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Snake Oil
From the author of Girl in the Rearview Mirror comes a stunning novel set in the high-stakes world of Silicon Valley.
It’s a woman’s world, isn’t it?
Rhoda West has the world at her feet.
As the luminously charismatic CEO of Radical, a fast-growing start-up, Rhoda has built a wellness company whose core mission is the betterment of women’s lives. Showcasing her cult products and her perfect life through her social media, Rhoda is the ultimate ‘Radigal’, encouraging her followers to be #bebetter, whilst driving her business to attain the billion-dollar unicorn status that she craves.
But just as Radical announces the latest fundraising round that will take it over the top, an anonymous twitter account begins revealing the company’s secrets and starts questioning its beliefs and approach, and Rhoda herself.
Is Rhoda really the nurturing leader that she presents to the world, or a fraud on a mission to exploit the women she claims to want to help? As tensions rise and enemies present themselves, the only questions are how far will Rhoda go to fulfil her legacy and how far will her enemies go to destroy it…
Exploring themes of ambition, authenticity and female empowerment, this revealing thriller shines a light on the wellness world, and is perfect for fans of The Drop Out and Yellowface.
Praise for Girl in the Rearview Mirror:
‘An exciting, intoxicating debut – it will hold you until its startling final pages’ Megan Abbott
‘Gripping and cinematic, this debut is pure modern noir’ Flynn Berry
‘Utterly compelling. A gripping story that expertly weaves domestic and political intrigue’ Rosamund Lupton
‘A riveting tale of an appealing young woman caught in the thrall of a powerful political family’s prestige and privilege’ Hallie Ephron
‘A charged, tense, highly emotional story that will stay with you’ Caz Frear
It’s a woman’s world, isn’t it?
Rhoda West has the world at her feet.
As the luminously charismatic CEO of Radical, a fast-growing start-up, Rhoda has built a wellness company whose core mission is the betterment of women’s lives. Showcasing her cult products and her perfect life through her social media, Rhoda is the ultimate ‘Radigal’, encouraging her followers to be #bebetter, whilst driving her business to attain the billion-dollar unicorn status that she craves.
But just as Radical announces the latest fundraising round that will take it over the top, an anonymous twitter account begins revealing the company’s secrets and starts questioning its beliefs and approach, and Rhoda herself.
Is Rhoda really the nurturing leader that she presents to the world, or a fraud on a mission to exploit the women she claims to want to help? As tensions rise and enemies present themselves, the only questions are how far will Rhoda go to fulfil her legacy and how far will her enemies go to destroy it…
Exploring themes of ambition, authenticity and female empowerment, this revealing thriller shines a light on the wellness world, and is perfect for fans of The Drop Out and Yellowface.
Praise for Girl in the Rearview Mirror:
‘An exciting, intoxicating debut – it will hold you until its startling final pages’ Megan Abbott
‘Gripping and cinematic, this debut is pure modern noir’ Flynn Berry
‘Utterly compelling. A gripping story that expertly weaves domestic and political intrigue’ Rosamund Lupton
‘A riveting tale of an appealing young woman caught in the thrall of a powerful political family’s prestige and privilege’ Hallie Ephron
‘A charged, tense, highly emotional story that will stay with you’ Caz Frear
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2024
60 people are currently reading
19806 people want to read
About the author
Kelsey Rae Dimberg
4 books365 followersI’m Kelsey Rae Dimberg, author of GIRL IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR—a debut novel about a nanny who becomes embroiled in a powerful family’s secrets, set in the blistering heat of an Arizona summer. CrimeReads called it one of the Most Anticipated Crime Books of Summer.
Setting is a major inspiration for me: I’ve moved around frequently, both when I was growing up and as an adult. I’ve lived in Seattle, Salt Lake City, Houston, Denver, Phoenix, Milwaukee, San Francisco, and Chicago. I love moving—soaking in the terrain and culture of a new place. GIRL IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR was hugely inspired by my time in Arizona, both as a child and from my college years. I studied English-Literature and Spanish at Arizona State University, and got an MFA from the University of San Francisco.
For almost 10 years, I worked as a writer and editor for online brands: as a fashion writer for a Google apple, a humorous coupon writer for Groupon, and as a food writer for Taste of Home. I currently live in Milwaukee with my husband and our Australian shepherd pup. Usually I’m reading or writing, but I also enjoy baking sourdough bread and pizza, running along the lakefront, and streaming British crime shows.
Please connect with me on social!
https://twitter.com/kraedimberg
https://www.instagram.com/kraedimberg/
https://www.facebook.com/Kelsey-Rae-D...?
Setting is a major inspiration for me: I’ve moved around frequently, both when I was growing up and as an adult. I’ve lived in Seattle, Salt Lake City, Houston, Denver, Phoenix, Milwaukee, San Francisco, and Chicago. I love moving—soaking in the terrain and culture of a new place. GIRL IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR was hugely inspired by my time in Arizona, both as a child and from my college years. I studied English-Literature and Spanish at Arizona State University, and got an MFA from the University of San Francisco.
