Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick | Book Review

I was excited to receive this book from the publisher but I almost DNF’d this book early on. Thankfully, I pushed through it and it worked out. I think there are readers who would really like this book but I’m not sure it lived up to the hype. At least not for me.

What didn’t work for me personally:
1. Phoebe – I could not relate to her at all. In fact, I found her to be an almost stereotypical portrayal of anxiety and OCD in the most annoying way. She had earnest moments but overall, seemed irritating and a bit juvenile at times.
2. Supporting characters- I liked many of them but would love to see more dimension and diversity. I think this was some missed opportunity.
3. Believability – The premise/concept was cute but the execution of it and her life in general felt unbelievable. It’s a lot of emotional slapstick
4. Writing – I don’t like to classify writing as “good” or “bad” because it is subjective. The writing here wasn’t bad at all but it did feel like YA writing trapped in an adult theme at times

Why I gave it 4 stars instead if 3:
1. Fairness- I know there are readers who would really enjoy this style of writing and the story. It wasn’t for me but it wasn’t terrible
2. Relatability (for some)- it’s nice to see an attempt at representing a mental health issue like anxiety and I think people who do struggle with that would enjoy it
3. It’s a low-lift read – If you want an easy, cute read and enjoy some emotional slapstick (or a lot in this case), then you would probably like the book
4. This was her first book. Considering that, it’s a decent attempt and I see tons of potential!

Overall, it wasn’t for me but it also wasn’t time wasted. I see great potential in her plot and writing prowess. I hope she continues to develop and surround herself with editors and beta readers that will help her reach the depth and dimension this story deserves.