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Nothing Serious
A disillusioned tech executive goes into an obsessive spiral when her best friend—and longtime crush—is implicated in a woman’s death.
Edie Walker’s life is not going as planned. At thirty-five she feels stuck: in her career, in her love life, and in her tiny San Francisco studio apartment. It doesn’t help that her best friend, Peter Masterson, is basically the über successful male version of her—and she’s hopelessly, unrequitedly in love with him. But when Peter breaks up with his girlfriend of seven years, Edie thinks her life might finally be turning around. He’ll discover how toxic dating-app culture is and realize Edie has been right for him all along.
Except Peter almost immediately lands a date with Anaya Thomas, a gorgeous, whip-smart professor and writer of feminist literature whom even Edie—reared in the culture of tech bros—is smitten by. Unlike the women Peter has dated before, Anaya is like an alternative-reality version of Edie—one with shampoo-commercial hair and a meaningful career, who definitely doesn’t spend her weekends scrolling social media alone in her apartment. It’s only a matter of time before Peter falls head over heels for this woman; Edie herself is infatuated after one meeting.
Then Anaya is found dead in her apartment—right after a date with Peter.
Edie Walker’s life is not going as planned. At thirty-five she feels stuck: in her career, in her love life, and in her tiny San Francisco studio apartment. It doesn’t help that her best friend, Peter Masterson, is basically the über successful male version of her—and she’s hopelessly, unrequitedly in love with him. But when Peter breaks up with his girlfriend of seven years, Edie thinks her life might finally be turning around. He’ll discover how toxic dating-app culture is and realize Edie has been right for him all along.
Except Peter almost immediately lands a date with Anaya Thomas, a gorgeous, whip-smart professor and writer of feminist literature whom even Edie—reared in the culture of tech bros—is smitten by. Unlike the women Peter has dated before, Anaya is like an alternative-reality version of Edie—one with shampoo-commercial hair and a meaningful career, who definitely doesn’t spend her weekends scrolling social media alone in her apartment. It’s only a matter of time before Peter falls head over heels for this woman; Edie herself is infatuated after one meeting.
Then Anaya is found dead in her apartment—right after a date with Peter.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published February 18, 2025
87 people are currently reading
9461 people want to read
About the author
Emily J. Smith
1 book38 followersEmily J. Smith is a writer and tech professional based in Brooklyn. Her debut novel, NOTHING SERIOUS, is out Feb 18 from William Morrow (HarperCollins).
She has a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Cornell, and an MBA from UC Berkeley. She's led teams at top tech companies and founded the dating app, Chorus.
Her writing has appeared in The Rumpus, Catapult, Salon, Slate, Hobart, Medium, The Washington Post, Vice, and other publications. You can find more on her website and socials @emjsmith.
She has a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Cornell, and an MBA from UC Berkeley. She's led teams at top tech companies and founded the dating app, Chorus.
Her writing has appeared in The Rumpus, Catapult, Salon, Slate, Hobart, Medium, The Washington Post, Vice, and other publications. You can find more on her website and socials @emjsmith.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 321 reviews
June 23, 2025
what if you had a crush so bad that a committed murder couldn't cure it? that's the real horror story.
this is one of those books where the protagonist is so unlikable it's actually difficult to get through. but also it's probably intentional? so it feels unfair to not like it for that reason.
but i also don't like anywhere this book went, so.
anyway, misleading title. this book is very serious.
i think the cover and synopsis give off a vibe that this is going to be goofy in some way, but it is very much not. it is very self-serious and very much not self-aware. its plot revolves around drugs, and it is set in san francisco, but there is not so much as a nod to the debilitating impact of addiction or of housing. our villain is depicted as a piece of sh*t rich dude, but he works on behalf of the climate, whereas our protagonist has...a soulless and extremely lucrative tech job.
i guess my real problem with this is that its scope begins and ends with our main character. the most unprivileged person you can be in the world is a straight white woman with a mid 6 figure income whose friends venmo request her for half of dinner. end of list.
i don't like when books occupy themselves with an extinct version of feminism, in which we've never heard of intersectionality and there are no people of color in sight. i just don't happen to believe that i am facing the worst of all biases. this has a few gay characters in it, but it doesn't go any further than that.
don't even get me started on the bizarro version of criminal justice that happens here.
bottom line: i do think a lot of what is so annoying about this book is supposed to be annoying. just not all of it.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
this is one of those books where the protagonist is so unlikable it's actually difficult to get through. but also it's probably intentional? so it feels unfair to not like it for that reason.
but i also don't like anywhere this book went, so.
anyway, misleading title. this book is very serious.
i think the cover and synopsis give off a vibe that this is going to be goofy in some way, but it is very much not. it is very self-serious and very much not self-aware. its plot revolves around drugs, and it is set in san francisco, but there is not so much as a nod to the debilitating impact of addiction or of housing. our villain is depicted as a piece of sh*t rich dude, but he works on behalf of the climate, whereas our protagonist has...a soulless and extremely lucrative tech job.
i guess my real problem with this is that its scope begins and ends with our main character. the most unprivileged person you can be in the world is a straight white woman with a mid 6 figure income whose friends venmo request her for half of dinner. end of list.
i don't like when books occupy themselves with an extinct version of feminism, in which we've never heard of intersectionality and there are no people of color in sight. i just don't happen to believe that i am facing the worst of all biases. this has a few gay characters in it, but it doesn't go any further than that.
don't even get me started on the bizarro version of criminal justice that happens here.
bottom line: i do think a lot of what is so annoying about this book is supposed to be annoying. just not all of it.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
December 25, 2024
Honestly I am still stuck at the part where this man is your best friend, he is a multi-millionaire and he splits all the bills with you. I can't move pass that.
The plot starts out well enough but went downhill very fast.
The plot starts out well enough but went downhill very fast.
September 12, 2024
The plot was interesting, but this book is more about its characters.
They are mostly deeply unhealthy people, who felt real and sometimes made me really angry, but the growth of the main character was a very satisfying journey.
