The Atmosphere is a place designed to transform toxic men into tolerable humans-𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯. It’s a cool, snarky, slightly satirical premise with great writing. I liked it despite the unlikable characters, which says a lot for the author’s talent! I’ll definitely look for what they put out next.

Sasha is a disgraced influencer who's trying to redeem herself by "retraining" these men with her childhood bff-Dyson. They’ve gathered a dozen “trainees” at a cabin setting in rural New Jersey, determined to purge the toxicity from each man.

Each time I thought the book was headed in one direction, we pivoted to something even more interesting. (I absolutely loved the DAM concept!) This is definitely a book I’d recommend to friends who love cult-y, weird little books. (I have plenty of those!) Thanks to Atria books for an earc.

This is a satirical look at the world today where men are put into or join rehabilitation centers (cults) to rid themselves of their masculinity and one such cult is run by two friends that are washed up in their own lives and perhaps this is better than nothing.

Sasha was a rising star until a man (troll) kills himself and blames her...and weirdly, society jumps on the bandwagon and starts hounding and harassing her and she is stuck in her apartment with no safe way to get out. Sound somewhat familiar in today's world? This type of behavior by the masses is very common and one could say they are bullying her for something that really wasn't her fault. She didn't put the gun to the guy's head. However, it is her words that are what get her into trouble. I found the whole situation very sad and felt for Sasha and what she was having to go through.

Dyson is a successful actor as long as he doesn't have any speaking roles and is apparently sought after for those types of roles. I guess everyone has to have a strength somewhere. He decides to start a cult on some land his parents own/gave him in New York. What ensues is quite interesting between the men that become a part of this cult and what they have to do to stay there and become "better" men. On one hand, it is absurd, but on the other hand, Dyson starts digging into the men's history and what brought them to this point in their life. In a way, it is helpful to several of the men. One thing I noticed is that the men in this cult were all white men and they were being taught to be less white....another stab at society today?

I have to give the author credit for poking fun at what we see in the world today and how out of control it has gotten. There are a few lines that did stick out to me that I want to share because I agree wholeheartedly with these thoughts:

"No one communicates. They'd rather troll and drag and call out and harass and cancel. It's painful. And my industry is the problem - tech companies killed communication, with social media, texting, apps that tell you when to express your love for someone."

"Because that's the problem now: everyone has all these thoughts and ideas and they spread them without considering whether they might hurt someone else."

If you are into satire and dark comedy, this is probably a book you will want to read. I saw another review that compared it to Black Mirror and the weirdness of that show, and honestly, I could see this book being made into an episode of that show.

We give it 3 1/2 paws up.

Such a timely and interesting story. Social media/influencing, cancel culture, doxxing, toxic masculinity. This has it all and it's tackled with biting wit and incredible insight. The drive to come out whole on the other wide and persevere through all the BS keeps you turning the pages. It hits so close to home for what we see in these troubled times, and it is handled gracefully and with humor.

When things hit bottom for Dyson and Sasha, they decided to start a cult for white men. A cult designed to rid men of their toxic masculinity and heal them physically, emotionally, and socially. I guess I’m just not overly fond of satire as this book did not resonate with me. It was on the depressing side and just not a book I enjoyed reading.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect with The Atmospherians, I went in fairly blind and was expecting more of a comeback story and well, that was a naïve expectation. Instead, I got a satirical look at a disgraced social media influencer who experiences online doxing at its absolute worst and a look into toxic masculinity. This book took me on a bizarre journey of satirical parody and I have to say, I liked it.

I think it took me a bit to realize that, hey, this is kind of hilarious and it’s supposed to be while on the flip side I was also equally horrified by certain aspects. Despite the sardonic nature of the book, there’s a lot of tough topics addressed. The characters were off just enough to seem realistic and struggling with many of the issues we all face today only a bit larger scale and brought in to high focus.

