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Fruit Fly
A BBC must-read book of 2026 – “Sharp, dark and humorous, it’s a real nailbiter.”
Go gay. Go sad. Go dark.
A washed-up author will stop at nothing to claw her way back to relevancy—even if it means appropriating a young gay man’s tragic story.
Mallory Maddox is buried under seven years of writer’s block. With her status as a literary sensation fizzling, she’ll do anything she can to resurrect her career. Inspiration needs to strike—and fast.
Enter Leo. He’s a struggling addict sleeping under bridges and trading sex for survival. He’s vulnerable. He’s enigmatic. He’s exactly what Mallory has been looking for.
Mallory needs Leo if she wants another bestseller. The world needs Leo’s story right now, and Mallory believes she deserves to tell it. Really, it’s her story—she’s the one who wrote it, after all.
But as secrets threaten to unravel more than just her career, Mallory must decide how far she will go to pen the perfect story.
A razor-sharp satirical thriller, Fruit Fly will appeal to fans of R. F. Kuang’s Yellowface and Yomi Adegoke’s The List.
Go gay. Go sad. Go dark.
A washed-up author will stop at nothing to claw her way back to relevancy—even if it means appropriating a young gay man’s tragic story.
Mallory Maddox is buried under seven years of writer’s block. With her status as a literary sensation fizzling, she’ll do anything she can to resurrect her career. Inspiration needs to strike—and fast.
Enter Leo. He’s a struggling addict sleeping under bridges and trading sex for survival. He’s vulnerable. He’s enigmatic. He’s exactly what Mallory has been looking for.
Mallory needs Leo if she wants another bestseller. The world needs Leo’s story right now, and Mallory believes she deserves to tell it. Really, it’s her story—she’s the one who wrote it, after all.
But as secrets threaten to unravel more than just her career, Mallory must decide how far she will go to pen the perfect story.
A razor-sharp satirical thriller, Fruit Fly will appeal to fans of R. F. Kuang’s Yellowface and Yomi Adegoke’s The List.
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 380 reviews
April 25, 2026
”Virginia Woolf would have loved Grindr.”
What a sharp, witty, and scathing commentary on the commodification of ‘sad gay’ stories, & who gets to write and profit from them most of the time.
By far one of the more unique books I’ve read in a while, I could barely put it down & was completely engrossed from start to finish. Also, loved the ending, didn’t expect that last few pages!! Truly recommend picking this one up. I’m excited to see what Silver comes up with next.
What a sharp, witty, and scathing commentary on the commodification of ‘sad gay’ stories, & who gets to write and profit from them most of the time.
By far one of the more unique books I’ve read in a while, I could barely put it down & was completely engrossed from start to finish. Also, loved the ending, didn’t expect that last few pages!! Truly recommend picking this one up. I’m excited to see what Silver comes up with next.
January 25, 2026
This has completely and utterly blown me away. I’ve been a fan of Josh since his debut, HappyHead was released a few years ago and have read everything he’s written with fevered excitement. Ever since Fruit Fly was announced I’ve been dying to read it so much so that the moment I was approved for an earc I started reading it straight away.
Quite frankly, it’s a stunning book. It flips between comical, to creepy, to sad, to hopeful, to totally bonkers and back again. The plot is handled with such care and skill, I could not stop reading, desperate to find out what would happen next.
I really enjoyed Mal and the unravelling of her life. I loved Leo and his struggle to try and sort his life out.
Honestly this book has to be read and appreciated. My words just do not cut it but Josh Silver’s most certainly do. I wish I could scoop this book out of my brain so that I could read it again for the first time!
Thank you to NetGalley and Magpie for my earc!
Quite frankly, it’s a stunning book. It flips between comical, to creepy, to sad, to hopeful, to totally bonkers and back again. The plot is handled with such care and skill, I could not stop reading, desperate to find out what would happen next.
I really enjoyed Mal and the unravelling of her life. I loved Leo and his struggle to try and sort his life out.
Honestly this book has to be read and appreciated. My words just do not cut it but Josh Silver’s most certainly do. I wish I could scoop this book out of my brain so that I could read it again for the first time!
Thank you to NetGalley and Magpie for my earc!
April 27, 2026
4.5⭐️ - An absolute banger. It leans hard into grief, queerness and dark themes, so obviously I was sold straight away!
We follow Mallory, who used to be a bestselling author, but now she’s stuck, completely drained of ideas and feeling the pressure to deliver something new. When she’s basically told to "go gay, go sad, go dark" to stay relevant, she runs with it, deciding to follow Leo, a gay, drug-addicted sex worker living on the streets, and use his life as the foundation for her next book.
The dual POV works so well because you’re getting both sides of this in real time. Mallory, spiralling and justifying her choices, and Leo, dealing with very real, very heavy circumstances.
The book digs into exploitation, identity, addiction, and that whole "people will consume anything if it’s tragic enough" mindset. I love how it calls out the industry’s obsession with turning real suffering into something marketable, and the imbalance between the people telling those stories and the ones living them. It sounds heavy (and it is), but it’s also weirdly funny in places. The humour is a bit unhinged, a bit cringe, but very self-aware.
Also… Ronan (Mallory's husband). Absolutely not. I don’t think I’ve disliked a character that quickly in a while, and somehow he just kept getting worse. Every scene with him had me wanting to give him a knuckle sandwich.
This isn’t a light read at all. It’s pretty unhinged and deals with some dark topics, so definitely check content warnings if you need to. But if you like books that really commit to their themes and aren’t afraid to go there, this one is worth it. It’s also one of the more unique things I’ve read in a while.
A huge thank you to Bolinda Audio and Libro.fm for the ALC!
We follow Mallory, who used to be a bestselling author, but now she’s stuck, completely drained of ideas and feeling the pressure to deliver something new. When she’s basically told to "go gay, go sad, go dark" to stay relevant, she runs with it, deciding to follow Leo, a gay, drug-addicted sex worker living on the streets, and use his life as the foundation for her next book.
The dual POV works so well because you’re getting both sides of this in real time. Mallory, spiralling and justifying her choices, and Leo, dealing with very real, very heavy circumstances.
