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The Carrier
She feels your pain, so you don't have to
An unmissable, thought-provoking new thriller perfect for fans of VOX, The Power and The School for Good Mothers.
Why should you suffer when she can do it for you?
Welcome to Eudaimonia, a revolutionary company that can free you from your unwanted emotions.
Jealousy, grief, despair. If you can afford Expression, you need never feel them again.
In your place are the Carriers – women who are paid to process your pain.
In a world full of suffering, there is no shortage of demand.
But Eudaimonia has secrets. The true cost of your freedom is a Carrier’s life.
Would you let them pay the price?
An unmissable, thought-provoking new thriller perfect for fans of VOX, The Power and The School for Good Mothers.
Why should you suffer when she can do it for you?
Welcome to Eudaimonia, a revolutionary company that can free you from your unwanted emotions.
Jealousy, grief, despair. If you can afford Expression, you need never feel them again.
In your place are the Carriers – women who are paid to process your pain.
In a world full of suffering, there is no shortage of demand.
But Eudaimonia has secrets. The true cost of your freedom is a Carrier’s life.
Would you let them pay the price?
- GenresScience FictionThriller
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 6, 2026
I knew right from the start that I was going to enjoy this book. The concept was so intriguing, the story fast-paced and beautifully written, unlike anything I’ve read before, I absolutely loved it.
In a world where emotions can be outsourced, Eudaimonia offers people the chance to rid themselves of unwanted feelings. Instead, those emotions are taken on by women known as Carriers.
It’s a fascinating idea that made me wonder whether I’d ever choose to outsource a feeling myself. Knowing what these women go through, my answer would definitely be no. That said, I do think we all carry other people’s pain in different ways, which made the story feel so thought-provoking.
Viv is an Emotional Transport Operator working for the company. She assists clients in “expression” (I don’t want to give too much away about the process) before transporting the fluids to salons where the Carriers wait in a catatonic state to ingest them. As luxurious as the company appears on the surface, it’s a very different story behind closed doors. As Viv begins to uncover the truth, she finds herself torn between doing what’s right and protecting someone she loves as the pressure and threats build.
One of my favourite touches was the quotes from the Carriers at the end of every chapter. When I first started the book, I was hoping we’d get their point of view, so those little snippets gave just enough insight into what they were feeling.
Definitely a book I highly recommend.
In a world where emotions can be outsourced, Eudaimonia offers people the chance to rid themselves of unwanted feelings. Instead, those emotions are taken on by women known as Carriers.
It’s a fascinating idea that made me wonder whether I’d ever choose to outsource a feeling myself. Knowing what these women go through, my answer would definitely be no. That said, I do think we all carry other people’s pain in different ways, which made the story feel so thought-provoking.
Viv is an Emotional Transport Operator working for the company. She assists clients in “expression” (I don’t want to give too much away about the process) before transporting the fluids to salons where the Carriers wait in a catatonic state to ingest them. As luxurious as the company appears on the surface, it’s a very different story behind closed doors. As Viv begins to uncover the truth, she finds herself torn between doing what’s right and protecting someone she loves as the pressure and threats build.
One of my favourite touches was the quotes from the Carriers at the end of every chapter. When I first started the book, I was hoping we’d get their point of view, so those little snippets gave just enough insight into what they were feeling.
Definitely a book I highly recommend.
June 23, 2026
Quite gripping and really different. Viv is brilliant
July 9, 2026
Welcome to the world where a company called Eudaimonia offers Expression – a way of getting rid of unwanted emotions. Instead, they are passed on to the Carriers, women employed by Eudaimonia, who are specially trained to process difficult emotions.
But are they really?
Viv has been working for the company for the past five years. It’s fair to say she’s thriving and loving working for them.
However, one night, a horrific accident occurs while she’s on shift.
This sets off a chain of events that Viv will find very challenging, especially when the life of her dearest sister is at stake…
Eudaimonia isn’t what it’s supposed to be…
I loved this book!!!
I found it innovative and deeply compelling. I also found it quite scary because with the latest technology and science developments, who knows what our world will look like soon?
In our Western society, majority of people are individualistic and quite selfish, not paying any attention to what their actions might mean for the others. This book portrays this situation vividly: we have those who use Expression, not really thinking about the Carriers. It’s almost like the “out of sight, out of mind” mindset.
This book is like The Housemaid’s Tale, 1984 and an episode of Black Mirror combined. I definitely recommend it.
But are they really?
Viv has been working for the company for the past five years. It’s fair to say she’s thriving and loving working for them.
However, one night, a horrific accident occurs while she’s on shift.
This sets off a chain of events that Viv will find very challenging, especially when the life of her dearest sister is at stake…
Eudaimonia isn’t what it’s supposed to be…
I loved this book!!!
I found it innovative and deeply compelling. I also found it quite scary because with the latest technology and science developments, who knows what our world will look like soon?
In our Western society, majority of people are individualistic and quite selfish, not paying any attention to what their actions might mean for the others. This book portrays this situation vividly: we have those who use Expression, not really thinking about the Carriers. It’s almost like the “out of sight, out of mind” mindset.
This book is like The Housemaid’s Tale, 1984 and an episode of Black Mirror combined. I definitely recommend it.
April 24, 2026
Review of advance copy: first of all I couldn’t put this down because the world building and character trajectory of the protagonist is so compelling. The way that through the story you get quotes from anonymous Carriers made the central message of the plot even more profound: women carry everything emotional for the world at great personal loss. The only reason I couldn’t give 5 stars is because I felt the ending was a bit rushed and I wanted more punishment for those behind it all. We didn’t get that and it left me feeling a bit frustrated. Although I suppose that is an accurate representation of the world we live in
December 23, 2025
3.5 - it’s on the nose that this concept is so absurd but right now somehow believable
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
How much is your suffering worth?
A revolutionary company - Eudaimonia - can free you from your emotions. If you can afford too, you never have to feel jealousy, fear, embarrassment, grief or despair again. You can ‘Express’ these feelings and in your place is a Carrier, a woman who is paid to feel your pain. In a world full of suffering, there is no shortage of demand. Why should you suffer when she can do it for you?
Viv is an Emotional Transporter. She is loyal, hardworking and cannot imagine her life without Eudaimonia. From a tough childhood, she now has a stable home, a relationship and money each month. She truly believes she is making a positive difference to the lives of those struggling emotionally and the lives of the Carriers are portrayed as healthy and well paid.
But behind the clever marketing, the money and the positive press, Viv realises Eudaimonia has secrets. When she witnesses an awful event, her belief in the company dwindles and her morality comes to the surface. The true cost of the emotional freedom is the Carriers life. And she is not willing to let any more women pay that price …
Wow!! This was a mind blowing, compelling story, focusing on gender and wealth inequality, emotional labour, dystopian Britain and abuse of science as well as power on varying levels. RN cleverly informs us what the science behind the process is without it feeling too complex or overwhelming and it feels scarily realistic without providing dates. It’s unknown if this is set ten years from the present or a hundred.
