Cassie’s life in San Francisco is expensive, depressing and hanging on by a thread. Eager to leave her hometown because her father keeps repeating that there is nothing left for her back home, she is drawn to the shimmering life in the city, working at a Silicon Valley company that will do anything to survive and outperform its competitors.Cassie becomes increasingly aware of how dispensable she is and how little respect she receives as she attempts to climb the career ladder.

Her constant companion is a black hole that is an obvious symbol of her depression, as it changes in size depending on her social setting. The hole looms larger and creates a hum when she’s stressed, so she’s relying on her cocaine habit and clandestine relationship with a chef to keep it small and contained.

This book is an amazing portrait of trying to survive late stage capitalism. There is never enough money or time, and everyone is holding on for dear life to their assets and principles. I really felt for Cassie even when I hated the decision she was making. Her experiences were creating a new person as her father suggested, but not in a way that she found healthy or sustainable and I completely understood that.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for permitting me to read this work prior to its release.

RIPE is a compelling novel following Cassie, who's one year into working at a competitive Silicon Valley start-up...except her dream job is beginning to feel more like a nightmare. Every day, she's faced with a toxic work environment and a jam-packed schedule, and the glaring class disparities Cassie is already noticing are only becoming more apparent. She feels depressed, anxious, and isolated, but she's never truly alone—a black hole has followed her around since childhood, changing in size and scope depending on what's going on in her life. Can Cassie navigate everyday work struggles, complicated personal relationships, and an ever-changing world, without getting pulled too far into the black hole's orbit?

I loved Etter's storytelling and writing style, and I thought the dictionary-style format at the beginning of each "chapter" was so well-done! I also appreciated how readers get snippets of Cassie's past—her tumultuous family relationships, the development of her depression from a young age, what her life was like before we first meet her—interspersed with what's happening to her in the present, and providing a better understanding of why she thinks and reacts in certain ways. RIPE covers a variety of important themes, but by the end of the story, I still felt like I wanted more from Cassie's character and her relationships with others, and I couldn't quite put my finger on what was missing. Still, I found it to be a really thought-provoking story, that will resonate with so many readers! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Scribner & Netgalley for sharing this title~ I devoured this book in 48 hours and I think devoured is an apt word. Every sentence of this book oozed with juice for me, like biting into something and letting it drip down your arm. Headline: the writing is incredible, the social commentary on point, the character so well-developed. Read it.

Ripe from Sarah Rose Etter follows Cassie as she moves across the country for a job at the high-profile Voyager and as she navigates the insanely dystopian wealth disparities that exist between “The Believers”— those who buy into the Tech God’s dream of the future— and the real suffering of those displaced by them. Never alone, Cassie is followed by her own personal Black Hole which she threatens to fall into at any moment.

I am obsessed with this book. Point blank. Read it.

I am FOR SURE biased as I lived in San Francisco during the tech boom influx/rapid gentrification of 2013-2020; watched rents go from $500 for a room when I was a sophomore in college to $1200 for that same room by the time I graduated, watched the busses become flooded with vest wearing tech bros, watched another city, the city of the displaced, boom just as quickly. There were so many depictions of what it was like to really experience that wealth disparity and be caught somewhere in the middle of it where I had to read passages multiple times like “sheesh, you were so real for this.”
Read it. Did I already say that? Well I’ll say it again. Read. It.

This book was a wild ride throughout, and I was here for it. I did wish it was a bit longer because I felt like it ended on such a specific note and that there could've been more to enhance the feelings the protagonist expresses in the final section of the book. It's a dark book for sure, but it's very much satirizing the state of the world right now, trying to exist with personal and mental health problems and the divide between classes in a way that feels fairly productive and meaningful as a reader. I'll definitely recommend this one to my friends.

DNF at 20%, this book was too depressing and didn’t feel like it was going anywhere important. Maybe I’m wrong, but literary fiction is always hard fir me to get into anyway. The writing was awkward and choppy in my opinion and I had a hard time reading it.

Amazing!

Sarah Rose Etter's début, The Book of X, has been on my TBR for ages and the premise of this book caught my attention just as much as the absolute banger of a cover this book has.

All I'm going to say, in so many words, is that I loved this book. Like completely, utterly loved this book. This was such an engrossing look into depression and spiraling out, and being unsure of the future and whether the future holds a place for you (this is just my interpretation of the black hole and some of the thematic elements of this book). Etter has such a deft hand at characterization, to the point that I knew more about characters through one interaction or during one of the incredibly inventive, formally impressive word definitions that start the chapters than what some authors can do across 300+ pages.

It was funny. It was anxiety inducing. It was a complicated look at capitalism and the monsters it can make of us, and the ways that it can strip the self down to a fake version, something that is not you but wears you like a skin coat. More books should be this ambitious. This unapologetically magical and weird.

Thank you endlessly to Scribner and the author for granting me access to this wonderful ARC. May Etter have an excellent book launch! ❤️

I read the description and was immediately interested in reading Ripe. It presented such an interesting way to look at what people are experiencing in today's landscape. Reading how Cassie felt and her point of view was extremely relatable as a reader. I really enjoyed Sarah Rose Etter's writing and could not put the book down. I loved reading this book and am sure I will be thinking about it for awhile.

Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter is every college graduate's dream of getting the perfect job in Silicon Valley, as well as every college graduate's worst nightmare. Cassie moves to San Francisco for a six-figure job working for a large tech company, thinking her life will be easy. Her father tells her "there is nothing for you here" about the distant home she left after graduating from college.

Cassie has a constant companion in a "black hole" that follows her around. It changes in size depending on what is going on in her life. If she is lonely, the hole hovers close enough she can smell it and it becomes large. When she is happy, it becomes a pinprick and she can hardly see it. She has always been aware of its existence and she is obsessed with scientific black holes.

As she works at her new job, she finds it demanding, not just demanding but perhaps demeaning, too, Her supervisor becomes abusive toward Cassie. She tells Cassie she cannot do anything right. Cassie works many weekends and is expected to give more and more of her personal time. The job becomes torture to her.

Not that her personal life is in order. She is dating a man she just calls "the chef", who is not around much, and never when she really needs him. She has a friend who is always giving her drugs just to make it through the day at work, to party, or any reason. She has a friend who does not like that they party and does not understand why they complain about the place they live and work and she becomes sort of frightening to them at times.

Added to all that, rents are already incredibly high, and they are going up by a third to a half all over the city of San Francisco. Cassie shops at a grocery store that sells things very, very close to their sell-by date so she can afford to eat. The entire time, when she calls home, she is told by her father "there is nothing for you here".

All of this makes Ripe sound like a depressing read, but it is not. It is almost a descriptive read, maybe a cautionary tale about being too quick to judge success and failure. Perhaps there is some gray area in between where a good life can be made?

A significant amount of the writing in this book was unexpectedly poetic and I felt that it was really well done. I loved the author’s writing style.
It did take me a bit to appreciate the formatting of the book. As a whole, this was a very tragic story of a female perfectionist in a male dominated career. I enjoyed the story and I felt that Cassie was very relatable in a cut-throat world that is constantly changing.

✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨

Genre: Literary Fiction
Pages: 288
Goodreads: 4.1

I checked @netgalley EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. after requesting this book. It was so hard to not immediately read it along with all of my other books I was reading at the time.

And honestly.. #regrets because this book was SO GOOD 🙌🏼

My husband, who is not much of a reader, always asks me what my book is about and I kept saying “I’m just not really sure yet”. By the end of the book, I still didn’t have much of an answer, but I think that may be what makes this book so realistic.

Dealing with depression, anxiety, plus other struggles that life throws at you and then personifying it as a “black hole” was mind blowing 🤯

Also, the formatting was something I had never seen before and I was sort of ignoring at first, but as soon as I was at about 25% through I finally understood and loved it.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A year into her dream job at a cutthroat Silicon Valley startup, Cassie finds herself trapped in a corporate nightmare. In addition to the long hours, toxic bosses, and unethical projects, she struggles to reconcile the glittering promise of a city where obscene wealth lives alongside abject poverty. Ivy League grads complain about the snack selection from a conference room with a view of unhoused people bathing in the bay. Startup burnouts leap into the paths of commuter trains, and men set themselves on fire in the streets.

Though isolated, Cassie is never alone. From her earliest memory, a miniature black hole has been her constant companion. Its relentless pull draws Cassie ever-closer as the world around her unravels. When her CEO's demands cross an illegal threshold and she ends up unexpectedly pregnant, Cassie must decide whether the tempting fruits of Silicon Valley are really worth it.

Thank you @netgalley & @scribner for the eARC. @sarah this book killed it! Can’t wait to read your others.

”a woman shouldn’t be seen like this, all ruined. or maybe everyone should have to see me, all of them, especially the men, the aftermath, the knives in their hearts for once.”

for the past 12 hours i’ve been trying to figure out a way to review this book. the truth is nothing i say will do it justice. none of my words will encapsulate all that this book is. ripe is more than just a book, it truly is a piece of art. the words, the formatting, the drawings in between parts, all of it is beautiful and brilliant.

that being said, i’ve never had a book make me feel the way this one did. it’s bleak, it’s raw, it’s depressing. i’ve read plenty of books that tackle the topics that are in ripe (anxiety, depression, societal collapse, toxic hustle culture), but never have i had such a visceral reaction. i felt sad, heavy, and anxious. that being said, i don’t think those reactions were a bad thing. i think it means that whatever etter did here worked really well for me, it was a hammer to my heart in the nicest way possible.

the is a genre bending novel that spoke to my sad-girl-litfic-loving heart and i can’t wait to get my hands on the physical copy and highlight all my favorite quotes all over again. this book is a beauty and i’m so glad it’s going to exist in the world

Cassie works in tech and hates every living second of it. Her depression manifests itself in the form of a black hole looming over her shoulder at all times. I definitely did a black hole deep dive on the internet after this. A little forgettable but a good read overall.

