When I started to read the debut novel Esther is Now Following You by Tanya Sweeney I was expecting some funny cosy read with celebrities and their fans as characters. After all, the author herself is well acquainted with the world of celebrities and their ways.
At a certain extent, I was right, this book has one or two things to do with this world of celebrities. But it goes even deeper, into the lures and smokes of our everyday realities, when celebrities may be within reach, and communication is fluid, but without any consistency and meaning. We can say ´hello´ to our favourite star, but does it mean that we are really sharing or being shared something significant?
Esther, the main character of this book, leaves everything behind and starts a new life. Behind is a loss of pregnancy, the grief following it. Her future: being close to her celebrity crush. But this is how life works ?
She is delusional, unrealistic, although funny and naive. She may not be fully aware about the ups and downs of social media. She has her own struggles and mental health is one of the most important of them. We may criticize and make fun of her, even deride her. But are we really honest with ourselves? How often have we been caught in the net of lies we tell ourselves? That excitement of getting in touch with some ´big names´ online, without being actually connected...
There are a lot of thoughts and ideas I got while really enjoying reading this book and following Esther adventures. It leaves you with a sour sweet taste, but nevertheless a very realistic and relatable situation where mindless social media games can lead you.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
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