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A Likely Story
The child of a famous American novelist discovers a shocking family secret that upends everything she thought she knew about her parents, her gilded childhood, and her own stalled writing career.
Growing up in the nineties in New York City as the only child of famous parents was both a blessing and a curse for Isabelle Manning. Her society hostess mother, Claire, and New York Times–bestselling author father, Ward, were the city’s intellectual It couple. But when, as an adult, Isabelle uncovers shocking truths about her parents, she begins to wonder whether everything she knew about her family was based on an elaborate lie.
Growing up in the nineties in New York City as the only child of famous parents was both a blessing and a curse for Isabelle Manning. Her society hostess mother, Claire, and New York Times–bestselling author father, Ward, were the city’s intellectual It couple. But when, as an adult, Isabelle uncovers shocking truths about her parents, she begins to wonder whether everything she knew about her family was based on an elaborate lie.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 14, 2023
About the author
Leigh McMullan Abramson
1 book80 followersLEIGH MCMULLAN ABRAMSON has written for The Atlantic, The New York Times, Tablet Magazine and more. She grew up in New York City, the daughter of a children's author and an illustrator.
Leigh's parents often collaborated on picture books—many based on Leigh's own childhood experiences. Leigh studied ballet at The School of American Ballet into her teens, but eventually rebelled against her artistic family by going to law school. She practiced law for several years before following her passion for writing.
Leigh now lives in New York City and Vermont with her husband and two young children.
Leigh's parents often collaborated on picture books—many based on Leigh's own childhood experiences. Leigh studied ballet at The School of American Ballet into her teens, but eventually rebelled against her artistic family by going to law school. She practiced law for several years before following her passion for writing.
Leigh now lives in New York City and Vermont with her husband and two young children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 713 reviews
March 29, 2023
I am incredibly disappointed in this book. Stereotyping, racial tones and political tones throughout. It could have been interesting if not for all the really RANDOM and OFFENSIVE lines. There are so many!!!
Let’s start off with the inappropriate stereotyping of heterosexual vs. homosexual lawyers. According to the author, each is CLEARLY identified by the manner in which they dress….SERIOUSLY?! A sexual preference is visually identified by the outfit you wear?? Unbelievable.
Then there’s the line insinuating that people who voted for Trump are unsophisticated (kinda bottom of the barrel as she describes). I have friends who voted for both Biden and Trump, and I wouldn’t call into question their level of sophistication or intellect as a collective of individuals, based on their voting choice. Just wow.
Let’s not forget her insertion of white privilege. Again, according to the author, clearly only people of color would work the lowest of low jobs and in addition, apparently, white people have no courage to do them. WHAT?! I am bi-racial and this is offensive on BOTH ends. More sprinkled through to the end of the book…Claw. My. Eyes. Out.
Storyline? Wellllll…the 74 year old father character starts it off by watching a teacher/student p*rn video while taking “care of himself”, just after a family member’s death. Such a random thing and made me go, “Huh? Why? Literally why?” Beyond that, we go on a multi year, multi perspective journey, toggling between the timelines. This premise was done decently and the “book within a book” was also interesting, though, I got lost a couple times trying to remember what I last read about the “book” (it is broken up into small sections all through the novel). This left me forgetting what I last red because the actual, much larger part of the storyline intersects the small portions of the “book within a book”.
All in all, IMHO, this book is NOT worth the time I spent reading it.
ARC was provided by Atria Books Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Let’s start off with the inappropriate stereotyping of heterosexual vs. homosexual lawyers. According to the author, each is CLEARLY identified by the manner in which they dress….SERIOUSLY?! A sexual preference is visually identified by the outfit you wear?? Unbelievable.
Then there’s the line insinuating that people who voted for Trump are unsophisticated (kinda bottom of the barrel as she describes). I have friends who voted for both Biden and Trump, and I wouldn’t call into question their level of sophistication or intellect as a collective of individuals, based on their voting choice. Just wow.
Let’s not forget her insertion of white privilege. Again, according to the author, clearly only people of color would work the lowest of low jobs and in addition, apparently, white people have no courage to do them. WHAT?! I am bi-racial and this is offensive on BOTH ends. More sprinkled through to the end of the book…Claw. My. Eyes. Out.
Storyline? Wellllll…the 74 year old father character starts it off by watching a teacher/student p*rn video while taking “care of himself”, just after a family member’s death. Such a random thing and made me go, “Huh? Why? Literally why?” Beyond that, we go on a multi year, multi perspective journey, toggling between the timelines. This premise was done decently and the “book within a book” was also interesting, though, I got lost a couple times trying to remember what I last read about the “book” (it is broken up into small sections all through the novel). This left me forgetting what I last red because the actual, much larger part of the storyline intersects the small portions of the “book within a book”.
All in all, IMHO, this book is NOT worth the time I spent reading it.
ARC was provided by Atria Books Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
November 8, 2022
there are two kinds of unlikable characters - those who you love to hate and those you just plain hate. and as much as i dont want to admit it, i would say the two MCs (isabelle and her dad) fall under the latter category.
but the thing is, the reader understands perfectly why they are so unlikable. as you read about their lives, you cant help but realise why they are the way that they are. and slowly that unlikability turns into acceptance by the reader. its just what makes the characters them. so are they enjoyable people to read about? no way. but does it makes sense for them as characters to be unenjoyable? yes, absolutely.
which is why i cant really rate this anything lower. because this entire family is messed up. its fascinating how they handle notoriety, how they strive for recognition, and how their publicity affects their actions and relationships. i also find the whole concept of plagiarism to be really exciting when it comes to stories about authors, so i loved the plot (definitely add this to your TBR if you enjoyed ‘the plot’ ). i just wish the characters had been a little easier to swallow.
but overall, this is a fantastic debut by LA and i am very much looking forward to what she comes up with next!
thanks so much for the ARC, atria books!
↠ 4 stars
but the thing is, the reader understands perfectly why they are so unlikable. as you read about their lives, you cant help but realise why they are the way that they are. and slowly that unlikability turns into acceptance by the reader. its just what makes the characters them. so are they enjoyable people to read about? no way. but does it makes sense for them as characters to be unenjoyable? yes, absolutely.
which is why i cant really rate this anything lower. because this entire family is messed up. its fascinating how they handle notoriety, how they strive for recognition, and how their publicity affects their actions and relationships. i also find the whole concept of plagiarism to be really exciting when it comes to stories about authors, so i loved the plot (definitely add this to your TBR if you enjoyed ‘the plot’ ). i just wish the characters had been a little easier to swallow.
but overall, this is a fantastic debut by LA and i am very much looking forward to what she comes up with next!
thanks so much for the ARC, atria books!
