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.

Kudos to anyone who manages to do anything but read this book in one brutal sitting -- what a VIBE Etter has created! The book absolutely pulses with Cassie's abject disgust at the cognitive dissonance required to work in Silicon Valley and partake in ultra-wealthy tech culture while unhoused, impoverished people make homes of the sidewalk. As Cassie's world unravels alongside her morals and her sanity, the reader cannot help but to share in her despair. Devastatingly bleak and horridly funny, RIPE is an instant classic of the Millennial office novel genre.

An amazingly creative and well written story. I couldn’t put it down. The way Cassie’s life is presented and portrayed is vibrant and beautiful despite the angst and depression. This is what makes for such a compelling read, the vivid imagery. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.

This book depicted anxiety and depression SO WELL. The pacing was perfect, and the characters just made sense. The ending shocked me but I felt it was necessary not have a HEA and I think that's where this novel thrives.

Ripe is about Cassie, a millennial woman, living and working in Silicon Valley. The book is mostly spend in her mind as she struggles with anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation. I would definitely define this as a DWM (depressed woman moving) novel. Not much happens plotwise, but that isn’t a bad thing. I loved the writing style and the constant imagery and metaphors using pomegranates and black holes. I kind of wish there was more to it, but overall a great read.
(Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.)

Thank you to the author and Scribner for access to the eARC of this novel.

I'll start with the obvious: the cover and title combo is spectacular. I expect RIPE to be a notable novel in this respect, an example to other cover designers.

Readers of slow, literary fiction that has something to say will enjoy RIPE.

At first I was so bored by the book that I very nearly stopped reading. But I'm glad I didn't, because the end of the book made up for everything else. I believe I wasn't in the right mindset that first day. While initially I didn't much care about the characters, eventually I did, especially in the later chapters.

Also at first, I was a little put off by the prose. Again, it wasn't what I expected, so it took some time to fall into the groove. I actually love stream-of-consciousness style writing. I'm also a sucker for super long sentences intermixed with choppier ones. The prose was at times clever with poetic lines and rhythm.

There is a relatability to the work aspect of the story. Anyone who's worked a job that requires more than should be asked of a single person may relate, particularly office jobs. Particularly if they've had impossible bosses. Cassie's boss was written so realistically that I nearly had my very own panic attack.

I disagree that the purpose of this book is to make readers sad, to be sad and dark, to promote bleakness. Absolutely not. It's just realistic. And for many it will be very relatable. But readers should take care in reading it. RIPE offers a raw, harsh, and honest view of the world.

I also disagree that this is magical realism, though this might be what the author intended. To me it just reads as metaphorical, allegorical, and vividly imaginative.

I'm unsure if this was intended, but I see a very strong Persephone myth connection in RIPE (iykyk). If this wasn't the intention then it's a major coincidence and if it was intended then it was very well done.

More books like this please.

PS: I laughed my ass off (in a good way) at the inclusion of binary code in the story. Probably because I read this book using TTS so I just had a robot voice read me a long sequence of zeros and ones. The audiobook will be interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a most anticipated ARC!

This novel did not disappoint. This felt like listening to a boygenius album and questioning the purpose of our lives, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Mainly I loved this but I would only recommend it to a friend who would find that activity enjoyable.

The writing was just excellent. I found myself highlighting paragraph after paragraph. This will be a top read of 2023 for so many! Really loved the museum chapter.

Thanks again!