This was an interesting and satirical exploration of the wellness industry, women's experiences in the modern workplace, and the impact of social media on society. I love the cover, but the book itself was not my favorite.

This book was right up my alley. I love all things self-care and wellness, but the story fell flat for me. I don't regret reading it however and it was definitely entertaining. *I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

This novel was not for me. While I am sure there are many people who read Jessie Gaynor's work and enjoyed it, I could tell from the first page that I was not going to enjoy the story. In my opinion the shock value of sexual acts written into the plot and the use of "scandalous language" was so blatant that I couldn't even focus on the development of the characters.

Satirical look at the influencers and the whole wellness business. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. especially the narrator's inner dialogue.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Random House for the ARC!

ARC Review - The Glow

Thank you @randomhouse for my copy of this book - it’s out now! 🥂

I was so torn in my feelings for this book! I thought the way the main character behaved was hilarious but so unrelatable, I spent most of my time shaking my head at how ridiculous she was.

The culty vibes were so spot on, I could seriously see how the founder of the wellness retreat in the story was able to rope everyone in! The overall commentary on Instagram and influencer culture was shockingly spot-on and had me cringing a bit knowing how right the author got it.

If you’re looking for a funny read that might making you feel a little bad about your social media obsession, this one’s for you!

Read this if you:
- Want to be shocked by every plot point
- Would do anything to look youthful and glowing
- Want to feel better about how much you love your favourite influencer

Jane is desperate to make it in the PR world so she can pay off her medical debt. After a huge flub with her biggest account, Jane is looking for anyone to represent when she comes across Cass on Instagram. Cass and her husband Tom run a wellness retreat and Jane can tell by the way all of Cass’s followers are obsessed with her that she can turn it into the next big thing.

I totally get what Gaynor was going for with The Glow, however it just missed the mark for me. I'm honestly so over making women a satirical subject and while I can understand why people would think this book is funny and witty it just wasn't for me in the end.

Ok hilarious. Jane, the MC, is so snarky and her commentary was always 100% on the nose. While she grew into somewhat of a villain, she still had me laughing. Glow reminded me of Nine Perfect Strangers + Rouge (M. Awad). My one downside was I wish it was longer/more of a solid conclusion instead of a cliffhanger! Hope this author writes more books

I really enjoyed this satirical look at influence, the wellness industrial complex, and the unique elements of the millennial experience of constructing one’s identity and beliefs. I loved reading Gaynor’s protagonist’s wry, self-deprecating inner monologue, and have numerous highlights of passages that made me laugh. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

A cutting satire, The Glow captures such a prominent sense of malaise and cynicism with late-stage capitalism. As someone who believes the "wellness" scene is almost always bullshit rebranded, AND as someone who has worked in marketing for 15 years and seen the transitions in the field, I intensely related to Jane's struggle. (Though not her penchant for the cult, though it's never too late.) Gaynor's writing was insightful and hilarious. I loved it.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

This book was right up my alley! I loved the narrator and felt deeply connected to her; even during her moments where she was unlikeable. There was so much I related to from her inner dialogue and feelings.

I really liked this books. There were elements that weren't explored more which was disappointing, but overall really good. Liked that it was culty but not too focused on it.

A sharp/witty tale about the beauty industry, and capitalism, and so much else. I immensely enjoyed this book, and look forward to whatever Jessie Gaynor does next!

Thanks to the publisher for the e-galley!

Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me and was a DNF but I am sure other readers will feel differently! Thank you for the ARC!

This was smart and funny, I really enjoyed it. Loved the look behind the scenes of the wellness industry and the impact of social media in general.

Meet Jane Dorner. She's got two sides to her - PR Jane, the bubbly twenty-five-year-old ready to sell you the latest feminist vibrator or self-care subscription box, and Actual Jane, the twenty-nine-year-old who's basically treading water in a sea of medical bills and lackluster dates. Mood.

When her job's on the line, Jane's last-ditch attempt to save herself from the jaws of debt is to snag a big-shot client. Enter Cass, the impossibly gorgeous influencer who radiates wellness vibes, and her husband, Tom. These two run a "wellness retreat" in a sketchy old country house that might just have a hint of cultiness about it.