The story focuses on our main female lead, Viv, who is an employee within Eudaimonia. She is an amazing protagonist and I loved how she has been developed for the book. She isn’t infallible nor does she pretend to be. Following her awful experience with the death of a Carrier (Marsha), she sees the real side of the company and the lack of interest or support given to women who opt to provide their body and minds to support others. When she finds herself being threatened by the company due to her views and concerns, she falls down a rabbit hole of internet investigations and Reddit threads about Eudaimonia and knows she needs to find likeminded individuals who are aware of the damaging work of the company. Furthermore, when she discovers the dangerous underground world of Expressing of emotions known as ‘Slurry’s’ as well Emotional Literacy class ran by former Eudaimonia scientist and the minuscule influence of oestrogen in the Carrying process, she knows the time for change is now. But at what cost?
With its short chapters, this book is fast paced, addictive, insightful and thought provoking. It truly made me reflect on the importance of expressing emotions and the need to promote this younger generations and the ones to come. They are not weaknesses!
At the end of each chapter is a statement from ‘a Carrier’, showing their position and feelings towards Eudaimonia. Some are very nonchalant and perhaps fearful of consequences of speaking out whereas, many are profound, negative, heartbreaking and powerful to read. This was an excellent writing technique and humanised the women who are affected by this company and often thought of as merely a number.
I would highly recommended, especially if you enjoyed VOX, Handmaid’s Tale and The School for Good Mother’s. An incredible first novel from RN!
Thank you the NetGallery, Random House UK and Transworld Publishers and Ruth Newton for the ARC of this book.
A revolutionary company - Eudaimonia - can free you from your emotions. If you can afford too, you never have to feel jealousy, fear, embarrassment, grief or despair again. You can ‘Express’ these feelings and in your place is a Carrier, a woman who is paid to feel your pain. In a world full of suffering, there is no shortage of demand. Why should you suffer when she can do it for you?
Viv is an Emotional Transporter. She is loyal, hardworking and cannot imagine her life without Eudaimonia. From a tough childhood, she now has a stable home, a relationship and money each month. She truly believes she is making a positive difference to the lives of those struggling emotionally and the lives of the Carriers are portrayed as healthy and well paid.
But behind the clever marketing, the money and the positive press, Viv realises Eudaimonia has secrets. When she witnesses an awful event, her belief in the company dwindles and her morality comes to the surface. The true cost of the emotional freedom is the Carriers life. And she is not willing to let any more women pay that price …
Wow!! This was a mind blowing, compelling story, focusing on gender and wealth inequality, emotional labour, dystopian Britain and abuse of science as well as power on varying levels. RN cleverly informs us what the science behind the process is without it feeling too complex or overwhelming and it feels scarily realistic without providing dates. It’s unknown if this is set ten years from the present or a hundred.
The story focuses on our main female lead, Viv, who is an employee within Eudaimonia. She is an amazing protagonist and I loved how she has been developed for the book. She isn’t infallible nor does she pretend to be. Following her awful experience with the death of a Carrier (Marsha), she sees the real side of the company and the lack of interest or support given to women who opt to provide their body and minds to support others. When she finds herself being threatened by the company due to her views and concerns, she falls down a rabbit hole of internet investigations and Reddit threads about Eudaimonia and knows she needs to find likeminded individuals who are aware of the damaging work of the company. Furthermore, when she discovers the dangerous underground world of Expressing of emotions known as ‘Slurry’s’ as well Emotional Literacy class ran by former Eudaimonia scientist and the minuscule influence of oestrogen in the Carrying process, she knows the time for change is now. But at what cost?
With its short chapters, this book is fast paced, addictive, insightful and thought provoking. It truly made me reflect on the importance of expressing emotions and the need to promote this younger generations and the ones to come. They are not weaknesses!
At the end of each chapter is a statement from ‘a Carrier’, showing their position and feelings towards Eudaimonia. Some are very nonchalant and perhaps fearful of consequences of speaking out whereas, many are profound, negative, heartbreaking and powerful to read. This was an excellent writing technique and humanised the women who are affected by this company and often thought of as merely a number.
I would highly recommended, especially if you enjoyed VOX, Handmaid’s Tale and The School for Good Mother’s. An incredible first novel from RN!
Thank you the NetGallery, Random House UK and Transworld Publishers and Ruth Newton for the ARC of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Random Things Tours for inviting me to participate in this blog tour. While science fiction is not a genre I read very often, the blurb for this book immediately piqued my curiosity, and I was eager to discover this impressive debut novel.
The Carrier explores the ways in which women can be victimised in an entirely new and disturbing way. Women have long been viewed as the weaker sex, yet they are also the ones who bear children, give birth, and shoulder so much of the emotional burden in society. Ruth Newton takes this idea one step further, imagining a world where women are expected to literally carry the pain, grief, and suffering of others.
Throughout the novel, the author includes short testimonies from various carriers, allowing them to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences alongside Vivian's story. These brief interludes add emotional depth and serve as a powerful reminder that every carrier has their own story to tell.
Vivian H is a loyal employee of Eudaimonia. She genuinely believes she is helping people and trusts that the company cares about its employees. Thanks to Eudaimonia, her future looks bright, and she is on the verge of gaining custody of her younger sister. However, everything changes when Vivian witnesses the death of a carrier. Suddenly, the foundations of everything she has believed begin to crumble, forcing her to question both the company she devoted herself to and the world she thought she understood.
One of the novel's most compelling ideas is the ability to extract pain, grief, despair, and even jealousy from one person and transfer those emotions to someone else. The result is a society that never has to confront difficult emotions—a population that no longer understands loss, heartbreak, or emotional resilience because those feelings have been outsourced. At first glance, it sounds like an ideal world, but the novel raises an important question: can people truly be happy if they never experience sadness?
I particularly enjoyed how the story highlights the importance of the emotions we often wish we could avoid. Pain, grief, and heartbreak shape us just as much as joy and love do. Without them, we lose an essential part of what makes us human. It is a thought-provoking concept that stayed with me long after I finished the book.
The author also does a brilliant job developing Viv as a protagonist. She is introduced as a confident, successful woman who appears to be living her best life. As the story unfolds, however, it becomes clear that appearances can be deceiving. Viv's shock as she uncovers the truth feels completely believable, and it is easy to share in her confusion, fear, and growing determination. Her love for her sister adds a strong emotional core to the story, while her compassion for the carriers and her willingness to risk everything to protect others made her an easy character to root for.
Although I am generally a little wary of science fiction, I found myself completely engrossed in this story and eager to discover how it would end. The pacing kept me turning the pages, and I raced through the book in just a few sittings. The Carrier is an impressive debut that combines thought-provoking ideas with an engaging, character-driven story. I loved every minute I spent with it and will certainly be keeping an eye out for whatever Ruth Newton writes next.
https://featzreviews.com/review-the-c...
The Carrier explores the ways in which women can be victimised in an entirely new and disturbing way. Women have long been viewed as the weaker sex, yet they are also the ones who bear children, give birth, and shoulder so much of the emotional burden in society. Ruth Newton takes this idea one step further, imagining a world where women are expected to literally carry the pain, grief, and suffering of others.
Throughout the novel, the author includes short testimonies from various carriers, allowing them to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences alongside Vivian's story. These brief interludes add emotional depth and serve as a powerful reminder that every carrier has their own story to tell.
