mixed feelings on this one. on one hand it feels very accurate to the setting-- if you've spent any time on or adjacen to book twitter or booktok to booktube or any other online book-based subculture, a lot of this book is going to feel uncomfortably real. in the sense that rather than losing myself in the story, i was often overcome with the same seminausea one feels when doomscrolling, and would have to take a break from reading to do something else (like actually doomscroll). the protagonist's internal monologue is self absorbed and completely out of touch, but never crosses the line of being too unbelievable or absurd. on the other hand, the criticisms of the author's depiction of the publishing world as one built on meritocracy and the flippant way class as a factor in success is left unexplored are both more than fair. the ending also felt rushed, with the reveal feeling unearned and cliche. i also think this book could've been cut down significantly but i tend to prefer faster paced stories so that could be entirely preference.