For almost 10 years, I worked as a writer and editor for online brands: as a fashion writer for a Google apple, a humorous coupon writer for Groupon, and as a food writer for Taste of Home. I currently live in Milwaukee with my husband and our Australian shepherd pup. Usually I’m reading or writing, but I also enjoy baking sourdough bread and pizza, running along the lakefront, and streaming British crime shows.
Please connect with me on social!
https://twitter.com/kraedimberg
https://www.instagram.com/kraedimberg/
https://www.facebook.com/Kelsey-Rae-D...?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
September 25, 2024
3.5 rounded up for Goodreads/NetGalley
Snake Oil is a story centered around three women.
Rhoda is the founder and owner of Radical, a popular health & wellness brand
Cecilia works at Radical and writes mean tweets about the company on the sly
and Dani, who also works at Radical and has visions of working her way up from the bottom.
The story is told from their POVs in short, bingeable, chapters. I would say this is a psychological thriller shot through with biting social commentary exposing the internal, sinister world of marketing, social media, corporate businesses, scandals, "girl bossing", brand management and optics, ladder climbing, jealousy, health & wellness scams, and influencers.
The behind-the-scenes style drama and escalation were so addictive.
Highly recommend for readers who enjoy dark satire reflecting the truth behind so many issues modern women face.
Read if you enjoyed:
Youthjuice
Natural Beauty
Yellowface
and The Devil Wears Prada
Snake Oil is a story centered around three women.
Rhoda is the founder and owner of Radical, a popular health & wellness brand
Cecilia works at Radical and writes mean tweets about the company on the sly
and Dani, who also works at Radical and has visions of working her way up from the bottom.
The story is told from their POVs in short, bingeable, chapters. I would say this is a psychological thriller shot through with biting social commentary exposing the internal, sinister world of marketing, social media, corporate businesses, scandals, "girl bossing", brand management and optics, ladder climbing, jealousy, health & wellness scams, and influencers.
The behind-the-scenes style drama and escalation were so addictive.
Highly recommend for readers who enjoy dark satire reflecting the truth behind so many issues modern women face.
Read if you enjoyed:
Youthjuice
Natural Beauty
Yellowface
and The Devil Wears Prada
October 8, 2024
I LOVED the premise of this one, but the ending just felt underwhelming. The characters were sadly relatable and the workplace felt like somewhere I might even be interested in working so it was extra enjoyable! As someone invested in wellness, it pointed a bright spotlight on some of the downsides of the culture of “wellness”
October 16, 2024
Yeah... this one was wild and a bit underwhelming.
September 19, 2024
idk. it was just fine? i was into it for the first half but it started dragging and i didn’t love the direction the plot went. i think ive just read better, edgier books about the toxicity found in wellness companies that actually center female rage. this felt like the pg-13 version of that
August 25, 2024
This book has a large spoiler close to the beginning, so the synopsis is about all that can be covered! The story is about Radical, a lifestyle/wellness company that kept making me think of a high-tech “Goop” while I was reading it. Of course the emphasis is on beauty from clean living (aka, using their skincare products), but they also make MANY supplements for a host of ailments. Their newest product is Lift, something of a homeopathic anti-depressant that could revolutionize the market.
The women who work there, the “Radigals”, are encouraged to try Lift for market data and research. The book is about the company, but also three of those women - Rhoda, the founder and CEO, Dani, a pregnant woman working at Radical and doing the Lift trial, and Cecelia, a Customer Service Representative (known at Radical as the “Customer Worship” department). Cecelia never bought into the whole wellness thing, and created an online account called @radicalidiocy, where she posts her frustrations about the company.
Then, as we know from the synopsis, something bad happens at a party, and then that’s the rest of the book. These three women are thrown into the wringer, and as more comes out about Radical’s past, Rhoda’s current employees begin to question their commitment. Is anything she says true? Are they really just selling expensive snake oil?
I’m very torn on this book - if you work at a place like that, you probably have some idea that profits are more important than actual health and well-being. Egos are more important than meditation and soothing balms. Maybe it just took some people longer to catch on. Also, the beginning and ending of the book are great, but the middle got very drawn-out. The writing was very flowy (I get it, I can be the same!) which made for a lot of unnecessary pages that bogged the book down. Overall though, this was decent-to-good with some fun surprises. 3.5 stars.
(Thank you to Mariner Books, Kelsey Rae Dimberg and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 17, 2024.)
The women who work there, the “Radigals”, are encouraged to try Lift for market data and research. The book is about the company, but also three of those women - Rhoda, the founder and CEO, Dani, a pregnant woman working at Radical and doing the Lift trial, and Cecelia, a Customer Service Representative (known at Radical as the “Customer Worship” department). Cecelia never bought into the whole wellness thing, and created an online account called @radicalidiocy, where she posts her frustrations about the company.
