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Miracle Cures: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 9 Mar 27
A razor-sharp, blisteringly funny exploration of truth and belief in the face of misinformation, told through the eyes of a fact-checker at a celebrity wellness magazine, perfect for fans of Melissa Broder and Jen Beagin.
“Brutally funny, sharp, and pristinely written.” —Erin Somers, author of The Ten Year Affair
When Nelly lands a job as a fact-checker at a glamorous media conglomerate, she’s certain that her life will finally begin. She’ll escape her mother’s grimy house in New Jersey, meet the man of her dreams, and maybe even secure employer-sponsored healthcare before her twenty-sixth birthday. Tasked with checking the company’s newest venture—a magazine spearheaded by a controversial actress turned wellness guru—it soon becomes clear that the magazine has very few facts to check. Nelly spends her days wading through pseudoscience, cold calling self-proclaimed animal psychics, and trying to resist the pull of shiny face creams and exotic essences that promise youth, inner glow, and an end to her chronic yawning.
But after a health scare, Nelly starts to wonder if there might be something to the celebrity’s methods after all. She embarks on a quest to discover a miracle cure of her own—until a shocking turn of events topples it all in one fell swoop.
In an age of alternative medicine, establishment skepticism, and a collapse of the grey area between fact and fantasy, Miracle Cures is a hilarious look at the belief systems we build for ourselves—and what happens when they come crumbling down.
“Brutally funny, sharp, and pristinely written.” —Erin Somers, author of The Ten Year Affair
When Nelly lands a job as a fact-checker at a glamorous media conglomerate, she’s certain that her life will finally begin. She’ll escape her mother’s grimy house in New Jersey, meet the man of her dreams, and maybe even secure employer-sponsored healthcare before her twenty-sixth birthday. Tasked with checking the company’s newest venture—a magazine spearheaded by a controversial actress turned wellness guru—it soon becomes clear that the magazine has very few facts to check. Nelly spends her days wading through pseudoscience, cold calling self-proclaimed animal psychics, and trying to resist the pull of shiny face creams and exotic essences that promise youth, inner glow, and an end to her chronic yawning.
But after a health scare, Nelly starts to wonder if there might be something to the celebrity’s methods after all. She embarks on a quest to discover a miracle cure of her own—until a shocking turn of events topples it all in one fell swoop.
In an age of alternative medicine, establishment skepticism, and a collapse of the grey area between fact and fantasy, Miracle Cures is a hilarious look at the belief systems we build for ourselves—and what happens when they come crumbling down.
- GenresFictionLiterary Fiction
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 9, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Initially this feels like a satire of Gwyneth Paltrow and her GOOP empire, but then it becomes something a little more nuanced. Really a great read!
Nelly, a fact-checker at an unnamed magazine conglomerate (Condé Nast, maybe?), is switched to a new celebrity magazine that pushes dubious wellness practices and expensive merch for the rich and senseless. It's either a fact-checker's greatest dream or greatest nightmare! Of course, it turns out to be the latter, and she gets swept up in the decadence of the beauty potions on the free shelf and then finds herself trying out woo woo practices to "fact-check," but really optimize her humdrum life. And then a tragedy at a retreat (modeled on a sweat lodge; definitely not a sweat lodge) leads to some tough realizations.
It reminds me of the song "Creep" and the lyrics "I want a perfect body. I want a perfect soul." We're none of us immune to the allure of achieving better health, a better life (especially if we can just buy vaginal eggs instead of exercising or eating well). And in searching for our uncomplicated bliss, we're all susceptible to untrustworthy and even dangerous marketing claims. A really compelling look at vanity and culture--but funny!
Thanks to Simon & Schuster, via Netgalley, for the ARC!
Nelly, a fact-checker at an unnamed magazine conglomerate (Condé Nast, maybe?), is switched to a new celebrity magazine that pushes dubious wellness practices and expensive merch for the rich and senseless. It's either a fact-checker's greatest dream or greatest nightmare! Of course, it turns out to be the latter, and she gets swept up in the decadence of the beauty potions on the free shelf and then finds herself trying out woo woo practices to "fact-check," but really optimize her humdrum life. And then a tragedy at a retreat (modeled on a sweat lodge; definitely not a sweat lodge) leads to some tough realizations.
