Welcome back, Fam! 👋 We’re diving into Week Two of our Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake Read Along, covering Chapters 10 through 20. If you missed last week’s breakdown, make sure to catch up here.
Phew—a lot has happened, even though technically…not much has happened. 😂
Everyone’s Grieving, and Everyone’s Unwell
We’re still in the thick of backstory, character grief, and wild internal monologues. The stream-of-consciousness style continues to work surprisingly well. It matches the mood of this spiraling, slow-burning drama where every character feels unhinged but heart-breakingly human.
Honestly? I’m loving it. I kind of hate them all and love them all. Equal parts tragedy and chaos. And I say that with affection.
Meredith & Jamie: Dysfunction We Can’t Look Away From
Meredith is the character I find myself gravitating toward this week—especially in her scenes with Jamie. The tension, the history, the absolutely bad decisions? Chef’s kiss.
And Jamie’s POV? Rough. Raw. Gut-punching. Seeing his addiction surface through his narration was a tough but effective move.
Would it be terrible of me to want them to get back together? (Don’t answer that.)
Cass, Gillian, and the Arthur of It All
Still wondering if we’ll get Cass’s POV eventually. There’s something simmering under the surface there.
Gillian’s chapter gave us a new window into her motivations and the dynamic of her poly marriage—one that feels as complicated and messy as everything else in this book.
And Arthur? That almost-death moment hit hard. The fear, the fragility, the baby questions…that scene did real emotional work. I want more.
Lou: A Ghost of the Past (But Hopefully Not for Long)
We finally got a proper glimpse of Lou. The way she lingers in family memory—as Meredith’s best friend, as a possible partner of Arthur’s, and as a figure in the plagiarism scandal—makes me so sure she’s coming back.
When she does, it better be explosive. 💣
Eilidh and Dzhuliya: Give Me This One Sweet Moment
The tragedy of Eilidh is wearing me down. Her inner turmoil, her yearning for clarity about her father—it all feels so real. This is where the King Lear vibes hit me hardest, and I’m fully on board.
Please, please give me one tender scene between her and Dzhuliya. Just one.
TL;DR: This Book Is a Beautiful, Brutal Mess
Everything is unraveling slowly, but it’s deliberate. Blake is clearly building to something big, and I’m all in. Let me know your thoughts below—who are you rooting for? Who do you trust? (I’m trusting no one, let’s be real.)
And don’t forget to check back for the next installment of our Gifted & Talented Read Along recap.
📚 Next week, we’ll be reading up to Thursday (aka Chapter 38). Buckle up.
Happy reading!
➡️ P.S. If you haven’t grabbed our July Bite Me Box, it’s the perfect moody pairing for fans of messy romance and complex characters! This month’s pick is The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley — and yes, it’s a good one.
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