There was also a lot of feminist issues discussed here, and it is really interesting to see the treatment of women through the eyes of the main character.
It was a short but packed read, and a very interesting character study.
They are mostly deeply unhealthy people, who felt real and sometimes made me really angry, but the growth of the main character was a very satisfying journey.
There was also a lot of feminist issues discussed here, and it is really interesting to see the treatment of women through the eyes of the main character.
It was a short but packed read, and a very interesting character study.
February 3, 2025
A fascinating exploration of tech, gender, power, and the dating apps.
A disillusioned tech employee in the Bay begins to investigate when her best friend is implicated in a murder, but the book isn't a thriller, it's weighty and philosophical without being didactic.
I loved the drilling into what it means to be a single, childless woman in your thirties, surrounded by self important and selfish people (it doesn't help that I hate SF, and this book excoriates the city brilliantly).
At its core, this book is about lost ambition, the ways men and women hurt each other- sometimes on purpose, sometimes without meaning to- and how societal structures affect individual choices unconsciously.
A disillusioned tech employee in the Bay begins to investigate when her best friend is implicated in a murder, but the book isn't a thriller, it's weighty and philosophical without being didactic.
I loved the drilling into what it means to be a single, childless woman in your thirties, surrounded by self important and selfish people (it doesn't help that I hate SF, and this book excoriates the city brilliantly).
At its core, this book is about lost ambition, the ways men and women hurt each other- sometimes on purpose, sometimes without meaning to- and how societal structures affect individual choices unconsciously.
March 3, 2025
What a miserable little book!
Edie is a 35-year-old coder living in San Francisco who hates her industry and her city and everyone in it. She hates her colleagues, hipsters, yoga, dating apps, people skinnier than her, people who like concerts, people who have their Venmo transactions set to public, women who use emojis, and all men (including her father and eventually her best friend). This could all be funny if she were self-aware of what a bitch she is, but never once did I feel like I was supposed to be laughing. I think she is supposed to be empathetic.
We follow Edie on a vigilante investigation into the drug-related death of Anaya, a writer she met one time, whom Peter, her cokehead millionaire playboy BFF, dated and may or may not have killed. The only reason Edie cares about Anaya’s death is because she has a huge, obsessive crush on her. After meeting her one time. But Edie also has a huge, obsessive crush on Peter and wants to prove that he’s innocent. Edie is so unhinged!
The book was compulsively readable, even if I hated Edie. Maybe because I hated her. I tend to really enjoy pathetic wormlike characters. I also wanted to find out the answer to the mystery. Did Peter kill Anaya? But what I really wanted was for reality to finally hit Edie in the face. She sees herself as a perpetual victim, constantly whining about how hard it is to be a woman in tech (but wearing it like a badge of honor) and complaining that she doesn’t matter to anyone (this book is mostly complaining!) while also going on this incredibly entitled vigilante mission, inserting herself into Anaya’s grieving family (she met Anaya one time!!!) and wasting a detective’s time trying to manipulate him into leaking confidential information. Her lack of self-awareness is next level.
I wanted her to gain self-awareness and stop being such a self-righteous victim but that doesn’t really happen. Instead, her growth comes from her finally feeling a sense of “control” (her own word) by deciding to fully turn on Peter, the last man in her life she actually likes. Even though he may deserve it, Edie adding yet another man to her mile long shitlist is just bleak. It’s a rotten ending. Not that it isn’t likely for someone in her situation, but I don’t feel like she really came out of it truly changed. It’s really a miserable book about a miserable person with a miserable ending.
Edie is a 35-year-old coder living in San Francisco who hates her industry and her city and everyone in it. She hates her colleagues, hipsters, yoga, dating apps, people skinnier than her, people who like concerts, people who have their Venmo transactions set to public, women who use emojis, and all men (including her father and eventually her best friend). This could all be funny if she were self-aware of what a bitch she is, but never once did I feel like I was supposed to be laughing. I think she is supposed to be empathetic.
We follow Edie on a vigilante investigation into the drug-related death of Anaya, a writer she met one time, whom Peter, her cokehead millionaire playboy BFF, dated and may or may not have killed. The only reason Edie cares about Anaya’s death is because she has a huge, obsessive crush on her. After meeting her one time. But Edie also has a huge, obsessive crush on Peter and wants to prove that he’s innocent. Edie is so unhinged!
The book was compulsively readable, even if I hated Edie. Maybe because I hated her. I tend to really enjoy pathetic wormlike characters. I also wanted to find out the answer to the mystery. Did Peter kill Anaya? But what I really wanted was for reality to finally hit Edie in the face. She sees herself as a perpetual victim, constantly whining about how hard it is to be a woman in tech (but wearing it like a badge of honor) and complaining that she doesn’t matter to anyone (this book is mostly complaining!) while also going on this incredibly entitled vigilante mission, inserting herself into Anaya’s grieving family (she met Anaya one time!!!) and wasting a detective’s time trying to manipulate him into leaking confidential information. Her lack of self-awareness is next level.
I wanted her to gain self-awareness and stop being such a self-righteous victim but that doesn’t really happen. Instead, her growth comes from her finally feeling a sense of “control” (her own word) by deciding to fully turn on Peter, the last man in her life she actually likes. Even though he may deserve it, Edie adding yet another man to her mile long shitlist is just bleak. It’s a rotten ending. Not that it isn’t likely for someone in her situation, but I don’t feel like she really came out of it truly changed. It’s really a miserable book about a miserable person with a miserable ending.
December 5, 2024
2.5
I wanted to like this more, it started out very promising, but overall it just lost the plot and became a boring, jumbled mess.
Edie is a 30-something, stuck in the same routine, in a job she loathes, while hopelessly in love with her best friend, Peter, from college. When Peter breaks up with his long-time girlfriend, Edie hopes that it might finally be her chance, that is, until Peter shows that he is no longer in a monogamous mood- quickly finding himself on dating apps and in the company of an author named Anaya. Peter invites Edie to meet him and Anaya after another date gone wrong, and she is stricken by how drawn she is to Anaya, finally feeling a sense of kinship she'd been missing. Anaya shares her work with Edie, who eagerly consumes it all. Anaya promises to send Edie the final draft of a book she's been writing for years, the same night Peter decides to visit and break up with Anaya. The next morning, she is found dead.