Then, as we know from the synopsis, something bad happens at a party, and then that’s the rest of the book. These three women are thrown into the wringer, and as more comes out about Radical’s past, Rhoda’s current employees begin to question their commitment. Is anything she says true? Are they really just selling expensive snake oil?
I’m very torn on this book - if you work at a place like that, you probably have some idea that profits are more important than actual health and well-being. Egos are more important than meditation and soothing balms. Maybe it just took some people longer to catch on. Also, the beginning and ending of the book are great, but the middle got very drawn-out. The writing was very flowy (I get it, I can be the same!) which made for a lot of unnecessary pages that bogged the book down. Overall though, this was decent-to-good with some fun surprises. 3.5 stars.
(Thank you to Mariner Books, Kelsey Rae Dimberg and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 17, 2024.)
May 29, 2024
4.5/5.0⭐
Another well-crafted contemporary social satire that uses vantage point to showcase how jumping to conclusions about the people you think you know can be tragic, with a unique wellness industry spin. Coming September 2024.
Kelsey Rae Dimberg's "Snake Oil" contrasts female ambition with profound skepticism and disdain for deceptive marketing. It alternates perspectives between Rhoda, the ambitious founder of Radical, a wellness company on track to reach a billion-dollar valuation; Cecilia, a "Customer Worship" team member grappling with chronic pain and cynicism; and Dani, her friend and coworker with unwavering loyalty to Radical.
Perfect for readers who recognize shades of grey in human nature and society, but be aware that the novel features a significant focus on pregnancy for those sensitive to the topic.
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Another well-crafted contemporary social satire that uses vantage point to showcase how jumping to conclusions about the people you think you know can be tragic, with a unique wellness industry spin. Coming September 2024.
Kelsey Rae Dimberg's "Snake Oil" contrasts female ambition with profound skepticism and disdain for deceptive marketing. It alternates perspectives between Rhoda, the ambitious founder of Radical, a wellness company on track to reach a billion-dollar valuation; Cecilia, a "Customer Worship" team member grappling with chronic pain and cynicism; and Dani, her friend and coworker with unwavering loyalty to Radical.
Perfect for readers who recognize shades of grey in human nature and society, but be aware that the novel features a significant focus on pregnancy for those sensitive to the topic.
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
September 1, 2024
I’m having a hard time finding the point of this book. Probably because there wasn’t one. The blurb promised suspense when the only thing keeping me turning the page was sheer stubbornness to see this through. It promised darkly comic prose that wasn’t remotely entertaining. And while it did promise and deliver on crime, it took two-thirds of the plot to set it up before a body appeared, and even then it barely held any weight in the plot. The twists were so predictable and dull, and the big reveal of the murderer was too easy. This was more of a novel about an extreme-feminist business owner than the darkly comic thriller it sold itself to be, and I’m underwhelmed.
December 18, 2024
Audiobook (13 hours) narrated by"
Kristen Sieh
Andi Arndt
Renata Friedman
The narration is very good. Although I am unaware of any audiobook awards among this group, Kristen Sieh is a Tony Award winner, with vast acting experience and recognition on stage and on screen.
The audio takes a dive early on with a very obvious sloppy edit. Most of the audio is great. There aren't any persistent issues, just a couple of additional edits, that while not as obvious as the first, do interrupt the flow of the narration and brought me out of the story for a moment.
I wasn't sure exactly how this story was going to go, but I really enjoyed it.
Kelsey Rae Dimberg was able to tell an ongoing story of three women, whose lives intersected and effected the others on several occasions. There were other important characters in the story, especially one man who also wove into each of these women's stories, some more than others.
Dimberg brought us both growing up as a young adult, life experiences, relationships in and out of the workplace, and business. We got to see a couple of start ups, business growth, and career growth.
I found both the relationship and the business stories to be decently written and detailed enough to be entertaining without being overwritten. Most of the business and career growth was both seen and told through the characters, making it personal, and giving it character weight rather than it just being cold business facts.
Within the novel there's also a lot of tension and unrest that begins to settle in as the story morphs into a mystery. I wouldn't say it is exactly a thriller and certainly not a horror, but the mystery is also well written, however, it does not encompass the entire novel. Readers who expect to jump right into a mystery may be disappointed, as it isn't written strictly as a mystery novel.
This is definitely a book to read without expectation, by those who enjoy a variety of genre's and story types. It's a well written journey with some excitement, twists and turns and a few unexpected surprises along the way.
I hope that Dimberg writes more like this, as there was a lot to like.
Kristen Sieh
Andi Arndt
Renata Friedman
The narration is very good. Although I am unaware of any audiobook awards among this group, Kristen Sieh is a Tony Award winner, with vast acting experience and recognition on stage and on screen.
The audio takes a dive early on with a very obvious sloppy edit. Most of the audio is great. There aren't any persistent issues, just a couple of additional edits, that while not as obvious as the first, do interrupt the flow of the narration and brought me out of the story for a moment.
I wasn't sure exactly how this story was going to go, but I really enjoyed it.