This is one I’ll let marinate a while to absorb its full effects but it’s a worthy and entertaining read that fully utilizes the reality of the world today but in a way that shows both the humor and the horror. My thanks to Atria Books for the gifted DRC.

"The Atmospherians" by Alex McElroy is a difficult book to rate. While the premise is good, a satirical story of a cult designed to cure its members of their toxic masculinity, parts of the book dragged so much that I found myself skimming instead of really reading. None of the characters were likeable, and I couldn't really relate to any of them either. It did tackle a lot of important real-world issues though. I think many readers will find this book much more enjoyable than I did. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this book by Alex McElroy - 3.5 stars.

Sasha was a social media influencer and founder of a women's wellness company when contact with a troll led her to be despised by men and left with nothing. Her childhood friend, Dyson, has a plan to start a men's rehabilitation community (cult) and wants Sasha to run it with him to restore her image. The program actually tries to cure men of their toxic masculinity and restore them to a new way of life. Of course, neither Dylan or Sasha has any clue what they are doing!

This was a well-written, satirical look at lots of current topics - gender roles, social media, tech and wellness companies. There were parts - the lists! - that made me actually laugh out loud! But I wasn't probably the best fit with this book - I never really gelled with the characters or plot. But don't let that stop you from picking up this intriguing read! Loved the cover too.

Thank you to Netgalley and Alex McElroy for an advanced copy in return for my honest review. The Atmospherians is available to to purchase and read on May 18, 2021.

Sasha was on her way to being the next big influencer on social media with her company ABANDON when tragedy struck and she lost everything from her apartment to her boyfriend. Thankfully, her childhood friend Dyson talked Sasha into starting a cult for men with hopes of making the world a safer place.

This book was odd. It felt a little Sci-fi to me, which is not typically my jam. The beginning did peak my interest especially with the mystery behind Sasha's downfall but then it got weird. Dyson was creepy and I couldn't understand what Sasha saw in their relationship. Overall, this book was not for me but the concept was interesting and unlike anything I've ever read.

The Atmospherians was a welcome reprieve from my usual historical fiction and psychological thrillers. The social media influencer turned summer camp cult leader description caught my eye because of how bizarre, yet timely, it seemed.

In many ways, the story was semi-dystopian describing a world where man hordes created chaos. However, perhaps due to the insanity of this past year in lockdown and the past few years politically, the storyline seemed more probable than ever.

Sasha was a depressed recluse after a social media comment turned deadly, while Dyson was looking for validation after a failed acting career came to a halt. Sasha and Dyson were childhood friends and they teamed up to create a cult for men looking to improve themselves and their lives. The theme of the entire novel seemed to be about improving yourself and correcting your faults. Although Sasha and Dyson both claimed to want to give back and help others, they were both entitled and narcissistic looking more for the glory of helping others than actually doing it.

If it hadn’t been so dark, it might have been more comical that the pair felt they were actually qualified to psychoanalyze and teach men to be better versions of themselves. Sadly, it does seem like if you build yourself up and claim it, others will buy into whatever you’re selling. It is, after all, a big part of how social media works. It also demonstrated though how easy it might be to actually create a cult.

I couldn’t decide if I related to Sasha’s telling of the story or couldn’t fathom how self-centered she was, but I thought Alex McElroy did a phenomenal job of creating these flawed characters to root for despite the mess they continued to create, constantly making things worse in their search for improvement and validation. It was an interesting view of self-help and mental wellness. At the end of the day, sometimes the hardest thing to do is the most important – embracing and accepting yourself.

This is an insightful examination of several interesting modern issues, including technology companies, the role of social media, gender roles, and the wellness industry.  

It focuses on Sasha, an up-and-coming Instagram beauty influencer.  When she publicly pushes back against one of the trolls in her comments and he takes his own life in a public video that blames Sasha, her whole world comes crashing down.  She loses followers, her famous boyfriend, most of her friends, and her job.  At what she thinks is her lowest moment, her former best friend, Dyson, shows up with a surprising idea -- the two of them should start a new movement focused on rehabilitating men, with the goal of creating a national organization that would bring them the fame and fortune they had both unsuccessfully sought with their previous endeavors. 