The book digs into exploitation, identity, addiction, and that whole "people will consume anything if it’s tragic enough" mindset. I love how it calls out the industry’s obsession with turning real suffering into something marketable, and the imbalance between the people telling those stories and the ones living them. It sounds heavy (and it is), but it’s also weirdly funny in places. The humour is a bit unhinged, a bit cringe, but very self-aware.
Also… Ronan (Mallory's husband). Absolutely not. I don’t think I’ve disliked a character that quickly in a while, and somehow he just kept getting worse. Every scene with him had me wanting to give him a knuckle sandwich.
This isn’t a light read at all. It’s pretty unhinged and deals with some dark topics, so definitely check content warnings if you need to. But if you like books that really commit to their themes and aren’t afraid to go there, this one is worth it. It’s also one of the more unique things I’ve read in a while.
A huge thank you to Bolinda Audio and Libro.fm for the ALC!
April 26, 2026
woweeeee what a banger
April 22, 2026
*A Little Life has left the chat*
March 24, 2026
#bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviews #ilovebooks #lovebooks #bookworm #bookaholic
Damn.. this is one of those books that you know that nothing you can write in a review will give this book the praise or recognition it deserves and I will attempt it:
Fruit Fly is the debut adult novel by Josh Silver. It’s described as a sharp, unsettling and darkly funny novel that delves into the ethics of storytelling and the hunger for relevance, but what they don’t tell you is how brutally raw, uncomfortable and tough this book is.
Mallory Maddox is the main character and narrator. She wrote a best-selling book seven years ago and has since been struggling with writer’s block. She’s desperate and determined to review her career at any cost and decides she needs a new angle. According to Mallory’s mind writing a best seller about a being a young gay man is what she needs to do. She just needs to experience it to be able to write authentically. The fact she’s a married heterosexual women doesn’t seem to faze her and so the story begins.
Leo is a young homeless addict who trades sex for drugs and when he inadvertently crosses paths with Mallory, both their lives are turned upside down for completely different reasons.
I’ve mentioned car-crash literature before, but this really takes it up to a new level. Mallory’s behaviour and actions border on insanity. She’s obsessed and unable to differentiate between reality and danger. She’s not a character you can easily warm to and hopefully not one you can relate to either, but she’s absolutely fascinating. At times I wanted to stop reading as her behaviour spiralled and I just couldn’t stomach what she was about to do next.
Leo’s character made me want to cry and grab him tight. His addictions and self-destructive behaviour was heart-breaking. As a mother I just wanted to reach into the pages and tell him he was worth so much more and he was loved.
Just to wrap this up: It’s BOLD, it’s DARK, it’s ORIGINAL, it’s HEART-BREAKING, it’s BRUTALLY RAW and absolutely unputdownable.,
Blimey, for someone who said she didn’t have much to say, I obviously did.
Damn.. this is one of those books that you know that nothing you can write in a review will give this book the praise or recognition it deserves and I will attempt it:
Fruit Fly is the debut adult novel by Josh Silver. It’s described as a sharp, unsettling and darkly funny novel that delves into the ethics of storytelling and the hunger for relevance, but what they don’t tell you is how brutally raw, uncomfortable and tough this book is.
Mallory Maddox is the main character and narrator. She wrote a best-selling book seven years ago and has since been struggling with writer’s block. She’s desperate and determined to review her career at any cost and decides she needs a new angle. According to Mallory’s mind writing a best seller about a being a young gay man is what she needs to do. She just needs to experience it to be able to write authentically. The fact she’s a married heterosexual women doesn’t seem to faze her and so the story begins.
Leo is a young homeless addict who trades sex for drugs and when he inadvertently crosses paths with Mallory, both their lives are turned upside down for completely different reasons.
I’ve mentioned car-crash literature before, but this really takes it up to a new level. Mallory’s behaviour and actions border on insanity. She’s obsessed and unable to differentiate between reality and danger. She’s not a character you can easily warm to and hopefully not one you can relate to either, but she’s absolutely fascinating. At times I wanted to stop reading as her behaviour spiralled and I just couldn’t stomach what she was about to do next.
Leo’s character made me want to cry and grab him tight. His addictions and self-destructive behaviour was heart-breaking. As a mother I just wanted to reach into the pages and tell him he was worth so much more and he was loved.
Just to wrap this up: It’s BOLD, it’s DARK, it’s ORIGINAL, it’s HEART-BREAKING, it’s BRUTALLY RAW and absolutely unputdownable.,
Blimey, for someone who said she didn’t have much to say, I obviously did.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a fantastic read. I've read all of Josh Silver's other books and loved them all; I wasn't sure how i was going to enjoy this one given that it's his first adult book and the subject matter isn't something I would normally be drawn to. But it's Josh Silver so I had to.
I loved this book; the obsession, the sickness, the gaslighting. And honestly, Mal blasting through her novel made me want to start writing again.
Spoilers Below
What a fantastic read. I've read all of Josh Silver's other books and loved them all; I wasn't sure how i was going to enjoy this one given that it's his first adult book and the subject matter isn't something I would normally be drawn to. But it's Josh Silver so I had to.
I loved this book; the obsession, the sickness, the gaslighting. And honestly, Mal blasting through her novel made me want to start writing again.
Spoilers Below
March 27, 2026
Yellowface but make it for the gays!
My first Josh Silver book but not my last because I was blown away. Fruit Fly treads so many juxtaposing fine lines and never falters. Comical, unhinged, sad, hyper aware and that’s just scratching the surface. The ending is pitch perfect in my opinion, and I would love a sequel, because that’s how attached I got to the characters. The wonderful thing about Fruit Fly is just how sympathetic you feel to both Mal and Leo (or Mandy and Liam!!), especially Mal by the end. And wonderfully satirical about how the publishing industry uses and discards those under it and how that seeps into the characters dynamics. An easy 5 stars!!!!
