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Mewing
Vixen would sell her soul to get into the Bleach Babes and, if she isn’t careful, she might just get what she wants.One of the most exclusive influencer co-ops in LA, the Bleach Babes live and work together in one big house where they have it popularity, talent, and beauty. Their leader? Supermodel Margo, a woman as sinister as she is sexy.After Margo agrees to take Vix under her wing—and into her bed—Vixen moves in and begins hustling. Success comes hard and fast, but the glitz and glamor comes with a price that may cost her her sanity… and her life.
152 pages, Paperback
Published February 27, 2024
3 people are currently reading
566 people want to read
About the author
Chloe Spencer
24 books60 followersMinnesota native Chloe Spencer is an award winning writer, indie gamedev, and filmmaker. She enjoys writing sci-fi/fantasy, horror, and romance. In her spare time she enjoys playing video games, trying her best at Pilates, and cuddling with her cats. She holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Oregon and an MFA in Film and Television from SCAD Atlanta. You can find more about her on www.chloespenceronline.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
February 28, 2024
*please check the TWs in the back of the book before reading
MEWING taps into particular tropes that I enjoy. I love that whole, "Behind-the-Scenes, secret, dark life of social media influencers", the "get-rich-quick" schemes, the ugly side of beauty and wellness culture, that whole "Black Mirror" dark technology and social media gone awry, and body horror.
This one has it all!
There were a few times I needed to suspend disbelief for the sake of wholly investing. My brain was asking many questions about obvious red flags. There were a few threads that didn't quite get tied off or circled back to--also a few scenes that needed more; they were slightly underdeveloped but the overall reading enjoyment is there. That's undeniable. I was turning those pages and I had to see where this was all going to end up.
MEWING taps into particular tropes that I enjoy. I love that whole, "Behind-the-Scenes, secret, dark life of social media influencers", the "get-rich-quick" schemes, the ugly side of beauty and wellness culture, that whole "Black Mirror" dark technology and social media gone awry, and body horror.
This one has it all!
There were a few times I needed to suspend disbelief for the sake of wholly investing. My brain was asking many questions about obvious red flags. There were a few threads that didn't quite get tied off or circled back to--also a few scenes that needed more; they were slightly underdeveloped but the overall reading enjoyment is there. That's undeniable. I was turning those pages and I had to see where this was all going to end up.
January 3, 2026
hmm this was okay, a horror following influencers and control. some genuinely disturbing scenes, but the plot was just a bit lack lustre at times, like it felt like a whole lot of nothing happening for part of the book. but then you get stuff like the staples and it’s sick and twisted and great
January 17, 2024
Mewing begins intriguingly. A short description precedes the opening chapter, explaining the process the book is named after: the tongue technique used by models to make their jawline look slimmer. It’s a hint at what’s to come: ideas of control, sacrifice and doing (arguably) unnecessary stuff to your bodies, and it immediately unsettles you.
From that point on, you are never settled again. This is The Devil Wears Prada for the Insta Model generation fused with a tale of toxic romance, dark magic and stomach-churning body horror.
Vixen is the model wanting more; unlike the fashion-clueless Prada ingénue, however, she is already pretty savvy: a decent amount of followers for her modelling, getting free clothes from companies, etc, but money is tight and she seeks out the next level of fashion fame: The Bleach Babes, a group of influencers (a gamer, an actress, a fitness star, etc) who all live in the same house, their careers (and diets) overseen with ruthless efficiency by the matriarchal powerhouse figure of famous supermodel Margo.
Margo is a terrific creation. Spencer could have made her a pantomime villain: she controls everyone’s diet regime, she forces Vixen to bleach her own auburn hair blonde (well, I mean they are called the Bleach Babes to be fair). But Spencer offsets such controlling behaviour with Margo’s monologues on how they are freeing themselves from the control of men as well as the occasional body positive comment (cellulite: fine), so at first the reader is thrown off balance, never sure what to make of her. Vixen herself is not exactly a heroine either; she self-describes as a snake and so you are, at least initially, never sure if her infatuation with Margo is her own doing or the abuse of her mentor.
As well as this relationship of obsession we have a deeply unsettling tale of body modification and something ancient and scary in the background. The genius of the early scenes is that we are never really sure what is supernatural and what is simply the disturbing reality of such a living situation – is that model throwing up in the bathroom in the grip of something sinister or are they simply bulimic? This could have just been a tale of our real world without the insidious horror and it still would have been creepy.