"Ripe" is a thought-provoking novel that follows Cassie, a young woman stuck in a nightmarish corporate world at a Silicon Valley startup. Despite the allure of wealth, she grapples with long hours, toxic bosses, unethical projects, and the stark contrast between opulence and poverty. Cassie's constant companion is a miniature black hole that feeds on her anxiety and depression, pulling her closer as the world around her crumbles. When faced with illegal demands from her CEO and an unexpected pregnancy, Cassie must question the worth of this lifestyle. This vulnerable story offers a critical exploration of late-capitalism and the absurdities of modern life.

I was absolutely captivated by this book, it's a remarkable blend of Ottessa Moshfegh's and Sally Rooney's styles, resulting in the incredible masterpiece that is "Ripe". Each chapter starts with a word's definition, and as the story unfolds, the relevance of that word becomes evident in Cassie's journey. The novel expertly portrays the grim reality of capitalism, oppressive bosses, societal pressures, and the struggles of a melancholic millennial woman. I was so engrossed in the story that I nearly read it in one go, unable to tear myself away..

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the chance to review this!

The blurb had me at: “corporate nightmare,” “late-capitalist hellscape,” “absurdities of modern life.”

Ripe follows a disillusioned woman one year into working her dream job at a Silicon Valley startup. It’s not so much of a plot-driven story but a haze that captures the futile sense of modern life, tackling toxic workplace culture, socioeconomic inequality, and depression and anxiety, which manifest as a literal black hole that has followed our protagonist around ever since she was born.

This was a bleak read rather than the fun type of satire, getting at everything that feels so discouraging and exhausting about the corporate world — the job hunt, the workplace, the burnout — so it’s one you might want to save for when you’re in a good headspace. I was surprised by how 2020-coded the book got as it progressed, hinting at the pandemic and including anti-abortion protests.

From the beginning of this story, our protagonist Cassie introduces the idea of her “real self” and her “fake self,” compartmentalising and performing to meet the demands of work and life with a little helping of cocaine. In this late-capitalist hellscape, work demands your passion, your faith, your life. You've never felt so uncertain about your place in the world or your future (as a girlie in her 20s, I feel this so hard!), but there is no room for weakness. So you split yourself in two, the strong suffocating the weak, to survive an environment that will spit you out if you put anything but your best foot forward. And before you know it, you’re somewhere and someone you never wanted to be, just trying to stay afloat. Do you stay on the boat or jump ship?

Ripe made me think of Adele’s “I Drink Wine,” but more like “I Snort Cocaine” haha (but like, srsly).

I’d be very curious to hear how different readers interpret the end of this book!

Ripe is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of self-discovery, love, and the complexities of human relationships. The author's storytelling prowess shines through as they skillfully navigate the intricacies of their characters' lives.

The protagonist's journey of self-realization is captivating and relatable. We follow their struggles, triumphs, and moments of vulnerability with keen interest. The author's ability to delve deep into the inner workings of the human psyche creates a strong emotional connection with the reader.

Ripe is a beautifully written novel that invites readers to reflect on their own lives, relationships, and the universal journey of finding oneself.

Overall, Ripe is a highly enjoyable read that leaves a lasting impression. Its compelling characters, evocative prose, and profound themes make it a book worthy of exploration and discussion.

Viscerally uncomfortable and unputdownably compelling. Ripe is a scathing commentary on silicone valley, the wealth disparities of San Francisco, and the very real affects of a dysfunctional and abusive family. I was riveted from beginning to end and think it's a must-read for anyone who has worked in tech.

TW: Abortion

A sad girl novel at its finest! Only read this book if you’re okay with being kind of depressed while you explore the world that Sarah Rose Etter created.

One reason why I loved this book is because Cassie’s (the MC) life is inherently relatable. Who hasn’t worked at a job they absolutely hated or had friends they kind of despised or had a fractured relationship with their family or been so uncertain about someone they’re dating?

I also enjoyed the structure of the book with the definitions at the beginning of the chapters and the small chunks of text (not the traditional indented paragraph style). I’m excited to go back and read other books by this author.

Thank you Scribner and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Filled with melancholy, realist perspective, and a sharp commentary on capitalism. As expected, I loved this, though I did miss the heavy surrealism present in her other work. Not that this is void of it. Just lighter on surreal elements. Thank you to Scribner & NetGalley for the ARC

Great read. It had an interesting main character, sleek prose and emotional, deep themes. I found it to be relatable as well. This will be a hit for many readers.

This is a tough book to review. On the one hand, it is taut, sophisticated, atmospheric, and suspenseful. And speaking as a person who lives in the Bay Area, the author's assessment of San Francisco is dead on. On the other hand, "Ripe" is painfully depressing. I don't need the media I consume to be wrapped up in a cute bow and come with a happy ending, but this is some bleak stuff. I give Etter major respect for crafting a conclusion that serves as an indictment of capitalism, hustle culture, and the cultish nature of the tech industry. She is clearly brilliant and a beyond gifted writer. I just don't know who I would recommend this book to.