↠ 4 stars
March 14, 2023
3.5⭐
Isabelle Manning’s dream is to be a successful writer just like her father, renowned and award-winning author Ward Manning. Unfortunately, Isabelle, who is about to turn thirty-five, is yet to publish her first novel. Isabelle idolizes her father, who for the most part is self-absorbed and egotistical and unable to accept the current dip in his literary career and the waning of the fame and recognition he once enjoyed. Isabelle was raised for the most part by her loving mother Claire, who was also a supportive wife to Ward, who prioritized his literary career and ambition over his family.
Isabelle is struggling and it looks like her current manuscript is heading toward rejection. After her mother’s demise while sorting through her belongings Isabelle makes a shocking discovery- something left for her by her late mother- that triggers a sequence of events that compels Isabelle to question everything she knew about her family, and in turn her own life and motivations and how far she would go to fulfill her own ambitions.
Leigh McMullan Abramson’s A Likely Story is a well-written novel. As far as the plot goes, I can’t say that the author ventures into unexplored territory, but the strength of this novel lies in the characterizations. Ward, Isabelle, Claire and Brian – each of them is flawed and thereby realistic. Mind you, not all of them are likable. The author is unflinching in her depiction of Ward and Isabelle at their worst- their drive, motivations, their greed, selfishness and ambition. Comparatively, Brian and Claire are more likable though I did question Claire’s actions more than once. While I liked Brian and admired his loyalty to his friend Isabelle, I did deem some of his actions a tad immature, but again nobody is perfect. Shared from multiple perspectives, the narrative jumps back and forth between past and present, including segments from an unnamed manuscript. Not only does this give us a window into Claire and Ward’s marriage and allows us to know more about Claire. I do enjoy the story-within-a-story format and in this case, I believe it serves its purpose and works well in propelling the narrative forward. I wasn’t quite satisfied with the ending only because a few of the characters didn’t quite redeem themselves in my eyes despite what the author wants us to believe, but overall, there is a lot to like about this novel and I did find it to be an engaging read.
Many thanks to Leigh McMullan Abramson, Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Isabelle Manning’s dream is to be a successful writer just like her father, renowned and award-winning author Ward Manning. Unfortunately, Isabelle, who is about to turn thirty-five, is yet to publish her first novel. Isabelle idolizes her father, who for the most part is self-absorbed and egotistical and unable to accept the current dip in his literary career and the waning of the fame and recognition he once enjoyed. Isabelle was raised for the most part by her loving mother Claire, who was also a supportive wife to Ward, who prioritized his literary career and ambition over his family.
Isabelle is struggling and it looks like her current manuscript is heading toward rejection. After her mother’s demise while sorting through her belongings Isabelle makes a shocking discovery- something left for her by her late mother- that triggers a sequence of events that compels Isabelle to question everything she knew about her family, and in turn her own life and motivations and how far she would go to fulfill her own ambitions.
Leigh McMullan Abramson’s A Likely Story is a well-written novel. As far as the plot goes, I can’t say that the author ventures into unexplored territory, but the strength of this novel lies in the characterizations. Ward, Isabelle, Claire and Brian – each of them is flawed and thereby realistic. Mind you, not all of them are likable. The author is unflinching in her depiction of Ward and Isabelle at their worst- their drive, motivations, their greed, selfishness and ambition. Comparatively, Brian and Claire are more likable though I did question Claire’s actions more than once. While I liked Brian and admired his loyalty to his friend Isabelle, I did deem some of his actions a tad immature, but again nobody is perfect. Shared from multiple perspectives, the narrative jumps back and forth between past and present, including segments from an unnamed manuscript. Not only does this give us a window into Claire and Ward’s marriage and allows us to know more about Claire. I do enjoy the story-within-a-story format and in this case, I believe it serves its purpose and works well in propelling the narrative forward. I wasn’t quite satisfied with the ending only because a few of the characters didn’t quite redeem themselves in my eyes despite what the author wants us to believe, but overall, there is a lot to like about this novel and I did find it to be an engaging read.
Many thanks to Leigh McMullan Abramson, Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
January 13, 2023
About the book: “The only child of an iconic American novelist discovers a shocking tangle of family secrets that upends everything she thought she knew about her parents, her gilded childhood, and her own stalled writing career.
Wry, wise, and propulsive, A Likely Story is punctuated with fragments of a compulsively readable book-within-a-book about a woman determined to steal back the spotlight from a man who has cheated his way to the top. The characters seem eerily familiar but is the plot based on fact? And more importantly, who is the author?”
How about that bookish cover and the book-within-a-book, a dream for bibliophiles like us. I also loved the 90s NYC backdrop. Isabelle and her dad, Ward, served as a great reminder of something my dad always told me: none of us are all good or all bad, and they certainly tested that notion. 😂 I loved observing Isabelle’s story unfold because it was quite the personal journey. I thought the author addressed anxiety in a relatable and upfront way.
These are truly flawed characters, and if I had to summarize the book in just one word it would real. More than likable versus unlikable characters, I just want a story to feel authentic and based on real life, and this certainly did. The author takes her time sharing Isabelle, Ward, and the other characters with us, with multiple points of view, and it really takes off in the second half.
Overall, I enjoyed my time spent with A Likely Story and am looking forward to what’s next by Leigh Abramson.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Wry, wise, and propulsive, A Likely Story is punctuated with fragments of a compulsively readable book-within-a-book about a woman determined to steal back the spotlight from a man who has cheated his way to the top. The characters seem eerily familiar but is the plot based on fact? And more importantly, who is the author?”
How about that bookish cover and the book-within-a-book, a dream for bibliophiles like us. I also loved the 90s NYC backdrop. Isabelle and her dad, Ward, served as a great reminder of something my dad always told me: none of us are all good or all bad, and they certainly tested that notion. 😂 I loved observing Isabelle’s story unfold because it was quite the personal journey. I thought the author addressed anxiety in a relatable and upfront way.
These are truly flawed characters, and if I had to summarize the book in just one word it would real. More than likable versus unlikable characters, I just want a story to feel authentic and based on real life, and this certainly did. The author takes her time sharing Isabelle, Ward, and the other characters with us, with multiple points of view, and it really takes off in the second half.
Overall, I enjoyed my time spent with A Likely Story and am looking forward to what’s next by Leigh Abramson.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
March 19, 2023
A Likely Story features unlikeable and a story with a story.
Since her childhood, Isabelle Manning has always admired Ward, her father and bestselling author. Her mother, Claire, has recently passed, and it has never been clearer that she was the glue that held them together.
Isabelle has always wanted to be a writer like her father but has not had the success she dreamed she would. Meanwhile, Ward is struggling to write his next novel and with the realization that he is not the hot commodity he once was.