Kelsey Rae Dimberg was able to tell an ongoing story of three women, whose lives intersected and effected the others on several occasions. There were other important characters in the story, especially one man who also wove into each of these women's stories, some more than others.
Dimberg brought us both growing up as a young adult, life experiences, relationships in and out of the workplace, and business. We got to see a couple of start ups, business growth, and career growth.
I found both the relationship and the business stories to be decently written and detailed enough to be entertaining without being overwritten. Most of the business and career growth was both seen and told through the characters, making it personal, and giving it character weight rather than it just being cold business facts.
Within the novel there's also a lot of tension and unrest that begins to settle in as the story morphs into a mystery. I wouldn't say it is exactly a thriller and certainly not a horror, but the mystery is also well written, however, it does not encompass the entire novel. Readers who expect to jump right into a mystery may be disappointed, as it isn't written strictly as a mystery novel.
This is definitely a book to read without expectation, by those who enjoy a variety of genre's and story types. It's a well written journey with some excitement, twists and turns and a few unexpected surprises along the way.
I hope that Dimberg writes more like this, as there was a lot to like.
April 21, 2024
ARC for review. To be published September 17, 2024.
Rhoda West is the founder of Radical, a billion dollar wellness company. She’s stunning, both in looks and in business savvy, but she’s also obsessed with keeping her empire growing and with the fear that she could lose it all. She’s slightly paranoid and will do what is necessary to protect herself and what she has accomplished.
Dani Lang work for Radical and is a true believer. Then she’s hand selected by Rhoda for a dream job. However, it doesn’t take long to realize that something is off with Radical.
Cecilia Cole works in customer care and she’s not a fan of dealing with the disgruntled public. In her spare time she runs a secret Twitter account where she attempts to out Rhoda as a hypocrite. Then she happens upon what she believes is proof. How much is she willing to risk to expose Rhoda and Radical.
Rhoda gets a bad rap here. Even the person who wrote the cover blurb gives Rhoda the shaft….are you paranoid if people really are out to get you? And what is wrong with protecting what you do? If Rhoda were a man there would be no story here. This is a lot of bullshit.
That said, this is but one of many “something sinister going on at a wellness company” books (NATURAL BEAUTY, youthjuice, ROUGE) that have been out recently, but I like the idea, so I think I’ve read most of them. I liked this.
Rhoda West is the founder of Radical, a billion dollar wellness company. She’s stunning, both in looks and in business savvy, but she’s also obsessed with keeping her empire growing and with the fear that she could lose it all. She’s slightly paranoid and will do what is necessary to protect herself and what she has accomplished.
Dani Lang work for Radical and is a true believer. Then she’s hand selected by Rhoda for a dream job. However, it doesn’t take long to realize that something is off with Radical.
Cecilia Cole works in customer care and she’s not a fan of dealing with the disgruntled public. In her spare time she runs a secret Twitter account where she attempts to out Rhoda as a hypocrite. Then she happens upon what she believes is proof. How much is she willing to risk to expose Rhoda and Radical.
Rhoda gets a bad rap here. Even the person who wrote the cover blurb gives Rhoda the shaft….are you paranoid if people really are out to get you? And what is wrong with protecting what you do? If Rhoda were a man there would be no story here. This is a lot of bullshit.
That said, this is but one of many “something sinister going on at a wellness company” books (NATURAL BEAUTY, youthjuice, ROUGE) that have been out recently, but I like the idea, so I think I’ve read most of them. I liked this.
November 3, 2024
3.5 Stars
This was a fun plot for a thriller that plays with wellness culture or, specifically, how society has turned wellness into a commodity to be sold. I liked the topic but I wish the story had pushed the story further. It played it a little safe while I wished it had been more punchy.
This was a fun plot for a thriller that plays with wellness culture or, specifically, how society has turned wellness into a commodity to be sold. I liked the topic but I wish the story had pushed the story further. It played it a little safe while I wished it had been more punchy.
October 9, 2024
This is more fiction than thriller with a slow-moving plot that is bogged down with details.
It has three narratives of women working for a wellness empire: Rhoda (CEO) who can shape events into a profitable story while being willing to do anything to achieve her goals; Dani (Kool-Aid drinker) is a true believer, model employee who supports the company’s products up to a point; Cecilla (vocal distractor) who uses social media to blame others for her failures.
You could describe this as a cautionary tale about the fickleness of social media. That people can draw the wrong conclusion depending on the story’s spin. How loyalties can shift. About the grayness hiding in people. On misleading marketing.
My attention wavered once the story had been established because the pacing was slow until the end. For a thriller, this lacked suspense. The conclusion was underwhelming and predictable. Characterization outside of the narrators was minimal. Too much time was spent on the minutiae of daily life.
Overall, I didn’t get much entertainment value from this book. However, it could work for the right type of reader. You may relish it if you enjoy scandals and drama and office politics in dark satire.
