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The Goddess Effect
All she wants is to be her best self. Is she ready? Absolutely. Does she know what to expect? Absolutely not.
Anita is over her life in New York: her dead-end job, tiny studio apartment, self-obsessed friends, and overbearing mom. So she moves west to Los Angeles in search of a new career, enlightenment, and that nebulous target…wellness.
She discovers an elite workout class called the Goddess Effect, run by a lifestyle guru named Venus who’s the very definition of #goals. One look at her Lululemon-clad acolytes sweating out their demons while dripping with confidence and Anita’s all in. When one of the class regulars takes Anita under her wing, Anita’s sure she’s found her people.
But Anita’s not so smitten that she doesn’t wonder about a few things: an inexplicable invitation to a Goddess Effect retreat, a strange tradition of secret sharing, and whispers about “enhancements” that only Venus can provide. Anita is awakening to a terrifying epiphany: the Goddess Effect isn’t quite what it seems, and it may turn her world—and that of everyone around her—upside down.
Anita is over her life in New York: her dead-end job, tiny studio apartment, self-obsessed friends, and overbearing mom. So she moves west to Los Angeles in search of a new career, enlightenment, and that nebulous target…wellness.
She discovers an elite workout class called the Goddess Effect, run by a lifestyle guru named Venus who’s the very definition of #goals. One look at her Lululemon-clad acolytes sweating out their demons while dripping with confidence and Anita’s all in. When one of the class regulars takes Anita under her wing, Anita’s sure she’s found her people.
But Anita’s not so smitten that she doesn’t wonder about a few things: an inexplicable invitation to a Goddess Effect retreat, a strange tradition of secret sharing, and whispers about “enhancements” that only Venus can provide. Anita is awakening to a terrifying epiphany: the Goddess Effect isn’t quite what it seems, and it may turn her world—and that of everyone around her—upside down.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 403 reviews
March 8, 2023
This book is a reminder on why sometimes reviews and ratings of others are to be trusted. I picked this one despite the many warnings it came with, and my God, I had a tough time getting through it.
Sheila Marikar tries packing a lot of things into this one novel - humor, mystery, philosophy, women's fiction, contemporary life, and so on - but fails to deliver a character that would hold your interest. Anita was one of the toughest MC's to root for; she was selfish, rude, snobby, absolutely chaotic (and not in a good way), completely fine with people passing racist comments if it meant "fitting in" and even tries to justify her being unfaithful during her relationship. Not to mention her inner dialogues and thoughts such as saying things like - "Clubs meant something fun and formfitting, something that strode the line between “here for a good time” and “here to get date raped.”" - while picking an outfit to wear did not help her case. Just no.
We also are given a 10 page wedding scene that seemed completely unnecessary, other than to portray Anita's disdain for everything Indian and to snap at every single person closest to her.
One of the only things this book does well is show the struggles of an immigrant in the USA. It also highlights the subtle racism and sexism that surrounds most industries when it comes to hiring and/or promoting women of color. The story itself could have been so much more; but I do not recommend sitting through nearly 300 pages of this one for the last 20 pages of "Aha! That's what they were upto!". Save your time and read the spoilers online.
Sheila Marikar tries packing a lot of things into this one novel - humor, mystery, philosophy, women's fiction, contemporary life, and so on - but fails to deliver a character that would hold your interest. Anita was one of the toughest MC's to root for; she was selfish, rude, snobby, absolutely chaotic (and not in a good way), completely fine with people passing racist comments if it meant "fitting in" and even tries to justify her being unfaithful during her relationship. Not to mention her inner dialogues and thoughts such as saying things like - "Clubs meant something fun and formfitting, something that strode the line between “here for a good time” and “here to get date raped.”" - while picking an outfit to wear did not help her case. Just no.
We also are given a 10 page wedding scene that seemed completely unnecessary, other than to portray Anita's disdain for everything Indian and to snap at every single person closest to her.
One of the only things this book does well is show the struggles of an immigrant in the USA. It also highlights the subtle racism and sexism that surrounds most industries when it comes to hiring and/or promoting women of color. The story itself could have been so much more; but I do not recommend sitting through nearly 300 pages of this one for the last 20 pages of "Aha! That's what they were upto!". Save your time and read the spoilers online.
September 30, 2022
I read this book as part of the Amazon Prime First Read's Program.