One day, Isabelle comes across some shocking information that throws into doubt everything she thought she knew about her family.
This novel features multiple POVs, alternating timelines, and a story within a story. It’s also a slow burn. The big reveal doesn’t happen until around 100 pages in.
Exception for Claire, many of the characters were hard to like. Ward is a mediocre man who needs to be lauded by others to feel good about himself. Isabelle’s whole personality, initially, is merely to exist as Ward’s daughter. She’s also incredibly self-centred. Usually, I don’t mind reading about unlikeable characters. However, I’d prefer them to have some interesting qualities, which these two did not.
At first, I did enjoy the story within the story, but it lost steam part way through.
There are discussions on nepotism and Isabelle’s feelings of failure and insecurities as a nepo baby.
I did like how things eventually came together in the end, hence the three stars. Although this book didn’t completely work for me, it is getting high ratings from other reviewers, so you may have better luck with it than me.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Since her childhood, Isabelle Manning has always admired Ward, her father and bestselling author. Her mother, Claire, has recently passed, and it has never been clearer that she was the glue that held them together.
Isabelle has always wanted to be a writer like her father but has not had the success she dreamed she would. Meanwhile, Ward is struggling to write his next novel and with the realization that he is not the hot commodity he once was.
One day, Isabelle comes across some shocking information that throws into doubt everything she thought she knew about her family.
This novel features multiple POVs, alternating timelines, and a story within a story. It’s also a slow burn. The big reveal doesn’t happen until around 100 pages in.
Exception for Claire, many of the characters were hard to like. Ward is a mediocre man who needs to be lauded by others to feel good about himself. Isabelle’s whole personality, initially, is merely to exist as Ward’s daughter. She’s also incredibly self-centred. Usually, I don’t mind reading about unlikeable characters. However, I’d prefer them to have some interesting qualities, which these two did not.
At first, I did enjoy the story within the story, but it lost steam part way through.
There are discussions on nepotism and Isabelle’s feelings of failure and insecurities as a nepo baby.
I did like how things eventually came together in the end, hence the three stars. Although this book didn’t completely work for me, it is getting high ratings from other reviewers, so you may have better luck with it than me.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2023
Isabelle thought writing would be a breeze since her father made it look so easy… 🤷♀️…bestselling author Ward Manning- writer, father, egotistical.....NOBODY loves Ward… more than Ward.. 😉… Although in fact his fans really do really love him… 🤷♀️… Isabelle is struggling with that fact that she is not exactly following in his footsteps … 🦶
Then her recently passed mother Claire leaves her the biggest gift… 😍❤️… or so Isabelle thinks.. 🤔…should she accept it? It will either be her smartest move…or her biggest mistake..🤫
So this started out as a slow burn….. and then everything came together… and I was like … WHAT??! 😳 Is that what is going on here?! 🤔 So clever!! I loved the truly shocking revelations… this is one messed up family..🙄… but I was addicted to them!! The best part?! We get a book within a book… 📕…. and my what a book that was! 😳
I love a good family drama… with LOTS of secrets 🤫… So I totally enjoyed this one!! Once I started to figure out where this might be going… I couldn’t put it down. I can’t even imagine the pressure of trying to follow in your famous father’s footsteps!! People are so judgmental! 😬
📕📕📕📕 Have you read this one yet? Is it in your list? Would you want to be a famous writer? How about famous anything?
Then her recently passed mother Claire leaves her the biggest gift… 😍❤️… or so Isabelle thinks.. 🤔…should she accept it? It will either be her smartest move…or her biggest mistake..🤫
So this started out as a slow burn….. and then everything came together… and I was like … WHAT??! 😳 Is that what is going on here?! 🤔 So clever!! I loved the truly shocking revelations… this is one messed up family..🙄… but I was addicted to them!! The best part?! We get a book within a book… 📕…. and my what a book that was! 😳
I love a good family drama… with LOTS of secrets 🤫… So I totally enjoyed this one!! Once I started to figure out where this might be going… I couldn’t put it down. I can’t even imagine the pressure of trying to follow in your famous father’s footsteps!! People are so judgmental! 😬
📕📕📕📕 Have you read this one yet? Is it in your list? Would you want to be a famous writer? How about famous anything?
December 5, 2022
“A Likely Story” by Leigh Abramson has so many compelling topics (wealthy dysfunctional family, aspiring author, passing of a parent, a story within a story, supremely lecherous parent, deep and disturbing family secrets, multiple times frames, etc) just in the first part that you know you have a great potential book, but the first 100 or so pages are absolutely going to lose some folks because it’s sooooo slow-paced. There’s also some tropey stigmatized references that will curl your toes (how people dress reveal their sexuality?!! Trump voters are ignorant?!! Can we advance and move away from such base oversimplifications and absurdities please!!) and further make you worry you have a DNF on your hands, but keep ploughing on. Some parts are really well written and this is a slow burn.
A special thanks to Atria Books and Author Leigh Abramson for my ARC of “ A Likely Story“ for an honest review.
A special thanks to Atria Books and Author Leigh Abramson for my ARC of “ A Likely Story“ for an honest review.
September 22, 2022
Fantastic first novel! I enjoyed A Likely Story SO MUCH! Leigh McMullan Abramson can truly create sympathetic characters while simultaneously breathing new life into some well known family issues.
Isabelle has only ever wanted to please her father and publish a novel. It's an incredibly difficult life living under the shadow of the great Ward Manning. Following the unexpected death of her mother, Isabelle is forced to face some family truths via a found manuscript. The readers are treated to a book within a book as the story plays out. If you love a contemporary novel filled with social commentary, family dysfunction and the general angst of all adults, pick up A Likely Story! #Atriabooks
Isabelle has only ever wanted to please her father and publish a novel. It's an incredibly difficult life living under the shadow of the great Ward Manning. Following the unexpected death of her mother, Isabelle is forced to face some family truths via a found manuscript. The readers are treated to a book within a book as the story plays out. If you love a contemporary novel filled with social commentary, family dysfunction and the general angst of all adults, pick up A Likely Story! #Atriabooks
April 1, 2023
Isabelle Manning is the only child of well-known American author, Ward Manning, and she had a good life growing up in NYC in the 1990s. Isabelle has always wanted to be a successful writer like her father, and now at 35, she is feeling the pressure.
Claire has always been a supportive, doting mom to Isabelle, making public appearances for Ward’s career, and spearheading philanthropic activities in NYC. When Claire dies, Isabelle’s life is upended. Secrets about her mom and her family are revealed, forcing Isabelle to re-examine her life, and for her and Ward to confront their reality.
