I really liked this story overall, despite not liking certain elements - mostly surrounding Caroline and her stupid husband. I agree this had the potential to be better. I would have taken the idea of a vengeful murderous apothecary poisoning men in 18th-century London in a different direction. I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars, but, decided on 4 because this book entertained me. I wasn't expecting accurate historical information and didn't want dry details on research and facts. I was in a reading slump and was spending most of my time on super heavy coursework reading and honestly, this book was fun enough to get me out of that slump. I let this book do what it was meant to do - delight me. That's right, it was delightful. A nice cozy read.

“...if people ever knew who walks among us freely, they’d never leave their homes.”

I liked the shorter stories. Most had just enough detail that I was not left desperate to know more, but I think I still would have liked to know more. I was not expecting so much praying to God, as it wasn't mentioned anywhere in the description or the reviews I skimmed. So when it came up initially I was like ok, then it came up again, and again. It's fine, but not what I was expecting in a book about therapizing. It wasn't preachy, just, unexpected. I did find it interesting that the author lets us know eventually that she doesn't subscribe to a formal religion, but is a true believer in a higher power and believes that in time, all her prayers will be answered. Interesting.

When you don't feel closure at the end of the story, it's because King meant it that way. Sometimes the story is complete, sometimes it's almost there and you can easily complete the feelings yourself, and other times you're left with a haunting and desperation to know more that you'll never get and that's beautiful.

This was a satisfying read. As I was reading I wondered which of these stories will be adapted for screen in the future. Several of them would do well. Sometimes a King story seems too short for a series or movie so I THINK there should be a Black Mirror-style show, just for those :)

Shut Up You're Pretty was one of the contenders for the CBC Canada Reads 2024, and so it was displayed front and center at Chapters where I purchased it because I liked the title and the cover.

This book is a series of short vignettes about the life of a Congolese woman whose family immigrated to Scarborough, less than 4 kilometers from where I lived as a little girl. When I left Scarborough for a series of townhouses in Sudbury, the lifestyles were much the same. I did not grow up innocent enough to not get this. The writing style was so comfortable to read as I nodded along and thought, yep, that's what they do. While I could both relate and not relate throughout, I was immersed. I would recommend this book to non-prudes and those looking for essential BIPOC reads.

Wellll shiiiiiiittttt...I mean wooooooooooowwwwww. My teens will be reading this. The girl one, the boy ones. EVERYBODY needs to read this. This book could change the world. But for that to happen men need to read it. Shouldn't be that hard...it's short, the cover looks all retro like it would be served well with some scotch and a cigar...I believe in us.