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Sourpuss
by
Sourpuss is a blistering satire of the depraved and entitled culture that pervades college campuses.
Mallory Wahl loathes the campus party scene . . .
She’s sprinting through her senior year obsessed with winning a spot on the US Olympic track team. But she runs straight into a hurdle in the form of fraternity president Graham Patterson, an intern assigned to help her recove ...more
Mallory Wahl loathes the campus party scene . . .
She’s sprinting through her senior year obsessed with winning a spot on the US Olympic track team. But she runs straight into a hurdle in the form of fraternity president Graham Patterson, an intern assigned to help her recove ...more
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Kindle Edition, 292 pages
Published
January 20th 2019
by Haigh 38 Press
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This novel reads like a straight-to-DVD movie my friends and I would NOT have rented at Blockbuster in 1997. It’s touted as dark satire, and sure it IS a caricature of campus life, but it tries too hard to be outlandish. It’s not even funny. To me, for satire to be effective, it should be witty and intelligent. This undoubtedly is neither. And the writing is very basic. According to my Kindle, the name “Mallory” appears over 1K times in 300 pages. Can I get a pronoun or varying sentence structur
...more
RTC. Until then, my notes and initial thoughts upon finishing this book (followed by Quotes I liked):
• what the fuck?...more
• what?
• i like the main character because she's an asshole just like meeeeee
• seems like this is set in some kind of alternate dimension where things work out nicely (everyone loving Mal despite her being a raging asshole, (view spoiler)). Except then everything goes to shit (view spoiler)
Sourpuss by author Merricat Mulwray is a dark humorous book that will not disappoint! The characters were great, very entertaining and well thought out. Totally recommend this book!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of Sourpuss in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of Sourpuss in exchange for an honest review.
ARC received for an honest review.
The cover calls this a “Dark Comedy.” However, it was neither dark nor comedic. Juvenile writing, a bizarre storyline, and horrible characters combined to create a disaster. There were points in the story when I couldn’t tell to whom the actions or words were attributed. And we hopped from strange behavior to strange behavior without any motivation. It was like watching the little people from the Fix It Felix game lurch around.
This felt like a 15 year old boy ...more
The cover calls this a “Dark Comedy.” However, it was neither dark nor comedic. Juvenile writing, a bizarre storyline, and horrible characters combined to create a disaster. There were points in the story when I couldn’t tell to whom the actions or words were attributed. And we hopped from strange behavior to strange behavior without any motivation. It was like watching the little people from the Fix It Felix game lurch around.
This felt like a 15 year old boy ...more
I loved Sourpuss, first and foremost, for being so daringly and wickedly original! With its darkness and wit it was a wonderful treat.
The well drawn characters were deliciously terrible, some rather nefarious and often making me laugh-out-loud, so caught up were they in their own in their selfish lives. The tale was certainly not formulaic and it was completely unlike anything I've ever read before.
Very much a contemporary novel, it was a quick read, with a fair sprinkling of badness, negativity ...more
The well drawn characters were deliciously terrible, some rather nefarious and often making me laugh-out-loud, so caught up were they in their own in their selfish lives. The tale was certainly not formulaic and it was completely unlike anything I've ever read before.
Very much a contemporary novel, it was a quick read, with a fair sprinkling of badness, negativity ...more
Omg, I loved this book. If you cannot stand characters that you hate, then this isn’t the book for you. But for me, I couldn’t help but both despise Mallory and Graham and root for them at the same time - and eventually even sympathize with them. (As for everyone else in the book, with the exception of Darius, Callie, Ken, the Panda, and the twins, my feelings are pure hatred.) A scathing take on the culture of misogyny, including internalized, that permeates college campuses even in today’s wor
...more
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a huge disappointment. The premise sounded very promising, but there wasn't so much dark humor as just plain dark. The main character was arrogant and unlikable. She complained about everything and never took responsibility for her own actions. I lost interested after a few chapters. Well, at least they got the title right!
This was a huge disappointment. The premise sounded very promising, but there wasn't so much dark humor as just plain dark. The main character was arrogant and unlikable. She complained about everything and never took responsibility for her own actions. I lost interested after a few chapters. Well, at least they got the title right!