I didn’t find Isabelle or Ward especially likable, yet they felt realistic. This is a book about books, about family, and ambition. I stayed interested to see what happened in the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Claire has always been a supportive, doting mom to Isabelle, making public appearances for Ward’s career, and spearheading philanthropic activities in NYC. When Claire dies, Isabelle’s life is upended. Secrets about her mom and her family are revealed, forcing Isabelle to re-examine her life, and for her and Ward to confront their reality.
I didn’t find Isabelle or Ward especially likable, yet they felt realistic. This is a book about books, about family, and ambition. I stayed interested to see what happened in the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF 20%. I think I may be the outlier on this one from the other reviews I've seen so far. The story is about a woman whose mother has recently passed away and her father is an acclaimed author. There are a series of revelations that causes family secrets to come to light, etc. etc.
The author uses a story within a story concept and also has changing perspectives throughout the story. I had a hard time connecting with either of the main characters which left me not very engaged in the story, so instead of slogging through it I decided it was better to cut my losses and move on to the next book.
DNF 20%. I think I may be the outlier on this one from the other reviews I've seen so far. The story is about a woman whose mother has recently passed away and her father is an acclaimed author. There are a series of revelations that causes family secrets to come to light, etc. etc.
The author uses a story within a story concept and also has changing perspectives throughout the story. I had a hard time connecting with either of the main characters which left me not very engaged in the story, so instead of slogging through it I decided it was better to cut my losses and move on to the next book.
June 20, 2024
When Isabelle’s mother passes away and leaves a gift that only she is supposed to be privy to, the aspiring author (whose father is a national treasure of literary fiction) has some decisions to make . . . .
Okay so I��m really not trying to spoil this, but you might want to just click out of here if you don’t want to ruin your time if this is on your to-read pile. The whole “gift” seemed super obvi to me, but maybe it won’t be to others????? Having that hunch didn’t really ruin anything for me, though, it’s just a storyline that has become extremely popular the last few years and unfortunately no one is ever going to do it better than John Boyne. This also got lost in the weeds a bit with a totally unnecessary timehop/narrative by the decease mother (seriously a letter accompanying the gift would have sufficed and saved my eyeballs from reading all those extra pages). Also, the superbadawful thing that happened to Isabelle when she was a child that was hinted around about for eternity before finally being divulged wasn’t needed either.
TLDR: Basically, not terrible, but it didn’t knock my socks off either. Read A Ladder to the Sky or Yellowface if you want to be blown away. 3.5 Stars
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
Okay so I��m really not trying to spoil this, but you might want to just click out of here if you don’t want to ruin your time if this is on your to-read pile. The whole “gift” seemed super obvi to me, but maybe it won’t be to others????? Having that hunch didn’t really ruin anything for me, though, it’s just a storyline that has become extremely popular the last few years and unfortunately no one is ever going to do it better than John Boyne. This also got lost in the weeds a bit with a totally unnecessary timehop/narrative by the decease mother (seriously a letter accompanying the gift would have sufficed and saved my eyeballs from reading all those extra pages). Also, the superbadawful thing that happened to Isabelle when she was a child that was hinted around about for eternity before finally being divulged wasn’t needed either.
TLDR: Basically, not terrible, but it didn’t knock my socks off either. Read A Ladder to the Sky or Yellowface if you want to be blown away. 3.5 Stars
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
February 1, 2023
This is a fascinating look at family dynamics in action! Famed writer Ward loses his wife, Claire and his daughter Isabelle decides to do something "not quite" legal in many ways. Alternating in time (and storylines) the novel shows us relationships that are often skewed as hopes, dreams, and jealousies rear their heads! I had no idea where this was going and loved the idea of "the book within the book" as a different trope than usual. Sit back and prepare to have your head spin!
April 20, 2023
I loved this book! Layered and nuanced and gorgeously written, I enjoyed every page.
February 5, 2023
This was such a unique yet beautiful story within a story! I laughed, cried, hated characters, and then loved watching them evolve. The character I immediately loved was Claire, the wife and mother who sacrificed it all for her family. She hid her talents until the day she died from her husband and daughter. And Glenda, omg I loved her too, that slap was epic. Ward and Isabelle were not my favorite people but as I read more and more I was so invested in them changing….which they did and all for the best. The ending was also great, Brian won me over instantly but definitely needed to build a backbone and stick to it…..he did and look what it got him in the end. I honestly didn’t think I’d love this book so much but I did since I’m usually a sucker for strong Dad & Daughter bonds. This one was different, a mom and daughter bond but one where mom allowed her child to put her father on a pedestal at her own expense. Claire was the unsung hero, and I’m so glad she was placed on a pedestal and recognized in the end. Sometimes we tend to grant so much credit to one parent and fail to see who the glue to the family really is. Egos, miscommunication, and family lies/secrets are always a big problem but sometimes we have to look inward and put that pride aside. The writing style was superb with many hidden messages and life lessons for the reader. Stay at home mommies, this one is for you🫶🏻
Thank you NetGalley & Atria Publishing for this ARC
Publication date for this gem: March 14, 2023
Thank you NetGalley & Atria Publishing for this ARC
Publication date for this gem: March 14, 2023
April 21, 2023
*Audiobook: several narrators and an enjoyable listening experience.
This was an interesting take at a “story within a story” concept with a family of unlikable characters. The Manning family consists of Ward, Claire, and Isabelle. All three had their own alternating POV (which was nice) and Brian (Isabelle’s best friend). I think the alternating POV was necessary to get a closer look into the flawed nature of the Manning family, however as the story went on, I found myself really disliking both Ward and Isabelle. When an author can capture detailed characterizations, I can appreciate the effort! Abramson really helped bring these characters to life and I could guess a few of the “reveals” because I started to understand their individual motives. I found their decision making (specifically Ward and Isabelle) grating and frustrating, but they are who they are and that’s just what it is.
I found the plot of Isabelle struggling to find her own voice as a writer while living under the umbrella of her bestselling author arrogant father very interesting. She becomes desperate to get noticed and published. For her age, I found Isabelle’s decision making very juvenile and I couldn’t really make sense of her relationship with Brian….and why did Brian get his own POV? That part of the story felt unnecessary, underdeveloped, and distracting.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and the character study of the Manning family. I think there were aspects that felt a little too predictable, but the family drama and revealed secrets kept me turning the pages. I am super excited to see what else this author has up her sleeve and I’ll be watching for her next book! I’ve been very impressed with debut authors lately!