Spoilers ahead!
I was initially hooked, but I'm left wondering what it was the author wanted to achieve with this. I think if it went deeper into an actual mystery instead of a character-focused think piece on women in a male-dominated world mixed with sprinkles of (weird) romance, it would've been a lot stronger (and that's saying something!). The entire time, we're essentially waiting on Edie to confront Peter in any capacity, but she's unable to be anything but his protector, finding any and every excuse for him, convincing herself that there was no way he could've caused Anaya's death. There's a long stretch of the middle where it's just Edie obsessing over Anaya, gaslighting herself about Peter, and inserting herself into the case (even going as far as a small romance with Anaya's SISTER?) just on a loop. And not to mention her relationship with her mother and father -who is definitely "not" beating her mother- and her need to save her mother, while also still loving her father and acting like nothing is wrong. It was just... strange. Of course, there can be something said for her accepting no faults for Peter AND her father, but I think her realization of that was entirely too late in the story. The pacing was weird, the small side stories were strange, it just seemed like there was a lot it sought to be.
I wanted to like this more, it started out very promising, but overall it just lost the plot and became a boring, jumbled mess.
Edie is a 30-something, stuck in the same routine, in a job she loathes, while hopelessly in love with her best friend, Peter, from college. When Peter breaks up with his long-time girlfriend, Edie hopes that it might finally be her chance, that is, until Peter shows that he is no longer in a monogamous mood- quickly finding himself on dating apps and in the company of an author named Anaya. Peter invites Edie to meet him and Anaya after another date gone wrong, and she is stricken by how drawn she is to Anaya, finally feeling a sense of kinship she'd been missing. Anaya shares her work with Edie, who eagerly consumes it all. Anaya promises to send Edie the final draft of a book she's been writing for years, the same night Peter decides to visit and break up with Anaya. The next morning, she is found dead.
Spoilers ahead!
I was initially hooked, but I'm left wondering what it was the author wanted to achieve with this. I think if it went deeper into an actual mystery instead of a character-focused think piece on women in a male-dominated world mixed with sprinkles of (weird) romance, it would've been a lot stronger (and that's saying something!). The entire time, we're essentially waiting on Edie to confront Peter in any capacity, but she's unable to be anything but his protector, finding any and every excuse for him, convincing herself that there was no way he could've caused Anaya's death. There's a long stretch of the middle where it's just Edie obsessing over Anaya, gaslighting herself about Peter, and inserting herself into the case (even going as far as a small romance with Anaya's SISTER?) just on a loop. And not to mention her relationship with her mother and father -who is definitely "not" beating her mother- and her need to save her mother, while also still loving her father and acting like nothing is wrong. It was just... strange. Of course, there can be something said for her accepting no faults for Peter AND her father, but I think her realization of that was entirely too late in the story. The pacing was weird, the small side stories were strange, it just seemed like there was a lot it sought to be.
September 30, 2024
Edie (FMC) was truly hard for me to like or connect to. She gave me crazy vibes, and even her friends called her creepy for her stalking/obsessive ways. That should've been my red flags, but I kept pushing through in hopes she'd have some character development and become more likable. She didn't, for me at least. Some bits felt too predictable while other bits felt too unrealistic/unbelievable. The premise seemed grand, but this just wasn't all that great for me. While these are my opinions, alone I still suggest you give it a go to try it out for yourself as well have different taste.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and William Morrow to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and William Morrow to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
March 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Nothing Serious.
For a title called Nothing Serious, the themes of this book are deadly serious.
TW and CW: eating disorders, alcoholism, domestic abuse, sexual abuse and violence, drug addiction, to name a few.
The main character, Edie Walker, is like so many female protagonists in many books I've been reading, regardless of genre; pathetic, lacks confidence and self esteem and needs a man to feel fulfilled, namely her BFF.
She idolizes and lusts after Peter, a handsome (natch!) and wealthy tech bro who made bajillions and just sleeps his way through life.
When a woman Peter is dating is found dead under suspicious circumstances, this sets Edie off on an obsessive quest if Peter is responsible.
But what will she do if he is?
There's nothing darkly comedic or amusing about this narrative; there are so many triggers here even I felt disturbed and it takes a lot to do that.
First, there's nothing redeemable about Edie; she's pathetic, she's a loser, and I couldn't stand her.
I'm not begrudging her for her personal issues; we all have issues and drama but there was nothing likable about Edie.
Nothing good, nothing interesting, nothing compelling so why should I care about her?
Oh wait, I don't!
She makes the right decision at the end but it's not enough to get me to like her.
I understand the blind eye she turns to Peter is partly based on her abusive father and traumatic upbringing she has refused to acknowledge and come to terms with.
Still...I wanted to shake sense into Edie and continually had to remind myself she was a middle-aged woman, not 22 because her thoughts and actions are incredibly immature.
Second, there's nothing redeemable about Peter; he's a druggie, he treats women like trash, and is not a good person.
I know we stay friends with certain people for a long time because we're accustomed to them; we're used to them and their quirks and it's hard to find new friends.
But Edie's obsession with Peter is something she needs to examine in relation to her poor relationship with her dad.
Third, my biggest issue with the book is: what's the point?
What's the point of Edie's obsession with Peter and turning a blind eye to his flaws for so many years?
Are we to blame her childhood for that?
Once again, someone shirking accountability and responsibility for their mistakes.
What else is new?
And what are we supposed to learn from this narrative?
That no one wins and the bad guy gets off scot-free and people like Edie wander around delulu, miserable, and unable to change?
What's the point?
Or maybe there is no point and that's life.
For a title called Nothing Serious, the themes of this book are deadly serious.
TW and CW: eating disorders, alcoholism, domestic abuse, sexual abuse and violence, drug addiction, to name a few.
