Parasocial

by Wendy Dalrymple

Casey is nineteen, struggling and social media obsessed. When her favorite StreamVid star, Della, falls ill, Casey takes it upon herself to set up a fund to foot her medical bills. However, when Casey’s online obsession bleeds into her IRL world, things go sideways and it becomes all too clear that Della might not be who she seems.

PARASOCIAL is a Florida Gothic meditation on obsession, social media, and the lengths people will go to achieve online success'Parasocial' is a fresh examination of society’s fascination with social media influencers. Even with twists and surprises around every corner, Wendy Dalrymple shines the studio ring light for a close-up observation of obsession and relationships. -Red Lagoe, author of Impulses of a Necrotic Heart

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Novella, Adult, Gothic

114 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

Wendy Dalrymple loves to explore the beauty in horrific things.. When she’s not writing #pinkhorror or Florida Gothic horror, you can find her hiking with her family, painting (bad) wall art, and trying to grow as many pineapples as possible. Follow her on IG or TikTok @wendydalrymplewrites.
Www.wendydalrymple.com

Reviews

[Bon · Rating 5 out of 5]

HAPPY RELEASE WEEK!

Thanks so much to author Wendy Dalrymple for sending me a copy to review before release day!

Here, Dalrymple has spun an über-modern horror tale of the nightmares being Chronically Online can summon. Parasocial is a tightly-paced examination of the cost of naïvete, the influencer scene, and the sinister compulsion to scroll your social feeds.

Parasocial opens with protagonist Casey in that liminal space between high school and college, working retail and trying to decide on what program to attend. This is one of those vulnerable times in a person's life, where they're grasping for purpose and companionship as they approach adulthood and all its responsibilities. So, Casey unfortunately makes the perfect victim archetype for social media predators. I found her relatable and well-rounded; she loves animals and crushes on a coworker, but also obsessively follows online influencer Della. She buys her merch, pays for exclusive content, and DMs with Della a lot, convinced she's her number one fan. When Della appears to become ill, Casey starts a huge fundraising campaign for treatment costs, and decides to visit her in person...

How different are we from our online personas? Do we sacrifice in-person relationships whilst glued to our screens? Are we too trusting of highly filtered, cosmetics-fluent faces who are in complete control of how and when we see them? This story asks all the right questions in an era where many of us have become reliant on online community spaces as we weather pandemics, organize movements, and keep up with fandom content.

I found Parasocial a thrilling, nail-biting bit of urban horror with a completely satisfyingly ending. It's a great addition to Wendy Dalrymple's Florida Gothic horror series.

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wild story. Every novella I've read by this author has been very different and I love that.

Parasocial is about what the title says it's about - at least at first. Casey has a parasocial relationship going on with a popular streamer and believes she is Della's #1 fan but turns out she's not the Annie Wilkes in this story. She's just someone who has spent too much time online, checked out of her own daily life and created an attachment to a person that has no real basis in reality. She thinks she knows Della. She thinks they're truly friends. But, well, you know - I won't spoil.

Things go sideways and get strange soon enough. It's a little gross, a little wicked and little bit over the top but I found it all pretty entertaining.

3.5 stars bumped up to 4 for GR

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars for Parasocial (audiobook) by Wendy Dalrymple read by Devon Hales.

I was just happy to find a Wendy Dalrymple book that I haven’t read before. I had no idea that it would be so suspenseful and timely as we’re coming up on Halloween. From the cover art, I was surprised that this is real a horror story for young people. And everyone can learn something from this story, you need to be careful with the people you meet online, they may be out take advantage of you or even worse.

[Rox · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
The concept was a ten out of ten, but the execution, more of a three out of ten. I think that the whole point of a short story is that you can’t have too many things happen, there can be only so many layers. In this case, way too much was happening for me as a reader to really care about any of it. I don’t know, nor care about any of the characters. What was the point of the mc’s crush that worked at the café? In a short story there isn’t space for a character that does one little thing. Give the action to an already existing character.
Also, this book suffered from the cliché, telling, not showing. I’m so glad the mc expressed her regret and outlined exactly what she learned from all this, otherwise how was I supposed to know what she learned. It was reading like a self help book by the end.

[thevampireslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendy's new addition to her Florida Gothic Series explores the human obsession with social media, Wendy shines a spotlight on how both naive and manipulative people can be online and really taps into that notion of 'are people really who they say they are online?' I LOVED the supernatural elements to this and thought it was a refreshing take on this topic, a fast paced
cautionary horror story that will make you think twice before hitting that like button, nobody wants to be sacrificed to a social media demon 👿

[Lauren loc · Rating 1 out of 5]

holy middle school creative writing project.. need to have a word with whoever tf recommended this on tik tok???