This was an interesting take at a “story within a story” concept with a family of unlikable characters. The Manning family consists of Ward, Claire, and Isabelle. All three had their own alternating POV (which was nice) and Brian (Isabelle’s best friend). I think the alternating POV was necessary to get a closer look into the flawed nature of the Manning family, however as the story went on, I found myself really disliking both Ward and Isabelle. When an author can capture detailed characterizations, I can appreciate the effort! Abramson really helped bring these characters to life and I could guess a few of the “reveals” because I started to understand their individual motives. I found their decision making (specifically Ward and Isabelle) grating and frustrating, but they are who they are and that’s just what it is.
I found the plot of Isabelle struggling to find her own voice as a writer while living under the umbrella of her bestselling author arrogant father very interesting. She becomes desperate to get noticed and published. For her age, I found Isabelle’s decision making very juvenile and I couldn’t really make sense of her relationship with Brian….and why did Brian get his own POV? That part of the story felt unnecessary, underdeveloped, and distracting.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and the character study of the Manning family. I think there were aspects that felt a little too predictable, but the family drama and revealed secrets kept me turning the pages. I am super excited to see what else this author has up her sleeve and I’ll be watching for her next book! I’ve been very impressed with debut authors lately!
September 7, 2022
WOW! I cannot believe that I had the opportunity to read and review this beautiful, powerful, novel before anyone else. I am going to predict that it will be one of the best books of 2023. This novel tells the story of 4 people. Ward Manning is a literary lion, hailed as a genius, his daughter Isabelle, his wife Claire and Brian, Isabelle’s friend.
The catalyst is the death of Claire, wife and much beloved mother. The novel unfolds as Isabelle, Ward and Brian cope with the changes that follow Claire’s death. It is the strange legacy that Claire has left for Isabelle that drives this story.
I was extremely sympathetic to Isabelle, and her struggle to become a published writer. She has spent years feeling like a failure, especially compared to her father. But, after Claire dies, secrets are veiled and relationships are recalibrated. There is a novel within this novel, which is skillfully blended into the story.
This is really well written and totally engaging. Honestly, I couldn’t put it down. Abramson has created quite a novel and I highly recommend it.
Thank you Netgalley for this thoroughly enjoyable ARC.
The catalyst is the death of Claire, wife and much beloved mother. The novel unfolds as Isabelle, Ward and Brian cope with the changes that follow Claire’s death. It is the strange legacy that Claire has left for Isabelle that drives this story.
I was extremely sympathetic to Isabelle, and her struggle to become a published writer. She has spent years feeling like a failure, especially compared to her father. But, after Claire dies, secrets are veiled and relationships are recalibrated. There is a novel within this novel, which is skillfully blended into the story.
This is really well written and totally engaging. Honestly, I couldn’t put it down. Abramson has created quite a novel and I highly recommend it.
Thank you Netgalley for this thoroughly enjoyable ARC.
March 8, 2023
I must admit that A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson started off a little rocky for me, but then ended up knocking my socks off! I absolutely love when that happens. This family drama was a tad slow off the start, and took some time for the author to set up the plot, and introduce the characters. And my gosh, a few of the characters were truly awful! Ugh! (I’m looking at you, Ward!) Unlikable characters can sometimes be tricky for me. They can either make or break the story. In this case, Ward made it. No doubt about it, he definitely made things more interesting, and provided oodles of entertainment. Ward is the father in this story, and he’s a total asshole. Sorry for the foul language, but he is. I’m calling a spade a spade. He’s probably one of the most selfish and vile characters I’ve ever read about. There’s a quote in the novel about him that made me roar with laughter, and nod my head in agreement. His wife, Claire gets extremely frustrated with him, and says:
“𝒀𝒐𝒖, 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒅, 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆.”
Ha! Truer words have never been spoken. She was spot on. I wanted to give her a high-five! I’m still laughing about this comment! So, just be aware that Ward will likely grate on your nerves, too. But honestly, it’s what makes this story so great and memorable.
WHAT I LOVED:
- Family drama on steroids!
- Complicated father/daughter relationship
- A story within a story
- Writer life & the publishing world
- Lots of mystery, surprises, and fun twists
- The mom, Claire ♥️
A Likely Story comes out next week - March 14th. If you’re a family drama junkie like myself, you’re gonna want to read this one. A very strong debut, indeed! I give it 4.5/5 stars!
“𝒀𝒐𝒖, 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒅, 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆.”
Ha! Truer words have never been spoken. She was spot on. I wanted to give her a high-five! I’m still laughing about this comment! So, just be aware that Ward will likely grate on your nerves, too. But honestly, it’s what makes this story so great and memorable.
WHAT I LOVED:
- Family drama on steroids!
- Complicated father/daughter relationship
- A story within a story
- Writer life & the publishing world
- Lots of mystery, surprises, and fun twists
- The mom, Claire ♥️
A Likely Story comes out next week - March 14th. If you’re a family drama junkie like myself, you’re gonna want to read this one. A very strong debut, indeed! I give it 4.5/5 stars!
November 3, 2022
3.5⭐️ The fact that two of the characters were so unlikeable for me (Isabelle and her father Ward) made it difficult to enjoy this story. Although I did love the last 5th of the book, how these unlikeable characters turned out and the ending. I also was invested in Claire (mom/wife) and Brian. I also liked the book within a book. So this one was a mixed bag for me.
November 15, 2023
A Likely Story - Leigh McMullan Abramson
ها أنا أقرأ وأكتب عن روايات خفيفة ومخيبة لـ الآمال لكي أتجنب الحديث عن روايات أنهيتها منذ أشهر (حرب نهاية العالم) أو قبل أن يبدأ العدوان بيوم واحد (The Poppy War).
سأحاول الكتابة عن حرب نهاية العالم خلال الأسبوع القادم.
رواية عن الكتب في عالم الكتب والمؤلفين والنشر، رواية تضم بين جنباتها رواية أخرى؛ فكرة ليست جديدة لكن منفذة بشكل جيد وقفزات زمنية متوالية لم أجد صعوبة في مواكبتها، لكن واجهتني مشاكل من نوع آخر هنا.
لا أعرف السبب تحديدًا، لكن تظهر كل شخصيات الروايات المعاصرة؛ بلا أبعاد، قسوة وخيانات وأنانية، تقدم بشكل ضعيف وبلا دراسة معمقة للنفس البشرية، تبدو كل هذه الشخصيات وكأنك طلبت دوستويفسكي من شي إن- وأعتذر عن استخدام هذا التشبيه… هذه الرواية مثال جيد على هذا.
هذه رواية خفيفة وسريعة وكان يمكن أن تكون أفضل لو انتهجت الكاتبة طرقًا أفضل في تقديم الشخصيات ودوافعهم، وألّا تحاول رميها بشكل ضعيف على صدمات الطفولة وما يصاحبها من إساءات.
الشخصيات هنا تحديدًا شخصية الكاتب لا علاقة لما فعله بصدمات طفولة أو إساءات، كان شخصًا غير ناضج وغير مهذب وأناني فقط، ونضيف لذلك استغلاله ككل الرجال لامتيازاته لمحو الآخرين في حياته ليغدو هو النجم الوحيد والناجح الوحيد,
كما ذكرت رواية مخيبة للآمال.
ها أنا أقرأ وأكتب عن روايات خفيفة ومخيبة لـ الآمال لكي أتجنب الحديث عن روايات أنهيتها منذ أشهر (حرب نهاية العالم) أو قبل أن يبدأ العدوان بيوم واحد (The Poppy War).
سأحاول الكتابة عن حرب نهاية العالم خلال الأسبوع القادم.
رواية عن الكتب في عالم الكتب والمؤلفين والنشر، رواية تضم بين جنباتها رواية أخرى؛ فكرة ليست جديدة لكن منفذة بشكل جيد وقفزات زمنية متوالية لم أجد صعوبة في مواكبتها، لكن واجهتني مشاكل من نوع آخر هنا.
لا أعرف السبب تحديدًا، لكن تظهر كل شخصيات الروايات المعاصرة؛ بلا أبعاد، قسوة وخيانات وأنانية، تقدم بشكل ضعيف وبلا دراسة معمقة للنفس البشرية، تبدو كل هذه الشخصيات وكأنك طلبت دوستويفسكي من شي إن- وأعتذر عن استخدام هذا التشبيه… هذه الرواية مثال جيد على هذا.
هذه رواية خفيفة وسريعة وكان يمكن أن تكون أفضل لو انتهجت الكاتبة طرقًا أفضل في تقديم الشخصيات ودوافعهم، وألّا تحاول رميها بشكل ضعيف على صدمات الطفولة وما يصاحبها من إساءات.
الشخصيات هنا تحديدًا شخصية الكاتب لا علاقة لما فعله بصدمات طفولة أو إساءات، كان شخصًا غير ناضج وغير مهذب وأناني فقط، ونضيف لذلك استغلاله ككل الرجال لامتيازاته لمحو الآخرين في حياته ليغدو هو النجم الوحيد والناجح الوحيد,
كما ذكرت رواية مخيبة للآمال.
March 19, 2023
Another worthy debut! Literary fiction which was slow paced, yet it held my interest throughout.
Mind you... the characters were not very likeable. Riddled with entitled attitudes, fragile egos, elitist lifestyles, and emotional insecurities, some of them, like the egoist Ward Manning, were downright odious. Isabelle herself has been thoroughly damaged by her father on many levels. The recent death of her mother finds her floundering with grief, and causes her to reach an emotional crossroads. The book was a sort of 'coming-of-age' novel even though the protagonist was in her mid thirties.
My favorite character was Claire Manning. Despite her bitter resentment of her husband, she was the glue that held the family together and she was an excellent parent to Isabelle.
There was a 'book within a book' permeating the entire novel. I found them to be almost mirror images of each other which would have led to some confusion - were it not for the clear headings that delineated them.
I have to say that the title was an excellent choice which was a perfect fit for the story.
With themes of white privilege, the need for vindication, bitter resentment, betrayal, provenance and plagiarism, this novel was an interesting take on writing, publishing, and finding your own voice.
I enjoyed the writing, and admire the author's talent even though the characters and story were not completely to my liking. I look forward to reading her next book.
Mind you... the characters were not very likeable. Riddled with entitled attitudes, fragile egos, elitist lifestyles, and emotional insecurities, some of them, like the egoist Ward Manning, were downright odious. Isabelle herself has been thoroughly damaged by her father on many levels. The recent death of her mother finds her floundering with grief, and causes her to reach an emotional crossroads. The book was a sort of 'coming-of-age' novel even though the protagonist was in her mid thirties.
My favorite character was Claire Manning. Despite her bitter resentment of her husband, she was the glue that held the family together and she was an excellent parent to Isabelle.
There was a 'book within a book' permeating the entire novel. I found them to be almost mirror images of each other which would have led to some confusion - were it not for the clear headings that delineated them.
I have to say that the title was an excellent choice which was a perfect fit for the story.
With themes of white privilege, the need for vindication, bitter resentment, betrayal, provenance and plagiarism, this novel was an interesting take on writing, publishing, and finding your own voice.
I enjoyed the writing, and admire the author's talent even though the characters and story were not completely to my liking. I look forward to reading her next book.
May 22, 2024
Isabelle Manning, daughter of Great American Novelist Ward Manning, wants nothing more than to be a writer. But her first book was rejected by numerous publishers, and as she turns 35, she’s beginning to realize that it may be time to give up on her dream. And then, in the wake of her mother’s death, Isabelle discovers a shocking secret that calls into question everything she thought she knew about her family, sending her life on a trajectory she never imagined.
Unfolding on multiple timelines from the perspectives of four characters (Isabelle, her mother Claire, her friend Brian, and Ward) and utilizing a book-within-a-book structure, A Likely Story is a complex, intimate family drama. Through her well-crafted characters, Leigh McMullan Abramson explores topics like grief, privilege, misogyny, prejudice, ambition, reputation, rivalry, and complicated relationships of all kinds. She doesn’t exactly cover new territory with her plot, but even though I had a good idea of where the book was headed, I still enjoyed how Abramson executed it – specifically with the inclusion of the unattributed manuscript, which provided so much texture and richness to the narrative.
The strength of this book, really, is the characters, who are complex, flawed, and not entirely likeable – but all the more authentic for it. The relationship between Ward and Isabelle is the perfect portrayal of a dysfunctional father-daughter relationship. Isabelle has grown up in Ward’s shadow, a man who happens to be an egomaniacal narcissist – and as much as she is disappointed by his behavior, she still wants to please him. Knowing the inner workings of their relationship helps us understand what truly motivates Isabelle, even though she herself is often self-destructive and unlikeable.
A Likely Story is, at its core, a character study about messy people harming each other, healing each other, and ultimately being redeemed. There’s some good stuff here, and I’m eager to see what Abramson writes next.
Unfolding on multiple timelines from the perspectives of four characters (Isabelle, her mother Claire, her friend Brian, and Ward) and utilizing a book-within-a-book structure, A Likely Story is a complex, intimate family drama. Through her well-crafted characters, Leigh McMullan Abramson explores topics like grief, privilege, misogyny, prejudice, ambition, reputation, rivalry, and complicated relationships of all kinds. She doesn’t exactly cover new territory with her plot, but even though I had a good idea of where the book was headed, I still enjoyed how Abramson executed it – specifically with the inclusion of the unattributed manuscript, which provided so much texture and richness to the narrative.
