This was such a different book for me so different than my usual picks, I had been a fan of Eleanor Eliohant and I see this book was referencing that so I thought why not check it out! It was a sweet heartfelt story of community and eccentricity but most of all heart. High key enjoyed and recommend

Something a little different but ultimately enjoyable.
It's a very clever concept, to discover a protagonist's backstory through her journey through artistic inspiration/madness, and works really well. The book is filled with wonderful characters, the sort of people I'd love to know myself, and ambles along gently to a most satisfying conclusion - recommend!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Belle lands in Lawrence, Kansas after a traumatic experience. She meets some eccentric friends and finds purpose in being. In the midst of chaos, she finds healing and the promise of a better future for herself.

This is a charming and quirky novel that follows Belle, a woman recovering from trauma, as she relocates from Chicago to a small Kansas town hoping for peace and quiet.

Instead, she finds herself swept up in the eccentric world of local artist Reba—who owns a wallaby with strong opinions—and her clever friend Mae, all centered around planning a delightfully odd summer parade.

The story is filled with humor, warmth, and gentle healing as Belle discovers new talents, makes unexpected friendships, and slowly begins to gain confidence.

The characters are weirdly delightful and the story gives an uplifting message about community, creativity, and embracing the unexpected, it's a light yet touching read reminiscent of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

It's brilliant and in my opinion a must read..

Belle moves from Chicago to Kansas to get away from the events that have left her shattered. This move will prove to be the best decision she’s ever made! I will say if you get through the first 1/4 of this story, it really starts to come alive! I loved then watching Belle’s story unfold!

I work with artists and often struggle to understand where some of them are coming from. I am always curious to ask about their vision, how they can look at something that is obviously an ordinary object or scene and turn it into something magical. How do they know when a piece is done? I'm always asking this because of the time an artist came to an opening, looked at her piece after we had it for several months but had just hung the week before and she walked in, looked at her painting, went out to her car, came back in with her supplies and proceeded to work on the piece -- while it was on the wall and two hours before opening -- and announced it was finished. So this book resonated with me as Belle created her art and we got to see her vision, her madness, her creative process, and along they way, we are drawn in by the people she meets and befriends, a sort of Greek chorus who also fill us in on Belle's art.


The book is funny, heartbreaking, hopeful and entertaining. It's about found family, giving back to the universe, and healing from trauma. I cannot wait to read more books from this author.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are mine, and freely given.

Belle moves to a random Kansas town planning to hide from the world. By day one, she's been adopted by Reba — kooky, irresistible, and absolutely not taking no for an answer. A wallaby, a rescued fox, a free-spirited gang called the Soulstice crew, and a surprising new art project later,

Belle is finding herself in ways she never expected.

Funny, fresh, and quietly healing. The kind of story that sneaks up on you.

For readers who need a reminder that the best chapters start when you colour outside the lines.

A genuinely original debut with real warmth and wit. Belle is an easy character to root for, and the eccentric supporting cast makes this a joy from start to finish. Perfect for fans of quirky, feel-good fiction — and a brilliant handsell for artists, creatives, and anyone ready for something a little different.

I loved how the author wove in everyone has talents and you not have to chose a talent . You will find your people will find you. You can be motivated by positive or negative comments/attitudes. The main characters were all unique and relatable. I will be looking forward to future books.

The Utterly Unacceptable Atrocity of Isabelle Marsden is a delightfully quirky, darkly humorous coming-of-age tale 🌵🎨🦘.

After a painful #MeToo experience, Isabelle Marsden relocates from Chicago to Kansas seeking peace and control over her life ✈️🏡. But life has other plans. A chance encounter with a free-spirited artist—complete with a wallaby in a baby sling and sculptures made from roadkill 🐾🎭—draws her into a world of eccentric locals and unexpected adventures.

Belle finds herself lobbying to save a Summer Solstice parade 🎉🌞, conducting surveillance at a roadside zoo 🦁👀, and exploring a bizarre outsider artist’s sculpture garden 🗿✨. Inspired, she begins her own peculiar assemblage, convinced it will heal her fractured life.

But her creative escapades land her in hot water with the landlady, city zoning, and even the police 🚓🔥. With the help of her found family of oddballs—and a newly redefined sense of self—Belle discovers that sometimes the path to wholeness is as strange, messy, and hilarious as life itself 💖🎨🤪.

An enjoyable and excellent discovery of the self throughout phases of life. Challenges the perceived notion of what it is to be a creative and who gets assigned what label. Finding community is such an endearing portion.

this is such a fall in love with a book and character type of read. one of those that feel a bit more special and hit the soul a wee bit harder. but in the best way. in the way only brilliant books can.
this one took me out of my comfort zone alongside Belle.
Belle needs this move, she needs a change. she needs to rest up from what she has been through.
but she might just be getting more than she wanted in this new place. and it might just be the best journey to finding herself. not finding who she was, but finding who she is now.
this merry set of characters are about to inspire and help her heal. heal through them and then through herself. shes not alone. and with the people she meets she might find so much more to herself and the world out there. she might find the pieces she lost even if they now look and are shaped a little different.
this book was fun, quirky and such a comfort. it felt like i could read it and then walk with a spring in my step. and with a set of character i surely couldn't be help for falling in love with.
i would too like to carry round a kangaroo in my pouch. i too want to be part of the solstice the gang get Belle to help with and i too would love to find a place of belonging like Belle does if even that is within herself. she has been through a lot. getting over that led her to believe she needed to be away from people, isolate herself. but the people in this new town of hers arent going to listen to that. and im so glad they didn't.
an almost art therapy experience is worked into this book for Belle. and i loved that. ive seen how this can work for people myself. with her new friends encouragement just added another bonus.
this is one of those books that seem to come alive. its colourful and settles in your pocket with a force that makes you just want to keep opening it up and read more. read more and be around these folk more.
i was invested in every one of them. and of course our main character Belle has my heart and cheer leader pompoms from the start.
this was a gorgeous read. one that charmed me through and through even from those very first line.

Offbeat, imaginative, and utterly unique - a band of truly "not quite right" folks, who make the odd the norm, and a woman who wanders into their world and finds that maybe her "normal" is a bit different as well. No spoilers - a really different read, a nice change from the vanilla ...