The Scoop

by Erin Van Der Meer

A piercing satire about a journalist working the night shift at a tabloid and the explosive consequences of her “harmless” clickbait.
 
Washed-up New York journalist Frankie Miller is getting desperate. Since the twenty-nine-year-old lost her dream job at a glossy magazine three months ago, her days have been filled with overdue bills, cereal for dinner, and a flood of rejection emails (not to mention her ex has a new girlfriend). So when she’s offered a job at The Scoop, a notorious tabloid website run by tyrannical editor-in-chief David Brown, she can’t exactly afford to say no—even if it means swallowing her pride for clicks. Besides, for Frankie, it’s just a paycheck, a temporary detour. It’s not forever.
 
But the deeper she’s pulled into the breakneck world of tabloid journalism, the blurrier the line between ambition and morality becomes—until she crosses it. When her reporting humiliates a beloved pop star and dredges up grief over her late mother, Frankie sets off a chain reaction that spirals beyond her control. In an industry where reputation is currency and outrage sells, how far is Frankie willing to go—and how much is she willing to lose—to win at this ruthless game?
 
Sharp, witty, and unflinchingly bold, The Scoop is a searing exploration of ambition, exploitation, and the human toll of the 24/7 news cycle.
 

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Adult

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 21, 2026

About the author

Erin Van Der Meer is a writer and former journalist whose work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Daily Beast, and Elle. She was a Spruceton Inn Artist Resident in 2024. Born in Sydney, Australia, she now lives in Brooklyn. The Scoop is her debut.

Reviews

[Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
Thrilling, crazy, but funny!

From the jump, this book had me intrigued. Francesca Miller takes on a job as a night editor at a publication called The Scoop, “reporting” and publishing stories in the dead of night. But, all of it goes awry when Frankie puts out a story that upends everything. Dealing with backlash, judgement, and insane circumstances, she must decide what to do in the face of controversy.

This was a fantastically crafted story that kept my interest throughout the whole book. The characters are deep and human, flaws and all, but you can’t help sympathizing with them, even when they make more than questionable decisions. The trajectory of this plot was both funnily satirical and eerily thrilling; I wasn’t sure how the ending was going to happen. The crowning glory for this, in my opinion, is the voice of the author; genuine moments of laughing-out-loud commentary and descriptions, mixed with witty and sharp barbs of layered truth. Overall, a whirlwind of a ride, and one that I won’t forget for a long time.

A huge thank you to Rachel Rodriquez at Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Mackenzie Chance Harte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy.
This book left a lot to be desired, for me. I felt like it was attempting to talk about ethical gray areas and human nuance, but so much of felt almost cartoonish in how clearly Good v Bad it was. The “bad guys” were all supervillain-level evil. And the (very few) “good guys” were really half-baked characters. A majority of the main cast attempted to exist somehow between the two extremes, but largely felt too faux self-aware to feel realistic in what decisions they grappled with— often making the very clearly Bad one. This would be fine if we as the readers were not expect to follow along with their “redemption” arcs with any semblance of believability.
It also felt like characters were all given some level of tragic backstory just to make the protagonist (though she was included in this) understand them more, but these stories largely fell very flat to me.
I found that the tone of this whole book was a bit too embittered and cynical to ever meaningfully land its satire. I find this issue with a lot of Millennial fiction; characters all constantly articulate every feeling they have and every issue they grapple with to paint a very clear moral picture for the reader. In the case of this book, it just didn’t work for me. How many stories do we need about how bad legacy media is? We get it. You tell us that on page one. Why don’t you take a step to talk about what’s next?

2.5 stars, rounded down.

[Ria Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frankie, an inspiring journalist, is affected by the slow death of the publishing industry. Having lost her job at Marie Claire, with very little leads, she gets hired as a night editor by a sleazy tabloid. But is a paycheck and a sliver of hope for a future promotion enough to sell your soul?
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The writing was interesting, character development worked enough for me. Decent plot that made me wanna know how it all works out.
The part with her mom's passing was a bit daunting but I can see how it helped to convey Frankie's loneliness.
Thank you, Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC

[Martina Fugazzotto]

{pre-read note to self: author is my former coworker from an old tabloid job… writing a novel about working at a tabloid job 😆}

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the plot and especially Frankie as a main character. Her desperation is relatable as she has to do what she doesn’t truly want to in order to get by as a tabloid reporter. The themes of morality in reporting were very well explored in this book. Given the times we live in now, this really had me stop and think about the effect it can have on the reporter not just the reported. Certainly a must read! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Trisha]

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Sophie Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great! I thought the desperation of the journalist and the themes of class, ethics in capitalism and ethics of media were really interesting. I also loved the inner conversation Frankie has at the end with herself and the reminder to be brave despite what others may think. (This is a cheap summary of what it was) I found the plot and character development entertaining. All that said this book was probably a 3.5 for me. I would still recommend it though!

