A review by eleniphant
A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch

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 )
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