WHOO. WOW! I thought I had read my fair share of delusional girlies, but then Miss Jessamyn showed up to become the lead she’s always dreamed of.
Jessamyn is desperate to become a broadway star, to shine in the eyes of everyone around her. She lives to please, and please she shall. When a production for The Sound of Music comes up, she yearns to be Maria. Not just to play her on stage, but to truly embody her and everything Maria stands for. Unfortunately, though, Jess fails to get the part and is overlooked. But, it doesn’t matter. She’ll stay as close as she can, manipulate her way to the top, even stain her hands crimson for it. Her delusions and magical thinking run so deeply - she was MADE for this, it’s god’s plan for her! She will become Maria because it is destined to be, signs are everywhere.
Her inner monologue is laugh out loud funny, terrifying, dark. As Jess’s mental break comes to a head, the anxiety is palpable. How far is she willing to go? How many terrible men does she need to kiss? How many meals does she need to skip? How many vocal training sessions until she has absolutely no money left? She will be Maria, she will. And girls… I’m sat next to her cheering her on. What an absolute mad and perfect crazy bitch book.

This was delulu and I loved it. All I could imagine our FMC as is Sharpay Evans from High School Musical! It was an unhinged story of an unlikable narrator who will do whatever it takes to become a star.

Sharp, witty and brilliantly sarcastic She’s A Lamb! reads like protagonist Jessamyn’s diary or a series of drawn out voice notes from her to you. Forget that main-character-energy narcissist friend you have, meet Jessamyn as she attempts to ‘make it’. You’ll be there right beside her as she plots to sabotage the cast of The Sound of Music to claim her rightful place as good hearted Maria all while dating a handful of interesting and problematic men, getting herself even further into debt and running away from the ultimate confrontation with her father, all with a large helping of delusion. What could go wrong?

Throughout the book it is uncertain if Jessamyn is a genuinely talented actor. She becomes quite the unreliable narrator creating a tension which holds your attention as she begins to unravel. At first I could see Jessamyn’s ego and constant self praise repetitive however as the story progresses it supports an unsettling drone of manic insecurity, completely shutting down all opportunities and hope you build for her. It was a hard choice to root for her or to dislike her, and this book takes you on a ride of morality.

If you support womens wrongs, enjoyed books like Motherthing and Rouge then look no further.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 43%

I’m sorry, but I’m not really connecting with this book. I'm not particularly fond of the main character and overall, I don’t feel very interested in the plot.

Nonetheless, I want to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

“She’s a Lamb!” revolves around a chaotic protagonist with unhinged energy and blind delusion. She is extremely unlikable in the best way possible. Despite this, I think I wanted more of a spiral vs the majority of the book just focusing on her confident delusion. I recommend this for fans of My Husband, Motherthing, Boy Parts and Good Behaviour.

Thank you ECW & Netgalley for the early copy!

This book is so so funny I was laughing out loud alone. I haaaaateeee Jessamyn but I also can't get enough of her. She is so wildly deluded and truly a narcissist's narcissist. I loved the setting of a small-time theater in Vancouver. Big shoutout to Granville Island!!! I loved how self-serious everyone was. She's a Lamb! has all the archetypes of the (bad) theater world—a cringefest that I ate UP.

Yes, we love a delusional queen!

Marvellously unhinged, Jessamyn's descent into obsession was a journey from start to finish.
There are moments you feel a pang of empathy for her desperation and passion, then she is usually back to doing something awful and you're screaming in your head 'no!'

A satirical comedy around ruthless ambition and lengths some go to get ahead in the world of theatre, with just the right amount of absurdity.
Dark and twisted, if you like characters making terrible decisions, you'll enjoy this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

4/5 stars.

Listen, usually one of my prerequisites of loving a story is loving the main character.

This book smashed that rule to absolute Corelle shards.

The only one that loves the main character (an unhinged horror of a human being) is the main character herself, and I am here for it.

She’s narcissistic and paranoid and judgmental and singularly lacking in musical talent.

Watching her spiral completely down the drain was a joy that I should probably unpack with my therapist.

Boy do I love a delusional woman! Kooky, crazy, and outrageous, I love how the author is able to stretch the bounds of the unreliable and unlikeable female narrator in this book. Jessamyn as a character was so interesting, you really get to follow along in the depths of her delusion and her downward spiral. There are moments that help you develop empathy for the character, and then there are moments that pull you back into the delusion, and these attributes work so well in tandem. If you love a delusional and unlikeable main character, this one is for you!

Thank you to ECW press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

This novel follows Jessamyn, an actress who is desperate for a big role. She thinks she’s found in playing Maria in regional theatre production of The Sound of Music, but the role goes to her nemesis, Samantha. Jessamyn gets a job backstage babysitting the actors who play the Von Trapp children. She watches Samantha rehearse for her dream role and even tries to sabotage her.

This book is a look inside the mind of an unhinged woman, somewhat of an unreliable narrator, who is desperate to be a successful actress.

I really enjoyed this book. It was funny at parts and I found the writing to be engaging. I read this after reading Betty Gilpin’s memoir on being an actress, so I was already thinking about the lengths that people go through to deal with auditions, rehearsals, working in theatre and trying to get that big role. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a delusional woman narrator.

Jessamyn St. Germain is convinced she’s going to be a star. When she fails to secure the lead role of Maria Von Trapp in a local theatre production of The Sound of Music, assigned instead to the role of a glorified babysitter to the child actors cast as the Von Trapp children, there is no length she won’t go to prove who the real talent is on stage.

It is, after all, why the director kept her close at hand. She’s a prodigy meant to play the understudy role that doesn’t exist, to outshine the lead actress.

Delusional, yes! And that’s exactly why you’ll love this comedic satire. The protagonist is an unreliable character —dark, twisted, unhinged—Is she as beautiful as her inner monologue assures you she is? Is it simply that she isn’t meant for musicals but has the range to play roles heading straight for Broadway?
I loved trying to decide exactly who Jess is and kept reading to the great finale to find out! A well-written, original, off-the-wall read! Perfect for theatre buffs and fans of author Mona Award.

Thank you to @netgalley , the author, and @ecwpress for the ARC.

Congratulations @meredithhambrockbooks Happy publication day!

#netgalley #bookrecommendations #shesalamb#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booklover #arcreview #bookclubs #bookclubofinstagram #theatrelife #satire #canlit #canadianauthors #readthenorth

Jessamyn knows she’s meant to be a star. She’s finally on her way with the new regional Sound of Music play. Until she’s given the role of child minder for the child actors. She won’t let it stop her and will use it as a stepping stone to the part she’s meant for, Maria.

This book reminded me a bit of the Substance. It has the same obsessive persistence for fame. The main character is not quite there and will do anything to make it happen. I love how the entire story is a downward spiral that we are in the passenger seat for. As Jessamyn makes bad decision after bad decision, we can’t help but read along!

She’s a Lamb came out 4/8 and is available now.

Jessamyn St. Germain knows she is destined for stardom. The laundry detergent commercials and ushering job at a regional Vancouver theater is all just temporary. Her big acting break is just on the horizon, and while she doesn’t officially land the part of Maria in the theater’s upcoming production of The Sound of Music, she understands that her position of childminder is an obvious cover, so when Samantha, the lead, fails to perform, Jessamyn can save the show. The years of dedication, private lessons, sacrificing her own needs for her craft, it will all be worth it soon.

Reading She’s a Lamb! Is like diving into a mash-up of Yellowface and The Bell Jar. This dark comedy shows one woman’s delusional and narcissistic journey toward ruination, and yet, Hambrock has a created a character that still evokes empathy and had me rooting for her to make it! At each chapter I thought things would turn around, or she would embrace the opportunities, but, you can’t dim the light of a woman so hell-bent on greatness, and she won’t let you forget it.

Thank you ECW Press for the chance to read and review this book!

An enjoyable, quick read that will keep you engaged. I would have rated it higher but it tended to wander at times.

What an electrifying, unhinged whirlwind of a book. She’s a Lamb sinks its teeth into the glittering world of community theatre and doesn’t let go, dragging you along with its unapologetically obsessive, unrelentingly chaotic protagonist, Jessamyn.

Jessamyn isn’t your typical starlet-in-waiting. She’s single-minded, wildly delusional, and somehow both terrifying and hilarious. Her refusal to accept the role she’s been handed, in theatre and in life, is both her downfall and her charm. Watching her twist every minor moment into a grand sign of destiny was like peering into the mind of someone who’s permanently main-charactering no matter the cost.

There’s a simmering tension underneath the comedy, though. Jessamyn’s descent is dark and spirals in a way that feels disturbingly believable. The absurdity is balanced by real, biting commentary on ambition, mental health, and the performance of femininity. One moment you’re laughing at her completely deranged internal logic, and the next you’re pausing, thinking, wait… was that a little too relatable?

I tore through this in one sitting, it’s that addictive. The pacing races, the tone is sharp, and Jessamyn’s voice is so distinct it almost echoes in your head after you’ve closed the book. My only complaint? I could’ve used a longer denouement to let the ending breathe, but maybe that frantic, abrupt energy was part of the point.

If you’re into unstable narrators, dark satire, or stories where everything teeters on the edge of disaster—this one’s for you. Think Boy Parts in a community theatre dressing room. Think Fleabag if she took method acting wayy too far. Just- buckle up.

Thank you ECW Press and NetGalley for the arc!

Thank you to Net Galley for getting an advance copy of She’s A Lamb to me.
This is an odd book, but with a very interesting voice.
Some might not take it seriously as a literary option.
I will say that from an evaluation perspective, there are some positives:
The author does a good job of putting a desperate and crazy voice on a girl who will do anything to be successful on stage.
Do these people exist, I’m sure they do. And she is so delusional, she lives in her own world.
We get to see how hollow and shallow she is, and the number of people she was willing to use and abuse. We catch glimpses of her better side, but just glimpses. The author effectively highlights the delusion of a life she lives. And, we see her mental state declining as the story continues.
Overall, it’s a beach read, but I kind of liked it.

Happy pub day! Wow, She’s a Lamb was absolutely unhinged, in the best way possible. Hilarious, chaotic, and completely off-the-wall, this book had me laughing out loud and fully along for the ride. It starts with a bang and only gets more insane from there, spiraling toward an explosive, unforgettable end.

Reading this felt like watching a dark comedy unfold on screen, I could totally see it being adapted into a movie someday. It gave me Motherthing (book) meets Pearl (movie, “please, I’m a star!”) meets All’s Well (book) vibes. The main character is so delusional, I never knew what was coming next, but I knew it would be unhinged and exciting (it was).

She’s a Lamb is out today (April 8), don’t sleep on this one! Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.

A darkly comic novel about an unreliable narrator who is as unselfaware as they come. Jessamyn is an actor who always thinks she deserves more but mostly she thinks she's the star. Always. It's satire yes but it never goes over the top. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

I usually looove a delusional woman, but this story just felt very flat for me. Nothing stood out to me and it didn’t hold my interest unfortunately. I’m sure I am one of few who just wasn’t in the right mood at the time.

Jessamyn knows she's meant to be a star. Not just an actress, but a lead in a musical--particularly Maria in The Sound of Music. Sure she's never been cast in anything but a Fringe Festival play, but someone is bound to recognize her greatness soon, right? Jessamyn also clearly has narcissistic personality disorder, and events in her life have created the perfect storm to pry loose her every last screw.


I found it so much fun to be inside Jessamyn's head, as she becomes increasingly unhinged. The contrast between how she sees herself and how others react to her (even as those reactions are filtered through her own distorted lens), slowly reveals the real Jessamyn as she exists in sharp relief to the one in her own mind. She is awful and yet Meredith Hambrock manages to make her sympathetic. Life is hard for her, even though she can't see clearly all the ways that manifests or even begin to acknowledge the reasons.

Highly recommend if you like reading about unhinged women!