DNF. This book was WAY too hard to get into. TW: Drugs. And the whole discussion about "The Hole". It was too sci-fi for me and weird.

I have it a 1 for the cool cover.

Big NO for me.

Published by Scribner on July 11, 2023

An insecure young woman named Cassie moves to San Francisco, gets a job in the tech world, rents an apartment she can’t afford, uses coke to keep up with work that doesn’t seem terribly demanding, is disparaged by co-workers because she doesn’t possess skills that her job doesn’t require, and spends most of her time thinking about the black hole that hovers over her existence. She stresses about wildfires and Covid-19 and a missed period. She stresses about whether to have an abortion. Maybe some readers will relate to Cassie and appreciate Ripe for that reason. I enjoyed Sarah Rose Etter’s writing style despite its forced cleverness but found little about the story to be fresh or engaging.

Cassie was essentially booted out of her house by parents who likely grew weary of her moodiness. She moved to San Francisco and took a job as the head writer for a marketing team at a “unicorn startup” that gathers data “to target users and drive them to make purchases online.” She is working in that position when the novel starts, although Etter supplies flashbacks to her backstory.

Cassie’s CEO wants to destroy their largest competitor. To that end, he gleefully accepts Cassie’s proposal to hire a hacker to cause a massive data breach that will irreparably injure the competitor’s reputation. Cassie doesn’t seem to have any ethical standard that would drive her away from such sleazy business tactics, much less prevent her from suggesting them. Nor does she have a sufficient sense of self-worth to stand up to co-workers who undermine her to promote their own advancement.

None of this makes Cassie an attractive character. Had she found motivation to change her life for the better, the novel might have had merit as a story of redemption. The bleak ending reflects the reality of a bleak life, but it’s difficult to feel much sympathy for a young woman with a six figure salary whose problems don’t compare to those of the homeless people she steps over on her way to her overpriced apartment. (She refuses to share with roommates to cut her expenses, another example of her unwillingness to implement simple solutions to problems that would be easy to address if she focused first on overcoming her depression.)

Etter begins chapters with definitions of words (black hole, family, intimacy, betrayal) and offers examples of how the words define her life. That’s modestly clever, even if Etter’s reliance on the gimmick seems a bit forced by the novel’s end. Etter’s dark humor, including her depiction of the unethical startup, is inconsistently amusing but unconvincing. Cassie’s CEO is a stereotype and therefore unworthy of mockery. Her co-workers are stereotypes of backbiters climbing the ladder of success. Cassie’s lover is a stereotype of a guy in an open relationship who just uses women for sex (although he actually seems like a nicer guy than the stereotype would suggest). None of the characters, apart from Cassie, feel authentic.

Cassie regularly reports about the status of her black hole. When she’s having a pleasant (usually sexual) experience, it shrinks. When she’s stressed, it expands. Usually it’s expanding. It would be difficult to find a more obvious metaphor for depression than a black hole. From time to time, Cassie explains superficial facts about black holes that she has discovered in her research. Maybe those facts advance the metaphor but they add little to the story. Etter’s repeated use of a pomegranate as a metaphor is at least more interesting than the black hole, although I never quite understood what a pomegranate is supposed to represent.

Images of pain and death pervade the story. Cassie sees someone set himself on fire. Homeless people are howling. Men are “split open on the train tracks.” All of this foreshadows a dark ending — literally dark, given the presence of a black hole that swallows all light and hope.

Etter makes shallow observations like “Love is just as painful as its absence” but we’ve heard that before, haven’t we? Cassie has a real self and a fake self (maybe a riff on T.S. Eliot). She has issues with her parents. She’s undermined at work by co-workers seeking to pull themselves up by pulling her down. Abortion protestors try to shame her. All of these scenes have been done to death in fiction. There is nothing new or fresh in Ripe.

It’s important to understand that depression is a serious disease that overcomes the ability to find a reason to live. I get it. At the same time, it is difficult to find value in the bleak story of a woman who is capable of functioning in the world but incapable of making even a rudimentary effort to overcome her depression. In the absence of original storytelling, I can’t recommend the novel, even for its sharp prose.

NOT RECOMMENDED

This is a tense and harrowing novel that tackles issues of mental health, the obsessive culture of tech workplaces, income inequality, and more. The writing is lyrical and searing, and the author used an interesting format ("definitions" of key words) to delve into the past, internal feelings, and possible futures. The use of the black hole as a metaphorical (or not so metaphorical) comment on anxiety and depression could have been overdone but definitely wasn't. The combination of horrors of late-stage capitalism, climate change, and income inequality (all in the weeks leading up to the pandemic) really worked well to create the atmosphere of a dystopian present.

This is a literary book. The main character, Cassie is a young woman working in Silicon Valley. She is lonely in a new city while working in a high pressure environment. The author uses the metaphor of blackholes throughout the book. It is fitting to the thoughts and actions of Cassie. This is a book that caused me to sit and ponder what I read after completing. It’s not one that I immediately liked but the more I reflect on it, I understand what the author was doing.

I was sent a digital advanced readers copy of this book by the publisher, Scribner via Netgalley.

It took me a bit to get into this, but once I did it was easy to read. I think many people working in tech or startups will find this relatable with employees being overworked and expected to constantly work harder and harder. Luckily, I haven't experienced it in the tech/startup world, but I have experienced it outside of that world.
It was very dark, but also funny how accurate and relatable a lot of the workplace scenes were. I can see this being a dark comedy if they decide to adapt it.

Rating: 4.5

For the fans of Woman vs The Void, Ripe will more than deliver. These types of books have a tendency to come across matter of the fact and void of emotion, which is expected when dealing with a main character dealing with depression. However from start to finish this book had me feeling emotional. I’ve been in a months long Reading slump and yet I finished this book in under 24 hours.

We have all had jobs that suck us dry, bosses who abuse us, a significant other who treats us badly or a troubled family life. As a way to cope with it we develop a fake persona of ourselves.

This is the story of a woman who finally gives it all up and lets the black hole that’s been following her since birth consume her.

This was such a unique novel! It felt like such a visceral reading experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the exploration of mental health, toxic work culture, and childhood trauma. Plus I always love a book set in the Bay Area!

I can’t say anything negative about this read. The title and cover are perfect for the story. Ripe had me ripped from the beginning pulling for Cassie.
Cassie lands her dream job in Silicone Valley but at what price? How much does she give of herself before she is swallowed into the black hole that is always with her. The black hole shifts as it feeds off her depression and anxiety. Her job is toxic, Chef, her lover has a girlfriend and her two friends bring negative energy to the circle. I enjoyed the definitions and how the word played into Cassie’s life/situation. I relished her view of everything around her. I gained an insight on her thoughts of the world and felt her anxiety, insecurities, and depression. A dark read that contains depression and drug abuse. Thank you NetGalley and Scribner Pub for sending me a last minute request ARC.

It took me a bit to get into this, but once I did it was easy to read. I think many people working in tech or startups will find this relatable with employees being overworked and expected to constantly work harder and harder. Luckily, I haven't experienced it in the tech/startup world, but I have experienced it outside of that world.

It was very dark, but also funny how accurate and relatable a lot of the workplace scenes were. I can see this being a dark comedy if they decide to adapt it.

This book is being marketed for fans of Ottessa Moshfegh, which I can't confirm if that's accurate since I haven't read any books by that author yet. I suggest picking it up and giving it a try though! Overall, I really liked this one and it's eerie how realistic Cassie's experiences are in today's world.

What a weird little novel. A year into her coveted corporate job in a Silicon Valley start-up, Cassie is struggling to keep up. A black hole that's been a companion to her all her life watches and shifts to her mood, looming larger. Between the rising cost of living, a surprise pregnancy, a highly toxic work environment and the start-up's corporate plans turning illegal, Cassie will try to forge a path forward.