Sasha finally agreed and the two launch The Atmosphere with a small group of men.  Things don't go quite as they envision, however, as Sasha, Dyson, and the followers' ideas of what is needed and what their goals should be come into increasing conflict -- with consequences for not just The Atmospherians but society more broadly.

This book was both a strong narrative and an interesting critique of many societal dynamics.  It offered thought-provoking insights into some of the most trenchant challenges of modern society, embedded in an engaging story.  Definitely worth picking up.

Highly recommended!

This was an interesting and powerful read. Sasha, a successful influencer, sees her world collapse when she lashes out against a commenters who had been harassing her and he then takes his own life. At rock bottom, her former best friend from high school, Dyson, appears and suggests they join together to start a new movement to rehabilitate damaged men. The two join forces to start the movement with a small group of men but things don't do exactly as either Sasha, Dyson, or their followers expect.

This was an engaging story, weaving together a strong narrative around the complicated relationship between the two main characters with a perceptive examination of issues related to wellness, society's pressures on both men and women, and technology.

Strongly recommended!

This unique story of a disgraced social influencer and her childhood friend from New Jersey looked at what happiness and success may be, from different viewpoints.

When Sasha has hit rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up, right? She’s afraid even Dyson, the friend she’s known since childhood, doesn’t want to be associated with her anymore. When he shows up with a radical idea to create a cult and cure men of toxic masculinity, she may as well go along with it; she’s already lost her internet brand, and her waitressing job, and she’s being evicted from her apartment.

What could have been funnier came off as a bit too serious for this reader. Sasha definitely seemed pretty snarky and amusing in her own head, but the things she and Dyson did together and separately that were detrimental to those they claimed to be helping were somewhat depressing. Instead of having a little remorse for the unfortunate state of the world, and poorly functioning men in particular, they searched for some way to improve their own station, and then figured maybe it would help someone else.

Overall, I’d give this book 2 out of 5 stars. It may be better suited to someone with a darker sense of humor than I have these days. Its statement of the state of things was cynical, with a definite edge of commentary on social media, men’s issues, and self-acceptance.

Although it had its moments, this one just wasn't for me. I hated the characters and *spoiler alert* they killed the cat...

Completely intrigued by the comparisons to books like Red Clocks and Women Talking.., but think the satire and focus of the commentary on toxic masculine culture perhaps made these comparisons seem misplaced for me (like I was set up to expect a different book).

This read a little too heavy handed for me (even considering it as satire) - the initial “event” that the narrative starts with for Sasha particularly didn’t seem to work and scenes like the one at the uniform printing store felt vastly out of proportion (again, even appreciating it is within the realm of satire).

DNF ~25% mark (please disregard star rating as I didn’t finish)

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this title.

I keep going back and forth on my rating for this one - it's satire, but I'm not fully sure it knows what it's fully aiming for in terms of what it's skewering. A successful influencer is brought down by an errant comment online and runs off with a childhood friend with the intent of starting a cult to help with toxic masculinity. There's a _lot_ happening in that last sentence, and while the book pokes at influencer culture, "cancel culture", and ~w e l l n e s s~ in its first part, it's a little all over the place and can't really focus on where it wants the reader's eye to be.

After a too-brief second part that perfectly skewers Big Tech's approach to the same problems, we're back at the cult, albeit in a more successful form that also feels too short and sweet when it had more to say. There's slightly too neat of a bow tied at the end of all this after a messy start. When it's on, it's ON (and there's some great ideas like the nature of Man Hordes that are just explained _enough_ that the author's skewed vision of our world shines through, but I almost DNF'd this right before it got good.

𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝. 𝐈 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚.

