A darkly comic suspense in the vein of All’s Well and Yellowface, She’s a Lamb! is an edgy and incisive novel that marches toward showtime with a growing unease about the dangers of magical thinking and the depths of delusion
Narration was good, kept me listening for so long, I was invested.
Sharp, relentless, and darkly funny, She’s a Lamb! is a cutting satire about the grotesque pall patriarchy casts over one woman’s delusional quest to achieve her dreams and the depths she will sink to for a chance at the life she’s convinced she deserves.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, and this is an introduction to a new type of genre for me, I'm really fulfilled!!

Oh my gosh, I just finished listening to She’s a Lamb! and I have to say, the narrator absolutely made the whole experience so much better! Seriously, her voice was warm and engaging, and she brought the characters to life in a way that had me hooked from start to finish. I loved how natural and expressive she sounded. it felt like she was right there, telling me the story personally. The pacing was perfect too, never rushed or dragging, just smooth and easy to follow. If you’re thinking about the audiobook, do yourself a favor and listen to this narrator. It really took the story up a notch for me!

She's a Lamb! follows musical-obsessed Jessamyn St. Germain as she navigates the world of show business, boyfriends, and daddy issues in an attempt to become the star she’s always known she should be.

Don’t get me wrong I love a messy, weird, unhinged female protagonist, but Jessamyn St. Germain sadly isn’t going to make it as one of my favourites. She was a wonderfully narcissistic, delusional narrator, and I thought the audiobook narrator did a fantastic job of bringing her desperation and thinly veiled madness to life. However, the plot just didn’t do her justice. For the first 50%, it was so repetitive and uneventful I almost gave up. Even when things started to escalate, it still didn’t have the impact I wanted. The book focuses so much on emphasising Jessamyn’s deteriorating mental state that it neglects the elements that could have made it a truly compelling story.

The satire of the patriarchy and its impact on the musical and film industry was an interesting idea, and Jessamyn’s messy reaction to being a victim of it offered a refreshing perspective. Still, it felt like the author waited too long to wrap it all up with a meaningful point. As more was revealed about what Jessamyn had endured, I just felt pity for her and was more invested in her getting help than seeing her finally snap, a first for me when reading about unhinged female characters. Despite her narcissism, I couldn’t help but feel awful that coping with everything she’d been through left her like this. This could make for effective commentary, but I personally prefer unhinged characters whose rage and actions you can revel in as the world burns around them. Jessamyn’s insanity, by contrast, felt too pathetic and pitiful to enjoy. While I understand this could be the point, it still made the book feel jarring with its darkly humorous tone, and I just honestly didn’t have that much fun listening to it.

I’m not sure if this is a book that just didn’t come together for me, or if I simply didn’t get it. Either way, it wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with this audio ARC in return for my honest review.

This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller!!
Absolutely loved the characters, the plot, the tension - impossible to put it down.
Certainly recommended

Jessamyn St Germain is meant to be a star. That’s why she’s determined to land the role of Maria in her local theatre’s upcoming musical, The Sound of Music. But when the part goes to someone else and Jessamyn is relegated to the role of babysitter for the child actors, she’s had enough. It’s not fair for her to be looked over even though she’s more talented. But, she figures, it’s only a matter of time until everyone else sees it – and if not, there are a few things she can do to help them realise…

Firstly, I LOVED the impactful cover and excellent title. They both immediately caught my eye!

In simple terms, this was a good book. But it doesn’t quite do enough to tip itself over into greatness even though there are a lot of fantastic ingredients.

It’s a strongly character driven story – everything is told from Jessamyn’s POV, and wow, it’s… something, alright. She’s determined, focused, intense and in many ways has a self-belief that is to be admired. The author is clever to sprinkle in enough to show us that what Jessamyn perceives to be the truth is not necessarily the facts, but in general her mindset is pretty blinkered to only what she wants to see.

There is a deeper story as to why Jessamyn is the way she is, although I don’t know if it is quite able to fight its way through the main narrative. Because Jessamyn dismisses this so often when we know she shouldn’t, we never really get under its skin. It’s subtle, and it’s there, but the themes of victimhood and female rage never get the chance to explode.