My first Josh Silver book but not my last because I was blown away. Fruit Fly treads so many juxtaposing fine lines and never falters. Comical, unhinged, sad, hyper aware and that’s just scratching the surface. The ending is pitch perfect in my opinion, and I would love a sequel, because that’s how attached I got to the characters. The wonderful thing about Fruit Fly is just how sympathetic you feel to both Mal and Leo (or Mandy and Liam!!), especially Mal by the end. And wonderfully satirical about how the publishing industry uses and discards those under it and how that seeps into the characters dynamics. An easy 5 stars!!!!
May 24, 2026
Absolutely unputdownable page turning fabulousness ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
May 23, 2026
"it fucking hurts.
all of it.
but at least i feel it."
incredible. incredible. incredible.
all of it.
but at least i feel it."
incredible. incredible. incredible.
May 14, 2026
book of the year. book. of. the. year.
December 10, 2025
I loved this book, I am so grateful that I had a chance to read it before it is officially released! Definitely one to grab when it is published!
Read
May 20, 2026Unsure how to feel about this one…
Many mixed feelings which is why I haven’t given it a star rating. I can’t deny it’s a very enjoyable read for the most part but it is severely lacking on a craft level.
I did read this book in a day which means I was obviously engrossed in it. The premise did intrigue me greatly; a once bestselling author, Mallory, becomes infatuated with a young gay drug addict, Leo, and poses as a therapist in the hopes of stealing the details of his life and using them to write another hit. The Mallory chapters were my favourite. The writing on a prose level is quite incisive in them and has a nice flow to it, even if there are too many pop culture references for my liking (no one has been quite been able to beat Tony Tulathimutte when it comes to writing about pop culture and the internet). Mallory’s chapters are also funny, at least towards the start of the book, whereas Leo’s chapters are disjointed and abrasive. I understand this is the vibe the author is going for and the writing on addiction is incredibly vulnerable and honest, I just don’t think Silver is able to pull off the kind of prose he’s trying to write. It comes across as trying a little bit too hard to be edgy.
I kind of expected a mix of R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface and Percival Everett’s Erasure but gay, and that’s what this book is trying, but not succeeding, to do. I did like what this book had to say about heterosexual authors exploiting gay trauma for their own gains but that does take a back seat to other dramas unfolding which, although very engrossing, were not what I came to this book for. Other things (there’s a sub plot about Mallory’s controlling husband and her emotionally abusive mother) are given equal or more time and I can’t help but feel there’s a much better version of this book in here if some of it had maybe been chiselled away, (we could have lost a lot of the poems which don’t add much of anything really) especially in the last 50 or so pages when the book just won’t end. It’s far too long for its own good, at just over 400 pages. If it had been 300-350 it would be a much slicker and maybe more pointed reading experience.
Many mixed feelings which is why I haven’t given it a star rating. I can’t deny it’s a very enjoyable read for the most part but it is severely lacking on a craft level.
I did read this book in a day which means I was obviously engrossed in it. The premise did intrigue me greatly; a once bestselling author, Mallory, becomes infatuated with a young gay drug addict, Leo, and poses as a therapist in the hopes of stealing the details of his life and using them to write another hit. The Mallory chapters were my favourite. The writing on a prose level is quite incisive in them and has a nice flow to it, even if there are too many pop culture references for my liking (no one has been quite been able to beat Tony Tulathimutte when it comes to writing about pop culture and the internet). Mallory’s chapters are also funny, at least towards the start of the book, whereas Leo’s chapters are disjointed and abrasive. I understand this is the vibe the author is going for and the writing on addiction is incredibly vulnerable and honest, I just don’t think Silver is able to pull off the kind of prose he’s trying to write. It comes across as trying a little bit too hard to be edgy.
I kind of expected a mix of R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface and Percival Everett’s Erasure but gay, and that’s what this book is trying, but not succeeding, to do. I did like what this book had to say about heterosexual authors exploiting gay trauma for their own gains but that does take a back seat to other dramas unfolding which, although very engrossing, were not what I came to this book for. Other things (there’s a sub plot about Mallory’s controlling husband and her emotionally abusive mother) are given equal or more time and I can’t help but feel there’s a much better version of this book in here if some of it had maybe been chiselled away, (we could have lost a lot of the poems which don’t add much of anything really) especially in the last 50 or so pages when the book just won’t end. It’s far too long for its own good, at just over 400 pages. If it had been 300-350 it would be a much slicker and maybe more pointed reading experience.
February 22, 2026
I’ve loved every YA book Josh has written and his adult novel was just as incredible as his other books ❤️
Josh is still the king of writing the best endings to any book
I absolutely loved Fruit Fly
The characters were so interesting that I couldn’t put the book down because I needed to know what they were going to do next
This is the best book I’ve read all year and everyone should go read it when it’s out 23rd April
Josh is still the king of writing the best endings to any book
I absolutely loved Fruit Fly
The characters were so interesting that I couldn’t put the book down because I needed to know what they were going to do next
This is the best book I’ve read all year and everyone should go read it when it’s out 23rd April
May 24, 2026
What a book! I thought the ending was be disappointing but it was certainly satisfying. I do worry that all the modern references could make this book become outdated quickly
May 3, 2026
Wow, this was a really fantastic read and definitely one I would recommend. It was sad, suspenseful, deranged and humorous all in one.
It definitely touches on dark themes that deserve trigger warnings, but is written in such a modern witty way that I think they feel easy to manage and apply to the characters depth.
Both the main characters were portrayed extremely well and I seemed to be rooting for them and hating them at different times. I particularly loved Leo and as a Social Worker, was rolling with joy about how accurately he was portrayed; so selfish and manipulative in the throws of addiction, abuse and being houseless.
When I was reading the last 1/4, I wasn’t sure it was heading towards a resolution I was willing to accept. But the final chapter was bloody satisfying and cleverly pulled together the perfect resolution for such unhinged characters. I couldn’t imagine a better way to end our time following Leo and Mal.
Also add my fave bit from Leo:
I’m very much aware I’m not a special case, but something about the way they look at me does make me feel good. They like having people like me that they can talk about in the office, chatting about all the terrible shit that’s happened, looking through history notes, wanting to be the one who says the thing that changes my life. I can picture it: when they go home to their families. There’s this one patient - god, I hope he makes it. I feel like I made a breakthrough with him today. He’s only twenty-two.
Kinda gross that I like to think they’re doing that. But I think they are.
It definitely touches on dark themes that deserve trigger warnings, but is written in such a modern witty way that I think they feel easy to manage and apply to the characters depth.
Both the main characters were portrayed extremely well and I seemed to be rooting for them and hating them at different times. I particularly loved Leo and as a Social Worker, was rolling with joy about how accurately he was portrayed; so selfish and manipulative in the throws of addiction, abuse and being houseless.
When I was reading the last 1/4, I wasn’t sure it was heading towards a resolution I was willing to accept. But the final chapter was bloody satisfying and cleverly pulled together the perfect resolution for such unhinged characters. I couldn’t imagine a better way to end our time following Leo and Mal.
Also add my fave bit from Leo:
I’m very much aware I’m not a special case, but something about the way they look at me does make me feel good. They like having people like me that they can talk about in the office, chatting about all the terrible shit that’s happened, looking through history notes, wanting to be the one who says the thing that changes my life. I can picture it: when they go home to their families. There’s this one patient - god, I hope he makes it. I feel like I made a breakthrough with him today. He’s only twenty-two.
Kinda gross that I like to think they’re doing that. But I think they are.
May 11, 2026
Gah! CHAOS!!! We love an unhinged girl/gay/they character and honeys let’s have a sit because you’re gonna love this!!!
I am overwhelmed by Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley, and Josh Silver for granting me advanced digital access to this gem before it hits the US of A on August 4, 2026.
Mallory Maddox is a washed bestselling author, stuck in a controlling marriage, after one too many menty B’s in her husband’s eyes. Dying to break free from his grasps, she yearns to write a new book, and escape into a state of financial security.
But what to write a book about?? Google has the answer… Gay is in. Gay is hot. Gay it’s gonna be (iykyk)
But where to find a gay??
Perhaps Grindr — and surely her husband wouldn’t care if she just nabbed a few shirtless pics of him while he was in a drunken snooze…
What she unknowingly unlocks is a gateway to the crystal meth riddled underworld of the gay community, a place her subject, Leo, is also hot and cold within.
Mal and Leo, or Mandy (her decoy ego) and Leo working to rid themselves of addiction, and form better habits, but really Mal is looking for some IRL experience for her next book. But don’t worry Leo isn’t as dumb as Mal thinks and what transpires is madness incarnate, full of family trauma, mental illness, and a whole lotta drugs.
SHEEWWWWWWIE!!! But I loved it of course. The chokehold that unhinged/unlikable characters have on me is STRONG!
I am overwhelmed by Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley, and Josh Silver for granting me advanced digital access to this gem before it hits the US of A on August 4, 2026.
Mallory Maddox is a washed bestselling author, stuck in a controlling marriage, after one too many menty B’s in her husband’s eyes. Dying to break free from his grasps, she yearns to write a new book, and escape into a state of financial security.
But what to write a book about?? Google has the answer… Gay is in. Gay is hot. Gay it’s gonna be (iykyk)
But where to find a gay??
Perhaps Grindr — and surely her husband wouldn’t care if she just nabbed a few shirtless pics of him while he was in a drunken snooze…
What she unknowingly unlocks is a gateway to the crystal meth riddled underworld of the gay community, a place her subject, Leo, is also hot and cold within.
Mal and Leo, or Mandy (her decoy ego) and Leo working to rid themselves of addiction, and form better habits, but really Mal is looking for some IRL experience for her next book. But don’t worry Leo isn’t as dumb as Mal thinks and what transpires is madness incarnate, full of family trauma, mental illness, and a whole lotta drugs.
SHEEWWWWWWIE!!! But I loved it of course. The chokehold that unhinged/unlikable characters have on me is STRONG!
May 1, 2026
I finished reading this last night, so my thoughts are still very fresh but I will start off by saying that I absolutely fucking loved this book.
The story follows Mallory, an author stuck in a slump, she has writers block, whilst her husband is excelling in his exec job at Netflix. She gets an idea... GO GAY. So that's what she does. She downloads Grindr and meets Leo, and that's just the beginning.
I will say from the very beginning, I absolutely loved both Mallory and Leo. They were both such layered characters, both with flaws, both needing something from each other. They were real, damaged, and I loved them. I feel v maternal towards Leo 🥹
Josh's writing is heavenlyyyy!!! I've heard great things from my friend Liam about Josh's YA novels, but YA just isn't my thing. So when I heard that Josh was coming out with his first adult fiction novel, I couldn't WAIT! And boy, it exceeded all my expectations.
The story was hard, because it was so relatable in parts, so sad, but the ending was 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻
Easy easy easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!!!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy x
The story follows Mallory, an author stuck in a slump, she has writers block, whilst her husband is excelling in his exec job at Netflix. She gets an idea... GO GAY. So that's what she does. She downloads Grindr and meets Leo, and that's just the beginning.
I will say from the very beginning, I absolutely loved both Mallory and Leo. They were both such layered characters, both with flaws, both needing something from each other. They were real, damaged, and I loved them. I feel v maternal towards Leo 🥹
Josh's writing is heavenlyyyy!!! I've heard great things from my friend Liam about Josh's YA novels, but YA just isn't my thing. So when I heard that Josh was coming out with his first adult fiction novel, I couldn't WAIT! And boy, it exceeded all my expectations.
The story was hard, because it was so relatable in parts, so sad, but the ending was 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻
Easy easy easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!!!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy x
April 23, 2026
Seven years ago, Mallory Maddox made literary waves as a bestselling writer. When she is put onto the chopping block, forced to decide what she must follow up with, she is given the idea to "go gay. go sad. go dark." which is essentially the literary equivalent to if it bleeds, it leads. It can be quite easy to spoil this one but I loved the humor, the relevance, the cringe, the reality, and the way overconsumption was presented so charmingly and wittily. This one alternates between Mallory and Leo, and both characters are so wildly different and hard to look away from. This is a quick read I enjoyed. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
April 26, 2026
this was sooo fun and deranged
Want to Read
May 24, 2026Wow, Fruit Fly completely blindsided me in the best possible way. Dark, visceral, provocative and strangely hilarious, this is one of those rare books that feels chaotic and razor-sharp all at once. It’s uncomfortable, unsettling and deeply human — a novel that crawls under your skin and stays there.
