Phoning Faust

by Sophie Mutiara Nova

Queer mixed Indonesian college student Dian Faust attempts to call the suicide hotline only to dial the wrong number, her finger slipping and typing in six three times (the mark of the Devil). The mysterious voice on the other end of the line is revealed to be a charming scam caller named Memphis with a penchant for chattiness, trapped in a dingy bus stop bathroom, wanting to learn a concerning amount about the lonely Dian’s life.

But this scam caller is more than just a Mr. Robot hacker wannabe—a sinister presence lurks in the pixels on Dian’s laptop screen in the shadows of her apartment. The Devil themself has come to collect Dian’s soul, and “Memphis” is actually Mephistopheles—Hell’s foremost golden-tongued agent and notorious liar.

In this loose retelling of Goethe’s Faust, will Dian save her soul before time runs out—or will she fall prey to the renowned storytelling deception of the infamous Mephistopheles?

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Queer, Paranormal, Lesbian

219 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2026

About the author

Yearning for the return of the bees, Sophie Mutiara Nova (they/them) is a Queer, mixed Indonesian American, immunocompromised Writer-Director and butterfly-loving garden goth. They’re the Writing Fellow of Lambda Literary and the ACEX TV Initiative. They’ve won the Launchpad Pilot Competition, ScreenCraft Horror Competition, and over eighty other awards. Their fantastical short films have screened internationally— most recently at Cheryl Dunye’s and Madeline Lim’s QWOCFF. They’ve been featured in: Deadline, Book Riot, Ms. Magazine, Macabre Daily, Gizmodo, Rainbow Crate, Gays Reading, LGBTQ Reads, iHeartSapphfic, and have toured with the Open Book Pasadena, Monrovia Pride Book Fest hosted by Underdog Books, and the Golden Crown Literary Society. They are the 2025 Lavender Public Relations Package recipient from Lambda Literary. Originally from Chicago, Sophie’s now based in Los Angeles (Dartmouth College BFA & MFA Film Directing CalArts) and a former dancer for Indonesian dance troupe Burat Wangi. They are represented by the wonderful Patricia Court Entertainment. Find them haunting socials otherwise @thesophiewhit.

Reviews

[The Reading Frog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Sophie Mutiara Nova, NineStar Press & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review

Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐ rounded up to 4-stars for Goodreads.
CW: Nothing too graphic is described. It does, however, go in depth when it comes to mental health and suicide. Check the CWs if you need them.
Explicit | Depression, drowning, suicidal ideation.
Moderate | Pandemic, past loss of loved ones, homophobia, suicide attempt, religious bigotry.
Mild | Suicide, dissociation, involuntary outing, weed, blood, vomit, murder of a pregnant woman, murder in general, overdose.
My chosen soundtrack: Soft - Iress | Hell Is Round The Corner - Tricky, Martina Topley-Bird | Lilith - Saint Avangeline

"Was it a sin? To live? To love? Was it a sin just to exist?

For some, the answer was yes."

Dian intends to call the suicide hotline, but a slipped finger leads to an unexpected recipient of her call for help.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ For when one dials 666, a devil might answer.


Representation
╰┈➤ Queer, Lesbian, Demisexual MC, Dian
╰┈➤ Bi/Pan MC, Memphis
╰┈➤ Unspecified BIPOC MC, Memphis, is described as having brown skin
╰┈➤ Southeast asian characters, including the MC Dian (half Indonesian, half German-American) and an SC Talia (half Filipina, half Black)
╰┈➤ WLW dynamic, Dian & Memphis
╰┈➤ Trans woman SC, Talia
╰┈➤ Genderqueer MC, Luce, switches pronouns around

Themes
Isolation, loneliness, COVID/pandemic/quarantine, Faustian bargain, the philosophical concept of 'the problem of evil/the problem of suffering', digital age, finding meaning in the senseless, inevitability, invisibility/being seen, agency, being an active or passive participant in one's own life, mental health, sacrifice, wanting to be 'normal' vs wanting acceptance, mental health and suicidal ideation, rebirth.


What I liked/loved
‎ ‎ ✧ I wasn't familiar with Goethe's Faust, but that didn't seem to impact my reading experience.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Calling out the American healthcare system on the first page is a 10/10 move.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Takes place during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is kind of crazy to look back on now. Certainly brought back some memories.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Probably no one cares about this except for me, but as someone who is immunocompromised, I appreciate that this group was addressed in the context of a pandemic.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Discourse on comparative suffering/self-invalidation/emotional minimization.
‎ ‎ ✧ Discourse on martyrdom and how female suffering/sacrifice is viewed.