Thank you Netgalley and Haigh 38 Press for an ARC Copy of Sourpuss by Merricat Mulwray. Here is my honest review:
This book being billed as a “dark comedy” is only half accurate. It’s definitely dark, but it’s not the slightest bit funny. The characters in this campus story are all caricatures, which can work in a satirical work, but it falls flat here. All the frat boys are awful, albeit there are degrees of awfulness and you find yourself somewhat rooting for Graham simply because he’s not as ...more
This book being billed as a “dark comedy” is only half accurate. It’s definitely dark, but it’s not the slightest bit funny. The characters in this campus story are all caricatures, which can work in a satirical work, but it falls flat here. All the frat boys are awful, albeit there are degrees of awfulness and you find yourself somewhat rooting for Graham simply because he’s not as ...more
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Sourpuss was a very disappointing read for me. I know I went in with huge expectations, but the story just wasn’t good. Mallory Wahl, the sourpuss, is a track star on the path to the Olympics. Unfortunately, she gets injured and to recover, she has to train with an intern from the sports medicine department whom she despises.
Now, we all know how much I love the enemies to lovers trope, so why exactly didn’t this book work for me?
Let’s review.
The cover promises a dark comedy. ...more
Sourpuss was a very disappointing read for me. I know I went in with huge expectations, but the story just wasn’t good. Mallory Wahl, the sourpuss, is a track star on the path to the Olympics. Unfortunately, she gets injured and to recover, she has to train with an intern from the sports medicine department whom she despises.
Now, we all know how much I love the enemies to lovers trope, so why exactly didn’t this book work for me?
Let’s review.
The cover promises a dark comedy. ...more
Thank you NetGalley and Haigh 38 Press for an ARC of SourPuss by sisters Merricat Mulwray.
I admit the title and blurb, "a blistering satire of the depraved and entitled culture that pervades college campuses" caught my eye, and made me want to read this book. Unfortunately, there was nothing blistering or clever in these pages. This was truly some of the most awful writing and storytelling I have come across in a very long time.
Mallory Wahl is an Olympic hopeful who only needs to get through her ...more
I admit the title and blurb, "a blistering satire of the depraved and entitled culture that pervades college campuses" caught my eye, and made me want to read this book. Unfortunately, there was nothing blistering or clever in these pages. This was truly some of the most awful writing and storytelling I have come across in a very long time.
Mallory Wahl is an Olympic hopeful who only needs to get through her ...more
I don't know if I should be angry or disappointed. The story blurb had so much potential and I just didn't feel that the writing did any justice to it. I tried so hard to love this book but I couldn't. The writing was not what I expected and it was slightly disappointing and it just didn't do the story any justice. This book could have been so much more. With that being said, is it ironic to say I loved the main character and her whiny and bitchy attitude? Well maybe.. But the relationship is wh
...more
I was given an ARC for an honest review:
The opening line “Welcome back to the hellhole,” lured me into a wonderful world of satire set in a college experience. Mallory, the main character, white knuckles her goals into her own self-sabotage. The author, Merricat Mulwray, holds nothing back in her satirical debasing of college success. The book features debauchery, horrible students and whimsical nonsense that is intoxicatingly absorbing. The social commentary below the characters and plot makes ...more
The opening line “Welcome back to the hellhole,” lured me into a wonderful world of satire set in a college experience. Mallory, the main character, white knuckles her goals into her own self-sabotage. The author, Merricat Mulwray, holds nothing back in her satirical debasing of college success. The book features debauchery, horrible students and whimsical nonsense that is intoxicatingly absorbing. The social commentary below the characters and plot makes ...more
I'm not thrilled to have read Sourpuss. I disliked the story for the inappropriate sophomoric content it contained. It left me wondering what exactly I read? Was there some message I didn't get? I don't recommend this one. You'll just be offended I swear. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I have very conflicted feelings about this book. It’s seriously good, that I know. Sourpuss by Merricat Mulwray is a book that I had to force myself to read…and then I found myself eagerly reading to find out what kind of insanity happens next. I’m still trying to figure out why. The writing was good. The story was compelling, but I generally am a reader who values character growth and world-building…and this book doesn’t have a lot of either of those things.
Let’s start with character growth. I ...more
Let’s start with character growth. I ...more
I got an advanced copy of this book. First I want to say I liked the way this book tackled traditions. Traditions are toxic and remnants of a not always so glorious past. Especially the peer pressure and stupid fraternity traditions. All the characters in the book really think they can do whatever they want without any consequences. The writer makes this crescendo in the second part of the book. The rhythm is exhilarating and the ending is the knockout blow. I also loved the varied cast of chara
...more
I had major issues with this book. Firstly being this whole book made me angry constantly. Within the first fourteen chapter I had eighty notes written about parts I didn't like. Fourteen chapters in these book isn't a lot either, it's about 20% in.
The main character is awful. I hate sooo much. There is a way to write the "Diva" Character or even the bitchy character, this was not it. There is a reason people like the bitchy character and it's their redeeming qualities that make them likable, l ...more
The main character is awful. I hate sooo much. There is a way to write the "Diva" Character or even the bitchy character, this was not it. There is a reason people like the bitchy character and it's their redeeming qualities that make them likable, l ...more
Although Sourpous has an attractive and interesting premise -- a college track and field star falls in with a notorious fraternity and becomes wrapped up in a scandal - the reality fell flat for me. The main character, an insufferable young woman named Mallory, was hard to relate to and even harder to like. Her actions, though intended to be satirical, made little sense. The plot jumped around, changing between the perspectives of a series of increasingly confusing characters and timelines, and
...more
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Sourpuss is the story of Olympic track hopeful Mallory and fraternity president and resident hot guy Graham. What starts out as a way for Mallory to keep Graham training her and helping her recuperate after an injury turns into a real relationship embroiled in campus scandal.
This book....oh this book. Friends, I do not know where to start. Let's start with the things I was not so fond of so we can end on a positive ...more
Sourpuss is the story of Olympic track hopeful Mallory and fraternity president and resident hot guy Graham. What starts out as a way for Mallory to keep Graham training her and helping her recuperate after an injury turns into a real relationship embroiled in campus scandal.
This book....oh this book. Friends, I do not know where to start. Let's start with the things I was not so fond of so we can end on a positive ...more
"But when she looked around at the thousands of people cheering in the stands, what she felt most was alone" (chapter 25).
This review is originally posted on my blog, June Reads Books.
Thank you Merricat Mulwray, Haigh 38 Press, and Xpresso Book Tours for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
There is potential for a story here: one where the cynical girl with big dreams learns that the people she steps on to rise to success are the very people she needs, and one that addresses rape cultu ...more
This review is originally posted on my blog, June Reads Books.
Thank you Merricat Mulwray, Haigh 38 Press, and Xpresso Book Tours for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
There is potential for a story here: one where the cynical girl with big dreams learns that the people she steps on to rise to success are the very people she needs, and one that addresses rape cultu ...more
Dark, yes. Very dark. This book takes a dark, DARK turn. So the title gets that part right. The comedy, though. The comedy is missing.
Find me a character to like in this book, and I will find you an unwrapped Almond Joy from my home. Both are impossible. We have a brute who emotionally abuses his girlfriend and the weak girlfriend who sticks with him because of the future he offers her. We have a cruel and psychopathic young man who feels entitled to everything he wants to take. We have a colleg ...more
Find me a character to like in this book, and I will find you an unwrapped Almond Joy from my home. Both are impossible. We have a brute who emotionally abuses his girlfriend and the weak girlfriend who sticks with him because of the future he offers her. We have a cruel and psychopathic young man who feels entitled to everything he wants to take. We have a colleg ...more
Wicked original story! Loved this book, it’s quite the discovery. Thank you netgalley for the ARC. It’s witty and dark. I love dark humor and since there’s so little new stuff on the market this was a treat. American psycho is one of my favs. In this the characters are deliciously terrible, laughed escaped me throughout. From what I’ve seen in the media of university students they misbehave so I could laugh at their expense. The book is called Sourpuss and it lives up to the name that’s for sure
...more
I’m reviewing Sourpuss for my university newspaper. The authors provided me with a copy.
