This book was very different from anything I've ever listened to before. The ending was sudden and the death seemed unnecessary. I will be recommending this to a very narrow audience of readers.

Cult Classic is a witty and humorous tale. It's a mash-up of Bridget Jones Diary and The Midnight Library meets The Twilight Zone. Cult Classic is an overall likable book, however I found it a bit verbose and sometimes annoyed with the main character. I enjoyed the dry humor.

***4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account***

"Romance may be the world's oldest cult."

The innovative premise and follow through of Cult Classic by ingenious author Sloan Crosley is genre defying and mind boggling and, somehow, also an hilarious and indepth commentary on misogyny, abuse, alienation, bullying, exhaustion, anxiety but most of all love in a social media obsessed world.

During a dinner in NYC's Chinatown with former co-workers from the now defunct psychology magazine they once worked at, Lola, 37, sneaks off to get a pack of cigarettes and runs into an ex boyfriend. On her way back to the restaurant she, surprisingly, sees another old boyfriend. Soon her days are spent trudging up her past love life with impromptu sightings of former lovers and some teenage crushes; something she fails to mention to her recent fiance.

How and why is this happening? Could it have to do with her previous editor turned mystical guru and his almost cult like following?

Some of my favorite quotes:
"A hero without a damsel is just a man."
"Chantal used social media as a proxy for her soul."

With tongue in cheek and an obvious wink to her listeners the author narrates this novel herself and brings precise comedic timing while still making her points about the misogynistic, media obsessed and often lonely world we live in.

I received a free copy of the audiobook from MacMillan Audio via #netgalley
for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

"Cult Classic" is my first novel by Sloane Crosley and by the looks of it online, she's created a cult following among her readers. This is a fun look at the NY millennial dating scene. In it, Lola, our protagonist, becomes a test subject as she retraces her past relationships as part of a new start up based on data collection and algorithms.

What I loved:

- Smart, yet darkly comedic writing with loads of satire and dry humor

- Easy-to-follow narration, delivered by the author

- The theme (mostly about hetero relationships) and the idea that "if only things would've been different." 


What I didn't love:

- Rambling tangents that didn't add to the plot (specifically in chapters 6-8), which made it feel a bit too long...even though it's only 8 hours

- Slower second half after she gets into "the experiment."


Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener audiobook via the NetGalley app.

I was initially draw to this book because of "cult" in the title. I've recently been obsessed with books about cults, for whatever strange reason. I have never read this author, but after finishing this book, feel I've been missing out and will definitely look for additional books by this author. This book was definitely funn at times. But it was also odd, well written, and emotionally deep. The characters are flawed, even unlikeable, but you can't stop reading about them.

We meet Lola. She lives in NYC with Boots, who she loves but is questioning the whole "til death do us part" that is looming large since her engagement. After a work reunion dinner, she runs into an old ex-boyfriend. Not that odd. But then it happens again. And again. And she starts to wonder if there is something more going on with the "ghosts of boyfriends past". Also, the fact that both her best friend and her former boss are so invested in this happening, makes you go hmmmmm.

The modern day "cult" she stumbles into has her mind reeling (along with the reader's) and has her wondering, with all these blasts from the past making her question everything about her current relationship, if she can ever truly be happy with Boots.

Such a sharp and witty take on the curernt dating scene and how easy it to compare prior relationships and what was good in hindsight.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC!

Three times while reading Cult Classic, I thought 'this is a really cool idea for a novel!' Which should show you that the plot line is anything but stale! I found the writing to be witty, and the narration top-notch, which is not always the case when the author is the narrator (I'm looking at you Daniel Handler). I highly recommend this book!

I binge-listened to this audiobook when I was meant to be working, like the main character, Lola, chasing her exes' digital slipstream while at work until the cleaners come at the end of the day.
So many great quotes: Those without religion, marriage or love in their lives are treated as "social heretics." Zach has "anarchy face." "Getting married is agreeing to live in someone else's narrative." "May our gaslights illumine the bridges we burn." Marrieds believing they are the control group and single people, the experiment.
I have read everything by Sloane Crosley, especially her essays but remember being slightly disappointed by The Clasp. Cult Classic is amazing. Perfectly paced. I'll read anything about a cult or about the crazyrich being swindled or done in by hubris (code violations much, Clive?). There is so much humor and insight into her characters here. I will say, however, that it was sometimes hard to understand who was speaking in the audiobook. I'd have to go back and relisten - but that was often a pleasure too.

