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The Hemsworth Effect
A sleepy town is about to wake up and smell the turmeric lattes #DontForgetYourKeepCup
It started with the Hemsworths. Now, Byron Bay local, Aimee Maguire, is about to lose everything because she can’t afford to pay the rent. Her engagement is also on an official time-out since her fiancé doesn’t know what he wants. The last thing she needs is a surprise visit from her micro-influencer niece looking to ‘build her brand’.
Her arrival sets off a chain of events that ends with Aimee tangled up with a group of influencers-turned-reality TV stars, exposing her to the absolute worst of humanity. But somewhere amid this mother of all messes there just might be a silver lining Aimee has been searching for. All she needs to do is embrace the one thing she’s been fighting so hard against – change.
Cashed-up celebs, desperate wannabes, cranky Karens and cringe-worthy hashtags – it’s all here in this hilarious novel about the celebrification of Byron Bay and the power of letting go.
Praise for James Weir
‘James really is one of Australia’s best comedic writers. His writing always puts a smile on your face from start to finish.’ Jackie O
‘With his acerbic wit and brilliant take downs, James Weir is a snort-out-loud writer who turns a devilish eye on the wannabes.’ Lisa Millar
‘James Weir is a national treasure. An original talent and an intelligent and hilarious wordsmith. He's the voice of his generation.’ Sam Armytage
It started with the Hemsworths. Now, Byron Bay local, Aimee Maguire, is about to lose everything because she can’t afford to pay the rent. Her engagement is also on an official time-out since her fiancé doesn’t know what he wants. The last thing she needs is a surprise visit from her micro-influencer niece looking to ‘build her brand’.
Her arrival sets off a chain of events that ends with Aimee tangled up with a group of influencers-turned-reality TV stars, exposing her to the absolute worst of humanity. But somewhere amid this mother of all messes there just might be a silver lining Aimee has been searching for. All she needs to do is embrace the one thing she’s been fighting so hard against – change.
Cashed-up celebs, desperate wannabes, cranky Karens and cringe-worthy hashtags – it’s all here in this hilarious novel about the celebrification of Byron Bay and the power of letting go.
Praise for James Weir
‘James really is one of Australia’s best comedic writers. His writing always puts a smile on your face from start to finish.’ Jackie O
‘With his acerbic wit and brilliant take downs, James Weir is a snort-out-loud writer who turns a devilish eye on the wannabes.’ Lisa Millar
‘James Weir is a national treasure. An original talent and an intelligent and hilarious wordsmith. He's the voice of his generation.’ Sam Armytage
432 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2022
48 people are currently reading
436 people want to read
About the author
James Weir
1 book12 followersJames Weir is an award-winning journalist and the mastermind behind a popular reality TV column that has become a must-read. His recaps of Married at First Sight cracked record readership numbers in 2020 and continue to be appointment reading for fans of the show as well as those who never watch it.
Turning his sharp observation and irreverent humour to other areas, he has gone on the road to cover major events like the 2019 election trail and Harry and Meghan’s 2019 tour of South Africa. His satirical Sunday column has been running for three years and is syndicated across Australia in the Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Herald, Sun, Sunday Mail and on the news.com.au and New Zealand Herald websites. Away from writing, he has been a regular contributor and fill-in host on KIIS 106.5’s The Kyle & Jackie O Show for close to a decade. The Hemsworth Effect is his first novel.
Turning his sharp observation and irreverent humour to other areas, he has gone on the road to cover major events like the 2019 election trail and Harry and Meghan’s 2019 tour of South Africa. His satirical Sunday column has been running for three years and is syndicated across Australia in the Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Herald, Sun, Sunday Mail and on the news.com.au and New Zealand Herald websites. Away from writing, he has been a regular contributor and fill-in host on KIIS 106.5’s The Kyle & Jackie O Show for close to a decade. The Hemsworth Effect is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
October 2, 2022
I liked the premise of the book - cashed-up out-of-towners taking over Byron and squeezing out the locals and their understandable annoyance, told in an amusing way. I could totally get behind this premise and the antics of 'influencer reality tv' stars and producers and the local's reactions, but I just could not understand the relationship the main character Aimee had with her 'fiance'. If the bloke I had been living with for 18 years told me that he wanted a break before we got married and then hooked up with a 20-something babe in no time flat, he would be out on his arse so fast, his head would spin. There would be no occasion in which I would still refer to him as my fiance, or even consider marrying him once the 'break' was over. That just seemed too stupid for words. Actually, Aimee seemed a tad naive and made a few questionable decisions that had me rolling my eyes.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
April 2, 2023
I was running hot and cold with this story.
I was initially intrigued by the reality TV plot. I do love a good reality TV show!
Aimee, in her late 30's, has lived her whole life in Byron Bay and is annoyed by the gentrification of the area, which she blames on the Hemsworths. When Aimee gets on her soap-box to air her complaints she gets labeled as 'Byron Karen'. Her rant goes viral and catches the eye of the Bratz of Byron Bay reality show producers and, enticed by the money she badly needs, Aimee finds herself part of the show.
This is about where the story fell apart for me. I enjoyed the humour but besides that every single character annoyed me. The concept of the story was intriguing but the execution fell flat.
I will leave this for the young ones. I'm sure they will enjoy it. May even relate!
* I received my copy through Netgalley
I was initially intrigued by the reality TV plot. I do love a good reality TV show!
Aimee, in her late 30's, has lived her whole life in Byron Bay and is annoyed by the gentrification of the area, which she blames on the Hemsworths. When Aimee gets on her soap-box to air her complaints she gets labeled as 'Byron Karen'. Her rant goes viral and catches the eye of the Bratz of Byron Bay reality show producers and, enticed by the money she badly needs, Aimee finds herself part of the show.
This is about where the story fell apart for me. I enjoyed the humour but besides that every single character annoyed me. The concept of the story was intriguing but the execution fell flat.
I will leave this for the young ones. I'm sure they will enjoy it. May even relate!
* I received my copy through Netgalley
October 1, 2022
James Weir has written a gem of a novel that is full of humour and satire. You can feel the vibes of Byron Bay as it goes through a change coping with an influx of 'influencers', 'the haves and the have-nots', 'the reality film makers', and the 'shifting atmosphere'. Brilliant writing that provokes the reader to experience the story 'first-hand'. Highly recommended five star read.
