Member Reviews

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.

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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.

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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.

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i love an unlikeable female character. and maybe i'm a lil messed up bc why was i rooting for her??

i enjoyed this so much. i loved reading jessamyn unravel and her delusional thought process. i couldn't recommend it enough. if you like dark and campy, you will enjoy this. the writing made me feel as if i was really inside of the main character's mind, reading her spiral into madness. so many little lines throughout that made me giggle.

5 stars easily. jessamyn girl you will always be famous to me!

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Hooked from beginning right to the end of this darkly funny and intriguing book. Loved the writing style, and I will be keeping an eye out for this very talented writer in the future. 5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy.

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This was a phenomenal satire. The main character Jessamyn is delightfully unlikeable and irritating. It was fascinating to be in her head as she switches from thoughts that seem almost logical to ones that are borderline sociopathic and certainly narcissistic. The narrative voice was the strongest thing for me, written like we really were in Jessamyn’s head. It was such an entertaining, growingly tense read.

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Despite not being a theatre buff, She’s a Lamb! was a book that I quickly devoured. The narrator was unreliable, unlikeable and ultimately delusional. This made for a roller coaster of a read, questioning the truth of what was actually happening in the plot. I enjoyed that the darkness built as the book progressed and it unravelled as you reached the end. I also appreciate when a book doesn’t explain everything to you, the omissions of certain details served the book well. The characters were well developed and there was a clear through line. At certain times though I thought it dragged, some of the inner monologue was repetitive. I think this book could've been more concise, maybe 50 pages shorter.

3.5 stars rounded down.

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3.5 ⭐️
Was immediately drawn into this book for its comparison to two other novels I highly enjoyed with a premise that sounded right up my alley. She’s A Lamb! was a mixed bag for me.
This book moves at the same pace as Yellowface without being very similar in plot. However, plot wise this felt very close to All’s Well. The cynical theatre adult trope is there with possibly the most unlikeable and deluded yet fascinating narrators. I would also compare the pacing to The Guest by Emma Cline, another book I loved. Overall, an enjoyable funny read that felt like it could have been condensed a bit in length but still a wild ride to read along with.
Thank you to Netgalley and ECW Press for the e-ARC!

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(thank you netgalley, meredith hambrock and ecw press for providing me an e-arc of the novel in exchange for an honest review).

*3.5 stars

picture this: evelyn hugo with yellowface energy (and i’m here for it!)

that book was a wild, unhinged ride from start to finish. the plot had a lot of twists and turns that kept me intrigued with it’s unpredictable, chaotic energy that ran through the story. the main character’s deep irrational introspective made the journey feel raw and authentic while shining a light on important mental health struggles.

there were however a few repetitive moments that could have been streamlined, but they didn’t detract much from the overall experience. hambrock definitely has a knack for creating a protagonist who feels intensely real, even as she describes situations that range from relatable to downright bizarre. it’s wasn’t a perfect read for me but it’s undeniably entertaining and refreshingly unfiltered.

If you’re looking for something unique, character-driven, and just a little bit (very) unhinged: ‘she’s a lamb!’ delivers and i’ll certainly be looking forward to seeing more of meredith’s work in the future.

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Rating: A-

Received via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

As soon as I saw the cover of this book, I knew it'd be right down my alley. I'm a keen explorer of character driven novels, especially those centred around women - AND those that are particularly terrifying, unnerving and make your skin crawl. This one is a bit more psychological than that, but I thoroughly enjoyed it (until the end, at least haha).

Jessamyn is in a regional theatre in Vancouver, Canada, with big dreams of making her stage debut in a musical and wowing everyone. Tall, blonde, and conventionally attractive, she pretty much gets everything she wants, outside of music, given her lack of talent when it comes to that. Unfortunately, that means Jessamyn's dreams of greatness are not achievable and nothing can make her realise that.

From page 1, we just know we're meant to hate Jessamyn, she's egotistical, mean and uses her acting skills to manipulate the people around her. She's sometimes quite transparent and not very subtle at all but still somehow those around her are tricked. The story ramps up as time progresses and while the people around Jessamyn become more fleshed out and change, Jessamyn remains the same through the entire novel. I thought the characterisation of her was quite well-done. She's a real person you could meet - potentially in the wild, not just in acting spaces - and I really liked reading her perspective. She's deluded herself into seeing her ideal world across the novel and it really shows when analysing the things that people say to her or how they react.