Vivian H is a loyal employee of Eudaimonia. She genuinely believes she is helping people and trusts that the company cares about its employees. Thanks to Eudaimonia, her future looks bright, and she is on the verge of gaining custody of her younger sister. However, everything changes when Vivian witnesses the death of a carrier. Suddenly, the foundations of everything she has believed begin to crumble, forcing her to question both the company she devoted herself to and the world she thought she understood.
One of the novel's most compelling ideas is the ability to extract pain, grief, despair, and even jealousy from one person and transfer those emotions to someone else. The result is a society that never has to confront difficult emotions—a population that no longer understands loss, heartbreak, or emotional resilience because those feelings have been outsourced. At first glance, it sounds like an ideal world, but the novel raises an important question: can people truly be happy if they never experience sadness?
I particularly enjoyed how the story highlights the importance of the emotions we often wish we could avoid. Pain, grief, and heartbreak shape us just as much as joy and love do. Without them, we lose an essential part of what makes us human. It is a thought-provoking concept that stayed with me long after I finished the book.
The author also does a brilliant job developing Viv as a protagonist. She is introduced as a confident, successful woman who appears to be living her best life. As the story unfolds, however, it becomes clear that appearances can be deceiving. Viv's shock as she uncovers the truth feels completely believable, and it is easy to share in her confusion, fear, and growing determination. Her love for her sister adds a strong emotional core to the story, while her compassion for the carriers and her willingness to risk everything to protect others made her an easy character to root for.
Although I am generally a little wary of science fiction, I found myself completely engrossed in this story and eager to discover how it would end. The pacing kept me turning the pages, and I raced through the book in just a few sittings. The Carrier is an impressive debut that combines thought-provoking ideas with an engaging, character-driven story. I loved every minute I spent with it and will certainly be keeping an eye out for whatever Ruth Newton writes next.
https://featzreviews.com/review-the-c...
July 16, 2026
As someone who is always drawn to speculative and dystopian fiction, particularly stories written by female authors, Carrier by Ruth Newton was always going to catch my attention. Happily, it more than lived up to my expectations. Clever, unsettling and so impossible to put down, this is the kind of novel that is so entertaining but also asks some deeply uncomfortable questions about the world we live in.
The premise is brilliant. Eudaimonia offers a service that allows people to rid themselves of unwanted emotions. Grief, jealousy, fear and despair can all be transferred to a Carrier, a woman paid to process someone else's pain. It is a fascinating concept that feels just close enough to our reality these days to be frighteningly chilling. As the story unfolds, the cracks in this seemingly perfect system begin to appear, revealing the human cost hidden beneath the company's polished image.
Viv is a fantastic central character. She believes wholeheartedly in Eudaimonia and the work she does as an Emotional Transporter. Her loyalty and conviction make so compelling as events force her to question everything she has accepted as truth. Watching her struggle with her conscience kept me completely engrossed in the story. Alongside Viv, the voices of the Carriers themselves add some real emotional depth.
Ruth Newton has created a world that feels frighteningly believable. The science is explained in a way that is easy to follow without bogging down the pace of the book, and the themes of emotional labour, inequality, corporate power and the exploitation of women are woven so well into the narrative. Rather than feeling preachy, these ideas emerge naturally through the characters and the story itself. It's very powerful and cleverly done.
The short chapters kept me turning the pages, and there was a constant sense of tension as Viv uncovered more about the organisation she had once trusted. It is one of those books that leaves you thinking long after you have closed the final page, I thought about how much our emotions shape us and whether they should ever be treated as something to simply hand over to someone else.
Carrier is an outstanding debut that mixes a really clever concept with fabulous characters and themes that really made me think. It is a gripping, intelligent dystopian thriller that I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who enjoys speculative fiction, especially novels that explore women's lives. I cannot wait to see what Ruth Newton writes next. Highly recommended.
The premise is brilliant. Eudaimonia offers a service that allows people to rid themselves of unwanted emotions. Grief, jealousy, fear and despair can all be transferred to a Carrier, a woman paid to process someone else's pain. It is a fascinating concept that feels just close enough to our reality these days to be frighteningly chilling. As the story unfolds, the cracks in this seemingly perfect system begin to appear, revealing the human cost hidden beneath the company's polished image.
Viv is a fantastic central character. She believes wholeheartedly in Eudaimonia and the work she does as an Emotional Transporter. Her loyalty and conviction make so compelling as events force her to question everything she has accepted as truth. Watching her struggle with her conscience kept me completely engrossed in the story. Alongside Viv, the voices of the Carriers themselves add some real emotional depth.
Ruth Newton has created a world that feels frighteningly believable. The science is explained in a way that is easy to follow without bogging down the pace of the book, and the themes of emotional labour, inequality, corporate power and the exploitation of women are woven so well into the narrative. Rather than feeling preachy, these ideas emerge naturally through the characters and the story itself. It's very powerful and cleverly done.
The short chapters kept me turning the pages, and there was a constant sense of tension as Viv uncovered more about the organisation she had once trusted. It is one of those books that leaves you thinking long after you have closed the final page, I thought about how much our emotions shape us and whether they should ever be treated as something to simply hand over to someone else.
Carrier is an outstanding debut that mixes a really clever concept with fabulous characters and themes that really made me think. It is a gripping, intelligent dystopian thriller that I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who enjoys speculative fiction, especially novels that explore women's lives. I cannot wait to see what Ruth Newton writes next. Highly recommended.
July 15, 2026
Which emotions hold you back? I absolutely freeze at any kind of presentation, certain that I'm going to mess it up. And there's also frustration and anger added into the mix for good fun.
Just imagine what your life would be like without all those negative emotions and feelings weighing you down, the freedom and joy that you would experience. You could walk into a room full of strangers or deliver a public speech without any doubts- your life could be so different, and dare I say it, better.
All it would take was a revolutionary new discovery from a company called Eudaimonia; their technology can siphon off your negative microbes and simply import them into a Carrier who will process the negative feelings for you. The Carrier gets well paid for her work (because Carriers are always women) which is scientifically proven not to cause her any harm, and you can go about your day temporarily relieved of those annoying negative feelings. Win win, right.
Viv has proudly worked for Eudaimonia for years; she collects the deposits and transports them to the Carrier Salons for processing. She loves her job, certain that she's helping make the world a better and less negative place. Viv is alone at a Carrier Salon one evening when she notices that one of the Carriers is physically suffering from processing the deposits and is being given a far higher volume of deposit than is safe. Viv tries to raise her concerns with the Salon Manager who brushes them off as a one-off.
She's aware of Hex, a group that is trying to bring Eudaimonia down, claiming that it irreparably harms women but she knows that they are troublemakers. But when Viv then encounters some of Hex's members for herself, she slowly starts to see things in a different light, challenging everything that she's ever believed.
'The Carrier' is a brilliant debut from Ruth Newton. It has a compelling and enraging dystopian story that has echoes of the Handmaid's Tale. It brings up issues of misogyny, feminism, immigration, wealth and control, power struggles and so much more. I was hooked to the story from the beginning and kept thinking about it even when I wasn't physically reading it. It is one of those books that will make you see technological developments in a different light - who is this benefitting and who makes the money?