I reframe my time alone here as a martyr's sacrifice, a saintly retreat, like all those macabre stories I learned from Sunday school. Like Joan of Arc burning in her armor, cursing out the enemies of Satan and giving up her life for all of France. Or maybe she was crazy like I'm crazy. Maybe I'm just as bad as her, continuing a cycle of women who thought they had to die rather than live and be "too much."

‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Very introspective and character-driven, which I appreciate.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ This amazing Demi representation couldn't have come at a better time! I needed it after recently reading some bad rep in another book. As a demisexual, I felt like the rep was written incredibly well. I also appreciate that it wasn't just something mentioned once or twice; it is an important part of our MC's character.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ There is some essence of 'camp' to this, but it was still able to go serious and deep. I think Sophie Mutiara Nova shines when switching effortlessly from deep philosophical to lighthearted comedy, back to emotional turmoil. This book threw me around in the bedroom, and unexpectedly, I didn't mind it.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ I appreciated how this book represented suicidal ideation. The end of your life feels different when you're the one in control of it; meanwhile, death happening to you feels different. I loved the discourse about choice, that choice being taken away, and agency.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Without spoiling anything, there is an amazing chapter called Rose that almost reads like folklore or a fairy tale.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Some chapters were so (emotionally) descriptive and immersive that I felt like I was there. I love when writing can completely suck me into a character's headspace as it did here.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ I don't know a lot about Indonesia, but I know enough about the culture and language to catch many of the references, which was really cool. I can imagine this could hit different to someone who is (partly) Indonesian.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ There was some amazing bird symbolism and imagery.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Discourse on which creatures should be loved and which should be dammned, and if those distinctions even matter or are sound to make.
‎ ‎ ✧ Discourse on centering oneself as the source of a problem vs centering it on the lack of kindness/sympathy from those around.
‎ ‎ ✧ Discourse on homophobia and religion-based bigotry.
‎ ‎ ✧ Discourse on 'The problem of evil/The problem of suffering.' (The philosophical and theological dilemma questioning how an all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfectly good God can coexist with the existence of suffering and evil.)
‎ ‎ ✧ There are some BANGER quotes in this book. I made lots of annotations because of it. Example:

They're called wear patterns. Like grooves in a wall where weary travelers rest their heads. Or indentations on steps where pilgrims walked in prayer. They're well-worn areas that prove humans used something and used it often. To be loved into oblivion.

What I didn't like/felt lackluster about
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ I'm unsure if this happened because I was having some bad reading days, but I felt a bit disconnected from the story in the last third of the book. The last few percent grabbed me again, though.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ Some things felt a little unexplained/underdeveloped and too fast-paced, which made me feel lost at times.
‎ ✦ All the pop-culture references will probably only hit for a specific demographic. I read it as camp and could thus enjoy it, but I can imagine that it might be a bit much or a miss for some readers.


Conclusion/Notes
There were many things I loved about this book: the philosophical dilemmas, the examination of religion, amazing queer rep, the feminist takes, the themes of loneliness and isolation, and respectful yet relatable depictions of mental health/suicidal ideation.

Yet I somehow lost some of my motivation to read during the last third of the book. Once again, this might be because of the bad reading mood I was in, so take this with a grain of salt. Still, it impacted my reading experience, which is why I rated it 3.75/5

Regardless, I think this book felt unique and took an interesting approach to breaching these heavy topics. It wrapped them in levity and comedy without diminishing or brushing over them. This wasn't a writing style I thought I'd enjoy, but somehow it really worked for me here specifically.

If you love reading about relatable queer characters, mental health struggles, philosophical think pieces, and the concept of religious guilt, you should definitely give this one a try once it is published on June 02 2026.


⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆



Want to buddy read this book now or in the future? You can do so on Storygraph.

Follow me on Spotify for specific reading playlists like this one: 📚 This Connection Is Muddled With Rot | Overview of all playlists

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for a Review Copy!

At just over 200 pages Mutiara Nova does a great job of making us quickly feel for Dian Faust and just how bad her mental health has gotten during the Covid 19 pandemic.

How do you unmake a deal with the devil when they are everything you wish you could be?

This story is so unabashedly queer both in the characters and the story it is telling. The content is incredibly heavy but what queer story isn’t? I cried for the last 5 minutes and I will be telling everyone to read it.

[Kristen🧚🏽‍♀️🩷 · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC reader here!! what a beautifully written story of the complexities and intricacies of being apart of the lgbtqia+ community and experiencing issues with mental health. i really felt for the main character and loved how invested i became so quickly. super fast paced, lots of surprises, i never knew what to expect next!

