Reviews with content warning for Rape - A Novel Obsession

Wow! What a stunning debut from Caitlin Barasch! This book is kind of a thriller, about a writer obsessed with her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend. The main character was immensely unlikeable but I was absolutely riveted, waiting to see where things would go! I definitely feel like this was unique and I haven’t read anything like it. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the copy.

Content Warnings

ukponge's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

eleniphant's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

+ Super engaging as a read I could not put it down, cemented the female-led dark literary fiction as a genre to me
+ Our lead narrator does very problematic and unforgivable things and yet we are in her head and Barasch crafts her so dynamic and compelling- we get not excusing but explanation of what led Naomi to this point and left with questions on accountability, trust, victimhood, and escapism.
+ A very quick read, I love how it was focused on the two women- It was hard to get a sense for anyone else but makes sense with how Naomi’s insecurities made her so self-obsessed as she was in the stalking.
+ unnerving, uneasy, it is so wrong what Naomi does and you are kept waiting for an explosive end ( and betrayed by a part of yourself feeling bad to a degree that you want everything to work out for everyone- after all the reader is held hostage by Naomi’s insecure thoughts, self-justifying, and self-sabotaging behavior you just want her to STOP )

Content Warnings

basicbookstagrammer's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

thebrokebookblog's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A big thank you to Netgalley for granting me an advanced copy of "A Novel Obsession" by Caitlin Barasch in exchange for an honest review!

Bookseller and writer Naomi has been searching for the one great story of her life, and she may have found in Caleb – a nice Welsh guy who understands her quirks and needs in a way no partner before had. However, when Naomi learns that Caleb’s ex, Rosemary, lives in the same city as her and works in the literary industry like she does, Naomi searches for just how their stories intertwine – after all, if Rosemary seems like a better version of Naomi, they must have something in common beyond Caleb...right?

Caitlin Barasch’s debut novel will hook you right in as Naomi stalks Rosemary throughout New York and integrates herself in the narrative. While I would not go as far as to classify this as a thriller, the suspense that Barasch infuses in Naomi’s interactions with literally everyone in this novel will have you turning the pages frantically and hoping that she doesn’t - or maybe does - get caught. For a read that is reminiscent of A Simple Favor, Verity, or The Arc, place your request for Caitlin Barasch’s A Novel Obsession.

Content Warnings

mirandacactusreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

More...