She's a Lamb was sooooo good! Love a unreliable narrator! Love a FMC spiraling! Meredith Hambrock wrote the perfect weird girl book! Highly recommend to my weird girl book lovers. Thank you Netgalley for an eARC!

okay listen. this will not be for everyone but i absolutely ATE this up, okay? devoured it like i was on death row and this was my last meal.

there is nothing NOTHING in this world i love more than an unhinged and delusional main character, and jessamyn is now the reigning queen. she is a musical theater actress desperate for her big break and she thinks that she's going to get the part of maria in a regional production of the sound of music. she doesn't, instead becoming the backstage "babysitter" of the child actors but thinks it's really because the director is saving her to take over as maria in case something happens to the lead actress.

being in jessamyn's mind was everything to me. every one of her intrusive thoughts? hilarious. and also, relatable. she said a lot of things that most people are afraid to admit and she says it with her whole damn chest. she was convinced that she was the best of the best and because of it, she came up with insane reasons for why people did what they did around and to her. the men she dated? girlllll. A MESS. she literally made one of her stalkers her boyfriend.

and honestly? i was obsessed lol. i'm not afraid to admit that i LOVED her. she's not one without her problems though. she's meant to be unlikeable character, but once you realize just how deep her trauma goes, you can't help but empathize with her. she had her moments!

i really enjoyed this and will definitely picking up a physical copy when it comes out. a new favorite of the year!

Like a theatre-focused read alike to Yellowface.

Jessamyn is delusional and unhinged - cringe on a whole other level. You almost feel bad for the girl, and by the end maybe you do feel bad for her.

I love books about women who are unapologetic and delusional! She's a Lamb could easily be a fourth installment in Ti West's Pearl Trilogy - Mia Goth would EAT the role of Jessamyn, an aspiring but talentless musical theatre actor desperate to break into the industry at literally any cost. A small regional Vancouver production of Sound of Music becomes Jessamyn's battleground when she is hired as a child minder for the young actors after being turned down for the role of Maria. Jesamyn is an unreliable narrator to the extreme, interpreting the world through a teetering see-saw of self-obsession and self-loathing. Whether she's bouncing between her two boyfriends or scheming backstage, it is impossible to avoid getting caught up in the thrall of her single-minded obsession. Despite its campy premise, the novel manages to subtly touch on how persistent internalized misogyny and abuse can devastate women's lives, poisoning Jessamyn against herself and against the other women in her life. As insufferable as Jessamyn is, there's a twisted part of you rooting for her success, and therein lies Hambrock's skillful character work. I was utterly riveted by the chaotic insanity of the story and would die for a televised adoption.

The story of an ambitious, yet extremely delusional, woman who is convinced she’s one step away from her big break as an actress, despite evidence to the contrary. I enjoyed her inner dialogue and being front row to her slow, explosive demise. However, this needed to be more unhinged! It definitely gets dark, but I wanted it to really GO there.

a good 3.75 stars. i loved jessamyn at first and was feeding into her delusions. i was rooting for her! however, the story got repetitive and the climax fell a bit flat. enjoyable overall but i just wanted a *bit* more.

I loved this! A bit slow-going at first, but I sped through the last two-thirds at an alarming pace. I questioned everything the delusional narrator said & I loved, hated, and was confused by her every minute of the book. Things really went off the rails at the end - a WILD ride. I enjoyed the plot but some parts didn’t feel really fleshed out.

I’d recommend for people who enjoyed Maeve Fly (CJ Leede), or like books by Eliza Clark & Mona Awad.

Thanks to ECW Press & NetGalley for the ARC!

One delusional woman's quest, at whatever cost, to be the lead in a theater play.
This was darkly humorous, full of delusion and jealousy, with a stream of conscious-style writing and a flawed, unlikeable, but still root for-able main character.

This is very much in the style of All's Well by Mona Awad and Yellowface by R.F. Kuang. It's a relatively quick read with short chapters that build momentum, angst, delusion, jealousy, etc. to a satisfying conclusion. This was like watching a car crash in slow motion. Obsessed.

4.5, rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

A great story featuring delusion and determination. I loved following our unlikable narrator as she goes to any means to secure her fate playing Maria in <i>The Sound of Music</i>. The author has a real talent for slowly unveiling, Jessamyn, our main character’s unreliability. As the novel moves along, any pretense at glamor surrounding her circumstances (multiple boyfriends, a famous vocal coach, etc.) are slowly disclosed to us alongside Jessamyn, as her worldview comes crashing down. I thought the ending of this book was brilliant – it presented a great unraveling that not too many stories are able to achieve. I also enjoyed the subtle feminist themes throughout <i>She’s a Lamb!</i> The book is both a darkly humorous romp and an easy-to-read murder plot.

A huge thank you to ECW Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

AHHHH THIS IS SUCH A GEM! I initially gave this a 4/5 because in terms of some other 5 star ratings this wouldn't hold up on paper—but the vibesssss ugh I loved literally every sec. I feel like I lived it.

I was laughing out loud, smirking along with Meredith and reaching for my meds to make sure my mania never brings me anywhere near this point.

I joke because of the extreme measures taken here, but truly—this is an extremely accurate depiction of mania &/or delusions of grandeur in my experience. I'm no doctor, but I sure do go to a bunch of em ;)

I highly highly recommend this to fans of satirical fiction. And if you loved High School Musical, too?? Just stop what you're doing rn and go get She's a Lamb! already.