Josh Silver has created two narrators who feel utterly alive. Told through the alternating perspectives of Mallory and Leo, the novel captures two completely different voices with incredible authenticity. Mallory, once a celebrated author now creatively bankrupt and desperately clinging to relevance, is both infuriating and compelling. Leo, a queer sex worker navigating addiction, survival and vulnerability on the streets, brings an emotional rawness that anchors the novel with heartbreaking weight.
The dynamic between them is electric. There’s a parasitic dependency threaded through their relationship — both searching for something in the other that might help them escape themselves. It creates this constant tension that makes the entire novel feel addictive and impossible to put down.
What I loved most is how boldly the book interrogates exploitation, authenticity and privilege, particularly within art and publishing. It asks difficult questions about who gets to tell stories, whose suffering becomes profitable, and society’s appetite for trauma when it can be packaged into something consumable. There’s a savage intelligence behind it all, but Silver never loses emotional depth beneath the satire.
And despite how heavy the themes are — addiction, identity, grief, manipulation and emotional decay — the humour throughout genuinely caught me off guard. It’s darkly laugh out loud funny, awkward, jarring, sharp and knowingly absurd in places, giving the novel moments of relief without ever undercutting its emotional impact.
There’s also something deeply literary woven throughout the book. The references and parallels to Virginia Woolf feel intentional and layered, particularly around themes of mental anguish, artistic desperation and mortality. You can feel echoes of Mrs Dalloway in the structure and psychological intensity, whilst the symbolism of the “fruit fly” itself feels loaded with meaning — fragility, suffering, insignificance, survival.
The writing is bold and immersive throughout: poetic in places, brutal in others, but always emotionally charged. Some scenes are deeply distressing and readers should absolutely check trigger warnings beforehand, as the novel does not shy away from difficult or graphic subject matter.
Heartbreaking, original, fearless and deeply affecting, Fruit Fly is a literary gut punch. A raw exploration of identity, pain, exploitation and longing that feels both contemporary and timeless. Bravo!
Completely unforgettable, loved every page.
BRAVO!
Josh Silver has created two narrators who feel utterly alive. Told through the alternating perspectives of Mallory and Leo, the novel captures two completely different voices with incredible authenticity. Mallory, once a celebrated author now creatively bankrupt and desperately clinging to relevance, is both infuriating and compelling. Leo, a queer sex worker navigating addiction, survival and vulnerability on the streets, brings an emotional rawness that anchors the novel with heartbreaking weight.
The dynamic between them is electric. There’s a parasitic dependency threaded through their relationship — both searching for something in the other that might help them escape themselves. It creates this constant tension that makes the entire novel feel addictive and impossible to put down.
What I loved most is how boldly the book interrogates exploitation, authenticity and privilege, particularly within art and publishing. It asks difficult questions about who gets to tell stories, whose suffering becomes profitable, and society’s appetite for trauma when it can be packaged into something consumable. There’s a savage intelligence behind it all, but Silver never loses emotional depth beneath the satire.
And despite how heavy the themes are — addiction, identity, grief, manipulation and emotional decay — the humour throughout genuinely caught me off guard. It’s darkly laugh out loud funny, awkward, jarring, sharp and knowingly absurd in places, giving the novel moments of relief without ever undercutting its emotional impact.
There’s also something deeply literary woven throughout the book. The references and parallels to Virginia Woolf feel intentional and layered, particularly around themes of mental anguish, artistic desperation and mortality. You can feel echoes of Mrs Dalloway in the structure and psychological intensity, whilst the symbolism of the “fruit fly” itself feels loaded with meaning — fragility, suffering, insignificance, survival.
The writing is bold and immersive throughout: poetic in places, brutal in others, but always emotionally charged. Some scenes are deeply distressing and readers should absolutely check trigger warnings beforehand, as the novel does not shy away from difficult or graphic subject matter.
Heartbreaking, original, fearless and deeply affecting, Fruit Fly is a literary gut punch. A raw exploration of identity, pain, exploitation and longing that feels both contemporary and timeless. Bravo!
Completely unforgettable, loved every page.
BRAVO!
May 24, 2026
Well, fuck. (Actual review after I calm DOWN)
—
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC. I was in actual despair when I read the premise and couldn’t have it immediately. But then I requested it and instantly: Yas, slay, read on queen. The best.
This was 5 stars for me, basically a perfect book, and probably my favorite read of 2026 so far.
I’m someone who enjoyed Yellowface (an obvious comp for this book), but what it lacked was in failing to give any agency to the protagonist’s “victim.” And that’s the huge point where this novel differs, to the point that I think Yellowface being a comp actually undersells this book. A lot. It might even make me go back and drop my rating for that book.
There is a LOT going on here. The books evolves from a very unserious bit of satire to a real-feeling ouroboros of a story. My head was constantly spinning at how all the pieces just continually came together so well. There are the obvious gay themes, but the book does a really good job of creating a multi-dimensional set of circumstances for both Mallory and Leo to endure that made them both rootable in their own ways despite being rather despicable, both.
Anytime the protagonist veered into a really unbelievable situation, she acknowledged it, and somehow ended up moving through it in a believable way. To the point that each scene almost felt inevitable, entirely convincing.
It’s hard to say a lot about this book because, well, you just need to read it. I want to read it again already.
I loved the length. MORE LONGER UNHINGED (bravery) BOOKS.
—
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC. I was in actual despair when I read the premise and couldn’t have it immediately. But then I requested it and instantly: Yas, slay, read on queen. The best.
This was 5 stars for me, basically a perfect book, and probably my favorite read of 2026 so far.
