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The Hystericals
From the bestselling author of I’m Afraid of Men comes a propulsive and chilling novel for the post-#MeToo era, set in an isolationist state where one woman’s death sparks a movement that could liberate women or destroy them all.
When Sarah Munroe is sexually assaulted on her university campus and her attacker walks free, she makes a devastating choice: she publicly takes her own life in a final act of defiance against a regime that has stripped women of their rights.
Her final message ignites a radical movement called #FreeToo. Soon, masses of women are taking up “Sarah’s Call” and “freeing” themselves as extreme acts of protest. As these deaths multiply across the state, the government declares the movement a contagion. Overnight, all women are reclassified as “hystericals.”
Forced into a new reality where her very existence is criminalized, Sarah’s sister, Kennedy, struggles with her own grief, guilt, and anger. And as the regime tightens its grip, she will have to reckon with her sister’s legacy—and decide whether to surrender or survive.
When Sarah Munroe is sexually assaulted on her university campus and her attacker walks free, she makes a devastating choice: she publicly takes her own life in a final act of defiance against a regime that has stripped women of their rights.
Her final message ignites a radical movement called #FreeToo. Soon, masses of women are taking up “Sarah’s Call” and “freeing” themselves as extreme acts of protest. As these deaths multiply across the state, the government declares the movement a contagion. Overnight, all women are reclassified as “hystericals.”
Forced into a new reality where her very existence is criminalized, Sarah’s sister, Kennedy, struggles with her own grief, guilt, and anger. And as the regime tightens its grip, she will have to reckon with her sister’s legacy—and decide whether to surrender or survive.
256 pages, Paperback
Published September 29, 2026
About the author
Vivek Shraya
15 books1,076 followers
Vivek Shraya
is an artist whose body of work crosses the boundaries of music, literature, visual art, theatre, and film. She is the author of The Subtweet, Death Threat, even this page is white, The Boy & The Bindi, She of the Mountains, and God Loves Hair; and her best-selling I’m Afraid of Men was heralded by Vanity Fair as “cultural rocket fuel”. She is one half of the music duo Too Attached, founder of the publishing imprint VS. Books, and an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Calgary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 18, 2026
I didn't so much read this book as I devoured it. No, scratch that. I didn't devour it as much as it devoured me.
I read Shraya's I'm Afraid of Men (PERIODTTTTT) memoir a few weeks again and immediately knew she was someone I needed to invest more time in. When she offered to send me her most recent novel, first I peed a little...then I stopped breathing...then I said YES (DUH). And here's what you need to know:
The Hystericals is a terrifying - and unfortunately realistic - exploration of what happens to women in a patriarchy that is afraid of their existence. It's a timely look at how misogyny spirals out of control when people don't speak up against violence against women. Our FMC Kennedy's older sister, Sarah, is sexually assaulted on her college campus, and after LITERALLY NOTHING HAPPENS, she decides to take the situation into her own hands by taking her own life. The novel takes this act and runs with it, as women all over start making statements of their own - either in support of or in defiance of Sarah's act (and how women are seen and treated).
This book made me feel some kind of way from start to finish - as you can imagine. I could have read it probably in one or two sittings, but I put off finishing it because I didn't want it to end. Things happen in this novel that feel like they should be speculative or far-fetched, but goddamn did they feel like they are possible any day now - especially with our current political and social climate. If you choose to read this (and you really fkng should), I will tell you that there are triggers here that you should be aware of before going into it.
I've already purchased copies for myself and a friend, and if I had all the money in the world, I'd just start sending this book to everyone I know. It's a commentary on how close we are to the brink, and why it's important to LISTEN TO WOMEN. Shraya's writing is bold and intense and deep but also compassionate and astute and accessible. I cannot wait to read more of her work.
