The most shocking part of reading this book was realizing that this is only Sloane Crosley’s second novel. I feel like she’s been around forever, I loved her debut novel, The Clasp. In this novel, Lola is thirty something, living in New York City and working as a magazine editor. Engaged, but unhappy, she begins to experience a series of coincidences that involve running into ex boyfriends. As it turns out, this has all been a manipulation orchestrated by a cult run by Lola’s previous boss. Cults, memories, nostalgia, regret and the consequences of the life choices one makes all swirl in this fascinating, at-times uncomfortable and layered novel. Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the advanced review copy.

Lola is poised to marry her current boyfriend when she begins running into her exes in the streets of New York like she's Ebenezer Scrooge. Eventually she finds out her old boss, now the leader of a cult-like, New Agey startup is behind these encounters, which force her to confront her past relationships while contemplating her current one.

Funny and acerbic and very NYC, Cult Classic is easy, entertaining reading even if I didn't fully connect with it in quite the way I'd hoped.

I was not able to fully get through this. I made it to about 30%, skimming more and more as I went, then finally just skipped to about 94% just to see what the ending was like.

The plot of this book is that a woman “coincidentally” runs into all of her exes one by one, so perhaps I should have expected quite a bit of pondering. I was thinking it would be more zany or something. But it was just really meandering and navel-gazing. I give it 2 stars because 1-star ratings are for books I want to throw across the room, and it didn’t make me mad, I just couldn’t get into it.

(Side note, I don’t think it helped that all the exes and the current boyfriend were described in ways that made them sound vaguely disgusting. I am not sure if this was intentional but it did make it hard for me to align myself with the narrator.)

This book is funny in its witty yet poignant observations about dating and exes and love. Without the humor, it might feel as dating often feels -- in the words of an early 2000s teen rom-com, "useless and disappointing." But every page contains fragments of universality despite the limited nature of our main character, Lola's dating history, and the singularity of her exes. While her exes might not resemble the reader's, her feelings of dissatisfaction, questioning, and wondering "is this it?" are all universe feelings that accompany dating.

I found myself laughing, tearing up, and nodding along to this novel, which reads more like a memoir than a novel. I think anyone who has dated in a big city will find this relatable, and I think there is a comfort in how benign yet shaking it is to go on date after date and wonder where it's going, only to find it at its end before it ever really got started.

Highly recommend.

This was my first book by Sloane Crosley and she definitely lived up to her hype as a clever and witty author. Cult Classic has some excellent one-liners and a handful of very insightful passages on the nature of modern relationships. That's where the novel really shines - when it's focused on the hilarity of heterosexual relationship tropes.

Including the word "cult" in the title is a dead giveaway that one appears in the novel. (That's about all I feel I can mention without giving anything away.) I loved the premise of someone having to revisit what are essentially the ghosts of boyfriends past before settling down for marriage. Brilliant! But when it came to the actual cult, the content was disappointingly real. I was hoping for a bit of magical realism or creepiness - or both! Alas, this novel was ultimately not creepy or magical.

I enjoyed Crosley's authorial voice, so I'd love to check out more of her work! Sadly, though, I don't think I'll be recommending Cult Classic to anyone I know.

Lola is engaged to Boots but is she ready to get married? She's asked herself that multiple times but then while Boots is out of town, she runs into an ex. And then another one, And another. What's going on? Turns out her former boss Clive has a weird setup which allows people to revisit their exes. Every time she meets one of them, Lola goes back for a debrief. It's an odd conceit but there's also a big twist. The exes are a hoot, the NY atmospherics terrific. No spoilers from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

It was difficult for me to connect with the characters in this story. It was slow paced and I could not follow the storyline. Will try a reread in a few months.

I was intrigued by the cover and storyline of this book, but it wasn't for me. The writing was drawn out and confusing. It was difficult to connect with the characters.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past meets 2022 Manhattan startups in Cult Classic. Is it satire? Is a not-so-far-off reality? Unclear, but Sloane Crosley's latest is an interesting analysis of modern relationships, and the idea that everyone in your life may serve a purpose on your own personal journey. Over written in some parts but poignant in many others, I enjoyed the novel and it certainly is an interesting thought experiment or perhaps post-mortem for past relationships.