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Scoop" offers up a timely bit of commentary on the media, especially the corner of modern journalism focused on the foibles of minor celebrities. What's a young writer to do: Stick to her principles or bend her ethics in service of a much-needed paycheck? It's a great premise, but the book just does not deliver on it. First-time novelist Erin Van Der Meer brings a heavy hand to basically every part of the story. Francesca, our plucky heroine, loses her job at Marie Claire magazine and — after a long summer of unemployment — lands at a tabloid website that's run by a company much like News Corp. As Frankie morphs from Serious Writer to Hack Who'll Do Anything for a Scoop, the story sticks to an all-too-predictable arc. I wanted to love this book, but it just didn't fulfill its potential.

Note: I received a free ARC of this book from Netgally in exchange for my honest review.

[Sherry Chiger · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Scoop" grabbed me from page one, vividly capturing the syncopation of New York and the media world. And for the first third or so, it maintained its hold. But narrator and protagonist Frankie wore on me. Her repeated mentions of being an editor at "Marie Claire" magazine felt like being stuck at a party with that middle-aged guy who insists on referring to his near-perfect SAT scores decades after the fact. I found it especially galling because it's not as if "Marie Claire" is known as a bastion of journalistic expertise; it's a women's glossy beholden to cosmetics and fashion advertisers, for goodness' sake!

Her self-pity and insistence on her own exceptionalism might have been part of the point, but listening to it ad nauseam was not my idea of a good time. And her epiphany at the end, especially in the epilogue, didn't ring true for me.

I understand Frankie's dilemma: I was a writer and editor at B2C and B2B magazines before switching over to marketing as the media ecosystem imploded. Despite that, or maybe because of that, I wanted to shake her, or at least muzzle her, well before the book's ending. All that said, I'll keep an eye out for Erin Van Der Meer's next novel.

Thank you, NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan Welbourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Scoop by Erin Van Der Meer is a debut novel set in New York City. Francesca (Frankie) is a journalist let go from prestigious Marie Claire, and takes a job with a digital tabloid The Scoop because she has no other option. Frankie is embarrassed to let her journalist friends know about her new job and reluctant to write useless articles about celebs and non celebs. Yet as the digital clicks start climbing and her boss keeps demanding more, she gets caught up in the process and goes after a once famous singer Amanda for the juiciest gossip. But things go too far, and Frankie realizes she needs to make a real change.
First of all, this book is so realistic to today’s media circus. I can picture everything in this book really happening and that made it an easy read. Second, at the surface, it’s a guilty pleasure type read. It is true that while most of us will say we turn our noses up at click bait articles, many still secretly enjoy them. But as the story develops, there are much deeper issues discussed. Morality and guilt are big topics infused throughout the read. I really empathized with Frankie’s plight, and her turn around felt very real to me. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my ARC.

[Megan Gallardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book*

I can't even begin to explain why I am still thinking about this one. I finished it at like 3am, wondering why media twists within this vicious cycle of relishing in promoting bad news just for a few clicks and what the point is to thrive on the misfortune of others...

This is the sort of book that starts out slow, and you don't truly know where its going until you see the snowball effect of these night shift people who work at a gossip site end up ruining the life of a former celebrity. The way they get twisted into looking like villains for reporting news, the commentary on how media twists words just to build the narrative that suits them-- a distortion of truth overall, truly was one of those things you couldn't really look away from.

There were some parts that dragged on, but all in all, still an interesting read.

[Reading Xennial · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so who doesn’t love a little celebrity gossip? This book has an interesting premise about what it’s like to be the journalist getting the scoop and what lengths they’d go to get a story. I know it’s satire, but some of the messaging was heavy handed. The nuance was lost on me because it felt downright silly at times. I’m not sure if I was the target audience. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I think my experience suffered a bit because I’m not big on satirical fiction. I’d still recommend people give this book a chance.

Thank you, NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

[Stroop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankie has integrity. She is a respected editor. She is also broke and looking for work. The only job in journalism she can find is with a digital tabloid owned by a nefarious media conglomerate. When she starts, Frankie holds her values close and tries to enforce them. But as the nights go by, the pull of publishing the most-read stories on the site gets stronger.

This is a darkly humorous and horrifying look at journalism’s changing landscape and the power of clickbait. Frankie is a compelling character and I found myself rooting for her (to get another job!).