Sasha Marcus is a victim of cancel culture, after a horrifying incident, leaving the former “internet sensation, social media sweetheart and the face of Abandon” (a skin care and wellness regime), forced into taking a job at a fusion restaurant to ‘cushion the blow’ from the fall out. There is nowhere to hide, though, from the raging, men’s rights protestors shouting outside her apartment, causing even more conflict in her life. Everyone has turned on her, believing Lucas Devry, whose act has spoken brutally and violently loud. With her future hanging by a thread, she turns to her old friend Dyson- who comes to the rescue just when she lost hope and thought that he, too, had turned away from her.

Dyson, the man who shared their moody teenage years in a solidarity of suffering. Dyson was once a chubby boy whose self-debasement made his ‘fat boy body’ less of a target. Laugh with them and you’re ahead of the cruel game. It is Sasha who was privy to his real world, the toxicity of a father who can’t seem to stomach a ‘soft bellied’ son. Body issues have followed him like a mean shadow into adulthood, and could well be the seed for birthing a cult. With his acting career built mostly on commercials and background roles, and the brief stroke of inexplicable success in small appearances having eventually dried up, he has an idea burning within his brain that may save them both! This, this is going to be more than just a new passion! Dyson is going to open a rehabilitation community for men, having inherited land through his father’s parents. A secluded place that was once intended as a summer camp, can easily house clients. It is perfect for his plan, here twelve men will detox from society, be handled with love and care and finally escape the world that has deeply damaged them with it’s demands and hard luck. Angry, emotionally stunted men that can be rehabilitated before they alienate their family and the rest of the world. Away from the rage triggers, they can learn to love, thrive in structure, learning to be tender human beings. He is invested in society’s men, and she can help him!

With “man hordes” taking over the country, this is a cause that may help her star rise again, but how will she handle being surrounded by men as toxic as the protestors who have been stalking her? Dyson isn’t without fault himself, despite his passion, he too can be manipulative, a trait she blames herself for. But there is nothing to be done, there is no other life waiting for her beyond this chance, which may well be her last. What follows is a provocative, intelligent story. Who really knows how absolution is earned and more importantly, who gets to decide the people that deserve it? Is masculinity a ship to be steered? Is Sasha a victim or a bully herself? Many lines are crossed in looking for salvation. What is pain for men? How do they process it, what does it mean to be tough? Are women, like Sasha, as tender and fair minded as she thinks? Does she ever empower herself at the expense of a man? What could the world be like without masculinity? Isn’t ambition, too, a toxic thing? Should anyone attempt to refine another? How much control does it require, and what must those seeking rehabilitation sacrifice?

This is artful manipulation, and it is a novel with interactions that are agonizing in many respects. Provocative, engaging with parts comedy and horror, at least in my mind. What a unique read! This could kick of some interesting conversations.

Publication Date: May 18, 2021

Atria Books

Sassy satire and wicked humor, I think this is the book that many people will love and others will simply just not think it is funny at all. That is satire at its wicked best! Masculinity, characters that are hard to like, cults, influencers, and our ways of living are questioned in this unique read! Would love a better more compelling cover as this one seems more bland than I would expect from such a cutting edge book! Definitely a worthy read to challenge your way of thinking and laugh out loud!

This book has a bit of everything mixed in and I found it wildly entertaining. It is so relevant to the times and I will be recommending this book. I just don't think the cover does it for me and would like it to just be more exciting. The description is what sold me, not the cover.

Sasha Marcus was the creator of a high profile wellness brand, until an internet troll took his life and blamed her in the process. In one fell swoop, she lost everything and became a pariah. When she had no one left to turn to, in swooped her oldest childhood friend, Dyson—a failed actor with a history of body issues. He had a plan to start a new business venture, The Atmosphere, and he would make Sasha the face of the project. The Atmosphere was a rehabilitation community for men, based in an abandoned summer camp, billed as a workshop for job training, but actually a rigorous program designed to rid men of their toxic masculinity and heal them physically, emotionally, and socially.
I thought the desciption of the book sounded promising,but unfotunately I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. All of the blurbs talked about how funny it was, but I guess my sense of humor and theirs are completely different because I didn't find it that funny. I didn't think Sasha or Dyson were likeable and I couldn't get invested in their characters. The storyline just felt forced to me. I had high hopes, but this just wasn't a book I particularly enjoyed.