As for the story, it’s a slow build and nothing hugely significant happens until 50% of the way through. As such, the pacing felt a little uneven and although there are some good (albeit predictable) twists, there’s something that left me feeling disconnected from how it all played out.

That said, it is an easy listen. The audiobook narration by Stephanie Willing was also top notch. Don’t mistake this for a thriller though – it doesn’t have any true suspense. But it might appeal to those who enjoyed Bella Mackie’s How To Murder Your Family.

this darkly satirical fever dream of a book was a wild ride from start to finish.
Jessamyn is impatiently waiting for her star to rise, as we journey through open calls, questionable situationships, and a rapidly deteriorating mental state.
all of the characters were deeply insufferable, and our unhinged lead most of all, as we delve into her splintering psyche. this whole story was unhinged and brilliant.
i listened to the audiobook, and the narration was fantastic.

Thank you Bolinda Audio, Meredith Hambrook and Netgalley for the audio Arc of She's a Lamb!

This is a fun, dark satirical read of our MC, Jessamine, who is destined for greatness, Told in POV, we get to see every thought and feeling our Mc goes through on this journey of wanting fame and fortune through her acting career. This book is full of very dark humour and some some deep subjects. Meredith has an excellent writing style which portrays just how disillusioned and unhinged our MC really is. I should think we meet someone like this at some point in our lives ( I know I have ) which makes Jessamine so much more real. There is definitely some laugh out moments in which you know you probably shouldn't, but it's too funny not too. Even all the side characters are well built , interesting and seem more sane than Jessamine which makes her character stand out even more. Enjoyed from start to finish.

4 stars

I love delusion! Our girl just knows she is destined to be the best, even if she is not getting the roles she wants. The narration was great and I laughed a lot. Thank you!

Thank you to Netgalley and the UK publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Just wow. This book has left me completely shook. I went in completely blind and do not regret it one bit.

The blurb really doesn't do it justice. I was obsessed with Jessamyns character. Think Juniper Song meets Perla Wultz. The delusion was real. We hear Jess' point of view, but I always felt like I had enough information to know what was happening in reality vs how she was perceiving things, and I never got confused.

The narrative voice was one of the strongest I've ever read. I really felt like I was in her head and was worried the crazy was going to catch on.

In the second half of the book, my jaw was on the floor at some of the stuff the main character was doing. Between that and wanting to cover my eyes but not being able to look away. It was a car crash in the best way possible. The ending was so fun too and we really got a full character ARC.

I cannot recommend this enough and can't wait for more from this author!

This is a story that calls for a specific audience, the girls that get it will get it.

An ode to the struggles of aspiring performers, she’s a lamb follows Jessamyn as she sets her sights on playing Maria in the local theatres production of The Sound of Music and how she will do anything for that role.

In her manic pursuit for fame we follow Jessamyn and her hyper fixation on getting the part of Maria. I listened to this via audio and the narrator did such an exceptional job of brining Jessamyn to life, when I was listening I was fully transported into Jessamyn’s story. She sees the world through a lens of delusion with bursts of reality and the narrator really had me in there with her. She’s an insufferable narcissist consumed by her pursuit for fame but also not unlikeable, I actually found myself feeling empathy towards her and really wanted her to succeed and get what she wants. She is a character that has been through a lot, abused, manipulated and mistreated you really want her to catch that break and get that part, her desperation throughout the story is palpable and you know she thinks if she gets the part it's going to fix everything that's wrong with her life, starting with her estranged relationship with the father who cut her off.

This is a very slow moving story where we are predominantly in Jessamyn's mindset as she sees the world through delusions with stark bursts of reality. She's hyper fixated on the part of Maria and will do anything to get it, no one is going to stand in her way.

The narrator truly does a most fantastic job of hooking you into Jessamyn's life, I would highly recommend consuming this story via audio.

While it is a slower paced book we do his a point where chaos unfurls and everything gets wild and Jessamyn’s decisions and actions snowball into an ending that had me screaming.

A darkly satirical book, full of female rage & good for her moments she’s a lamb is a thrilling descent into madness with an unforgettable character.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to bolindaaudio, netgalley, ecwpress for providing me with an alc.

This is an unreliable narrator like you have never seen. A story of artistic obsession akin to Black Swan, Yellowface, All's Well and Hag Seed.

Jessamyn is fuelled by delusion and bends the narrative to her whim, to suit her own personal narrative of the moment, often contradicting herself within mere pages. Stephanie Willing is the perfect voice for this character, delivering hysterical desperation, deluded cockiness and the occasional moment of sympathy. This audiobook is a piece of fine acting in itself.

Jessamyn's reality overlaps with the theatre, referring to when other other people talk as them “line delivery,” and a display of intense emotion as “performance.” Everything is theatre to her; not only as a unhealthy work-life-balance, but bleeding into every aspect of her existence. She is willing to do anything to get this role, and fights through not only her own delusions and the casting of the role to another actress. but through her lack of any actual talent, to get it. She is a really terrible person, and it was thoroughly engrossing to be party to her ridiculous inner monologue.

My only critique is that the story starts to feel a bit repetitive at points, but it does serve a purpose. Jessamyn has several moments where she thinks the role will be given to her, but it inevitably falls flat. In most of these moments, she says something along the lines of, "Finally. It's my turn. It's my time to step in and dazzle them all." You just have to remember that this is intentional. The story does move slowly in the middle, which is likely intentional too to show the agonising journey Jessamyn goes through, but at times it did feel like it dragged slightly.

That didn't stop me from loving this book! I listened to it in just a few days.

i love satire when it is done right, and she's a lamb! smashes it. meredith hambrock watched 'pearl' and heard the incredible 'please i'm a star' and our protagonist jessamyn was born.

the audiobook, narrated by stephanie willing, was also expertly done. getting the tone right when dealing with unhinged and/or unreliable narrators is so important, and she did this with ease. jessamyn as a character works overtime to convince herself that she is deserving of success, but with stephanie willing as her voice, we the readers/listeners don't have to work hard at all to understand both jessamyn's view on herself, her talent, and her value to not only the production but those around her, while also seeing the larger picture of what is actually happening.

thank you to netgalley and bolinda audio for the advanced copy.

Brutally sharp, satirical story about one woman’s delusional quest for stardom, the dangers of magical thinking and the destructive impact of ambition.

While the Machiavellian main character, Jessamyn St. Germain, is remarkably unlikeable, the narration by Stephanie Willing really had me hooked and accurately captured the relentlessness of Jessamyn’s pursuit for fame.

With thanks to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy of this creepy yet hilarious story, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Goodreads.

Our heroine, Jessamyn St Germain, is determined to be a musical star but is still waiting for her big break while working as a theatre usher and doing commercials. After an unsuccessful audition for the part of Maria in a stage production of the Sound of Music, Jessamyn is called back to be a child minder for the young actors playing the parts of the Von Trapp children. Written from the point of view of the deluded Jessamyn, this story follows her attempt to sabotage the participation of the chosen Maria and to rescue the production by stepping in for her. Listening to it as an audiobook, I was fully engaged with Jessamyn’s story and there were several moments when, as a listener, I wanted to shout “don’t do it Jessamyn” as she hurtles from one car crash decision to another. The narrator captures Jessamyn’s crazed delusions perfectly.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

I'm not sure this was quite my cup of tea but interesting and well-written none the less.
A dark, uncomfortable read focusing on Jessamine, a deluded actress, who believes she is highly skilled and deserves to be the leading lady in a production of Sound of Music. When she is over-looked for the part and asked to be the 'babysitter' for the children in the musical, she takes the role and gives herself the unofficial role of 'understudy' to the Anna Von Trappe. This gives her the opportunity to ensure she ends up taking the leading lady spot regardless of the costs to others.
If you enjoy books where the main protagonist is a deeply disturbed, highly unlikeable, deluded and toxic individual then this may be for you.
The narrator did a particularly effective job at portraying the character traits of the main character which made for an altogether creepy and disturbing ride.
I am grateful to the publishers and NetGalley for a advanced listener copy of this audiobook.

