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Looker
Looker | Laura Sims
60 posts | 62 read | 38 to read
LibraryThing
review
Cinfhen
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

WOW do I love an unhinged stream of consciousness story. Here our unnamed narrator, a professor who‘s obsessed with her neighbor, an actress, seethes as the actress seems to disregard her existence. Plus her husband has recently moved out leaving the professor to deal with his cat named Cat, whom she has no love for. With each passing page our narrator is simmering - becoming more and more manic. Really loved the audio narration.
TW: Infertility

sarahbarnes I too love an unhinged stream of consciousness story! 😁 Great review! 7mo
63 likes1 comment
review
Addison_Reads
Looker | Laura Sims
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Mehso-so

I'm a fan of unreliable narrators and I enjoyed the slow descent into madness that the reader felt through our unnamed narrator.

Obsession is a strong emotion and this book does a great job of showing just how far a person can go.

This was really close to being a pick for me but there was a scene that I had a hard time with that made it a so-so. I'll put it as spoiler in the comments.

Addison_Reads The scene with the cat dying was just too much for me. I get what the author was doing, but having her kill the cat made me lose any sympathy I had previously for her. 10mo
TheBookKeepers That would make me lose interest too. 😩 I hate scenes like that 10mo
Reggie I loved this book. One of the most tense scenes I have ever read is when she puts her dish down at the neighborhood bbq. Lol, crazy. 10mo
45 likes3 comments
blurb
Yuki_Onna
Looker | Laura Sims
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 👍🏻 12mo
Eggs Creep factor!!! 12mo
17 likes2 comments
review
ImperfectCJ
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

I appreciate how Sims puts us in the mind of a woman who's gradually becoming unhinged. I like the exercise of trying to figure out from the clues the narrator gives how a scene would look from other characters' perspectives. But being inside the head of that kind of narrator always leaves me with a vague sense that I have done something wrong, which is unpleasant until it fades. So, I like the book but I need a palate cleanser.

45 likes2 stack adds
review
Book_Worm94
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

A story about an unnamed woman‘s descent into madness after dealing with many emotional setbacks, and her deep obsession with her famous neighbors life. The life she‘ll never have. As the book goes on the main characters mental health rapidly declines and you never know what she‘s going to do next. This book will definitely make you uncomfortable, because it‘s like having a seat right inside her brain hearing her every very disturbing thought.

review
BRB_ImReading
Looker | Laura Sims
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Mehso-so

Looker by Laura Sims. An unnamed woman's decent into madness, she is obsessed with her famous neighbour. As her life falls apart, her fixation on 'the actress' becomes more intense. At only 180 pages, it was a quick read, disturbing parts, reminded me a little bit of the wives. I liked that there were no chapters and the story just jumps back and forth, but with intent by the author. It's a decent little thriller.
#summerreading

Reggie I loved this one. Never have I ever felt so nervous as when someone sets their neighborhood bbq dish on a table as I did with this one. Lol 3y
Reagan I really liked this one! And oh that bbq 😬 3y
13 likes2 comments
review
Sweettartlaura
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

Reminiscent of The Woman Upstairs, The Other Wife, and with a twist worthy of Otessa Moshfegh, this was a great read. It‘s about the unraveling of a woman, after years of infertility end in divorce. We don‘t know if she was always unstable; if years of feeling like a failure took their toll; or if disconnection from other women her age leaves her feeling bullied, desolate, hurt. It‘s all in there. And it‘s an explosive combination.

Reggie Holy wow, the BBQ scene was soooo tense when she was putting her dish down. I was on pins and needles. 4y
DimeryRene Uhhhhh! That mashup list! So interested. 4y
33 likes3 stack adds3 comments
review
ClairesReads
Looker | Laura Sims
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Mehso-so

Perhaps this suffered from being the last in a string of undemanding thriller reads for me, but it ultimately failed to fire. It‘s a short, tense exploration of a woman‘s decent/unravelling into a kind of madness. I think there was capacity here for this to be more nuanced and thoughtful than it ended up being. In the end, it relied on too many conventional plot elements and failed to generate an emotional response.

review
MidnightBookGirl
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

The main, unnamed character is unnamed, unreliable, and pretty unlikeable as she obsesses over her famous neighbor, spinning further and further into madness. And yet, I was hooked. We read this for book club and there was SO MUCH to discuss. This book is uncomfortable to read, and a wreck of a life slowly unfolding, but I couldn't help rubbernecking until the end.

