Reader Reviews, with thanks for every beautiful word ever posted on Instagram, Goodreads, and Amazon
Lauren | @thebookscript
Drinker of Ink is my favorite debut novel of 2023.
This is the kind of book that reminds me of how words and stories are vital to our very being—and how words can heal even after our actions fail us.
This is a story written in letter format that somehow reads like a beautifully vivid and poetic fever dream. Shannon gives readers a consuming plot with an equally exquisite writing style all her own.
The entirety of the novel feels like one well spoken coming of age poem as it examines what it feels like to fall in love and cope with those ever expanding/shifting emotions.
Drinker of Ink feels like an old soul that is dipped in new life with its charm, poise and heart. This book is deeply romantic in its simplicity. Like the empty spaces between two hands begging to be held.
This is a strong character driven story where you really get to see the introspective thoughts of our main character, Vivienne. The 90’s foreign affairs elements feel well-researched and impactful. You could highlight the book for days and find a new sentence to gush over . . . or a new theme to examine.
Some books feel like they have left you with a portion of the author’s heart attached to your own. This one does that. I don’t want to live in a world where stories like this don’t exist.
Genesis | @geny.reads
Rating: 5/5
Read it for the:
-Character Growth
-Journal entity POV’s
-Light academia vibe (College setting, commentary on poetry, literature, life, etc.)
-Great chemistry between leads (instructor / student trope)
-Themes of finding home, personal growth, familial and romantic love
-Complex family relationships
-1990s California Setting
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭:
Romance: clean (kissing only), light language
Trigger warning: parent with a history of cancer, emotional turmoil, death, mentions of war violence
𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
Drinker of Ink was a novel to took me by surprise - the experience I had with this read can be described as cinematic with its vivid imagery, and heartfelt writing. Filled with brilliant notes on poetry, incredible character arcs, and a romance with all the emotions of new beginnings and sharp turns, Drinker of Ink is a debut novel to add to your TBR.
If there is something I love in a book, it’s the character growth that results from good writing. Very rarely am I able to experience the growth of a character so vividly as described in this story. The character arcs of both Vivienne and Peter were amazing. Each dealt with an uncertain world yet they found their home in the lines of poetry. Beginning in their college years and spanning some time after, through their journal entries, I was able to watch them both break and mend as their lives took shape. Not one moment was overlooked or without purpose. This is a book that takes root in your heart in a slow and unassuming way and blossoms in you as the pages turn.
The romance between Vivienne and Peter was perfect. The chemistry between them was palpable. What started as an innocent one-sided crush turned into love that had depth and substance. While closed door, there were many kisses and soft moments shared between these two. Vienne and Peter proved why poetry is for the romantics. The build-up to the relationship was one of the best I’ve read in a while. If you enjoy a slower build-up, pining, light angst, and slightly forbidden vibes—this one is for you.
While this is very much Vivienne and Peter’s story, the side characters and plot points were essential to their growth. I enjoyed the complexity that Vivienne’s family brought into the mix. Vivienne’s dread of losing one of the members of her family and her emotional dependence on them was interesting to read and, at least for me, relatable. While Vivienne worked through navigating her feelings and future, Peter dealt with the unraveling political climate of his family's home country. It was a difficult time for both, but this gave a realistic balance to the story.
While this may not be an ideal perfect for some, the overall reading experience was perfect for me. Drinker of Ink was an immersive read that described the whimsical feelings of falling in love and the growing pains one may experience in life. I would recommend this book to readers who love a romance with great writing and literary enthusiasts alike. One thing is certain for me, I cannot wait to read whatever Shannon Castleton writes next.
Savannah | @forest_reader
This book. THIS BOOK is why I read. It's been a long time since a book made me chuckle and gasp, mourn and yearn, sob with sorrow and cry with joy. It made me rethink how I view life, its beauty and unexpectedness, its relationships and the words we use to make sense of the world. I don't ever think I've read a book that is so full of life.
The character growth is unparalleled. Vivienne and Peter must be real, must be actually living in our world. At the very least, they are alive in my soul. I know them intimately now through their story, and I think the book's format of journal entries is key to achieving this. You feel what they feel. You experience life with them, and their poetry offers entirely new ways of looking at things.
What I love most about Drinker of Ink is the writing. It is utterly ethereal. I never mark up romances, but I underlined so much of its pages. The word choice, cadence, and the metaphors draw you in and make you rethink everything. I couldn't devour this book. I had to sit with its words, reread its passages, and contemplate what they meant to me. Shannon Castleton's writing is true enlightenment. There's no other way to describe it.
Drinker of Ink is indescribably beautiful. I know it's a true gem for the right audience. I beg you to read it. It may change your life, like it has mine. I have been truly transformed by this book.
Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5 million stars
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5
Courtney | @bookishbeachbabe
If you read any book in 2024, please let it be this one. For a book that has no magic in it, this story is wonderfully magical. It’s a brilliant masterpiece and the fact that it’s Shannon’s debut absolutely takes my breath away. Like, are you kidding me? The words in this book are pure poetry, ethereal. My heart was in an absolute vice grip while I read and savored this delicious book.
Vivienne and Peter have become so real to me. Their personalities were so perfectly painted within the journalistic style storytelling. Their thoughts and feelings have become my own. I feel their story bone deep; its soul-touching. I’m so lost in their romance, in their little quirks, in their poetry. This book both ripped me open and put me back together. I fear I sound like a blabbering idiot, but friends, this story is an otherworldly experience. Now that it’s over, I feel adrift. This book is why I read. Day after day chasing stories that speak to my heart and stay there forever. Stories that change me and become a part of who I am. Stories that I will turn to time and time again because the characters are my friends and being with them feels like coming home.
This book is everything. You need to read it. Trust me.