Scan barcode
emilyrowanstudio's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
4.75 rounded up - This is a fantastic book and I would love to see it win the Women's Prize (although I don't think it will).
I love books like this. So 2023, so modern, so political, so about social media and internet culture.
I'm a Fan is told in short chapters, many less than a page long. Some are first person narratives where our protagonist loses herself in The Man I Want To Be With and The Woman I Am Obsessed With, some are essays about race, womanhood, manhood, art, and some are a mixture of both.
I can see why this such a marmite book. If you're not a lover of the internet, or intrigued by fame and influencer culture, or fascinated by the way we can so easily be found and traced online, then you won't "get" this. It as an acquired 21st century taste. The protagonist, and three of the other main characters, are never named. They are all horrible and unlikeable people. The impersonality with the lack of names combined with the spewing of dark thoughs and deep desires, the conscious and unconscious will to destroy themselves, the sinister traits of their character - there is much here reminiscent of the MCs in Eliza Clark's Boy Parts and Otessa Moshfegh's My Year of Rest in Relaxation, but I'm A Fan is smarter than them both. The social and political commentary interspersed with the non-linear plotless prose is expertly done.
I'm A Fan is so of the moment yet so one of a kind. This is a near perfect book. I can't wait to see what Sheena Patel does next.
[To add - and this has nothing to do with the book itself and only the reception it has received - I didn't find I'm A Fan as dark as I expected. Unhinged, certainly. The actions of the protagonist make you wince at times, but to be labelled 'dark' I was expecting something more explicitly sinister to happen].
I love books like this. So 2023, so modern, so political, so about social media and internet culture.
I'm a Fan is told in short chapters, many less than a page long. Some are first person narratives where our protagonist loses herself in The Man I Want To Be With and The Woman I Am Obsessed With, some are essays about race, womanhood, manhood, art, and some are a mixture of both.
I can see why this such a marmite book. If you're not a lover of the internet, or intrigued by fame and influencer culture, or fascinated by the way we can so easily be found and traced online, then you won't "get" this. It as an acquired 21st century taste. The protagonist, and three of the other main characters, are never named. They are all horrible and unlikeable people. The impersonality with the lack of names combined with the spewing of dark thoughs and deep desires, the conscious and unconscious will to destroy themselves, the sinister traits of their character - there is much here reminiscent of the MCs in Eliza Clark's Boy Parts and Otessa Moshfegh's My Year of Rest in Relaxation, but I'm A Fan is smarter than them both. The social and political commentary interspersed with the non-linear plotless prose is expertly done.
I'm A Fan is so of the moment yet so one of a kind. This is a near perfect book. I can't wait to see what Sheena Patel does next.
[To add - and this has nothing to do with the book itself and only the reception it has received - I didn't find I'm A Fan as dark as I expected. Unhinged, certainly. The actions of the protagonist make you wince at times, but to be labelled 'dark' I was expecting something more explicitly sinister to happen].
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
madamelacy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The unnamed female protagonist obsesses over an unnamed, married older man and obsessively follows (online) him, his wife, another lover and that lover’s associates. The book was often challenging over issues such as misogyny, fidelity, racism and classism.
Written in short, frequently anachronistic chapters, there was no real plot and an abrupt ending with no resolution. Written in the first person, I found the woman selfish and unlikeable.
The triviality of online fandom is highlighted with the man’s other lover being an already privileged white girl with a blue tick which afforded her a greater following.
The book really made me think about who has the dominant voices in society.
Written in short, frequently anachronistic chapters, there was no real plot and an abrupt ending with no resolution. Written in the first person, I found the woman selfish and unlikeable.
The triviality of online fandom is highlighted with the man’s other lover being an already privileged white girl with a blue tick which afforded her a greater following.
The book really made me think about who has the dominant voices in society.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking and Gaslighting
Moderate: Infidelity and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual content
risemini's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Colonisation
your_true_shelf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think the writing style of this book just wasn't for me. I liked the concept and I found the reflections on the fakeness of social media, racism and class very well done. However the characters are all so unlikeable, there's no character development and the writing style just isn't my cup of tea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Classism
feebles640's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Gaslighting, and Classism
ivulikkivulik's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Partially, this book reminds me of Luster by Raven Leilani. I feel like the books have similar writing styles. However, the plotline of Luster is more enjoyable. However, I still really enjoyed reading I’m a fan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Stalking
alishamegan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
everythingaboutthisissad butalsoastute
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
kirstym25's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content