April 21, 2023
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Award winning journalist James Weir has turned to writing thanks to the release of his first novel, The Hemsworth Effect. Known for his humour and sharp observation skills, Weir has produced a lighthearted and fun Aussie contemporary fiction novel.
The Hemsworth Effect exposes us to the world of celebrities, aspiring stars, and the rise of the hashtag in a story that looks at the glamourisation of a well-known Aussie tourist spot. Thanks to the influence of the Hemsworth brothers in Byron Bay, this popular destination has seen an increase in celebrities and wannabe stars flocking to the area. Local Aimee Maguire is struggling financially and in her personal life. When her influencer niece comes to stay, more problems are in store for Aimee. Despite her best efforts to avoid the influencer life, Aimee becomes mixed up in the celebrity world and the reality television circuit, which turns her life upside down.
The bookstagram circuit came alive a couple of weeks ago thanks to the coverage of The Hemsworth Effect by James Weir. Described by my read-along buddies as a fun, delightful and hilarious, I was keen to get started on this one, it has such a catchy title! The Hemsworth Effect was my luggage buddy as James Weir’s debut accompanied me on a couple of international flights and coach rides. The Hemsworth Effect was an easy read that I turned to when I needed some essential travel down time.
The celebrity and influencer world is on the rise thanks to the strength of social media and reality television shows. I am not a huge fan of influencers or reality television, but they do seem to be very popular topics for contemporary fiction titles of late. Insightful, unpredictable and satirical, The Hemsworth Effect gives us glimpse into the life of both the trashy reality television world and a local from Byron Bay. These two worlds collide well as the novel progresses. I particularly enjoyed the snapshot of Byron Bay and its changes due to the impact of both celebrity stars and influencers. Weir teases these aspects of his novel out well for his audience to both critique and enjoy.
The Hemsworth Effect is filled with an array of wacky, odd and entertaining characters. The lead character is independent and likeable. I would have liked to connect to Aimee a touch more and delve a little further into her life. I have a complicated relationship with the central topic focus so this may have impaired my full enjoyment of the cast and their issues. Weir injects plenty of drama, some emotion and a few amusing interludes to keep this narrative going, it was never a wholly serious read, just an entertaining general fiction novel.
Think hashtags, social media trends, popular celebrities and reality television all in one. The Hemsworth Effect is a witty read for all contemporary fiction readers.
*I wish to thank Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
AD PR PRODUCT
Award winning journalist James Weir has turned to writing thanks to the release of his first novel, The Hemsworth Effect. Known for his humour and sharp observation skills, Weir has produced a lighthearted and fun Aussie contemporary fiction novel.
The Hemsworth Effect exposes us to the world of celebrities, aspiring stars, and the rise of the hashtag in a story that looks at the glamourisation of a well-known Aussie tourist spot. Thanks to the influence of the Hemsworth brothers in Byron Bay, this popular destination has seen an increase in celebrities and wannabe stars flocking to the area. Local Aimee Maguire is struggling financially and in her personal life. When her influencer niece comes to stay, more problems are in store for Aimee. Despite her best efforts to avoid the influencer life, Aimee becomes mixed up in the celebrity world and the reality television circuit, which turns her life upside down.
The bookstagram circuit came alive a couple of weeks ago thanks to the coverage of The Hemsworth Effect by James Weir. Described by my read-along buddies as a fun, delightful and hilarious, I was keen to get started on this one, it has such a catchy title! The Hemsworth Effect was my luggage buddy as James Weir’s debut accompanied me on a couple of international flights and coach rides. The Hemsworth Effect was an easy read that I turned to when I needed some essential travel down time.
The celebrity and influencer world is on the rise thanks to the strength of social media and reality television shows. I am not a huge fan of influencers or reality television, but they do seem to be very popular topics for contemporary fiction titles of late. Insightful, unpredictable and satirical, The Hemsworth Effect gives us glimpse into the life of both the trashy reality television world and a local from Byron Bay. These two worlds collide well as the novel progresses. I particularly enjoyed the snapshot of Byron Bay and its changes due to the impact of both celebrity stars and influencers. Weir teases these aspects of his novel out well for his audience to both critique and enjoy.
The Hemsworth Effect is filled with an array of wacky, odd and entertaining characters. The lead character is independent and likeable. I would have liked to connect to Aimee a touch more and delve a little further into her life. I have a complicated relationship with the central topic focus so this may have impaired my full enjoyment of the cast and their issues. Weir injects plenty of drama, some emotion and a few amusing interludes to keep this narrative going, it was never a wholly serious read, just an entertaining general fiction novel.
Think hashtags, social media trends, popular celebrities and reality television all in one. The Hemsworth Effect is a witty read for all contemporary fiction readers.
*I wish to thank Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
AD PR PRODUCT
April 6, 2023
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
The Hemsworth Effect is Aussie journalist James Weir's first novel and the perfect summer read, it’s witty, full of satire and drama.
We follow the story of thirty-six year old Aimee Maguire who has lived all her life in beautiful Byron Bay, she and many of the locals resent the impact of the cashed up out-of-towners, holiday makers and celebrities taking over Bryon, jamming up intersections and pushing up real estate prices and rents beyond reach. Of course according to Aimee the Hemsworth’s are to blame!
Aimee’s bookshop is under threat as she has to face the prospect of eviction to make way for a new development. She finds herself caught up with TV producers and influencers when a controversial reality TV show starts filming in town. Tim, Aimee’s boyfriend of twenty years has asked for a break so they can see other people before they get married… what the??? How could you even consider marrying him after that! No wonder cranky Aimee has earned herself the name of ‘Bryon Karen’.
Then we have Freya who is Aimee’s niece and a micro influencer unexpectedly arriving in town which adds more drama. I did enjoy the story and loved the friendship Aimee, Charlie and Rob had together.
A lighthearted fun and entertaining read with some memorable music and nostalgic references throughout.
Publication Date 30 November 2023
Publisher Simon & Schuster
Thank you to Tandem Collective Global and Simon & Schuster Australia for having me on the Tandem readalong and for a gifted copy of the book.
The Hemsworth Effect is Aussie journalist James Weir's first novel and the perfect summer read, it’s witty, full of satire and drama.
We follow the story of thirty-six year old Aimee Maguire who has lived all her life in beautiful Byron Bay, she and many of the locals resent the impact of the cashed up out-of-towners, holiday makers and celebrities taking over Bryon, jamming up intersections and pushing up real estate prices and rents beyond reach. Of course according to Aimee the Hemsworth’s are to blame!