I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy speculative and challenging stories.
Just imagine what your life would be like without all those negative emotions and feelings weighing you down, the freedom and joy that you would experience. You could walk into a room full of strangers or deliver a public speech without any doubts- your life could be so different, and dare I say it, better.
All it would take was a revolutionary new discovery from a company called Eudaimonia; their technology can siphon off your negative microbes and simply import them into a Carrier who will process the negative feelings for you. The Carrier gets well paid for her work (because Carriers are always women) which is scientifically proven not to cause her any harm, and you can go about your day temporarily relieved of those annoying negative feelings. Win win, right.
Viv has proudly worked for Eudaimonia for years; she collects the deposits and transports them to the Carrier Salons for processing. She loves her job, certain that she's helping make the world a better and less negative place. Viv is alone at a Carrier Salon one evening when she notices that one of the Carriers is physically suffering from processing the deposits and is being given a far higher volume of deposit than is safe. Viv tries to raise her concerns with the Salon Manager who brushes them off as a one-off.
She's aware of Hex, a group that is trying to bring Eudaimonia down, claiming that it irreparably harms women but she knows that they are troublemakers. But when Viv then encounters some of Hex's members for herself, she slowly starts to see things in a different light, challenging everything that she's ever believed.
'The Carrier' is a brilliant debut from Ruth Newton. It has a compelling and enraging dystopian story that has echoes of the Handmaid's Tale. It brings up issues of misogyny, feminism, immigration, wealth and control, power struggles and so much more. I was hooked to the story from the beginning and kept thinking about it even when I wasn't physically reading it. It is one of those books that will make you see technological developments in a different light - who is this benefitting and who makes the money?
I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy speculative and challenging stories.
July 4, 2026
The Carrier is a dystopian thriller set in current day Britain, where the wealthy can offload unwanted emotions onto Carriers: women paid to process their pain.
I was dying to read this book ever since I first heard about it in The Bookseller! I'm a big fan of Christina Dalcher's books Vox and Q, and I love stories that raise thought-provoking questions, especially if they have a feminist slant.
Some speculative and dsytopian thrillers suffer from being bogged down with wordbuilding and info-dropping to explain the futuristic elements of the new world. The Carrier doesn't have that problem. The story starts as main character Viv rings the doorbell of a new client whose mother died on Christmas Eve. He has paid to have his grief and sadness carried away. The pace motors along with plot developments driving the story forwards. It's incredibly compelling. I couldn't stop reading.
The idea that emotion is transferred by microbes (good microbiome and pathogens) is a really original and genius idea that is somehow just plausible enough to work.
The story raises important questions about emotions and how we deal with them (or fail to), the gap between rich and poor, gender inequalities between men and women, and unpaid labour, especially the emotional labour that women do.
How dare they dump their sewage into our bodies and sit back to reap the rewards?
We grow bodies. We sustain life with our milk....We are terrifying. Perfect. Magic.
The story covers some deep themes in a thought-provoking and powerful way.
We don't need to fear discomfort... Adversity was one of life's teachers.
If more people were taught Emotional Literacy, it would change the world.
Fans of Christina Dalcher's books Vox and Q will love this book!
Quirky, compelling and incredibly thought-provoking!
I was dying to read this book ever since I first heard about it in The Bookseller! I'm a big fan of Christina Dalcher's books Vox and Q, and I love stories that raise thought-provoking questions, especially if they have a feminist slant.
Some speculative and dsytopian thrillers suffer from being bogged down with wordbuilding and info-dropping to explain the futuristic elements of the new world. The Carrier doesn't have that problem. The story starts as main character Viv rings the doorbell of a new client whose mother died on Christmas Eve. He has paid to have his grief and sadness carried away. The pace motors along with plot developments driving the story forwards. It's incredibly compelling. I couldn't stop reading.
The idea that emotion is transferred by microbes (good microbiome and pathogens) is a really original and genius idea that is somehow just plausible enough to work.
The story raises important questions about emotions and how we deal with them (or fail to), the gap between rich and poor, gender inequalities between men and women, and unpaid labour, especially the emotional labour that women do.
How dare they dump their sewage into our bodies and sit back to reap the rewards?
We grow bodies. We sustain life with our milk....We are terrifying. Perfect. Magic.
The story covers some deep themes in a thought-provoking and powerful way.
We don't need to fear discomfort... Adversity was one of life's teachers.
If more people were taught Emotional Literacy, it would change the world.
Fans of Christina Dalcher's books Vox and Q will love this book!
Quirky, compelling and incredibly thought-provoking!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This really makes you think. Wouldn't it be better if you didn't have to feel all the bad feelings? If you could get rid of stress and anger and sadness and grief? It might sound good but I for one would rather feel those things. It's what makes us huamn. And to think the only way to feel the relief is for someone else to get those feelings. Your emotions become their suffering. Is it worth it?
It's about 100 pages longer than my ideal book length but it was very compelling and addictive and I ploughed my way through it as I didn't want to put it down.
It's ambitious for a debut novel, I'll give her that. It bodes well for a very promising career.
I don't necessarily mean this in a bad way, although I'm aware it may come across that way. But I wasn't expecting it to be so preachy. Again, not necessarily a negative. I don't mind books that deal with societal issues. And whilst it was fine, I did find some bits, particularly towards the middle, where she focussed more on the outage of topics than the flow of the story itself.
The characters...they weren't unlikeable (although some definitely were) but nor were they likeable. I found their journeys interesting - individually and the overall story - but I can't say I felt much for them.
This will sound weird but I mean it in the best way possible - I could see this book being banned. Especially in places that have conservative, traditional views on what men and women should be doing. And in my opinion, the books that get banned are usually the juicy ones, the best one.
It was a very satisfying ending and I look forward to her next book.
This really makes you think. Wouldn't it be better if you didn't have to feel all the bad feelings? If you could get rid of stress and anger and sadness and grief? It might sound good but I for one would rather feel those things. It's what makes us huamn. And to think the only way to feel the relief is for someone else to get those feelings. Your emotions become their suffering. Is it worth it?
It's about 100 pages longer than my ideal book length but it was very compelling and addictive and I ploughed my way through it as I didn't want to put it down.
It's ambitious for a debut novel, I'll give her that. It bodes well for a very promising career.
I don't necessarily mean this in a bad way, although I'm aware it may come across that way. But I wasn't expecting it to be so preachy. Again, not necessarily a negative. I don't mind books that deal with societal issues. And whilst it was fine, I did find some bits, particularly towards the middle, where she focussed more on the outage of topics than the flow of the story itself.
The characters...they weren't unlikeable (although some definitely were) but nor were they likeable. I found their journeys interesting - individually and the overall story - but I can't say I felt much for them.
This will sound weird but I mean it in the best way possible - I could see this book being banned. Especially in places that have conservative, traditional views on what men and women should be doing. And in my opinion, the books that get banned are usually the juicy ones, the best one.
It was a very satisfying ending and I look forward to her next book.