The main character, Edie Walker, is like so many female protagonists in many books I've been reading, regardless of genre; pathetic, lacks confidence and self esteem and needs a man to feel fulfilled, namely her BFF.
She idolizes and lusts after Peter, a handsome (natch!) and wealthy tech bro who made bajillions and just sleeps his way through life.
When a woman Peter is dating is found dead under suspicious circumstances, this sets Edie off on an obsessive quest if Peter is responsible.
But what will she do if he is?
There's nothing darkly comedic or amusing about this narrative; there are so many triggers here even I felt disturbed and it takes a lot to do that.
First, there's nothing redeemable about Edie; she's pathetic, she's a loser, and I couldn't stand her.
I'm not begrudging her for her personal issues; we all have issues and drama but there was nothing likable about Edie.
Nothing good, nothing interesting, nothing compelling so why should I care about her?
Oh wait, I don't!
She makes the right decision at the end but it's not enough to get me to like her.
I understand the blind eye she turns to Peter is partly based on her abusive father and traumatic upbringing she has refused to acknowledge and come to terms with.
Still...I wanted to shake sense into Edie and continually had to remind myself she was a middle-aged woman, not 22 because her thoughts and actions are incredibly immature.
Second, there's nothing redeemable about Peter; he's a druggie, he treats women like trash, and is not a good person.
I know we stay friends with certain people for a long time because we're accustomed to them; we're used to them and their quirks and it's hard to find new friends.
But Edie's obsession with Peter is something she needs to examine in relation to her poor relationship with her dad.
Third, my biggest issue with the book is: what's the point?
What's the point of Edie's obsession with Peter and turning a blind eye to his flaws for so many years?
Are we to blame her childhood for that?
Once again, someone shirking accountability and responsibility for their mistakes.
What else is new?
And what are we supposed to learn from this narrative?
That no one wins and the bad guy gets off scot-free and people like Edie wander around delulu, miserable, and unable to change?
What's the point?
Or maybe there is no point and that's life.
October 22, 2024
What in the bad writing and bad characters with no development did I just read?? Edie, girl, you're an idiot if you ever thought Peter was going to magically ~see~ you one day. No one is that deluded. Dude is filthy rich, has supposedly been your best friend for 15 yrs, knows you're struggling financially and trying to save money so your mom can live with you - YET STILL CHARGES YOU FOR TAKE OUT THAT HE ORDERS, INCLUDING THE EXTRA CRAP HE ORDERS WOTHOUT TELLING YOU????? Girlie, no, he was never your friend. You were always his ego boost.
March 23, 2025
I don't think I've read about a more insufferable character in my life! Waaaaaaaah, waaaaaah... jfc, stfu, Edie. *slap*
October 4, 2024
This book starts off strong. The author is able to get you invested in Edie and her obsessions with other characters in the book. I lost interest halfway through because Edie became very annoying and the plot was predictable. I expected more thrill when it came to the crime that happens in the book, but it seemed like the author just started relaying facts and trying really hard to make note of mental illness related to it, which is great having that representation, but I personally had a hard time staying focused. There's zero character development for any of the characters too. I do appreciate that the characters have in-depth differences to them, although I did not like anyone in this book. This was a fast-paced read and has a lot of experiences readers can relate to.
Thanks for the ARC from Netgelly. I was excited to read this 😁
Thanks for the ARC from Netgelly. I was excited to read this 😁
October 10, 2025
Nothing Serious by Emily J. Smith is one of those books that sits right in the middle for me—not bad by any means, but not one that completely swept me away either. It’s witty, introspective, and has moments of genuine emotional depth, but at times it felt a bit uneven in pacing and tone.
The writing itself is sharp and often relatable. I really enjoyed lines like, “Sometimes the most serious thing you can do is pretend it’s nothing at all.” That kind of quiet vulnerability shines through the narrative and gives the story heart. The main character’s messy, modern approach to love and identity felt real and current, but occasionally the internal monologue dragged or became repetitive.
I think readers who love character-driven stories that lean into self-reflection and the blurred lines between friendship, romance, and self-discovery will connect deeply with this one. For me, it was a good read—just not a great one. Still, I appreciated the honesty in Smith’s storytelling and the way she captures that feeling of being adrift but still trying to find meaning in the small things.
Would I recommend it? Yes, to readers who enjoy books like Conversations with Friends or Exciting Times. It’s not quite as sharp or emotionally resonant, but it has a similar quiet charm that lingers after the last page.
The writing itself is sharp and often relatable. I really enjoyed lines like, “Sometimes the most serious thing you can do is pretend it’s nothing at all.” That kind of quiet vulnerability shines through the narrative and gives the story heart. The main character’s messy, modern approach to love and identity felt real and current, but occasionally the internal monologue dragged or became repetitive.
I think readers who love character-driven stories that lean into self-reflection and the blurred lines between friendship, romance, and self-discovery will connect deeply with this one. For me, it was a good read—just not a great one. Still, I appreciated the honesty in Smith’s storytelling and the way she captures that feeling of being adrift but still trying to find meaning in the small things.
Would I recommend it? Yes, to readers who enjoy books like Conversations with Friends or Exciting Times. It’s not quite as sharp or emotionally resonant, but it has a similar quiet charm that lingers after the last page.
August 28, 2025
this started off a lot stronger than it ended but it was fun and kept me entertained!
February 7, 2025
While the entire premise had me intrigued and excited to read this book- I could literally never get into it or connect with the characters. It fell flat, was pretty boring and felt like it drug on way too long.
Maybe it’ll be for someone else but for me 3 stars is a generous rating.
Maybe it’ll be for someone else but for me 3 stars is a generous rating.
March 6, 2025
This was less about dating apps and more about how women make excuses for awful men they care about, which in turn causes more harm for other women. This book is full of miserable and insufferable people, ESPECIALLY the mc Edie. She is creepy and pathetic. She grated on my nerves but I had to find out what happened in the end and it was just.... mediocre. If there's anyone who needs to be on the decenter men side of tiktok, its her.
