Beattz
Added to list2025 November TBRwith 18 books.
Added to listOwned E Bookswith 397 books.
I received this book for free in a sponsored giveaway. These thoughts are my own, and I have not been compensated for them.
I DNF'ed this at the 51% mark. I gave it a fighting chance, as the premise and the first few pages had me intrigued and even giggling. Unfortunately the writing got pretty tiresome quickly. The Orc character Ozar doesn't seem to have a limited vocabulary for not being a native English speaker but repeated use of certain terms (including exclusively, and very frequently, referring to his genitalia as his hand-axe) was off-putting. You could see the author was going to pretty great lengths to create emotional depth for Ozar, but in contrast, the FMC, Jordan, did not get the same treatment. Her empathy was unidirectional, her dating biases were loud, and she gave a person practically brand new to her realm a 5 minute lecture on incels. It was all very messy.
I received this book for free in a sponsored giveaway. These thoughts are my own, and I have not been compensated for them.
I DNF'ed this at the 51% mark. I gave it a fighting chance, as the premise and the first few pages had me intrigued and even giggling. Unfortunately the writing got pretty tiresome quickly. The Orc character Ozar doesn't seem to have a limited vocabulary for not being a native English speaker but repeated use of certain terms (including exclusively, and very frequently, referring to his genitalia as his hand-axe) was off-putting. You could see the author was going to pretty great lengths to create emotional depth for Ozar, but in contrast, the FMC, Jordan, did not get the same treatment. Her empathy was unidirectional, her dating biases were loud, and she gave a person practically brand new to her realm a 5 minute lecture on incels. It was all very messy.
Why did I love this book?
For starters, the subject matter, obviously inspired by SNL, is one of particular delight to me. You can count on one hand the number of biographies I've read that weren't former SNL cast members, or comedians of one kind or another.
Sally Milz was very obviously cast in my mind immediately as Tina Fey, or more accurately, Liz Lemmon, her 30Rock character. Noah was played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, also known as Jamie Lannister, and Danny, while not pictorially accurate, was Dr. Danny from the Mindy Project. Annabelle was Amanda Seyfried for some reason? Nigel, obviously, was played in my mind by the man, Lorne Michaels himself.
I grinned the entire way through the novel. I don't know if it's because of the writing style, or if at heart, I see myself as a Sally/Liz. It was heartening and yet somehow eerie to see myself so clearly in this character, down to exact thoughts and conversations previously held.
Towards the end, I honestly wondered if Sally would get her “happy ending” as the romantic comedy genre promises. I wondered if Sally would sabotage herself/have my own tendency to overanalyze to the point of paralyzation. I wondered if she could allow herself even the chance at happiness, no matter how “far-fetched” it seemed.
I wonder if, and I hope, in time, I can be as brave as Sally.
Why did I love this book?
For starters, the subject matter, obviously inspired by SNL, is one of particular delight to me. You can count on one hand the number of biographies I've read that weren't former SNL cast members, or comedians of one kind or another.
Sally Milz was very obviously cast in my mind immediately as Tina Fey, or more accurately, Liz Lemmon, her 30Rock character. Noah was played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, also known as Jamie Lannister, and Danny, while not pictorially accurate, was Dr. Danny from the Mindy Project. Annabelle was Amanda Seyfried for some reason? Nigel, obviously, was played in my mind by the man, Lorne Michaels himself.
I grinned the entire way through the novel. I don't know if it's because of the writing style, or if at heart, I see myself as a Sally/Liz. It was heartening and yet somehow eerie to see myself so clearly in this character, down to exact thoughts and conversations previously held.
Towards the end, I honestly wondered if Sally would get her “happy ending” as the romantic comedy genre promises. I wondered if Sally would sabotage herself/have my own tendency to overanalyze to the point of paralyzation. I wondered if she could allow herself even the chance at happiness, no matter how “far-fetched” it seemed.
I wonder if, and I hope, in time, I can be as brave as Sally.
Story is good, I hope the writing improves in future installments.
Story is good, I hope the writing improves in future installments.
I enjoyed this short story, and the lyric and prose of it.
I enjoyed this short story, and the lyric and prose of it.