Aimee’s bookshop is under threat as she has to face the prospect of eviction to make way for a new development. She finds herself caught up with TV producers and influencers when a controversial reality TV show starts filming in town. Tim, Aimee’s boyfriend of twenty years has asked for a break so they can see other people before they get married… what the??? How could you even consider marrying him after that! No wonder cranky Aimee has earned herself the name of ‘Bryon Karen’.
Then we have Freya who is Aimee’s niece and a micro influencer unexpectedly arriving in town which adds more drama. I did enjoy the story and loved the friendship Aimee, Charlie and Rob had together.
A lighthearted fun and entertaining read with some memorable music and nostalgic references throughout.
Publication Date 30 November 2023
Publisher Simon & Schuster
Thank you to Tandem Collective Global and Simon & Schuster Australia for having me on the Tandem readalong and for a gifted copy of the book.
November 11, 2022
‘… it’s The Hemsworth Effect. That’s what’s ruining Byron Bay.’
Thirty-six-year-old Byron Bay local Aimee Maguire is having a difficult time. Her fiancé, Tim, has asked for an official time-out, and the building she rents is about to be sold. Aimee can’t find anywhere to move her business (The Dream Explosion) because Byron Bay rents are now out of her reach. And then her niece, Freya arrives. Aimee Maguire, a cranky local, is about to become ‘Byron Karen’ and become involved in reality TV.
‘They all end up going back to wherever it is they came from.’
Sit down, relax, and prepare to meet some truly awful people (and a few nice ones). Learn more than you ever wanted to know about Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBL) and the lives of those who want to be influencers. Oh, and be prepared to endure way too much smirking (about forty instances) as the hordes (yes, the good, the bad and the ugly) infest Byron Bay. Proof positive that good taste and money often occupy separate spheres.
‘Why couldn’t everything just stay the same?’
I rolled my eyes; I laughed but I definitely did not smirk. I was amused and occasionally bemused (I am way too old to pick up all the pop culture references, and I absolutely detest reality TV). At the end of this satirical romp through Byron Bay, I crossed it off my ‘must visit’ list and hoped that Aimee found her own way out.
#AimeeMovesOn #NotForTheFaintHearted #TooMuchSmirking
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Thirty-six-year-old Byron Bay local Aimee Maguire is having a difficult time. Her fiancé, Tim, has asked for an official time-out, and the building she rents is about to be sold. Aimee can’t find anywhere to move her business (The Dream Explosion) because Byron Bay rents are now out of her reach. And then her niece, Freya arrives. Aimee Maguire, a cranky local, is about to become ‘Byron Karen’ and become involved in reality TV.
‘They all end up going back to wherever it is they came from.’
Sit down, relax, and prepare to meet some truly awful people (and a few nice ones). Learn more than you ever wanted to know about Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBL) and the lives of those who want to be influencers. Oh, and be prepared to endure way too much smirking (about forty instances) as the hordes (yes, the good, the bad and the ugly) infest Byron Bay. Proof positive that good taste and money often occupy separate spheres.
‘Why couldn’t everything just stay the same?’
I rolled my eyes; I laughed but I definitely did not smirk. I was amused and occasionally bemused (I am way too old to pick up all the pop culture references, and I absolutely detest reality TV). At the end of this satirical romp through Byron Bay, I crossed it off my ‘must visit’ list and hoped that Aimee found her own way out.
#AimeeMovesOn #NotForTheFaintHearted #TooMuchSmirking
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
October 9, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this light hearted read perfect for Summer. It tells the tale of Aimee, a born and bred Byron local who gets sucked into a vortex of influencers, celebrities, confused relationships and reality tv. Highly recommended - it’s fun and relatable.
October 1, 2022
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
Art imitates life?
Nothing heavy here. A light read. Quite a fun book with witty dialogue. Shave about 50 pages off and it'd be perfect.
Art imitates life?
Nothing heavy here. A light read. Quite a fun book with witty dialogue. Shave about 50 pages off and it'd be perfect.
November 15, 2022
The Hemsworth Effect is a light-hearted rom-com set in glamorous Byron Bay, in Northern New South Wales, by established Australian journalist and first time novelist James Weir. I don’t read much of this kind of thing any more, but liked sound of the premise and thought that with a male author, this would be less romance-focussed and more funny. It’s true that it doesn’t follow the typical plot lines standard to the genre, but I didn’t find it particularly amusing - the humour is mostly of the toilet variety - and didn’t like any of the characters.
Aimee Maguire, 36, has run a bookstore/gift shop in Byron since she left school. Like many locals, she resents the summer influx of wealthy holidaymakers who have pushed property prices beyond reach, the pretentious influencers clogging the beaches and the celebrities she blames for attracting them. She’s also upset that her boyfriend of twenty years has asked for a break so they can date other people. When a reality TV show starts filming in the town, she wants nothing to do with it, but a series of mishaps and the antics of her nearest and dearest turn the spotlight on her anyway…
You know you’re getting old when the heroine who feels she’s past it is young enough to be your daughter… I wanted to like Aimee, but despite some sympathy for her situation, her self-absorption, cattiness and idiotic decisions made her hard to cheer for. (I was going to say root for but that means something different in Australian!) I couldn’t believe that a woman of her age wouldn’t just tell her fiancé to get lost when she discovers he’s hooked up with a 20-something. Similarly her selfish friends and niece weren’t any more appealing than the vacuous TV starlets she’s forced to mix with. There’s plenty of social commentary here but I just found it sad rather than “hilarious” as promised in the blurb. To be fair, a few lines did tickle me eg ‘The incident. I love it. Ominous. Intriguing. It’s how Liane Moriarty would refer to it in one of her books–and then it would get really annoying really quickly and I’d just flip to the final pages to find out what the fucking incident actually is.’ but then it’d be back to another vibrator joke…
The story itself is not bad; there is a romance subplot - you know instantly when a character is referred to as “stylishly scruffy…” with “chiselled jaw and dark, sleepy eyes” where it’s going, but I did like the twist in the tale that changed the focus of the story. There’s plenty of bad language and lots of talking about sex, but any that happens occurs “off camera” (apart from the bits the ever-present TV crew manage to capture and leak to the gutter press.) Overall I can see that this would probably appeal to younger readers who might relate better to Aimee and her worldview, to and those who enjoy watching trashy reality TV. One thing I hope the author will consider changing in time for publication are the frequent references to Olivia Newtown-John - Aimee’s friend Rob is a big fan. While the comments are not themselves disrespectful, it still seems wrong to keep bringing her up when she died so recently.
