_She’s a Lamb!_ by Meredith Hambrock is a mix of horror and thriller about a struggling actor trying to find the stardom she believes she deserves. Jessamyn St. Germain is an unlikeable narrator living in Vancouver and working at a small theater as an usher, where she also auditions for the productions. When she auditions for the part of Maria in _The Sound of Music_, she thinks she unquestionably has the part. Instead her rival gets Maria, and Jessamyn is asked to be the glorified babysitter for the child actors in the play. As her personal life crumbles and her mental state continues to worsen, she still believes she will get the part and shoot to stardom. Suspense and dark humor make this book an entertaining read.

Absolutely unhinged and I loved it. Unlikeable characters are some of my favorite to read and this book delivers THAT. The hardest part of this book was putting it down when I would inevitabely get interrupted. Highly addictive read and one that flew by quickly. I can't wait to recommend this book during reader advisory sessions at the library I work at.

Absolutely amazing book, I loved it! Devoured it in half a day. A perfectly done unlikable narrator, beautifully written, such good ending. Highly recommend this one!

4.5 stars, rounded up

Unlikable female protagonist, stream-of-consciousness style, first person present tense: these particular choices tend to be divisive but I can't get enough of them! She's a Lamb! continually ramps up the pace and suspense as it nears the climax, and the ending doesn't disappoint.

What I love about She's a Lamb! is that while the main character is delusional and unpleasant, the societal issues that are satirised here are legitimate and the two things aren't mutually exclusive. Hambrock got the balance of these aspects just right, such that Jessamyn becomes a complex character who deserves some sympathy even though her actions are unjustified.

One for fans of Mona Awad, Ottessa Moshfegh's My Year of Rest and Relaxation, and Eliza Clark's Boy Parts.

This one was a lot of fun. A deeply unhinged, unreliable female narrator, the cut-throat world of local theatre, bizarre daddy issues all rolled into one book. Jessamyn is so narcissistic and delusional, I loved watching her get deeper and deeper into her web of lies and manipulation. I absolutely tore through it so quickly because it was so readable and the prose flowed well. It’s a testament to the author to make such an unhinged and self centred protagonist kind of sympathetic and likeable! A great read.

She's a Lamb! gave me a lot of secondhand embarrassment and anxiety in the funniest way. I had to keep reminding myself that Jessamyn was a fictional character and that I was not involved in a regional theatre company in any way. Hambrock slayed these characters and I'll read anything she writes!

A completely bonkers, addictive and darkly funny novel about a musical theatre actress who can’t seem to catch a break, until she gets a role in her local theatre’s production of The Sound of Music, but not in the lead role she thinks she deserves…

Cue a Yellowface meets Black Swan nose dive into friendship, art, rivalry, delusion and the fu*king patriarchy.

This book had me at the edge of my seat (theatre pun intended!) I absolutely loved the narrator, which when considering her mental state and choices is maybe a little concerning! Her voice was sharp, funny, unsettling and unreliable.

All of the characters in this novel were fleshed out beautifully, even those that were secondary, which made all of the relationships and interactions highly readable and enjoyable.

However, what I found really engaging was the way the author presented multiple opportunities for the narrator to make a different decision or interpret a situation in a different way, that would have actually impacted her life for the better. She was so close to achieving good things, but couldn’t quite get there, which made her unravelling all the more sad and tragic. She was both a psychotic and empathetic character, which was gripping.

I also just loved the descent of the book’s narrative as things gradually got darker and more chaotic. The author didn’t miss a beat. Overall, it was a very entertaining, enraging and emotional 5 star read!

Thanks to @netgalley and the amazing @ecwpress for the e-arc.

She's a Lamb followss Jessamyn, a 26-year old woman who is determined to make it on broadway. She has an audition for the role of Maria in Sound of Music and is determined to get the role at any cost. However, she ends up getting asked to do child-minding for the children of the musical instead of being offered a role in the cast. Jessamyn is sure this means the director wants her to be the unofficial understudy for the role (as the theater is running out of money and can't hire understudies, even though aren't they supposed to be cast members anyway.... i digress).

This is a story of obsession that i think feels like its deeper than it is. Additionally, most of the book is a darkly comedic drama, and the last 20% are more thriller/horror but it never goes deep enough into the darkness to feel worth those labels.
The other issue I have is that Jessamyn is an awful perspective to be in the brain of. Not because she's unlikable (but omg she is unlikable) but because her brain is just....exhausting to be in. I am not rooting for her to succeed (which is intentional) but i'm also just wishing she would shut up. I'm annoyed. which is NOT an emotion i enjoy while reading.

This is compared to All's Well and Yellowface, and while i do agree those are good comp titles --this ultimately is a lesser version of both novels.
ultimately this cover is cooler than the book. It was fine, but i wanted it to be deeper or scarier or both.

very all's well in a very interesting way. the main char, jessamyn, is an unhinged narcissist. but yet you can still sympathize with her consistently almost all the way through. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Jessamyn knows she is meant to play Maria in a regional production of The Sound of Music, but instead she is given the chance to be a childminder for the Von Trapp children actors. She talks herself into that she is really the understudy without being called that, and tells everyone in her life that she is playing the lead. Drama ensues.

Hambrock’s voice is refreshing and raw and this book is a treat!

Exploring womanhood, the patriarchy, performance, and the world of art, this was tense and hilarious and horrific all at once. I was so hooked, despite not being immediately connected to the premise. This is going to be a cult classic in lit fic for unbearable women, which we all love.

I loved this. I've been looking for a good, well driven female rage narrative that isn't just 'cool badass woman gets revenge on men' story. This is fantastic, reading Jessamyn's descent deeper and deeper into her delusions had me hooked from the very first page. I'm reluctant to say more as it would be easy to give away spoilers here but I cannot recommend this book highly enough if you're looking for a dark page turner.