*Thank you SO MUCH to Vivek Shraya for a gifted copy of this book. These are my honest, authentic thoughts and opinions.*
I read Shraya's I'm Afraid of Men (PERIODTTTTT) memoir a few weeks again and immediately knew she was someone I needed to invest more time in. When she offered to send me her most recent novel, first I peed a little...then I stopped breathing...then I said YES (DUH). And here's what you need to know:
The Hystericals is a terrifying - and unfortunately realistic - exploration of what happens to women in a patriarchy that is afraid of their existence. It's a timely look at how misogyny spirals out of control when people don't speak up against violence against women. Our FMC Kennedy's older sister, Sarah, is sexually assaulted on her college campus, and after LITERALLY NOTHING HAPPENS, she decides to take the situation into her own hands by taking her own life. The novel takes this act and runs with it, as women all over start making statements of their own - either in support of or in defiance of Sarah's act (and how women are seen and treated).
This book made me feel some kind of way from start to finish - as you can imagine. I could have read it probably in one or two sittings, but I put off finishing it because I didn't want it to end. Things happen in this novel that feel like they should be speculative or far-fetched, but goddamn did they feel like they are possible any day now - especially with our current political and social climate. If you choose to read this (and you really fkng should), I will tell you that there are triggers here that you should be aware of before going into it.
I've already purchased copies for myself and a friend, and if I had all the money in the world, I'd just start sending this book to everyone I know. It's a commentary on how close we are to the brink, and why it's important to LISTEN TO WOMEN. Shraya's writing is bold and intense and deep but also compassionate and astute and accessible. I cannot wait to read more of her work.
*Thank you SO MUCH to Vivek Shraya for a gifted copy of this book. These are my honest, authentic thoughts and opinions.*
September 24, 2026
Full circle moment cuz Vivek revised my writing when I was 13 and my only goal was to be a writer 😭😭😭. Anyway this book is going for super dystopian / fucked up vibes, I felt it was a bit of a miss as I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. I completely understand that unlikeable characters can still be written incredibly well and be phenomenal to follow but the writing wasn’t able to fill the gap I felt. Further, the more the book goes on, and for lack of a better word, the more fucked up it gets the more I feel like the plot was getting lost.
Still worth a read if you love these sort of futuristic and scary stories revolving around feminism.
Still worth a read if you love these sort of futuristic and scary stories revolving around feminism.
October 6, 2026
Ooooh I just don’t know about this one. There’s a premise here, a handful of ideas that were really working for me and then a lifeless main character and unfocused plot that just felt disappointing and kind of dull.
Kennedy has rightwing influencer and podcast parents who have made a name for themselves touting men’s rights and upholding the patriarchy even as the world around them becomes more and more misogynistic and dangerous for women. When her sister Sarah commits suicide and begins a #FreeToo movement of women taking their lives as the ultimate protest against male violence and oppression, Kennedy finds herself at the centre of a movement and world that she can’t understand and a family she can no longer relate to. As government control over women becomes even more strict and overbearing, Kennedy has to decide who to trust and how & what’s worth fighting for.
I really enjoyed the initial build up of this story, the world building is really compelling and I like the podcast snippets peppered throughout. I thought it was really interesting to think about this type of movement and what would happen if women started removing ourselves completely from a society bent on our control and destruction. The ideas were really strong.
But, Kennedy as a character felt one dimensional, unmotivated and just a vehicle for plot & narrative updates. I didn’t care about her journey, didn’t understand her actions or constant lack thereof. She was dull and lifeless. This would have been a far more interesting book had it been told through the pov of her best friend, Jenny, a trans woman.
Likewise, the last third of the book felt like a messy mad dash to tie up storylines that really didn’t make much sense to me. There were a lot of forced “aha!” moments that felt shoehorned in, not authentic or delivering satisfying closure.
This one could have benefitted from a longer cook in the oven, maybe.
Kennedy has rightwing influencer and podcast parents who have made a name for themselves touting men’s rights and upholding the patriarchy even as the world around them becomes more and more misogynistic and dangerous for women. When her sister Sarah commits suicide and begins a #FreeToo movement of women taking their lives as the ultimate protest against male violence and oppression, Kennedy finds herself at the centre of a movement and world that she can’t understand and a family she can no longer relate to. As government control over women becomes even more strict and overbearing, Kennedy has to decide who to trust and how & what’s worth fighting for.