It reminds me of the song "Creep" and the lyrics "I want a perfect body. I want a perfect soul." We're none of us immune to the allure of achieving better health, a better life (especially if we can just buy vaginal eggs instead of exercising or eating well). And in searching for our uncomplicated bliss, we're all susceptible to untrustworthy and even dangerous marketing claims. A really compelling look at vanity and culture--but funny!
Thanks to Simon & Schuster, via Netgalley, for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well written at times hilarious send up of the influence of a popular movie star turned lifestyle guru, this novel follows Nellie as she takes a job as a fact checker for a glossy magazine conglomerate., Popping Xanax, she envisions a life of secure employment and healthcare. But life doesn't exactly follow the path she hoped for: "We were sand inspectors on an infinite beach." Carey Dunne has written nonfiction, this being her first shot at a novel, and it's a winner. She also shows an insider's knowledge of life in New York, which I always love reading about.
September 22, 2026
I loved this satirical take on Gwyneth Paltrow and her company GOOP. It was lighthearted and fun on the outside, but underneath that, it captured the realistic feeling of being a woman on social media exposed to every single ‘hot take’ in this book.
Call me chronically online, but I knew every reference and have heard (or at one time believed) every single wellness propaganda buzzword in here. It is culturally significant and does exactly what it set out to do. I especially loved the idea of how these characters are completely consumed by a wellness echo chamber and just how easy it is to slip into that headspace.
I do wish there was a bit more of a nod to how so many of these products, thoughts, and actions align with conservative propaganda, but I get why it was excluded. This would be a fantastic book club read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Call me chronically online, but I knew every reference and have heard (or at one time believed) every single wellness propaganda buzzword in here. It is culturally significant and does exactly what it set out to do. I especially loved the idea of how these characters are completely consumed by a wellness echo chamber and just how easy it is to slip into that headspace.
I do wish there was a bit more of a nod to how so many of these products, thoughts, and actions align with conservative propaganda, but I get why it was excluded. This would be a fantastic book club read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a fascinating dive into the world of fact-checking at an unnamed Media Company located at the unnamed WTC tower, focusing on the unnamed Movie Star that was almost certainly based off of Gwyneth Paltrow. This is an ambitious debut covering multiple topics: mental illness (predominantly OCD and selective mutism), complicated relationships with the self, wanting to prove oneself as worthy of more—of the high standard the elite hold themselves too—and what it means to be a believer, even if that belief is in something controversial and proven false. There were definitely some misses, like the lackluster ending and not-quite-there payoff of Nelly’s “takedown” of the Movie Star, but it was bitingly funny and far too relatable. Also, amazing cover. Right up my alley!
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
★★★★☆ (4.5 stars)
Miracle Cures is a witty, unsettling satire that asks what happens when the line between evidence and belief becomes so blurred that hope itself becomes a commodity.
Following a fact checker working for a celebrity wellness empire, the novel balances sharp humor with genuine vulnerability. It pokes fun at jade eggs, miracle tinctures, manifestation, and the endless promise that the next purchase might finally make us whole. Underneath the absurdity, though, is a surprisingly compassionate look at what drives people toward pseudoscience in the first place. Fear, desperation, chronic illness, and the universal desire to believe that there has to be an answer.
What I appreciated most is that the book resists making easy villains. It recognizes that wellness culture flourishes not only because influencers sell it, but because traditional healthcare often leaves people feeling unheard, dismissed, or without options. The satire lands because the emotional stakes are real.
Funny, clever, and uncomfortably relevant, Miracle Cures is as much about capitalism and misinformation as it is about the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive. It will especially resonate with readers fascinated by internet wellness culture, celebrity brands, and the impossible promise that health is something we can simply optimize our way into
Thank you on behalf of the publisher, Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for honest review and feedback
*Pub Date Mar 9 2027
Simon & Schuster
Miracle Cures is a witty, unsettling satire that asks what happens when the line between evidence and belief becomes so blurred that hope itself becomes a commodity.
Following a fact checker working for a celebrity wellness empire, the novel balances sharp humor with genuine vulnerability. It pokes fun at jade eggs, miracle tinctures, manifestation, and the endless promise that the next purchase might finally make us whole. Underneath the absurdity, though, is a surprisingly compassionate look at what drives people toward pseudoscience in the first place. Fear, desperation, chronic illness, and the universal desire to believe that there has to be an answer.
What I appreciated most is that the book resists making easy villains. It recognizes that wellness culture flourishes not only because influencers sell it, but because traditional healthcare often leaves people feeling unheard, dismissed, or without options. The satire lands because the emotional stakes are real.
