamyn convinces herself she’s the show’s secret star. As the story progresses Jessamyn unravels. If you like stories with an unreliable narrator, then I would check this one out!

When someone starts believing their own act and turns every word into a performance, they kind of stop being real—and honestly, it just makes them unbearable