I’m someone who enjoyed Yellowface (an obvious comp for this book), but what it lacked was in failing to give any agency to the protagonist’s “victim.” And that’s the huge point where this novel differs, to the point that I think Yellowface being a comp actually undersells this book. A lot. It might even make me go back and drop my rating for that book.
There is a LOT going on here. The books evolves from a very unserious bit of satire to a real-feeling ouroboros of a story. My head was constantly spinning at how all the pieces just continually came together so well. There are the obvious gay themes, but the book does a really good job of creating a multi-dimensional set of circumstances for both Mallory and Leo to endure that made them both rootable in their own ways despite being rather despicable, both.
Anytime the protagonist veered into a really unbelievable situation, she acknowledged it, and somehow ended up moving through it in a believable way. To the point that each scene almost felt inevitable, entirely convincing.
It’s hard to say a lot about this book because, well, you just need to read it. I want to read it again already.
I loved the length. MORE LONGER UNHINGED (bravery) BOOKS.
May 25, 2026
What a force of a book! This was an incredibly thrilling read, I could hardly put it down. Loved it!
Mal and Leo are characters, which will stay with me for a long time. Their story of obsession, pain, addiction, fear, losing control and yearning is superbly told.
Just read it, it's well worth it and definitely one (or the) favourite read of this year for me.
Apparently, it is right for a book to go gay, sad and dark.
Mal and Leo are characters, which will stay with me for a long time. Their story of obsession, pain, addiction, fear, losing control and yearning is superbly told.
Just read it, it's well worth it and definitely one (or the) favourite read of this year for me.
Apparently, it is right for a book to go gay, sad and dark.
May 27, 2026
NOW THIS IS A BOOK!!! I loved it so much. I was so hooked from the start. It’s funny, gripping, electric. It’s everything. This book truly takes a hold of you and never lets go. If you don’t like this book I’m gonna need you to zip it 🤐
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don't know if this one hit too close to home for me or what, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I absolutely adored Josh's previous works. The subject matter is obviously very different and the setting is supposed to be much more realistic, but I didn't find myself really believing either of these characters.
I found the way he peeled off the layers of Mal being emotionally abused by her husband (the bit that triggered me the most, next to Leo's rape scene) very very clever, but I didn't really find myself ever rooting for her simply because she reads as quite unlikable as a person through and through, to the very end of the novel. It isn't even about the fact that she's a woman written by a man, she's just not the kind of person I would ever look at twice after exchanging a couple of words with her.
As for Leo, he didn't feel like he could or wanted to be helped. In so many ways, he made himself look irredeemable, with only a few glimpses of hope here and there — but not enough to make me actively believe he could be a decent person underneath all the trauma. I know that Josh has experience as a mental health specialist and I don't, but as a simple reader with only superficial knowledge of psychology and the cycles of addiction this didn't feel ~right, somehow.
Still very happy I've read this, though, and thank you so much to Oneworld Publications for the ARC via NetGalley ❤️
I found the way he peeled off the layers of Mal being emotionally abused by her husband (the bit that triggered me the most, next to Leo's rape scene) very very clever, but I didn't really find myself ever rooting for her simply because she reads as quite unlikable as a person through and through, to the very end of the novel. It isn't even about the fact that she's a woman written by a man, she's just not the kind of person I would ever look at twice after exchanging a couple of words with her.
As for Leo, he didn't feel like he could or wanted to be helped. In so many ways, he made himself look irredeemable, with only a few glimpses of hope here and there — but not enough to make me actively believe he could be a decent person underneath all the trauma. I know that Josh has experience as a mental health specialist and I don't, but as a simple reader with only superficial knowledge of psychology and the cycles of addiction this didn't feel ~right, somehow.
Still very happy I've read this, though, and thank you so much to Oneworld Publications for the ARC via NetGalley ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2026
4.5 🌟 Fruit Fly was a book I simply couldn’t put down. From the start, I was very curious about Leo and Mal and eager to learn more about them and their stories.
The characters are incredibly complex, layered, and rich in personality. They felt very real to me, which made the story even more emotional. Despite the heavy themes, the book is still full of humour, creating a great balance.
Early on, I already disliked the relationship between Mal and Ronan, but this added tension and unease and made me root for Mal even more.
The ending was absolutely perfect, I don’t think it could have ended better. This was such a great story and an entertaining read. I loved it.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The characters are incredibly complex, layered, and rich in personality. They felt very real to me, which made the story even more emotional. Despite the heavy themes, the book is still full of humour, creating a great balance.
Early on, I already disliked the relationship between Mal and Ronan, but this added tension and unease and made me root for Mal even more.
The ending was absolutely perfect, I don’t think it could have ended better. This was such a great story and an entertaining read. I loved it.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 25, 2026
Seeing so much hype on BookTok for Fruit Fly and somehow it actually surpassed the hype for me. I went in expecting messy chaotic queer drama and came out completely obsessed with these characters and honestly slightly unsure why I resonated with both of them when on paper neither are anything like me.
The story follows Mallory, a writer stuck with writers block, who ends up spiralling into a world she was definitely not prepared for after some questionable online research leads her to crash a gay chem sex party. There she meets Leo, a chaotic sex worker and drug addict who instantly becomes the centre of her fascination.
What starts as curiosity quickly turns into obsession, manipulation, emotional dependency, and two people basically setting fire to each other’s lives while pretending they are in control. Absolute disaster behaviour from everyone involved and I loved every second.
One of my favourite things about this book was the alternating POV chapters. I loved getting inside both Mallory and Leo’s heads in what felt like real time, because they are so wildly different on the surface but underneath they mirror each other in such uncomfortable clever ways. Josh Silver absolutely nails that feeling of watching two people slowly unravel while also somehow understanding exactly why they keep making terrible decisions. I was constantly switching sides every chapter like a tennis match of poor life choices.
The side characters were also brilliant and added so much tension to the story. Ronan especially had me grinding my teeth in frustration. The emotional abuse in that relationship was written so realistically and subtly at first that it sneaks up on you before suddenly you realise just how trapped and exhausted Mallory feels. It never felt forced or overdramatic, just painfully believable in that slow creeping way.
