A perfect book for Wes Anderson fans with a delectable deadpan delivery of all lines. This book—definitely not for everyone—is a bit boorish and ridiculous at times, but it’s also pretty funny. I laughed a lot: Om, the sex therapist, or more likely, faux therapist; Greta and her witty monologues and over-the-top situations; all the crazy transcripts from Om’s patients. While it was something I laughed out loud through, it’s also a story where I didn’t really care about the characters, which made the second half feel a bit like trudging uphill. ( )

This book was like a car crash. The main character and actually all the characters were extremely unlikable, but I couldn't look away. It was super weird and kind of enthralling, that being said I'm not sure if it was... good? I didn't get anything from it and it was just kind of a dumpster fire even if it was entertaining at times. I'm not really sure it had anything "to say." There were a lot of interesting details and it felt very contemporary but I don't think I would say that I really liked it so overall I guess it was fine and I think I WOULD read more books like this but something about this book just.. didn't quite get there for me as much as I love chaos. It was just kind of trashy and kind of gross, but just to be clear, I ALSO wouldn't say it was bad. I did want to keep reading the whole time. I was invested. The ending was kind of meh for me though. For how drawn out the rest was, the last few chapters felt very abrupt. ( )

One unique novel. About things like suicide and an affair and traumatic assaults, but also very funny in its own way. Set in upstate New York with memorable characters. ***** ( )

I wonder how many reviewers have used the word quirky or a synonym to describe this book. It is witty, it is a romance but mixed up in all of that is trauma, lots of trauma, an enormous hive of bees, dogs and some minature donkeys. I have seen the front cover all over the place and often wondered why it had a dog with his tongue sticking out towards another's mouth - well it's probably to reflect all the oral sex that is described in the book and a whole lot politer than putting labia shaped 'like a lotus flower' on it.

Greta (or Rebekah) has moved to Hudson 'where the horny go to die' and is living in a ramshackle but wonderful, old house that is cold and has a large bee hive on the ceiling in the kitchen. She has taken a job transcribing sessions that a local therapist holds who is known as Om. It means she knows everyone's secrets and can also, when she is out and about, identify people through recognising their voices. She regularly transcribes the sessions of someone she calls Big Swiss and eventually becomes obsessed with her. They meet because of their dogs and eventually have an affair but it is shadowed by their trauma. Big Swiss from being attacked by a man and only just surviving and Greta from her mother's suicide. There is also Sabine who owns the old house who has to go into rehab for her drug habit. So here we have three women who have been traumatised in one way or another but who deal with it in different ways; one is open about it and tells other people, one is so ashamed that she has treatment without telling anyone else and the other doesn't really realise that she is traumatised.

Whilst there is very dark side to this book, it is also about healing. About the unconditional love of animals and what they can do to help, about friendships and about facing up to your problems and dealing with them.

The best characters in the book are females with the men often being 2 dimensional. There is Sabine's father who is ancient but makes a pass at Greta.

Yes, people age horribly. They suffer strokes. Their bodies and brains fall apart. But the male ego? Firmly intact until the bitter end.
p42

There is the violent man, Luke the husband who is a nonentity and Gideon the beekeeper in his simple clothing and with his kind nature. And there is Om wearing 'a white fishnet tank top, a chunky cardigan, and white harem pants'. The women, however are complex, witty, fighters who keep on going and who are not always predictable. They are described clearly, both physically and emotionally with rich inner lives and none of the women see themselves as victims.

The book is also a commentary or side swipe at therapy culture and whether that heals or not. I'm not sure it does anything for Big Swiss, it might help Greta but Beagin does seem to suggest that you can go on and have a life and love after trauma. But what is is about all the insects? ( )

This book made me laugh out loud so many times. It is also dark and sad, but mostly it's funny. I was ready to give it five stars, but the ending was a bit of a letdown. I think that's where literary fiction often lets me down. There can be a great premise (unhinged woman hooks up with a married patient whose therapy sessions she is transcribing) and great execution (as I said, laughs galore), but then the story peters out. It feels a bit like season one of a show -- I want to know what Greta does next (lucky for me, I hear the book is being adapted for HBO).

If you like the idea of listening in on people's most private weirdnesses you should read this.

A few random notes:

A pet is injured, which feels traumatic. I would recommend this book to my friend who loves Gilmore Girls because I thought Greta had Lorelai energy (if GG were on HBO?), but this friend would never read a book where a dog gets hurt.

There are also a lot of bugs in this book: bees, stinkbugs, ants, spiders, etc. Extremely unpleasant to imagine, but definitely drives home how unlivable Sabine's house is.

The author photo includes a donkey (is it a miniature donkey?) and she lives in Hudson which leads me to believe this is semi-autobiographical.

Jodie Comer will probably play Flavia in the TV show. I am fan-casting Lizzy Caplan as Greta, though Jen Beagin said she liked Aubrey Plaza in an interview.

( )