[Gia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoning Faust by Sophie Mutiara Nova is a queer urban fantasy that's a loose retelling of Goethe's Faust. Bitterly sweet, our story follows a college student who finds herself ensnared by the beauty and allure of an ethereal being by the name of Memphis unaware of the dangerous consequences to come.

I first must admit that I have zero knowledge of the Goethe's Faust story. The only thing that came to mind while reading this was the 1000 days and nights (Arabian Nights) folk tales. With that said readers who are also unfamiliar with the inspiration piece will not have any trouble diving into Phoning Faust.

When we meet our main character, Dian, she's feeling lost, alone and extremely sad. In the mist of the global pandemic, she's isolated from family, the world and her heart is broken. She has a plan; one she's been struggling not to give into. In a last attempt not to give into that pain she tries to reach out for help but accidentally dials a wrong number.

Even when Dian tries to get away from the mysterious caller who's picked up on the other end, she can't seem to get away from them. What's more troubling is that Dian finds that she doesn't really want to. The mystery of Memphis hooks her and distracts her from her sadness and pain.

The attraction between them feels mutual as well as unexpected. And Memphis's ulterior motives towards Dian melt away the more she gets to know her. Feeling for once in a long time that she could do something positive and good for another person. Even in the span of a single night, I could feel the yearning between these two. Like they knew each other from a different time.

That's what really moved me about this story. Accidental or not, the call kind of saved Dian in a moment of need. Their growing relationship and feelings empower Dian and give her this glimmer of motivation to fight back. The situation isn't as direct as I feel like I am describing it but you know, spoilers.

I think readers who have been where Dian is in the beginning of the book will appreciate Nova's care and transparency of her thoughts and feelings. Depression and mental illness are heavy burdens to navigate. They aren't switches that can be turned on or off. And sometimes only with a little time or change of perspective can that weight shift.

With a little bit of dark humor and magical realism Phoning Faust challenges readers to consider what it's like on the inside of depression and ideations verses the hopeful possibilities that wait on the other side.

[Cheyenne Oleson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Mutiara Nova, NineStar Press, and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of Phoning Faust in exchange for my honest review.

Phoning Faust was not at all what I expected, and I mean that in the best possible way.

Going in, I anticipated a queer fantasy romance with a Faustian twist. While those elements are certainly present, this book ended up being a much deeper and more introspective exploration of loneliness, mental health, identity, faith, and the search for connection during one of the most isolating periods in recent history.

Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, the story follows Dian, a college student struggling with depression and overwhelming feelings of isolation. A misdialed phone call connects her with Memphis, a mysterious being who quickly becomes both a source of comfort and a catalyst for change. Their relationship unfolds against a backdrop of grief, uncertainty, and self-discovery, creating a story that is equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was the writing itself. Sophie Mutiara Nova has a beautiful way with words, crafting passages that are thoughtful, emotional, and often incredibly quotable. The discussions surrounding mental health, religious trauma, queer identity, and the desire to simply be seen felt genuine and handled with a great deal of care.

I also appreciated the queer representation throughout the novel. The characters felt authentic, and the exploration of identity was woven naturally into the story rather than feeling like an afterthought.

My biggest struggle was with the pacing in parts of the book. There were moments where events moved so quickly that I felt a little disconnected, and I occasionally wished certain relationships and plot points had been given more room to breathe. Some elements also felt intentionally ambiguous, which worked at times but left me confused in others.

Even with those minor frustrations, I found myself deeply invested in Dian's journey. This is a story that asks difficult questions about suffering, faith, purpose, and survival while still offering moments of humor, warmth, and hope.

If you're looking for a queer fantasy that goes beyond romance and isn't afraid to tackle heavier themes, Phoning Faust is absolutely worth picking up. Thought-provoking, emotional, and unlike anything else I've read recently, it's a story that will stay with me long after the final page.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

Finding the words to describe how this book made me feel has been difficult, to be honest, because I went into it expecting a queer monster romance type of thing and what I got... wasn't that, at least not in it's entirety. It's so, so much more.

Full disclosure I'm not all too familiar with Goethe's Faust, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.

A lot of this story covers suicide, mental health, religious trauma, being queer in a community where it's not accepted, loneliness, and trying to find oneself in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, where you feel like you have no one to call and no one to turn to. Dian, our main character, was so relatable but the book also had me feeling so empathetic toward her and just wanting to give her a hug and tell her that she isn't alone.