"The shadow ... was a reminder to appreciate whatever lies beyond our way of thinking, the order of a world made no less logical by our lack of understanding and no less valid by our skepticism."

Cult Classic has proven itself to be a truly unique reading experience with so much good food for thought. Sloane Crosley's brilliant writing kept me engaged throughout even when I felt utterly confused. At the core of the story, Lola finds herself confronting the ghosts of her dating past on the streets of Manhattan, reflecting on her past relationships as she questions the viability of her current engagement.

"Love is agreeing to live in someone else’s narrative."

With an obsession with the emotions of the past and the help of the power of suggestion, Lola explores the depths of her romantic consciousness and the possibility of coincidence to determine if she can finally let go of the past. Each encounter with her former relationships adds something statement making to her journey through her memory pathways revealing something special every time.

"Lola ... sometimes people just need to be told what they want."

Perhaps this book tried too hard to incorporate a vast array of genres cohesively, lending itself to a slower pace. Yet the way everything came together for a spectacular denouement only solidified how incredible this story was. I don't think this book will be for everyone but I strongly suggest reading it while keeping a completely open mind. I've been wanting to read this author's work for years and I would not hesitate to read more.

** Special thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available June 7, 2022. **

At times it feels like everything FSG decides to print - automatically becomes my favorite. And no, it’s not out of some blind faith or ignorant following. This publisher tends to partner with authors and works so aligned with the core of the publishing house that publications come out easy, balanced, and give off the vibes of a hole-in-one.

Cult Classic is weird, hilarious, and feels like The Newsroom without the constant misogyny and a more age-appropriate and likable MC.

Witty and imaginative. The cast of characters was gripping and made the story easy to be invested in. I loved the setup of having Lola running into her Ex-boyfriends all at the same restaurant three nights in a row and it being a serendipitous coincidence, but it turns out to be something more. Lola is used as an experiment test subject by a former boss for a service that helps you find closure by helping individuals run into exes. Clive's new age "cult" having using meditation as a guise for algorithmic influence felt cheeky and fun. Doing autopsies on past relationships in order to discover Lola's own flaws with commitment and her own desire for free will in relationships really comes together for a fulfilling ending.

I first heard of Sloane Crosley several years ago when there was a lot of hype for her books of essays. They’ve been on my TBR ever since. I did finally read her first novel, The Clasp, and loved it. I love Crosley’s writing style. I was excited to see she had another novel to be published.

I finished Cult Classic in a day. It’s short, the suspense never stops, and it’s funny! I laughed out loud more than with any other book I can remember. The observations about the world and the people in it are so accurate.
This book is a “ghosts of boyfriends past” story. The boyfriends are not actually ghosts, but there are some mystical powers at work that bring them back into the life of Lola, the protagonist. I love that this book is set in New York and provides some fun little details about the city.

The reason I removed one star is that the writing at the beginning was quite dense, and I had to struggle a bit to put myself in the story. But once I was in, it was a breeze. This novel is so much fun!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital review copy of this book.

I requested an ARC of this book after seeing that it was named most anticipated book of 2022 by Glamour. It didn’t disappoint on the humor side - full of sarcastic snark and witt. 💁‍♀️ It didn’t get a higher rating because I did have trouble connecting with the main character, Lola, emotionally. I can’t tell if it’s because the emotional depth wasn’t there in this book (maybe it wasn’t intended to be) or I just personally had a hard time connecting with it?? It may be a me problem! If you’re looking for a quick hilarious read I would definitely check it out. Pub Date is this Tuesday, June 7th!

I went into this book with as little information as possible and, overall, I really liked it. I really enjoyed Sloane Crosley’s writing style that made this book seem shorter than its 300 pages. It’s a fun book to pick up if you’re looking for something that kind of reminds you of the movie Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux via NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux via NetGalley for the chance to read Cult Classic from Sloane Crosley. This was an unexpected quirky and funny book. It is hard to summarize the book, a story of seemingly coincidental run-ins with ex partners following a dinner with work friends, that moves into an examination of self doubt, young adult worries about complacency and moving forward/feeling stuck or worries about "settling" . What stands out in this book is not just these subtle themes but also the humor and even snarkiness woven into the story; Lola has a voice and is more real and present than she realizes. I think the very nature of questioning and wondering and feeling outside/alienated often means someone is moving into a next phase of maturity and wisdom.