3.5 rounded down for the relentless mocking of my favourite band Def Leppard 🤣 Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Hemsworth Effect is published on November 30th.
Aimee Maguire, 36, has run a bookstore/gift shop in Byron since she left school. Like many locals, she resents the summer influx of wealthy holidaymakers who have pushed property prices beyond reach, the pretentious influencers clogging the beaches and the celebrities she blames for attracting them. She’s also upset that her boyfriend of twenty years has asked for a break so they can date other people. When a reality TV show starts filming in the town, she wants nothing to do with it, but a series of mishaps and the antics of her nearest and dearest turn the spotlight on her anyway…
You know you’re getting old when the heroine who feels she’s past it is young enough to be your daughter… I wanted to like Aimee, but despite some sympathy for her situation, her self-absorption, cattiness and idiotic decisions made her hard to cheer for. (I was going to say root for but that means something different in Australian!) I couldn’t believe that a woman of her age wouldn’t just tell her fiancé to get lost when she discovers he’s hooked up with a 20-something. Similarly her selfish friends and niece weren’t any more appealing than the vacuous TV starlets she’s forced to mix with. There’s plenty of social commentary here but I just found it sad rather than “hilarious” as promised in the blurb. To be fair, a few lines did tickle me eg ‘The incident. I love it. Ominous. Intriguing. It’s how Liane Moriarty would refer to it in one of her books–and then it would get really annoying really quickly and I’d just flip to the final pages to find out what the fucking incident actually is.’ but then it’d be back to another vibrator joke…
The story itself is not bad; there is a romance subplot - you know instantly when a character is referred to as “stylishly scruffy…” with “chiselled jaw and dark, sleepy eyes” where it’s going, but I did like the twist in the tale that changed the focus of the story. There’s plenty of bad language and lots of talking about sex, but any that happens occurs “off camera” (apart from the bits the ever-present TV crew manage to capture and leak to the gutter press.) Overall I can see that this would probably appeal to younger readers who might relate better to Aimee and her worldview, to and those who enjoy watching trashy reality TV. One thing I hope the author will consider changing in time for publication are the frequent references to Olivia Newtown-John - Aimee’s friend Rob is a big fan. While the comments are not themselves disrespectful, it still seems wrong to keep bringing her up when she died so recently.
3.5 rounded down for the relentless mocking of my favourite band Def Leppard 🤣 Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Hemsworth Effect is published on November 30th.
August 14, 2025
3.5 stars
Light Aussie satire
Light Aussie satire
October 4, 2022
The story is not really the celebrities pushing the prices of property up in Byron Bay. It is more about Aimee and her past.The story takes on a vibe of reality show/ drama. Aimee is a real hot mess. She has friends who love her, but she is a really hard girl to like. Despite sharing a space with the celebrities, she hardly pays attention to the comings and goings around her. Her ignorance is a source of pain for her, but a comedy for the readers and those around her.
While Aimee has a reason to skate by with minimal knowledge of things that are going around her, and you feel like you want to splash her with a triple shot latte with oat milk, this makes her real. So when you are frustrated with Aimee, remember that she's fictional, and it is a great work of the author making you angry. Let it go...
Whether if you are Aimee, Rob, Charlie or Freya, being yourself is the moral of the story. And #DontForgetYourKeepCup.
While Aimee has a reason to skate by with minimal knowledge of things that are going around her, and you feel like you want to splash her with a triple shot latte with oat milk, this makes her real. So when you are frustrated with Aimee, remember that she's fictional, and it is a great work of the author making you angry. Let it go...
Whether if you are Aimee, Rob, Charlie or Freya, being yourself is the moral of the story. And #DontForgetYourKeepCup.
January 26, 2023
I’m sorry I was unable to finish this book. I got to over 1/3 of the way through and it wasn’t for me. The setting and precis drew me in, but it was a hard slog to get to where I did.
The main character, Aimee was immature and frustrating, I found her best friend, Jane, even more annoying.
I didn’t find it funny. There didn’t seem to be much of a story line and reading it made me feel I was in the middle of one of those dreadful, fake reality TV shows.
Maybe it would appeal to younger readers or those who enjoy chicklit.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary honest review.
My rating 1*
The main character, Aimee was immature and frustrating, I found her best friend, Jane, even more annoying.
I didn’t find it funny. There didn’t seem to be much of a story line and reading it made me feel I was in the middle of one of those dreadful, fake reality TV shows.
Maybe it would appeal to younger readers or those who enjoy chicklit.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary honest review.
My rating 1*
December 5, 2022
I don't know if this Australian story was trying to be more women's fiction or romance but it didn't really deliver for me on either front. There were some funny bits but overall I found it too long and quite frankly boring for most of the time. A big miss for me unfortunately. The author should maybe stick to their day job.
December 27, 2024
James Weir's given a super fun, fast paced, light, witty great beach read.
Aimee's life as a Byron local goes pretty much into free-fall, Caught up with influencers descending on her town, TV crews and money not far behind and the changes they wreak.
Thanks NetGalley or the ARC!
Aimee's life as a Byron local goes pretty much into free-fall, Caught up with influencers descending on her town, TV crews and money not far behind and the changes they wreak.
Thanks NetGalley or the ARC!
January 21, 2023
It made me laugh a lot, but then the drug sublpot is it where it soured for me. It ended on a flat note for me.
October 19, 2022
This is a great read. It’s funny and entertaining, well written and will last the test of time, despite being set in a time when small coastal towns in Australia are dramatically changing, and in the current craze for reality TV.
The author reminds me of Ben Elton. It’s satire and there’s some black humour as well as some rollicking good fun and laugh out loud moments.
The main character is Aimee Maguire. She’s flawed, full of self doubt and very relatable. Her friends are over the top and provide the backdrop for much of the humour. The reality tv “team” of producers and stars are horrible and just what you suspected they’d be like. Stereotypes? Maybe.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted but well written book, this is one to watch for.
The author reminds me of Ben Elton. It’s satire and there’s some black humour as well as some rollicking good fun and laugh out loud moments.
The main character is Aimee Maguire. She’s flawed, full of self doubt and very relatable. Her friends are over the top and provide the backdrop for much of the humour. The reality tv “team” of producers and stars are horrible and just what you suspected they’d be like. Stereotypes? Maybe.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted but well written book, this is one to watch for.
February 8, 2023
DNF. Oh dear. I wanted to like this book as I enjoy this author’s funny takes on reality shows but oh no this is so boring. And I didn’t really understand what was happening. There just wasn’t any plot And the characters were so shallow and boring and and and... The whole thing was just ridiculous.
January 25, 2023
This was the worst book I’ve read in a while. It was like binging a really trashy tv show.
February 16, 2023
This book had the the Byron Bay location, James Weir author, but didn’t hit the mark for me, some would say I was “blime-fibed”
May 6, 2024
I’ve loved James Weir’s witty reviews of reality TV, he has a gift for cleverly summing up people and their antics in those weird time capsule situations - a chronicler of the zeitgeist. So, I was interested to read his debut novel.
Well, it has lots of clever dialogue and some quirky characters, definitely his forte, but somehow it didn’t all come together to hook me or give me those laugh out loud moments you seek from this sort of novel. I waded through it to see if it would change - I wanted to feel some sort of affinity with these characters, love em or hate em. I anticipated a tribe of flawed but multidimensional folk that I could cringe or laugh along with as the inevitable mistakes and mishaps happened.
Aimee the main character is likeable, her life is in crisis, her relationship and business are both falling apart, and you want her to come out on top of it all. She becomes an accidental reality TV star, accidental drug dealer and finds herself with two ‘accidental’ lovers. A lot happens, but also somehow not that much happens.
Aimee’s lovers both vanish - Jules and Heath disappear - nothing is resolved for her. Even though before them she had only had one lover all her life, we don’t really get to understand how she truly feels about any of this. Wouldn’t some of this rock her emotionally, just a little? Well seems she does get angry at Jules as he wasn’t honest with her about being a (rather BIG) reality star … even though she was secretly one too. Gee, that seemed somehow not the point. Heath, the reality TV producer who seems to look out for her amongst all the crap and who she seemed to really like - at one point - he gets totally forgotten. But then maybe I am just a sucker for true love and needed my fix of it.
Rob, her fun friend and trusty side-kick, happily comes to her rescue when the fiancée proves to be a man-child needing to find himself. She helps lead Aimee astray as well when the opportunity arises. But despite them being close, strangely Aimee never even confides in her that she’s shagging a new bloke - then oops shagging two new blokes! That seemed odd to me - close girlfriends do talk. Especially since Aimee had apparently been in a sex drought for a year (I was surprised the exposure of that on reality TV didn’t cause her a tad more consternation). We sort of never get to know if Aimee gives a damn about either man or even what she really feels for Tim her fiancés - apart from a mild dislike of his new younger girlfriend. Maybe she’s experimenting and finding herself and rediscovering her libido after so long in a stalled relationship - that all made sense - but it would have been good to understand what she felt and what that experience meant for her.
Also maybe it’s a demographic thing, but the #shitthebed event didn’t really work for me as being funny enough to be adopted as a sort of Aimee and Rob anthem.
Tim, who she’d been with for 20 years, out of the blue declares he still supposedly loves her and wants to marry her despite spending the summer ‘on a break’ screwing a younger reality star. Of course Aimee trapped him and prevented him from becoming an internationally successful surfer - so sad - no wonder he needed a break to find himself! Ugh. I thought more could have been made of his childish need to lay blame on her for his own failures and the whole thing of outgrowing your childhood sweetheart. So why didn’t Aimee tell him and his toxic mother off once and for all? At least she does finally come to her senses about Tim and stop considering him her fiancée - her fall-back, codependent safety net.
Some of the story line seemed way too implausible even for the Byron Bay reality TV set up (given a pardon by the cops for a drug sting!) but I guess there was a moral in all that.
It seemed to me that this cast of struggling locals led astray for sort of the right reasons and the toxic, mixed-up blow ins could have exposed something more meaningful about life - how not to live.
It’s a fun summer read, a tale of the moment, but it does skim across the real stuff and in doing so lost the chance to give the characters some heart.
Perhaps the ending was deliberately set so that a sequel can be written.
I am sure James is already working on his next novel, this seems to be him cutting his teeth, so it will be interesting to see what he does next.
Well, it has lots of clever dialogue and some quirky characters, definitely his forte, but somehow it didn’t all come together to hook me or give me those laugh out loud moments you seek from this sort of novel. I waded through it to see if it would change - I wanted to feel some sort of affinity with these characters, love em or hate em. I anticipated a tribe of flawed but multidimensional folk that I could cringe or laugh along with as the inevitable mistakes and mishaps happened.
Aimee the main character is likeable, her life is in crisis, her relationship and business are both falling apart, and you want her to come out on top of it all. She becomes an accidental reality TV star, accidental drug dealer and finds herself with two ‘accidental’ lovers. A lot happens, but also somehow not that much happens.
Aimee’s lovers both vanish - Jules and Heath disappear - nothing is resolved for her. Even though before them she had only had one lover all her life, we don’t really get to understand how she truly feels about any of this. Wouldn’t some of this rock her emotionally, just a little? Well seems she does get angry at Jules as he wasn’t honest with her about being a (rather BIG) reality star … even though she was secretly one too. Gee, that seemed somehow not the point. Heath, the reality TV producer who seems to look out for her amongst all the crap and who she seemed to really like - at one point - he gets totally forgotten. But then maybe I am just a sucker for true love and needed my fix of it.
Rob, her fun friend and trusty side-kick, happily comes to her rescue when the fiancée proves to be a man-child needing to find himself. She helps lead Aimee astray as well when the opportunity arises. But despite them being close, strangely Aimee never even confides in her that she’s shagging a new bloke - then oops shagging two new blokes! That seemed odd to me - close girlfriends do talk. Especially since Aimee had apparently been in a sex drought for a year (I was surprised the exposure of that on reality TV didn’t cause her a tad more consternation). We sort of never get to know if Aimee gives a damn about either man or even what she really feels for Tim her fiancés - apart from a mild dislike of his new younger girlfriend. Maybe she’s experimenting and finding herself and rediscovering her libido after so long in a stalled relationship - that all made sense - but it would have been good to understand what she felt and what that experience meant for her.
Also maybe it’s a demographic thing, but the #shitthebed event didn’t really work for me as being funny enough to be adopted as a sort of Aimee and Rob anthem.