Also this book is genuinely funny in between all the chaos. There were moments where I laughed out loud and then immediately felt bad about it because two pages later someone is having an emotional breakdown. The balance between dark humour, vulnerability, and absolute carnage was so well done.
I honestly could have read so much more of this book and these characters. By the ending there is definitely room for a part 2 and I would absolutely inhale it immediately, but I was still really satisfied with where we left things. It felt messy and somewhat unresolved in a way that suited the story perfectly without leaving me annoyed.
Fruit Fly felt raw, uncomfortable, addictive, funny, and weirdly tender underneath all the destruction. Easily a 5 star read for 2026!
The story follows Mallory, a writer stuck with writers block, who ends up spiralling into a world she was definitely not prepared for after some questionable online research leads her to crash a gay chem sex party. There she meets Leo, a chaotic sex worker and drug addict who instantly becomes the centre of her fascination.
What starts as curiosity quickly turns into obsession, manipulation, emotional dependency, and two people basically setting fire to each other’s lives while pretending they are in control. Absolute disaster behaviour from everyone involved and I loved every second.
One of my favourite things about this book was the alternating POV chapters. I loved getting inside both Mallory and Leo’s heads in what felt like real time, because they are so wildly different on the surface but underneath they mirror each other in such uncomfortable clever ways. Josh Silver absolutely nails that feeling of watching two people slowly unravel while also somehow understanding exactly why they keep making terrible decisions. I was constantly switching sides every chapter like a tennis match of poor life choices.
The side characters were also brilliant and added so much tension to the story. Ronan especially had me grinding my teeth in frustration. The emotional abuse in that relationship was written so realistically and subtly at first that it sneaks up on you before suddenly you realise just how trapped and exhausted Mallory feels. It never felt forced or overdramatic, just painfully believable in that slow creeping way.
Also this book is genuinely funny in between all the chaos. There were moments where I laughed out loud and then immediately felt bad about it because two pages later someone is having an emotional breakdown. The balance between dark humour, vulnerability, and absolute carnage was so well done.
I honestly could have read so much more of this book and these characters. By the ending there is definitely room for a part 2 and I would absolutely inhale it immediately, but I was still really satisfied with where we left things. It felt messy and somewhat unresolved in a way that suited the story perfectly without leaving me annoyed.
Fruit Fly felt raw, uncomfortable, addictive, funny, and weirdly tender underneath all the destruction. Easily a 5 star read for 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The first thing I will say about this novel is that it was totally addictive. At one point while listening I went to the supermarket, and spent maybe half an hour longer than I usually would in there, all because I was lingering in the aisles distracted by the book. The pace was fast and the atmosphere tense, making it something of a thriller, though not like any other I’ve read. Other reviewers compare it to Yellowface, which I’ve not read myself but I definitely want to now. Some parts, especially the title of Mallory’s book, made me think of the movie American Fiction (based on the novel Erasure), so I would recommend to anyone interested in fiction about authors testing the boundaries of what is acceptable and ethical in their art.
I suppose I was hesitant going in, considering that this is a novel written by a man with a female lead character. As the plot revolves around Mallory using Leo’s trauma to the point of exploitation, I did worry she might be more of a two-dimensional antagonist. However, that wasn’t the case at all. Mallory was complex, I both liked her and didn’t, but I understood her motivations even when I wholly disagreed with them. The novel’s satirical aspect is biting, yet without being at Mallory’s expense necessarily—she is let down by the system of literary capitalism just as much as she uses it for her own gain. Mallory is not cunning, nor aiming towards exploitation necessarily: we are encouraged not to hate or laugh at her, but to sympathise, to understand what drives her even when she is very, very wrong. I really appreciated this nuance.
The audio aspects were excellent: as this is a first-person narrative, having the two different narrators worked very well to distinguish Mallory and Leo’s voices. Additionally, I liked their emotiveness, which made it feel like the characters were really speaking, as opposed to a monotonous voice reading their words. It’s this that can make or break an audiobook for me. The voice of Leo was maybe the best audiobook narration I’ve ever heard, really capturing moments of stress and emotion, while also having a cheeky tone which made him feel rounded and real. One detail I especially liked was the voice he did when reading Mallory’s dialogue from his perspective. The judgy-ness fitted with his personality, while at the same time drawing attention to the subjectivity of his first-person narration, something the author did well to balance in the prose, and it was good to see it brought into the audio.
The hiccups I encountered were that I found it a bit overly referential in places: even if it suited the characters to constantly be mentioning movies or books they compared themselves to, it got a bit overwhelming at times. I also found there was a massive leap in time between the penultimate and final parts of the novel—while it worked to keep the reader guessing about what had happened in the gap, I wanted to know more about the results of that confrontation—did Ronan see any consequences for assaulting Leo? Or did Leo see any consequences for trespassing in their home? And what actually happened to Moe??? Another thing I wondered about was the characters’ strange obliviousness to certain things: I’m surprised that Mallory didn’t suspect Ronan of cheating as soon as she saw the message on his phone, considering how insecure she was about everything else. Similarly, I’m not sure how Leo didn’t put two and two together about Mallory’s book. He is clever enough to find out that she is an author, but doesn’t even consider that she might be using him for content? Interesting.
Regardless, though, none of this was enough to prohibit my thorough enjoyment of this book. I hope Josh Silver continues writing in the adult category, as I’d love to see more like this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for a review.
I suppose I was hesitant going in, considering that this is a novel written by a man with a female lead character. As the plot revolves around Mallory using Leo’s trauma to the point of exploitation, I did worry she might be more of a two-dimensional antagonist. However, that wasn’t the case at all. Mallory was complex, I both liked her and didn’t, but I understood her motivations even when I wholly disagreed with them. The novel’s satirical aspect is biting, yet without being at Mallory’s expense necessarily—she is let down by the system of literary capitalism just as much as she uses it for her own gain. Mallory is not cunning, nor aiming towards exploitation necessarily: we are encouraged not to hate or laugh at her, but to sympathise, to understand what drives her even when she is very, very wrong. I really appreciated this nuance.