It has three narratives of women working for a wellness empire: Rhoda (CEO) who can shape events into a profitable story while being willing to do anything to achieve her goals; Dani (Kool-Aid drinker) is a true believer, model employee who supports the company’s products up to a point; Cecilla (vocal distractor) who uses social media to blame others for her failures.
You could describe this as a cautionary tale about the fickleness of social media. That people can draw the wrong conclusion depending on the story’s spin. How loyalties can shift. About the grayness hiding in people. On misleading marketing.
My attention wavered once the story had been established because the pacing was slow until the end. For a thriller, this lacked suspense. The conclusion was underwhelming and predictable. Characterization outside of the narrators was minimal. Too much time was spent on the minutiae of daily life.
Overall, I didn’t get much entertainment value from this book. However, it could work for the right type of reader. You may relish it if you enjoy scandals and drama and office politics in dark satire.
July 7, 2024
Snake Oil was filled with twists and turns that kept me stuck to its pages. Initially starting slow, about halfway picks up its pace and has you questioning which of its narrators is telling the truth. The premise of the dirty business behind a wellness start up is almost too realistic it makes you question what goes on behind the products you may swear by. Overall interesting plot and incredible ending.
April 29, 2024
I loved this book! I expected the concept to be totally different and loved all the turns this story took. It's hard to say any character is the "good" or "bad" guy and it's easy to see how these flawed characters make flawed decisions. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
September 17, 2024
Thank you to Kelsey Rae Dimberg, Mariner Books, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.
The first half of this book was quite slow, and it took a while for it to actually pick up steam in a way that grabbed my attention. As a "Thriller" book, there wasn't much "thrilling" happening in the first half. However, in the second half of the book, things picked up well, and it started turning into the thriller book that I was looking for. The plot in the second half of the book was great. The mystery aspect in the second half was a great and had good pacing.
The story was told from three different POV's: One being the CEO and founder of the company, one being someone who works at the company and believes in the CEO and the company, and one being someone who dislikes the company, and attempts to discredit the company online, while posting frustrations about the company.
The ending caught me off guard for sure, but I enjoyed the turn that it took and am happy with how things turned out.
The first half of this book was quite slow, and it took a while for it to actually pick up steam in a way that grabbed my attention. As a "Thriller" book, there wasn't much "thrilling" happening in the first half. However, in the second half of the book, things picked up well, and it started turning into the thriller book that I was looking for. The plot in the second half of the book was great. The mystery aspect in the second half was a great and had good pacing.
The story was told from three different POV's: One being the CEO and founder of the company, one being someone who works at the company and believes in the CEO and the company, and one being someone who dislikes the company, and attempts to discredit the company online, while posting frustrations about the company.
The ending caught me off guard for sure, but I enjoyed the turn that it took and am happy with how things turned out.
April 15, 2025
The epitome of “meh”
September 17, 2024
Rhoda West is a certifiable #girlboss. As the founder and CEO of Radical, an almost-billion dollar wellness company, she’s ambitious, charismatic, and aspirational. Radical has millions of fans on social media, where every new release of a pill, potion, or lotion sells out in a flurry of excitement. But the viral brand has its critics too; not everyone believes in the woo Rhoda is shilling.
Snake Oil is told through three POVs: Rhoda herself and two employees in the Customer Worship (service) department, one a devotee of the company and the other a hater. Dani is a true believer in everything Radical, singing its praises and continuing to participate in a vaguely shady clinical trial even after she discovers she’s pregnant. Cecelia is on the opposite end of the spectrum, certain that Rhoda is a fraud and skeptical of the company’s health-washed products, and she’s not about to keep quiet about it.
I’m always fascinated by stories with about the culty vibes surrounding beauty and wellness (I tend toward Cecelia’s mind set), so I was immediately drawn to the concept of Snake Oil. The author skillfully uses the multiple POV structure to deftly reveal the inner darkness at the heart of the industry. The portrayal of start-up culture feels authentic and the social commentary is incisive, but the plot gets a bit chaotic with so much going on and some plot points needed more resolution.
This one might be for you if you’ve found yourself fascinated by Goop or enjoyed Rouge by Mona Awad or The Dropout (Hulu’s Theranos series).
Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing me an advance copy of this book.
Snake Oil is told through three POVs: Rhoda herself and two employees in the Customer Worship (service) department, one a devotee of the company and the other a hater. Dani is a true believer in everything Radical, singing its praises and continuing to participate in a vaguely shady clinical trial even after she discovers she’s pregnant. Cecelia is on the opposite end of the spectrum, certain that Rhoda is a fraud and skeptical of the company’s health-washed products, and she’s not about to keep quiet about it.
I’m always fascinated by stories with about the culty vibes surrounding beauty and wellness (I tend toward Cecelia’s mind set), so I was immediately drawn to the concept of Snake Oil. The author skillfully uses the multiple POV structure to deftly reveal the inner darkness at the heart of the industry. The portrayal of start-up culture feels authentic and the social commentary is incisive, but the plot gets a bit chaotic with so much going on and some plot points needed more resolution.