{Thank you bunches to ECW, Meredith Hambrock and NetGalley for the DRC & ALC in exchange for my honest review!}

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fast-paced book with a completely unhinged main character. Jessamyn was so unlikable, but hearing her inner monologue become more delusional as the story progressed was entertaining. The ending felt a bit rushed, hence the three stars.

There’s is nothing I love more than an unhinged main character, and not only is Jessamyn unhinged but she is also one of the most delusional characters I’ve ever read, and I love that about her. Yes she may be insufferable at times, but she truly believes she is the greatest person alive and you know what, you go girl!

The story did feel somewhat repetitive at times, like I was reading the same scene over and over, but I suppose that just showed the extent to which Jessamyn really believed everything was just going to fall into place for her.

The book is a straightforward read with a plot that flows well. The characters are relatable, but their development could have been stronger. It’s engaging enough to keep you reading. Overall, it’s an enjoyable, easy read! Def unhinged!

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I got to half way through the book and it didn’t feel like the storyline was picking up. I was expecting more unhinged main character energy. Have seen some great reviews for this so potentially a me thing!

She’s a Lamb! By Meredith Hambrock is perfectly flawed and unhinged - an enthralling book I inhaled in 3 sittings.

Following Jessamyn St. Germain and her musical theatre passion, we are given a thoroughly unreliable narrator that has charisma to boot. Jessamyn has all the traits of being unliveable, but it’s her unhinged qualities that made me root for her.

This book is funny, toxic, ridiculous and I couldn’t put it down. The writing was stunning - well paced, excellent dialogue that buzzes with energy and accessible.

I highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley for this eArc.

She's a Lamb! by Meredith Hambrock is a recommended novel, highly for the right reader. It takes a deep dive into the also spiraling mind of an aspiring actress.

Jessamyn St. Germain knows she is destined to be a star in the theater who is adored by fans. At age 26 she may just be an usher at one of Vancouver’s smallest regional theaters, but Jessamyn know she will get the part of Maria in the upcoming production of The Sound of Music. When she doesn't get a role and instead is offered the position of childminder for young actors playing the von Trapp children. Her vocal coach, Renee, reinforces Jessamyn's delusion that she was tasked with doing that so she can step in and take over the role when Samantha Nguyen, the actress playing Maria fails.

The biggest drawback to the narrative is Jessamyn, who is not simply an unlikable and unreliable character, she's an intensely unhinged woman who believes she is talented in her fantasied mind. Since the whole plot unfolds through her point-of-view it is exhausting to be immersed in her magical thinking, anger, self-aggrandizement, mental-health issues, and delusion.

However, it will hold your attention, especially if you enjoy being inside the unraveling mind of a person. Sometimes the fantasy she is making up in her mind of her stellar abilities can actually be so absurd it is humorous (but usually it is disturbing). 3.5 rounded up. Thanks to ECW Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

I love a book with an unhinged protagonist, so I definitely anticipated loving this one, but something about it just didn't click with me. I felt that the voice of the character to read a little too juvenile/immature.

Jessamyn St. Germain is a star inside and out! There is no one more committed to breathing every breath to perform. She hasn't had her "big break" yet, but when the local Vancouver theater has open auditions for The Sound of Music, Jessamyn knows this is her time. She is perfect for Maria! The only problem is everyone else has a hard time seeing her star power.

She had been assigned the position of childminder for the kids playing the von Trapp children, but she knows the real reason she is there is the director wants to keep her close for when Samantha, the woman cast as Maria, fails, Jessamyn can step in to save the show.

I loved this book! The cover was what grabbed me first on NetGalley and the book was great. The dark satire humor and delusional, unreliable narration keeps you hooked. Jessamyn's disconnection from the real world and very optimistic opinion of herself is something you want to cheer for and makes you cringe at the same time. The horror aspect was more on the mild side (if you read Victorian Psycho, this has similar dark humor vibes but way less gore). I flew through this one and honestly wanted to start it again. The narrator was awesome and really brought Jessamyn's inner dialogue and intrusive thoughts alive. This one is coming out next month!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and ECW Press for the ARC/ALC for review.

One of my favorite kinds of books is women spiraling on the edge and She’s A Lamb definitely delivered on that. Holy hell. It reminded me of Temper by Layne Fargo but with the main character an unhinged, delusional, hilarious lunatic.

The book had me hooked when we find out Jessamyn is dating her stalker. “If you’re going to be consistently harassed and abused, and if no one is going to do anything about it, you may as well find a way to enjoy it. Make it work for you.” This is just one of many balls to the wall insane things she does and I love her for it.

As much as you (well, I at least) wanted Jessamyn to win, it’s clear from the start things aren’t going to end well. Like watching a tornado barreling down on a house in slow motion.

This book was just so much fun to read and had me laughing out loud at certain parts. Absolutely loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This book is dark, weird, and totally unhinged—in the best way. Jessamyn is a delusional, unlikeable narrator who will do anything to land the lead in a Vancouver production of The Sound of Music, and watching her spiral is both disturbing and oddly entertaining. The story walks a fine line between dark comedy and tragedy, and while the ending felt a bit rushed, the emotional impact stuck with me.