Nova's writing is, frankly, beautiful. There were so many passages I highlighted, quotes that stuck out to me, and moments that made me both laugh and tear up depending on the context. I had a few small gripes with how it felt like the tone changed fast enough to give me whiplash and sometimes it felt like there wasn't a reason given, but overall the writing drew me in and kept me there.

This book is one that I'll be rereading in the future because it feels like a book that needs a reread, to fully immerse yourself and see things that you missed the first time around; as you're just trying to get your bearings and figure out what's happening.

This book made me feel so many emotions involving my own mental health that I've kept bottled up for ages, and it reminded me of my own experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how I, too, as a college student, struggled with the isolation and how empty everything felt.

There were a few parts I felt weren't the best explained and things moved incredibly fast; but I also feel like that was a plot choice. I definitely felt like it could've used maybe another 100 pages of fleshing things out, developing our main relationship more and setting us up in the world.

Overall this book was a 4.25/5 stars, and I'll be looking into Nova's other works, as I think their writing style lends really well to a contemporary setting!

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILER FREE REVIEW | May make a review with spoilers on TikTok, but still TBD.

I had the privilege of receiving an ARC back in August of 2025, and due to some health struggles (and having been in a book slump for at least a few months), I ended up setting this book on the back burner. What a terrible mistake that was. This book has single-handedly cured my reading slump.

Overall, Phoning Faust is a sweet and spooky novel about love, sacrifice, and community, and I wish I read it sooner. It speaks to how it feels to be queer in a world dominated by religion where many (not all) people use their beliefs to justify their bigotry. Though it takes place during the height of the COVID pandemic, it still fits very well with the current state of the affairs in terms of how isolated and afraid people are, especially those in marginalized communities like queer people, people of color, disabled people, etc.

The dynamic between Dian and Memphis is so fun and sweet and almost poetic. Without giving away too much, they’re two souls who’ve been burned many times. Whether it be by love, for love, or in the name of love, they’ve been rejected. They understand what it’s like to love and lose simply because of who and how they love, and this creates this foundation between them—this sort of knowing when to push without pushing too hard and when to cross certain lines, even if it may push you apart.

I’m not Indonesian, so I can’t speak on the quality of Indonesian representation; however, I will say I enjoyed learning more about Indonesian culture, and I love how deeply connected Dian is to her culture.

The last few chapters were truly crazy, and I had such a great time reading them. One moment I was hyped, and two seconds later, I was heartbroken. Suddenly, I’m cussing everyone out, and then I’m crying, and then I’m squealing with excitement. Definitely worth the read, and I can’t wait to read any future works.

[Audrey Rutkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the surface level, Phoning Faust is a romance as much as horror story. As with a lot of queer art, it is delicate balance of both, made the more beautiful with the duality. The story begins just as the summary describes, with Dian, the MC, locked away in quarantine during the pandemic trying to reach the suicide prevention hotline and reaching a Devil named Memphis instead. Through questions and conversations, some more honest than the others, Dian and Memphis get to know each other. Once Dian is visited by the Devil and certain lies are revealed, their online conversations becomes an IRL action packed evening of trying to outsmart The Devil. Dian and Memphis work together to try and do the impossible, using everything in their arsenal, including Dian’s abandoned faith.

One of the reasons this story was harder for me to get through is how much religion was apart of the plot. However, I think how expertly and emotionally raw this trauma was represented made the story more relatable. For many queer people, this is part of our stories. In this story, Dian has to accept and heal some of that trauma to become a more realized version of herself.


Phoning Faust deals with a lot of heavier topics (suicide, homophobia, and religious trauma being the main ones.) However, Nova handles these topics with respect and a bit of dark humor. Nova takes the time to speak life into these issues so that even with the potential to be triggering, the resulting feeling for the reader is that of pride in Dian and comfort that her story will have a happy ending.

If you are looking to read a queer, sapphic love story then this is the perfect book for you! There is no spice, but plenty of sweetness and a bit of sparkle, too. You will fall in love with both MC’s, rooting for both of them to have the happy ending they deserve. Officially out on June 2nd, I can think of no better way to kick off Pride month than giving this book a read!

[BridgetIsLit · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Phoning Faust is a queer love story about a suicidal college student who accidentally calls Hell instead of the suicide hotline and ends up making a deal with the devil. It is strange, sad, romantic, and very committed to its Faustian premise.

Nova uses a lot of Christian mythology, but the book does not feel like it is only interested in being a Faust retelling. The mythology gives the story a frame, but for me, the stronger parts were about Dian’s loneliness, queerness, and isolation from her family and culture.

My favorite parts were the pieces of Dian’s Indonesian background. The book does not spend much time directly explaining her family’s rejection of her queerness, but it still makes the loss felt. Through Dian’s memories, cultural references, and ties to her family, Nova shows us what she once had, which makes its absence hurt.