57 likes2 stack adds
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SquirmyBookwormy
Looker | Laura Sims
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Mehso-so

Hmm. Not sure how I feel about this one. I feel like it didn‘t really have an ending. Like it was building toward something that never happened. But it‘s a short, quick read so I don‘t regret it.

review
readordierachel
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

If I take this novel in small bites, I enjoyed it. I highlighted several passages. For example:

"I‘m on an Emily Dickinson high, and I feel like cramming her sharp little words and lines down their throats. I mean, lovingly. Adoringly, even. It would be so good for them, so nourishing."

If I take it as a whole, I'm left itchy by this tale of a woman obsessed with her famous neighbor. ?

readordierachel She becomes more and more fixated as her own life unravels. I got some light Eileen vibes. And though it felt repetitive, and I was unmoved by any of it, it did keep me quickly turning the pages. 3 ⭐ 4y
mrp27 That's a great quote. 4y
Librariana Great review! 😊👍🏼💜📚 4y
See All 8 Comments
Reggie I loved this book. I post this on every review but her setting her dish at the neighborhood bbq was so tense!!! Also, this was the first book of a couple that introduced me to couples who separate because one can‘t have kids and I just don‘t get it. But I‘m not straight or a woman so w/e. But it still bothers me. 4y
batsy That's quite a quote! 4y
readordierachel @mrp27 @batsy this part really jumped off the page! 4y
readordierachel @Reggie That whole BBQ was one of the best scenes. And I don't really get that either. I've heard of people separating because one wants kids and the other doesn't. But just not being able to physically have them yourself seems like a very sad reason to split. There are other options! But I think the relationship in the book clearly had some other problems too. 4y
73 likes1 stack add8 comments
blurb
DoonTheGoon
Looker | Laura Sims
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Day six of #7days7covers - also TBR... but look at this gorgeous cover!!!

blurb
MySharonaK
Looker | Laura Sims
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Just got this from the library, any of you read it? Did you like it ?

Jenken1998 I enjoyed it! 5y
MySharonaK @Jenken1998 good, glad to hear :) 5y
Reggie It‘s a very cringey read! But I enjoyed it. 5y
See All 10 Comments
MySharonaK @Reggie interesting! 5y
MySharonaK @Reggie just finished, I understand what you mean about the cringey read. I enjoyed it too though :) 5y
Reggie Yeah, I‘ve never been “Omg, What‘s gonna happen??!!!!” in other books when a character sets down a dish at the neighborhood bbq. Lol 5y
MySharonaK @Reggie 😂 exactly!! Lol 5y
Smrloomis @Reggie @MySharonaK this book doesn‘t really sound like my thing but after your guys‘ exchange I almost want to read it! 🤔😂 5y
Reggie @Smrloomis The book is a little crazypants but then it gets dark. 5y
MySharonaK @Reggie @Smrloomis yeah definitely it‘s dark and crazypants (and really cringey) but I think that it‘s an interesting read 5y
28 likes10 comments
blurb
Kappadeemom
Looker | Laura Sims
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I didn‘t love this one. An unnamed narrator‘s internal dialogue as she grows more mentally unstable. Trigger: animal harm 😿🚫

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Kappadeemom
Looker | Laura Sims
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Not ready for Monday #dogsoflitsy

Bookzombie Me either!💕🐶 (edited) 5y
Reggie This book is soooo cringey!! I enoyed it. 5y
43 likes2 comments
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Kappadeemom
Looker | Laura Sims
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Starting this small book as a nice break between big books ❤️

review
Lel2403
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

This is an utterly compelling tale, disturbing and heartbreaking at the same time….it shows how some people use others‘ lives as a measure of their own, leading to dissatisfaction and feelings of inadequacy, especially when at a low point.

Unsettling, disturbing and I felt like a voyeur myself, watching this drama unfold. Thought provoking and magnificent…

https://orlando-books.blog/2019/07/25/looker-by-laura-sims-book-review/

Reggie Great review!!! I liked this book despite how uncomfortable I felt the whole time. That setting down of the dish at the neighborhood picnic.... so tense. Lol 5y
Lel2403 @Reggie isn‘t it? You‘re just waiting for something to happen all the time..... 5y
72 likes2 comments
review
Chelsea.Poole
Looker | Laura Sims
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Mehso-so

This reminded me of several other books --I'll try to tag them in the comments, time allowing. It wasn't amazing but wasn't horrible either. So-so for this tale of obsession, despair, depression, and envy.

blurb
Cinfhen
Looker | Laura Sims
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Congrats to @TheLibrarian on her #95kGiveaway ❤️🙌🏻🎉Celebrating in true Litsy style Carrie is sharing her big Litfluence number by gifting 2 books from the above stack. US Littens only. I‘d like to try The Line That Held Us and Looker, especially since @Reggie sung it‘s praises 🧡Thanks for the opportunity.