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so not a must read by any means. But an interesting take on tabloid journalism and the lengths media outlets and reporters will now go through to get that breaking news celebrity story -- at any cost and without clear professional boundaries. And who doesn't read those People magazine news alerts -- XYZ seen out without wedding ring; ABC spotted in shocking Halloween costume? That said, the book feels pretty formulaic and the ending was kind of unsatisfying (but a little unexpected, in a good way), It's fine but took a lot of muster to get through -- three stars.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

- This was an all around great novel: engaging plot and writing, emotionally intelligent, balancing humor, satire, and deep emotional storylines. This novel made me think a lot about the state of media. Reading this while hearing the devastating news that Teen Vogue is folding, as print media is almost gone, and as journalists struggle for jobs and livable pay to write stories that matter. I really appreciated how the book tackled the impact of class on access to a career in media.
- Solid 5 stars

[Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frankie is a journalist who was laid off from her respectable job and had to take a job at a tabloid to pay her bills. She starts out thinking the whole process is icky and that the job is a joke, but ends up getting so into it she nearly ruins someone’s life.

This book was just okay for me. It was slow for me to get into it. I kept coming back to it in between other reads. I made it about 50% of the way through before the story was interesting enough to make me want to keep reading.


**ARC review. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read it early.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Scoop is a sharp, addictive satire that cuts right to the bone of clickbait culture. Frankie’s spiral from “it’s just a paycheck” to full moral free-fall feels painfully real, and the book is both funny and brutal about the cost of outrage-for-profit.

It’s fast, uncomfortable in the best way, and surprisingly tender beneath the snark—especially when it comes to grief and ambition. If you’ve ever hate-read a tabloid headline and then clicked anyway, this one will make you laugh…and then quietly side-eye yourself.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Donna McCaul Thibodeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankie Miller has taken a job as a night editor at The Scoop, an online tabloid. Will she be able to keep her integrity intact, as she is told to focus on a beloved pop star, no matter the cost?
I really enjoyed this book. Frankie was a very interesting character and it was engaging to see how she changed as she worked for The Scoop. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Clarissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this off goodreads, and thank you for it.
I won't lie. I can't fully finish it. read about 3 quarters and all done. parts were amazing, but others were long parts of the story.
I did like the main character. She was honest but went on an old relationship. I also got the issue with friends who were there but did better in life.
just because the book wasn't for me doesn't mean it wasn't for others. I'm glad it was written and will look into other books by this author.

[tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

the only way to get through to some people is literally not any sense of morality in the end…. it’s just their own self interest…. i can’t say more because the book isn’t out yet! but am i supposed to feel bad for her? because i DON’T!!!!! despite all that i was rigorously entertained and disgusted by the unfortunately very legitimate portrayal of today’s news media. and maybe that ultimate lack of morality was the point all along.

[Katie Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a legacy print media alum, I was so invested in following Frankie's career challenges and difficult workplace choices, which were extreme but relatable. An interesting exploration of the compromises people make to survive in corporate America.

[Izabel | izreadsthings · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this until I felt like it got very heavy handed with their lesson. There’s a way to write a lesson without it being didactic, but this one did not. Overall enjoyable, but it lost me at the end!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.

[Kate Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frankie makes some terrible decisions in desperation and becomes increasingly unlikeable until, after a lot of introspection regarding the role of media and whether she wants to be part of it, she revolts. There is quite a bit of philosophical content on morals and ethics in media if one is inclined that way. Certainly relevant in our time. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Karis · Rating 2 out of 5]

~~Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!~~

I don't think this book is saying anything new, really.

I know legacy media sucks. I dunno if it's that obvious to people who don't read books and/or follow the news closely, but I do feel like the people who'd be interested in reading in this book would know that legacy media sucks, as well. The prose goes on and on about the grueling hours, the soul sucking work, the cruel treatment from employers and peers alike, it just kept repeating itself at nauseum and expected me to care. I lost my patience for this tactic halfway through the book.

It didn't help that the characters were the archetypes you'd expect from a story like this. The bright eyed newbie, the jaded money driven co-worker, the nepo baby who was handed everything the main character couldn't get, the cartoonishly evil boss, it was all laid out nice and plain with no surprises. The arc Frankie went on from beginning to end was predictable, which in of itself isn't bad, but paired up with the fact there was nothing interesting about her made hitting those beats tedious rather than satisfactory. She also thought a lot about her dead mom, which only drew a little sympathy but not enough to see her as a dimensional person.

All in all, this wasn't for me. Thank you again to Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.