Sourpuss is real to university life. I must start out by saying that. That’s my personal thought. This was the only novel I’ve read about college where the characters felt real. I must know a handful of students just like them in the novel. It’s sad but truth. I’m not into Greek life it annoys me so I really sympathized with Mallory. She wasn’t the best person, but male athletes are always full of themselves ...more
Sourpuss is real to university life. I must start out by saying that. That’s my personal thought. This was the only novel I’ve read about college where the characters felt real. I must know a handful of students just like them in the novel. It’s sad but truth. I’m not into Greek life it annoys me so I really sympathized with Mallory. She wasn’t the best person, but male athletes are always full of themselves ...more
DNF. I'm not even sure of the percentage. I've literally never set a book as DNF in my life. I've set aside some to come back to when I'm in a more appropriate mood to enjoy it, but this... I will not be coming back to this. I was hoping for a bit of Reality Bites, but this was nothing like this. Listen to the reviews. The characters are unlikable (at best). The writing is childish and it's not funny. It's crude. I have a pretty twisted, pretty dark sense of humor, but I didn't even crack a smil
...more
Sourpuss... a college track star destined for the Olympics succumbs to an injury, straining her chances of joining team USA. She is forced to train with another student, the president of a campus fraternity. They don't get along at first, then suddenly fall in love. Mushy romance (do people really talk like this?), story skipped around and was confusing. Typical frat parties described, immature text and story. Not comedic or dark. Abrupt ending. First 30% of book intriguing.
I received an ARC from a Goodreads giveaway.
I wanted to like this book. I tried to like this book. Unfortunately, I couldn't even bring myself to finish this book... I stopped about a third of the way through. It's a dark satire that tried too hard. The characters are grossly stereotypical college students in their own little worlds. I was able to see the humor at times, but for most of the portion of the book that I read it was like beating a dead horse.
I wanted to like this book. I tried to like this book. Unfortunately, I couldn't even bring myself to finish this book... I stopped about a third of the way through. It's a dark satire that tried too hard. The characters are grossly stereotypical college students in their own little worlds. I was able to see the humor at times, but for most of the portion of the book that I read it was like beating a dead horse.
I have to admit that I swung back and forth with this one. Initially, I wasn't sure about it at all and didn't know if I was going to even be able to finish it. This is a very dark story about American College life. It's not something that I know a great deal about, as it seems very different to the British University that I attended.
The characters in this book are not particularly likeable, which is one of the things that makes it a complex read and hard to identify with. But, this is a satiric ...more
The characters in this book are not particularly likeable, which is one of the things that makes it a complex read and hard to identify with. But, this is a satiric ...more
My review to follow
Debauchery, nonsense and some of the most hateable characters ever... I loved it! Darkly hilarious and sharply satirical, Sourpuss is fantastic fun to read.
Jan 27, 2019
Isabelle | Nine Tale Vixen
marked it as did-not-finish
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I received a copy of this book from the author through a Goodreads giveaway. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
DNF at 45%.
You know that feeling when you see something horrific, or morbid, or just odd and you're trying not to stare but you can't look away? Reading this felt like that.
Bearing in mind that this is a satire/"dark comedy," I managed to put up with the narcissistic, misanthropic main characters for much longer than I had expected. Still, I don't have to look far in my real li ...more
DNF at 45%.
You know that feeling when you see something horrific, or morbid, or just odd and you're trying not to stare but you can't look away? Reading this felt like that.
Bearing in mind that this is a satire/"dark comedy," I managed to put up with the narcissistic, misanthropic main characters for much longer than I had expected. Still, I don't have to look far in my real li ...more
I really did not enjoy this book. The writing was inconsistent, and I could tell they were just writing in a hurry to get to the 'twist' at the end. None of the characters were likeable, but that may have been an age difference thing? The relationships between characters weren't written with a lot of depth and I found them really hard to believe in and get behind. I had such high hopes!! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this for free.
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