When we meet Liv, she is in a situation many of us have faced in our lives. Her life is spent on jobs that are necessary but not enjoyable – her work life is spent cleaning offices and homes for people who see through her and don’t notice or care much about the work she’s doing for them. Her family is in dire financial straits, and she has little time or energy to put into anything that would fulfill her creative desires. Except for one small spark – she cleans the home of a famous writer, Essie Starling, whose popular book series has been a favourite of hers since she was a teenager – and that has helped her through difficult times. Essie is a difficult personality, but lately seems to see something in Liv beyond her ability to make Essie’s home sparkle. One day Essie approaches Liv and asks for her help with her new book in the series that Liv loves. Suddenly there’s a chink of light in Liv’s future, and she is excited to begin working with Essie, in whatever capacity she can.
But just as this new role is about to start, Essie goes away – and, as it turns out, doesn’t return. Liv has no idea what happened, or where it leaves her. Essie’s lawyer gets in touch with Liv and tells her that Essie has passed away, but that she left a directive written from her hospital bed asking Liv to complete her last book. Liv is stunned, mostly by the loss of Essie in her life just as their relationship had begun to develop into new territory, but also by her request. She’s never written a book before – she used to write for herself, but never anything on this scale. Why has Essie left her final novel in Liv’s hands? Why not a more accomplished writer? Can she actually do this for Essie?
In order to attempt what Essie has asked of her, Liv will need to leave her cleaning jobs behind and become a new version of herself. Not only will she need to devote her time to working on the book (there’s a deadline, and it’s a tight one), she’ll need to find her voice and begin trusting her abilities.
There are plenty of obstacles that appear in her path – a journalist who is intent on getting into Essie’s home and life, questions from Essie’s past that Liv will need to answer in order to understand her writing choices and the voice of her famous character. But she will also have to delve into herself. She will have to learn to believe that she is capable of something she’s never tried before, she will have to face the parts of her life that are leaving her unsatisfied, and modify her own view of herself. She will need to get in touch with who she was before the demands of adulthood, motherhood and marriage left her feeling trapped into a role that allowed her now room to grow or explore.
Though this book isn’t a literary masterpiece, it’s a relatable account of the drudgery of adulthood for many of us, as well as a welcome opportunity to explore a fantasy of finding an opportunity to explore unmet potential and step out of our comfort zones. The characters weren’t always evenly developed, and I would have loved a bit more depth to some of them, but I did enjoy my time with Liv. It’s an easy book that’s quick to read (especially as an audiobook).
Have you ever wished you were someone else?
Mother of two Liv Green barely scrapes by as a maid to make ends meet, often finding escape in a good book while daydreaming of becoming a writer herself. So she can’t believe her luck when she lands a job housekeeping for her personal hero, megabestselling author Essie Starling, a mysterious and intimidating recluse. The last thing Liv expected was to be the only person Essie talks to, which leads to a tenuous friendship.
But when Essie dies suddenly, a devastated Liv is astonished to learn of her last wish: for Liv to complete Essie’s final novel. But to do so Liv will have to step into Essie’s shoes, and as Liv begins to write, she uncovers secrets from the past that reveal a surprising connection between the two women–one that will change Liv’s own story forever… – Goodreads
Book Title: The Messy Lives of Book People
Author: Phaedra Patrick
Series: No
Edition: Audiobook
Published By: Park Row
Released: May 31, 2022
Genre: Fiction, Literary, Self-Discovery, Family, Ambition
Pages: 352
Date Read: July 32-24, 2024
Rating: 6/10
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.69/5 (24,367 ratings)