The audio aspects were excellent: as this is a first-person narrative, having the two different narrators worked very well to distinguish Mallory and Leo’s voices. Additionally, I liked their emotiveness, which made it feel like the characters were really speaking, as opposed to a monotonous voice reading their words. It’s this that can make or break an audiobook for me. The voice of Leo was maybe the best audiobook narration I’ve ever heard, really capturing moments of stress and emotion, while also having a cheeky tone which made him feel rounded and real. One detail I especially liked was the voice he did when reading Mallory’s dialogue from his perspective. The judgy-ness fitted with his personality, while at the same time drawing attention to the subjectivity of his first-person narration, something the author did well to balance in the prose, and it was good to see it brought into the audio.
The hiccups I encountered were that I found it a bit overly referential in places: even if it suited the characters to constantly be mentioning movies or books they compared themselves to, it got a bit overwhelming at times. I also found there was a massive leap in time between the penultimate and final parts of the novel—while it worked to keep the reader guessing about what had happened in the gap, I wanted to know more about the results of that confrontation—did Ronan see any consequences for assaulting Leo? Or did Leo see any consequences for trespassing in their home? And what actually happened to Moe??? Another thing I wondered about was the characters’ strange obliviousness to certain things: I’m surprised that Mallory didn’t suspect Ronan of cheating as soon as she saw the message on his phone, considering how insecure she was about everything else. Similarly, I’m not sure how Leo didn’t put two and two together about Mallory’s book. He is clever enough to find out that she is an author, but doesn’t even consider that she might be using him for content? Interesting.
Regardless, though, none of this was enough to prohibit my thorough enjoyment of this book. I hope Josh Silver continues writing in the adult category, as I’d love to see more like this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2026
WOW, WHAT A RIDE THIS BOOK WAS. I honestly couldn’t bring myself to put it down for the last 150 pages. I love how pacing of the book picked up by the end with high stakes on the line for main characters.
The whole premise of observing someone’s life secretly and then turning it into a book was superb! It gave major creep vibes and made this read a bit like a thriller (especially the part where roles got reversed in house..)
If you think about it, Mallory could be named as a con artist with how she tried to build confidence of a reliable and pure-hearted woman. Literally using someone’s misfortune for her own benefit. Deeply twisted character especially with how she tried to justify her actions..
„We are all the same, she thought. Underneath, we are all connected. And that is love. That is the place where peace is found. It is in knowing that we are all the same.”
At the core of the book however is a message of how we’re all different yet similar in so many ways - from our struggles to motivations. Mallory and Leo shared a fair amount of similar experiences (alcoholism) and motivations (to get out of their current situation). I think having these two main characters share things in common might help people reflect on many things and sympathise more than they normally would.
And what one of the background characters said to Mallory - „it is brave what you did”. Is is incredibly BRAVE to take your life in your own hands and not only decide but actually make it happen. Change is scary, but scary things are worth doing!!
If you’re up for dark, real, messy and queer-centered plot then run and get this book!!
„I was always waiting. I was. Waiting for someone to come.
But they fucking haven’t, and they fucking ain’t. And now I’m here.”
The whole premise of observing someone’s life secretly and then turning it into a book was superb! It gave major creep vibes and made this read a bit like a thriller (especially the part where roles got reversed in house..)
If you think about it, Mallory could be named as a con artist with how she tried to build confidence of a reliable and pure-hearted woman. Literally using someone’s misfortune for her own benefit. Deeply twisted character especially with how she tried to justify her actions..
„We are all the same, she thought. Underneath, we are all connected. And that is love. That is the place where peace is found. It is in knowing that we are all the same.”
At the core of the book however is a message of how we’re all different yet similar in so many ways - from our struggles to motivations. Mallory and Leo shared a fair amount of similar experiences (alcoholism) and motivations (to get out of their current situation). I think having these two main characters share things in common might help people reflect on many things and sympathise more than they normally would.
And what one of the background characters said to Mallory - „it is brave what you did”. Is is incredibly BRAVE to take your life in your own hands and not only decide but actually make it happen. Change is scary, but scary things are worth doing!!
If you’re up for dark, real, messy and queer-centered plot then run and get this book!!
„I was always waiting. I was. Waiting for someone to come.
But they fucking haven’t, and they fucking ain’t. And now I’m here.”
Read
May 24, 2026Fruit Fly by Josh Silver is the gripping satire, telling the tale of a washed-up writer Mallory Maddox struggling with both inspiration and her home life. However, she gains a second chance at success with her chance encounter with the young Leo - a 'tragic' gay addict selling his body for drug money - and she begins to write her Tragic Gay Novel heavily based on Leo's life. As her troubles at home grow, and Leo becomes aware of what Mal is doing, Mallory must ask herself how far she will go to write this novel.
Satire is one of my favourite genres, and seeing it so delicately executed by Silver made Fruit Fly an incredbily compelling and immersive read. Mallory is ridiculous - she equates being a counsellor with being a theripist, scamming her three clients, and don't even get me started on the shit she pulls with Leo - yet the reader feels real sympathy for her because of her controlling husband. On the other hand, Leo is such a complex character; he knows that Mallory is not who she seems, yet he goes along with her anyway. He wants to change; he cannot escape the world that he lives in.
Overall, Fruit Fly astounds readers with its complicate characters, intricate yet easy-to-follow plot, and stunning prose. I read this in less than a day, so it recives 4.75/5 stars from me. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for providing this novel for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Satire is one of my favourite genres, and seeing it so delicately executed by Silver made Fruit Fly an incredbily compelling and immersive read. Mallory is ridiculous - she equates being a counsellor with being a theripist, scamming her three clients, and don't even get me started on the shit she pulls with Leo - yet the reader feels real sympathy for her because of her controlling husband. On the other hand, Leo is such a complex character; he knows that Mallory is not who she seems, yet he goes along with her anyway. He wants to change; he cannot escape the world that he lives in.
Overall, Fruit Fly astounds readers with its complicate characters, intricate yet easy-to-follow plot, and stunning prose. I read this in less than a day, so it recives 4.75/5 stars from me. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for providing this novel for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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