July 7, 2026
In a near-future society, Viv works for Eudaimonia, a company offering a revolutionary service known as Expression. For those who can afford it, feelings such as grief, jealousy, anger and despair no longer have to be endured personally. Instead, these emotions are transferred to specially employed women known as Carriers, who physically and emotionally absorb the suffering on behalf of paying clients. Viv is incredibly dedicated to her job and is convinced that she is truly helping people live better lives. But, as always, when something seems too good to be true, then it generally is, and after an incident in the salon where she works, Viv starts to realise there is a much darker side to this process.
I am all for a dystopian novel that is set so close to home that it feels like it could be real, and this novel is definitely that. Viv makes for a very interesting character and it was pretty fascinating to watch her develop from a loyal minion within this corporation into someone who, when she uncovers the truth, is determined to burn the whole thing to the ground. She is always motivated by her love for her younger sister, who she is hoping to become the legal guardian of, and this forces her into making some pretty questionable decisions. Despite this, I found the book to be pretty predictable in the sense that you can tell right from the start that the company is bad and Viv is going to try and take them down. I kinda feel like the author has a really great concept here, but chose the wrong way to take it. It was also pretty slow going and I did feel like there were a few plot points that never really got wrapped up. It’s not bad if you’re into speculative and feminist novels, but nothing particularly enthralling.
I am all for a dystopian novel that is set so close to home that it feels like it could be real, and this novel is definitely that. Viv makes for a very interesting character and it was pretty fascinating to watch her develop from a loyal minion within this corporation into someone who, when she uncovers the truth, is determined to burn the whole thing to the ground. She is always motivated by her love for her younger sister, who she is hoping to become the legal guardian of, and this forces her into making some pretty questionable decisions. Despite this, I found the book to be pretty predictable in the sense that you can tell right from the start that the company is bad and Viv is going to try and take them down. I kinda feel like the author has a really great concept here, but chose the wrong way to take it. It was also pretty slow going and I did feel like there were a few plot points that never really got wrapped up. It’s not bad if you’re into speculative and feminist novels, but nothing particularly enthralling.
July 17, 2026
4.5 ⭐ rounded to 5
What a breathtaking, horrifying, thought provoking, enraging and finally uplifting novel!
I went through several emotions when reading this story, but it never failed to keep my curiosity piqued and my attention high. It’s an ode to fighting injustice and to find the courage to speak up even when it goes against our nature and our personal interests.
We are all capable of denouncing when things are not right, especially when it includes the abuse and mistreatment of others, and we should feel morally obliged to do so.
This is all wrapped up in a very credible and quite clever plot, where negative emotions can be sucked out of our bodies with a syringe and get filtrated by another person, a woman, to get rid of those emotions for you, so you don’t have to.
As tantalising as it seems, I think the processing of emotions is what makes us grow and develop our emotional intelligence, which the lack of is one of the biggest problems of today’s society.
As this wasn’t enough, only women can process these emotions, because of the oestrogen in their bodies. I mean, dare I say more? Does this all sound familiar to all my female friends? The fact that women are the ones left to carry the burden of others because of our hormones, seems like sci-fi, but isn't that what we’ve been basically told since the beginning of history?
Well, I can say that this story would definitely incense, but also satisfy the reader, through the wonderful character of Viv, our unassuming heroine, an average person with low self esteem and a painful past.
If you like your thrillers with sci-fi elements and a powerful message, you’ve found it!
Thanks to the author, Bantam Books and Random Things Tour for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
What a breathtaking, horrifying, thought provoking, enraging and finally uplifting novel!
I went through several emotions when reading this story, but it never failed to keep my curiosity piqued and my attention high. It’s an ode to fighting injustice and to find the courage to speak up even when it goes against our nature and our personal interests.
We are all capable of denouncing when things are not right, especially when it includes the abuse and mistreatment of others, and we should feel morally obliged to do so.
This is all wrapped up in a very credible and quite clever plot, where negative emotions can be sucked out of our bodies with a syringe and get filtrated by another person, a woman, to get rid of those emotions for you, so you don’t have to.
As tantalising as it seems, I think the processing of emotions is what makes us grow and develop our emotional intelligence, which the lack of is one of the biggest problems of today’s society.
As this wasn’t enough, only women can process these emotions, because of the oestrogen in their bodies. I mean, dare I say more? Does this all sound familiar to all my female friends? The fact that women are the ones left to carry the burden of others because of our hormones, seems like sci-fi, but isn't that what we’ve been basically told since the beginning of history?
Well, I can say that this story would definitely incense, but also satisfy the reader, through the wonderful character of Viv, our unassuming heroine, an average person with low self esteem and a painful past.
If you like your thrillers with sci-fi elements and a powerful message, you’ve found it!
Thanks to the author, Bantam Books and Random Things Tour for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
There's another name for Carrying.
Femicide.
#Carrier 20
The Carrier is a compelling thriller that seamlessly blends dystopian fiction with social commentary, the story asks a challenging question: What would you do if someone else could carry your emotional pain?
This imaginative debut imagines a near future Britain where a company [Eudaimonia] offers wealthy people a chance to offload their pain & grief onto 'Carriers' - women paid to absorb their emotions. This premise is captivating, & powerful as it explores corporate exploitation & gender discrimination. - This would be quite the book for a book club discussion that's for sure.
The story is fast paced, suspense driven & loaded with moral dilemma which makes a great thriller. The technology used within the story feels rather plausible which makes for an unsettling read. It's really not hard to imagine this being the normal for us.
Viv is a fantastic protagonist, having worked within Eudaimonia, her new awareness regarding the company fuels the momentum of the narrative as she persues change. All the while having her own issues which become a pain point for Eudaimonia to use against her.
Overall this was an unsettling & compelling debut that provides us readers with both a fast paced thrilling narrative alongside a highly emotional storyline that makes a superb speculative novel.
Thank you to Randomthingstours & Ruth Newton for a copy of the book.
Femicide.
#Carrier 20
The Carrier is a compelling thriller that seamlessly blends dystopian fiction with social commentary, the story asks a challenging question: What would you do if someone else could carry your emotional pain?
This imaginative debut imagines a near future Britain where a company [Eudaimonia] offers wealthy people a chance to offload their pain & grief onto 'Carriers' - women paid to absorb their emotions. This premise is captivating, & powerful as it explores corporate exploitation & gender discrimination. - This would be quite the book for a book club discussion that's for sure.
The story is fast paced, suspense driven & loaded with moral dilemma which makes a great thriller. The technology used within the story feels rather plausible which makes for an unsettling read. It's really not hard to imagine this being the normal for us.
Viv is a fantastic protagonist, having worked within Eudaimonia, her new awareness regarding the company fuels the momentum of the narrative as she persues change. All the while having her own issues which become a pain point for Eudaimonia to use against her.
Overall this was an unsettling & compelling debut that provides us readers with both a fast paced thrilling narrative alongside a highly emotional storyline that makes a superb speculative novel.
Thank you to Randomthingstours & Ruth Newton for a copy of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Rating 4.5 🌟
I love speculative, dystopian style thrillers and this one really delivered! I found it a compelling read from the first page.