I really enjoyed the initial build up of this story, the world building is really compelling and I like the podcast snippets peppered throughout. I thought it was really interesting to think about this type of movement and what would happen if women started removing ourselves completely from a society bent on our control and destruction. The ideas were really strong.
But, Kennedy as a character felt one dimensional, unmotivated and just a vehicle for plot & narrative updates. I didn’t care about her journey, didn’t understand her actions or constant lack thereof. She was dull and lifeless. This would have been a far more interesting book had it been told through the pov of her best friend, Jenny, a trans woman.
Likewise, the last third of the book felt like a messy mad dash to tie up storylines that really didn’t make much sense to me. There were a lot of forced “aha!” moments that felt shoehorned in, not authentic or delivering satisfying closure.
This one could have benefitted from a longer cook in the oven, maybe.
November 6, 2026
I dove into this blindly, not knowing what I was going into, and boy what a roller coaster!!
We’re thrown into a world of assault, in the midst of the #metoo movement, and somersaulted in a dystopian world where women take their power in a really twisted way…
This dabbles sensitive topics, I would definitely not recommend to anyone, and check for trigger warnings for the faint of heart (notably on the topic of suicide)
We’re thrown into a world of assault, in the midst of the #metoo movement, and somersaulted in a dystopian world where women take their power in a really twisted way…
This dabbles sensitive topics, I would definitely not recommend to anyone, and check for trigger warnings for the faint of heart (notably on the topic of suicide)
October 13, 2026
Sad but an important topic!
Full review soon
Thank you to the publisher via Libro.fm for my ALC!
Full review soon
Thank you to the publisher via Libro.fm for my ALC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fearless, bold, and unwavering. Vivek Shraya is channeling Atwood and going to some truly dark places here. I think this will be a great book club pick if your group is up for some bleak dystopia! So much to discuss!
October 7, 2026
I was indeed correct when I thought this book would rock me.
This one will stay with me, especially considering the tumultuous times we are living in, where assault is swept under the rug and women’s rights and ability to exist in the world without fear for their safety seem to dwindle more with each passing day. This novel may have been fiction, but the content and experiences are very (sadly) relatable and based in reality.
It also reminds us to be careful what we wish for because, as writer Adrian Bott once wisely said,
Vivek Shraya's newest novel reminds us that we must not take our rights for granted because they are so much easier to take away than they are to get back.
This one will stay with me, especially considering the tumultuous times we are living in, where assault is swept under the rug and women’s rights and ability to exist in the world without fear for their safety seem to dwindle more with each passing day. This novel may have been fiction, but the content and experiences are very (sadly) relatable and based in reality.
It also reminds us to be careful what we wish for because, as writer Adrian Bott once wisely said,
"I never thought the leopards would eat my face", sobs woman who voted for the Leopards Eating People's Faces Party".
Vivek Shraya's newest novel reminds us that we must not take our rights for granted because they are so much easier to take away than they are to get back.
October 25, 2026
HOLY SHIT.
This book is going to fucking haunt me.
This book is going to fucking haunt me.
November 6, 2026
Very important read in today’s world - LOVED it !
August 24, 2026
Vivek Shraya's The Hystericals is a tough read. An excellent read that I didn't want to put down, but it's dark.
It's set in the near future in an unnamed state, cut off from the rest of very different America - one broken up due to waves of viruses. The governments use that catastrophe to silence and control women. Assaults and femicide are rampant. "The Future is Male".
When Sarah Kennedy, daughter of a high-profile Manosphere podcaster and a famous wife/mother influencer, is sexually assaulted and her killer goes unpunished, Sarah decides the only real choice she has is to publicly take her own life before a man does. This sets off a wave of suicides that the powers-that-be decide are just another virus and another opportunity to limit women's freedom.
The story is told through Sarah's younger, teenage sister, Kennedy. She's never been political and slowly has her eyes opened in the course of the novel.
If you like feminist dystopia, this is definitely a book for you. I was glad to read it and thank @netgalley and @mcclellandstewart for the ARC. The Hystericals comes out September 29th.
