This one is a bit difficult to rate, but I’m giving it 3.5 stars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The story itself was deliciously entertaining. I was enthralled while Lola ran into flame after former flame and hearing the stories of how they came to be and how they burned out. I enjoyed the insight on human emotion and impact and choice.

However, despite Lola being a morally gray MC to begin with, her blasé use of a fabricated sexual assault to further intimacy with a partner I felt was reprehensible and downright uncomfortable to read. Knowing this about her made her difficult to root for, relate to and empathize with at any point in the story after it’s reveal (while also not really treating her current partner with the respect he deserves). In addition to this, despite one small revelation Lola doesn’t appear to have any character development or self reflection which would have helped tremendously in depending the underlying meanings within the text and making Lola a more palatable MC.

I did thoroughly enjoy my time listening to this audiobook and found the overall concept brilliant and fascinating.

Thank you NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and MCD for the audio-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really wanted to like this book. I love Sloane Crosley’s writing…. But this seemed so…. Forced. The story sounded interesting in the synopsis but I listened to half of this book and finally had to put it down because I was dreading listening to it. I really hate to leave a bad review…. Maybe this was just the wrong book for me at the wrong time.

This book was not at all like I expected it to be, but in a good way!! I loved the writing style and hope the author writes another book soon!

In Cult Classic, Sloane Crosely takes you through Lola’s life as she is engaged to a man she is unsure of. She is out one night and runs into an ex-boyfriend. She goes out another night and runs into another ex-boyfriend. The men from her past keep coming and she finds a connection. Her old boss has formed a sort of cult and it may have something to do with the chance encounters. Lola revisits her past and tries to figure out what she wants for her present.

Sloane Crosley did a great job narrating her own book. I enjoyed her voice on the audiobook.

Cult Classic was a slow start for me personally. I started connecting more with some of the men from her past that were introduced towards the end of the book. As the plot was revealing itself, I did get more invested. The concept of the book had me intrigued from the start and the execution got better as the book went along. This was my first Sloane Crosley and I am definitely interested in what she comes up with next.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off, Sloane Crosley is an amazing narrator and has a great voice. It's very impressive that an author had the talent to narrate her own book so incredibly. As for the book itself, it was witty and imaginative. The cast of characters was gripping and made the story easy to be invested in. I loved the setup of having Lola running into her Ex-boyfriends all at the same restaurant three nights in a row and it being a serendipitous coincidence, but it turns out to be something more. Clive's new age "cult" having using meditation as a guise for algorithmic influence felt cheeky and fun. Doing autopsies on past relationships in order to discover Lola's own flaws with commitment and her own desire for free will in relationships really comes together for a fulfilling ending.

I did about an hour of the audio & knew this wasn't for me. The narrator was super long-winded, rambling about who knows what, and I couldn't really get into this one at all. Thanks for the consideration.

I received both the e-book and audio version and the sarcastic is lost in translation with the audiobook :( If you’re going to read this book I would go with the physical or e-book version!

This was a great audio. It was read by the author and I thought she did a good job. I also enjoyed the story. It was interesting to hear her really examine all her past relationships and really think about how she ended up where she is now. It made me want to reflect on my own past choices.

I am almost unable to put into words how much I needed and loved this book. Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy for an honest review. The story of Lola and her past relationships is fun, witty and even a bit emotional. There is just something about getting a bit of closure on your past. I could not put this down. I am new to Sloane Crosley but will definitely reading more of her work. Her narrating her own book made the audiobook 100 times better.

Cult Classic written and narrated by Sloane Crosley is a fascinating story that takes a subtle, quirky take on a night of not so coincidental coincidences.

On a seemingly typical evening in NYC, the main character is out having dinner with work friends, steps out, and walks into a night and following days filled with run ins with former boyfriends. At first it seems like the randomness of life in the city, always running into someone you know even in a large city, and then the coincidences seem less random and more somehow connected to that dinner with friends/the friends she was with. I appreciate the review copy from MacMillan audiobooks via NetGalley.

A delightful take on self reflection, complacency, friendships and work friends, self doubt and some fun moments of wit and even snark. In moments it is also for me an ode to NYC life. For me the narration from Mx Crosley worked fairly well, at times I hesitate with an audiobook narrated by the author but for me her voice was needed to give the right inflection and reading style; the mostly internal dialogue at times also worked for having a writer read the book. I will note that there aren't a lot of voices/pauses, which did not bother me but I can see being a point of concern for some listeners. For me I was not bothered by this because the book felt mostly internal to me, more the protagonist's thoughts or perceptions of what was happening or had happened and less about conversations and other voices/characters. I read some of this book before switching to the audiobook and actually found the audiobook worked better for me than the written book!

I had to stop listening to Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley. I was just not into it. I really do not like putting a book on my DNF list but this was a must. Almost 50% in and I cannot connect with the main character and she is pretty unlikeable for me.

I may circle back to this one but this is not for me at the moment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5

This was an interesting idea and k enjoyed the overall story but found it a bit boring at times. Overall an easy read with an original premise just a tad flat.

What would you do if you ran into one ex-boyfriend? Then another the next day? And another the day after that? This is the situation that Lola encounters in Sloane Crosley’s Cult Classic. Unsure if she is complacent in her engagement or happy in her situation, Lola’s encounters force her to start examining her feelings and her past.

This one is an interesting concept, and I don’t want to give too much away. I am glad that I went into this one without really knowing much about the concept for the book. It did take me a little bit to get into the story, but once it hit its stride, I was hooked. What seems initially like a retelling of A Christmas Carol definitely takes a turn. Crosley tells the tale with her cynical and sometimes irreverent humor, insightfulness, and a dash of hopefulness.

The book feels very New York City, not just in that it is set there, but also in how Crosley manages to capture the grit, the glory, and the feeling of the city.

I like that Lola is a heroine in her late 30s and that she comes with a storied romantic history and career.

Crosley narrates the audiobook. I appreciate that since it is read by the author, you are hearing the words, inflections, and cadences how Crosley intended them. Since Crosley is not your typical voice actor or audiobook narrator, though, there is not as much differentiation between voices or vocal tones for different characters as you would normally hear in an audiobook. I found myself having to pause and think through the dialogue at times to help figure out which character was saying what in a conversation.

I recommend this one if you are in the mood to think, reflect, and snicker a bit at some snark. It’s a bit mind-bending, so be prepared to buckle up.

I received a copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. Review opinions are my own.

Sloane Crosley is an auto-read sort of author for me and Cult Classic just further solidifies this status, my friends!

Lola, our flawed but loveable protagonist, is an engaged serial monogamist living in New York City while working in a publishing-adjacent industry. One day while walking along, minding her own business she runs into an ex-boyfriend! It was startling, but just part of the randomness of life. However, soon after, there's another former boyfriend in the same restaurant she's eating in. Before she knows it, she is basically surrounded by her earlier paramours. Aaaaand if things weren't already weird she finds that this is connected with her mysteriously rich old boss who now might be a cult leader that's obsessed with mind control. And it just goes off the rails from there, y'all.

I first fell in love with Crosley through her hysterical books like I Was Told There'd Be Cake, which are filled with her fun essays. She is no one-trick pony though. Her fiction shines just as brightly as her nonfiction. You can straight up SMELL the comedic insights and observations throughout the book and I adore them.

This book is wildly original and I couldn't put it down. It's just a great piece of contemporary fiction. I enjoyed the characters and their philosophizing on love and memory. Can continually dwelling on your former love life be harmful to your current one? Or can it provide further insight to future relationships? Where is that line and what happens when you're not the one in control? I don't want to say too much on this book because I think it's best to go in knowing the bare minimum.

If you're a Crosley reader, pick this one up! If you're not a Crosley reader (any why aren't you??), but want a unique piece of thoughtful and funny contemporary fiction, pick it up!

I've always loved Sloane Crosley's writing, and Cult Classic is no exception. The book dealt with a concept I haven't come across before, which was refreshing. I don't want to spoil it, but I really liked the mission behind the Golconda. Crosley really developed the main character and made her complicated, but relatable. The writing kept me wanting to keep reading, which is always a good sign. If you enjoyed Oona Out of Order, you'll love this book!

The audiobook was narrated by the author, which I always like. She knows what inflection each part of dialogue must have, and she did a great job of doing that.