The book didn't fully work for me. Christian mythology is not usually my thing, so some of that material just did not hit me as hard as it might for another reader. I also had some issues with the pacing. Some sections felt slow, while other important developments moved very quickly. There were moments where I was not totally sure how we got from one point in the narrative to the next.

Still, I liked a lot about this book. Nova is clearly a smart writer who does their research. In this book, they weave together theology, film, queerness, depression, family, culture, and Faustian myth, and I want to read what they do next because I am curious to see where their mind goes.

Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Alicia Ceasar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoning Faust by Sophie Mutiara Nova follows Dian, a young person dealing with identity and isolation in the height of the Covid pandemic. When they try to call for help, they end up calling Hell instead and begins a conversation that will change their life forever.

This is one of those books that feels uniquely written for me. The writing was beautiful and thought provoking. I felt like the characters were well rounded and realized. This book had heavy themes but also some bits of comedic relief that helped had some levity to the story.

I loved Dian as a character. The struggles they are going through with trying to figure out their identity and what to do next felt very relatable. I feel like the desire to tell a stranger all your secrets just to get them off of your chest is something we can all relate to at least a little so when Dian is monologuing about their feelings, it felt very natural.

As someone who identifies as demisexual, this book meant so much to me. I feel like it is such a strange identity to try to explain to people. A lot of people don’t understand but reading Dian’s thoughts about it helped me quite a bit.

This is a short book and to me is best read in a single sitting if you can to fully feel absorbed. It is comped to “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair” which I think is a great comp. There is something about this book that feels very liminal and I loved it!

[Once.Upon.A.Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

I went into this book curious about the premise, and I ended up appreciating it more for what it was trying to do than for how much it personally worked for me.

One of the biggest strengths of Phoning Faust is how thoughtfully it handles difficult subjects. The author’s note at the beginning was genuinely beautiful and helped set the tone for the story. You can tell Sophie Mutiara Nova approached the heavier themes with care and intention.

I also really liked Memphis. Her backstory added a lot of depth, and I found myself invested in her journey. I was pleasantly surprised by the demisexual representation as well. It felt meaningful and added another layer to the story.

The relationship was where I struggled a bit. I never fully connected with Dian, and the romance moved faster than I would have liked. The instant attraction and strong feelings developed so quickly that I had trouble buying into them. Honestly, I might have enjoyed seeing a friendship grow between them even more.

I did love the setting. Having so much of the story centered around the apartment gave it a unique feel compared to other books I’ve read recently.

Overall, this was an interesting and creative story that uses a clever premise to explore some very serious topics. It just ended up being a little heavier than I was in the mood for, and I never quite found myself fully hooked. Sometimes it’s simply a case of the right book at the wrong time

[Tom Diggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Brilliant, Darkly Comedic, and Captivating Modern Retelling!
Sophie Mutiara Nova (writing under Sophie Mitiara) has delivered a masterclass in urban fantasy and queer horror with Phoning Faust. This loose, contemporary reimagining of Goethe’s classic Faust is sharp, eerie, and utterly unforgettable from the very first page.
The story follows Dian Faust, a lonely, queer, mixed Indonesian college student who accidentally types the wrong digit while trying to call a hotline—unwittingly dialing the number of the Beast. Enter "Memphis"—or rather, Mephistopheles—Hell's most golden-tongued agent, who answers the call from a dingy bus stop bathroom. What follows is a brilliant, high-stakes psychological game of cat-and-mouse. Nova's portrayal of Mephistopheles is deliciously charming yet deeply sinister, bleeding off the pages and into the shadows of Dian's laptop screen.
Nova’s background as a filmmaker shines through in the book's pacing and atmosphere. The narrative feels incredibly cinematic, blending tech-age Mr. Robot vibes with a haunting, gothic isolation. The pairing between Dian and Memphis is filled with a raw, slow-burn tension that will keep your heart racing as the clock ticks down on Dian’s soul. It is witty, darkly funny, and deeply emotional. An absolute must-read for fans of speculative fiction and clever queer horror!

