I'm scouting out some book-themed books for my book club and was majorly disappointed by altogether underwhelming The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick. Patrick is clearly living out some vicarious major wish fulfillment with her protagonist, Liv Green, and trying to say ~something~ about books and writing...the problem is her ideas about both are cliched. Moreover, I just really can't stand reading thoughts about writing that are written, well, poorly. 

Delving into the book, the protagonist, Liv Green, is a weary mother of two with an unfulfilling marriage. She works as a housekeeper and cleaner. Nearly everyone takes advantage of her. She never sticks up for herself. Then, when her boss/favorite author abruptly dies, she is left with a life-changing task: write the final book of her favorite series and make the publishing world believe famous author, Essie Starling, is still alive. In order to finish Starling's book, Liv tries to figure out the reclusive author's secrets while getting into the mindset of her bold and courageous heroine. 

Now I am going to spoil the heck out of this book so if you want to waste some of your time with this very mediocre novel, go ahead and stop reading this review here. 

Despite being married twice, Starling was quoted as saying she only loved one man, the true love who inspired her to write. Throughout the book, Liv tries to figure out who Starling's one love was to determine who beloved character, Georgia Rory, should end up with in the final book. The improbability of everything that happens in this book is a little beyond compare. Liv easily accesses a renowned publisher, book agent, and celebrity and gets these three famously guarded men to spill the secrets of their relationships with the reclusive Essie Starling within moments of encountering them. None of the men Starling was attached to throughout her career (including her two husbands) were, apparently, the one love of her life and Liv starts to think she'll never find out who the mystery is...until she receives a key bequeathed to her from the late author. The key leads her to Starling's apartment from her college days where it's revealed that the "great love" of Starling's life was Liv's deceased father. Liv's father was Essie Starling's English professor who encouraged her to write but politely rebuffed her advances and then tragically died on the day Starling's debut novel was published. This big reveal made me want to tear out all of my hair. 

Liv's 20-year-long lackluster marriage isn't really a step up from Starling's decades of obsession with a married man, honestly. Liv's husband doesn't talk to her about his business which has a huge impact on their shared finances, belittles the types of books she enjoys reading, consistently takes her for granted, dismisses her work and abilities, and prioritizes basically everything over their relationship. Liv refrains from talking to her husband about any of her concerns before just blowing up at him and only really acknowledges one thing she likes about the guy--his appearance. As she gets absorbed with writing the last Georgia Rory book, she spends a lot of time lying to him and he spends a lot of time scoffing at the idea that Starling would trust her with anything beyond sweeping. Then, she spends a week holed up in Starling's college apartment and her husband suddenly becomes 100% kind, 100% respectful, and 100% appreciative of Liv's thoughts and ideas.

Basically everyone in this book needed therapy and instead just kind of shrugged their way into mental balance. 

As if the opportunity to write for her favorite author wasn't outlandish enough, Liv's writing career is even more ridiculous. Accomplished author Essie Starling had apparently lost the passion she once had for writing her beloved Georgia Rory over the course of the "last three books." Novice ghost writer, Liv Green, though, is able to turn out a fresh and fantastic novel in a few short months.

The whole premise was ridiculous and it just felt like the author was really trying to live out her dreams with Liv Green. Which, like, go for it I guess, just also maybe seek couple's counseling before your husband takes a risky loan out against the house without speaking to you about it and then says, "My name's the only name on the title," with a shrug when you confront him about it. 🤷‍♀️

Okay that's it for me. Check out The Messy Lives of Book People if you want to kill a bunch of time with something that's equal parts inane and mundane.