The strength of this book, really, is the characters, who are complex, flawed, and not entirely likeable – but all the more authentic for it. The relationship between Ward and Isabelle is the perfect portrayal of a dysfunctional father-daughter relationship. Isabelle has grown up in Ward’s shadow, a man who happens to be an egomaniacal narcissist – and as much as she is disappointed by his behavior, she still wants to please him. Knowing the inner workings of their relationship helps us understand what truly motivates Isabelle, even though she herself is often self-destructive and unlikeable.
A Likely Story is, at its core, a character study about messy people harming each other, healing each other, and ultimately being redeemed. There’s some good stuff here, and I’m eager to see what Abramson writes next.
October 31, 2022
[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
A Likely Story releases March 14, 2023
A Likely Story is a very literary focused debut novel. Featuring a book-within-a-book, multiple pov’s, multiple timelines, multiple settings, and even multiple parts.
Isabelle grew up an only child to Claire and Ward Manning. Her father, a famous New York Times bestselling author of several novels. In the midst of his shadows, Isabelle is faced with pressures of living up to his high expectations in the literary world. With that, comes her own set of writer’s block. At the same time, she’s processing the unexpected loss of her mother.
Amongst the many POV’s in this, we also get an unnamed narration thrown in by way of a manuscript draft. It’s not until the 45% mark that we get confirmation of who the writer of this draft is, and how it is all connected to this story.
Given the suspense factor and all of the familial lies and secrecy that were hinted at in the synopsis, I found the pacing of this to be quite off.
It says something that the only character I really enjoyed in this was Claire, whose pov’s were always told in past timelines because she happens to be dead. The mother really carried this book, and it was puzzling to me that I couldn’t care for Ward or Isabelle for even a fraction — they came off egotistical, and entitled (even though Isabelle didn’t receive any leeway with money in terms of an inheritance or trust fund, she really had the personality for it).
I truly don’t think Brian’s pov was all that necessary. His narrative could have come across just as well through dialogue in Isabelle’s chapters.
Early on, at 10%, I was pretty unsettled by having to read Ward (a 74 year old), rubbing one out to some “teacher-student” porn. Who asked for this? Certainly not me.
Despite this novel having a lot of key elements that I usually tend to like, something about it just left me feeling unsatisfied.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
A Likely Story releases March 14, 2023
A Likely Story is a very literary focused debut novel. Featuring a book-within-a-book, multiple pov’s, multiple timelines, multiple settings, and even multiple parts.
Isabelle grew up an only child to Claire and Ward Manning. Her father, a famous New York Times bestselling author of several novels. In the midst of his shadows, Isabelle is faced with pressures of living up to his high expectations in the literary world. With that, comes her own set of writer’s block. At the same time, she’s processing the unexpected loss of her mother.
Amongst the many POV’s in this, we also get an unnamed narration thrown in by way of a manuscript draft. It’s not until the 45% mark that we get confirmation of who the writer of this draft is, and how it is all connected to this story.
Given the suspense factor and all of the familial lies and secrecy that were hinted at in the synopsis, I found the pacing of this to be quite off.
It says something that the only character I really enjoyed in this was Claire, whose pov’s were always told in past timelines because she happens to be dead. The mother really carried this book, and it was puzzling to me that I couldn’t care for Ward or Isabelle for even a fraction — they came off egotistical, and entitled (even though Isabelle didn’t receive any leeway with money in terms of an inheritance or trust fund, she really had the personality for it).
I truly don’t think Brian’s pov was all that necessary. His narrative could have come across just as well through dialogue in Isabelle’s chapters.
Early on, at 10%, I was pretty unsettled by having to read Ward (a 74 year old), rubbing one out to some “teacher-student” porn. Who asked for this? Certainly not me.
Despite this novel having a lot of key elements that I usually tend to like, something about it just left me feeling unsatisfied.
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 28, 2023Dnf at 11%. The audiobook narration is less than to be desired. Suggest picking up the book instead if you’re planning to try this one. I also got strong feeling for unlikable characters and stereotypes for which I’m not a fan of. Moving on.
September 26, 2023
A story told from multiple points of view, we get to know the family of the famous author Ward Manning. In the present, his daughter Isabelle struggles to finally have her first book published—it can't be anything, or it would damn her career, but when nothing seems to satisfy her agent, it's like her career is over before it could start. However, Ward is also having trouble not only writing a new book, but also simply living now his wife has died and his daughter is living her own life. We've also got Brian, who has been in love with Isabelle for many years, and Claire, Isabelle's mother, who has helped Ward in the beginning of his career, but gave up everything so she could have Isabelle. Lastly, we see excerpts of a draft, but who is the writer?
A 3+ and a solid first novel piece.
I find it hard to evaluate this book. Despite being Abramson's first novel, she's a good writer, you know she was in control of everything, the kind of style you can trust the author knows what they are doing. Despite having to express the views of four characters, plus the character of the book in the story, she managed to make them all different and yet related, as they bond with each other.
However, I felt that the story dragged. It didn't lack plot twists, it didn't lack action, but the excitement wasn't there. Sometimes, I felt I could like this or that character, or even hate any of them, but in the end I couldn't. They're not hateful, but they didn't invoke any passions in me. I can't blame on lack of depth, they were round and complex. Still...
Because it's a book that trusted heavily on the characters' deepening and development, the plot wasn't a big novelty to compensate the absence of catharsis for me. The story reveals itself slowly, but with a few words of it, I would have been able to predict it.
Do notice those are my only complaints. It's a solid, well-written book that takes us through the history of the Manning family. And even if I couldn't love any of the characters, I did worry about where they'd go, how they'd end. I'm guessing writers will especially identify with the drama the family lives.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
A 3+ and a solid first novel piece.
I find it hard to evaluate this book. Despite being Abramson's first novel, she's a good writer, you know she was in control of everything, the kind of style you can trust the author knows what they are doing. Despite having to express the views of four characters, plus the character of the book in the story, she managed to make them all different and yet related, as they bond with each other.
However, I felt that the story dragged. It didn't lack plot twists, it didn't lack action, but the excitement wasn't there. Sometimes, I felt I could like this or that character, or even hate any of them, but in the end I couldn't. They're not hateful, but they didn't invoke any passions in me. I can't blame on lack of depth, they were round and complex. Still...
Because it's a book that trusted heavily on the characters' deepening and development, the plot wasn't a big novelty to compensate the absence of catharsis for me. The story reveals itself slowly, but with a few words of it, I would have been able to predict it.