Tim, who she’d been with for 20 years, out of the blue declares he still supposedly loves her and wants to marry her despite spending the summer ‘on a break’ screwing a younger reality star. Of course Aimee trapped him and prevented him from becoming an internationally successful surfer - so sad - no wonder he needed a break to find himself! Ugh. I thought more could have been made of his childish need to lay blame on her for his own failures and the whole thing of outgrowing your childhood sweetheart. So why didn’t Aimee tell him and his toxic mother off once and for all? At least she does finally come to her senses about Tim and stop considering him her fiancée - her fall-back, codependent safety net.
Some of the story line seemed way too implausible even for the Byron Bay reality TV set up (given a pardon by the cops for a drug sting!) but I guess there was a moral in all that.
It seemed to me that this cast of struggling locals led astray for sort of the right reasons and the toxic, mixed-up blow ins could have exposed something more meaningful about life - how not to live.
It’s a fun summer read, a tale of the moment, but it does skim across the real stuff and in doing so lost the chance to give the characters some heart.
Perhaps the ending was deliberately set so that a sequel can be written.
I am sure James is already working on his next novel, this seems to be him cutting his teeth, so it will be interesting to see what he does next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2023
I have long read and enjoyed Weir’s hilarious column in The Sunday Telegraph, so I thought this book would be an extension of that - satirically funny and punchy. And in many parts it was. But as a whole, I laboured through it, forcing myself to stick with it.
It had so much promise: a reality TV production company arrives in Byron Bay to follow the lives of a bunch of cashed-up out-of-towers and influencers taking over the town. Born and bred local, Aimee Maguire, cannot hide her antipathy for the new arrivals and is soon labelled Byron Karen. With her life spiralling after her boyfriend of 20 years and fiancé calls a timeout on their relationship and the building where she runs her bookstore is sold, she finds herself caught up in the claws of the reality TV show.
There is a lot to like in this book and a heap of funny moments, but I feel Weir failed to make them flow into one cohesive story. And while I liked the satirical commentary on the type of people who are attracted to Byron, I found the point laboured rather than explored. And as for the protagonist, Aimee’s easy acceptance when her fiancé hooks up with one of the reality cast was not believable at all. Finally, the ending didn’t provide any real closure or satisfaction, it just ended.
All in all, i guess i was disappointed because it had such good promise but didn’t live up to it and I feel it could have been about 100 pages shorter.
It had so much promise: a reality TV production company arrives in Byron Bay to follow the lives of a bunch of cashed-up out-of-towers and influencers taking over the town. Born and bred local, Aimee Maguire, cannot hide her antipathy for the new arrivals and is soon labelled Byron Karen. With her life spiralling after her boyfriend of 20 years and fiancé calls a timeout on their relationship and the building where she runs her bookstore is sold, she finds herself caught up in the claws of the reality TV show.
There is a lot to like in this book and a heap of funny moments, but I feel Weir failed to make them flow into one cohesive story. And while I liked the satirical commentary on the type of people who are attracted to Byron, I found the point laboured rather than explored. And as for the protagonist, Aimee’s easy acceptance when her fiancé hooks up with one of the reality cast was not believable at all. Finally, the ending didn’t provide any real closure or satisfaction, it just ended.
All in all, i guess i was disappointed because it had such good promise but didn’t live up to it and I feel it could have been about 100 pages shorter.
October 14, 2022
I've read a lot of articles written by James Weir over the years and this book has his signature zing, humour and witty relevance in spades.
Byron has become overrun with influencers and tourists and generally annoying people, and all local girl, Aimee, wants is for them to leave and go back to where they came from.
She's on a time-out with her fiance, her financials are up the creek, and a trashbag of a reality tv show is being filmed in her beloved town. Add a potential new love interest, a deal with the devil, a tonne of passive aggressive swipes (done so very well) and you have yourself a very entertaining story.
I enjoyed this book more than I honestly thought I would. The little additions and mentions of things from the 90s and 2000s were excellent and made Aimee feel so relatable to me. I didn't love the ending, but overall this was a quick, fun read.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Byron has become overrun with influencers and tourists and generally annoying people, and all local girl, Aimee, wants is for them to leave and go back to where they came from.
She's on a time-out with her fiance, her financials are up the creek, and a trashbag of a reality tv show is being filmed in her beloved town. Add a potential new love interest, a deal with the devil, a tonne of passive aggressive swipes (done so very well) and you have yourself a very entertaining story.
I enjoyed this book more than I honestly thought I would. The little additions and mentions of things from the 90s and 2000s were excellent and made Aimee feel so relatable to me. I didn't love the ending, but overall this was a quick, fun read.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
December 27, 2022
I listened to the audiobook. This started off good but I quickly lost interest in the story and I wasn't invested in any of the characters. I skimmed a few parts and it still made sense. Is that good or does that mean this book is filled with pointless things and is too long? I think it's the latter. It was hard to finish this even though I was just listening to the audiobook.
November 12, 2023
A delightful airport purchase. I couldn't put this book down. It wasn't beautiful, eloquent prose to admire by any means, but there's no denying it's an entertaining story. I would have given it a higher rating if the ending had been satisfying. It felt like there were a lot of loose ends to tie up. Where did Heath go?
January 21, 2023
So, so boring. I had low standards but they weren’t even met.
January 15, 2024
This book was kindly sent to me by Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Welcome to a summer of outrageous reality television hi-jinx and influencers galore!
Life hasn’t been the same in Byron Bay since Chris Hemsworth moved to town. Now there’s annoying tourists during the summer, keep cups galore, influencers flooding the streets, and journalists flocking to get a scoop on Australia’s hottest destination for the stars. It’s far from the Byron Bay that Aimee Maguire grew up in, although Byron has always had a bit of an alternative vibe. Now it’s just on steroids. But making this summer worse is the fact that the building housing Aimee’s bookstore is up for sale, her fiancé has called for a summer time-out, and prices have absolutely skyrocketed so she can’t find a new place in town. The only positive is the arrival of her niece Freya, who’s decided her first summer since graduation in Byron. But with Freya’s arrival, Aimee is soon roped into the new reality television series being filmed in town, following a bunch of influencers. And Freya’s one of them. It’s the last thing she wants to do, but with zero savings to her name, the paycheck from being involved will be enough to keep her going for a few months. It’s a world she’s never understood and always been pessimistic about, but if she wants to finally face her fear of change and finally take some risks, she’s going to have to embrace everything this outrageous adventure throws at her.