[Shaun Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this creative work.
What a marvelous retelling of a classic tale with a modern spin. I read it in one week. Which for me is a record. Would highly recommend it.
Also thanks for raising awareness of suicide as a problem in the LGBTQ+ community. Pretending that it doesn't exist doesn't make it better.
Pre Trevor Project:
Key findings from The 2025 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People include:

36% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including 40% of transgender and nonbinary young people.
1 in 10 LGBTQ+ young people attempted suicide in the past year.
44% of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it.
90% of LGBTQ+ young people said recent anti-LGBTQ+ laws, policies and debates caused them stress or anxiety.
LGBTQ+ young people of color attempted suicide at higher rates than their White peers, and nearly a third (32%) also experienced racial or ethnic discrimination, in addition to anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.
Transgender and nonbinary young people who wanted hormones but couldn’t access them were nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide than those who could.
Over half (59%) of LGBTQ+ young people ages 13-17 experienced bullying in the past year, and those who did reported significantly higher rates of attempting suicide in the past year than their peers.
LGBTQ+ young people who reported living in very accepting communities attempted suicide at less than a third of the rate of those who reported living in very unaccepting communities.

[Erin Wickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy smokes, where to start with this fantastic book!! Another fantastic queer story from a wonderful queer author - read queer all year guys🌈

The story starts with Dian, a broken shell of a person who is currently experiencing severe anxiety and depression while also living in a lockdown due to COVID. She has tried to call a suicide hotline a few times but has had no answer - she dials again and hits 666 accidentally, calling the devil. The story that unravels is a deep dive into mental health, identity, loneliness and connections. There is such a beautiful atmosphere created by our author, Sophie; one in which you can get totally lost and read this book basically in one sitting…like I did🤭

Memphis is the BEST character, 100% my favourite, although I love the sarcasm and humour of Di, it’s the perfect mix of comedy and genuine emotion which makes it deeply resonate with the reader. I am sad that I read it so quickly😂 but this book will definitely stay with me for a long time, that’s a guarantee! I feel blissfully numb and kind of broken now that I have finished, but I am also happy to have been seen!! Thank you for this book, Sophie - I am forever grateful for your amazing brain and words, I can’t wait to read more of what you put into the world!💛💛

[Just_wanttoread · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this arc.

I went into this expecting something very different which had undoubtedly affected my enjoyment of it and, honestly after rereading the blurb I don’t know why I didn’t understand what I was going to be reading. I had thought this was going to be a lighthearted funny/sexy/horror and it was absolutely not. This was more a philosophical wondering of a book with themes of suicide, mental health problems, religious trauma and self help. The backdrop of the covid pandemic added to the sense of isolation and claustrophobia throughout.

I definitely came away feeling I wasn’t intelligent enough to enjoy this book. It’s confusing and dream like at times, but mostly I was just bored. It felt incredibly long and was a slog to get through, particularly the middle section where it felt like nothing was happening. I didn’t feel like I got to know or like the main characters, and I just didn’t care about them or their love story, if it was one? My favourite parts were the chapters sharing the history with Rose and Talia, so I think I would enjoy the author’s writing, just not in this book unfortunately.

[Cyri T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to be given access by the author to to read an ARC of Phoning Faust, and gods am I glad I did!! I wish I could give this more stars, truly... As many as Memphis has scattered across her skin.

This story was phenomenal.
Not only does the language and writing style flow beautifully amidst the tale as it unfolds, but the characters resonated deeply with me (as an equally traumatized religious queer person,) and I found this story to touch places deep in my heart that I have only found in one other book.

If I had to compare the poetic writing style that Sophie displays in this story, it would be akin to someone like Ibi Zoboi (though Sophie is clearly a master of her own accord in this book!) Phoning Faust was lyrical, poetic, raw, deeply profound, & full of feeling. Dian's character and how she spoke of herself and her surroundings, along with her experiences through this tale, quickly pulls you in as a reader watching the chaotic minutes pass in Dian's room.

I can't wait to read more of your work, thank you again so much for sharing this story with us all! Very excited to have the physical copy in our library soon. :)

[Siavahda · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book for free from the publisher via a publicist in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*

On a line level, this is fine, but the story itself is very choppy – things keep happening out of nowhere – and it’s reading much more like a paranormal romance than the horror I thought I was getting. Memphis is intensely flirtatious and Dian is very struck by how pretty and cool she is, and Memphis is swiftly doing the whole ‘I would fight the Devil to protect you’ thing, calling Dian ‘mine’ and all the rest of it. Not at all what I signed up for.

Dian is a pretty great example of a queer millennial with reasonable trauma, but I can’t get over her just Not Reacting when Satan – not Memphis but Memphis’ boss – appears in her apartment, tells her Memphis is going to deliver Dian to him by sunrise, and then vanishes again. Not only does Dian brush past the obviously supernatural nature of that appearance/disappearance, she STILL opens the door to Memphis to let her into the apartment. WHAT.

Not the story I thought this was, and not for me at all.

