This is a book that I enjoyed in stretches but mostly left me frustrated.
I think I have a thing for millennial women writing social/patriarchal mystery/thrillers set in New York City. Tara Isabelle Burton. Andrea Baartz. I tend to like these books more than others do. It’s not my favorite genre but it’s one I apparently enjoy. This book can be slotted into it.
It works as a deconstruction and examination of the cultish nature of fandom. The nameless protagonist* gets drawn into this clique of women who are fans of a fictional pop star (a thinly disguised Arianna Grande). Only it’s not really a clique as much as it is a cult. Here, Erin Mayer deals well with the religious aspect of a cult: liturgy (getting together), sacraments (wine), sound (music). Those scenes were the most well done.
Everything else flops. The protagonist’s life outside of the cult is kind of hazily described, the motives for the cult members doing what they do (no spoilers) are never really fleshed out in a satisfying way, and the less said about the conclusion, the better. The writing is scattered and unfocused, in desperate need of a better editor.
If the premise of the novel intrigues you, I’d say go for it. I don’t think it’s a bad book. It just feels like it should have been better.
*Something I hate and that the writer didn’t give her much back story also annoyed me. I think it takes away from the story by not giving personal stakes to the lead character. They just become their context and nothing more.
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