A Novel Obsession - by Caitlin Barasch (Paperback)

About the Book

"Twenty-four-year-old bookseller and Manhattanite Naomi Ackerman is determined to write a novel--to prove the believers right and the disbelievers wrong (though she finds herself falling into both camps, depending on the day). When, after years of disastrous Tinder dates, she meets Caleb--a perfectly nice guy with a Welsh accent, a non-pretentious job, and a unique patience for all of her quirks--she feels she's finally found something to write about: the newness of love. But then, Rosemary enters the scene. When Naomi learns that Rosemary, Caleb's ex-girlfriend, is not safely tucked away overseas as she'd assumed but in fact lives in New York and works in the literary world, she is fundamentally threatened and intrigued in equal measure--if they both fell for the same man, they must have something essential in common, right? And is Rosemary the jilted ex who led Caleb to his true match, Naomi, or is it Naomi who is simply a bump in the road before Caleb and Rosemary find their way back together? Naomi is determined to find out how their stories intertwine ... She is a writer after all. But when Naomi's casual Instagram stalking morphs into a full-blown friendship under false pretenses, she can't seem to get herself to quit Rosemary, in whom she finds an unexpected confidant--and she can't stop writing about her either, now having found the real perfect subject for her nascent novel. As things spiral out of her control, and fact and fiction become increasingly hard to separate, Naomi manipulates the most important people in her life in pursuit of her craft-her family, her friends, Caleb, Rosemary, and, perhaps most devastatingly, herself--until she's finally forced to decide who and what she's willing to sacrifice to write them all the perfect ending"--

Book Synopsis

A Good Morning America Buzz Pick, and a BuzzFeed and New York Post "Best Book of 2022"

"If you've ever felt tempted to 'keep tabs on' a partner's ex on Instagram and then found yourself down a rabbit hole of their vacation posts from three years ago, this debut novel--which follows a 24-year-old New Yorker named Naomi who becomes obsessed with her boyfriend's former girlfriend--is for you."--Vogue, "Best New Beach Reads"

Twenty-four-year-old New York bookseller Naomi Ackerman is desperate to write a novel, but struggles to find a story to tell. When, after countless disastrous dates, she meets Caleb--a perfectly nice guy with a Welsh accent and a unique patience for all her quirks--she thinks she's finally stumbled onto a time-honored subject: love. Then Caleb's ex-girlfriend, Rosemary, enters the scene.

Upon learning that Rosemary is not safely tucked away in Caleb's homeland overseas, but in fact lives in New York and also works in the literary world, Naomi is threatened and intrigued in equal measure. If they both fell for the same man, what else might they have in common? The more Naomi learns about Rosemary, the more her curiosity consumes her. Before she knows it, her casual Instagram stalking morphs into a friendship under false pretenses--and becomes the subject of her nascent novel.

As her lies and half-truths spiral out of control, and fact and fiction become increasingly difficult to untangle, Naomi must decide what--and who--she's willing to sacrifice to write the perfect ending.

Review Quotes

A Most Anticipated Book of 2022 by BuzzFeed, The Millions, Goodreads, Bustle, BookRiot, and The Nerd Daily

"Barasch has a talent for balancing discomfort and empathy, pushing the reader away and pulling them right back.... The characters are emotionally engaging, beckoning you to rubberneck the inevitable train wreck."
--Associated Press

"Wow, if you're looking for a great book you'll be instantly obsessed with, A Novel Obsession hits the nail on the head--in both title and story.... I couldn't put this book down. It became a page-turner on my commute to work (both ways) and there won't be another one like it.... It's so spicy."
--New York Post

"A Novel Obsession easily holds a place as 'best book of the year' in my heart so far. It takes a sharp, thoughtful look at the depths of curiosity, obsession, and self-sabotage, and is bound to intrigue you from the very first chapter."
--Farrah Penn, BuzzFeed

"[A] withering debut."
--Harper's Bazaar, "The Best Beach Reads of 2022"

"Caitlin Barasch's writing overflows with humor, compassion, intrigue, and the chaos of identity. It overflows with life itself."
--Jonathan Safran Foer, New York Times bestselling author of Here I Am

"This book is a ride. An unruly study of fixation, performance, and the exquisite agony of anonymity."
--Raven Leilani, New York Times bestselling author of Luster

"At once a compassionate portrait of someone so desperate for intimacy that she can't help but sabotage it and an incisive study of female friendship at its most toxic and proprietary, this dread-laden psychological thriller is smart, jarring, and funny.... Propulsive storytelling and an irresistible narrator from a sharp new writer."
--Kirkus, starred review

"Barasch peels back the layers of [her character's] obsessive behavior and apparent emotional detachment to reveal a deeply damaged but utterly compelling young woman.... Barasch's suspenseful puzzle-box tale should appeal to readers of the You series by Caroline Kepnes."
--Booklist, starred review

"Naomi as a narrator is both entertaining and anxiety-inducing, as you know her actions won't culminate into a good ending. But you'll stay to see it through, in any case. This thriller can be both funny and smart and showcases such an unhealthy example of female friendship."
--BookRiot

"[A] stunning debut.... A Novel Obsession is a story about people--at their best and worst. Plot aside, Barasch reminds us of a simple truth: everybody has a story."
--Rachel Schwartzmann, BOMB Magazine

"I've never met a more original plot than what I've page-turned with A Novel Obsession. A girl who's obsessed with her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend? Now you know that's going to be juicy! .... It's one of the best-written books you'll thank me later for recommending, too."
--New York Post

"I kept turning pages, myself obsessed, waiting to watch it all come crashing down around [the protagonist]--and I'm happy to report that the crashing was quite satisfying. I said this was a beach read for writers, but it's really a read for anybody who's interested in identity creation, flawed people doing creepy things and lonely women making choices."
--Emily Cataneo, Raleigh Magazine

"This is one of those beach reads that Edan Lepucki described -- it's one that will have you ignoring the ocean and, instead, immersing yourself in the depths and dangers of Naomi's insecurity-fueled obsession."
--The List, "5 Books That Must Go On Your Beach Vacation Reading List"

"Propulsive, unsettling and searingly funny, Barasch offers an unflinching (and often devastating) look at self-worth, loneliness and an entire generation's preoccupation with performance and control. A Novel Obsession is the most entertaining book I've read all summer."
--Ella Berman, author of Read with Jenna book club pick The Comeback

"Somehow simultaneously a high octane page-turner and a heartbreaking character study of a young woman so afraid of being alone, unloved, and uninteresting, that she can't help but leave behind claw marks on everything she grabs hold of. Barasch's genre-bending debut is inventive and electric, signaling the arrival of a bold new voice in fiction."
--Jean Kyoung Frazier, author of Pizza Girl

"An utterly captivating meditation on femininity, identity, desire, and art, A Novel Obsession is a ride and a revelation. I read it with my heart in my throat."
--Lauryn Chamberlain, author of Friends From Home

"A solid debut novel from Caitlin Barasch, in which she flips the script and has the actual girlfriend as the stalker . . . refreshing and different."
--Red Carpet Crash

About the Author

Caitlin Barasch earned her BA from Colorado College and her MFA from New York University. Her work has appeared in more than a dozen publications, including Catapult, Day One, The Forge, and Hobart. A former bookseller, Caitlin currently teaches creative writing at the Writers Circle. She was born and raised in New York and now lives in Brooklyn. A Novel Obsession is her debut novel.