I’ll admit, this took me a little to get into as I wasn’t quiet sure of the vibes James was going for with this story at the beginning. But once we got into the reality TV stuff, I couldn’t get enough of this ridiculous cast of characters! James has such a fabulous writing style that brings all these wonderfully weird and different personalities to life and really pulls you into the lives of these characters. While Aimee is the focus of the story, there are so many interesting characters that get a chance to shine, and SO many laugh-out-loud moments. The Brats Of Byron Bay really needs to be a real television series because I need to watch this drama unfold onscreen!
You don’t have to have been to Byron to know the stereotype that has been generated about the town, and I think James perfectly encapsulated the Byron Bay vibes, along with the outrageousness of influencer culture and reality television. At the same time, there’s underlying life struggles and realness - it’s not just all sunshine, beaches and hooking up. Between all the laughs, there’s the fear of taking risks, accepting change, finding the strength to move on, and reaching a crossroad in your life.
For a good chunk of the book, I was ready to shit on the whole ‘Aimee & Time are on a no-contact, no-rules break’ thing because it was so weird to me - it was clear from the get-go that Tim was using it as a chance to go out and hook up with people over the summer with no repercussions. None of the Aimee’s friends seemed to question this arrangement, and the fact that it was a suggestion by Tim’s mum (who really grinds my gears) was a major red flag. But obviously, as we progress through the book, we see Aimee realise that her relationship was not the same as it was twenty years earlier when the pair first got together, and that both she and Tim were completely different people all these years later. Questionable method as it was, it provided some interesting and intense moments throughout the book.
What I wasn’t expecting with this book was the final like 20% where things started going off the rails but in the best way possible. This was an absolute riot from start to finish, and James brought it all to close with one last dose of outrageousness. The only thing I wanted to see was a little more resolution with one of Aimee’s summer flings - the book’s focus isn’t romance, but I really wanted to see something a little more endgame for Aimee and the guy I was hoping she’d end up with. But Aimee’s ending was perfect for her after everything that she’d learned about herself throughout this story, so I can’t complain too much. I just bloody love romance books!
This was such a fun summer read with plenty of laughs, sweet moments, and crazy reality television hi-jinx. So book your ticket to Byron to get in on the action and #DontForgetYourKeepCup!
Welcome to a summer of outrageous reality television hi-jinx and influencers galore!
Life hasn’t been the same in Byron Bay since Chris Hemsworth moved to town. Now there’s annoying tourists during the summer, keep cups galore, influencers flooding the streets, and journalists flocking to get a scoop on Australia’s hottest destination for the stars. It’s far from the Byron Bay that Aimee Maguire grew up in, although Byron has always had a bit of an alternative vibe. Now it’s just on steroids. But making this summer worse is the fact that the building housing Aimee’s bookstore is up for sale, her fiancé has called for a summer time-out, and prices have absolutely skyrocketed so she can’t find a new place in town. The only positive is the arrival of her niece Freya, who’s decided her first summer since graduation in Byron. But with Freya’s arrival, Aimee is soon roped into the new reality television series being filmed in town, following a bunch of influencers. And Freya’s one of them. It’s the last thing she wants to do, but with zero savings to her name, the paycheck from being involved will be enough to keep her going for a few months. It’s a world she’s never understood and always been pessimistic about, but if she wants to finally face her fear of change and finally take some risks, she’s going to have to embrace everything this outrageous adventure throws at her.
I’ll admit, this took me a little to get into as I wasn’t quiet sure of the vibes James was going for with this story at the beginning. But once we got into the reality TV stuff, I couldn’t get enough of this ridiculous cast of characters! James has such a fabulous writing style that brings all these wonderfully weird and different personalities to life and really pulls you into the lives of these characters. While Aimee is the focus of the story, there are so many interesting characters that get a chance to shine, and SO many laugh-out-loud moments. The Brats Of Byron Bay really needs to be a real television series because I need to watch this drama unfold onscreen!
You don’t have to have been to Byron to know the stereotype that has been generated about the town, and I think James perfectly encapsulated the Byron Bay vibes, along with the outrageousness of influencer culture and reality television. At the same time, there’s underlying life struggles and realness - it’s not just all sunshine, beaches and hooking up. Between all the laughs, there’s the fear of taking risks, accepting change, finding the strength to move on, and reaching a crossroad in your life.
For a good chunk of the book, I was ready to shit on the whole ‘Aimee & Time are on a no-contact, no-rules break’ thing because it was so weird to me - it was clear from the get-go that Tim was using it as a chance to go out and hook up with people over the summer with no repercussions. None of the Aimee’s friends seemed to question this arrangement, and the fact that it was a suggestion by Tim’s mum (who really grinds my gears) was a major red flag. But obviously, as we progress through the book, we see Aimee realise that her relationship was not the same as it was twenty years earlier when the pair first got together, and that both she and Tim were completely different people all these years later. Questionable method as it was, it provided some interesting and intense moments throughout the book.
What I wasn’t expecting with this book was the final like 20% where things started going off the rails but in the best way possible. This was an absolute riot from start to finish, and James brought it all to close with one last dose of outrageousness. The only thing I wanted to see was a little more resolution with one of Aimee’s summer flings - the book’s focus isn’t romance, but I really wanted to see something a little more endgame for Aimee and the guy I was hoping she’d end up with. But Aimee’s ending was perfect for her after everything that she’d learned about herself throughout this story, so I can’t complain too much. I just bloody love romance books!
This was such a fun summer read with plenty of laughs, sweet moments, and crazy reality television hi-jinx. So book your ticket to Byron to get in on the action and #DontForgetYourKeepCup!
Read
March 25, 2023The Hemsworth Effect follows our main character, Aimee, as she navigates her hometown of Byron Bay as it suffers from celebrity and influencer culture.
This was a quick read, and wasn't too serious. It drops some commentary on the perpetual online nature of modern times, and issues with the impact of celeb culture on Australian towns, by squeezing out the locals who can no longer afford to live there. The premise was interesting, where a reality TV show was filming in Byron and Aimee accidentally finds herself in the show ('accidentally' meaning she needed the money and did agree to it).
The interactions between Aimee/Rob/Charlie and the cast of the show were funny, if a little shallow. The women starring in the reality TV show were definitely one sided and didn't have much of a complex personality. Brooke was very hot and cold and her motives were so hard to follow as it was always passed off as her doing things just for the show. Aimee also had her fair share of awful men. Tim was awful from the start, and the other two men (no spoilers) did lie to her, gaslight her or abuse their position of power. One of them turned out okay, but I'm glad she tossed them all to the side.