But eventually, Spencer chooses the surreal, over-the-top route – nods to the Suspiria-style Giallo horror of Dario Argento abound – and the reader is thrown into the kind of body horror that will make you wish you didn’t have to feel a particular part of your body for days afterwards.
There are also some great themes to chew over (that lame pun gets slightly funnier once you’ve read it): are the Bleach Babes taking their destiny from the old patrichal fashion model system, or simply enslaving themselves in a different way? Is the relationship between Vixen and Margo “simply” (not that there’s anything simple about it) a tale of toxicity and abuse, or is it a metaphor for the relationship between the Zoomer model generation and the social media society they’re dependent on? There’s no easy answers here, and the novella is all the better for it
The secret weapon behind all these tasty themes and screams is Spencer’s prose, which is just excellent; clinical and precise when it needs to be and terrifyingly effective in its over-the-top descriptions when it wants to; just as confident in narrating the complex-power plays and conversational layers of abuse as it as taking you through step by step the most nauseating body horror. This story would have been great still with lesser prose, but Spencer is a great wordsmith and it shows.
Shortwave impressed last year with a series of well-written bite-sized horrors, and by kicking off the year with this it’s showing it has no plans to let up with the quality. Mewing is read-in-one sitting addictive, and will make you think twice about ever using a very common form of office stationary. This compelling modern-day fable will linger long after the mirror lights go out. You’ll want to look away. You won’t.
From that point on, you are never settled again. This is The Devil Wears Prada for the Insta Model generation fused with a tale of toxic romance, dark magic and stomach-churning body horror.
Vixen is the model wanting more; unlike the fashion-clueless Prada ingénue, however, she is already pretty savvy: a decent amount of followers for her modelling, getting free clothes from companies, etc, but money is tight and she seeks out the next level of fashion fame: The Bleach Babes, a group of influencers (a gamer, an actress, a fitness star, etc) who all live in the same house, their careers (and diets) overseen with ruthless efficiency by the matriarchal powerhouse figure of famous supermodel Margo.
Margo is a terrific creation. Spencer could have made her a pantomime villain: she controls everyone’s diet regime, she forces Vixen to bleach her own auburn hair blonde (well, I mean they are called the Bleach Babes to be fair). But Spencer offsets such controlling behaviour with Margo’s monologues on how they are freeing themselves from the control of men as well as the occasional body positive comment (cellulite: fine), so at first the reader is thrown off balance, never sure what to make of her. Vixen herself is not exactly a heroine either; she self-describes as a snake and so you are, at least initially, never sure if her infatuation with Margo is her own doing or the abuse of her mentor.
As well as this relationship of obsession we have a deeply unsettling tale of body modification and something ancient and scary in the background. The genius of the early scenes is that we are never really sure what is supernatural and what is simply the disturbing reality of such a living situation – is that model throwing up in the bathroom in the grip of something sinister or are they simply bulimic? This could have just been a tale of our real world without the insidious horror and it still would have been creepy.
But eventually, Spencer chooses the surreal, over-the-top route – nods to the Suspiria-style Giallo horror of Dario Argento abound – and the reader is thrown into the kind of body horror that will make you wish you didn’t have to feel a particular part of your body for days afterwards.
There are also some great themes to chew over (that lame pun gets slightly funnier once you’ve read it): are the Bleach Babes taking their destiny from the old patrichal fashion model system, or simply enslaving themselves in a different way? Is the relationship between Vixen and Margo “simply” (not that there’s anything simple about it) a tale of toxicity and abuse, or is it a metaphor for the relationship between the Zoomer model generation and the social media society they’re dependent on? There’s no easy answers here, and the novella is all the better for it
The secret weapon behind all these tasty themes and screams is Spencer’s prose, which is just excellent; clinical and precise when it needs to be and terrifyingly effective in its over-the-top descriptions when it wants to; just as confident in narrating the complex-power plays and conversational layers of abuse as it as taking you through step by step the most nauseating body horror. This story would have been great still with lesser prose, but Spencer is a great wordsmith and it shows.
Shortwave impressed last year with a series of well-written bite-sized horrors, and by kicking off the year with this it’s showing it has no plans to let up with the quality. Mewing is read-in-one sitting addictive, and will make you think twice about ever using a very common form of office stationary. This compelling modern-day fable will linger long after the mirror lights go out. You’ll want to look away. You won’t.
March 9, 2024
Mewing is a novella that has a couple of great ideas that simply don't have the space to breathe. Unlike many other novellas, it seems to be predicated on a central plot that needs more space to function well.