February 24, 2025
This book was all over the place. The MC had me CRINGING, obsessed with this tool of a best friend tech bro and like, I totally get that he saved her from an absolutely horrendous situation in college, but he became a shitty person and our girl was obsessed and it was painful to watch her get dragged along by this disgusting human.
Also, I was cringing as she obsessively went around trying to look into this woman’s death, and again she was looking like crazy stalker obsessed it was tough to read.
The MC had so many issues. She was insecure, constantly comparing herself to other people and their looks and the negativity towards herself and her age (she was mid 30’s she wasn’t even that old, like…?) Like she was going to house parties like a college student and getting wasted and then going home and hating on herself for having frizzy hair and wrinkles and feeling old.
There’s a whole thing about her parents that doesn’t get resolved but is also terrible, a whole side story of freezing her eggs that has nothing to do with the other main story and could have been cut. And the ending was too realistic in that it was infuriating and extremely disappointing and made you wonder what the point of the book was at all.
I don’t think the MC really grows, other than she realizes the guy is a gross asshole.
I also thought we were going to get something else with the dude going on, cause there’s a weird part with him overcharging her for their takeout, when he’s supposed to be a millionaire tech bro. Like I thought he was secretly bankrupt and selling on the side to make some money or something. That was implied but never confirmed?
Anyway, this book was an easy read, I got through it in a day hoping for the best and the ending was just frustrating. Like I know how these things go in real life, give me some sort of hope in this fictional world? I don’t know, something about this rubbed me the wrong way. It was trying to say something, but it was just weighed down with too much stuff and the message gets lost.
Thank you @williammorrowbooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Also, I was cringing as she obsessively went around trying to look into this woman’s death, and again she was looking like crazy stalker obsessed it was tough to read.
The MC had so many issues. She was insecure, constantly comparing herself to other people and their looks and the negativity towards herself and her age (she was mid 30’s she wasn’t even that old, like…?) Like she was going to house parties like a college student and getting wasted and then going home and hating on herself for having frizzy hair and wrinkles and feeling old.
There’s a whole thing about her parents that doesn’t get resolved but is also terrible, a whole side story of freezing her eggs that has nothing to do with the other main story and could have been cut. And the ending was too realistic in that it was infuriating and extremely disappointing and made you wonder what the point of the book was at all.
I don’t think the MC really grows, other than she realizes the guy is a gross asshole.
I also thought we were going to get something else with the dude going on, cause there’s a weird part with him overcharging her for their takeout, when he’s supposed to be a millionaire tech bro. Like I thought he was secretly bankrupt and selling on the side to make some money or something. That was implied but never confirmed?
Anyway, this book was an easy read, I got through it in a day hoping for the best and the ending was just frustrating. Like I know how these things go in real life, give me some sort of hope in this fictional world? I don’t know, something about this rubbed me the wrong way. It was trying to say something, but it was just weighed down with too much stuff and the message gets lost.
Thank you @williammorrowbooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2025
The title of NOTHING SERIOUS by Emily J. Smith is a bit deceiving because it is in fact, VERY serious. My gosh, this debut was a lot heavier and gloomier than I was expecting, but I’m not complaining as I found it very intriguing and addictive! I wouldn’t classify this novel as a thriller, but it’s definitely dark and mysterious. Check out this quick synopsis:
“𝘈 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥-—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩—𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩.”
Edie is stuck in a hard place. She wants to believe that her best friend, Peter is 100% innocent and had absolutely nothing to do with the death of a woman he had been recently dating. But as new evidence and incriminating information is brought to light, she begins to question his character and integrity.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- The tech world
- Online dating apps
- San Francisco setting
- Obsessive behavior
- Murder investigations
- Character-driven novels
- Mother/daughter relationships
- Complex friendships
- #sadgirl stories
- Feminist undertones
I must admit that I had a love/hate relationship with the female protagonist. Edie’s wishy-washy and obsessive ways got a little old at times, but she continued to grow on me with each new chapter. I appreciated and admired her character development throughout.
This novel showcased an effective exploration of gender and power through multiple scenes and situations. Mostly with Peter’s case—a successful white man with multiple strings to pull, but also with Edie working with all of the tech bros and navigating a male-dominated workplace.
The conclusion was rather jarring and strangely satisfying. I love how this story wrapped up and how much it surprised me. Overall, I’d say that it’s a super solid debut! 4/5 stars for NOTHING SERIOUS! It’s out now!
“𝘈 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥-—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩—𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩.”
Edie is stuck in a hard place. She wants to believe that her best friend, Peter is 100% innocent and had absolutely nothing to do with the death of a woman he had been recently dating. But as new evidence and incriminating information is brought to light, she begins to question his character and integrity.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- The tech world
- Online dating apps
- San Francisco setting
- Obsessive behavior
- Murder investigations
- Character-driven novels
- Mother/daughter relationships
- Complex friendships
- #sadgirl stories
- Feminist undertones
I must admit that I had a love/hate relationship with the female protagonist. Edie’s wishy-washy and obsessive ways got a little old at times, but she continued to grow on me with each new chapter. I appreciated and admired her character development throughout.
This novel showcased an effective exploration of gender and power through multiple scenes and situations. Mostly with Peter’s case—a successful white man with multiple strings to pull, but also with Edie working with all of the tech bros and navigating a male-dominated workplace.
The conclusion was rather jarring and strangely satisfying. I love how this story wrapped up and how much it surprised me. Overall, I’d say that it’s a super solid debut! 4/5 stars for NOTHING SERIOUS! It’s out now!
April 12, 2025
I'm going with a solid 3 stars because I felt like it was just fine.
My favorite thing about it was that it didn't employ (what I am now calling) Colleen Hoover voice. I feel like every new popfic book I pick up these days uses the same exact writing style and tone as that b*tch and it drives me INSANE.
But! Smith does not. She has her own voice and you know it's not groundbreaking but it's solid.
The first 2/3rds were good, a bit trite and obvious in its observations on single womanhood, the kids issue, online dating, male/female power dynamics, etc. but not wrong in any of it. I even really liked how she phrased a few things in the first few chapters, not because they were mind blowing ideas, but because they were well put.