TheLibrarian Thanks for entering!!! 5y
77 likes1 comment
blurb
Kaylamburson
Looker | Laura Sims
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My sister just sent me this post from I Am Well and Good on Instagram, and my scorpio pick sounds right up my alley. Officially stacked!

Does the book for your zodiac sign match your reading interests?

MelissaSue81 Hmm. I already read mine (Leo). It was just okay for me. 5y
Kaylamburson Oh, interesting. I def heard a lot of buzz about it. @MelissaSue81 5y
MelissaSue81 @Kaylamburson - yeah, it definitely wasn‘t bad, but didn‘t live up to all the hype for me 5y
See All 12 Comments
ravenlee Virgo. Um, no. 5y
Amiable Taurus. And I hate cooking. 🙄 5y
BookCottageBlog I'm a Leo, and I just finished Daisy Jones & The Six. I really enjoyed it - hmmm, maybe there is something to this chart. 😃
5y
swynn I'm a Virgo and I loathe gimmicky self-help. Glad others have found it the chart fun, though. 5y
Recommended4Reading @Amiable This Taurus Bull agrees witcha...I don't want to cook.

@Kaylamburson This is cute tho! Thanks for sharing!
5y
Smrloomis Hmm, mine is Elizabeth Gilbert and I can‘t stand her 🤷🏻‍♀️ oh well, maybe next time. 5y
Kimberlone I‘m also a Scorpio! I‘ll have to check out the tagged book 5y
Kaylamburson Hahaha seems like none of you are amused by your book choice Haha. @ravenlee @Amiable @swynn @Recommended4Reading 5y
Kaylamburson Haha maybe there is something to it! I love these fun things. @BookCottageBlog @Kimberlone 5y
72 likes12 comments
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MoniqueReads305
Looker | Laura Sims
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I'm happy I didn't go into this book thinking it was a thriller because I would have been disappointed. That being said this is really fascinating. I really don't want to put it down.

#currentlyreading

Reggie Ohhhh I liked this one. 5y
26 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
MoniqueReads305
Looker | Laura Sims
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I have several books in my TBR that I should be reading but I was in the mood for a thriller. I'm a little bit worried because the Goodreads reviews aren't great. It's a short book so... 🤞🏿

#24b4Monday
#currentlyreading

review
Reggie
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

This colorfully dark story is about an unnamed woman hurtling towards the edge of her sanity. I spent most of this book in an upper body clench because of how awkward this got. And then I was afraid of and for this woman. Laura Sims is a great writer who you can tell is also a poet. This rich character study won‘t be for everyone but it was a pick for me! Thanks @collegecatlady for this selection. #groupZ

batsy Nice review, Reggie. I like the sound of this. 5y
Reggie @batsy it reminded me of Indecent a little. I think you‘d like it. 5y
Cathythoughts Yes ! Great review, stacked ♥️👍🏻 5y
See All 10 Comments
Nute Scared to read this, but want to read it after this review. Nice job, Reggie. Stacked! 5y
Reggie @Nute Thanks!! I hope you like it. 5y
Redwritinghood I liked this too. Crazy but good. 5y
Reggie @Redwritinghood I almost didn‘t want to read the last 10 pages because I was afraid of what was going to happen. 5y
Reggie @Redwritinghood lol, also I‘ve never been so tense as when someone is just setting down their dish for a neighborhood bbq. 5y
LA_Mead @Reggie that WAS a crazy book! The narrator was so creepy. 5y
71 likes5 stack adds10 comments
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Reggie
Looker | Laura Sims
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This unnamed narrator, who is an English professor is probably thinking “#SaveMe from these future wannabe #paperbackwriter (s)!” Just started this book tonight and thought it was a straight up stalker book by its description but it‘s so much more. #BeatleMaynia #MovieMayMagic

Eggs Another great combo🤗 5y
Reggie @Eggs Thanks!! 5y
CoverToCoverGirl It came into my shop today, should I scoop it up and bring it home to read? 5y
See All 7 Comments
Reggie @CoverToCoverGirl it‘s the portrait of a young woman who is drowning at life because she has failed at being fertile after failed Invitro shots which has led to the dissolution of her marriage and because she has no one else around her she spends most of the time inside her head with very uncomfortable thoughts that lead to uncomfortable actions. I haven‘t clenched this much while reading a book in a long time. But can I put it down? No. Lol 5y
Cinfhen Are there similar vibes to 5y
Reggie @Cinfhen funny you should ask that, there were parts that happened today that made me think of Tampa. 5y
Cinfhen Just what I wanted to hear....#stacked 😉 5y
67 likes7 comments
blurb
Blair_Reads
Looker | Laura Sims
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Having a night in. Italian food cooking and a thriller in my lap 🖤

review
KimmyM
Looker | Laura Sims
Pickpick

I could not put this one down! It was a super absorbing, twisted read and I think I liked it?!