Things That Didn't Work:
- In the first half of this book, I found it hard to be rooting for Anita. She seemed to have completely unrealistic expectations ... after one meeting with someone who she seems to connect with, she moves across the country thinking and telling everyone that she knows that she has an in with her dream job because of that one interaction. She lies to her friends and family that she has a job when she moves across the country, when really all she has done is email that person and received no response. That, on top of the fact that she had a ton of credit card debt and made very little effort to actually get a job the first couple of months made me feel like Anita is a hot mess who just wanted to be liked. She wasn't cute like Bridget Jones or Mindy Kahling's characters, she was just kind of irresponsible and not very likable to me.
- I was really not expecting the whole conspiracy situation that ended up happening in this book, and it was hard to really find the situation plausible. There needed to be a decent amount of additional foreshadowing for the ending to feel realistic for me.
- The ending felt rushed to me. After the complex situation that came up, I could have used a little bit more information before going to the epilogue.
Things That Worked:
- By the second half of this book, Anita starts to actually stand up for herself.
- I appreciated seeing Anita's relationships with different people, and how they did or didn't work because of her desire to please people and her penchant for assuming that situations are going to work out just like she wants even when evidence indicates otherwise.
- I have read a lot of romance recently, so I appreciated that this story didn't end up in a HEA ending.
It seems like this is this author's first book. I would be interested in checking out additional books that she wrote, assuming that she would grow in her writing with subsequent books.
Things That Didn't Work:
- In the first half of this book, I found it hard to be rooting for Anita. She seemed to have completely unrealistic expectations ... after one meeting with someone who she seems to connect with, she moves across the country thinking and telling everyone that she knows that she has an in with her dream job because of that one interaction. She lies to her friends and family that she has a job when she moves across the country, when really all she has done is email that person and received no response. That, on top of the fact that she had a ton of credit card debt and made very little effort to actually get a job the first couple of months made me feel like Anita is a hot mess who just wanted to be liked. She wasn't cute like Bridget Jones or Mindy Kahling's characters, she was just kind of irresponsible and not very likable to me.
- I was really not expecting the whole conspiracy situation that ended up happening in this book, and it was hard to really find the situation plausible. There needed to be a decent amount of additional foreshadowing for the ending to feel realistic for me.
- The ending felt rushed to me. After the complex situation that came up, I could have used a little bit more information before going to the epilogue.
Things That Worked:
- By the second half of this book, Anita starts to actually stand up for herself.
- I appreciated seeing Anita's relationships with different people, and how they did or didn't work because of her desire to please people and her penchant for assuming that situations are going to work out just like she wants even when evidence indicates otherwise.
- I have read a lot of romance recently, so I appreciated that this story didn't end up in a HEA ending.
It seems like this is this author's first book. I would be interested in checking out additional books that she wrote, assuming that she would grow in her writing with subsequent books.
September 17, 2022
RTC. I’m having a hard time reviewing this one.
***
I feel as though I just read two different books.
The Goddess Effect is about our protagonist, Anita, and what happens when she uproots herself and moves across the country. Anita had been living in New York for years but, after a series of losses and disappointments, she decides she needs a change. After briefly meeting with someone who works at a company she'd love to join, Anita decides to leave her life in NYC and move to LA. Solid plan, right? Conveniently, Ani is able to find free lodging in what’s essentially an upscale commune as she tries to land the job she wants. During this time she begins attending workouts at a cult-like health and wellness center called The Goddess Effect. Wanting to belong and be accepted somewhere, anywhere, she gets in deep, but soon finds things are not as they seem.
When I look at the dates of when I began and finished this book I have a visual reminder of how I was feeling as I read it; it was a chore and I really had a lot of trouble getting into it, so it took me longer than usual to finish. I would start reading and give up soon after. For some reason, because I chose this book as my Amazon First Reads one month, I felt like I had to finish it.
As I said, I feel like I read two different books; the first and second halves were so, so disjointed.
The first half, frankly, was not good. I kept thinking it would get better, that I just really needed to get into it. After reading other reviews I now know that I’m not the only one to feel this way.
I’ve said before that I wholeheartedly enjoy good, well-written “chick-lit” and, while this novel is definitely of that genre, in my opinion, it wasn’t good. Of course, the queen of CL is Helen Fielding and her character, Bridget Jones, whom I still love all of these years later. I felt as though the author of this novel, Sheila Yasmin Marikar, was striving for Ani to be that sort of heroine but it just felt too forced. Ani actually became unlikeable. There was so much dropping of brand names, so many hashtags, so much insecurity, but not in a good or relatable way. I just kept thinking that the author was trying way too hard and the story became vapid. I kept thinking that there’s no way that real people are actually like this; while I know they must exist, the fact that our main character was in her 30s and acting this way was ridiculous. Also, about the author trying too hard: jokes about getting date raped because of what you’re wearing are NEVER funny. Marikar, if you’re reading this review: just. don’t. It’s not a good look.
