An interesting plot but too much of it was sci fi for my personal taste and I found it all a little complicated and disjointed. The book was well written but failed to keep my interest. Thanks to Net Galley for ARC.

I really enjoyed this one. The mix of science, suspense, and a strong female lead made it hard to put down. Kayla is smart, determined, and easy to root for as she uncovers a dangerous secret at her new job. The story moves quickly, with just enough twists to keep you guessing.

I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is unlike any others. It gives a good mix between sci fi and thriller. I am giving four stars because I did not like some of the sci fi included in this book.

Losing the poker hand of her life, Kayla lands 3 years working a job she doesn’t want to and losing her boyfriend in the process. Long and unsociable hours lead to her seeking some downtime in the company’s virtual world of Resilusio, where things take a sinister turn and ultimately end up with her fighting for her existence.

I really enjoyed this futuristic thriller. It certainly is thought provoking about the dangers of AI and technology.

There is plenty of action and the suspense builds up well. I loved all the poker references, being a poker player myself, but I feel not everyone might understand it. I really got behind Kayla and liked her as the female lead. I could visualise the scenes well.

I’d definitely read a follow up and felt like it was left with good potential for a sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zero Day Books for my advanced copy.

It feels like the book starts from the middle of the story, skipping the building of the world and any background information. This made it difficult to follow the initial part of the plot.
By the time things start making sense, the story is almost over and what is left is a series of deaths that serve no purpose and a forced happy ending.
I liked the moral discussions about AI but they were limited and rushed.

At first I thought this was going to be a boring book about poker but 50 pages in a was hooked! Couldn’t put it down. Nothing I’ve ever ready before so it was a good change! I was on the edge of my seat with this techno- thriller!! Will definitely read another one of Tessa’s books.

Kayla’s job has many perks. Among them is a VR rig that lets people feel like they’re living through their ideal experience. But like all programs that use AI, there’s something insidious about Resilusio. As Kayla finds out the truth, her life will change forever.

There was plenty to like here, but also a few things that didn’t work for me. Primarily, Kayla’s usage of the word “daddy” for her father. Grown women should not use that name. It sounds creepy and has very sexualized connotations.

Aside from that, though, this book was entertaining and, at times, even thrilling. A few sections felt too short (Escondido, for one). The author managed to land the plane on a nice note, though, and even left the door open for a sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

Sometimes things may too good to be true! Interesting plot and setting with suspense and twists I was not expecting.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Garbage Man by Tessa Pacelli. This was a really original and thought-provoking read. I loved the premise, a futuristic world where virtual reality created from people’s waste becomes dangerously addictive. The idea of tech, rubbish and alternate realities colliding was really interesting and unsettling at the same time. It’s fast-paced, full of tension and completely immersive. A clever, sharply written debut with a lot to say about control, obsession and escape.

Garbage Man by Tessa Pacelli is a fast, tense read that feels eerily relevant. It dives into surveillance and digital control with a sharp, timely edge. The main character’s fight against a system built to silence people is gripping from start to finish.

Some side characters could’ve used more depth, but the story’s momentum and message more than make up for it. A smart, unsettling thriller that sticks with you.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Thank you, NetGalley and Zero Day Books, LLC., for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
It's not often a book leaves me speechless, but this book had me reeling from the twists and turns. This book originally caught my eye because of her microbiologist background, similar to my own as a student. I was very excited to read a book about a girl navigating the world as a microbiologist and poker player, but when the book takes a sharp and sinister turn, I had to put the book down briefly to process the events. It's not often a book pulls me into the story so deeply, but from page one, I was hooked on the story. I give this a five out of five stars, and I am waiting for more amazing writing from Tessa Pacelli.

Omg this book was literally so good!! I loved it from the beginning all the way to the end. It was such a captivating story! I definitely need to get a copy of this when it comes out for keeping!

2.0. Definitely not my kind of book. Way too much technology, sci-fi and AI. Not for me, although writing was okay. I tried to stretch and get through it but I couldn't. Recommend for folks who like technology, sci-fi and AI.

It had been a while since I'd ventured into the suspense genre. However, when I read this one, I remembered my sincere passion for the genre. This is a fast-paced, intelligent book that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to do nothing but read.
I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the eARC.

Thanks to Net Galley for providing me this ARC.

Garbage Man” by Tessa Pacelli is a techno-thriller that grabs you by the collar and whispers, “Trust no one, especially your screen.”

It’s sharp, fast, and unsettlingly relevant—basically your worst digital nightmare wrapped in a plot twist. The main character’s a badass, the tension’s nonstop, and I read in one day.

Still, if you like your thrillers smart, pissed off, and socially conscious, Pacelli delivers the digital paranoia with flair.

WOW! This was not what I was expecting. It was a sci- fi thriller with creepy AI mixed in. It hit a little close to home and kept me reading to find out what was going to happen next. 4 stars because some of the extreme details bogged it down. Otherwise a really enjoyable read!

The Garbage Man pulls you in from page one and doesn’t let go. Kayla Mousavi is fresh out of Harvard and lands a dream role at General Recycling—the golden child of tech with its magic trash-eating bacteria and larger-than-life CEO. But what starts as career goals quickly turns into a high-stakes thriller where nothing is what it seems.

Tessa Pacelli balances fast-paced corporate intrigue with unsettling psychological twists. Kayla’s journey from ambitious analyst to hunted whistleblower is wild—in the best way. The company’s glossy surface hides secrets that are genuinely disturbing, and the deeper she goes, the scarier it gets.

It’s one of those thrillers that feels a little too close to real life, with technology, power, and privacy all tangled together. Plus, the writing is snappy and sharp, with just enough edge to keep you flipping pages way past bedtime.

If you’re into smart suspense with a tech twist and a strong, relatable lead, definitely put this on your list.

Thank you to Tess Pacelli, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.