Initially hard to get into but on th e second try I was captured by her fel of being dead and how she became alive again. Living with long term abuse, the losss of a dear friend , then hallucinating to get through lead me to really love this story.

I found myself unable to finish this book after the first chapter, as I found it to be a struggle to get through. The story is written in first person POV with Brooklyn as the narrator, but she seems disconnected from reality and repeats herself in various ways, making her character seem one-dimensional. After reading over a dozen pages, I still had no idea where the story was heading. Frustrated, bored, and feeling like the plot was going nowhere, I breathed a huge sigh of relief at the end of chapter and am marking this one as not for me.

I loved this story and Brooklyn’s journey. It’s perfect for anyone who’s ever felt unseen, or like they’re not *fully* living. With a touch of magic and an emotional punch, I definitely felt seen after reading this.

Thank you Alli Vail, Post Hill Press, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Finished this a couple weeks ago now and have been struggling with how to review it. I think I’m going with 2.5⭐️…

This was my first magical realism book… if you call it that? Or maybe it was just a way of physically representing trauma, grief, etc. I’m not really sure.

The concept was interesting enough. Brooklyn Thomas can no longer feel her heartbeat. She’s disappearing from mirrors, feeling weak, and cold, and thinks she may be dying if not already dead.

The concept was unique to me and is what pulled me into the story. There were many emotional topics covered so check trigger warnings. I enjoyed the writing style as well.

But I think that’s where my enjoyment ends. I found myself skim reading through parts which in ever so because it started to feel completely redundant. I know that grief is so unique and challenging for every individual, but every waking moment being focused on her lost friend almost a year later became draining. And lastly, but most importantly for me, I just didn’t connect with the characters. I didn’t care for either of the main characters or how their story played out.

By all means, I know many have loved this book and that makes me happy. It just wasn’t for me.

I won’t be providing a review as I don’t want to give a platform to such a conservative publisher that makes space for racists and other divisive voices. I can only hope that Alli Vail was not fully aware of her publisher’s history, given she pitched such a feminist read to them.

Brooklyn can’t feel her heart beating. On top of that, her reflection has also been disappearing, yet no one around her seems to notice.

As she fails in her new job and moves back home with her parents, she also fails to win her crush over as she continuously seems to embarrass herself in front of him. But it’s when she begins to hallucinate movie stars coming to speak with her about getting her life back on track that she starts to worry.

This was such a different novel. With its quirky storyline and characters, I expected nothing less. I felt there could have been more substance to the story and much more humor.

Overall, it is an enjoyable novel about how women try to fit into specific niches to please others while minimizing their own self-worth.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A really engaging and fun book to read, lots of beautiful symbolism around how grief and secrets can erode at your soul. Serious subjects are dealt with deftly and sensitively with a light touch of humour that makes for a very readable novel.

I didn't dislike this book, but I couldn't get into it and found myself moving from indifferent to dreading.

I think this book just needs to find the right readers for 5-star feels!

Why did I want to read it?
-Speculative/weird literary vibes
-LIkely to have insufferable, annoying, cringey, complex characters
-Hoping for 'Her Own Worst Enemy' main character with awkward but heartwarming character development
-Commentary or exploration of sexism, depression, mental illness, life falling apart, arrested development

Why did I DNF?
-I didn't feel anything for Brooklyn. I struggled to relate to her, I wasn't cheering against her, but I also couldn't get to a point where I was invested in her outcome.
-It was kinda depressing. I know, I know, that sounds so stupid of me to say given the synopsis, but I mean it was written with too much 'meh, everything is going to shit' Eeyore-type energy (that's just a me thing, it's not like the energy didn't suit the story).
-The symbolism around the heart stuff wasn't hitting for me. It just felt added on to really drive home how horrible Brooklyn's life situation is.

Format: Advance Reader's Copy from Post Hill Press and NetGalley

DNF @ 15%, skimmed through until the end.

Brooklyn Thomas Isn't Here by Alli Vail was a long read for me. I don't think I was in the right headspace for this book. It was very slow moving at first, and it was such a heavy read. I would like to try to read it again at some point and time, but for now, this is just a generous 3-star read for me.

It's rare that I am totally engrossed in a book as soon as I start reading. Alli Vail has such a way with words that I feel like I am sitting right there with main character Brooklyn Thomas.

Brooklyn Thomas Isn't Here is a super unique fiction that really depicts the way women are not seen, not heard, and live with the true fear of not being believed especially by those closest to us. This book tackles grief, abuse, and corporate America in a fresh way. I loved all of the characters except a few (they know who they are!). I highly recommend this read. Thanks to NetGalley and Alli Vail for this eARC.

"Brooklyn Thomas is pretty sure she is mostly dead." This line made me so keen to pick up this engrossing book, which really delivered on this engaging premise.

Based on the premise, I expected more sci-fi, but the narrative about Brooklyn's near-death state incorporated magical realism to make tangible her experience of trauma, societal oppression and the minimisation of her person. While unexpected, the story quickly grew on me, due to Alli Vale's compelling writing, and the growing feeling that understanding of Brooklyn's plight was just around the corner.

The story dealt with challenging topics (check trigger warnings), and truly positioned the reader in Brooklyn's experience. I loved the female friendships, and the nuanced interpersonal characteristics of Brooklyn's past and present relationships. For me the writing, the personal resonation and relatability of the story, and the ending were what made this a five star read. I look forward to the Alli Vale's future work.

