Book Recommendation: Just Stab Me Now
Jill Bearup's debut novel is a hilarious take on literary tropes.
Last week, I shared my take on one of the most tired romance tropes, the love triangle.
Today, I want to recommend Just Stab Me Now, a book that upends that genre’s full basket of tropes, poking fun at the romance/fantasy genre while simultaneously creating a great romance/fantasy story—much like The Princess Bride does: “A satire of all those sappy, swashbuckling medieval love stories that happens to be the best sappy, swashbuckling love story ever made.”
Just Stab Me Now has two protagonists. First, we have Lady Rosamund Hawkhurst, a widow fighting to protect her family’s estate. Second, we have Caroline, the writer of Lady Rosamund’s story, who just can’t seem to control her novel. Much as Caroline tries to force her heroine down the familiar paths of a romance novel—enemies to lovers!—tending your love interest’s injuries!—fake wedding!—Rosamund focuses more on keeping her family safe than on falling in love. From the moment she appears on Caroline’s page as a 36-year-old mother of two, instead of the 20-ish maiden Caroline had intended, it’s clear who is going to be running the show.
That doesn’t mean that Rosamund is a one-dimensional, “strong female protagonist” Mary Sue who finds everything easy. She makes poor decisions throughout the story, and her grief and confusion over the loss of her first husband, along with her tigress love for her children, are the emotional soul of the book.
When it comes to Leo Collins, the strong, silent “Hot Enemy” assigned to protect Rosamund, he’s always trying to do the right thing for king and country, but he also has secrets to keep. I’m a sucker for a noble, upright, stick-in-the-mud character whose single-mindedness is challenged by complicated events (Costis is one of my favorite characters in Megan Whalen Turner’s Thief series, if that gives you any indication), and Leo delivers.
There’s also court intrigue, political assassinations, political marriages, and witty dialogue. Oh, and unlike 99.99% of the modern romance genre, it’s not at all smutty/spicy/whatever word people use to describe how the genre has basically turned into porn: it’s clean.
You should definitely give this book a try, or at least check out the video version of the story on YouTube. You see, if you’re not already familiar with Jill Bearup, she’s a YouTuber-actor-combatant who explains weaponry, armor, and fight scenes in a highly entertaining way. She started her “Fantasy Heroine” series as a light bit of fun, but eventually, encouraged by her fans, she turned them into an actual book. they’re excellent enough to stand on their own. If you like them, the book is just like them, only more so.
My favorite addition to the book, aside from the expanded scenes, was the broader frame story given to Caroline, the writer. The novel’s plot repeatedly freezes so that Caroline can discuss things with her characters, text her editor, and work through her own personal problems. This not only makes for some funny, fourth-wall-breaking dialogue; it also reflects how often writers need to figure out some things in real life before they can write honestly. Here are just a few of Caroline’s insecurities:
her heroine is obviously a self-insert (they even have the same face!), yet a self-insert with all of the gumption she herself lacks
she is being bullied and scapegoated at work
she finds writing romance much easier than confessing to a friend that she has feelings for him
I really enjoyed both the YouTube series and the book that followed. I recommend either or both. They’re tons of fun, and if you check them out, I’d love to hear what you think.