The reality TV show plotline led to some funny antics and interactions between the characters. It unfortunately caused Aimee and Rob to be almost tossed out of their homes and stores, but luckily in the end it turned around for them. There was one plot point that it could have absolutely done without -
Thank you to Tandem Collective Global and Simon & Schuster for a review copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This was a quick read, and wasn't too serious. It drops some commentary on the perpetual online nature of modern times, and issues with the impact of celeb culture on Australian towns, by squeezing out the locals who can no longer afford to live there. The premise was interesting, where a reality TV show was filming in Byron and Aimee accidentally finds herself in the show ('accidentally' meaning she needed the money and did agree to it).
The interactions between Aimee/Rob/Charlie and the cast of the show were funny, if a little shallow. The women starring in the reality TV show were definitely one sided and didn't have much of a complex personality. Brooke was very hot and cold and her motives were so hard to follow as it was always passed off as her doing things just for the show. Aimee also had her fair share of awful men. Tim was awful from the start, and the other two men (no spoilers) did lie to her, gaslight her or abuse their position of power. One of them turned out okay, but I'm glad she tossed them all to the side.
The reality TV show plotline led to some funny antics and interactions between the characters. It unfortunately caused Aimee and Rob to be almost tossed out of their homes and stores, but luckily in the end it turned around for them. There was one plot point that it could have absolutely done without -
Thank you to Tandem Collective Global and Simon & Schuster for a review copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
October 25, 2022
Aimee Maguire runs a bookshop in Byron Bay in the space where her parents once sold antiques but she is soon to be evicted. She and her fiance are on a "break". Meanwhile, a reality television show is filming locally and disrupting local life. All of this and more have Aimee feeling particularly cranky about life these days. It doesn't get any better when various secrets are spilled and she starts feeling totally out of control of her life.
This book takes pride in gently skewering reality television and the rising fashionability of Byron Bay. It also is a story about a thirty-eight-year-old woman who had to grow up too fast as a teenager and maybe is stuck in a bit of a rut decades later. And also a story about love, in her family and beyond and how it can transcend everything wrong with life.
While it was a bit of a slow starter for me, this developed into a really good book about a woman taking control of her life in a way she hasn't done thus far. Aimee can come across as annoying at times and I think that's the point. She's not really happy with her life and yet she hasn't realised she needs to take steps to make it better. By everything blowing up all at once, she is forced to face up to what her life is now and what she really wants from it. By the end, she is far better equipped to move forward and all the rest of the problems don't really matter in the same ways she thought they did.
Overall, I give this four solid stars. I would like to thank Netgalley and Simon Schuster Australia for giving me an advanced reader copy. I have provided this review voluntarily.
This book takes pride in gently skewering reality television and the rising fashionability of Byron Bay. It also is a story about a thirty-eight-year-old woman who had to grow up too fast as a teenager and maybe is stuck in a bit of a rut decades later. And also a story about love, in her family and beyond and how it can transcend everything wrong with life.
While it was a bit of a slow starter for me, this developed into a really good book about a woman taking control of her life in a way she hasn't done thus far. Aimee can come across as annoying at times and I think that's the point. She's not really happy with her life and yet she hasn't realised she needs to take steps to make it better. By everything blowing up all at once, she is forced to face up to what her life is now and what she really wants from it. By the end, she is far better equipped to move forward and all the rest of the problems don't really matter in the same ways she thought they did.
Overall, I give this four solid stars. I would like to thank Netgalley and Simon Schuster Australia for giving me an advanced reader copy. I have provided this review voluntarily.
January 28, 2023
As a reader of James Weir’s recaps and media columns as soon as I saw he had written a book I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.
The story centres around Aimee Maguire a Byron Bay local who owns a local bookstore who is about to lose everything as her landlord has passed away and due to prices increasing in the area due to as Aimee refers to it ‘The Hemsworth Effect’ his daughter decides to sell and when Aimee approaches the bank for a loan is told she is unable to afford anything locally.
Aimee ends up getting dubbed the Byron Bay Karen and is approached by a reality tv show called The Brats of Byron Bay which was filming in the area to appear on the show with her niece. The story centres around the drama that unfolds on the show and also in Aimee’s personal life.
Overall I found it to be a lighthearted, easy summer read however I did find it to be quite long.
I want to thank Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for generously providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story centres around Aimee Maguire a Byron Bay local who owns a local bookstore who is about to lose everything as her landlord has passed away and due to prices increasing in the area due to as Aimee refers to it ‘The Hemsworth Effect’ his daughter decides to sell and when Aimee approaches the bank for a loan is told she is unable to afford anything locally.
Aimee ends up getting dubbed the Byron Bay Karen and is approached by a reality tv show called The Brats of Byron Bay which was filming in the area to appear on the show with her niece. The story centres around the drama that unfolds on the show and also in Aimee’s personal life.
Overall I found it to be a lighthearted, easy summer read however I did find it to be quite long.
I want to thank Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for generously providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2022
I honestly feel sorry for this book because I picked it up with 3 days to go for the year and then feel it got caught up in some pressure to be finished in those 3 days 😂
But it was a good choice because it was an easy read, much like watching a reality tv show, specifically Byron Baes 😅
Set in Byron in summer as tv crews roll in to film the various influencers and minor celebrities whilst the locals are put out of their businesses and homes by these rich people moving in and buying up. Aimee is particularly annoyed by and vocal about this and soon gets labelled Byron Karen and talked into being cast in the show.
The story follows the drama that unfolds, both the fabricated and the real gentrification drama. It was a good beach read to let wash over you a little, especially if you like to dabble in a bit of trash tv like I do ☺️ Also the cover is 🔥 and I managed to finish it before the end of the year so 👏🏼
But it was a good choice because it was an easy read, much like watching a reality tv show, specifically Byron Baes 😅
Set in Byron in summer as tv crews roll in to film the various influencers and minor celebrities whilst the locals are put out of their businesses and homes by these rich people moving in and buying up. Aimee is particularly annoyed by and vocal about this and soon gets labelled Byron Karen and talked into being cast in the show.
The story follows the drama that unfolds, both the fabricated and the real gentrification drama. It was a good beach read to let wash over you a little, especially if you like to dabble in a bit of trash tv like I do ☺️ Also the cover is 🔥 and I managed to finish it before the end of the year so 👏🏼
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