There are also questions about how and why these run-ins happened, who might driving these Lola's experiences, and movement into fantasy type themes about identity and connection and feelings of being disengaged, an outsider in one's own life. I think this is a timely book that fits in with other recent books I have read, including A Novel Obsession and Other People's Clothes, and reflects a generational set of voices who are highlighting not uncommon feelings of disaffectedness and alienation that many young adults navigate; the future seems wide open but also the vastness is lonely and the pressure to know who/what/why you are (and to settle down and into "adulthood") is alienating and disconcerting for many.

I also listened to part of this work on audiobook, narrated by the author, and I highly recommend that option to add to this reading experience, it worked well for me to hear the book read by the author to capture some of the humor and tone she/they wanted to convey.

Lola is out for drinks with former co-workers when she runs into an ex. The next day, another one and then another, and another. What begins as a coincidence suddenly doesn't seem to be one anymore. When she finds her former boss, things get an unexpected turn.

What a disappointment. The book relies strongly on the main character, and Lola is extremely unlikeable as are all of her friends, co-workers and friends. I couldn't stand spending time inside her head, not only ih she extremely self-absorbed but she also complains a lot and is full of herself. She makes these big statements, intending to be profound but it only comes out as pretentious. As all of her friends. Her relationship with her fiancé is supposed to be the main motivation for everything that happens. But since she doesn't care about it, why should I? I didn't buy their relationship and wasn't invested in it, especially with what happens by the end. I just wanted them to break up and move on. And I just didn't why she kept going along with what Clive created; she just didn't have to show up, considering how much she was against the whole thing.

Speaking about what Clive was doing, it was just so unbelievable and the author didn't explain how Clive managed to pull it off, how he managed to manipulate everything. It was simply happening because it was convenient and there was no other way the plot would move along.

Reading this book was unfortunately such a chore that it took me a while to finish it.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

I am almost unable to put into words how much I needed and loved this book. Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy for an honest review. The story of Lola and her past relationships is fun, witty and even a bit emotional. There is just something about getting a bit of closure on your past. I could not put this down. I am new to Sloane Crosley but will definitely reading more of her work

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this novel about memory and past romances and what it means (maybe) to get closure. Lola is quite the character. A New Yorker who always seems worried about finding the next great thing and possibly having missed out on something wonderful. Currently engaged, she is given the opportunity to visit past loves to get closure. I'm not going to try to describe more of the plot, because this is best experienced for yourself, but I will say that Lola's musings on loves past, and what they mean to your life, are spot on. Even the mundane.

"One night in New York City’s Chinatown, a woman is at a work reunion dinner with former colleagues when she excuses herself to buy a pack of cigarettes. On her way back, she runs into a former boyfriend. And then another. And . . . another. Nothing is quite what it seems as the city becomes awash with ghosts of heartbreaks past.

What would normally pass for coincidence becomes something far stranger as the recently engaged Lola must contend not only with the viability of her current relationship but the fact that both her best friend and her former boss, a magazine editor turned mystical guru, might have an unhealthy investment in the outcome. Memories of the past swirl and converge in ways both comic and eerie, as Lola is forced to decide if she will surrender herself to the conspiring of one very contemporary cult."

Thanks to NetGalley and FSG for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this one and also am glad I didn't really know what it was going to be about when I started reading it. I was, of course, drawn to the cover but the writing and story really sucked me in quickly! First, it was so witty, so pithy. I highlighted so many paragraphs... and still, I could have saved more words from this book. Perfect ending, incredible premise and just so well written. Definitely recommend! I know I will think about this book often.

Cult Classic comes out next week on June 7, 2022, and you can purchase HERE!

It's unfortunate, I thought, how some of the world's most productive conversations are breakup conversations.

People think, "If only we could have talked like this the whole time, things would've been different" But you couldn't have. That level of honesty requires a resoluteness achievable only be being within spitting distance of the exit.