Thank you, Meredith Hambrock and NetGalley, for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!

Well, I read this faster than I usually read books this length. I think it was a great clensor as I've been reading only horror since last year. In a way, this could be slightly thriller. There are definitely dark moments in this book, but not anything super dark. Definitely have some funny moments, and it's a decently paced book. I never lost interest in this book, and it's definitely for those who are into theater and into dark thoughts. I don't really connect with the main character, but I did enjoy reading her development and seeing what happens to her.

What would you be willing to do to get the part you want? Suck up to the director, lie, hope the lead falls and breaks her foot? So much happens in theater. You have to do so much like vocal coaching, dance training, and constant auditions. It never ends, and when you want a roll, you have to be willing to do anything, even play dirty.

This book seriously shows the darkness that is Theater. It's not all sunshine and rainbows. There are tears and snot. Breaks and sprains and so much more. People suffer through so much more and even delusions that put them in danger. This book was truly a great read.

I'm a sucker for an unreliable narrator and chaotic stream of consciousness, and this was a fantastic start for 2025. This was unsettling and dark and there was no happy ending for anyone. It had elements of Boy Parts and Black Swan (which I also adored) in which Jessamyn was a strong, distinctive voice, and I found myself feeling nauseated by her thoughts/actions and yet somehow being unable to look away.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC - this was fascinating.

A super interesting and unique plot. I suspected there would be twists and mystery but I didn’t expect the emotional turn with Jessamyn’s character. I didn’t like the causality, if that’s what you could call it, of the trauma though. It’s the catalyst for Jessamyn’s behaviour but we don’t really get to see why or how. I feels like it’s just thrown in towards the end when it could've added a lot more substance to the story.

This novel, however, is a great example of an unreliable narrator. As we only hear about Jessamyn’s talent from herself, or other unreliable characters, there’s no real confidence in her musical abilities. This was a real highlight as the lack of trust emphasises Jessamyn’s emotional state and the climax of the story.

Overall, I thought the plot was executed great but the characters sometimes felt hollow. The story was a little slow to pick up, but the ending is strong. I’m also so glad it provided on the deluded character front, it added a lot to the reading experience.

Even though this really reminded me of All's Well by Mona Awad, that took nothing away for me. I still loved this. it was so weird and eccentric yet I was so deeply invested in the main character. Like an accident that you can't drag your eyes from.

'She's a Lamb' introduces Jessamyn, a driven and somewhat delusional aspiring musical theatre actress determined to become a star. When she auditions for her regional theatre’s production of 'The Sound of Music', she doesn't land the iconic role of Maria, yet believes there’s a hidden strategy behind this casting choice. For Jessamyn, becoming Maria is not just a mere goal—it’s an obsession, and she’s willing to go to any lengths to see it come true.

The real strength of this novel lies in Jessamyn’s character—her voice is distinctive, and her personality shines through in a way that makes her impossible to ignore. She’s unreliable, self-absorbed, and often unlikeable, but her internal monologue is both fascinating and darkly entertaining as she becomes more and more unhinged in her pursuit of fame. Delectable!

She’s a Lamb! by Meredith Hambrock is a sharp and unflinching satire, chronicling the obsessive, and often unsettling, journey of Jessamyn St. Germain, a struggling actress desperate for her moment in the spotlight. Set amidst the claustrophobic world of a small Vancouver theatre, Jessamyn is convinced she is destined to play Maria in The Sound of Music. Though relegated to babysitting the young actors playing the von Trapp children, she rationalises her position as part of a grand plan—the director’s subtle way of keeping her close to the role she believes is rightfully hers.

Hambrock paints an incisive and darkly funny portrait of Jessamyn’s delusions and desperation, skilfully critiquing the patriarchal systems that feed her ambition and erode her sense of reality. The narrative’s tone is relentless and claustrophobic, capturing Jessamyn’s spiral as she sacrifices her physical and emotional well-being for a dream that increasingly feels out of reach.

The internal dialogue is particularly striking, drenched in theatre jargon and rationalisations that reflect Jessamyn’s disturbed state of mind. While some may find this deeply melancholic or even depressing, others will appreciate its raw honesty and the compelling examination of a character who teeters on the edge of self-destruction. Comparisons to Black Swan feel apt, as this is less a story of triumph and more a harrowing exploration of ambition gone awry.

The ending is ambiguous, leaving readers to grapple with their own interpretations of Jessamyn’s fate. This may frustrate some but will resonate with those who enjoy open-ended narratives that invite reflection.

She’s a Lamb! is not an easy read. Its dark tone and deeply flawed protagonist, but for fans of bleak, character-driven studies, it offers a thought-provoking and intense experience. Hambrock’s ability to weave humour into this dissection of ambition and despair makes this book a memorable, if uncomfortable, journey.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Jessamyn, a 20-something wannabe theatre actor, and an unreliable narrator narrates her story as the main-character of her life/this novel.
Written in a stream of consciousness way of narration, this is a hilarious take on the theatre scene, and narcissism.
Had this been shorter, the pacing and the story would have been ideal and coherent.
If you had read books in a similar vein, perhaps this will surprise you less.
If not, then certainly you will enjoy it more than the reader who has read compelling unreliable narrator stories.
I highly recommend it due its enjoyability.

Jessamyn works at her regional theater, occasionally books some ads but her heart is in Musicals and she knows she is the best fucking one there is - she just had a late start!

We follow her journey starting with the audition for Maria for The Sound of Music. We read her stream of consciousness and it is super unhinged, dark and humourous at the same time.

It was like All's Well and Black Swan meshed together with the added humour.

Thank you very much to ECW Press and Net Galley for the ARC.