At this point you’re probably wondering why I kept reading the book, given how bad the first half was; unfortunately, I can’t give a good answer. I rarely stop reading a book once I’ve started. Also, though few, the ratings and reviews I was seeing were high, so I thought there must be something I was missing and I’d only find out if I continued to read.
Magically, it was like someone flipped a switch just as my ebook told me I was 50% finished, and the plot finally began to feel like it was going somewhere and let me say, I was into it. Without spoiling things for everyone, I’ll just say that the second half felt like a completely different book. There was a plot and it was moving! The characters were (sort of) becoming three-dimensional! A situation was happening-yes, it was very unbelievable and over-the-top but something was actually happening! We finally hit the climax and then…it ended. Literally. We get a short epilogue that only kind of made sense.
So, would I recommend this novel? No. Do I think Marikar has promise as an author? I think so. Once the plot was finally going somewhere the whole tone changed for the better. If the pacing had been better and the first half of the book spent more time fleshing-out characters and less time in the main character’s childish thoughts, the whole book itself could have been great. There was a story here; the author made some astute statements and observations about race, social media and it’s influencers, and the health and wellness industry. These topics are extremely relevant in today’s culture; I just don’t think the execution was done well.
Unless, of course, the whole thing was meant as satire, as one review suggested. Then I take everything back. Except…maybe not, because no one else seemed to pick up on this, which means the book was still poorly executed.
***
I feel as though I just read two different books.
The Goddess Effect is about our protagonist, Anita, and what happens when she uproots herself and moves across the country. Anita had been living in New York for years but, after a series of losses and disappointments, she decides she needs a change. After briefly meeting with someone who works at a company she'd love to join, Anita decides to leave her life in NYC and move to LA. Solid plan, right? Conveniently, Ani is able to find free lodging in what’s essentially an upscale commune as she tries to land the job she wants. During this time she begins attending workouts at a cult-like health and wellness center called The Goddess Effect. Wanting to belong and be accepted somewhere, anywhere, she gets in deep, but soon finds things are not as they seem.
When I look at the dates of when I began and finished this book I have a visual reminder of how I was feeling as I read it; it was a chore and I really had a lot of trouble getting into it, so it took me longer than usual to finish. I would start reading and give up soon after. For some reason, because I chose this book as my Amazon First Reads one month, I felt like I had to finish it.
As I said, I feel like I read two different books; the first and second halves were so, so disjointed.
The first half, frankly, was not good. I kept thinking it would get better, that I just really needed to get into it. After reading other reviews I now know that I’m not the only one to feel this way.
I’ve said before that I wholeheartedly enjoy good, well-written “chick-lit” and, while this novel is definitely of that genre, in my opinion, it wasn’t good. Of course, the queen of CL is Helen Fielding and her character, Bridget Jones, whom I still love all of these years later. I felt as though the author of this novel, Sheila Yasmin Marikar, was striving for Ani to be that sort of heroine but it just felt too forced. Ani actually became unlikeable. There was so much dropping of brand names, so many hashtags, so much insecurity, but not in a good or relatable way. I just kept thinking that the author was trying way too hard and the story became vapid. I kept thinking that there’s no way that real people are actually like this; while I know they must exist, the fact that our main character was in her 30s and acting this way was ridiculous. Also, about the author trying too hard: jokes about getting date raped because of what you’re wearing are NEVER funny. Marikar, if you’re reading this review: just. don’t. It’s not a good look.
At this point you’re probably wondering why I kept reading the book, given how bad the first half was; unfortunately, I can’t give a good answer. I rarely stop reading a book once I’ve started. Also, though few, the ratings and reviews I was seeing were high, so I thought there must be something I was missing and I’d only find out if I continued to read.
Magically, it was like someone flipped a switch just as my ebook told me I was 50% finished, and the plot finally began to feel like it was going somewhere and let me say, I was into it. Without spoiling things for everyone, I’ll just say that the second half felt like a completely different book. There was a plot and it was moving! The characters were (sort of) becoming three-dimensional! A situation was happening-yes, it was very unbelievable and over-the-top but something was actually happening! We finally hit the climax and then…it ended. Literally. We get a short epilogue that only kind of made sense.
So, would I recommend this novel? No. Do I think Marikar has promise as an author? I think so. Once the plot was finally going somewhere the whole tone changed for the better. If the pacing had been better and the first half of the book spent more time fleshing-out characters and less time in the main character’s childish thoughts, the whole book itself could have been great. There was a story here; the author made some astute statements and observations about race, social media and it’s influencers, and the health and wellness industry. These topics are extremely relevant in today’s culture; I just don’t think the execution was done well.