Except maybe she won't. Cassie is the ultimate passive bystander to her life. Crippled by her depression and anxiety, she is on the flip side of the hustle till you make it stories. Many stories outline a really hard-working MC that's strong and overcomes adversities. Instead, Ripe reveals what might happen if you indulge in inaction. This book left me in a strange mindset of refusing to drink the Kool-aid even further but also feeling oddly motivated. I definitely admired the usage of the black hole as a metaphor to Cassie's depression and anxiety. The portrayal of societal burnout manifesting in a disturbing physical way around Cassie was also really well done. I'm definitely adding this to my recommend pile for tech-workers and connoisseurs of weird lit.

Ripe is an absolutely brutal masterpiece. Part nuanced portrayal of depression and part damning cultural criticism, Etter's ability to capture the cognitive dissonance of modern life is both unparalleled and wildly disturbing.

Right from the start, Ripe is a ferocious anti-work satire. In the first few pages, Cassie introduces readers to her fellow tech workers aka "Believers." Believers are an unidentifiable horde of tech worshipers who are so plugged in that they have no other discernible traits. Then, in obvious juxtaposition to the Believers' homogenous version of Silicon Valley, Cassie observes the happenings of a variety of homeless encampments. Later, as employees specific to VOYAGER are introduced, their seniority is described via the type of prestige, company-branded athleisure wear that they each proudly don. (CEOs wear half-zips).

Perhaps it was Cassie's black hole or the unsettling Believers, but I initially thought that Ripe was going to be a dystopian novel. However, it quickly became clear that the events in Ripe are set in early 2020. (Headlines mention a new virus that is quickly spreading globally, San Francisco's skies are red with wildfire). Ripe being chock-full of dystopian-esque descriptions of the recent past made me - like Cassie - disassociate from my own reality. (All of that happened!! It's still happening!!)

Last but not least, I greatly admired Etter's ability to make such a bleak story incredibly riveting. Though I found multiple aspects of Ripe to be too personally relatable & on-the-nose, I highly recommend it to anyone who is in a good mental place to handle intense descriptions of depression.

Happy pub day to Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter! Ripe follows a woman working in the tech industry in the Bay Area as she spirals into a consideration of what lines she’s willing to cross and what success and purpose really mean. Ripe had a strong voice and hints of dark humor, and would be perfect for anyone who prefers character studies and vibes above plot-driven stories. It touches on social criticisms of the city outside of the tech bubble as well, but through the strong perspective of our lead character.

Thank you to @netgalley and @scribnerbooks for the arc in exchange for an honest review

I don’t know what it was about this book. I tired several times and Just could not get into it. It might have been me because the story sounded so good and intriguing but alas I just could not read it

This was such a unique reading experience. I loved the strong use of motifs throughout. I felt this was a deeply relatable tale of the millenial generation.

Sarah Rose Etter at her most poetic — each page calls to your soul in ways that you’ve wanted to do on your own but couldn’t quite find the words or narrative for! Behold, modern life when it’s mirrored right back at you in this book. Recognize all the feelings that comes with making a living & the relief that you’re not alone in trying your best. You just know this book will outlast us all.

I don't think anyone writes about mental illness as skillfully as Sarah Rose Etter does. Much like The Book of X, Ripe walks readers along the downward spiral of the main character's mental health, and each beat feels so visceral and real. It's hard to read at times because it's hard to live this way.

She also has a real knack for writing about extremely mundane events in a way that resonates and makes you feel connected to the characters, rather than bored. There's obviously a touch of surrealism here with the black hole that follows our main character, but that too is woven seamlessly into her everyday life and serves as an apt literary device for exploring Cassie's struggle to find happiness in a position that many people would idealize.