[Zane · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you don’t just sell your soul you accidentally speed dial it?Phoning Faust feels like making a late-night call you instantly regret… except the voice on the other end already knows your secrets.
This book crackles with neon lit chaos think temptation wrapped in glitchy aesthetics, where morality is less a line and more a flickering signal. Nova delivers a story that feels modern, dangerous, and uncomfortably intimate, like your phone is watching… and judging.The prose has this addictive, almost hypnotic rhythm equal parts seductive and sinister. There’s a playful cruelty to the narrative too, like the devil isn’t just making deals… he’s entertained by you.
What worked:
• 🔥 A fresh, tech-twisted take on Faustian bargains
• 💀 Dark humor that bites at the perfect moments
• 📱 A concept that feels too real in our always online world
What lingered:
This book doesn’t just ask what you’d trade for your desires… it asks who’s really listening when you say it out loud.

By the end, I wasn’t sure if the horror was supernatural… or just us.

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoning Faust by Sophie Mutiara Nova
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟(4.5 rounded up)

An extremely interesting and uniquely deep and dark story. It touches on some deep mental health issues, including suicide, trauma and loneliness.

Dian, a queer college student, trying to deal with life during the pandemic, accidentally mis-dials a phone number and ends up speaking to Memphis. This accidental dial proves to be an interesting connection that is formed. Memphis isn’t a human.
Dian is extremely lonely, so even though frightened by this call, they are also happy to have someone to talk to. Dian and Memphis form a “friendship” and play a game to answer all kinds of personal and life questions. As their talk continues, Dian gets a visit from an unexpected guest and in that moment they realize life will be changed forever.

The book is well written and has great character development! The ending is amazing and surprised me!!
I was lucky to get an arc of this entertaining story!

*It comes out June 2nd and I highly recommend the interesting read!!*

[toloveabook · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 stars) 🏳️‍🌈 Are you ready to kick Pride Month off with bang? Me too! And boy do I have a book rec for you: PHONING FAUST by Sophie Mutiara Nova is a queer Faustian retelling written by a queer author and published by a LGBTQIA+ publisher (NineStar Press).

This is just 200 pages and takes place over one fateful night during the early days of COVID lockdown. When Di, a queer, mixed Indonesian college student, attempts to dial a crisis hotline, her shaking fingers slip and hit 6…6…6. The voice that answers is silky smooth and, quite frankly, hot. And very, very dangerous.

🏳️‍🌈

Everyone can enjoy this book (I promise!), but one of the things I love is how clearly this is written by a queer author for queer readers. They were so many turns of phrase and observations that could only have been written by someone in our community. This is an incredibly fun and entertaining read and that also addresses very heavy topics. This felt so personal - it’s exactly the kind of dark humor you’d hear my wife and me using in our private conversations.

This is a modern Faustian retelling, which is super interesting as a queer story (The category is—#queerreligioustrauma). Every time I thought I knew where the story was headed, I was proven wrong. I’m so grateful that the publisher reached out to me with a free ARC because this wasn’t on my radar at all.

🏳️‍🌈

Also! This was the inaugural recipient of the Lambda Literary PR scholarship. Congratulations! 🎉

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow... just wow. This book made me feel things that I currently cannot explain and I love it.

I was hooked from the very first page. I'm a sucker for lyrical, introspective writing with a focus on character development and relationships and I got just that. Add in sapphic yearning, deep religious trauma, and mental health struggles and I'm sooo in (in fiction, not real life lol).

I'm going to be honest; I had no idea what was going on half the time but that just added to my enthrallment. Reading this felt like a dream. A nightmare? I don't know.

Do check your TWs for this one. Mental health struggles, COVID isolation, and suicidal ideation are at the forefront of this story.

I'm not all that familiar with Goethe's Faust so that really had no bearing on my enjoyment of this story. I hope to read so much more from Sophie in the future. A very much needed voice in literature.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Mutiara Nova and NineStar Press for an eArc of this book.

[Reli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow. I think that single word could sum up my entire reading experience. This read like a fever dream. You are following Dian during the covid-19 pandemic. She is lonely, depressed, and contemplating suicide. She misdials and accidentally calls the devil.

Insert Memphis. She is flirty, quick, dangerous, and sharp. Her alluring gaze set on Dian and daring her to stay with her until sunrise. What starts as a strange but flirty video chat shifts into something out of a nightmare.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to expect with how short it was but the author utilized every word and page. This was a trippy experience. It shines a light on some dark topics.

If you enjoy trippy, fevered, dark, but semi-humorous experiences; then this is the perfect book for you.