I think it just all fell apart in the third act, and not just literally for the character, but in the story telling. I didn't hate Edie, she's certainly not the least lovable heroine I've read about of late, but I wasn't really endeared to her either. I just kind of felt sorry for her 70% of the time.
I did hate the shit out of Peter though. What a douche.
I am like still really confused about what exactly Anaya wrote/taught on??
Like, ok she worked on Wall Street and then became a feminism professor? I think is what they said? I'm assuming that means gender studies?
But she doesn't really write about gender studies, it seemed more like self help/dating books? Or maybe memoir? idk just all felt too imprecise in a way that people in academia NEVER are about their work lol so it kept distracting me.
My favorite thing about it was that it didn't employ (what I am now calling) Colleen Hoover voice. I feel like every new popfic book I pick up these days uses the same exact writing style and tone as that b*tch and it drives me INSANE.
But! Smith does not. She has her own voice and you know it's not groundbreaking but it's solid.
The first 2/3rds were good, a bit trite and obvious in its observations on single womanhood, the kids issue, online dating, male/female power dynamics, etc. but not wrong in any of it. I even really liked how she phrased a few things in the first few chapters, not because they were mind blowing ideas, but because they were well put.
I think it just all fell apart in the third act, and not just literally for the character, but in the story telling. I didn't hate Edie, she's certainly not the least lovable heroine I've read about of late, but I wasn't really endeared to her either. I just kind of felt sorry for her 70% of the time.
I did hate the shit out of Peter though. What a douche.
I am like still really confused about what exactly Anaya wrote/taught on??
Like, ok she worked on Wall Street and then became a feminism professor? I think is what they said? I'm assuming that means gender studies?
But she doesn't really write about gender studies, it seemed more like self help/dating books? Or maybe memoir? idk just all felt too imprecise in a way that people in academia NEVER are about their work lol so it kept distracting me.
March 23, 2025
It was fine, pretty cringey at times tho. I hated the end of the book when she kissed the murder victims sister during the trial, that is very inappropriate moment to kiss someone, probably the most traumatic moment of her life tbh
February 24, 2025
The main character is an obvious self-insert and I just couldn't get past that. The book reads like an outlet for the author's thoughts on dating over 30 as a woman and Silicon Valley tech with a random, uninteresting murder mystery tacked on so she could reach her page count. As a card-carrying San Francisco hater, this book should have been made for me, but it was just a slog.
April 14, 2025
sometimes i hate a book so much it rejuvenates me
January 29, 2025
Nothing Serious by Emily J Smith. Thanks to @williammorrow for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Edie has always looked up to her best friend Peter, despite the huge disparity in their life styles and wealth. Edie is stuck in an okay job, single, and living in a small studio. When Peter is implicated in the death of a feminist writer, Edie becomes obsessed with the case.
This is a very character based story where the meat lies within the relationship between Edie and Peter. It’s an odd friendship and you really want Edie to wake up the entire time. Peter is a really unlikable character; representing toxic masculinity in today’s world. I did like the end and how Edie’s parents’ relationship tied in.
“We like to chalk things up to chance. But most things, if you dig deep enough, aren’t chance. Not really.”
Nothing Serious comes out 2/18.
Edie has always looked up to her best friend Peter, despite the huge disparity in their life styles and wealth. Edie is stuck in an okay job, single, and living in a small studio. When Peter is implicated in the death of a feminist writer, Edie becomes obsessed with the case.
This is a very character based story where the meat lies within the relationship between Edie and Peter. It’s an odd friendship and you really want Edie to wake up the entire time. Peter is a really unlikable character; representing toxic masculinity in today’s world. I did like the end and how Edie’s parents’ relationship tied in.
“We like to chalk things up to chance. But most things, if you dig deep enough, aren’t chance. Not really.”
Nothing Serious comes out 2/18.
March 4, 2025
The secondhand embarrassment I felt reading this can’t be overstated. Throw that man in the trash and never look back, girl. He ain’t it.
March 19, 2025
Goodreads giveaway!
4.5🌟
This bitch is absolutely crazy and I’m obsessed with her. This is not a book I would typically read, so I’m so glad I won it as a giveaway because boy was it a thrill ride. I was on the edge of my seat from the first page to the last word. I cannot say I understand the ending. I cannot say I understand much of anything about this book. But I can say I had a great time. There were some lines that absolutely eviscerated me. There were parts of the book where I literally felt like I was stabbed. Hitting too close to home is a bit of an understatement. It hit me straight in the center of the fucking house. Anyways, Edie is a deeply fucked character, but she is written well enough that the book gets away with it. I will say [redacted]‘s story at the end felt a little bit like a cheap cop out. I think that the story would’ve stood on its own without it. I think that the end was perfect because it was deeply unsatisfying, which really made sense for the book. I’m just glad she made the choices she made. Even if she went about them in the worst possible way. I think the perfect conclusion was [redacted] saying that they weren’t looking for anything serious because boy does that not sum this all perfectly? I mean it’s the damn title. If I was Edie, I would also be deranged. And obviously, it’s always fucked Peter Masterson. The long paragraph on the second to last page, I can’t say I understand. I don’t know if that is telling me what happens after or if it is her delusion. But I hope it’s one of her insurmountable amount of delusions. But, oh well. In the end, who doesn’t love a crazy, fucked FMC? I certainly do. Otherwise I’d hate my own story 🤪
4.5🌟
This bitch is absolutely crazy and I’m obsessed with her. This is not a book I would typically read, so I’m so glad I won it as a giveaway because boy was it a thrill ride. I was on the edge of my seat from the first page to the last word. I cannot say I understand the ending. I cannot say I understand much of anything about this book. But I can say I had a great time. There were some lines that absolutely eviscerated me. There were parts of the book where I literally felt like I was stabbed. Hitting too close to home is a bit of an understatement. It hit me straight in the center of the fucking house. Anyways, Edie is a deeply fucked character, but she is written well enough that the book gets away with it. I will say [redacted]‘s story at the end felt a little bit like a cheap cop out. I think that the story would’ve stood on its own without it. I think that the end was perfect because it was deeply unsatisfying, which really made sense for the book. I’m just glad she made the choices she made. Even if she went about them in the worst possible way. I think the perfect conclusion was [redacted] saying that they weren’t looking for anything serious because boy does that not sum this all perfectly? I mean it’s the damn title. If I was Edie, I would also be deranged. And obviously, it’s always fucked Peter Masterson. The long paragraph on the second to last page, I can’t say I understand. I don’t know if that is telling me what happens after or if it is her delusion. But I hope it’s one of her insurmountable amount of delusions. But, oh well. In the end, who doesn’t love a crazy, fucked FMC? I certainly do. Otherwise I’d hate my own story 🤪
November 2, 2024
Edie at age 35 is insecure and intelligent. The insecurity is what causes her to be carrying a torch for Peter, her college friend and eternal best friend. Peter is a giant tool bag, terrible to women, drug abuser and pusher, and generally arrogant privileged jerk. It is cringy how she pines for him. Peter is the kind of guy who dates women in their early 20s because women in their mid thirties want to settle down and be in a serious relationship. Honestly, gross.
