This book was not what I was expecting at all, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was unlike anything else I've read. We follow three characters throughout the story, which is split into three parts. Each part has a different cadence/writing style to it, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This novel is dynamic and wonderful - I flew through it. Eugenie's writing is moving - she conveys emotion in such a raw, beautiful way. I will be thinking about these characters for a long time.

Thank you to Mullholland Books & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found the whole concept of a story within a story super interesting and the idea of completely telling a story on Twitter by creating individual characters that Tweet @ each other until one disappears and peppering the Tweets with clues as so ingenious, I have to admit that I was waiting for the shoe to drop and to figure out what the heck was going on in the main character's life? She started out seeming so normal and then after a few paragraphs, you can see her as just a typical depressed lonely millennial girl who's working in the big city, living with roommates and being disenchanted with life but the background of starting each of her mornings with the same paragraph made it feel very strange.

I give credit to the author for creating likeable characters that seem relatable and you could imagine them as your actual colleagues and all of them had pretty normal activities and conversations despite the sense of "not everything is as meets the eye" feeling throbbing in the background. Kaya who is Jane's best friend is likeable and believable whilst her boss Tom and the Twitter author Jeremy seem well developed with opinions and authentic interactions with Jane.

Just when you think the book is getting to a happier note, BAM! the main character dies and is discovered having been murdered and the second half of the book starts. The second half is a fast paced murder mystery that has you on the hook to resolve the murder of Jane. The fact that there are 2 clear parts to the story and how the descriptions change in the second half, show a clear pick up in pace and it literally feels like you went up on the roller coaster on the first half and zoomed down in the second half to find out who the killer was.

This is about 74% of the book and then all of a sudden there is a third part of the book which is like a podcast format of the writer Jeremy and the podcast host and it's really an interview as if Jeremy were a real person and writer and is completely unrelated to the actual story although it does mention Jane's death. I thought that the last 25% of the book should have been dropped personally but I can't wait to see what the reactions of others are once the book is published!

Both a sweeping and a claustrophobic story about who we are in reality, on social media, and in our own memories. This book defies genre and seeks to tell a story meant for more than one type of audience. I enjoyed the different voices from the three narrators and was impressed with the skillful style Montague utilizes. Montague brings each character to life, gives them depth, and makes you feel deeply for them. Reading each chapter felt like its own life and the end left me grieving for the voice/narrator I was so invested in. Even when I was rolling my eyes at Jeremy, I was also moved by his story and was compelled by his analyses. I wanted to dwell in Jane's mind and wished her chapter was longer. I found Jane to be very relatable and insightful and would have read an entire novel just about her day-to-day. Overall, I was left with questions about how we display ourselves, how we are perceived by the world around us, and if our stories are written by us or for us. I would recommend this to those who are interested in how social media and true crime impact the individual and society, and those who enjoyed The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty or Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield.

This was killer, I loved the different genres it plays with alongside the classic thrills and reveals of a murder mystery. The characterization is excellent, Jeremy in particular is so insufferable I physically rolled my eyes several times during the interview portion. It poses a ton of rich thematic questions about authorship, memory, and the influence of the internet on both. Would teach super well in a digital humanities class or a class on the novel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars
How do we know if we actually know a person?

This was such an interesting and different read. I had a free day, so I was able to sit down and read it in about a day. Once it gets started, you get sucked into the unique voices of the characters. It is a pretty easy read to get through in one setting. It leaves you thinking about the complexities of life and people. Who are we really outside of social media? Who are we really outside of the person we portray ourselves as in public?

The shift between the different characters of Jane, Jesse, and Jeremy was interesting. Each character has a distinct voice and life, so it was easy going between each character. Jane was probably one of the most relatable characters as it can be hard to find balance in your life when you seem to be consumed by work. It felt very noir-style detective when we finally were able to get to Jesse and even Jeremy. The repetition of Jane's scenes left a funny feeling in my stomach as I realized that I'm a lot like her. It makes you reevaluate your life just a little.

I do think going into this book it was just a little confusing. This might've been a choice as I felt very lost, just like Jane seemed to be in her own life. It was nice to get that change with Jesse, as I did find it a little monotonous and predictable.

The prose was very well done, and I did not find myself often kicked out of the story because I was confused. I like the cover art, and I think it connects to the story well. The ending was a little hard to get through, as we had just been through the interesting perspectives of Jane and Jesse. You fall in love with those two, and then you get to Jeremy.

I wonder if there would have been a way to circle back to either Jane or Jesse? Like add a part at the end, so the ending we have now is not the actually ending? This is one of the reasons I gave it a 4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the advanced copy!

When identities can be so easily fabricated through social media, art, and miscommunication where does the genuine self end and the created version begin? I enjoyed the character studies in Swallow the Ghost that follow this question as the lives of Jane, Jeremy, and Jesse intertwine. The narrative was sprawling and gripping to me, as it shifts from the monotonous life of Jane and her poor work-life balance, the meandering investigative work of Jesse, and the final interview with Jeremy that details the effects these two characters have had on his writing life. I'm interested in how this book is able to wield repetition, such as through the repeated details of Jane's routine and the exploration of Jesse's mother's dementia, while still feeling unique and surprising.

I would recommend reading this book without knowing too much about it: it is a rewarding experience to be patient and let it surprise you. It reminded me of I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai, but I liked the stylistic choices and variety in Swallow the Ghost much better. Ultimately, I am rating it 4.5 stars (but I will round up!) as I felt the last third was less revealing than the previous two sections, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless and read it in one sitting. Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the advanced copy.

okay so, wowie! I loved this one! idk if I just didn't read the synopsis thoroughly but it went in a completely different direction than I expected after part one, and I looooved that! such a cool story - very meta at times, and I really appreciated the focus on social media as it relates to true crime. I think fans of 'Penance' by Eliza Clark will especially appreciate that element! it was very detective-esque without falling into many cliches or tropes of the genre, and at times I was truly on the edge of my seat !!

I was fully prepared to give this 5 stars (my first 5 star read of the year!) but I didn't love the final section of this book , and I unfortunately have to drop my review to 4.5 (rounded down to 4 for the sake of the review) stars instead. Jeremy is a character I didn't particularly care about, especially by the end, and I wish the book ended on a different note, maybe circling back to Jane or something. I ultimately found myself bored by this section, which was unexpected since I was really invested in the rest of the book!

either way, this one was hard to put down and a real treat. thanks net galley and mulholland books for the arc!