Set in a near future, a revolutionary company called 'Eudaimonia' promises to free people from emotional pain. The catch? Their unwanted emotions are transferred to 'Carriers' - women who are paid to absorb the grief, trauma and suffering of others. It creates the illusion of a happier society, but beneath the surface lies a far darker truth. As Viv begins to question the company she works for, she uncovers secrets that force her to confront the true cost of happiness.
I absolutely loved Viv as a protagonist. Watching her gradually piece together the reality behind Eudaimonia made for such a compelling journey, and I found myself rooting for her throughout. Beyond being a gripping thriller, the novel explores some thought-provoking themes, particularly the exploitation of women (as only women can become Carriers) and the stark divide between social classes, with the wealthy quite literally offloading their pain onto the poorest members of society.
The short, punchy chapters kept the pace moving at breakneck speed, making it one of those books that's incredibly difficult to put down.
If you're a fan of dystopian thrillers that combine suspense with sharp social commentary, I can't recommend this enough. This was a thought-provoking, addictive read that I would recommend.
I love speculative, dystopian style thrillers and this one really delivered! I found it a compelling read from the first page.
Set in a near future, a revolutionary company called 'Eudaimonia' promises to free people from emotional pain. The catch? Their unwanted emotions are transferred to 'Carriers' - women who are paid to absorb the grief, trauma and suffering of others. It creates the illusion of a happier society, but beneath the surface lies a far darker truth. As Viv begins to question the company she works for, she uncovers secrets that force her to confront the true cost of happiness.
I absolutely loved Viv as a protagonist. Watching her gradually piece together the reality behind Eudaimonia made for such a compelling journey, and I found myself rooting for her throughout. Beyond being a gripping thriller, the novel explores some thought-provoking themes, particularly the exploitation of women (as only women can become Carriers) and the stark divide between social classes, with the wealthy quite literally offloading their pain onto the poorest members of society.
The short, punchy chapters kept the pace moving at breakneck speed, making it one of those books that's incredibly difficult to put down.
If you're a fan of dystopian thrillers that combine suspense with sharp social commentary, I can't recommend this enough. This was a thought-provoking, addictive read that I would recommend.
July 7, 2026
Wow I really enjoyed this dystopian thriller. There was also psychological suspense and social commentary woven into the storyline that I loved.
Welcome to Eudaimonia, a revolutionary company that you can pay to free yourself from emotional pain. The opening chapter sells the concept of this so well. Viv, our main protagonist, who works for the company as the Emotional Transporter, visits a man who is suffering with grief after the loss of his wife. He has paid for his feelings to be expressed and in place a Carrier, a woman, who is paid to feel your pain. Carriers are always women.
Viv is a model employee. She whole heartedly believes in the company and truly believes the company makes a positive impact on people's lives. Until she digs a bit deeper and a truly horrific event leads her to question everything and uncover the truth. Viv is a wonderful character and you feel like you are rooting for her, especially after the starts to unearth how morally corrupt the company is and the treatment of the Carriers is horrible.
The chapters are short and sharp and kept the pace going really well. I loved at the end of each chapter we get to see statements for Carriers showing why they started to work for the company and the affect this has had on their lives. These were so emotional and allowed me to delve deeper into the world of the Carriers.
It was a brilliant book the asked questions about the exploitation of women, the divide between social classes and how some of the wealthiest of people offload their pain onto the poorest and most vulnerable member of society.
It is an innovative and breath taking debut. Utterly absorbing and disturbing in equal measure. Addictive, thought-provoking and insightful. A book to think about long after the last pages have been read.
Welcome to Eudaimonia, a revolutionary company that you can pay to free yourself from emotional pain. The opening chapter sells the concept of this so well. Viv, our main protagonist, who works for the company as the Emotional Transporter, visits a man who is suffering with grief after the loss of his wife. He has paid for his feelings to be expressed and in place a Carrier, a woman, who is paid to feel your pain. Carriers are always women.
Viv is a model employee. She whole heartedly believes in the company and truly believes the company makes a positive impact on people's lives. Until she digs a bit deeper and a truly horrific event leads her to question everything and uncover the truth. Viv is a wonderful character and you feel like you are rooting for her, especially after the starts to unearth how morally corrupt the company is and the treatment of the Carriers is horrible.
The chapters are short and sharp and kept the pace going really well. I loved at the end of each chapter we get to see statements for Carriers showing why they started to work for the company and the affect this has had on their lives. These were so emotional and allowed me to delve deeper into the world of the Carriers.
It was a brilliant book the asked questions about the exploitation of women, the divide between social classes and how some of the wealthiest of people offload their pain onto the poorest and most vulnerable member of society.
It is an innovative and breath taking debut. Utterly absorbing and disturbing in equal measure. Addictive, thought-provoking and insightful. A book to think about long after the last pages have been read.
July 7, 2026
What an incredible debut!
AD/PR
e-ARC Review
Imagine if you could outsource your pain... Negative emotions? Gone.
Grief? Gone.
Anxiety, nerves, rage? Gone, gone, gone!
Welcome to the world of Eudaimonia, a select group of women who are Carriers, taking away any unwanted emotions, but at what price? And at whose cost?
This book blew my mind! I like a certain level of reality in my books so was surprised how hooked I was on this debut, but it seemed so believable! Futuristic and fantastical, yet it felt like this could happen!
What unfolds is a story so dark that you're never quite sure where it will end or who can be trusted. The suspense and edge of your seat feeling appears and increases at the perfect pace.
I was drawn in immediately by the relatable characters right from the very beginning and there is a very clever touch at the end of each chapter of a Carrier's thoughts on the process.
The writing is so vivid, I feel like the places described are places I could visit and I could picture exactly where they are.
Ruth Newton has written something special here and it is definitely getting a place in my top 10 of 2026! I found it to be an easy and addictive read while at the same time, thought provoking and prompting some ethical questions and challenges to moral integrity. The voices of the Carriers are so unique, adding another layer of mystery to this brilliant debut.
AD/PR
e-ARC Review
Imagine if you could outsource your pain... Negative emotions? Gone.
Grief? Gone.
Anxiety, nerves, rage? Gone, gone, gone!
Welcome to the world of Eudaimonia, a select group of women who are Carriers, taking away any unwanted emotions, but at what price? And at whose cost?
This book blew my mind! I like a certain level of reality in my books so was surprised how hooked I was on this debut, but it seemed so believable! Futuristic and fantastical, yet it felt like this could happen!
What unfolds is a story so dark that you're never quite sure where it will end or who can be trusted. The suspense and edge of your seat feeling appears and increases at the perfect pace.
I was drawn in immediately by the relatable characters right from the very beginning and there is a very clever touch at the end of each chapter of a Carrier's thoughts on the process.
The writing is so vivid, I feel like the places described are places I could visit and I could picture exactly where they are.
Ruth Newton has written something special here and it is definitely getting a place in my top 10 of 2026! I found it to be an easy and addictive read while at the same time, thought provoking and prompting some ethical questions and challenges to moral integrity. The voices of the Carriers are so unique, adding another layer of mystery to this brilliant debut.
July 16, 2026
There's another name for Carrying.
Femicide.