The Atmospherians by Alex McElroy is a 2021 Atria Books publication.

Okay- well, that was different!

Satire is hard to balance, but if it is done right, I love it! This book hits an uncomfortable mark as it examines influencers, toxic masculinity, and body image, and perhaps the role we play in it.

Sasha is a successful influencer, until an unforeseen tragedy sends her popularity plummeting, turning her into a pariah in an instant. At the height of her anxiety, her old friend, Dyson, approaches her with a opportunity. He wants Sasha to be the face of his planned cult, which will be disguised as a workshop for men hoping to cure themselves of their toxic masculinity. They will name the cult ‘The Atmosphere’ and the members will be called ‘The Atmopsherians. ‘

Desperate to escape the frightening reality of her life, Sasha agrees to join Dyson at an abandoned summer camp where they will invite a specific number of men, from a curated list of candidates, to join them. Upon arrival, these men will dedicate their lives to cleansing themselves of their ingrained traits of toxic masculinity.

As the cult grows more bizarre, as the only woman at the camp, Sasha walks a fine line, especially since she only agreed to this madness out of pure desperation.

Sometimes a point is best made through satire. Preparing oneself for anything satirical, means accepting that you are being made fun of, in a sarcastic, occasionally caustic manner. This novel is a parody, with laugh out loud funny moments, but the truth is, it wouldn’t be funny, if there wasn’t some truth in it.

Satire can also be rather dark, and this novel has some gruesome moments- so be warned. Mostly, though, the book definitely hits on the pulse, and components of our current culture and society, and does so with searing and occasional graphic stabs at some very serious topics.

One must look at the whole picture, to understand what’s being said here. It’s not just a localized bashing, it’s open season on all of society.

Typically, the word ‘cult’ in a book synopsis will draw me in like a moth to a flame. But, in this situation, the cult, an ingenious move on the author’s part, is one of the most screwball cults ever, making the setup seem more like a means to an end- but it’s the perfect environment to examine all the issues at play and a perfect opportunity ponder they ways in which might contribute to them.

For me, though, I thought the most important theme was how our society is addicted to self- performance, always ‘on’ … being followed, observed, and recorded, by an enormous audience on social media platforms and YouTube, with people overrating their own importance, while overlooking troublesome issues, such as the impact or consequences of their ‘influence’- and to what end?

To feed an illusion, an unrealistic, ego driven image, all for the sake of ‘likes’, followers, subscribers, and the headiness of power, through ‘influence’- and how this continual spectacle has affected all those who dwell in this ‘atmosphere’, including the casual observer.

From the outside looking in, it seems dangerous, not only to one’s physical and mental health, but for our society, overall. Here we see a couple deprived of their ‘fix’, desperate to keep in contact with that adulation, and then finding other ways to satiate their dependence on power and ‘performance'.

This is a strange little book, I must say, but I got a kick out it, dark though it was at times. It was hilarious, clever, and serious, very well- written, and smart. You may recognize yourself in this book, but, even if you are like me, and don’t follow all that wellness and influencing stuff, you’ll recognize the characters for who and what they represent. The message is there for you to decipher, either on the surface or on a deeper level.

Maybe someday, we’ll all get lucky, and someone will intentionally topple the whole house cards, even if it is only to escape their own self- made trap. Maybe then, people will awaken, as if from a long sleep, and return to building real relationships again- one's based on morals, merit and principle, instead of popularity, influence, or performance.

Overall, I liked this book- it’s funny, sure- but remember- satire often exposes the underbelly in such a way to avoid strident offense. One has to be able to read between the lines of the exaggerated scenarios to see the way it exposes some unflattering, but important insights and promotes independent thought.

4 stars