7 likes1 stack add
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KimmyM
Looker | Laura Sims
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Starting this today! My library hold came in sooner than I expected #libraryloot

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CatsCoffeeAndBooks
Looker | Laura Sims
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Already super into this one! Obsession, unraveling, mania- all things that make a great book that you can‘t put down!!!

jpellet That book cover is creepy! 5y
CatsCoffeeAndBooks @jpellet the book is creepy!!! 5y
8 likes2 comments
review
Shuks22
Looker | Laura Sims
Mehso-so

Sooo confusing... definitely kept me on my toes! I couldn‘t believe this crazy lady. But still the ending and like no purpose for the whole book...

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akfreeborn
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

I thought this was a great book exposing the unraveling of a woman. At first you can relate but then she seems to be a little off and then before you know it she seems dangerous. I recommend it.

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Mccall0113
Looker | Laura Sims
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Kiddo on the mend. On to this book! Thanks @collegecatlady

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Reagan
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

Today has been a real ridiculous day at work in which I was way too hard on myself and texted my husband that I was getting fired. At least my boss laughed 😕 but I read this little gem and LOVED IT! Kind of surprised by the lowish ratings on GR, it‘s like a character study that I wouldn‘t classify as “literary” in which a woman‘s obsession with her actress neighbour gets dangerously out of control. It made me squirm.

mcipher Awww, those days are the worst. I hope you have a nice relaxing evening and can start fresh tomorrow ! 5y
Reagan Thanks @mcipher! At least I left knowing everything is good, now I just need a good book and a good sleep. 5y
24 likes2 comments
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wellreadredhead
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

I ended up choosing this fairly new release for our #lmpbc group and I won‘t say much, but I thoroughly enjoyed this in depth character study of a novel. I can‘t wait to see what you all think of it!

Reagan Awesome, just took it out from the library! 5y
Reggie I‘m excited and ready!!! 5y
LA_Mead Ooh perfect! I have an ARC of that one actually, so that works out great! 5y
Reggie I should have taken a picture but I sent my book to you today. 5y
wellreadredhead @Reggie Sounds good. Thanks for letting me know! 5y
91 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
Victoriahoperose
Looker | Laura Sims
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Mehso-so

I don‘t know what it is about this book that I didn‘t really love. I think the tension felt like it built up to fall flat in the end. I liked the suspense of being on the side of someone watching in a way that is taboo. I just felt like the story itself needed more of an arc.

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Violetsunrise84
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

I finished reading this story in one day. The main character has major issues. The way that she is able to rationalize every single thing that she does , is frightening. I am rating this story five stars out of five. #looker #laurasims @ScribnerBooks

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Violetsunrise84
Looker | Laura Sims
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She has issues. A lot of issues. #looker #laurasims

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Nitpickyabouttrains
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

Creeping and weird. This book key me guessing because I was not sure where it was going.

25 likes2 stack adds
review
Lauren.Archer
Looker | Laura Sims
This post contains spoilers
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Panpan

This book is super deranged and one incident in the book was so uncalled for. It happened so close to the end that I just finished it, any earlier I would have walked away.

AmyG It was getting alot of hype, but I just found it so sad and yes...deranged. 5y
KatieDid927 Yep, this one is a solid nope 👎🏼 5y
j9brown I feel like the hype is because the cover is pretty neat, I didn't feel like it had much going for it otherwise. 5y
16 likes3 comments
blurb
Lauren.Archer
Looker | Laura Sims
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Giving this a shot. Reviews don‘t look so good, but I will give it a try.

bookaholic1 Sometimes those are the best books 5y
Redwritinghood I actually liked it. I didn‘t go in expecting a thriller, though. A lot of the bad reviews seem to be from people expecting a thriller. 5y
94 likes2 comments
review
TheLibrarian
Looker | Laura Sims
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Panpan

What a disappointment. On Goodreads a lot of users marked it as a thriller but I feel like that‘s not true. If anything, the book should be categorized under boring.

It was about a women‘s obsession over her neighbor.