Its central premise is perfect potential both for horror and for a literary critique of "influencer" culture, wrapped up in toxicity and a performativity that divorces people from who they are in order to sell an image of who they would like to be. Criticizing influencer culture is not a novel concept, but it is not featured nearly as prominently in horror literature, so it makes sense to visit the potential storytelling. And Mewing has a couple of gruesome body horror ideas that are pretty interesting.
But what Mewing doesn't really have the space to do is build consistent and dynamic characters who are then able to really sell the social critique. Too much is just left for us to accept as fact instead of seeing a social dynamic or a relationship dynamic as it builds. Whereas I typically praise novellas for their concision, Spencer's story is one that needs at least double its length to actually build out the character relationships that could ground this reading experience in a believable train wreck. But instead of strong character relationships built over a period full of interactions and encounters, the book offers up what feels like major jump cuts to get to the bloody bits. In its haste to be transgressive, it actually loses the thread of what makes story work.
I don't dislike Mewing for its ideas, but I also don't think the book is operating at its highest level. It forgets to step back and show us how character relationships are formed, settling on just telling us what happens and why we should remain invested. I want more to establish the book's major disquietudes to help ground the horror in why it matters; instead, the book offers up some interesting but underdeveloped ideas, themes, and characters.
Disclosure statement: I received a copy of Mewing from the publisher for review. All thoughts contained in this review are entirely and authentically my own and are not influenced in any way by either publisher or author.
Its central premise is perfect potential both for horror and for a literary critique of "influencer" culture, wrapped up in toxicity and a performativity that divorces people from who they are in order to sell an image of who they would like to be. Criticizing influencer culture is not a novel concept, but it is not featured nearly as prominently in horror literature, so it makes sense to visit the potential storytelling. And Mewing has a couple of gruesome body horror ideas that are pretty interesting.
But what Mewing doesn't really have the space to do is build consistent and dynamic characters who are then able to really sell the social critique. Too much is just left for us to accept as fact instead of seeing a social dynamic or a relationship dynamic as it builds. Whereas I typically praise novellas for their concision, Spencer's story is one that needs at least double its length to actually build out the character relationships that could ground this reading experience in a believable train wreck. But instead of strong character relationships built over a period full of interactions and encounters, the book offers up what feels like major jump cuts to get to the bloody bits. In its haste to be transgressive, it actually loses the thread of what makes story work.
I don't dislike Mewing for its ideas, but I also don't think the book is operating at its highest level. It forgets to step back and show us how character relationships are formed, settling on just telling us what happens and why we should remain invested. I want more to establish the book's major disquietudes to help ground the horror in why it matters; instead, the book offers up some interesting but underdeveloped ideas, themes, and characters.
Disclosure statement: I received a copy of Mewing from the publisher for review. All thoughts contained in this review are entirely and authentically my own and are not influenced in any way by either publisher or author.
Read
March 8, 2024MEWING by Chloe Spencer is a devilish, deliciously demented tale about self image, fame, & the lengths a person may be compelled to pursue for Love & Validation. Instantly engaging & full of a wry, sardonic horror, it's a biting story that will resonate, especially with women.
December 21, 2023
I enjoy social media based horrors as I feel they fall into the category of realistic fiction and it's terrifying, this was no exception, this was WILD in the best way, commentry on social media/society is prevalent, it packs a punch for a short novella and I had a lot of fun reading it
March 5, 2024
This one just wasn’t for me. The characters didn’t really seem to have any real depth to them at all and the story was just bland.
February 25, 2024
I always enjoy an influencer horror story since they usually have so much basis in reality…and what’s scarier than real life?
Despite this being a novella, I felt there was no shortage of plot. Everything fit together nicely and I’m actually shocked it wasn’t longer because it was easy to get lost in the story.
There were definitely a few gruesome moments and I’ll definitely not look at a stapler the same way again.
Despite this being a novella, I felt there was no shortage of plot. Everything fit together nicely and I’m actually shocked it wasn’t longer because it was easy to get lost in the story.
There were definitely a few gruesome moments and I’ll definitely not look at a stapler the same way again.
March 14, 2024
A dark and gruesome tale about the price of perfection and where obsession can lead. I would’ve loved this to be longer to really delve into some of the deep themes this story has but I really enjoyed it otherwise!
February 12, 2024
I’m so thankful to Shortwave Publishing and Chloe Spencer for granting me advanced physical access to this toxic love/hate story before it hits shelves on February 27, 2024.