[Elysia Justice · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot to enjoy about this modernized and very sharp retelling of Faust. While it tackles some heavy themes, including mental illness, religious trauma, and suicide, it handles them with care, wit, and a whole lot of love. Since most of the action is confined to a single apartment, the main characters, Dian (a struggling college student) and Memphis (a sexy and mysterious grifter) really shine.

Occasionally the lighting-fast barrage of pop culture and literary references becomes a little overwhelming, but overall the plot is tight, well-paced, and kept me guessing until the end. And BOY what an ending it is.

All in all, Phoning Faust is a fun (and often heart-warming) read.

Thank you to the author for the chance to read this as an ARC.

[Ashlee Tharman · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC READ**

Dian, in a desperate attempt to call for help, ends up accidentally dialing a devil who has been informed that Dian will end up the prize for their boss - the Devil. As the night presses on, the more Dian realizes 2 things: one, she doesnt want to die, and two, she might have developed feelings for this devil.

What a read!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much. Set in the middle of the COVID pandemic during lockdown, Nova provides amazing representation of mental health and LGBTQIA+ folks during this trying time. It was intense and had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I loved the various relationships through this book as well as the character growth provided to Dian.

[fictional sapphic club · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc received from the author- thank you so much!

I enjoyed reading this so much! It’s different from anything I’ve read so far, but I’m so glad I got to read it. I would totally recommend this, especially to anyone looking for something a bit different(in the best way possible)!

Personally, I don’t know a lot about Faust or deeper parts of Religion, that didn’t take away any of the enjoyment tho and it’s absolutely possible to read without that deeper knowledge, if you’re open to it.

The authors way of describing the scenarios, Humans and non-humans was done so well, words used so perfectly and many many parts worded so so beautifully!

*check the trigger warning before reading please, stay safe and remember, you are seen and loved as you are

[Skeena8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoning Faust starts as a fun flirty distraction from the internal thought of our main character during the deviating time of COVID lock down. The isolation, loneliness and fear that pressed down on all of us. This story slowly flips into a thriller and emotional psychological mystery. It touches on themes of religion and sexuality and the unique relationships that drive us to strive and fight for another day. I was captivated by the story and how it was going to play out. The mind is a scary place and this story reflects that. Mental health is an important topic to discuss and to understand. The Big Bad can always get to us and that in itself is the most interesting aspect of the story for me.

[Sarah Elizabeth Schiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

One wrong number is all it takes to put a soul on speed dial with the Devil.

Phoning Faust is such a clever and surprisingly heartfelt reimagining of Faust. Dian's loneliness feels painfully real, which makes her growing connection with the endlessly chatty "Memphis" a bit unsettling. Their conversations are the heart of the story, balancing humor and vulnerability against a ticking clock. I especially loved how the novel weaves isolation and identity into a classic tale of temptation and bargains.

The horror here is less about jump scares and more about the fading sense of reality.  If you enjoy queer speculative fiction with folklore influences and dark humor, I'd check this one out!

Thank you to Sophie Mutiara Nova, Lavender PR, and Nine Star Press for the ARC!

[Jax · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Phoning Faust, Dian dials the suicide hotline to help her through crisis but instead ends up calling the fated number: 666. What she summons sends her through a massive spiral as she connects with a devil, fights the Devil, and gets to the other side. But was any of it even real?

WOW. I loved this story so much with the mental health and queer representation straight from the start, but then it just kept pulling me in more and more. Devoured it in just one day. The romance but also sweet friendship with dark undertones is so intriguing and the characters are so fascinatingly constructed. And the way everything turns on it’s head like 3/4 through??? Wow wow wow. Loved.

[Aspen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when you miss dial the suicide hot line and enters the devil's number? What happens when it brings the devil to Dian's door?

When Dian dials 666 while trying to connect with the suicide hot line. When she starts talking to a devil Memphis and is brought into the end of her soul. The strength to fight the devil starts when she finds out she has till morning light before her soul is taken.

I enjoyed this book start to finish. The way the topic of suicide and love where blended together in a respectful manner. The characters are writing well and with depth. The twist of what is and what isn't true kept me on my toes. I will be recommending this to my friends.

[Eule Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and am honoured to leave my review.

Wow! This skilled story features the complex character of Mephistopheles (whom I adored as an intense teen), retold by Sophie Mutiara Nova within the veil of mental health, friendship, and attraction. It is really well written and manages to be dark as well as cute; a great combination for most things, including boots. The cover is fab.

5 cool stars! You should definitely buy and read this book if you're in the mood for something classy and different, which might inspire you to buy a pair of new boots, as it did me :)