[Rebel Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea I would love this one so much. This story is crazy, in a great way. Casey is a young woman trying to make it through life. Her mom wants her to focus on college and even though she wants to make it as a veterinarian, it seems too much to handle at the moment. So she focuses instead on her favorite social media streamer Della. Not only does Della talk to her in her streams, she also starts to instant message with Casey - causing Casey to believe there is more to their friendship than she thought. But when Della announces one day that she is sick and needs to take a break to get treatment, Casey realizes she needs to help so she can get her friend back. She decides to visit Della to help her get better but things take a gigantic - and I mean GIGANTIC - turn for the worst.

This goes apeshit crazy y'all! I was pleasantly reading along enjoying the story for the most part when I was immediately struck by the absurd bus! This must be read to be believed. I totally loved where Dalrymple takes this story and I applaud her for her creativity. If you truly think becoming obsessed with social media is ok, read this. There were moments that felt a little too YA but remembering that this girl is only 19 helps to get through that. A quick and fun read for anyone looking to be entertained for an afternoon.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this one. I heard from all my favourite booktokers that it would be a ride. And it was for sure. Social media has made a way for it to be possible to live two lives. And it can for sure get scary. Loved this one!

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow wow wow, this was so good. This author is really becoming one of my favs for horror. Never trust anyone online, you never know if they are a good person or someone desperate enough to summon a couple of demons. This was very exciting and I just couldn't stop reading it. I also love the little nugget/twist we got at the end, oh my!

[inapileofyarnandbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this book, but the execution just felt a bit shallow? It's titled parasocial and supposedly about obsession but we barely see any evidence of either of those things. The only interactions between the narrator and the focus of her "obsession" that we see are a couple of short IM back and forths. We're told rather than shown.

Would have been much more enjoyable, for me, if it was a longer book with more of a slow burn build up demonstrating the growing obsession before the confrontation and the one-two punch of "oh she's a catfish" followed by "ohhhh she's a psychopathic witch."

The horror bits were very fun though, I enjoyed the second half of the book a lot more than the first.

[Fiona · Rating 1 out of 5]

A weird mixture of bad fanfic style writing with the most surface level social commentary. Wouldn't recommend, I should have stopped listening sooner but I had a lot of unpacking (literal) to do

[Rebecca White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Wendy is the Queen of Pink Horror Novellas.

If you didn’t already get anxiety over talking to people on the internet, you will after reading this. Who are you talking to, really? If you grew up in the era of A/S/L chat rooms, you’ll appreciate this sentiment even more.

How quickly we can become consumed and obsessed with social media. We’re all guilty of it. The little high you get when you notice that red dot indicating someone out there in the big wide world liked YOUR content. Woooo. It can be intoxicating.

Our FMC finds out just how toxic that can be, real quick. I feel like I picked this one up at this specific time for a reason and for that, I thank Wendy even more for writing it.

[Sam Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 🌟

Definitely had potential, then suddenly sounded like a Chicken Soup for the Soul book with super inspirational rhetoric and honestly? I was looking to be thrilled, fam.

[Damien Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Misery for the social media age. Social media has always made me think of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, this book is exactly why. We spend so much time seeing a 2d image on a screen of people and assume they’re out here living that all over in 3D. Parasocial moves your eyes from the cave wall into the terrifying thing lurking behind you. Wendy’s work always stands on the strength of its characters and Casey may be one of her best(I may be biased because of the name). The first person POV makes everything that happens in this quick read feel almost dream like. We get passing thoughts, we feel Casey’s emotions, and we only get to know her side of the story. All I know is I’m not following everyone back anymore. K thx.

[nineinchnovels · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting little body horror book. Loved the social media aspects.

[Matthew Vaughn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wendy is such a talented writer, she has the ability to create the realist characters, and this time she's given us a truly awful character. Parasocial is a creepy story full of twists, and gives us a disturbing look at an unfortunate side of social media. This is another great addition to her Florida Gothic series!

[Veronica · Rating 1 out of 5]

A 5 yo could've written this

[Billie Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy little horror, perfect to read in one sitting! Really enjoyed this crazy story and felt super creeped out at times as well.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It had a promising start, but then it got extremely heavy-handed with its message and then added a paranormal aspect that didn't feel in line with the theme.