I kind of think of this book as Black Swan if she wasn't talented, and while Jessamyn does have her place, she doesn't think it's good enough for her. I did expect everything to blow up in her face but I felt like the final execution was a bit underwhelming and cliche. I still had a great time with my reading experience and did have some sympathetic reactions to Jessamyn (when it came to the scenes with adult content), and there was another scene that I felt that Jessamyn was justified in her reaction.

It's an interesting book, falling in the same strange space as other female-centred horror like Earthlings, comparable to Stay Crazy by Erica Satifka! She's a Lamb is an enjoyable read that's fun to react to with friends. Don't let yourself miss this one if you want something to pass the time with.

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Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of She's a Lamb! by Meredith Hambrock.

Jessamyn wants to be a star, and she will stop at nothing to become one, even if it means playing dirty. She's thrilled when she sees a tiny crack of opportunity for the spot of Maria in the Sound of Music. Even though she's been hired to mind the children of the play, she knows that the director will eventually see her star-worthy talent and give her the role that she deserves. But when it starts to become clear that it will never happen, Jessamyn decides to take matters into her own hands.

As insane, and borderline goofy as this story is, it also feels like fever dream of any of us who have wanted something SO BADLY. It's desperate, and grabby, and strangely understandable while you judge the crap out of her. A weird and unhinged read for October!

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC!

I will admit that I only requested to read this book because the cover and title were so intriguing to me, and reminded me a bit of Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth. It was giving me major unhinged female protagonist vibes, and that was exactly what I got! Right off the bat this book is wild, unsettling, and morally ambiguous - but I really enjoyed it! Definitely one for fans of Ottessa Moshfegh, Mona Awad, and the like.

3.5 stars from me.

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I giggled throughout this entire book, I have some musical theatre knowledge but nothing too crazy but everything was understandable and just funny. Funny, but very twisted, what's going on, wait HUH type of book that I love. Highly recommend and appreciative for this ARC.

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The cover art for She’s a Lamb is beautiful and made the book appealing. I found the storyline uncomfortable, dark, and captivating. A very delusional main character, madness, and bizarre story. Meredith Hambrock wrote a book that will get people talking.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Stayed for the spiraling main character and her justifications, solid prose, + grotesque can't-look-away habits.

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WOWIE!

I have never read anything quite like this book. While it may not be for everyone, this was such a trip for me! Hambrock does an incredible job helping you come along on this crazy, uncomfortable, descent into madness. The main character is someone you love, hate, feel for, and ultimately want to scream WTF at. Well freakin' done. Some parts may have been a bit confusing, but given the main character's nature as an unreliable narrator I get it.

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I love a delusional character that will do whatever they can to get what they want, and that’s exactly what you will get with She’s A Lamb! I loved the pacing, and hearing the inner monologue of such a dark protagonist. It was well written, and captivated you with each page until the very end.

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A disturbing comic thriller with a hateful unreliable narrator. Set in a Canadian regional theatre on the eve of a stripped back production of the Sound of Music, Jessamyn, would be musical theatre star is relegated to act as chaperone to the child cast. The story follows Jessamyns descent into unhinged delusion and chaos and whilst I had no sympathy for her character, I was kept hooked til the end.

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This book was sooooo unhinged but in the best way possible 🙂‍↕️ like srsly I ate this up!!!

Jessamyn St. Germain (what a name srsly) is meant to be a star and it appears her chance has finally arrived - the role of Maria in the local theatre’s production of ‘A Sound of Music’. Only she doesn’t get the lead, in fact she’s not cast at all - she’s the child minder. A babysitter. But this will not do, and so the most unhinged story of how far will you go begins.

This book was darkly funny, sharp and incredibly well put together. A classic example of an individual growing increasingly unhinged as she strives for the life she believes she is owed and deserves.

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for a copy of this eARC to review.

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[2.5] i understand that to tell a story like jessamyn's, the character in question is not always going to make decisions that you as a reader, will agree with or support, but from what i gather, the whole point of this book was for us to see her downward spiral into chaos / psychosis, etc. and i think for that to be done effectively, we needed to at least sympathise with her from the beginning, but unfortunately i just couldn't connect to any of the characters, and found them all really unlikeable. i did find the plot okay, despite thinking the ending to be a bit rushed - i get this added to the chaotic finale, but it read like the author just wanted it to be over and done with at times.

thank you to netgalley and ecw press for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

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