BOOK REVIEW: Puck by Samantha Allen

Meet Puck: the nonbinary, thirty-year-old mastermind behind Homewreckers, a dating show that puts troubled couples through hell—with a little help from their exes. Used to being the one pulling the strings, it shocks Puck when their life undergoes a plot twist of its own and their college roommate Mia announces her engagement to her ex’s best friend, Damon. Having only recently broken up with longtime-boyfriend Zander, and never having had much in common with Damon (who lovesick Lena has always pined after), Mia’s news leaves her friend group reeling—and Puck’s mind whirling.

When they arrive for a week of wedding festivities at an upscale resort in the Appalachian forest, Puck immediately sees that Mia’s marriage will lead to misery, and takes it upon themself to save their friends by rearranging the couples—without anyone finding out. But as Puck comes up against a type-A maid of honor hell-bent on making this wedding happen, it becomes clear that they will have to deliver the greatest stunt of their career. If only they can take their eyes off the bridesmaid. After all, the course of true love never did run smooth…

Are you a whimsical bitch? You'll love this.

We meet Puck on the set of Homewreckers, a chaotically unhinged reality TV show where couples, and the person one party cheated with are living together — instantly we start to piece them together; quick, clever, a bit crafty. Then as they progress to their friends wedding, we get another side, making such a rounded, fun character full of sass and smart. Some readers may find the intensity, the quirk a bit too much, but I say go find less then.

Their narration flowed from one scene to another, with plenty of little asides and thoughts — the wider cast are brilliant, just fleshed out enough for us to see them, but not taking too long with exposition. Together, they navigated the complicated nuances of adult friendship when people are in different places, have tense history.

The author playfully draws inspiration from a midsummer nights dream, where a mischievous fairy, Puck, causes chaos with matchmaking and the stealing hearts. So of course, when our own Puck puts their mind to stopping a friend marrying a man who was the equivalent of unbuttered toast (expensive bread though) I was cackling— it’s so wrong, but I loved it.

Of course, there’s always so much that can go wrong; like hate-fucking your new enemy in the spa? This is the truest enemies to lovers I’ve read in a while - it was ridiculous, so close to being too much but I ate it up. A majestically chaotic mess of meddling, self-sabotage and friendship that was an absolute delight to behold.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Puck will be available from June 2nd with Zando. I received an advanced reviewers copy of this title.

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