CULT CLASSIC by Sloane Crosley
Macmillan Audio. MCD Books … Publication Date;June 7,2022
Narrated by: Sloane Crosley

Noted essayist Sloane Crosley crafts a witty literary mystery that is fresh, quirky and suspenseful. A thirty something editor, Lola, is out to a work reunion dinner with former colleagues. She decides to step out to buy a pack of cigarettes, while returning to the restaurant she runs into her old boyfriend Amos… who she hasn’t seen or thought about in years. Lola is engaged to her current boyfriend, Boots, but is in turmoil whether this is the “real thing” that will culminate in a lasting marriage. As the days slip past, she continues to confront a series of boyfriends and exes from her lengthy string of past romances. This couldn’t be just coincidental! While confronting her past failed relationships, she has to seriously ponder her current dilemma. She’s running out of reasons to put off the inevitable wedding. Lola learns that these meetings with the multiple exes have been somehow engineered by the “power of suggestion” or mind control generated by a cult-like construct developed by her old boss, Clive. Clive always seemed to have unending charisma, but now he is considered a “mystical guru”.
Sloane Crosley has crafted a hilarious narrative , filled with snarky humor, commenting on absurd situations related to relationships. In between the humor are multiple passages that are both poignant and insightful, relating to friendship, love and romance.
I was fortunate to alternate between the written and audio version of this gem. The author, Sloane Crosley provides the narration to this witty analysis of modern relationships. Frankly I fell in love with her unique voice and tone that brought the book to life …. Her wit and charm flowed from her audio presentation …. prompting me to seek out her previous body of work.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Books & Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and Advance Audio version in exchange for an honest review.

Lola keeps randomly bumping into her previous boyfriends. Maybe it’s not so random when she learns her best friend and her former boss created a “company” whose mission is to help clients overcome their past relationships by confronting their exes. Unbeknownst to Lola, she’s their first client, aka test subject. However, with each coincidental meeting, she revisits how each relationship left an imprint on her and influenced who she is today.

Overall, I liked it - a creative storyline filled with funny sarcasm. I love that Sloane Crosley narrates her own novel. She delivers the sarcasm on point! I think most Millennials will love this book as it contemplates the emotional entanglement of past relationships and their effects on your future self.

Cult Classic had a lot of hype and I was expecting a modern psychological romp.,, and it delivers. It is full of well-crafted one-liners and anecdotes from the main character, Lola, who starts to run into her former boyfriends coincidentally. As these happenings start to look too eerie, Lola starts to uncover ominous undercurrents related to her friend and her former boss.

The setting of this book is original and very intriguing, and Crosley's observations shines through. I feel one might enjoy this book if one is a smart, young-ish urbanites similar to the main character who works in publishing. Lola's observation is so detached that it came across as impersonal and uncaring. In turn, I personally couldn't have feelings about her or any of the characters in this book. The story meanders from one cold encounter to another, after awhile I stopped caring about what happens in this book. This is not a badly written book, and author herself narrated the book well. It's witty and young hipsters might enjoy this book very much. I blame it on New York.

An advanced copy of this audiobook was provided courtesy of NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and MCD Books for review purposes. Your generosity is much appreciated. Thank you!

ℂ𝕦𝕝𝕥 ℂ𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕔 🎧 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Out Now!

Ｔｈｏｕｇｈｔｓ：
Ok, Sloane I see YOU 👀!

I really liked this book - it was witty, it had depth, the writer narrated it flawlessly, and the list goes on!

Lola, a 37-year old New Yorker, and our narrator is about to get married — she has her doubts on whether Boots is the one man she wants to spend her life with. Crosley explores a story where the protagonist keeps bumping into ex-boyfriends — the narration has uncanny wit! The realities of modern dating is that it kind of sucks — and she pokes fun at it in the most perfect way.

If you think you are witty (me I do 🙋🏼‍♀️) YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK!

Thank you @netgalley @mcdbooks & @macmillan.audio #Netgalley #CultClassic #MacMillanAudio #MCDBooks

Think of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past with Matthew McConaughey but all in present day within a 10 block radius and add a cult, energy work and some meditation with this. You would think this would be amazing right? However, I respectfully say, this was an interesting one. Lola is 37 and engaged to Boots, a boring but tall and stable man. Is she just settling? Lola is obsessed with settling down and finding the right guy. She in the past has dated many men some for long periods of time and since their breakups have kept a box of certain items to remember them by. Lola’s former boss has created a cult trying to help people get past their relationship trauma. Lola is their first subject. She finds herself running into many of her ex’s and memories arise. Has she made the right choice by being engaged to Boots? I Loved that this was set in New York City, I feel it was the perfect location for this story. However, it was a slow read and at times I was bored. I would think this would translate better on screen.

As soon as I read the description of Cult Classic, I just knew I HAD to read it and I was not disappointed at all. The story follows Lola, a New Yorker in her late 30’s and her struggle with relationships. She is engaged and starting to doubt whether or not her fiancé is is really the man she wants to spend the rest when she runs into one of her ex’s and those feelings are only amplified. Then she runs into another ex….then another…that can’t be a coincidence….right?

Part of what really intrigued me in the description was how vague it was. It gave just enough to peak your interest and make you need to know what in the world is happening but not much. That definitely transferred to the book too, giving you the smallest amount of info possible, constantly teasing you with hints of more. Let me tell you, I could not stop. I needed to know more. More about what was going on and more of Lola’s interactions with her ex’s.

This book was such a wild ride filled with wit, humor, off the wall experiences, and unlikable and unreliable main characters that still somehow have emotional depth. Lola is so unreliable and unlikable, she someone becomes likable if that’s even possible?? I’m not sure if I’ve laughed this much in a book that wasn’t marketed as a comedy. The whole concept of the book and The Universe was so clever and original, I loved every second of it!