This one might be for you if you’ve found yourself fascinated by Goop or enjoyed Rouge by Mona Awad or The Dropout (Hulu’s Theranos series).
Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing me an advance copy of this book.
October 3, 2024
Oooh this is dangerously readable, and almost painfully relatable, as an employee of a startup lol. Snake Oil is a biting, fast-paced exploration of startup culture, ambition, and the murky world of the wellness industry. This novel offers a smart balance of suspense and satire, making it both a page-turner and a sharp critique of contemporary society. Set within the high-stakes world of a billion-dollar wellness company called Radical (a kind of Goop knockoff complete with jade eggs and overpriced elixirs), the story centres on three women—each with their own agenda and complicated relationship to the brand.
Dimberg has created characters who are fascinating, flawed, and very much products of the toxic world they inhabit. Rhoda West, the charismatic CEO, is particularly captivating. She’s equal parts inspiring and terrifying, making you constantly question whether she’s a savvy leader or a manipulative fraud. The secondary characters, Dani and Cecelia, add depth, representing the extreme ends of Radical’s “quester” culture—one worships the brand, while the other exposes its hypocrisy. The dynamics between these women are what really drive the tension, especially when things start unraveling, and loyalties shift.
Dimberg brilliantly skewers startup culture and the wellness world, layering the book with dark humour and social commentary. However, there’s enough suspense to keep you turning pages, as secrets unravel and a crime threatens to bring down the whole operation. That said, while the novel shines with its witty takedowns of corporate wellness and its examination of female ambition, it can lean a little heavy on the familiar tropes of the “unraveling company drama.”
Darkly sardonic humour and the intensity of a thriller, all while intelligently examining the intersection of (especially female) ambition, power, and what it really means to sell wellness.
Dimberg has created characters who are fascinating, flawed, and very much products of the toxic world they inhabit. Rhoda West, the charismatic CEO, is particularly captivating. She’s equal parts inspiring and terrifying, making you constantly question whether she’s a savvy leader or a manipulative fraud. The secondary characters, Dani and Cecelia, add depth, representing the extreme ends of Radical’s “quester” culture—one worships the brand, while the other exposes its hypocrisy. The dynamics between these women are what really drive the tension, especially when things start unraveling, and loyalties shift.
Dimberg brilliantly skewers startup culture and the wellness world, layering the book with dark humour and social commentary. However, there’s enough suspense to keep you turning pages, as secrets unravel and a crime threatens to bring down the whole operation. That said, while the novel shines with its witty takedowns of corporate wellness and its examination of female ambition, it can lean a little heavy on the familiar tropes of the “unraveling company drama.”
Darkly sardonic humour and the intensity of a thriller, all while intelligently examining the intersection of (especially female) ambition, power, and what it really means to sell wellness.
December 8, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up. I like this trend of wellness culture thriller, though I prefer the ones that get speculative. This one doesn’t do that, but highlights the dark underbelly of this kind of organization all the same.
I guessed the whole murder situation early because there’s a little detail that, to me, makes it very obvious what happened. I wouldn’t read this for the twists. But it was still an engaging, entertaining journey. The writing is great, and I think having all three POVs added to the story in the right way. Cecilia was kind of hilariously unlikable given that she’s the most “right” of the bunch.
My main complaint, besides predictability, is that this was just *too long*. Not enough happens to warrant this length, especially in the first 2/3. Shorter would’ve been sharper and better for me.
I guessed the whole murder situation early because there’s a little detail that, to me, makes it very obvious what happened. I wouldn’t read this for the twists. But it was still an engaging, entertaining journey. The writing is great, and I think having all three POVs added to the story in the right way. Cecilia was kind of hilariously unlikable given that she’s the most “right” of the bunch.
My main complaint, besides predictability, is that this was just *too long*. Not enough happens to warrant this length, especially in the first 2/3. Shorter would’ve been sharper and better for me.
September 19, 2024
Audiobook 4 Stars!
I was drawn to this book by the absolutely stunning cover. Come on, its gorgeous!
This is a thriller about a womens wellness company with a CEO who strives for perfection and creates a cult-like following for her products. All of her employees are enamored by her until one day one employee leaks insider information, shattering the air of perfection that the company tries so hard to maintain.
The story was very entertaining and ends up being a murder mystery. I wanted just a tad bit more ruthlessness or cunning vibes from the CEO or from the whistleblower.
I was drawn to this book by the absolutely stunning cover. Come on, its gorgeous!
This is a thriller about a womens wellness company with a CEO who strives for perfection and creates a cult-like following for her products. All of her employees are enamored by her until one day one employee leaks insider information, shattering the air of perfection that the company tries so hard to maintain.
The story was very entertaining and ends up being a murder mystery. I wanted just a tad bit more ruthlessness or cunning vibes from the CEO or from the whistleblower.
Read
October 23, 2024Justice for Cecelia!!! Boooooo Rhoda!!!! Ambivalent noise for Dani.