KatieDid927 I received an ARC of this from Goodreads and I could not agree more. Just blech. 5y
LMJenkins Ditto! 👎🏼 5y
Bookladylinda 🤔 maybe I won‘t be sad if I can‘t get my hands on a library copy. 5y
AmyG I agree. It was not what everyone raved about. 5y
98 likes1 stack add5 comments
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TheLibrarian
Looker | Laura Sims
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Getting in a little reading time while watching “Get Out” with the husband and of course my fur child.

#catsoflitsy

Rissa1 Beautiful 🐱 5y
Reviewsbylola So pretty. 🥰 5y
WhatWouldJaneDo She's gorgeous! 5y
See All 9 Comments
Texreader ❤️❤️❤️😻 5y
Hollie 😻😻 5y
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian What a beautiful cat! 5y
Purrfectpages Loved Get Out, and your kitty, of course! 5y
AllieLovesBooks 😻So cute!! 5y
101 likes9 comments
review
Godpants
Looker | Laura Sims
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Panpan

One of the biggest failings for me in this book is marketing it as a Thriller. It‘s a character study of a woman dealing with loss and an emotional break. I also didn‘t like the writing style at all, but that doesn‘t mean this one isn‘t for you. If any of you check it out, tag me in your review so we can chat.

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Godpants
Looker | Laura Sims
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Started this one this morning. I can‘t remember which book list recommended this one, but I‘m struggling to find positives in it so far. The protagonist is just so loathsome and I really don‘t like the writing style, but it‘s so short I‘ll probably finish it anyways. 🤷‍♀️ Tauruses, right?

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Redwritinghood
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

Well, that was a whole lotta crazy packed into a slim 180 pages! The MC in this book has grown angry and bitter after her failed attempts to create her perfect life. She cannot get pregnant, her husband has left her, her job is going nowhere, etc. She becomes fixated on her movie star neighbor, who seems to have the perfect life she craves. As the MC grows more obsessed, her behavior grows more out of control. A quick, gripping read. 3.5⭐️

LeahBergen Oooh, sounds good! 5y
78 likes6 stack adds2 comments
review
mauveandrosysky
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

This taut novel is less of a twisty thriller and more of an engrossing character study about a woman‘s gradual descent into madness. I was hooked from the first page, drawn to the unnamed narrator‘s caustic voice and incisive observations. Sims‘ writing is precise and sharp, capturing the tragic madness of the narrator. The abrupt ending fell a little flat for me, but as a character study this debut was everything I wanted it to be.

Redwritinghood I‘m reading this right now. About halfway so far and I‘m finding it pretty engrossing. It‘s a quick read, too. 5y
44 likes1 comment
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Jenken1998
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

😲 quick, tense and engrossing read. Follow an unnamed narrator as she obsesses over her neighbor and spirals into madness with tragic consequences. I enjoyed the writing style. It felt raw and fragmented like the mc. I also liked that the mc was not too well defined. It left her unreliable and murkey. At times the distinction between reality and the mc psychotic thoughts was blurred. I enjoyed it and read it in one sitting.

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simpledutchgirl
Looker | Laura Sims
Pickpick

Captivating quick read which illustrates a quick descent into madness. I would have liked a bit more so far as character development. Overall a good read.

RadicalReader @simpledutchgirl welcome to Litsy. You‘ll make many beloved bookworm friends here and have a terrific and tremendous to be read stack to enjoy 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Welcome to Litsy!! 5y
CoffeeNBooks Welcome to Litsy! 📚 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 📖💙 5y
Crazeedi Welcome to Litsy! 🎉🎉 5y
4 likes5 comments
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guinsgirlreads
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

An interesting one-sitting read. Her writing is intriguing and different. I could have used a little more to this story of obsession, but overall a good, easy read.

35 likes3 stack adds
review
UnabridgedPod
Looker | Laura Sims
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Pickpick

I listened to Sims's Looker on Scribd, and the audio--narrated by Katherine Fenton--was definitely compelling. The narrative focuses on an unnamed protagonist whose life is unraveling. (I did have a problem with portrayal of the central premise--with the catalyst for her disintegration. Some recent conversations with a friend who had some of the same problems has made me quite sensitive about this issue.) (cont in comments)

UnabridgedPod As the protagonist loses her grip on what holds her reality together, she begins to focus on a famous actress and her family who live on her street. The story focuses closely on the protagonist as she winds through her days, struggling to regain her footing and failing, at every moment. A haunting book, though one that did leave me conflicted.⠀ 5y
12 likes1 comment
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PNWBookseller85
Looker | Laura Sims
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Mehso-so

Not bad. Short, creepy, kinda fun, pretty disturbing.

95 likes1 stack add