A smart and hilarious exploration of society’s obsession with external beauty under the guise of wellness.

We meet Jane as she is bored at work but desperate to keep her PR job so she can slowly pay off her enormous medical bills. She spends a lot of her time on Google and Instagram. Sure, she does a lot of research on her ex’s current girlfriend but she’s also looking for the next big thing she can help publicize. When she sees a photo of a stunning woman who leads a “wellness retreat” (or a cult, depending on who you ask), she knows she has found her success story. Jane attends the retreat to find out more about what is Cass’s deal and to convince her to hire Jane.

The writing is as gorgeous and glowy as Cass’s skin. There is much to enjoy here, including the clever skewering of a culture willing to spend countless resources on anything deemed "self-care" (as someone who has, like Jane, purchased arguably overpriced and itchy wool sweaters made in Europe, I had to laugh in recognition).

Jane was the highlight of the story for me and I was immediately drawn in by her petty, incisive (yet vulnerable), self-preserving, and witty personality. You are not sure you want her to succeed but you kind of hope she does. By the end, I was wondering if I should incorporate kelp and bee pollen into my diet. :) 4.5 stars. Recommended to anyone in the mood for a snappy take on (or lighthearted takedown of) the wellness industry.

Thank you very much to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Jessie Gaynor has written a whip smart black comedy! In The Glow, we meet Jane, a PR writer (or "maven:) living a haphazard life in New York. Still waiting to find herself, Jane is crippled by medical debt and barely getting by. She jumps at a chance to visit a wellness retreat she discovers on social media, thinking she can be credited with the discovery of the next best thing. Once she arrives however, Jane wonders if she has stumbled into a cult, a true visionary, or the next big fake.

Join Jane as she explores the cutthroat world of women's beauty, social media influencing and true spirituality. The Glow is fast moving and you will enjoy every minute, even while you question your own beauty regimes.
#RandomHouse #TheGlow #JessieGaynor

I absolutely loved reading this book. I was completely drawn into the topic and could not stop reading it.