Unless, of course, the whole thing was meant as satire, as one review suggested. Then I take everything back. Except…maybe not, because no one else seemed to pick up on this, which means the book was still poorly executed.
September 11, 2022
This is definitely one of the most outrageous, over the top books I’ve read. But somehow it mostly worked. It makes fun of both the health and wellness industry and the need to present everything via a social media presence. It made me laugh and I couldn’t put it down. But it’s ridiculous for sure.
September 13, 2022
i don’t even know where to start. the foundation for the novel was laid terribly to the point where i didn’t know who half the characters or key features were all the way to the end of the book. the writing is so all over the face! there’s so many with nothing being said. detail and fluff about nothing at all. random name drops and unnecessary specifics that seriously distract from the story. i was lost most of the time reading this book and reread things a lot bc there was also no flow. and right when we finally got somewhere (the penultimate chapter), the author decided to completely skip over a climax bc she went straight into an epilogue 🤯 the main character was highly unlikable and it felt like the author wrote her based off an assumption of what her archetype is like without actually knowing (does that make sense?). also, calling a credit card a “Capital One” is cute once or twice— but it was mentioned to death 🥵 all in all, this book was a massive chore. such a bummer!!
September 4, 2022
The second half was better than the first, but I wouldn't recommend it
September 9, 2022
I would have given this 4 stars if this was actually the authors first book. It seemed not to have been edited well. Lots of sentences didn’t make sense or had to be reread to make the point. Also a lot of Social Media and commercial references too many in my opinion. Funny in a perverse way and a huge wedding scene in middle of the story. I like going to weddings but reading about them is a huge bore. Lots of bragging about alcohol and drug abuse. Again with the self loathing. Men may not like this so much and it’s a female book in a sort of women and white women hating sort of way. The main character is so frustrating with so many strange decisions. She doesn’t do anything particularly bad but she isn’t very likable.
September 10, 2022
This book moved from funny to creepy to heartbreaking in a matter of seconds! Anita moves to L.A. from New York, determined to work for Gonzo which is a new firm on the uptake. She moves into a house with several eclectic roommates but never hears from the woman who is supposed to hire her. She then joins The Goddess Effect, a "gym" that's "new age" and promises to turn your life around. She's excited and loves the workouts and the women who immediately take her under their wing and rave about it. But lurking under the surface is something sinister that she senses isn't quite right. That's all you need. Go in with an open mind but prepare to have it blown! Very relevant and contemporary, and I loved every minute of it!
October 22, 2022
I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. Yes, every review that says the second half was better than the first is accurate. I still wouldn't give the second half more than three stars. There is no depth to the characters, the story is disjointed, everyone/thing is basically a caricature, and even what I think is supposed to be humorous is not really funny. There is a lot in it that is simply cringy and not a lot to redeem it. I would have DNF'd if it was not a GG. I gave it 2 stars because writing books is hard and I give credit to anyone who does the work and puts it out there for public consumption, but I would not recommend it.
August 14, 2023
i really didn’t like the main character at first but it was a fun interesting read, i had no idea what was up with the cult just knew something was weird and was def a shock. lots of good character development for anita which is amazing bc she was so annoying. a quick interesting read, was fun to see LA socialite cult life
December 19, 2022
I could not finish this book - the main character was such a turd and annoying. I was really excited about the premise of this story but it just fell flat for me. Maybe I will try again down the road.
November 29, 2022
I could not get into this book …the main character just annoyed me and I never felt invested. I DNF.
February 22, 2025
Somehow, the most unbelievable part of this book was that Anita was a Drake fan.
March 1, 2023
Every time somebody mentions Mindy Kalings problematic behavior I think of this book. How much the main character wanted to get away from her Indian Heritage and not just be the Indian woman in the room. I'm going to be honest the excessive brand name dropping is going to age poorly. And I honestly did look up a few of the references, but after a while I decided I didn't care anymore what specific designer article of clothing was mentioned. It was an expensive dress. cool. I didn't even know what Allbirds were before I read this.
I also don't really think this book found its footing. It was kind of all over the place with is it a romance, is it more about her relationship with her mother, with Los Angeles, with white savor rich women. And the whole twist at the end was interesting but also kind of weird. Three stars because I finished it but not sure if I liked it.
I also don't really think this book found its footing. It was kind of all over the place with is it a romance, is it more about her relationship with her mother, with Los Angeles, with white savor rich women. And the whole twist at the end was interesting but also kind of weird. Three stars because I finished it but not sure if I liked it.
October 2, 2022
I'm sad about how low I'm rating this one because the end is full of great messages and I 100% did not expect certain aspects of it but getting there was a bit of a chore.
Anita is lost. She lost her father unexpectedly, her mom has become obsessed with religion, her ex-boyfriend is getting married to a beautiful heiress, and her job is a totally unfulfilling dead-end. Nothing in her life is going her way so she decides to change everything and moves to LA with nothing but a fun chat with an HR head at a popular e-news site to give her hope of finding a job. She's super lucky in that she finds a rent-free room at a trendy and experimental community house, but that's pretty much all she has going for her when she arrives.
As she's doing everything except look for a job or really try to connect with her contact, she comes across an exercise studio named Goddess Effect and quickly finds herself tangled up in what is obviously a scam cult to everyone but her. It's a weird game of hiding away from everything while also thinking way too hard about everything.
There's a lot of exploration of perception and societal pressure that is as interesting as the way it's all resolved, just getting to it and how it develops held no interest for me.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and Little A for the early read!
Anita is lost. She lost her father unexpectedly, her mom has become obsessed with religion, her ex-boyfriend is getting married to a beautiful heiress, and her job is a totally unfulfilling dead-end. Nothing in her life is going her way so she decides to change everything and moves to LA with nothing but a fun chat with an HR head at a popular e-news site to give her hope of finding a job. She's super lucky in that she finds a rent-free room at a trendy and experimental community house, but that's pretty much all she has going for her when she arrives.
As she's doing everything except look for a job or really try to connect with her contact, she comes across an exercise studio named Goddess Effect and quickly finds herself tangled up in what is obviously a scam cult to everyone but her. It's a weird game of hiding away from everything while also thinking way too hard about everything.
There's a lot of exploration of perception and societal pressure that is as interesting as the way it's all resolved, just getting to it and how it develops held no interest for me.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and Little A for the early read!
October 27, 2022
I listened to the audiobook, and I’d just like to know could…..she…..read…..any…..slower??? It was often maddening, and I sometimes thought my phone had cut out. Why do authors sometimes think they’re the best choice to read their own book? Except for Neil Gaiman, I can honestly say they are not.
The story was okay, clearly intended for the 20 - 35 year old crowd, maybe. The people who care about Instagram and influencers. The main character, Anita, leaves her home in NYC to move to LA for a nonexistent job with a news agency. Lives in a house called The Gig for free for 3 months. Joins an elite workout/spa facility on a 6 week trial special and finds out that all is not as it appears. Along the way, interactions with her mom, her friends both old and new. Anita is an annoying self centered woman who seems incapable of growing up and taking responsibility for herself. Some redemption at the end, but it doesn’t make up for 10 hours of listening to the rest of the story.
p.s. I tried to return it to audible, but I think it was one of those free books on amazon...
The story was okay, clearly intended for the 20 - 35 year old crowd, maybe. The people who care about Instagram and influencers. The main character, Anita, leaves her home in NYC to move to LA for a nonexistent job with a news agency. Lives in a house called The Gig for free for 3 months. Joins an elite workout/spa facility on a 6 week trial special and finds out that all is not as it appears. Along the way, interactions with her mom, her friends both old and new. Anita is an annoying self centered woman who seems incapable of growing up and taking responsibility for herself. Some redemption at the end, but it doesn’t make up for 10 hours of listening to the rest of the story.
p.s. I tried to return it to audible, but I think it was one of those free books on amazon...
September 2, 2022
This was surprisingly an entertaining, light women's fiction. It was a mindless read and I was into it until the end. The big reveal moment took 95% of the book to get too, then it gets rushed over and you are hit with an epilogue of one year later. The protagonist and several other characters are Indian, one black character and the rest of white. Ani, our lead, moves from New York to Los Angeles a few months after her dad dies. She has one lead for a job and really, desperately clings to it. In the meantime, she joins a new fitness boutique which reveals itself to be cult-like. Ani is likeable enough but relatable. She's a confused thirty-something who rights her friendships gone wrong and mends her relationship with her mother. In the epilogue, she is super successful a year later, which is very unrealistic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2022
This book was stronger in the second half. I found the first half dragged a bit, and the characters annoyed me quite a bit, but the second half made it worth it. I read a few reviews that criticized the "twist" for being unrealistic, but I think that was intentional. I also didn't find it surprising, but I enjoyed the creeping sense of a dark turn coming up ahead. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would read more from this author.
I also realize I haven't reviewed anything in a while because I never really know what to say, but I'm trying again to note a few thoughts. Anyway, I definitely liked this a lot.
I also realize I haven't reviewed anything in a while because I never really know what to say, but I'm trying again to note a few thoughts. Anyway, I definitely liked this a lot.
February 18, 2023
Honestly, surprised this book isn’t all over Tiktok and being recommended in tandem with the likes of “my year of rest and relaxation” and all those others. It’s not super long but the main character is interesting and relatable and I thought that the writer created a really unique story that did in fact have a climax that was AS SCARY as I wanted it to be. The story also does a great job of really focusing on female friendships and the importance of having them as an adult (as well as the complexity) which I really enjoyed and would like to see more of in literature in the next few years. I found this book on kindle unlimited and would definitely recommend it.
October 17, 2022
This book had me cackling. The writing was witty and sharp, and perfectly roasts LA’s (and beyond’s) wellness culture, while quietly comments on its toxicity. Everyone can relate to the societal pressure to “live your best life”. Our heroine’s journey may seem a bit over the top, but the book’s underlying message has stuck with me for a week or two, and THAT is what is so special about a really good book.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
January 23, 2023
Anita may be 31 years old, but she’s far from having her life figured out. Or even together. So on a vague promise of a job at an LA digital platform, she quits her news job and moves to California with nothing but free rent for three months and credit debt. Then she gets ghosted by the HR rep. Desperate to find a way to feel better and to have something worth bragging about in two months before her best friend’s wedding, she checks out a fitness guru named Venus who runs The Goddess Effect. Soon, Anita is all-in for the bootcamp/spirituality lifestyle she finds there. For once, she’s accepted by the lululemon-wearing acolytes and who knows, there’s hints of a job.
Soon, though, Anita wakes up and realizes that Venus and The Goddess Effect might not be what they seem. There are too many back-room secrets and too many cryptic IG posts lambasting Venus for Anita to ignore. Putting on her journalist hat, Anita gets to work at an exclusive retreat to find out what’s really going on with the goddesses.
This was my September Amazon Prime pick and that tells you something about the state of my TBR list. I won’t even mention the poor KU books languishing in there; although, I’m sure some of you can understand. Anyway, I picked this one because it promised to be funny and sometimes I just want a good laugh. And it was funny. I loved the characters. From clueless Anita trying to balance what it means to be successful as a millennial and also as an ethnic Indian. To Stacy, who glommed onto anything even hinting at a minority in an effort to banish her privilege, while driving a Porsche Panamera. And even Venus, almost a caricature of the spirituality/wellness gurus you can’t miss if you scroll through Instagram, was really well done.
That said, I think I’m the wrong demographic to really get all of the humor in this novel and honestly, it just solidified the fact that I’m getting old. Because I did not get the culture, at all. More than once I read my husband a passage and asked, “Is this satire or are people really like this?” I still have no idea but if so, I’m glad I’m not in my 30s. Or live in LA. Because I could not have handled most of the people living at the Gig, even if they did make for good comic relief.
If you’re under 35, you’ll probably love this. While I certainly enjoyed it and it was a quick read, I rolled my eyes more than I laughed.
3.5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐+
Soon, though, Anita wakes up and realizes that Venus and The Goddess Effect might not be what they seem. There are too many back-room secrets and too many cryptic IG posts lambasting Venus for Anita to ignore. Putting on her journalist hat, Anita gets to work at an exclusive retreat to find out what’s really going on with the goddesses.
This was my September Amazon Prime pick and that tells you something about the state of my TBR list. I won’t even mention the poor KU books languishing in there; although, I’m sure some of you can understand. Anyway, I picked this one because it promised to be funny and sometimes I just want a good laugh. And it was funny. I loved the characters. From clueless Anita trying to balance what it means to be successful as a millennial and also as an ethnic Indian. To Stacy, who glommed onto anything even hinting at a minority in an effort to banish her privilege, while driving a Porsche Panamera. And even Venus, almost a caricature of the spirituality/wellness gurus you can’t miss if you scroll through Instagram, was really well done.
That said, I think I’m the wrong demographic to really get all of the humor in this novel and honestly, it just solidified the fact that I’m getting old. Because I did not get the culture, at all. More than once I read my husband a passage and asked, “Is this satire or are people really like this?” I still have no idea but if so, I’m glad I’m not in my 30s. Or live in LA. Because I could not have handled most of the people living at the Gig, even if they did make for good comic relief.
If you’re under 35, you’ll probably love this. While I certainly enjoyed it and it was a quick read, I rolled my eyes more than I laughed.
3.5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐+
October 5, 2022
Wow! I couldn’t believe this novel was a debut with its multi-layered characters. Sheila’s book is a socio-cultural commentary on the wellness industry.
Thank you to my lovely sister-in-law @sheilaym and @LittleA for the gifted arc of The Goddess Effect: A Novel.
📅: Oct 1st!!!
Thoughts 💭: Wow! I couldn’t believe this novel was a debut with its multi-layered characters. Sheila’s book is a socio-cultural commentary on the wellness industry.
It is funny, laugh out loud, and endearing look into the wellness industry through the eyes of the main protagonist, Anita, who moves from New York to Los Angeles after facing difficult circumstances. She attempts to move on and begin a new life by making a fresh start in LA.
It is here that she decides to stay in a modern commune called the “Gig” where she meets a hosts of characters. She also joins the gym called The Goddess Effect, which promises to turn her life around. What we then see is her encounters with self-proclaimed cultish “gurus”. As a commentary on the wellness industry and its exploitative nature, we see how sometimes people will go at lengths to belong on the journey of self-discovery, especially if you want to achieve happiness to live the best life (then place those moments of life on instagram and other social media platforms)!
This hard-to-put down novel will bring you into a journey full of twists and turns that you won’t see coming. It is intense, riveting and incisive.
⁉️⁉️: How do you feel about the wellness industry and it’s cultish nature? Have you gone to extremes to buy expensive equipment or branded clothes in the name of health and wellness?
I always get tempted by juicing and spin classes - we didn’t get a pelaton but ended up getting a second best bike during the pandemic (I still need to use it regularly) 😆
Thank you to my lovely sister-in-law @sheilaym and @LittleA for the gifted arc of The Goddess Effect: A Novel.
📅: Oct 1st!!!
Thoughts 💭: Wow! I couldn’t believe this novel was a debut with its multi-layered characters. Sheila’s book is a socio-cultural commentary on the wellness industry.
It is funny, laugh out loud, and endearing look into the wellness industry through the eyes of the main protagonist, Anita, who moves from New York to Los Angeles after facing difficult circumstances. She attempts to move on and begin a new life by making a fresh start in LA.
It is here that she decides to stay in a modern commune called the “Gig” where she meets a hosts of characters. She also joins the gym called The Goddess Effect, which promises to turn her life around. What we then see is her encounters with self-proclaimed cultish “gurus”. As a commentary on the wellness industry and its exploitative nature, we see how sometimes people will go at lengths to belong on the journey of self-discovery, especially if you want to achieve happiness to live the best life (then place those moments of life on instagram and other social media platforms)!
This hard-to-put down novel will bring you into a journey full of twists and turns that you won’t see coming. It is intense, riveting and incisive.
⁉️⁉️: How do you feel about the wellness industry and it’s cultish nature? Have you gone to extremes to buy expensive equipment or branded clothes in the name of health and wellness?
I always get tempted by juicing and spin classes - we didn’t get a pelaton but ended up getting a second best bike during the pandemic (I still need to use it regularly) 😆
October 14, 2022
(2.5 stars) I passed on this title as a "First Reads" selection, but I was nonetheless enticed into the promise of light and amusing novel about a woman's a misguided pursuit of "wellness."
Anita is figuring her life out. Following the death of her father, the loss of her job, and the end of her romantic relationship, Anita seeks a fresh start. Putting distance between her old life in New York City, along with her domineering friends and attentive mother, she relocated to LA. Remarkably she receives free room and board in a startup community trial program, and plans to get her dream job.
Somewhat relatable, but not always likeable, Anita personifies a satirical portrait of a millennial floundering through adulthood. Despite not having student loans, she's still living on credit card debt, superficially navigating the world through the lens of social media, jumping from one false start and exaggerated opportunity to the next without any real sense of direction or purpose, and from one vapid snap judgment to the next. She's often self-absorbed, immature, and irresponsible, vacillating between a sense of privilege and prejudice.
Anita doesn't quite know where she fits in American society. She is disjointed from a sense of self, proportion, and relationship to others, not ever certain of herself, but desperate for success and social acceptance. She rejects anything to do with her Indian culture, and instead gloms onto a predatory boutique fitness program, which propels her escapism into an obsessive exercise regimen and more debt. Anita is convinced that the Goddess effect is the solution to all her problems and her authentic self. And its not only Anita; the culture and characters that surround her are all similarly satirized and stereotyped for affect.
As a cultural critique of our messy and uncertain journeys to find ourselves amid the pressures to have life perfectly all figured out, the premise has potential. The pacing of the execution was a bit off in my estimation. There is a lot of waiting in this book, as Ani loops through uncertainty, guilt, dread, avoidance, and distraction, anticipating her perfect lifechanging opportunity. After such a slow built through her missteps and foibles, the plot hits its stride and arrives at the confrontational climax -- (with elements worthy of a horror tale) -- at the end of penultimate chapter, and then the action ends abruptly in a time jump to give a summary conclusion in a few pages. The dropping of the action felt like the novel had gone off a cliff, and disorienting fallen into an epilogue in which I didn't quite know how it all ended up there. It felt like a lost opportunity for character growth and plot development, and left this reader disappointed in my reading experience.
Anita is figuring her life out. Following the death of her father, the loss of her job, and the end of her romantic relationship, Anita seeks a fresh start. Putting distance between her old life in New York City, along with her domineering friends and attentive mother, she relocated to LA. Remarkably she receives free room and board in a startup community trial program, and plans to get her dream job.
Somewhat relatable, but not always likeable, Anita personifies a satirical portrait of a millennial floundering through adulthood. Despite not having student loans, she's still living on credit card debt, superficially navigating the world through the lens of social media, jumping from one false start and exaggerated opportunity to the next without any real sense of direction or purpose, and from one vapid snap judgment to the next. She's often self-absorbed, immature, and irresponsible, vacillating between a sense of privilege and prejudice.
Anita doesn't quite know where she fits in American society. She is disjointed from a sense of self, proportion, and relationship to others, not ever certain of herself, but desperate for success and social acceptance. She rejects anything to do with her Indian culture, and instead gloms onto a predatory boutique fitness program, which propels her escapism into an obsessive exercise regimen and more debt. Anita is convinced that the Goddess effect is the solution to all her problems and her authentic self. And its not only Anita; the culture and characters that surround her are all similarly satirized and stereotyped for affect.
As a cultural critique of our messy and uncertain journeys to find ourselves amid the pressures to have life perfectly all figured out, the premise has potential. The pacing of the execution was a bit off in my estimation. There is a lot of waiting in this book, as Ani loops through uncertainty, guilt, dread, avoidance, and distraction, anticipating her perfect lifechanging opportunity. After such a slow built through her missteps and foibles, the plot hits its stride and arrives at the confrontational climax -- (with elements worthy of a horror tale) -- at the end of penultimate chapter, and then the action ends abruptly in a time jump to give a summary conclusion in a few pages. The dropping of the action felt like the novel had gone off a cliff, and disorienting fallen into an epilogue in which I didn't quite know how it all ended up there. It felt like a lost opportunity for character growth and plot development, and left this reader disappointed in my reading experience.
January 16, 2023
Fun Parody of the wellness industry and obsession with social media
I, a wellness fan and follower, found this to be a hilarious and totally on point portrayal of the world we live on. The characters are extreme but also, easy to imagine, and the plot takes a seriously bizarre but also loosely believable turn. This was fun - I read it in the evenings over a few days and it was quick and enjoyable.
I, a wellness fan and follower, found this to be a hilarious and totally on point portrayal of the world we live on. The characters are extreme but also, easy to imagine, and the plot takes a seriously bizarre but also loosely believable turn. This was fun - I read it in the evenings over a few days and it was quick and enjoyable.
July 17, 2023
3.5⭐️
Some of the writing was definitely cringey and the story really didn’t need to be as slow burn as it was but I ended up having a lot of fun with it! The second half was light years better than the first half and the big reveal genuinely shocked me.
But if you want something similar that is 5⭐️ I’d recommend The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi.
Some of the writing was definitely cringey and the story really didn’t need to be as slow burn as it was but I ended up having a lot of fun with it! The second half was light years better than the first half and the big reveal genuinely shocked me.
But if you want something similar that is 5⭐️ I’d recommend The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi.
June 13, 2024
I enjoyed this fun, somewhat ridiculous story about vapid social media culture and the culty health and wellness industry. The mc was hard to root for at first; she was completely self-absorbed and chaotic, but by the end of the story she had grown on me. The themes of racism and privilege were handled really well. My biggest issue with this was the audio version. The narrator’s voice was fine, but her pacing was so off that it took me over an hour to get past it. The pauses in between sentences were excruciating. Even at 2x speed.
September 11, 2022
Enjoyed the characters and the plot kept me interested. The perfect mix of 9 Perfect Strangers and everything LA.
October 20, 2022
Holy plot twist
September 25, 2023
great book!
Great book but I felt the ending was rushed. I wanted more of Anita and Max! Still a good book!
Great book but I felt the ending was rushed. I wanted more of Anita and Max! Still a good book!
March 27, 2023
This was actually not nearly as bad as I expected it to be. Light, cutesy story about the dangers of the wellness industry, though didn’t quite seem to strike an appropriate balance on minority/immigrant issues. Cultural references are a lot of fun, but prob won’t make much sense in five years.
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