Vixen just wants to be famous, a model to be specific, and she starts that journey by getting into an exclusive influencer collective where she moves in and has to die her hair bleach blonde, hence the Bleach Babes name.
After joining, jobs start to pour in and she falls for the HBIC, Margo. But it’s not long before things start to get dark and Margo isn’t who she seemed, making Vixen jealous and out for blood.
Vixen just wants to be famous, a model to be specific, and she starts that journey by getting into an exclusive influencer collective where she moves in and has to die her hair bleach blonde, hence the Bleach Babes name.
After joining, jobs start to pour in and she falls for the HBIC, Margo. But it’s not long before things start to get dark and Margo isn’t who she seemed, making Vixen jealous and out for blood.
Read
March 3, 2024MEWING is a novella that explores the industry of modelling and social media influencers, exposing the underlaying misogyny and how quickly the industry moves on, how quickly someone who risen could also fall, be easily replaced. Not only the main character but those around her as well fall to self criticism, body shaming and dysmorphia, insecurity through an unreliable point of view. Spencer uses body horror, the occult, and the ritualistic to illuminate how we are often our own worst critics abd the consequences when obsession becomes unhealing trauma.
July 31, 2024
While it can be argued some of the story could have been better with expansion, I was sucked into this story early on and really curious to know where it would go. The final quarter was great and I loved the ending. This is my second book from Chloe Spencer and both have been excellent reads, so I guess I'm now officially a fan of her work.
September 21, 2024
2.5 stars
I am always looking for a quick extreme horror novella. I particularly look for extreme horror written by women because it usually is better written not dripping in incel dude-bro energy. Mewing follows a young and fresh-faced Instagram model who is invited to live in an influencer house. The influencer house borders on cult-like behavior and our already barely sane MC teeters quickly towards her demise. It's not a very unique story, but I was intrigued enough to keep reading. I will say that I wasn't a huge fan of the supernatural/paranormal section this novella turns to in pushing along the plot. I found it kind of corny and uninspired, but I am curious to check out other work from Chloe Spencer in the future.
I am always looking for a quick extreme horror novella. I particularly look for extreme horror written by women because it usually is better written not dripping in incel dude-bro energy. Mewing follows a young and fresh-faced Instagram model who is invited to live in an influencer house. The influencer house borders on cult-like behavior and our already barely sane MC teeters quickly towards her demise. It's not a very unique story, but I was intrigued enough to keep reading. I will say that I wasn't a huge fan of the supernatural/paranormal section this novella turns to in pushing along the plot. I found it kind of corny and uninspired, but I am curious to check out other work from Chloe Spencer in the future.
February 24, 2024
Believe me when I say that I am quite greedy with my rating system. In order to get 5 stars ya need to have a book that blows my mind, keeps me thinking about it weeks later, and is unique in both storyline and character development. That being said, if I could give Mewing more than 5 stars I absolutely would!
How far would you go to be beautiful, to be the new "it girl" influencer? How much are you willing to sacrifice for the person you love? How many followers are enough? Where do you draw the line on what you would give to be the one that is adored?
Spencer crafts a tale full of glamour and the sordid, horrifying lengths some will go to be in the spotlight, to be loved. Bringing the reader into the depths of delights and depravity in a mansion for influencers and models, run by the Supreme "it" girl. A tale of lust, love, and deals made with darkness that can't be undone. Tantalizing, hot AF, and an ending that you never see coming!
How far would you go to be beautiful, to be the new "it girl" influencer? How much are you willing to sacrifice for the person you love? How many followers are enough? Where do you draw the line on what you would give to be the one that is adored?
Spencer crafts a tale full of glamour and the sordid, horrifying lengths some will go to be in the spotlight, to be loved. Bringing the reader into the depths of delights and depravity in a mansion for influencers and models, run by the Supreme "it" girl. A tale of lust, love, and deals made with darkness that can't be undone. Tantalizing, hot AF, and an ending that you never see coming!
March 10, 2024
I love books that focus on the 'darker side' of influencer / beauty culture, and this is a solid novella in the subgenre! Fast-paced and surreal, MEWING doesn't shy away from getting very weird and very gross - I especially loved the body horror in this, and how quickly the situation for the main character began to escalate. I read it in a single sitting and couldn’t put it down - definitely a new favorite novella!
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Find me outside of Goodreads!
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March 5, 2024
A fantastic great with a side of spice, fantasy and gore ! Highlights that scary world of social media, the challenges women face from their own self loathing and the lengths they will go to to succeed.
