She's a Lamb!: A Novel

A darkly comic suspense in the vein of All’s Well and Yellowface, She’s a Lamb! is an edgy and incisive novel that marches toward showtime with a growing unease about the dangers of magical thinking and the depths of delusion

Jessamyn St. Germain is meant to be a star. Not an actor who occasionally books yogurt commercials and certainly not a lowly usher at one of Vancouver’s smallest regional theaters. No, she is bound for greatness, and that’s why the part of Maria in the theater’s upcoming production of The Sound of Music is hers. Or it’s going to be.

Jessamyn may have been relegated to the position of childminder for the little brats playing the von Trapp children, but it’s so obvious she’s there for a different reason — the director wants her close to the role so when Samantha, the lead, inevitably fails, Jessamyn will be there to take her place in the spotlight.

This must be it. Because if it isn’t, well, then every skipped meal, every brutal rehearsal, every inch won against a man attempting to drag her down will have all been for nothing.

Sharp, relentless, and darkly funny, She’s a Lamb! is a cutting satire about the grotesque pall patriarchy casts over one woman’s delusional quest to achieve her dreams and the depths she will sink to for a chance at the life she’s convinced she deserves.

Meredith Hambrock’s debut novel Other People’s Secrets was called “audacious” and “fabulous” by the New York Times. She has been a finalist for the CBC Short Story Prize and worked extensively in television, most recently in the writers’ room for the Canadian Screen Award–winning sitcom Corner Gas Animated. She lives in Saskatoon.

ISBN: 9781770417892
Format: Paperback
Pages: 312
Publisher: ECW Press
Published: April 08, 2025

“Dark, hilarious, and thought-provoking, She’s a Lamb! is a biting satire about a deluded woman’s quest for stardom. A wildly entertaining ride!” — Robyn Harding, bestselling author of The Haters“She’s a Lamb! is Sunset Boulevard for the next generation. Exploring ego, trauma, and the brutal pursuit of great art, this book is hilarious until it’s terrifying, maddening until it’s tragic. Meredith Hambrock is a star!” — Ainslie Hogarth, author of Motherthing“A diabolical journey through one woman’s deep delusions and desperate ambition. Hambrock brilliantly doles out tragicomic tension inspired by the Chekhov and Shakespeare referenced, all to a brutally hilarious and just plain brutal effect through the thoughts and actions of an unforgettably Machiavellian character. She’s a Lamb! left me breathless!” — Deb Rogers, author of Florida Woman“Hambrock keeps the reader on edge via Jessamyn’s unreliable narration ... It’s a showstopping performance.” — Publishers Weekly“For readers who enjoy dark, uncomfortable humor and tales of mental spiraling.” — Library Journal“Told from Jessamyn's point of view, at first charmingly unhinged, then terrifyingly disturbed, She's a Lamb! is a dive into the mind of a deeply delusional woman ... Audacious and darkly funny.” — Booklist“If you did any drama, theater work or musicals, if you love stories with unhinged women and dark comedy, you’ll enjoy this.” — Sadie Hartmann (Mother Horror)“With remarkable restraint, Hambrock leans away any possibility of redemption and focuses her narrative just as narrowly as Jessamyn herself has on her own possibilities. The result is hilarious, ridiculous, creepy and chilling at once.” — Pickle Me This“She's a Lamb! is brilliantly funny and a super great time. This is a perfect pick for getting out of a reading slump!” — Kaylee, Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore (Berkeley, CA)“What a ride! A hilarious and tragic tale of misguided ambition and delusional positivity—all for the love of musical theater. I guffawed and groaned in frustration throughout. This was a very enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to readers who liked Big Swiss and My Year of Rest and Relaxation.” — Matthew, Titcomb’s Bookshop (East Sandwich, MA)