Now this is how you write an antihero.

When I started She’s a Lamb, I found the main character, Jessamyn, vain and mean-spirited. Which she is, but I also came to see her determination (i.e., desperation), savvy, and loneliness, and I couldn’t help rooting for her. This is a young woman who finds herself betrayed and victimised by those she turns to in her time of need.

I also couldn’t help but feel a certain sympathy for Renee, Jessamyn’s vocal coach and a bit of a conwoman. Seeing her standing outside the theatre on opening night with her “cheap” flowers—proud of her protégé but unknowingly despised by her—melted my heart.

The book is well-paced, and the narrative unfolds smoothly. However, the ending felt unrealistic. It’s hard to believe that someone could suddenly realise they’re no good at the craft they’ve worked on for years.

Also, and maybe this colours my view, I would have loved for Jessamyn to get her win before her inevitable comeuppance.

She’s a Lamb is heartbreaking and gripping. A worthwhile read.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc!

So I heard this book had similar vibes to Mona Awad's All's Well, I knew I had to request it. This was very enjoyable and I can't wait to see what this author puts out next! I seriously love unlikeable characters so your mileage may vary on Jessamyn.

4.5/5

This book was such a wild ride. I am always a sucker for an unreliable narrator. This is the perfect weird girl lit book that makes you route for a very morally black character. I love that this is marketed as a combination of All's Well and Yellowface because that was exactly the vibes it gave me.

Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A huge thank you to Meredith Hambrock, ECW and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!

Trigger warning: This book includes themes of sexual abuse.

This is, without a doubt, one of the best books I’ve read in 2024. Intense, emotive, thrilling and, at times, very funny.

Jessamyn is an absolutely hilarious main character, with sheer delusion at the heart of it all. She’s A Lamb! is a wired and dark story; after reading it’s very clear why it’s been likened to Yellowface.

It’s Jessamyn’s world and everyone else is just living in it. She’s destined to be a musical theatre star - right? - but when her nemesis Samantha gets the lead as Maria in The Sound of Music! Jessamyn is determined to make her way to the role. No matter what it takes.

I personally loved the slower burn before the epic climax and I found the book so enjoyable to read. It’s heavy - being in Jessamyn’s head isn’t easy - and Hambrock has done such a great job of making this deranged woman somewhat likeable.

My only complaint is the ending. Specifically, the last sentence. It left it all quite open-ended (for your own interpretation, I guess) but I wanted more closure. This is a very personal preference, I’d imagine!

All in all, an absolute corker of a book. It was tonnes of fun to read and I’ll be hunting down more of Hambrock’s work in the future.

In Meredith Hambrock's »She's a Lamb!«, we dive headfirst into a darkly humorous exploration of ambition, delusion, and the often bizarre world of chasing fame.

The story revolves around Jessamyn St. Germain, a woman who dreams of stardom but finds herself working as a childminder at a small Vancouver theater. Jessamyn is convinced she's destined to take over the role of Maria in »The Sound of Music« when the current lead falters—a belief that fuels her aspirations and sets the stage for an intense, suspenseful narrative filled with biting wit and astute commentary on societal pressures faced by women.

The novel's atmosphere is both vivid and claustrophobic, reflecting Jessamyn's internal battle as she struggles to reconcile her lofty dreams with the harsh realities of her life. The tension is palpable as Jessamyn's delusions become more pronounced, creating an unsettling environment that mirrors her growing fixation on success. Hambrock skillfully portrays the emotional highs and lows of ambition, drawing readers into Jessamyn's world and making us feel every triumph and setback alongside her.

Hambrock's writing is sharp and humorous, employing satire to critique societal expectations. The characters are richly drawn, particularly Jessamyn, whose relentless determination and skewed perspective make her both relatable and tragic. While some might dismiss her as merely delusional, others may see her as a reflection of anyone who has ever felt underestimated or overlooked.

While »She's a Lamb!« offers insightful social commentary, it occasionally veers into absurdity, potentially alienating readers seeking a more conventional narrative. However, this absurdity is part of the book's appeal; it forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about ambition and self-worth, inviting introspection and reflection.

The novel isn't just about one woman's pursuit of stardom; it's a thought-provoking examination of the lengths people will go to achieve their dreams and the painful realities that often accompany such endeavors. Fans of the film »Black Swan« will appreciate the feverish pace and surreal quality of Hambrock's writing.

Although the climax felt somewhat rushed, with key events happening in quick succession, the overall pacing is brisk and engaging, making for a riveting reading experience. »She's a Lamb!« is a captivating story that dares to explore the dark side of ambition and the blurred lines between reality and delusion.

This was so utterly unhinged and I was here for it. Jessamyn is one of the most entertaining characters I’ve read in a while. Her inner monologue paired with her complete delusion had me glued to the story. I would say I felt like the end happened super quickly and I felt that could have been better paced. But I loved this! Will definitely be recommending it

‘she’s a lamb’ follows jessamyn, an aspiring musical theatre actress who is desperate to get her big break and find fame. when she auditions for her regional theatre’s production of ‘the sound of music’, it’s not the lead of maria she gets, but instead the role of a childminder for the group playing the von trapp children. but jessamyn is convinced that this is tactical: the director just wants to keep jessamyn close to the production so that when the lead messes up, she’s right there to step in. jessamyn has to be maria, and she’ll do anything she can to make her dreams come true.

by far the strongest aspect of this book is jessamyn’s voice and characterisation, as a reader you know exactly what kind of person she is. jessamyn is the epitome of an unreliable narrator and a deeply unlikeable person, but it is entertaining to get a peek into her inner monologue as she becomes increasingly delusional and unhinged. if you’re a fan of ‘black swan’ or the book ‘boy parts’ by eliza clark, i’d recommend this!

If you love a unreliable, unhinged narrator, this book is for you! Extremely well written and well paced. I could not put this book down!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

(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.

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.

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!

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.