Hands down a 5 star read and I cannot recommend this enough! I cannot wait to reach more by the author!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review.

Cult Classic is a hilarious, strange, and thought-provoking book. The story follows Lola, a 40ish writer in New York, with a string of relationships. At the beginning she keeps running into ex-boyfriends and we don't understand why until about a third of the way through the book. The writing is sharp and punchy, making it incredibly readable and the characters leap off the page. They're not always likable, but certainly always intriguing. It reminded me of The Arc and The Atmospherians in the best ways. In that it's a little weird and it ruminates on love and ethics. Sloane Crosley deftly narrates her book. Her voice was perfect for its protagonist, Lola. I recommend this if you're looking for something fun but also very unique.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing this audiobook ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Lola is a successful working women in New York City. She has an advantage career, a fiancé, and a small circle of long times friends. While with these colleges and friends at a reunion dinner she runs into an ex. Not an unusual occurrence she reasons, until she runs into another ex. Then another, then another. With dealing with “the ghosts of boyfriends past” confining to pop up in her life, she does not confide in her fiancé, rather she confides in her long time friend and past coworker, who is more involved with these coincidences than Lola would have guessed. Are these runs ins a strange coincidence? Or is there more happening behind the scenes?

Cult Classic is a very original story, and didn’t remind me of anything else I’ve read. Each ex Lola is presented with has a fresh, unique backstory, all coming together to form a realistic theme for Lola and greatly add to her character development. The witty banter, insights she gains from each encounter and her debriefing about each encounter as well as the twist at the end made this a quick, enjoyable book. I would absolutely return to this author.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I had a really hard time getting into this one. I loved the cover, loved the title, loved the description. But the first 15% was not great. I think I expected something a little more fast paced and culty vibes right away.

This was out of my normal genre and I enjoyed listening to this story.

This story was different, unique. The idea of coming face to face with past relationships and how they shaped who we are. What role they played in our lives. I think we tend to forget these relationships over time. Or at least the significance some held in our lives.

This was a smart, whitty, engaging read.

I liked that the author was the narrator for this story. I can't imagine a better voice to narrate this story.

Thank you MacMillion Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.

This book is funny in its witty yet poignant observations about dating and exes and love. Without the humor, it might feel as dating often feels -- in the words of an early 2000s teen rom-com, "useless and disappointing." But every page contains fragments of universality despite the limited nature of our main character, Lola's dating history, and the singularity of her exes. While her exes might not resemble the reader's, her feelings of dissatisfaction, questioning, and wondering "is this it?" are all universe feelings that accompany dating.

I found myself laughing, tearing up, and nodding along to this novel, which reads more like a memoir than a novel. I think anyone who has dated in a big city will find this relatable, and I think there is a comfort in how benign yet shaking it is to go on date after date and wonder where it's going, only to find it at its end before it ever really got started.

Highly recommend the audio, which is narrated by the author and gives a bit of comedic inflection that makes the writing even better.

I did not enjoy this book. Sloane Crosely, the author, narrates the audiobook and she does a lovely job. She sounds a lot like Scarlet Johansen. It's the book itself that I couldn't stomach. I gave it two hours before giving up, so I never reached the part of the book where we learn about the titular cult. That was the part that seemed most intriguing to me, so maybe if I had stuck with it my experience would have improved. I kept feeling annoyed and angry at the narrator, though, and so I decided not to finish the novel.

The book oscillates between complex, insightful commentary about modern relationships and shallow, privileged observations about the people Lola, the protagonist, interacts with. The narrator of the novel is judgmental and whiny with little tolerance for other people's faults or complaints. She makes broad generalizations about people who don't live in New York City as if they are uncultured and unintelligent. She makes condescending comments about just about everyone: her friend who is now a mother, her ex boyfriend who was an athlete from Iowa, that ex's wife, her fiance, etc. The narrator seems insecure and a little lost in her own life, but for some reason is very certain about the thoughts and motivations of everyone around her. She also narrates in a way that evokes a shallow, self serving brand of white feminism. Lola often points out ways that she feels slighted because she is a woman, but she judges other women harshly for their choices when they veer from her own.

There is a scene, for instance, where she is at an event with Olympic athletes and she derides the women athletes she encounters in the bathroom for their bodies as if their bodies are a personal attack on her own. It seemed to me that we were meant to read this as the athletes having bodies that met harmful beauty standards and as Lola being a feminist victim of these standards. The women in this scenario were not fit for beauty, but because they were Olympic level athletes and Lola was the one passing judgments about their bodies. It was strange and misogynistic.

This book is another story of a privileged white woman, living in a big city whose sense of identity hinges on her own imagined uniqueness and superiority to others. The narrator seems to look down her nose at most people and, therefore, I would not recommend this book to most people. There are certainly a number of similar voices out there that are popular. I am sure other people would enjoy this book. It was not for me.

Summary: The book follows, Lola, who keeps on running into her ex-boyfriends. At first the run-ins seem coincidental but soon we find something bigger is at play.

Review: This is one of those books that I loved, but can’t pinpoint exactly why. It was weird and witty. It won’t be for everyone, but it was absolutely for me.