January 26, 2025
Excellent body horror with a solid main character in Vixen who experiences body dysmorphia while attempting to up her social media influencer game at any cost.
A little rushed feeling at the end.
A little rushed feeling at the end.
June 30, 2024
Beauty is dangerous. Love is weird. Power imbalances terrify me and this book is quite unsettling and I can’t stop thinking about it.
April 1, 2024
If this was even longer I’d probably give it 5 stars. I love horror based around influencer/beauty culture. This was chilling and impossible to put down.
July 10, 2025
First, thank you to the author for explaining what mewing is.
Secondly, I loved how completely unhinged this read was. The entire world seems to be basing their worth on small red hearts and this story sets it on fire. This reminded me of a (even more so) sinister America’s Next Top Model season. I really loved how well and believable the dialogue was written, too. Sexy, provocative and maniacal.
Secondly, I loved how completely unhinged this read was. The entire world seems to be basing their worth on small red hearts and this story sets it on fire. This reminded me of a (even more so) sinister America’s Next Top Model season. I really loved how well and believable the dialogue was written, too. Sexy, provocative and maniacal.
February 2, 2024
One of the common challenges presented by some novellas is their length. However, this is not the case with the enthralling novella "Mewing," which boasts a captivating storyline that delves into the world of opulence, societal hierarchies, and malevolent forces. The protagonist, Vix, is consumed by her desire for social recognition, regardless of the consequences. As she navigates the complexities of self-discovery and the sacrifices she must make to achieve her goals, the stakes are high the tension palpable. This thought-provoking novella raises the question: are we destined to lead or to follow, and what happens next? With eloquent prose and unflinching honesty, Chloe has crafted a masterful work that seamlessly blends realism and the macabre. I highly recommend "Mewing" as a must-read. What is the significance of popularity and physical attractiveness? Allow Vixen to assist you in making a decision
March 20, 2024
A huge thank you to Shortwave Publishing for the eARC!
A modern take on selling your soul for fame and fortune (of sorts), Mewing by Chloe Spencer dispels any myths about influencer culture. This is a modern story following Vixen, a young woman hoping to make it big in the influencer circle. While not making a splash at first, she is eventually introduced to a collective known as the Bleach Babes, a highly successful group of women gamers, actors, and influencers. Meeting the alluring head of this group, Margo, leads to Vixen signing on with the Bleach Babes of course at a very steep price.
Influencer culture has become more and more prevalent with the rise of social media. With every social app, new ads, marketing, and posts push new products, services, and ideas 24/7. Hell, even this post could be influencing you to read this book! This has, in turn, given rise to a new profession, those who influence. Vixen’s character seeks validation and recognition through this position, and we see just how deep her desire really is through her decision to join the Bleach Babes. There’s something very horrific in the dynamics of this group and feels a bit like a cult story. Of course, there are plenty of other horrors surrounding Vixen and her unhealthy relationship with Margo and success. Mewing provides a very interesting lens through which we view the classic idea of selling your soul for fame and fortune.
A modern take on selling your soul for fame and fortune (of sorts), Mewing by Chloe Spencer dispels any myths about influencer culture. This is a modern story following Vixen, a young woman hoping to make it big in the influencer circle. While not making a splash at first, she is eventually introduced to a collective known as the Bleach Babes, a highly successful group of women gamers, actors, and influencers. Meeting the alluring head of this group, Margo, leads to Vixen signing on with the Bleach Babes of course at a very steep price.
Influencer culture has become more and more prevalent with the rise of social media. With every social app, new ads, marketing, and posts push new products, services, and ideas 24/7. Hell, even this post could be influencing you to read this book! This has, in turn, given rise to a new profession, those who influence. Vixen’s character seeks validation and recognition through this position, and we see just how deep her desire really is through her decision to join the Bleach Babes. There’s something very horrific in the dynamics of this group and feels a bit like a cult story. Of course, there are plenty of other horrors surrounding Vixen and her unhealthy relationship with Margo and success. Mewing provides a very interesting lens through which we view the classic idea of selling your soul for fame and fortune.
April 14, 2024
Why the fuck do I keep reading adult books with trigger warnings in them? I should know what I’m getting into now.
Adult books that feel the need to warn me that they’re full of Big Adult Themes never seem to have anything interesting or unpredictable to say about the themes they try to tackle.
July 18, 2024
Picked this up in the "weird fiction" section of an Indie book store in my town and fell head over heels in love with it. In this brilliant and grisly sapphic body-horror-heavy novella, Spencer draws on influencer culture to paint a close-up picture of our modern standards of beauty and the price of fame, exposing—pores and all—the brutality of our Instagram age. This book made me physically sick. In a good way! Truly terrifying read.
July 22, 2024
This was a frustrating read because the author in my opinion didn't appropriately establish the relationship between Vix and Margo, so when Vix started to accept the bizarre behaviour and rituals Margo put her through, it didn't feel earned or believable.
Also I know this is a novella but the book had a tendency to time jump to weeks or months in the future, which made the characters feel very one-dimensional and surface level.
I was also disappointed with the ending. It was pretty underwhelming and had barely any horror.
Also I know this is a novella but the book had a tendency to time jump to weeks or months in the future, which made the characters feel very one-dimensional and surface level.
I was also disappointed with the ending. It was pretty underwhelming and had barely any horror.
January 30, 2024
Mewing is a wild ride, successfully weaving important commentary on the real-world horror of feminine performance under the patriarchy into a page-turning flurry of toxic sapphic romance and gruesome procedures in the name of beauty. By exploring themes, ranging from beauty standards to breaking family cycles of trauma, in a fun, fast-paced spiral of horror, readers will be sure to visit this story again and again.
August 6, 2025
Weird, smart, strangely believable…I loved the vibes and the plot. If you liked Julie Chan Is Dead for its commentary on fame, parasociality, and self-worth, you may like this too.
Energy: Eager. Hopeful. Surreal.
🐩 Tail Wags: Watching the MC as an awkward, ordinary woman who genuinely believes she’s meant for fame. Surprisingly believable. Exploring female abusers. The show-not-tell commentary. Perfect balance between being weird and plausible (had that truth-is-stranger-than-fiction energy). Stayed strange without becoming a soap opera or absurd.
Scene: 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, California, USA
Perspective: Our MC would do almost anything to become a star. They moved to LA as an aspiring singer, actress, or model, hoping to be discovered on social media but struggling to get a following (and pay the bills).
Timeline: Linear. 2020s.
Narrative: Deep in a character’s mind, observing from afar (first person).
Fuel: Unease. Red flags. Character interactions. Romantic suspense. How far will Vix go to be a star? Will she succeed? What’s the motivation for this house? Will she be able to keep her lover’s attention?
Cred: Surrealism
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Little red hearts. Filters. Bleach Babes. NDA. DSLR on a gimbal. Eat the Burger. Chandelier.
• Immersive, punchy writing style
• Flawed, morally grey, spiralling characters
• Influencer horror meets weird-girl spirals
• Twist relationships wrapped in loyalty and insecurity
• Social media cults and influencer toxicity
• Characters chasing love or fame at the cost of everything else
• Pagan vibes and midsommar-ish rituals
• Monetized tragedy, performance grief, sacrifice, ambition, modern loneliness
• Real world with a twist feels
Content Heads-Up: Body dysmorphia. Body horror (self mutilation). Eating disorders (bulimia; orthorexia). Fatphobia (food restriction, body shaming; internalized). Fire (building, trapped; implied). Nicotine (cigarettes). Parental rejection (sexism). Sexism, misogyny. Sexual assault (off page recall). Sexual content (lust; behind closed doors). Toxic, controlling relationship.
Rep: American. Italian descent. Swedish American. Bajan American. Cis. Queer. Bi. Lesbian. Tan and pale skin tones.
📚 Format: KoboPlus
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
Energy: Eager. Hopeful. Surreal.
🐩 Tail Wags: Watching the MC as an awkward, ordinary woman who genuinely believes she’s meant for fame. Surprisingly believable. Exploring female abusers. The show-not-tell commentary. Perfect balance between being weird and plausible (had that truth-is-stranger-than-fiction energy). Stayed strange without becoming a soap opera or absurd.
Scene: 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, California, USA
Perspective: Our MC would do almost anything to become a star. They moved to LA as an aspiring singer, actress, or model, hoping to be discovered on social media but struggling to get a following (and pay the bills).
Timeline: Linear. 2020s.
Narrative: Deep in a character’s mind, observing from afar (first person).
Fuel: Unease. Red flags. Character interactions. Romantic suspense. How far will Vix go to be a star? Will she succeed? What’s the motivation for this house? Will she be able to keep her lover’s attention?
Cred: Surrealism
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Little red hearts. Filters. Bleach Babes. NDA. DSLR on a gimbal. Eat the Burger. Chandelier.
• Immersive, punchy writing style
• Flawed, morally grey, spiralling characters
• Influencer horror meets weird-girl spirals
• Twist relationships wrapped in loyalty and insecurity
• Social media cults and influencer toxicity
• Characters chasing love or fame at the cost of everything else
• Pagan vibes and midsommar-ish rituals
• Monetized tragedy, performance grief, sacrifice, ambition, modern loneliness
• Real world with a twist feels
Content Heads-Up: Body dysmorphia. Body horror (self mutilation). Eating disorders (bulimia; orthorexia). Fatphobia (food restriction, body shaming; internalized). Fire (building, trapped; implied). Nicotine (cigarettes). Parental rejection (sexism). Sexism, misogyny. Sexual assault (off page recall). Sexual content (lust; behind closed doors). Toxic, controlling relationship.
Rep: American. Italian descent. Swedish American. Bajan American. Cis. Queer. Bi. Lesbian. Tan and pale skin tones.
📚 Format: KoboPlus
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
February 27, 2024
I’ve seen a lot of books appear recently that focus on female influencers: the power they have, their obsessions, their selfishness and vanity. ‘Mewing’ takes those and leaves them in the dust.
What would you do to get ‘in’ to the best clique on social media? Would you dye your hair, change your diet, move house and disconnect from everything you know? Pfft, of course! Vixen is looking to go so much further…
This novella moves fast, taking Faustian social commentary into the potentials of a not-too-distant future. Dreams of wealth, status and beauty twinkle in the eyes of so many, it’s easy to be caught up in the ride - and before you blink, it’s too late. You’re lost.
It’s no secret that this is going to go badly for Vixen, and the satire on youth trends is clear from the start. What makes this book stand out is the stellar writing, capturing the teen paranoia of not being ‘relevant’, the fear of being left behind at what should be the beginning of adulthood, the confusion of one’s place in the world. I remember those feelings when I first saw ‘Heathers’, in a time way before Tiktok, but which seems pervasive in the online world of today.
Worse still, each of the Bleach Babes seem to sense what’s happening, working to suppress that fear for the sake of their dreams, even after they realize the truth is far worse than they could’ve guessed. These are still inexperienced, naive children, prime targets for the forces that take advantage. The reader is left wondering: would you still go willingly, or turn away? Is it really worth everything to be a star?
Oh, and I never realized that ‘mewing’ had a name. I’d been aware of it for years. That sent a shudder down my spine when I found out.
I loved this, and have been enjoying Chloe’s other books since. Definitely an author to keep an eye on.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are my own.
What would you do to get ‘in’ to the best clique on social media? Would you dye your hair, change your diet, move house and disconnect from everything you know? Pfft, of course! Vixen is looking to go so much further…
This novella moves fast, taking Faustian social commentary into the potentials of a not-too-distant future. Dreams of wealth, status and beauty twinkle in the eyes of so many, it’s easy to be caught up in the ride - and before you blink, it’s too late. You’re lost.
It’s no secret that this is going to go badly for Vixen, and the satire on youth trends is clear from the start. What makes this book stand out is the stellar writing, capturing the teen paranoia of not being ‘relevant’, the fear of being left behind at what should be the beginning of adulthood, the confusion of one’s place in the world. I remember those feelings when I first saw ‘Heathers’, in a time way before Tiktok, but which seems pervasive in the online world of today.
Worse still, each of the Bleach Babes seem to sense what’s happening, working to suppress that fear for the sake of their dreams, even after they realize the truth is far worse than they could’ve guessed. These are still inexperienced, naive children, prime targets for the forces that take advantage. The reader is left wondering: would you still go willingly, or turn away? Is it really worth everything to be a star?
Oh, and I never realized that ‘mewing’ had a name. I’d been aware of it for years. That sent a shudder down my spine when I found out.
I loved this, and have been enjoying Chloe’s other books since. Definitely an author to keep an eye on.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are my own.
September 2, 2024
As a recent reader of her novel, An Affinity For Formaldehyde, I was already looking forward to Mewing. As I thought, I was not let down once again. Spencer has a way of making us feel connections with her characters and Vix was one to add to the list.
A social influencer themed horror about the stress for success. Vixen has made a name for herself online but not enough to get paid for content. When her friend insists that she apply for the Bleach Babes, she takes in the interest. At the house, she meets Margo and is immediately taken in by her beauty. Margo promises to keep the business coming as long as she agrees to abide by the house.