Maybe it’s my inner journalist rooting for the whistleblower but like, I really liked this book until about 70% of the way and then it lost me. Maybe that’s the point, but if it was going to go towards creepy, conspiracy vibes it should’ve gone all the way. Really leaned in.
Still finished it though, obviously had to know what happened. Easy to read but not that exciting.
Maybe it’s my inner journalist rooting for the whistleblower but like, I really liked this book until about 70% of the way and then it lost me. Maybe that’s the point, but if it was going to go towards creepy, conspiracy vibes it should’ve gone all the way. Really leaned in.
Still finished it though, obviously had to know what happened. Easy to read but not that exciting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2025
I was really hoping this would be more of a critique on the beauty industry than it ended up being. While it is still important and valuable to critique Silicone Valley C.E.O.s and the harm they do to consumers and the business industry in general, seeing this book listed as a mystery/thriller/horror I was hoping that there would be a little bit more about the beauty industry (simply because I don't think people know enough about the evils behind it). I was really invested in the beginning but once the story's main mystery happened, it all fell very flat for me. I'm someone who loves a morally gray character, but none of these characters were interesting or "good" enough for me to want to root for them. Just evil people doing evil things because... evil, which isn't something I love. Obviously, my biggest complaint is that I wish we got more of the Radical stuff. While we follow the characters working here and developing products, making social media posts and interacting with customers, it felt like a perfect set up for a cult-like beauty company that was completely untapped. A bracelet that tracks EVERYTHING about you and supplements that do ~something~ but you don't know what the side effects are? Like come on! Give me the horror! I didn't have a bad time though, I was desperately latching on to the Radical things that we got. Maybe this book wasn't set up to be the perfect book for me, but the concept was still really gripping and engaging. If this author writes something that is more horror in the future, I will absolutely check it out.
Thank you to Mariner Books for providing me with an eBook copy to review on NetGalley.
Thank you to Mariner Books for providing me with an eBook copy to review on NetGalley.
November 11, 2024
I enjoyed the story although it took a bit to get into. The twist was definitely one I didn't see coming but it was still a decent book.
July 24, 2024
4.5 rounded down
I received this book as part of a giveaway.
I LOVE this emerging genre of wellness/influencer culture and I can’t get enough of it. This book has done it better than most, and I think it’s because we get three totally different perspectives: the founder, the skeptic, and the disciple. It is such a strong part of the storytelling in this novel and allows you to consider the inner workings of this company from multiple personalities.
The story is fast paced, engaging, and left me wanting even more after it was over.
I received this book as part of a giveaway.
I LOVE this emerging genre of wellness/influencer culture and I can’t get enough of it. This book has done it better than most, and I think it’s because we get three totally different perspectives: the founder, the skeptic, and the disciple. It is such a strong part of the storytelling in this novel and allows you to consider the inner workings of this company from multiple personalities.
The story is fast paced, engaging, and left me wanting even more after it was over.
November 2, 2024
I'm disappointed to say that I was underwhelmed by this read. Maybe because I have already read Natural Beauty I went in with the wrong expectations, but this one was so much build up for a very anticlimactic ending. I'm not sure I would categorize this as a thriller, more a mystery.
Overall, I did love the commentary on female CEOs and the dark underside of the wellness industry, but the details and plot are where it lost me. I could feel the writing getting more tense, which made me think something huge was going to happen, and it just- never did.
Overall, I did love the commentary on female CEOs and the dark underside of the wellness industry, but the details and plot are where it lost me. I could feel the writing getting more tense, which made me think something huge was going to happen, and it just- never did.
June 2, 2024
Lots going on, but I appreciated this realistic look at working for a start-up and how social media rules all our lives in one way or another. Thank you to Mariner Books for the ARC!
January 20, 2025
I binged this book in a day. It's easily one of my favorite reads in the last year. Things are particularly loved:
The insight into startup culture, particularly in San Francisco: Building/creating ("leaned into their computers, intense as cavemen creating fire," the imagery of the behemoth new skyscraper being constructed right next door), the sexism (a rare woman head is a "She" EO, rather than CEO), the allusions to magicians' slights of hand (spinning gold from straw), how the dream is to unicorn (one-billion-dollar valuation), and how subjective value is.
What the author had to say about Wellness culture: the glossy surface, the dark underbelly, the need to believe ("the soothing surety of wellness"), the commercialism behind it all ("We can drilldown infinitely: sales by category, by time of day, by customer age and income. We can track movement through the Retreat, even map the audience's pulse rate to the transcript of my speech."), and storytelling ('I'm and open book.' I smile. I hold up a finger. 'But I don't like spoilers. I'm the one telling the story.'").
The questers (those who want to build/create) and the quashers (those who seek to destroy. "They think they're being insightful, as if criticism is inherently truer than praise. If they were in charge, none of this would exist. There would be no towers, no cities, no innovation. Nothing grand, nothing that lasts." "Imagine if the industry titans of the past were subjected to the scrutiny and whining of Twitter.")
