Fan Base: A Novel

by Jane Hartsock

Obsession has consequences…

It’s been twenty-five years since Babs and her super-fan sister, Margot, met teen heartthrob Austin Lewis while visiting their aunt and uncle in L.A., and the last three of those years have been brutal. In the aftermath of the tragic death of her husband, Babs has become paralyzed by grief, isolated from friends, and is fired from the Chicago law firm where she worked for nearly twenty years. It is at this point that she runs into Austin again.

Things are different now, though; the years have not been kind to Austin, either. In Chicago temporarily to manage his mother’s estate and sell her house following her death, Austin has long-since been relegated to D-list status. Only Gen-X nostalgia and his good eye as a producer keep him connected to the business that once made him a star. Bonding through their respective griefs, Austin and Babs quickly fall for each other. However, as their relationship intensifies, Babs becomes the target of aggressive cyberbullying, which Austin suspects originates with a small, toxic subset of his fandom who call themselves the “Lewnatics.”

When it is revealed that Margot is a Lewnatic, Babs must decide who to trust as she forges a new life with Austin at her side.

438 pages, Paperback

Published February 26, 2025

Reviews

[Liz Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. It’s a lighter read but not fluff and as a Chicagoan, loved that it’s set here.

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second novel by Indianapolis author Jane Hartsock shifts her focus to Chicago, and the relationship between a washed-up teen heartthrob, now in his mid-life, and a non-famous woman with tragedy in her past and challenges in her present. Will they make it or won't they? Will his fan base and a celebrity stalker come in the way? There's much to like about this book - great writing, comedic situations, lots of sexiness, but also some plot twists and turns. Like her first book, I found myself reading this one at a leisurely pace until about the halfway point, when I basically raced through to the end. The characters were all well developed, both major and minor (the annoying landlord across the street, the characters at the soup kitchen) and weave through the novel but Chicago was especially well developed, nearly as a character of its own, as the backdrop to the story. The many scenes set in different spots around the city makes me look forward to another visit there this summer. Though marketed as a beach read, I enjoyed this quite well in my living room.

[Greg Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part Emily Henry rom-com, part Ruth Ware crime thriller, this sexy novel about obsession and fame is just the thing for your long summer afternoons at the beach, in your hammock, or on the plane to your vacation.

Hartsock, a friend of a friend, is an immensely talented writer. She told me after I read her first novel Load Bearing that she self publishes her novels essentially because she's lost patience with the traditional publishing model (among other reasons). I have no doubt though that if she were willing to do the dance and play the game, she could find publishers for her books. She's as good a writer and her books are as good as many of the traditionally published novels out there, especially in this "beach read" genre space.

One of the strengths of this novel, to me, is its Chicagoness. There are scenes at Wrigley Field, the Lakefront Path, and many other favorite Chicago landmarks. That's always fun in a novel.

Give this a shot!

[Scott Reisfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book by Jane Hartsock that I have read, and it's great. As an author she creates these believable worlds in which she builds her story.

Fan Base follows the romance of a young widow with a man from her past. Since I don't want to give you a spoiler, let's just say that it turns out differently than it starts. That's what makes its fun read. The story flow well, and it was hard to put this book down.

[Melody Chu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fan Base is an eminently readable work of contemporary fiction that has elements across genres: literary, suspense, psychological, and romance (with some 90s nostalgia and current social commentary thrown in for good measure). The narrator's voice is crystal clear, sharp and funny. I was so engrossed in the book that when my e-reader was running out of battery, I ended up standing next to the wall socket so I could continue reading while it was charging.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A timely read about how obsession can lead to manipulation and machinations that one may not even be aware.
I was astonished at the extent one character manipulated another character's life. Social media can be an enhancement but also a major hindrance.
Thanks to the author and Story Circle for the complimentary copy.