For some reason, this 19-year-old is shocked at finding out that people lie about their identity on the internet. No, she's not shocked that Della is lying about her identity but is instead baffled that people do it at all. This came off as if this book was more meant to teach young children about the dangers of the internet rather than a serious attempt at a story.

Also, did you know social media stars use dark magic to gain fame?? While I understand this part is a metaphor for the lengths people go to to achieve fame, in my opinion, it wasn't done that well, and I was a little disappointed in its inclusion. Normally, I love paranormal twists to horror, but in this instance, I was looking for a more realistic commentary on obsessions and parasocial relationships and was given no indication in the synopsis that this was what it was going to be.

A good concept but poor execution.

[Jase Cordova · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book started out good, interesting concept. a girl in a parasocial relationship with a streamer meets up with that streamer, but not all is as it seems. and then it gets paranormal for some reason? there’s witchcraft? for what? anyway. if it was just a thriller it would probably have been close to five stars, but it felt like this was two stories mashed together, and not very well. had potential, missed the mark.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a cheesy read; social media, a tik tok adjacent etc… but I was proven wrong. It reads like an episode of Black Mirror, in the “so real it’s scary” kind of way. I appreciate the creepiness of it and would definitely recommend for a weekend easy read

[TallieReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I funny, bizarre, quick horror novella that I listened to on audiobook. The narrator did a great job, I listened to this on a road trip and it was highly entertaining. I really enjoy strange fiction about parasocial relationships and while this was by no means super deep or profound it worked for me because I was cackling at the absurdity of the fast-paced plot. I feel like this would be a great book to assist in getting out of a reading slump. I always loved the show Catfish and this definitely made me want to rewatch some classic episodes, but also stepped up the drama.

Our story begins with our 19 year old protagonist, Casey, who is chronically online and struggling to find her path in the world. She the number one fan of her favorite live stream influencer, Della, who is supposedly very sick with some vague illness. Casey takes it upon herself to set up an online fund for her recovery when Della goes ghost online. Naturally, Casey is super worried about what she considers to be her only friend. Since she has the address of Della from setting up the account for her, she figures what the heck. Why not go on a road trip across state lines to do a wellness check? So immediately you're thinking okay, this girl is unwell. When it becomes apparent Della isn't who she claims, Casey finds herself in a very sticky situation. This got very bizarre very quick and I definitely wasn't expecting the paranormal aspects. I really found this fever dream of a plot so hilarious and I loved that the author didn't try to make it too serious and leaned into the campy, satirical vibe. Will some people find this story ridiculous? Most definitely but I had a good time and would read more from this author, for sure.

[Yolanda Sfetsos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, I want to thank the author for sending me an ARC of this very freaky book.

Casey is nineteen and barely pays attention to the people in her real life. She likes animals and works in a pet store, but her obsession is social media. She's especially into StreamVid and idolises Della. When Della gets sick, Casey decides to set up a fund for medical expenses, but her helpful nature leads to an unexpected nightmare...

Wow. 😳

This novella is one hell of a ride! As soon as I started reading Casey's story, I was hooked and didn't stop until I finished. That's right, I read it in one sitting.

There's nothing better than a cautionary horror tale wrapped in a seriously messed-up social commentary package. And this one packs quite a punch.

I really liked Casey, and often sympathised with her helpful nature. While also cringing because the way she gets swept up in someone she doesn't really know is a situation that is often seen online. For every authentic person, there are a hundred with nefarious intentions. And this story takes that reality and spins it upside down, turns it into a super creepy story with a touch of body horror and plenty of gross imagery.

Like I said, this is highly addictive and relentless, kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last word.

Well, this is another Wendy Dalrymple gem! I seriously love Wendy's addictive writing style, and can't get enough.

[Katherine Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I went into this thriller about when parasocial relationships go wrong, I thought I knew what I was getting into, but the story took a turn I did not expect that led somewhere altogether different!

It's difficult to get into the twists without getting into spoilers, but when 19-year-old Casey finally comes face to face with her social media idol, the truth is a lot more bizarre than I could have expected. While it was definitely a twist I didn't foresee, I enjoyed seeing the resulting events unfold, and Dalrymple did a great job of building a sense of dread and fear around the villain of the story.

I liked the characters, and could relate to Casey's online obsession and reluctance to engage with the world around her. I especially liked Sean, who was an absolute sweetheart, and of course, Spike the bearded dragon (who comes to no harm in the story, don't worry!).

It's always tough to achieve a satisfying narrative in such a short book, and I do think the story could've done with more room to breathe. It moved very quickly, teasing at what was going on before moving on, and often leaving questions unanswered. I would've loved a bit more tension and depth at times, but it was still an enjoyable read.