As Jane delves into Cass's Instagram feed, she sees the golden ticket. Cass is the perfect candidate for Jane's scheme - transform her into the next wellness sensation. You know, the kind who can sell inner peace and radiant skin at a steep price. It's a classic tale of selling out for success, with a modern twist.

What I loved most about this book is how it effortlessly blends humor and social commentary. Gaynor's writing is sparkling and deadpan, and the plot is so cleverly crafted. The whole concept of an industry built on the intersection of money and wellness is ripe for satire, and this book takes full advantage of it.

The characters are complex, and you can't help but root for Jane, even as she contemplates the ethics of profiting off other people's self-improvement journeys. As she molds Cass into a high-end wellness brand, the book raises some compelling questions about the commodification of health and self-care. It makes you wonder what pieces of yourself you're willing to trade for power, beauty, and influence.

I was so immersed in this book that I almost missed my bus stop several times while reading it. Gaynor's writing is addictive and enthralling. Jane isn't a unique character, and I think that that is the point. She is so desperate to be something and to make her life perfect that she is constantly wrecking it and making herself more unhappy despite attaining what she wants professionally. Story-wise, I loved this book, and there were hilariously self-aware moments that really resonated with me. I fully agree with other reviewers that if you like Mona Awad or Otessa Moshgefeh, you will enjoy this book. It's a quick read as well.
I mainly had issues with the pacing and didn't love how everything seemed to wrap up so neatly in the end. There are huge time jumps suddenly in the last quarter of the book, so it feels rushed and retrospectively made the first part of the book feel like it dragged.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book takes readers on a wild ride through the world of public relations, self-care, and the thin line between authenticity and manipulation.

Jane tries to change her life after being questioned at her public relations job for less-than-perfect performance in The Glow by Jessie Gaynor. She sets her sights on Cass, a dynamic purveyor of wellness at a small New Jersey wellness retreat, and attempts to make her into a wellness guru that garners her more followers and more money. Jane can market her to the susceptible clientele of women like her who need to become better versions of themselves. Plus, this would help Jane pay off the looming health care debt she has.

I tried to get into this book because I thought the premise was interesting. Sort of like an ugly duckling premise in a very convoluted way. When Jane visits the wellness retreat for the first time, you know that she has her work cut out for her. There's a long way to go in convincing Cass to become part of her plan and to persuade her husband Tom as well. It started off slow, but I thought it would eventually pick up. It really didn't.

None of the characters resonated with me. In fact, I felt that they were extremely unlikeable. I could not understand why Jane found Cass so incredible and charismatic. I couldn't see it, and the double-speak wellness phrases she threw out were annoying. I'm supposing that they were meant to be funny in a parodic sort of way? And her husband Tom was no better. He was lackluster and apathetic. I found it difficult to like the book when I didn't feel empathy or like any of these characters.

The retreat seemed to bear no redeeming qualities, and there's so much time spent there. If I never see or hear about a zucchini again, it will be too soon. Although, again, I'm supposing this is all meant to be satire regarding the many wellness gurus and retreats that promise results from weird practices and unusual diets, but it just didn't seem funny to me. Maybe I just didn't get it.

And it just takes way too long to see Jane's plans come to fruition. You reach one place where it seems like nothing is going to come together, and Jane is barely employed, to another where Cass is an international sensation, and Jane is free from her money problems but has lost her soul. It was such a blink-and-you'll-miss-it transition that it didn't work for me. The book flows as far as language goes, but I found myself losing more interest the closer I got to the end.

Jane works in PR and seemingly does not see her life going anywhere. Sure she has a great job and dating isn't hard, but she's looking for something that makes her feel *something*. When she gets obsessed with Cass, a wellness influencer with a retreat, she dives head first into Cass and her husband's lives, ready to clean up their retreat and start making money. What she finds instead is a similar emptiness and better skin.

I wanted this book to give me "Sad Janet" vibes so badly, but it just didn't capture my attention.

<i>Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.</i>