It's set in the near future in an unnamed state, cut off from the rest of very different America - one broken up due to waves of viruses. The governments use that catastrophe to silence and control women. Assaults and femicide are rampant. "The Future is Male".
When Sarah Kennedy, daughter of a high-profile Manosphere podcaster and a famous wife/mother influencer, is sexually assaulted and her killer goes unpunished, Sarah decides the only real choice she has is to publicly take her own life before a man does. This sets off a wave of suicides that the powers-that-be decide are just another virus and another opportunity to limit women's freedom.
The story is told through Sarah's younger, teenage sister, Kennedy. She's never been political and slowly has her eyes opened in the course of the novel.
If you like feminist dystopia, this is definitely a book for you. I was glad to read it and thank @netgalley and @mcclellandstewart for the ARC. The Hystericals comes out September 29th.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dammmnnnn this book is a trip! I’ve been a fan of Vivek Shraya for a long time, her THE SUBTWEET is a book I still think about 6 years later, so knowing she wrote a dystopian YA novel made me soooo curious.
Is it even possible to say this is a more terrifying, fucked up updated version of THE HANDMAID’S TALE? It is so dark and depressing but I sped through it because Shraya is such a great writer. In a very possible near-future where there is only one social media platform and it’s controlled by conservative manosphere influencers, the daughters of the most popular couple on everyone’s feed are rebelling against their parents slowly but surely. Society is turning against women, it’s already turned its back on POC and the queer community, and Shraya paints a hopeful, but extremely bleak, movement of women who stand up to their freedom being taken away.
I liked going into it more or less blind because I was shocked by the twists and turns. It’s one of the most violent books I’ve ever read, so please take care of yourself if you want to pick this up too. It’s enraging but a vital story that is a little too close to reality for my liking.
Is it even possible to say this is a more terrifying, fucked up updated version of THE HANDMAID’S TALE? It is so dark and depressing but I sped through it because Shraya is such a great writer. In a very possible near-future where there is only one social media platform and it’s controlled by conservative manosphere influencers, the daughters of the most popular couple on everyone’s feed are rebelling against their parents slowly but surely. Society is turning against women, it’s already turned its back on POC and the queer community, and Shraya paints a hopeful, but extremely bleak, movement of women who stand up to their freedom being taken away.
I liked going into it more or less blind because I was shocked by the twists and turns. It’s one of the most violent books I’ve ever read, so please take care of yourself if you want to pick this up too. It’s enraging but a vital story that is a little too close to reality for my liking.
Read
September 24, 2026WOW. MIND BLOWN!! I had zero expectations for this one going in and it is the PERFECT book for our times!!! Set in a dystopian alternate America where women and femmes of all kinds are lower class citizens. One young woman takes a stand against the violence after being sexually assaulted and starts a #FreeToo movement by taking her own life. Full of female rage, misogyny, mass suicides, sisterly love and more. This was so well done on audio with an original song and lots of bonus sounds/podcast type elements, etc. I highly recommend the audio experience for full reading pleasure with The hystericals. Perfect for fans of Atwood's The handmaid's tale and anyone who supports ending violence against women and femmes. A powerful, timely read that will be one that sticks with me long after I finished. Definitely a favorite of the year too!
September 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC of The Hystericals in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 ⭐
This is a bleak and disturbing dystopian novel that sucked me right in, chewed me up, and spat me back out.
It was one of those books that makes you think about how laws have changed in recent years and the ways they could change for the worse in the future—which is always a scary proposition.
This book was fast-paced and hit you with terrible news at every turn, not giving you the chance to breathe or reflect on what was happening before it got even worse.
I did want to learn more about the world they were in, what the other epidemics were, and if they were made up or not. I also felt that the world-building was a bit lacking.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of The Handmaid’s Tale.
4.5/5 ⭐
This is a bleak and disturbing dystopian novel that sucked me right in, chewed me up, and spat me back out.
It was one of those books that makes you think about how laws have changed in recent years and the ways they could change for the worse in the future—which is always a scary proposition.