The writing is spectacular. I probably made over fifty highlights.
The insight into startup culture, particularly in San Francisco: Building/creating ("leaned into their computers, intense as cavemen creating fire," the imagery of the behemoth new skyscraper being constructed right next door), the sexism (a rare woman head is a "She" EO, rather than CEO), the allusions to magicians' slights of hand (spinning gold from straw), how the dream is to unicorn (one-billion-dollar valuation), and how subjective value is.
What the author had to say about Wellness culture: the glossy surface, the dark underbelly, the need to believe ("the soothing surety of wellness"), the commercialism behind it all ("We can drilldown infinitely: sales by category, by time of day, by customer age and income. We can track movement through the Retreat, even map the audience's pulse rate to the transcript of my speech."), and storytelling ('I'm and open book.' I smile. I hold up a finger. 'But I don't like spoilers. I'm the one telling the story.'").
The questers (those who want to build/create) and the quashers (those who seek to destroy. "They think they're being insightful, as if criticism is inherently truer than praise. If they were in charge, none of this would exist. There would be no towers, no cities, no innovation. Nothing grand, nothing that lasts." "Imagine if the industry titans of the past were subjected to the scrutiny and whining of Twitter.")
The writing is spectacular. I probably made over fifty highlights.
September 29, 2024
Well, well, well. What a twisty little addictive read this was. Oh my. I think literary suspense novels might be my new jam. SNAKE OIL by Kelsey Rae Dimberg follows three women working at a very popular and successful health and wellness company. Rhoda is the founder, who lives and breathes her brand, and gives off major #girlboss vibes. Think Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada, but maybe not as scary and intense. Dani and Cecilia are her employees who have very different opinions about Rhoda and the empire that she created. A web of jealously, spite, hatred, and envy starts to spin very quickly, and Rhoda’s posh livelihood is threatened.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Strong female characters
- Female ambition and drive
- Contemporary satire
- Multiple perspectives
- Slow-burning plots
- Drama, drama, and more drama
- Social media and influencers
- Marketing and branding
- Start-up culture and entrepreneurs
- Murder mysteries and whodunnits
I took my sweet time reading this novel because I didn’t want it to end. I was quite impressed with the writing, and found it twisty, clever, juicy, entertaining, and extremely well-crafted. The conclusion stopped me in my tracks—I didn’t see it coming at all. I’ll definitely be reading more from the author in the future. You have my attention, Kelsey Rae Dimberg. SNAKE OIL didn’t give me the full-on five star feels, but it came pretty darn close. It gets 4.5/5 stars from me!
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Strong female characters
- Female ambition and drive
- Contemporary satire
- Multiple perspectives
- Slow-burning plots
- Drama, drama, and more drama
- Social media and influencers
- Marketing and branding
- Start-up culture and entrepreneurs
- Murder mysteries and whodunnits
I took my sweet time reading this novel because I didn’t want it to end. I was quite impressed with the writing, and found it twisty, clever, juicy, entertaining, and extremely well-crafted. The conclusion stopped me in my tracks—I didn’t see it coming at all. I’ll definitely be reading more from the author in the future. You have my attention, Kelsey Rae Dimberg. SNAKE OIL didn’t give me the full-on five star feels, but it came pretty darn close. It gets 4.5/5 stars from me!
October 18, 2024
3.5 rounded up/5
This story follows multiple people at this one wellness company (think Goop) and their different perspectives on what's going on at the company. Because, oh boy, there is drama.
Someone at the company is posting angry tweets about the company, the CEO is a weirdo and people are trying to work their way up through the company because that's the only way to make any money or to have any influence. Girl-bossing all the way. (This really is full of characters who would use that term seriously and that's icky.) At some points the characters did fell a bit flat, but overall, this was such an interesting way to tell this story. And I really liked that we got to see the tweets alongside whatever was happening in the company and the company's internal reaction to those tweets.
This book is full of social commentary and an almost satirical approach to describing this company and what's going on within its culture.
This really reminded me of the book Youthjuice, but this was way more engaging and entertaining to me. But if you like that genre or type of book, I would highly recommend you give this one a read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This story follows multiple people at this one wellness company (think Goop) and their different perspectives on what's going on at the company. Because, oh boy, there is drama.
Someone at the company is posting angry tweets about the company, the CEO is a weirdo and people are trying to work their way up through the company because that's the only way to make any money or to have any influence. Girl-bossing all the way. (This really is full of characters who would use that term seriously and that's icky.) At some points the characters did fell a bit flat, but overall, this was such an interesting way to tell this story. And I really liked that we got to see the tweets alongside whatever was happening in the company and the company's internal reaction to those tweets.
This book is full of social commentary and an almost satirical approach to describing this company and what's going on within its culture.
This really reminded me of the book Youthjuice, but this was way more engaging and entertaining to me. But if you like that genre or type of book, I would highly recommend you give this one a read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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