#Carrier 20
Which emotions hold you back? For me, it’s this persistent self-doubt that makes me feel incredibly small. Sometimes it leads to overthinking and a crippling panic attack.
Imagine life without those negative emotions and feelings getting you absolutely down. You’d experience freedom and joy. You’d walk into a room full of strangers carefree, owning your confidence and not doubting your abilities.
Eudamonia offers a groundbreaking service called Expression. Clients can pay a fee to transfer their emotions like grief, anger, jealousy and an unending sadness to specially trained women known as Carriers. These Carriers then physically and emotionally absorb the suffering on behalf of their clients. Interestingly, why are these burdens typically carried by women rather than men?
The chapters are concise and engaging, maintaining a steady pace throughout. I particularly enjoyed the concluding statements from Carriers in each chapter. These reveal their motivations for joining the company and the profound impact it’s had on their lives. The emotional depth of these reflections allowed me to truly immerse myself in the Carriers’ world and experience what it means to be one.
I’m so impressed that this is a debut novel! It really digs into important topics like exploitation and how the wealthy sometimes exploit the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society. If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced and thrilling dystopian thriller, this book is just what you need.
Femicide.
#Carrier 20
Which emotions hold you back? For me, it’s this persistent self-doubt that makes me feel incredibly small. Sometimes it leads to overthinking and a crippling panic attack.
Imagine life without those negative emotions and feelings getting you absolutely down. You’d experience freedom and joy. You’d walk into a room full of strangers carefree, owning your confidence and not doubting your abilities.
Eudamonia offers a groundbreaking service called Expression. Clients can pay a fee to transfer their emotions like grief, anger, jealousy and an unending sadness to specially trained women known as Carriers. These Carriers then physically and emotionally absorb the suffering on behalf of their clients. Interestingly, why are these burdens typically carried by women rather than men?
The chapters are concise and engaging, maintaining a steady pace throughout. I particularly enjoyed the concluding statements from Carriers in each chapter. These reveal their motivations for joining the company and the profound impact it’s had on their lives. The emotional depth of these reflections allowed me to truly immerse myself in the Carriers’ world and experience what it means to be one.
I’m so impressed that this is a debut novel! It really digs into important topics like exploitation and how the wealthy sometimes exploit the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society. If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced and thrilling dystopian thriller, this book is just what you need.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A revolutionary company, Eudaimonia, offers individuals to rid themselves of unwanted emotions. Instead, women carriers are paid to process the pain. There is no shortage of demand but there are secrets that come with this. The true cost of freedom is a carriers life - would you let someone else suffer to stop your own?
Dystopian fiction is often a hit or miss for me and although it’s not my go to genre, having read a few that I have really enjoyed, I like to take chances on concepts that really intrigue me. This one sounded highly compelling and for a debut novel, the author has done a fantastic job. I enjoyed that this ended up being a thought provoking read, raising moral questions and exploring important social political topics. I also think the writing was strong and flowed well.
Even though there were a lot of positives with this story, I did find that some parts felt predictable and like I had read similar stories in the past. I also found that although the writing style was good, I did not fully connect to the storyline or the characters, likely as the plot was slow moving. Overall though, this was a promising debut and worth picking up for those who enjoy feminist speculative fiction. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
Dystopian fiction is often a hit or miss for me and although it’s not my go to genre, having read a few that I have really enjoyed, I like to take chances on concepts that really intrigue me. This one sounded highly compelling and for a debut novel, the author has done a fantastic job. I enjoyed that this ended up being a thought provoking read, raising moral questions and exploring important social political topics. I also think the writing was strong and flowed well.
Even though there were a lot of positives with this story, I did find that some parts felt predictable and like I had read similar stories in the past. I also found that although the writing style was good, I did not fully connect to the storyline or the characters, likely as the plot was slow moving. Overall though, this was a promising debut and worth picking up for those who enjoy feminist speculative fiction. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
July 7, 2026
brilliant, thought-provoking and frightening read. In a world where everyone craves positivity and relief from negative emotions, Eudaimonia's product provides the opportunity to have someone else carry your heartbreak. Tempting? Of course it is - in a world where war, famine, natural disasters, homelessness and personal tragedies are an every day occurrence, who wouldn't relish the opportunity to put aside their grief, fear and anxieties? What would you do if you understood what happens to those who carry those burdens in your place? When Viv begins to suspect the company she works for is hiding the truth, she becomes determined to expose the truth.
It's not a stretch to suggest that in today's world, there is an inherent focus on happiness and projecting a positive image at all costs, especially on social media. If 'to feel is to be human', what becomes of a society unwilling to experience negative emotions while willingly exploiting its vulnerable populations? Could this be a frightening glimpse into the future?
A unique, page turning read which I thoroughly recommend!
It's not a stretch to suggest that in today's world, there is an inherent focus on happiness and projecting a positive image at all costs, especially on social media. If 'to feel is to be human', what becomes of a society unwilling to experience negative emotions while willingly exploiting its vulnerable populations? Could this be a frightening glimpse into the future?
A unique, page turning read which I thoroughly recommend!
Review of advance copy
5⭐️ I cant even put into words how much i thoroughly enjoyed this. And a debut novel at that!
This definitely highlights both gender and wealth/class inequality. I felt like I was in an episode of Black Mirror, the whole concept of this was incredible. A very messed up dystopian style thriller (ish)
This is one where I truly took my time reading, as the world building, and all the characters are so unique , I didn't want to miss anything.
This was so immersive and had me hooked from the beginning. I had chills multiple times, and definitely teared up.
I absolutely loved the Carrier's quotes at the end of each chapter! Just a few of my favourites:
𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 '𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚, 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆' 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉.
𝑰𝒕𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒔, 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒆.
𝑴𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆.
𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆'𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒔. 𝑼𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔, 𝒘𝒆'𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆.
𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆. 𝑰𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈.
This definitely highlights both gender and wealth/class inequality. I felt like I was in an episode of Black Mirror, the whole concept of this was incredible. A very messed up dystopian style thriller (ish)
This is one where I truly took my time reading, as the world building, and all the characters are so unique , I didn't want to miss anything.
This was so immersive and had me hooked from the beginning. I had chills multiple times, and definitely teared up.
I absolutely loved the Carrier's quotes at the end of each chapter! Just a few of my favourites:
𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 '𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚, 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆' 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉.
𝑰𝒕𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒔, 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒆.
𝑴𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆.
𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆'𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒔. 𝑼𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔, 𝒘𝒆'𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆.
𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆. 𝑰𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈.
July 8, 2026
Everything drew me in with this read and I really loved the concept. It is safe to say this did not disappoint and the fact this is a debut is mind blowing! I am definitely on the look out for this author going forward.
This was a unique read and I’ve found myself talking about it to others it was that good. I can actually visualise it becoming a tv series and hoping it does!
I loved the short snappy chapters and as a result I constantly found myself saying ‘just one more chapter’. It was virtually impossible to put this one down. The build up was quite tense but I did feel like the ending was a little rushed, either that or I flew through it wanting to know what would happen. I just wanted a little bit more.
The quotes from the carriers at the start of each chapter were really powerful, I definitely think it made the book feel more emotional, hearing their side of things.