Funny, clever, and uncomfortably relevant, Miracle Cures is as much about capitalism and misinformation as it is about the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive. It will especially resonate with readers fascinated by internet wellness culture, celebrity brands, and the impossible promise that health is something we can simply optimize our way into
Thank you on behalf of the publisher, Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for honest review and feedback
*Pub Date Mar 9 2027
Simon & Schuster
July 10, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC. The blurb was so exciting, as soon as I got the ARC, I immediately downloaded it and started reading it. The beginning started off strong, the writing is funny as we are introduced to the main character’s job as well as what led her here to this point in life. But gradually it got boring as we move into the time before the publication of Issue 2, as things started to get repetitive. It’s sad that most of this book was boring even though what happened in real life was super dramatic. But I did enjoy remembering what happened in the world 9 years ago and identifying the real world equivalents of everything named vaguely in the form of a proper noun.
2.5 rounded up
2.5 rounded up
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun 'weird girl lit' book which is one of my favorite genres. Nelly thinks she is getting her dream job fact-checking for a wellness company's magazine. We can all kind of assume this is Goop-esque and the unseen character discussed a lot referred to as "Movie Star" is Gwyneth Paltrow. There were some laugh out loud moments, and some moments that made me stop and think about my own impulse shopping and sometimes blind belief in wellness culture. I thought this was a nice light read and did enjoy it. The last 10% came on a little too quick for me and I would have liked it to be a little bit longer. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you NetGalley for the arc!
This book had such an interesting premise, especially nowadays with so much misinformation being spread easily through social media and public figures. We follow Nelly as a fact checker for a famous movie star's magazine and the advice in that magazine sounds so similar to things influencers and stars say online. It's so interesting because how much of it is a) advice that's actually true and b) for money? This book reminds us as consumers (both consuming media and products) to double check our thinking with viable source before believing it and echoing it.
3.5 stars!
This book had such an interesting premise, especially nowadays with so much misinformation being spread easily through social media and public figures. We follow Nelly as a fact checker for a famous movie star's magazine and the advice in that magazine sounds so similar to things influencers and stars say online. It's so interesting because how much of it is a) advice that's actually true and b) for money? This book reminds us as consumers (both consuming media and products) to double check our thinking with viable source before believing it and echoing it.
3.5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The story began with a compelling premise and humorous satire targeting pseudoscience and wellness culture. I appreciated Nelly as a fact-checker in a celebrity wellness magazine. However, after the initial sections, it lost momentum due to repetitive plot points, which felt stretched over more than 300 pages. It might have worked better as a short story or novella, as the core idea is clever and funny, but the lengthy format diluted the satire. I also enjoyed spotting real-life inspirations behind characters, companies, and events. Overall, the concept was stronger than the execution; humor and sharp writing kept me engaged, but pacing issues and repetition reduced its impact.
July 22, 2026
The book was engaging at the beginning. It opened with a lot of facts, and despite the barrage of details, it was intriguing. I wondered where it was going and what would be uncovered. It lagged a bit in the middle because it seemed repetitive. Still, the story was interesting, particularly because the protagonist, Nelly, goes through her own journey of discovery with beauty and wellness services.
July 16, 2026
Miracle Cures by Carey Dunne was both funny and had a very relatable voice. There were moments that felt like reading the story of a close friend, laughing occasionally as I watched this story unfold, cringing at other moments - the story was really quite captivating. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This story started off as hilarious and unique, but about halfway through started to get a bit repetitive and a little bit dry. The premise was very interesting, and the main character unique, but she kinda lost it there for a bit.
Would recommend to anyone looking to add to their “weird girl lit fic” pile - this fits right in!
This story started off as hilarious and unique, but about halfway through started to get a bit repetitive and a little bit dry. The premise was very interesting, and the main character unique, but she kinda lost it there for a bit.
Would recommend to anyone looking to add to their “weird girl lit fic” pile - this fits right in!
September 6, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review. This was such a funny book from start to finish. I usually stray away from books with extremely insufferable women in NYC who are convinced of their own exceptionalism but this one was too funny to not stick with. 3.5 stars just for how much this made me laugh.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4
Setting: California
Rep: n/a
A solid satirical weird girl book - I really liked the peek behind the curtain at the ins and outs of being a fact checker, and the way Nelly's stance on the Movie Star / the brand subtly changed over the course of the book. Well-written and steered by an engaging protagonist.
Setting: California
Rep: n/a
A solid satirical weird girl book - I really liked the peek behind the curtain at the ins and outs of being a fact checker, and the way Nelly's stance on the Movie Star / the brand subtly changed over the course of the book. Well-written and steered by an engaging protagonist.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's funny in a dry, deadpan way, and Nelly is a total weirdo (which I mean as a compliment). The smart part is that it doesn't just dunk on people who buy the magic face cream. It gets why they want to believe. Drags a little in the middle and the ending doesn't quite stick. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.
September 2, 2026
This book reminded me of the Devil Wears Prada 2, so you liked that movie, read this book! It was a clever take on the extent people go to in order to look young and practice self care. I really enjoyed this book!
Did Not Finish
August 17, 2026I read 33% of this book, but did not have interest in reading further. DNF.
August 4, 2026
This book made me feel bad for buying Gwyneth Paltrow's $60 Goop eye cream
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this one! How cool is it to be one of the first people to read a book? 3.5 rounded up.
The plot: A fact-checker at Goop starts to fall for the MAHA-esq schtick.
Overall, I liked it. Nelly has the overtly off-putting personality of your standard issue weird-girl book. I liked watching her navigate her personal life -- the boyfriend + roommate of it all when you're 26 and a little obsessed with 9/11.
I wish Dunne would've made more big choices + conducted more crazy stunts with Nelly while she was amidst her obsession. She's already in credit card debit, I wish we saw her worship The Movie Star or The Media Company or any of the doctors she chatted with. Part of me wanted to watch her descend so much deeper (like, near Tabitha-levels deeper).
I appreciate the way Dunne maintained gray area in alternative medicine + establishment skepticism though. To me, I didn't feel any type of way about Nelly blowing a bag on near-death massages, because there probably are SOME health benefits. My friends fall for junk on Tiktok Shop all the time and I'm supportive, and this felt like that.
In a book about alternative health + facts I thought I would hear more hot takes + hard stances. But I liked following Nelly's logic -- she never lost too much sight.
The plot: A fact-checker at Goop starts to fall for the MAHA-esq schtick.
Overall, I liked it. Nelly has the overtly off-putting personality of your standard issue weird-girl book. I liked watching her navigate her personal life -- the boyfriend + roommate of it all when you're 26 and a little obsessed with 9/11.
I wish Dunne would've made more big choices + conducted more crazy stunts with Nelly while she was amidst her obsession. She's already in credit card debit, I wish we saw her worship The Movie Star or The Media Company or any of the doctors she chatted with. Part of me wanted to watch her descend so much deeper (like, near Tabitha-levels deeper).
I appreciate the way Dunne maintained gray area in alternative medicine + establishment skepticism though. To me, I didn't feel any type of way about Nelly blowing a bag on near-death massages, because there probably are SOME health benefits. My friends fall for junk on Tiktok Shop all the time and I'm supportive, and this felt like that.
In a book about alternative health + facts I thought I would hear more hot takes + hard stances. But I liked following Nelly's logic -- she never lost too much sight.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
We all know whose wellness empire this is based on, despite "mindful disentanglement" replacing "conscious uncoupling."
What I kept thinking about as I read Miracle Cures was how often women's health concerns are dismissed by doctors. It's no surprise, then, that women like Nelly turn to online influencers and their sponsored wellness cures. I thought it was deft of Dunne to combine her thinly-veiled celebrity takedown with a very real tragedy that took place in Arizona a few years ago that shows the dangers of forcing your body to the brink of death under the guise of health.
(I say "celebrity takedown," but this story could really be about so many opportunists nowadays. And I'm not claiming they have negative intentions, just that they are not qualified to hawk the products they're endorsing.)
What I kept thinking about as I read Miracle Cures was how often women's health concerns are dismissed by doctors. It's no surprise, then, that women like Nelly turn to online influencers and their sponsored wellness cures. I thought it was deft of Dunne to combine her thinly-veiled celebrity takedown with a very real tragedy that took place in Arizona a few years ago that shows the dangers of forcing your body to the brink of death under the guise of health.
(I say "celebrity takedown," but this story could really be about so many opportunists nowadays. And I'm not claiming they have negative intentions, just that they are not qualified to hawk the products they're endorsing.)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews