Suffer!

by A.C. Sloan

When a group of superfans compete to meet their Hollywood idol, things go way off script

Theodosia and her bestie Sam are former high school outcasts who find escapism in a popular TV show called Suffer about a victims’ rights advocate named Marcia Suffer.

When the TV network that owns Suffer announces a contest -- the chance to meet the show’s star, actress Roxy DeVine -- Theo and Sam pull out all the stops to win. These days, Theo needs a win – any win -- because lately life has been dealing her nothing but suffering.

After all, the girl’s got a lot on her plate: attending college, working part-time gigs to survive, and acting as caretaker to both her younger sister and an aging aunt. A little Hollywood magic is just what she needs.
As much as Theo and Sam adore Roxy DeVine, the rest of Hollywood despises the diva actress. In fact, rumors swirl that Roxy’s career is on the chopping block.

When Roxy DeVine goes missing after the show’s season finale, it’s anyone’s guess what happened to her!
Superfans Theo and Sam know more than they’re letting on.

Take a painfully funny peek behind the curtain of Hollywood stardom and fandom and find out today! Smash the buy button above and find out:
Where in the world is Roxy DeVine?

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2022

About the author

A.C. Sloan is a novelist, screenwriter, and fiction podcaster best known as the creator and writer of the comedy podcast: The Carlötta Beautox Chronicles. Before that, A.C. worked in network television for more than 20 years writing and producing award-winning TV promos at ABC, CBS, NBC, and more. It is likely she convinced you to watch some of your now favorite shows.

As a former network television insider, she's seen how the sausage gets made and sold in Hollywood. While much of it is not pretty, most of it is pretty darn hilarious.

Born and raised in New Jersey, she now resides in Los Angeles with her husband. Suffer! is her first novel.

Reviews

[Andy Haskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve worked in Hollywood for 15+ years, and “Suffer!” is a very funny and truthful look at the way the television industry works.

The fast-paced plot unfolds in the same way a great binge-worthy TV show does, with funny characters being led to the very edge of calamity and ruin before Sloan cuts away to another part of the story, already in progress. A real page-turner in the truest sense of the word.

Special props for very realistic portrayals of the “creatives” behind network television, and for a certain (*spoiler alert*) gun-toting mother.

I was grateful to receive this ARC copy, and recommend it for all!

[Kimberly #Audiofile · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so weird. Havnt read anything like it before. I don’t really know how to feel about it. Good read for In between the heavier stuff. I guess trigger warning needed for school bullying?

Gifted audio

[Brenda Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pop a bottle of prosecco, rip open a bag of pretzels and indulge in SUFFER!
I received an ARC and couldn’t put it down. The writing is witty, the characters are real and relatable and the situation Theo and her group of superfan underdogs get into is as riveting as one of Shonda Rhime’s mega hits.
The Suffragettes are hilarious and fun to root for as they find themselves in over their heads with their TV hero, Roxy DeVine.
A group of friends who are always looking in on the life they long for and never being invited to the party. That is until a twist puts them smack in the middle of a mystery that has all of America wondering what happened to the superstar, Roxy DeVine.
And it wouldn’t be a real Hollywood blockbuster without an antagonist to hate – and this novel delivers a self-indulgent, self-important show runner with an ego bigger than her bank account, enter, Marelle May.

Suffer is an entertaining story of what it’s like to be a superfan or a superstar, and the revelation that they have more in common then they’d ever imagine. Or as they say in Hollywood you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. There is no bad press – you name it, A. C. Sloan gives an incredible realistic look behind the scenes of the making of a TV hit and the fans that make it so. I highly recommend giving this a read – or you will “Suffer” a severe case of FOMO of the novel all wll be talking about.

[Ashley ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a wild ride this story took me on. This novel follows a band of misfit superfans as they attempt to make a connection with the famous Roxy DeVine, who is a walking nightmare in super red Louboutins.

As we go through the story, we get to know more about all of the characters, their lives, their pasts, and the reasons they are the way they are today. Their ambitions know no limits and we see the dark reality of what people will do to control the narrative.

We have characters included from all different backgrounds: varying race, LGBTQ+, education, wealth, developmental disorders- which allows us to see that A.C. Sloan is an ally of many.

When anti-bully Theo, her gay best friend Sam, her autistic sister Pris, and their wild and wacky Aunt Dotty win a viewing party with the star of their favorite show Suffer! they cannot believe their luck.

However, when things go wildly wrong- Theo finds herself making decisions she never would have thought herself capable of. With threats looming over her head of losing not only her home, but her sister as well as her freedom, Theo has to make the right choices to ensure nobody gets hurt or imprisoned.

Laugh out loud funny, edgy, and downright creative; Suffer! was a highly enjoyable read. Sloan has the depth and skill to really pull you into a story and see the bigger picture.

[Deirdre Hanssen · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUFFER IS A REALLY FUN & FUNNY READ!

Take one hit TV show, two BFF superfans and a contest to meet their idol, the superglam star. What could go wrong? Almost everything. I received an ARC and was immediately intrigued with the story and its wide range of characters, some delightful, others despicable.

Who among us hasn’t been a big fan of something that we wish we could get closer to, get an inside look at? Maybe some of that glitter would rub off on us? Then our lives will surely be transformed. That’s what happens to Theo and Sam in Suffer. But none of it is what they expected and all of it turns their world upside down.

Suffer is a feel good read because it mixes elements of the haves and have nots and how it may be possible for these two groups to coexist and maybe even like each other. But they all have to go through a lot of changes first. And this novel does all of that in a funny, outrageous and even heartwarming way. Plus you get an inside look at what it’s like to work in television, a place where only the strong (and often the wrong) survive.

Read this book and you may become a “Suffergette” too.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcia Suffer is not exactly the hero we all need. She's a vigilante - and a serial killer. But she kills pedophiles and other really nasty types. Oh, and she's a character on a very popular TV show of the same name. She's played by Roxy DeVine, a thoroughly conceited and unpleasant person whose enemy, creator of the show, is just as nasty as Roxy is.

But the fans don't know that. And one group of fans is about to meet their idol. Sadly - or is it hilariously - things don't go according to plan. That's when things really get crazy.

I enjoyed this book. I started it when my husband was in the hospital and it totally grabbed my interest. I finished it the next day. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who is a fan or is into fan culture.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review; however, my opinions remain my own.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suffer! is a wonderful story with a motley cast of characters. On one side are the misfits (and boy are they, but of the loveable kind). The other side are Hollywood insiders. When the two never-to-meet groups (tony L.A. and seedy L.A.) do in fact meet, by a series of calculated misfires, the REAL action begins. A page-turner and never waned, I'd recommend this book for everyone.

[Lucy Hollander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suffer had all the fun of a rom-com book but focused on friendships and family instead of romance. I loved the twists throughout the book and thought that the characters were extremely relatable. Overall, this is a great, quick beach read.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suffer! by A.C. Sloan is such a fun book! The story follows a fairly large cast of people, but the main characters include: Theo, a 24 college student who lives with her elderly aunt Dottie and 16 year old sister Pris, who has autism. Together the three ladies watch a tv show called Suffer religiously each Thursday night and create a youtube aftershow with Theo's friend Sam, a male nurse who has a huge personality and sometimes dresses in drag. The tv show they are watching stars Roxy DeVine, a major diva, who plays the character Marcia Suffer, for which the tv show is named after. The showrunner, Merle May, creates a contest where fans of Suffer can enter to win a viewing party where Roxy will watch the finale with them. Very much a diva herself, May decides to kill Roxy's character off in the finale without telling anyone. Along with several other random characters, including Pris and Theo's mother and boyfriend, Roxy's style team, a variety of other members of the Suffer production crew and more, the characters' worlds collide for the finale and the after shock last weeks!

I was about halfway through the book thinking, how is it possible that I'm only half way done, this feels like a natural point for the climax and resolution, boy was I wrong! There is definitely a huge moment midway through the book, but it took a twist I didn't see (but maybe should have seen lol) coming! Sloan does a great job with character development, and while there are a few supporting characters who were not quite memorable enough for me to keep straight some of the time, it all worked out ok because those characters weren't necessarily that important to keep track of. The main characters were really interesting, there was just enough backstory and their crazy motives and interesting traits kept them well connected to each other and the plot. The inclusion of pop culture and the idea that people interact with content on social media while watching a tv show was really well done and added both comedy and made it feel like this was a real show they were describing. I also can't help but make the connection between Merle May and Shonda Rhimes. Intentional or not, the connection is obvious - Grey's Anatomy plays on Thursday Nights, has a cult following, includes characters being killed off unexpectedly and Shonda runs the show (literally and figuratively). This connection also made things feel more real because as a greys fan I was able to easily imagine this scenario.

I really liked this book and would highly recommend it. It is funny, has a really interesting plot and storyline and is relatable for readers who enjoy watching Drama TV. I am so glad I got the chance to read and review this book! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dennis Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a great time reading Suffer! I found it to be laugh-out-loud funny (often) and unexpectedly touching (in places.) Sloan provides believable fleshed-out backstories to her wildly varied cast of characters, and keeps many balls in the air that come down in places that make you say, "Well, I didn't see _that_ coming."
And as someone who has worked in network television, I'm here to tell you that there's a great deal of truth in these scenes. This book is big fun and highly recommended.

Suffer! It hurts so good.

[Erk H · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say you should never meet your heroes and 20-something friends Theo and Sam are about to find out why that's true when they meet their favorite actress IRL. Suffer is a rollicking, twisty, fun, and ultimately heartwarming story about a group of underdogs who learn to take on all the bullies in their lives. I listened to the audiobook which was expertly narrated by the versatile Chelsea Kwoka who handles a slew of different characters with easy and alacrity, making this rollercoaster of a story even more entertaining. Big thumbs up.

[chloe (chloeslibrary1) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow... this book was so entertaining and I need more! A.C. Sloan is so creative and did such a good job with this plot and the storyline. I loved how the story was told, as everything just unfolded perfectly and made the story an interesting one to read. I loved all of the characters, especially since they all had their own distinct personalities and traits. It's always so fun when authors are able to capture different personalities for different characters so that they can relate to a variety of people, which is exactly what A.C. Sloan did.

I also loved all of the little flashbacks for all the different characters! They meshed together so well and told so many different stories throughout the main one. It was so interesting to learn more about each character's background and why they made certain decisions. Overall, this book was so well written and such a fun read. It's funny and a rollercoaster, to say the least, but it's such a good book. Definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this free arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Firetruckmama · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“Suffer!” Is a debut novel by A.C. Sloan, though her past experience writing for Hollywood certainly shone through this book. I wasn’t quite sure what this book was about, though the Summary does tell part of the story. For me, there was way too much going on in this book. Not that it was difficult to keep track of, but with side story characters with their own drama, it felt a bit like being in a hurricane watching stories and characters whirl about the main focus. For me, this book was a bit too crazy at times along with being a bit too disjointed (a rival fan base is introduced with behind the scenes scheming, but in my opinion, they could’ve been cut out without much affect to the overall story). What I did like was the written screenplay bits and the inclusion of Pristine (including her coping mechanisms). While this book didn't work for me (and I feel could use some additional editing for overall tightening), if a sneak peak into the craziness that comes with super-fans and Hollywood is up your alley, you might want to give this book a read.

[Belle · Rating 2 out of 5]

What an odd story.

I struggled very much to get through it, I had to resort to skimming to get to the end.

The meet and greet doesn't start until 40%. That is a verrrrry long time to get to the meat of the story. Instead, it's filled with things like flashbacks that seemed kinda redundant and didn't add anything. I almost DNF'd then.

To be very fair, the house inspection and the first part of the meet and greet was genuinely funny.

But it lost me again at the kidnapping stage. So, that's a good 90% of the book where I struggled.

I know what the book was going for, but I didn't feel the kids and Dotty were strong enough characters to pull it off.

[Sharon H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pour yourself a plastic flute of Prosecco, open a bag of pretzels, and enjoy this page turner from an insider who gets the Hollywood stuff right--with a healthy dose of satire and, ultimately, heart. Once the plot gets rolling, you won't want to put it down. Given the recent dearth of streaming content, attn. Hollywood development execs: Suffer! would make a nifty limited series. How meta would that be?

[Steven Silverman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equal parts sharp as it is hilarious as it is all kinds of comfortably uncomfortable wrong, Suffer! definitely deserves the exclamation point it has at the end of the title. A.C. Sloan dishes and churns the inside ugly that is Hollywood reality TV in this truly unique read. Buckle up and enjoy this wicked ride.

[Seth Berkowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books you just have to open to the first page. This is one of them. Great characters, outrageous but believable situations and a fun ride where you never quite know where the next turn is going to take you. And, as someone who has worked in television, I can say that outrageous as it seems the story istotally believable! Give yourself a treat.

[Kelly Schuknecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book I got a little nervous that there was going to be a lot of characters. I don’t do well when there are too many characters in a book. I can’t keep everyone straight and I don’t connect with any of them. But as the story went along it wasn’t really that many characters and she got deeper into the stories of just a few main characters.

There’s a part of the plot that gets a little dark, and I wondered where it was going. But it’s like a big part of the story so if you read it, you’ll totally understand. It was a little odd but made it interesting.

The book starts out with a group of friends that are all fans of this TV show. They watch the show religiously and even have an official fan group name. The woman who’s the main character in the TV show is not really a likable person in real life, but they don’t know that (yet).

The fan group interviews to be in a watch party so they can be seen live watching the show’s final episode of the season. From there it just turns into drama. It’s a really enjoyable story and fun getting to know the characters and how they evolve throughout the story.

I don’t even know how to categorize this book. Amazon has it listed as “dark comedy.” That’s probably pretty accurate. If you enjoy dark comedy and/or drama, I recommend this one!