Do notice those are my only complaints. It's a solid, well-written book that takes us through the history of the Manning family. And even if I couldn't love any of the characters, I did worry about where they'd go, how they'd end. I'm guessing writers will especially identify with the drama the family lives.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
March 23, 2023
Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy o A Likely Story {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 3.14.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
When an author creates unlikable characters, it can make or break a book for the reader. I've read several books with unlikable characters that I end up loving by the end, and that makes the book for me because I got to see the proper character development within the story.
Unfortunately for A Likely Story, those unlikable characters did not redeem themselves and ended up breaking the book for me. The story was full of the most desperate, egotistical, self-serving characters, and it was impossible to get past that. Isabelle and Ward are father and daughter (and two of the main characters), and they are the worst! I'd love to say they redeemed themselves, but they didn't, and, in my opinion, they had a much better outcome than they deserved. Claire was, frankly, the only character I loved.
One aspect I appreciated about A Likely Story is the theme of a book inside a book. I liked how the manuscript mirrored what was happening between Ward, Isabelle, Brian, and Claire. It also added a fun mystery element to the book until the 45% mark, as the reader isn't sure who the author is.
👨👩👧 Family dynamics (particularly between father + daughter)
✍🏼 Author life
🐌 Slow pacing
😡 Unlikable characters
📖 Book within a book
While this was not the book for me, I look forward to giving Leigh McMullan Abramson another chance with her next book!
______
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Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 3.14.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
When an author creates unlikable characters, it can make or break a book for the reader. I've read several books with unlikable characters that I end up loving by the end, and that makes the book for me because I got to see the proper character development within the story.
Unfortunately for A Likely Story, those unlikable characters did not redeem themselves and ended up breaking the book for me. The story was full of the most desperate, egotistical, self-serving characters, and it was impossible to get past that. Isabelle and Ward are father and daughter (and two of the main characters), and they are the worst! I'd love to say they redeemed themselves, but they didn't, and, in my opinion, they had a much better outcome than they deserved. Claire was, frankly, the only character I loved.
One aspect I appreciated about A Likely Story is the theme of a book inside a book. I liked how the manuscript mirrored what was happening between Ward, Isabelle, Brian, and Claire. It also added a fun mystery element to the book until the 45% mark, as the reader isn't sure who the author is.
👨👩👧 Family dynamics (particularly between father + daughter)
✍🏼 Author life
🐌 Slow pacing
😡 Unlikable characters
📖 Book within a book
While this was not the book for me, I look forward to giving Leigh McMullan Abramson another chance with her next book!
______
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend....
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September 30, 2022
Oh my goodness but this was such an amazing and wonderful story! Abramson has done an amazing job crafting characters who are wholly believable and relatable, even when - if not perhaps most noticeably when - their lives are so very divergent for my own.
The complexities of familial relationships, particularly those between parent and child, are always fascinating to me and when they are written by an author with an excellent mastery of both the language and the realities of such relationships, it makes for a magical reading experience.
I found everything about this one to be entertaining, moving, and engaging. I've been talking it up to everyone I know.. Abramson is definitely on my watch list now!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
The complexities of familial relationships, particularly those between parent and child, are always fascinating to me and when they are written by an author with an excellent mastery of both the language and the realities of such relationships, it makes for a magical reading experience.
I found everything about this one to be entertaining, moving, and engaging. I've been talking it up to everyone I know.. Abramson is definitely on my watch list now!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
March 8, 2023
Ok this is my reminder to review books upon completion because I’m trying to remember the deets….
Major takeaways… this took me a minute to get into. I obviously rated it a five so that minute wasn’t too long but I do remember in the beginning hoping to be more invested. I can’t remember the exact turning point but once it hit the pages flew by. I loved the complex characters/family dynamic. The term legacy resonated in my head throughout this novel for certain personal reasons that quickly made me invested.
Another fun aspect is the book within a book, once the wheels started turning and moments came together it was brilliant. Also yet another New York setting calling this west coast lover to it.
Major takeaways… this took me a minute to get into. I obviously rated it a five so that minute wasn’t too long but I do remember in the beginning hoping to be more invested. I can’t remember the exact turning point but once it hit the pages flew by. I loved the complex characters/family dynamic. The term legacy resonated in my head throughout this novel for certain personal reasons that quickly made me invested.
Another fun aspect is the book within a book, once the wheels started turning and moments came together it was brilliant. Also yet another New York setting calling this west coast lover to it.
February 17, 2023
This book felt promising to me, but unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into it. For most of the book I really disliked two of the main characters. They were both entitled, self righteous, egotistical people, and I felt like nothing was actually happening in the plot. I was bored.
I did enjoy the book within a book aspect, but wished I had more of the secondary story. This book just left me wanting more as it had the potential to be really good.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for my honest review.
I did enjoy the book within a book aspect, but wished I had more of the secondary story. This book just left me wanting more as it had the potential to be really good.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for my honest review.
December 2, 2023
3.75⭐️ There were a few strange lines about race and class and an ending that tied up a little too nearly, but overall I enjoyed this.
November 4, 2022
Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an eARC via Netgalley.
This story had a lot of characteristics of things that I like - characters who love books, a dual timeline, and family secrets. I loved the insight into how hard it is for authors to write, sell, and publish a book (something a lot of readers don't often think about). I loved the timeline that had Claire in it, and I enjoyed how strong and iconic of a character she was. Claire exemplified grace, strength, and class throughout most of the story, and I really felt for her.
However, this book also had some characteristics that I don't love - unlikable characters and slow pacing. I cannot believe this book was only 350 pages, because it took be me 3 weeks to get through it (incredibly long for me). I could not stand Isabelle or Ward, two miserable people. Isabelle had the emotional independence of a 12 year old and whined like a 4 year old. Ward was so caught up with himself that he missed his daughters whole childhood.
While there were periods of this book that I really enjoyed, there were other areas I found myself skimming. I would absolutely read more by this author to give her another try, but this one was not quite a knock out of the park for me.
This story had a lot of characteristics of things that I like - characters who love books, a dual timeline, and family secrets. I loved the insight into how hard it is for authors to write, sell, and publish a book (something a lot of readers don't often think about). I loved the timeline that had Claire in it, and I enjoyed how strong and iconic of a character she was. Claire exemplified grace, strength, and class throughout most of the story, and I really felt for her.
However, this book also had some characteristics that I don't love - unlikable characters and slow pacing. I cannot believe this book was only 350 pages, because it took be me 3 weeks to get through it (incredibly long for me). I could not stand Isabelle or Ward, two miserable people. Isabelle had the emotional independence of a 12 year old and whined like a 4 year old. Ward was so caught up with himself that he missed his daughters whole childhood.
While there were periods of this book that I really enjoyed, there were other areas I found myself skimming. I would absolutely read more by this author to give her another try, but this one was not quite a knock out of the park for me.
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