This book was fast-paced and hit you with terrible news at every turn, not giving you the chance to breathe or reflect on what was happening before it got even worse.
I did want to learn more about the world they were in, what the other epidemics were, and if they were made up or not. I also felt that the world-building was a bit lacking.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of The Handmaid’s Tale.
August 19, 2026
i thought this was an interesting but also terrifyingly realistic way of exploring the dystopian genre -- i only wish the ending didn't feel as rushed to me because suddenly everything picked up and i didn't have time to take in the main character's choices (but maybe the significance of the abruptness could have been the point the author was trying to make and i misunderstood) overall, i left it feeling like i should've felt more from the ending but was instead desensitized to the reality of the circumstances (but again that could've been the point?? honestly i could see an argument made about that too)
moral of the story is this book made me question everything and i probably need to sit with my thoughts for a bit (so rating may change in the near future)
moral of the story is this book made me question everything and i probably need to sit with my thoughts for a bit (so rating may change in the near future)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Big trigger warning for suicide and violence against women, including SA.
OMG, one of my new favourites. I could not stop: I binged it in one day! It is short but powerful. It is scary to read at this point in history: it feels too close to something that could happen. The writing flow is very nice. The end is a punch in the guts. It's the kind of book where I'm sure I'll read again and find new things to appreciate. A feminist masterpiece truly!
Thank you, Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada (Adult), for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
OMG, one of my new favourites. I could not stop: I binged it in one day! It is short but powerful. It is scary to read at this point in history: it feels too close to something that could happen. The writing flow is very nice. The end is a punch in the guts. It's the kind of book where I'm sure I'll read again and find new things to appreciate. A feminist masterpiece truly!
Thank you, Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada (Adult), for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
November 10, 2026
This book is a dystopia but close to real life and the Handmaid’s Tale. I read this quickly and was obsessed with the dark path society can take and pulls from the past of women using their own bodies as a form of protest. The story is heartbreaking and terrifying as it borders on real life in some places. Kennedy has her innocence, family and more shattered by the truth of the world with violence and laws to protect only men and never women. Definitely recommend this but it will haunt you and a hard book at time to get through
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I was insanely lucky to receive an ARC of this incredible book through the indie bookstore I work at. I was left speechless after I finished the book. Every single aspect of this novel was meticulously crafted. I want to return to this review to write more in-depth analysis of it, but I feel a responsibility to tell everyone to pre-order this book immediately!!! I can see this being a future classic.
Did Not Finish
October 19, 2026DNF quite far in
There are many books I feel that do this better. However if reading in an exploratory manner new to these particular themes, I believe there is readership out there for this book.
Will not star review
There are many books I feel that do this better. However if reading in an exploratory manner new to these particular themes, I believe there is readership out there for this book.
Will not star review
Want to Read
August 13, 2026This is an automatic read for me. Wow, looks soooo gripping.
Review of advance copy
Thank you Libro.fm for this Arc.
October 7, 2026
I don’t think I’ve read a book like this since The Handmaid’s Tale .
October 18, 2026
Wow wow wow - this one is gonna stick with me! Terrifying in its believability.
October 21, 2026
A great book gift for the young men and women in your life.
October 27, 2026
Gut punches just go with dystopian fiction, so expect lots of that. I have SO many questions about the ending.
November 3, 2026
I'm giving this 5 stars because I think this book needs to reach more people.
The message is so pertinent in the current Cornell environment and how women are being treated around the world.
The message is so pertinent in the current Cornell environment and how women are being treated around the world.
Read
November 6, 2026Kennedy annoyed me the whole book with her innocence in all this. But overall this book scared me and made me think, and I loved it for that.
November 6, 2026
Wow I inhaled this book. Devastating and powerful.
November 7, 2026
Very good! Very bleak.
October 11, 2026
Shraya does a magnificent job translating into words the violent experience that it is to be a woman. It is no surprise that many readers are picking up this book in this current climate. Would be a fantastic book club book. The hystericals offers many discussion points from important perspectives, with opportunity to compare to existing hegemony.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews