What a huge journey fitted into a short yet impactful book. Stella’s character and thoughts grow and evolve as the world falls apart, men coming in and out of her life, most of them egoistic little boys in men’s bodies. I found some parts s bit confusing, maybe because of Netgalley’s reader or maybe it’s just the writing. Nothing big though. Overall it was a great read.

They Tried Their Best had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to its potential. The narrator’s voice, which was meant to be witty and relatable, often came across as disjointed and exhausting, making it hard to stay invested. The satire felt heavy-handed, and the mix of surreal elements with social commentary never quite blended smoothly. Instead of offering insight or emotional depth, the novella dragged and left little impact. For me, it was more frustrating than thought-provoking.