Things seem wrong even as she watches one of the girls leave the house, declaring she needed more freedom and when another is forced to eat during dinner but Vix's infatuation for Margo surpasses all judgments.
Soon, Margo introduces Vix to a ritual where she'll be able to ask a special sexual demon that will grant her what she wishes. Vix makes a wish to not feel pain when altering her beauty and the demon makes it happen.
Later, she spirals her relationship from love to obsession in a grotesque body-altering demeanor that causes everyone in the house to worry about her when she feels as if she is being replaced by the new girl. You casually start to notice how increasingly worse Vix gets as we enter the big climatic ending. Yes, that ending. It had me reading with an intense feeling until I hit the final word in the story.
Of course I wanted more. I wanted to hope that it was a dream sequence and that they would just wake up. But I like the way Spencer ends her stories. With that uneasiness that lingers in your mind afterwards. I overly enjoyed this one just as much as Formaldehyde and look forward to next future releases. I think Spencer is going to spiral to the top of the new authors list.
A social influencer themed horror about the stress for success. Vixen has made a name for herself online but not enough to get paid for content. When her friend insists that she apply for the Bleach Babes, she takes in the interest. At the house, she meets Margo and is immediately taken in by her beauty. Margo promises to keep the business coming as long as she agrees to abide by the house.
Things seem wrong even as she watches one of the girls leave the house, declaring she needed more freedom and when another is forced to eat during dinner but Vix's infatuation for Margo surpasses all judgments.
Soon, Margo introduces Vix to a ritual where she'll be able to ask a special sexual demon that will grant her what she wishes. Vix makes a wish to not feel pain when altering her beauty and the demon makes it happen.
Later, she spirals her relationship from love to obsession in a grotesque body-altering demeanor that causes everyone in the house to worry about her when she feels as if she is being replaced by the new girl. You casually start to notice how increasingly worse Vix gets as we enter the big climatic ending. Yes, that ending. It had me reading with an intense feeling until I hit the final word in the story.
Of course I wanted more. I wanted to hope that it was a dream sequence and that they would just wake up. But I like the way Spencer ends her stories. With that uneasiness that lingers in your mind afterwards. I overly enjoyed this one just as much as Formaldehyde and look forward to next future releases. I think Spencer is going to spiral to the top of the new authors list.
October 3, 2024
Mewing is a book I had seen making the rounds on Instagram with its striking cover, but never felt compelled to pick up myself because vapid influencer culture bores me (I am fully aware of the irony). I read this as part of a buddy read, and found myself enjoying the chats more than the book in this case.
Vix is an Instagram model from the Midwest struggling to make a name for herself in California. She is tipped off about an influencer house called the Bleach Babes, and soon gives over control of her bank account, social media, and body to their leader, Swedish-American supermodel Margo. She sees rapid success, but is still insecure about her thicker frame compared to other girls in the house. When she feels Margo's attention start to pull back, she pledges her loyalty in a bizarre ceremony that took the story in a paranormal direction that felt out of left field. There was a lot of imagery used that led you to believe the story was going in one direction, so it was disappointing and didn't make sense where it didn't go anywhere after all those mentions. Dealing more with body dysmorphia and controlling, abusive relationships, this didn't really feel like a horror story and more a friendship/lovers drama. The callback to the title lent one gross scene that asks the question of how far will you go to prove your love to someone who has never even said they feel the same way, but it was still mild overall. Any book focusing on body image and where you fit in the spectrum of socially acceptable beauty standards will make me get in my own head, so if that was the intention of this story, at least it did its job there.
Vix is an Instagram model from the Midwest struggling to make a name for herself in California. She is tipped off about an influencer house called the Bleach Babes, and soon gives over control of her bank account, social media, and body to their leader, Swedish-American supermodel Margo. She sees rapid success, but is still insecure about her thicker frame compared to other girls in the house. When she feels Margo's attention start to pull back, she pledges her loyalty in a bizarre ceremony that took the story in a paranormal direction that felt out of left field. There was a lot of imagery used that led you to believe the story was going in one direction, so it was disappointing and didn't make sense where it didn't go anywhere after all those mentions. Dealing more with body dysmorphia and controlling, abusive relationships, this didn't really feel like a horror story and more a friendship/lovers drama. The callback to the title lent one gross scene that asks the question of how far will you go to prove your love to someone who has never even said they feel the same way, but it was still mild overall. Any book focusing on body image and where you fit in the spectrum of socially acceptable beauty standards will make me get in my own head, so if that was the intention of this story, at least it did its job there.
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