Thank you Post Hill Press for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and Post Hill press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was a lot of fun to read, took a while to get going but the characters and story development soon begins to shine through! Some great descriptions and very relatable characters that grounds the piece.

A good debut novel and holiday read.

I understood the symbolism of Brooklyn’s absent heartbeat and her lost friend and family secrets but I think I personally might have been a little disappointed because the blurb made me expect something a little spookier or sinister at play.

I wasn’t sure if the depiction of Kashvi. Brooklyn knows full well the experience of being a woman and it’s very much a part of her character to call out slights against women in general. So the disdain for Kashvi felt a bit ‘pick me’ and inauthentic. Perhaps out of character for Brooklyn.

Overall I enjoyed it and look forward to the authors next book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for this copy of "Brooklyn Thomas Isn't Here."

This was an unexpected surprisingly moving and poignant story of Brooklyn who wakes up one morning and thinks she's dead because she can't feel her heartbeat.

She works a minimum wage job at a donut shop since she quit her job in a Marketing firm because they devalued and ignored women. She also had to move back with her parents which puts her in more contact with her brother Spencer with whom she has a toxic relationship.

For months she has been emotionally and physically exhausted and grieving about her best friend Penny missing overseas. She feels like she's fading away.

But with the help of hallucinations from TV stars from her youth, she summons her bravery, spunk, hope, humor, and optimism to find her voice.

What an amazing book and hard to believe author Vail is a debut author. Vail beautifully writes about grief, abuse, secrets, and expectations.

This book was quite a surprise because it wasn’t what I’ve expeceted! Despite the humor it treats very serious themes and I love the growth of the main character! I’ll definitely read others books by the author!

"Brooklyn Thomas Isn't Here" is a raw and unflinching portrayal of a woman grappling with past trauma and societal pressures. Alli Vail doesn't shy away from difficult topics like abuse, loss, and the insidious ways women are often forced to minimize themselves. Brooklyn's journey is one of pain, self-doubt, and, ultimately, resilience.

While the hallucinations of dead celebrities might seem like a quirky addition, they serve to highlight Brooklyn's internal struggles and offer unexpected guidance. The supporting cast of characters, including the infuriatingly harmful ones, are vividly drawn, adding depth and complexity to the story.

Though the path to healing is far from easy, Brooklyn's story is ultimately one of hope and self-discovery. This powerful and thought-provoking read will resonate with anyone who has ever felt lost or unseen. Thanks to NetGalley, Post Hill Press, and Alli Vail for the ARC. #BrooklynThomasIsntHere #NetGalley

Powerlessness and finding strength in strange places.

Brooklyn is dead - her heart isn't beating. She can't see herself in mirrors. She's cold. As her character spends the whole book interacting with others however, the reader will take this assessment with a pinch of salt.

She does have a world of troubles however, one can clearly see why she's unwell. Ousted from a high-flying marketing job for being a woman, stuck in a dead-end doughnut shop with a sleazy boss and sugar-coated skin, her best friend is missing from her medical aid job in Syria, and she's still traumatised by lifelong bullying and abuse from her doctor-in-training brother. None of which she talks about.

At least not until a whole series of TV actresses start appearing to her and making her open up and look at her life.

While that makes this sound breezy and amusing, the book is actually quite serious in its themes and Brooklyn's disengagement and traumatic reaction. I thought the book would have been just fine without the 'teen screen queens'.

It juggles the several strands well and includes a love interest (who is described as looking like Henry Cavill) - called Henry that I found quite sensitively written, as yet another moral question falls onto Brooklyn's shoulders.

The book made me quite angry many times, at certain characters, at Brooklyn's situation and at her for not reacting in her own best interests. It was also upsetting and gave a glimpse into both grief and the effects of long-term, hidden abuse.

I really didn't know how the author was going to end the story for Brooklyn, the feeling over being overwhelmed and not coping was nicely conveyed in the 'I'm dead' metaphor/symptoms.

Engaging and earnest, it says a lot about the weights we place on ourselves and how hard it can be to live for both ourselves and others while trying out best to smile and show we are thriving.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

I loved reading this book, I was hooked from the beginning. I loved the suspense that kept me going back for more.

This book wasnt what I expected it to be, i was pleasantly surprised. It was a lot sadder in some aspects but our FMC has some big realisations on her journey to being whole again. I love the ending and the connections she realises she has that truly love and support her.

I’ve been trying to find the words to express how reading this book felt. It started off slow, and I didn’t realize right away how invested I was in this story. It drew me in without me realizing it. That is the mark of a brilliant author. I don’t want to discuss it too much because I don’t like to spoil a read.

The FMC is Brooklyn who is going through a lot of trials in her life. It is about her struggles with grief and learning to stand up for herself. I had a love/hate relationship with Henry, the love interest. This did show how fallible people are. Brooklyn’s heart had an interesting role in this book and for me it worked well.

This book is a heavy read. It deals with mental health, anxiety, abuse, sexism, grief and parent neglect. The grief was so tangible in this read. Brooklyn fights her way through all of this to become whole again.

Thank you to the author Alli Vail and Net Galley for the electronic advanced copy of the book!

This was a hard book to read in the emotional sense. Brooklyn is not in a good place and I felt for her throughout the story.

There's a lot of trauma in this tale and I definitely wouldn't call it a light read, but there's also some humor sprinkled in. I liked all the Emilys and the girls at the donut shop. The romance felt like kind of an afterthought to me and didn't add much.

The ending is more hopeful than happy. The part of me that likes seeing bad guys get what's coming to them would've liked to see more there. I guess it's more realistic this way though.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.