After 4 dates with Anaya, she turns up dead and Peter is the primary suspect. The rest of the book is Edie trying to figure out what happened and the mystery to solve.
It kills me that because romantic comedies are the top selling genre in the US, publishers put the wrong cover on it. If you’re expecting a book of millennial malaise (and why wouldn’t you) you may be disappointed. Also/ who named this book “Nothing serious”? It’s literally about EVERYTHING serious- addiction and drug abuse, sexual assault, overdose, suicidal ideation, eating disorders. It is a book that looks like it will deliver a happy ending, which it’s definitely not.
For a debut author; this is some really strong prose. The cultural observations are really intriguing and this book is intensely readable. I read it in one sitting. If you like mysteries with a FMC and feminist themes and are okay with some triggering subject matter, you will enjoy reading this book.
Thanks to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the ARC. Book to be published February 18, 2025.
#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booklover #arcreview #booktok #netgalley #bookrecommendations #Nothing Serious
After 4 dates with Anaya, she turns up dead and Peter is the primary suspect. The rest of the book is Edie trying to figure out what happened and the mystery to solve.
It kills me that because romantic comedies are the top selling genre in the US, publishers put the wrong cover on it. If you’re expecting a book of millennial malaise (and why wouldn’t you) you may be disappointed. Also/ who named this book “Nothing serious”? It’s literally about EVERYTHING serious- addiction and drug abuse, sexual assault, overdose, suicidal ideation, eating disorders. It is a book that looks like it will deliver a happy ending, which it’s definitely not.
For a debut author; this is some really strong prose. The cultural observations are really intriguing and this book is intensely readable. I read it in one sitting. If you like mysteries with a FMC and feminist themes and are okay with some triggering subject matter, you will enjoy reading this book.
Thanks to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the ARC. Book to be published February 18, 2025.
#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booklover #arcreview #booktok #netgalley #bookrecommendations #Nothing Serious
March 11, 2025
Bad. Sooooo baaaaad. So cringe. Who is this book for? Why is the MC literally obsessed with someone she met two times? Is she supposed to be written as someone with literally no redeeming qualities? I get having a character with rEaL fLaWs but we’ve lost the plot here. Not saying I loved Peter but the inference I was supposed to be super jazzed with his downfall and her “freeing” herself from men when she’s so absolutely insufferable and miserable is annoying. The book is also high key femcel and sex negative.
Also, why is she making curly hair a core personality trait? Stop trying to gatekeep a hair texture!!! I hate this book so much!
Also, why is she making curly hair a core personality trait? Stop trying to gatekeep a hair texture!!! I hate this book so much!
dnf
March 29, 2025I DNFd at 20% and feel like this was a feminist pick me book that somehow also never even scratched feminism at its surface level.
April 23, 2025
I just finished Nothing Serious by Emily J. Smith and here are my thoughts.
Edie is stuck in a rut. In love with her best friend Peter and in a job she doesn’t much care for. When Peter breaks up with his girlfriend, Edie finally feels like they could be more than friends but Peter has other ideas… He starts dating on dating apps. One woman really stands out and Edie finds herself drawn to the woman too until she winds up dead from a drug overdose right after a date with Peter. Unable to let it go, Edie starts her own investigation into what happened that night.
Edie is a stage 5 clinger on everyone she tries to get close to and a stranger danger stalker. I know that's not what we are meant to get from this book but Peter and Edie… they might not 100% be the same but they are both dululu in their own ways. They are well suited really but Peter is a grade A level buttwipe.
I found the story quite fascinating though. I wasn’t really rooting for anyone and I normally need the connection but I kinda like watching this trainwreck play out.
The narration was really well done and I think I liked it more as an audio than I would have had I read it. I always read the reviews after I have read the book and I was quite surprised that people didn’t love it. I thought it was a rather clever way of highlighting the toxic culture of online dating and the tech world we all find ourselves in on a day to day basis.
Yes Edie was obsessive to the point of almost breaking the law but I found the book rather compelling. It was different from my normal reads and I like that it shook me up.
I would need a novella to list all the triggers so maybe check those out before you dive in.
4 stars
Very original and very entertaining. Does have some dark humor and I always enjoy that personally.
Thanks to @netgalley and @harperaudio ( I never thought to tag them before haha) for my gifted ALC
Edie is stuck in a rut. In love with her best friend Peter and in a job she doesn’t much care for. When Peter breaks up with his girlfriend, Edie finally feels like they could be more than friends but Peter has other ideas… He starts dating on dating apps. One woman really stands out and Edie finds herself drawn to the woman too until she winds up dead from a drug overdose right after a date with Peter. Unable to let it go, Edie starts her own investigation into what happened that night.