There's a lot here that I'm sure is relatable to pretty much anyone who works an office job, but this book is also so specific to the experience of working for a large tech company in a way that I'm finding hard to put into words. There's such an overwhelming pressure, especially in startups, to project happiness and enthusiasm and to give 100% of your life to a job that's hard to even justify as meaningful, and that shit feels horrible! It's draining and demoralizing, and in a way it was cathartic to see Cassie struggle so much with this culture (because, again, any outward sign that you are struggling is discouraged).

This book also speaks very viscerally to the widening class divide; not only its impact on those who are truly living in poverty but those who, like Cassie, are one rent increase away from losing their homes, and who outwardly perform a lifestyle they can't maintain so they aren't seen as poor.

My only real qualm with this book is kind of a spoiler, so warning for that:

[If you've read The Book of X, it's immediately obvious how this book is going to unfold as well. I do think it's worth talking about depression in this way through multiple lenses, but I do wish Ripe had differentiated itself more. Many of the plot beats felt so similar, the literary devices felt similar, and I would have liked Ripe to have something more unique going for it.

All in all, though, excellent installation in the SRELU (Sarah Rose Etter literary universe).

Thank you to NetGalley, author Sarah Rose Etter, and Scribner for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Wow, this was such a stunning book!! I truly loved every single second of this read, and I cannot wait to explore Etter's previous works. I want to give Cassie the biggest hug because in so many ways, I was able to either relate to her or feel like I know her. This is one of the most accurate representations of anxiety that I have seen represented in a book in a long time, and I love the slow build that hums throughout the whole book. I was hesitant at first about the (personified? real? idk how to describe it) black hole in the book because I wasn't certain whether things would get a bit too experimental for my tastes, but it was the perfect addition to truly understand who Cassie was. The book deals so much with female relationships, parental relationships, and work relationships that I think many young, professional women can relate to. Etter's writing style is absolutely magnetic, and the format of the definitions guiding the storyline was genius. I truly flew through this book because I couldn't wait to see what happened next, but it also felt like I was sitting with and savoring every character. This juxtaposition is so well done, and I'm thrilled that I had a chance to read this before the world becomes abuzz by the story.

I'm a little all over the place with my thoughts on this book. It was not an "enjoyable" read but I think it is an artistic masterpiece. I found it on par with The Goldfinch (another book I am ambivalent about,) The Guest (which I hated,) and Severance (which I loved.) The story is bleak and depressing (gentrification, impossible bosses, and an unplanned pregnancy) but also perfectly encapsulates the burnout of the millennial generation. I felt that the definitions and graphics every few pages were unnecessary, but an interesting stylistic choice to break up the story. Also, the psychological manifestation of a personal black hole as a metaphor for depression was both obvious and uniquely written. Most importantly, I applaud Etter for writing about abortion in a way that is not judgemental while also making a huge statement about a certain demographic of women making this choice. A certain subset of readers (Sally Rooney and Ottessa Moshfegh fans) will likely love this.

All of the stars and all of the accolades.

This is a modern book, with magic realism and a depressing tale, but it's so easy to recognize the story and how it can apply to everyone.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was such a beautifully written, depressing novel.

Ripe follows Cassie, a young woman who has a black hole that follows her around. The hole fluctuates in size as her mental health ebbs and flows. Cassie has uprooted and moved her whole life across the country to work at a tech startup in Silicone Valley. As her parents constantly remind her, there is nothing left for her back home. But one year into startup life and Cassie knows this isn't the life she wants - she can barely afford to live, her boss demands more and more hours from her, and nothing she seems to do is ever enough. Etter truly captured Cassie's sad desperation and my heart ached for her. It seemed like she had nobody in her corner and I can't imagine how she could get out.

I really loved the writing style. The depression and anxiety representation was very accurate and I thought the black hole and pomegranate metaphors were well done. This is a book that I'd definitely like to reread at some point as I've finished it a few days ago and am still thinking about it.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for a review copy. I'd love to read more from this author in the future.