If you're in the mood for a quick thriller with a paranormal bent, give this one a try!

[Heather Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Read the description of the book for the synopsis!)

I’ve never read one of Wendy Dalrymples books, that I didn’t rate 5 stars and I’m so happy to say that Parasocial lived up to that rating for me, and I’m forever thankful to the author for sending me an early copy! I started reading it the second it came in the mail and I read it in one sitting.

The newest addition to Wendy’s Florida Gothic Series, Parasocial is a fast pace horror that explores the human obsession with online influencers and how easily the line between social media and real life is blurred. It was such a relevant story about the human attachment to technology, specifically their phones and social media. In a world where we are living lives based on notions, and trends we’ve soaked up from a plethora social media platforms- it’s so easy to forget that there is a whole world between yourself and what you’re seeing on screen. And you usually have no idea what the reality of what you’re looking at, actually is. Things are rarely exactly what they seem.
This book was uncomfortable, creepy, twisty, and the perfect read for todays society.

[Maddy (maddys_needful_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parasocial follows Casey, a young woman who's a little too obsessed with her favorite streaming influencer, Della. When Della falls ill, Casey decides to make IRL contact. Obviously, this decision is not going to end well for someone. And, since it's a Wendy Dalrymple story, you'll get a lot of surprises along the way.

So, we have another killer five-star read from Dalrymple. Is anyone surprised? Any time you pick up one of her books—novella or short story—you are guaranteed to get a jaw-dropping, unpredictable, and fast-paced story. Parasocial has a classic "Wendy Twist" (that's a term now; I'm coining it), with themes of transformation and something else I can't say because it's a spoiler. It's the perfect length, creepy, and has a touch of body horror. I love the social media angle.

I recommend Parasocial to fans of all types of horror and thrillers. In my opinion, there isn't anything extreme enough to warrant trigger warnings, but those with severe bug phobias won't like a few scenes. (Though, as one of those people, I think it was still worth reading.)

Thank you so much to Wendy for sending me a copy of your book!

[Rebecca Jamison · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had the potential to be great. I loved the sound of it and at the start, I thought it was going to be so good but slowly went downhill.

Casey is a nineteen-year-old animal lover with a job at her local pet store. She is an avid watcher of StreamVid user, Della and it feels like a full blown obsession. When Della stops posting, Casey reaches out and Della confides in her that she is ill, prompting Casey to start an online fundraiser. She needs an address for the money to go to but her obsession has her driving to Della's house.

I wish the book hadn't turned at this point because I loved that parasocial/obsessive aspect with someone who is high profile. I won't give too much away because of spoilers but it felt sort of disjointed and like two halves. I also had to go back and check if it was YA as it felt a little juvenile in it's writing with a few too many repetitive phrases. Not for me I'm afraid!

[Stephanie Parent · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I had let something so meaningless hold so much meaning in my life, and now I was going to lose it all."

Wendy Dalyrmple's PARASOCIAL is the story of 19-year-old Casey's obsession with an online influencer, and the danger she finds herself in when she learns just how deep the differences between online appearance and reality descend. This story works as a clever, compelling and surprising parable about the many pitfalls of social media. It touches upon celebrity worship, fraud, identity theft, and social media addiction, and couches all these timely topics within a creepy and creative story. Anyone who has scrolled social media will find something to relate to here!

[DarkS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I fully expected this to be cringe 🙄 Like, “ugh another book about social media, influencers, TikTok knockoffs, blah blah.” But nope ,plot twist it actually slapped 👏. This novella reads like Black Mirror chugged a Monster Energy: creepy 😳, weirdly hilarious 😂, and way too real for comfort 😬.

Casey’s story had me hooked from page one . I told myself I’d just read a couple chapters, and then suddenly boom it’s 2AM and I’ve inhaled the whole thing in one sitting. Zero breaks, zero regrets.

It’s short, sharp, and one of those “oh god, this could actually happen” horrors that stick in your brain like a cursed viral sound 🎶. Unhinged in the best way. 10/10 would recommend.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros: I always love a good social media, stalker-esque kind of vibe and this story began there.

Cons: But there was so much to be left to the imagination. I genuinely wish Dalrymple would've fleshed it out more, as there is so much potential for each character and the overall plot.

Conclusion: If you need a quick story to finish your yearly reading goal or just to pass the time, try this out. It's got witchcraft and psycho vibes, but if you're looking for something to hold your attention for a few hours... This short story isn't for you.