Redirected: A Novel of Algorithms, Grief, and What We Choose Not to See

by Maya O’Neill

The algorithm promised her peace. It forgot to mention the price of silence.

Claire has been a teacher for eleven years and "scraped thin" for ten of them. In a world of digital vitriol, constant arguments, and a feed that spikes her cortisol before breakfast, she is desperate to find the version of herself that isn’t always exhausted. When the Solace Wellbeing Filter is released, it feels like a miracle. With one click, the noise vanishes. The toxicity is gone, replaced by a curated, quiet world where Claire finally has the "headroom" to be the teacher her students deserve - especially for the brilliant, sharp-witted Marcus Hale.

But curation isn’t the same as reality.

As the filter bathes Claire’s life in a soothing, blue-light peace, she doesn’t realize that "redistributing" the distressing content means she is no longer seeing the world as it truly is. While she enjoys her new, tranquil mornings and her favorite student’s insights on Faulkner and Plath, the voices she cares about most are beginning to fracture. Outside the perimeter of her perfect feed, the "noise" is turning into a scream.

Now, the silence is starting to feel like a trap.

When the screen goes dark and the truth finally breaks through the filter, Claire is forced to face a haunting realization: she was looking for peace, but she found a blindfold. In her quest to save herself from the world’s pain, she might have missed the only signals that mattered. Can she find her way back to the truth before the silence becomes permanent, or has she already "redirected" her life into a tragedy she can't undo?

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2026

About the author

Storytelling has always been my first love. I write novels because fiction is where my imagination feels most alive - where complex emotions, layered characters, and meaningful journeys unfold on the page.

Alongside my passion for novels, I am a mother of four children with ADHD. Living this reality every day reshaped the way I see learning, creativity, and focus. It led me to write children’s books thoughtfully designed for sensitive and special kids - stories that feel safe, engaging, and empowering.

Reviews

[Amber B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book I have read by this author, and she has quickly become a new favorite. “Redirected” is a mild psychological thriller that would be a good choice for someone wanting to dabble in this genre.

O’Neill built an entire storyline around the age of a social media platform and the concept of a company installing a filter on your account that essentially blocks the “unhappy” or “triggering” social media posts. Sounds great in theory until it blocks out very important messages that need to be seen! I enjoyed the concept of diving into how wrapped up people can be with what they read online and how deeply it can affect our mental health.

[Princesspint · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this author. I thought the book was good. Characters was good. I had no favorite Characters. I'll be checking out more of her books.