Overall a really enjoyable read and I am exciting to see what is next in store for the author.
This was a unique read and I’ve found myself talking about it to others it was that good. I can actually visualise it becoming a tv series and hoping it does!
I loved the short snappy chapters and as a result I constantly found myself saying ‘just one more chapter’. It was virtually impossible to put this one down. The build up was quite tense but I did feel like the ending was a little rushed, either that or I flew through it wanting to know what would happen. I just wanted a little bit more.
The quotes from the carriers at the start of each chapter were really powerful, I definitely think it made the book feel more emotional, hearing their side of things.
Overall a really enjoyable read and I am exciting to see what is next in store for the author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A different strong ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm still processing some of this story. So very sad in places especially when reading some of the notes left by the #Carriers.
This book really draws you into a story of women being used to carry all the negative emotions that others both men and women wanted to relieve themselves of. It felt uncomfortable in places, but also really made me think.
A strong debut novel. I did feel as though the story could have ended very differently and that it was maybe a bit rushed. What happened to two of the main characters in the book after the big reveal which changed the direction of the story?.....
My thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK Transworld and Bantam books for sharing this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley @BantamBooksUK #TheCarrier
I'm still processing some of this story. So very sad in places especially when reading some of the notes left by the #Carriers.
This book really draws you into a story of women being used to carry all the negative emotions that others both men and women wanted to relieve themselves of. It felt uncomfortable in places, but also really made me think.
A strong debut novel. I did feel as though the story could have ended very differently and that it was maybe a bit rushed. What happened to two of the main characters in the book after the big reveal which changed the direction of the story?.....
My thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK Transworld and Bantam books for sharing this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley @BantamBooksUK #TheCarrier
July 6, 2026
Suspenseful, cult-like thriller!
Viv is a compliant people pleaser working in a bizarre business. Why feel emotions or speak about them when you can just pay someone to take them away?
It's a fascinating concept and with women being the carriers it does remind you of The Handmaid's Tale, almost like the next steps in society.
Viv has changed and I like her character development. She didn't know the full extent of what goes on and she's not a bad person. She meets some interesting characters along the way and it all becomes very tense as she tries to do the right thing!
There's a few moments when you wonder what you'd do and who you'd trust but Viv has good instincts and she's made some good friends/allies along the way.
Viv is a compliant people pleaser working in a bizarre business. Why feel emotions or speak about them when you can just pay someone to take them away?
It's a fascinating concept and with women being the carriers it does remind you of The Handmaid's Tale, almost like the next steps in society.
Viv has changed and I like her character development. She didn't know the full extent of what goes on and she's not a bad person. She meets some interesting characters along the way and it all becomes very tense as she tries to do the right thing!
There's a few moments when you wonder what you'd do and who you'd trust but Viv has good instincts and she's made some good friends/allies along the way.
March 24, 2026
The concept of this story is fascinating - the moral quandaries argued and battled through ads thought-provoking and insightful. The science of this world is explained clearly enough for the reader to understand without becoming overwhelming. I liked the pace of the chapters, and the Carrier comments that closed each, offering a sight through their eyes. The chapters are concise and short enough that you can easily read this work in short bursts, which is ideal for the busy reader, and allows time to ponder the moral questions raised throughout. An excellent debut novel - I’m looking forward to following the authors’ career
July 2, 2026
This was superb!
I don't read much science fiction, but I do enjoy the odd dystopian novel.
This was so fascinating as a premise. Women who are paid to take away your pain, guilt, grief. As someone who lives with all these, I was hooked immediately. The start gives you little drops of the world building but holds back just enough for you to be intrigued and want to know more. Exactly what you want from any book!
This was paced perfectly. The premise makes it sound easy, but the consequences are profound and very cleverly written!
This was a brilliant read, and I cannot wait to read more from the author.
I don't read much science fiction, but I do enjoy the odd dystopian novel.
This was so fascinating as a premise. Women who are paid to take away your pain, guilt, grief. As someone who lives with all these, I was hooked immediately. The start gives you little drops of the world building but holds back just enough for you to be intrigued and want to know more. Exactly what you want from any book!
This was paced perfectly. The premise makes it sound easy, but the consequences are profound and very cleverly written!
This was a brilliant read, and I cannot wait to read more from the author.
July 7, 2026
This book is brilliant. It is a perfectly pitched dystopian thriller set in a very real Britain. This story feels scarily real in many ways, as problems with mental health are on the increase and pharmaceutical companies are always looking out for ways to exploit a market, The Carrier offers a neat solution. The characters are all very well written and the leading lady Viv is a great mixture of sad, naive, courageous and scared but ultimately brave. I think she is a very good mix of most women at sometime in their lives when trying to balance what they want, with what everyone else needs and what is right.
July 16, 2026
Thank you to Random Things Tours and Bantam for the copy. What an amazing, emotion-filled dystopian debut!
If the blurb hasn’t already caught your attention… The author impressively covers important topics throughout the book: from exploitation and feminism to wider inequality. Also, the touch of insightful quotes at the end of each chapter was perfect to add to the slipping facade. I found myself sympathising with the main character’s internal conflict to do right. Overall, the rollercoaster of deception had me turning the pages on the edge of my seat!
Without saying much more, this is a gripping and clearly carefully constructed story! Highly recommend.
If the blurb hasn’t already caught your attention… The author impressively covers important topics throughout the book: from exploitation and feminism to wider inequality. Also, the touch of insightful quotes at the end of each chapter was perfect to add to the slipping facade. I found myself sympathising with the main character’s internal conflict to do right. Overall, the rollercoaster of deception had me turning the pages on the edge of my seat!
Without saying much more, this is a gripping and clearly carefully constructed story! Highly recommend.
July 18, 2026
I really enjoyed this dystopian novel, which explores an idea that if you are rich enough you can pay to have your negative emotions extracted and injected into someone else. The carriers of the emotions are women who are supposedly well recompensed for this.
When something goes a bit awry for Vivien, who collects people’s pain, she learns some uncomfortable truths about the company operating this business model, and has some difficult decisions to make about her life.
Gripping stuff, which feels scarily plausible in today’s society. Exploring themes of exploitation, societal control and weaponised misogyny.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
When something goes a bit awry for Vivien, who collects people’s pain, she learns some uncomfortable truths about the company operating this business model, and has some difficult decisions to make about her life.
Gripping stuff, which feels scarily plausible in today’s society. Exploring themes of exploitation, societal control and weaponised misogyny.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In this speculative novel, negative emotions can be removed from the body and experienced by somebody else, a Carrier, for a fee. The narrative follows Viv who works for Eudaimonia. She is a loyal employee who believes she is making a positive difference until she witnesses something that makes her rethink it all.
This was a compelling read confronting issues such as feminism, emotional labour and wealth inequality. It is an interesting read that prompts reflection.
I would recommend this for fans of dystopian and speculative fiction.
via NetGalley
This was a compelling read confronting issues such as feminism, emotional labour and wealth inequality. It is an interesting read that prompts reflection.
I would recommend this for fans of dystopian and speculative fiction.
via NetGalley
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