A Novel Obsession

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