Shared on goodreads and storygraph.

I'm not sure how I've never heard of Sloane Crosley before Cult Classic, but I've quickly added her backlist to my ongoing TBR pile. If those books are anything like this one, I know I'll be in for a fun, imaginative ride.

Cult Classic begins with our narrator, thirty-seven year-old Lola, who is engaged and runs into a string of former boyfriends after departing a dinner in New York City. What feels like a coincidence at first turns into a deeper look at relationships and the effect of past choices. I love the snapshots we see of Lola and her partners, and there are so many great conversations and one-liners that stem from these encounters.

The book may have "cult" in the title, and yes, it certainly plays a role within the story, but the real focus is on the connectedness of Lola and her past and present relationships. The writing is exceptional throughout, and I'm always a sucker for the dry sense of humor we see here.

My only critique is that I wished for a more satisfying payoff with the ending after the slow burn build-up. Even though I wanted a little more from that side, the last few paragraphs were some of my favorites among the entire novel. I love a strong conclusion, and this one put me in that pondering, thoughtful haze that I look for each time I snap a book shut.

One evening, Lola bumps into an ex-boyfriend. The next day, she bumps into another. This begins a series of coincidences, with a twist, that starts a journey for Lola to reflect on her past - and current- relationships and attempt to get closure.

I really enjoyed this of-the-wall book. The depth of character was incredible, with fantastic descriptions of New York. In addition to having a strong story, some of the passages were also just beautifully written.

I listened to the audio book read by the author which was great.

This was an unusual but captivating modern story that I found really fresh.

Thank you to McMillan Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to listen and review this ARC audiobook of Cult Classic

Honesty I am not sure how I feel about this book - the description was very intriguing...but it was a strange book and it was one of the most anticipated for 2022. Lola, the MC, who resides in NYC, keeps bumping into her ex-boyfriends due to a cult classic program. You'd think this would allow closure but really it was invasive, and the characters across the board lacked depth. I love that it is so quintessentially New York, but that may be the only thing I really loved.

Thank you Netgalley for this audio edition of Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley.

I'm really kind of bummed because I just couldn't keep going with this book, I made it about halfway. It's definitely unique, and there were moments that I was all in hooked, but the story as a whole was just too disjointed and slow moving. Maybe it was the author's intention to do this, but I felt aimless for too long to the point of disinterest. So, I don't feel comfortable giving this a negative rating, but it's just not for me. I definitely see the appeal.

Anybody who has been effected by or sensitive to content about SA you need to know this. This is not a spoiler because it doesn't really effect the story. The main character chooses to lie about being SA'd to make a man show more affection to her. In this moment she mentions it is bad simply because then she had to break up with him so that he will not ever find out the truth. There are absolutely not repercussions to this decision.

One night Lola is meeting old co-workers for dinner, and after runs in to an ex boyfriend. Nothing is weird about that until the next night Lola runs into another ex, in the same area as the night before. Now Lola is pulled into a new business agenda by two of her old co-workers who admit to tinkering with her life. With no choice but to play along Lola begins to prowl the night looking for ex boyfriends.

The author is not afraid to make Lola a bad person, if this isn't her intention then I can't imagine what else she is doing. Lola is blunt, vulgar, and disappointingly immature. Every time Lola said something vulgar it was awkward because the other characters just never responded. It was very clunky and felt like more of a shock factor than anything that could drive the plot.

The biggest disappointment of this book was the lack of insight on what these past relationships have positively done to the MC. Instead it's only about how they met and then what she did in the relationship to make them breakup. Every ex is essentially a carbon copy of the one before with one small detail that makes them different. My biggest disappointment is that the MC runs into all of her exes and does not have any meaningful conversation with any of them. In most cases she ignores them and just tells of how they met and what she did wrong and moves on. But she doesn't ever have these moments of why it was wrong or how that actually changed her as a person. There is no growth and the character is static, she is just as disgusting as she was in the beginning of the book.

If you are looking for a book that discusses closure and how it effects each person then this book is for you. I can see this book being apart of the "unhinged women" book trend that is going around on social media.

AUDIO: The narrator of this audio did a fantastic job. The entire book had perfect narration and I found the voice actor to have a crisp voice that punctuated all of their words.