Such a cool premise for a book that unfortunately fell flat for me. I love the protagonist and her day in day out dreary corporate life. I felt that hard. The thinly veiled Ariana Grande character and her obsession with her and subsequent fan club scenes were a departure, but a fun one. However, as good as the writing was, I couldn’t quite mesh with the story. And the ending left me scratching my head, and not in a good way.

So, this one wasn’t for me but I’d love to see what the author comes up with next.

I wanted to enjoy this book. Not being a millennial, I barely understood anything the characters said. It was a whole world of difference and I couldn’t finish the book without major skimming. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me an early arc in exchange for my honest opinion. Sorry I found nothing to like about this book. Too weird for me.

While the malaise, the ennui, the other words that are surprisingly fun to say were, at times, a bit overwhelming, that's actually kind of what made it work? Like, you didn't want to follow along with this person's journey, but, really, she isn't all that into it herself, so it comes off as bizarrely endearing and alarming at the exact same time.

Relationships with fans, idols and tensions between. Mystery, thrills, twists and turns. Characters who surprise. Just what you want in this genre.

I've been thinking of a way to describe this book, and the only one I can think of is -- unhinged. It's written to make you feel uncomfortable, with a culty twist mixed with grown adults acting like boyband-crazy tweens. Half the time it made me think, "why am I reading this?" but then I also couldn't stop reading it. It was definitely not like I expected, and the open-ending just made the book even more unhinged... in a good way.

I love Mira's lineup, and this book caught my eye immediately. That pink cover is absolutely stunning the synopsis was right up my alley. I was thrilled to be approved and quickly dove in.

When a millennial editor at an internet news site discovers a group of women obsessed with the same pop icon that she is, her mundane life takes a turn to the dark side. Adriana Argento is more than a musician; she is their reason for living, the breath of their existence, and as her new album approaches its release date, the Ivies take their celebrity worship to the next level.

I went into this book with very little idea of what to expect and I'm so glad I did.

This book is an experience.

To start, Mayer nails the narrative voice. So often we see millennial culture portrayed as glamorous, Insta-worthy. And while there are people in her circle who embody these archetypes, our narrator is far from the carefree avocado-toting influencers she encounters. She has a roommate, a budget, a thankless job she readily admits is pointless. She clings to her old friendship until Meghan thrusts herself into her life, introducing her to the Ivies and forcing her to embrace the guilty pleasure that is one, Adrian Argento's music.

The execution of the friendships really reminded me of some of my favorite toxic girl groups. The Craft, The Furies, Mean Girls--all those elements of competition and fear of exclusion are there, except in this instance, we also get this delicious commentary on the obsessive and dangerous nature of celebrity worship. Instead of a god and church, we get a cult-like attachment to a celebrity. The ritualistic behavior, the picking apart of every morsel of gossip, pap photo, and social media update is portrayed as both normal and aggressive, both sides of the coin, and the line between healthy interest and extreme obsession is blurred and stretched. I loved Mayer's exploration, even though there were several moments I visibly cringed at the events. You're supposed to feel uncomfortable, and in that discomfort, you question your own level of reliance on pop icons.

Overall, Fan Club is an unsettling, insightful, smart exploration of pop culture and millennial identity. Out in October, this one will leave its mark.

Thank you to Mira and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

As a millennium, I really appreciated the writing style of Fan Club. I was able to really relate to the characters in the story and that felt awesome. This book was often uncomfortable to read, but that's what made it so good. Whether you like a good thrill or you've ever been a part of a fan Club for a celebrity you love, check this out.

I was provided a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t know what I expected with this thriller but it definitely delivered the unexpected. Riveting characters and a great plot and a few twist that I didn’t expect it