Edie is a stage 5 clinger on everyone she tries to get close to and a stranger danger stalker. I know that's not what we are meant to get from this book but Peter and Edie… they might not 100% be the same but they are both dululu in their own ways. They are well suited really but Peter is a grade A level buttwipe.
I found the story quite fascinating though. I wasn’t really rooting for anyone and I normally need the connection but I kinda like watching this trainwreck play out.
The narration was really well done and I think I liked it more as an audio than I would have had I read it. I always read the reviews after I have read the book and I was quite surprised that people didn’t love it. I thought it was a rather clever way of highlighting the toxic culture of online dating and the tech world we all find ourselves in on a day to day basis.
Yes Edie was obsessive to the point of almost breaking the law but I found the book rather compelling. It was different from my normal reads and I like that it shook me up.
I would need a novella to list all the triggers so maybe check those out before you dive in.
4 stars
Very original and very entertaining. Does have some dark humor and I always enjoy that personally.
Thanks to @netgalley and @harperaudio ( I never thought to tag them before haha) for my gifted ALC
June 20, 2025
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC read of this book!
DAAAAAAAMN. This book was so much more than I could have prepared myself for - I thought it was maybe a romance, but it is NOT a romance. It's lit-fic, and it was incredible.
It has left me grappling with so many hard truths and is the perfect social commentary on our society and people in society.
to me, the ending was so:
Suprising,
HURTFUL,
Necessary,
and Satisfying!
I haven't read a 5 star book that was this good in a while! -
good might be the wrong word because the subjects are serious and have very hard answers that are highly uncomfortable to talk about or come to terms with for so many.
But it was riveting, UN-PUT-DOWN-ABLE. I finished it in 1 day.
the story was well told. the writing was smooth and conclusions flowed very well!
for women, we want to protect the people we know and love. we want to shield them from bad things happening to them. But what if it is possible, that doing so means that those good men just keep unintentionally hurting women- emotionally, physically.
And sometimes it's minor inconveniences. But sometimes, their selfishness is seen in much bigger ways. Like death. And it's up in the air whether it was directly / indirectly due to that man's careless, selfish, unconsciously problematic interactions with said person.
The good guys in society get to think of themselves as good because they are not actively trying to hurt women. But many times, good men are careless, and hurtful in many ways, and can lead to many very big problems for women that we have to deal with forever. Leaves little tiny tramas in our lives when its not something a man will ever think about again most of the time.
And they say 'its not my fault" because they arent malicious in their intentions. They are just selfish. and careless. And it doesnt matter what their intentions are when they hurt the woman regardless.
Even if the men we know, haven't been bad to us personally, it doesn't mean they aren't bad to others and hurt others. Because most men do not care about women as much as they should. It's a hard truth.
I believe the main character made the right choice in the end. The book is so full of nuance. Everyone should read it!
DAAAAAAAMN. This book was so much more than I could have prepared myself for - I thought it was maybe a romance, but it is NOT a romance. It's lit-fic, and it was incredible.
It has left me grappling with so many hard truths and is the perfect social commentary on our society and people in society.
to me, the ending was so:
Suprising,
HURTFUL,
Necessary,
and Satisfying!
I haven't read a 5 star book that was this good in a while! -
good might be the wrong word because the subjects are serious and have very hard answers that are highly uncomfortable to talk about or come to terms with for so many.
But it was riveting, UN-PUT-DOWN-ABLE. I finished it in 1 day.
the story was well told. the writing was smooth and conclusions flowed very well!
for women, we want to protect the people we know and love. we want to shield them from bad things happening to them. But what if it is possible, that doing so means that those good men just keep unintentionally hurting women- emotionally, physically.
And sometimes it's minor inconveniences. But sometimes, their selfishness is seen in much bigger ways. Like death. And it's up in the air whether it was directly / indirectly due to that man's careless, selfish, unconsciously problematic interactions with said person.
The good guys in society get to think of themselves as good because they are not actively trying to hurt women. But many times, good men are careless, and hurtful in many ways, and can lead to many very big problems for women that we have to deal with forever. Leaves little tiny tramas in our lives when its not something a man will ever think about again most of the time.
And they say 'its not my fault" because they arent malicious in their intentions. They are just selfish. and careless. And it doesnt matter what their intentions are when they hurt the woman regardless.
Even if the men we know, haven't been bad to us personally, it doesn't mean they aren't bad to others and hurt others. Because most men do not care about women as much as they should. It's a hard truth.
I believe the main character made the right choice in the end. The book is so full of nuance. Everyone should read it!
February 17, 2025
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I struggled to finish this book. The author offers insightful commentary on women and dating in middle age, so I hung in there for a few gems of quotes here and there. This had the potential to be a thoughtful story.
The characters in this story, and what motivated them, had me feeling confusion, anger, and (at best) pity. Edie's obsession with Anaya was over-the-top. The genesis of it felt forced, and it was so repetitive that I was quite sick of reading about Anaya by the end of the story. Edie's development as a character, instead of feeling genuine, felt like it served primarily as a platform for what the author wanted to say from a feminist perspective on the role of women in tech, in life, in relationships, etc. Even though Edie was the main character, it felt like she wasn't the focus of the story. Even her breakthroughs, the moments when the reader has been waiting for her to break out of destructive habits and ways of thinking, felt rushed and unconvincing. The book, overall, just left me disappointed.
I struggled to finish this book. The author offers insightful commentary on women and dating in middle age, so I hung in there for a few gems of quotes here and there. This had the potential to be a thoughtful story.
The characters in this story, and what motivated them, had me feeling confusion, anger, and (at best) pity. Edie's obsession with Anaya was over-the-top. The genesis of it felt forced, and it was so repetitive that I was quite sick of reading about Anaya by the end of the story. Edie's development as a character, instead of feeling genuine, felt like it served primarily as a platform for what the author wanted to say from a feminist perspective on the role of women in tech, in life, in relationships, etc. Even though Edie was the main character, it felt like she wasn't the focus of the story. Even her breakthroughs, the moments when the reader has been waiting for her to break out of destructive habits and ways of thinking, felt rushed and unconvincing. The book, overall, just left me disappointed.
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