Jessamyn St Germain is a star. Well, she will be. She’s definitely channeling star energy. And the show can’t go on without her.
No, really. IT CAN’T.
Meredith Hambrock’s story of a young woman desperate to be loved and adored by her father is both horrifying and enthralling.
Determined to make it as an actress in musical theatre (it’s just so uplifting - she could never do anything as mundane as simply acting!), Jessamyn can’t believe it when a rival gets the part of Maria in the local theatre’s production of The Sound of Music. Recruited to babysit the children cast in the musical, Jessamyn convinces herself the director is lining her up to be ‘Maria’s’ understudy.
Her obsession leads her further and further down a delusional path that can surely only end in her own self-destruction.
We glimpse pieces of her past that have honed her desperation, and although she’s pretty unpleasant, she’s also confused, troubled and complicated, and you can’t help but feel sympathy for her.
Jessamyn is the epitome of an unreliable narrator. The deeper into her world we go, we start to understand that the way she sees herself is not as others see her. The thing that becomes especially muddied, is the extent to which she believes her own fantasies. This makes it difficult for us (with Jessamyn narrating her own story) to distinguish the lies from the truth (is she as beautiful and adored by men as she claims to be?), especially as she attempts to embody the characteristics of Maria, adding another layer of self-deception.
These attempts at ‘method’ acting are doomed to failure; she thinks she’s in control of her emotions, but this is yet another piece of self-delusion. It gradually becomes clear that the person Jessamyn lies to the most, is herself. The most interesting question though, is why. The influence of her wealthy father seems to be the answer, but as we only see him from her perspective it’s difficult to definitively allocate blame.
I was fascinated by this character study and the narration from Stephanie Willing really captured Jessamyn’s mercurial temperament.
Five stars from me, with thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the chance to read an ARC. She’s a Lamb! publishes on July 1st.

Some smart story telling and writing here. Utterly brilliant glad a stuck with it, took a bit of time to get going then it exploded really impressed by this

She’s A Lamb by Meredith Hambrock, jessamen Saint Germaine wants to be a star her dream is to be in a musical and when she’s asked to be the coach for the children of the musical The Sound Of Music she believes she is one step closer. she has determination in most say she’s a great actress even being called a prodigy by one producer the only problem is she can’t sing. She also suffers from magical thinking, a disorder where despite facts and logic they have intrusive thoughts that caused them to believe the unbelievable. And in Jessamen’s case she believes producer Michelle only hired her to watch the children to skirt around the rules and really wants her to be the main star Samantha‘s understudy. but due to Jess’s magical thinking not everything is how she believes it to be and then the end it will spell doom but for who? this was one of the most consistently funny stories and the narrator Stephanie willing did a brilliant job she is such a great performer and gave a tone to the story whether she was crying laughing falling apart she was on point with all of it. in my humble opinion I don’t think anyone could’ve done it better. The last scene with her singing coach almost did me in and little did I know it was just the beginning. I would definitely read or listen to more stories by the author the whole thing was just so so awesome! I absolutely loved it.#NetGalley, #BelindaAudio, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #MeredithHambrock, #She’sALamb, #StephanieWilling,

Thank you to Bolinda Audio, the author and NetGalley for an LRC in return for an honest review

Wow! The female lead character in this book is seriously messed up. Ambitious, jealous, vain, selfish, narcissistic, deluded...oh and psychotic. Very, very psychotic. Jessamyn St. Germain takes delusions of grandeur to a height never seen before. If you were a fan of the hit TV show 'Smash', then you will devour She's a Lamb! Both works cover the intense, competitive world of musical theatre and just how ruthless the wannabees can be in their pursuit of stardom. But be warned, this book is much darker than 'Smash'. Much, much darker. I was in two minds whether to request this book originally...boy am I glad I hit that button!

I guess if you inhabit the theatrical world, you have to have a certain degree of self-belief, but Jessamyn has careered straight past self-belief and has arrived very quickly at self-delusion. She bears more than a passing resemblance to Sunset Boulevard's Norma Desmond.

Stephanie Willing, a two-time Earphones-winning audiobook narrator, who also has the romance pseudonym, Avery Caris, won the One Voice Award for Best Performance in Narration (Fiction) in 2023. Her narration of She's a Lamb is breathtaking. I will definitely be seeking out her other audiobooks.

"There is so much personality in (Stephanie's) voice that you simply have to listen to what she is saying. You can't not listen. Her voice is pure ear-candy..."
- Dave Hayes, Virtual Reality Experience Designer

For fans of dark comedy, unreliable narrators, and theatre noir. Trigger Warnings for sexual assault and stalking.

#ShesALamb #NetGalley #SexualAssault #Stalking