"Death Valley" by Melissa Broder is an extraordinary and deeply introspective novel that takes readers on a journey through grief, survival, and the complexities of the human experience. Broder, known for her previous works "Milk Fed" and "The Pisces," once again showcases her visionary storytelling and dark humor in this captivating and thought-provoking tale.

The protagonist, a woman seeking solace and escape from the overwhelming sorrow that engulfs her, arrives at a Best Western motel in the California high desert. What starts as a quest for respite transforms into a profound exploration of the self, as the woman embarks on a transformative hike recommended by a perceptive receptionist. Broder's portrayal of the woman's emotional and physical journey is masterful, as she encounters a towering cactus with an otherworldly presence and a mysterious gash that serves as a portal to an extraordinary realm.

Broder's prose is both evocative and poetic, drawing readers into the arid and desolate landscapes of Death Valley. The vivid descriptions of the sun-scorched trail and the mystical succulent create an immersive reading experience, where readers can almost feel the heat and hear the whispers of the desert wind. The author's ability to blend the desolation of the environment with moments of rich humor and poignant reflection adds depth and complexity to the narrative.

The exploration of grief in "Death Valley" is both raw and nuanced. Broder delves into the depths of loss and the ways in which it shapes and transforms individuals. Through the woman's experiences, readers are invited to contemplate their own relationship with grief and the various stages of healing. Broder's profound insights into the human condition make this novel universally relatable, as readers will find echoes of their own struggles and triumphs within the pages.

One of the standout aspects of this novel is Broder's imaginative storytelling. She seamlessly weaves together elements of magical realism with gritty realism, creating a narrative that is both fantastical and grounded in emotional truth. The juxtaposition of the mystical and the mundane highlights the inherent contradictions of the human experience, leaving readers mesmerized by the profound connections formed within the pages of "Death Valley."

Melissa Broder's "Death Valley" is an extraordinary work of fiction that pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling. With its dark humor, lyrical prose, and exploration of grief and self-discovery, this novel will linger in the minds of readers long after the final page. Broder's ability to delve into the depths of human emotions and create a richly textured narrative makes "Death Valley" a must-read for fans of literary fiction. Prepare to be captivated by this remarkable and thought-provoking tale that is as haunting as it is beautiful.

this book has EVERYTHING. desert survival. best western. hospice care. being breastfed via dr. pepper bottle by the ghost of your dying father. talking rocks. cacti. metaphors. bathroom humor. an exploration of what it means to love someone who is dying, and if that applies to all love and all people. fast casual dining. hotel employees described like veggie tales characters. oldies.

no one is doing it like melissa broder. this book was a blast!

this is truly a magnificent story. we follow a novelist who ends up lost in the desert on a sort of soul searching mission while trying to escape the feelings of grief she has about her father being very sick in the ICU and her husband being chronically ill. how does one deal with the heaviness of life? ever?

death valley made me laugh and cry and solidified melissa broder as an all time favorite author of mine. while this story is trippy and makes you question at times what is really happening, this was also an exploration on so many topics - love, life, grief, chronic illness, suffering, existentialism. she writes with so much care on the page and i feel like my soul is personally being spoken to when i read a book by broder.

i loved the pisces and so sad today by her, and i am so thankful i got to read an early copy of this upcoming release. thank you to scribner and netgalley for the advance copy. death valley comes out in october and please PLEASE pick it up. you won't regret it.

Loved Milk Fed but this one just wasn't for me. Thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Me before reading: I can read a novel about a father dying from a lung disease even though MY father just died from a lung disease. I’ve read so so many books about grief from different angles and I’m pretty sure it’s helped.

Me while reading: Look at me reading about anticipatory grief, DNRs and breathing machines. I don’t even feel emotional! I’ve come so far in my grief journey. Is this what healing looks like? Am I healed? Am I better than everyone else?

Me almost finished reading: One sentence just broke me. I was so close to making it out of here unscathed! How dare this book make me cry. Who could have anticipated this?

Melissa Broder, what can I say, you got me good. I just came back from a road trip through the California desert and was elated to see my ARC request went through for this book. Desert setting, dying dad, tempered doom, Broder nailed it.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley and Scribner in exchange for an honest review.

Not my favorite Melissa broder but definitely her most vulnerable. Playing the auto fiction in an interesting and surrealist manor.

I'm convinced Melissa Broder can do no wrong. In Death Valley, and with her signature sardonic, observant flair, Broder explores the anticipatory grief and anxiety of middle age. As with her previous novels and her essay collection, So Sad Today, there is an incredibly funny and permissive rawness here-- an aching internality that feels so lived in you'll wonder whether Broder broke into your head and mined your emotional landscape for content. But no, she just so deeply and honestly understands and illustrates the anxious, ever-longing mind. Death Valley is an almost hallucinogenic, desert-bound dark night of the soul that wrestles with universal grief. How can we accept the chaos of life, of mortality, of our myriad emotional failures, of the connections that keep us going and unfailingly disappoint us in the same breath? Does it matter if we can't? This novel made me laugh openly. It made me tear up a little. Like all of her work, it made me feel seen and held. If you're a fan of literature that taps into the sad and surreal while never forgetting to laugh at the absurdity of it all, this book is definitely for you.

I was super into Milk Fed by Melissa Broder to the point where I couldn’t stop reading it and finished it in a day. So when I saw her name again I couldn’t resist seeing what else she might write. I knew from the description that I was taking a gamble but I wanted to try it.

Unfortunately though, this book was not my cup of tea. I’m not even really sure what it was. It was not exactly fantasy but definitely surreal, and ultimately ridiculous from my point of view. About a woman whose father is in the ICU and husband has a chronic illness, this story leads to the woman finding a giant magic cactus in the desert. I was intrigued, but it just didn’t land. I want to say that it was funny and entertaining but truly I just found it goofy and a waste of time. Luckily, I was still able to read through it very quickly so it wasn’t a drag but I should have known that this story was not going to land for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for an ARC of this book.

Broder continues to dazzle me. I loved how different Death Valley is from her previous titles - while there's a touch of the absurd, it's more of a deliciously deep dive into grief and navigating being a care taker for everyone in your life. I have seen feedback that the main character is unlikeable, but I actually connected with her strongly as she figured out how to love and care for her father, husband, mother, and sister. Her late-night reddit scrolls were incredibly relatable, but I did find myself screaming at her every time she got out of the car in the desert at midday.

I have so many thoughts on this, yet no ability to archive them cohesively.

Melissa Broder is my favorite author of all time. I've been a fan since I read Meat Heart about a decade ago (how hipster of me) Witnessing her shift from poetry to prose has been quite the journey; one I'm gladly still embarking on.

Death Valley is an isolating novel about anticipatory grieving a parent and surviving shit. Compared to Milk Fed, her sapphic masterpiece, the romantic messiness is calmer, but the action (not that kind) is faster... yet slower? Each chapter is short, most landing under 5 pages. It makes for a read that feels fast-paced yet like the action is lacking. Until it's not. Is that medium paced? Maybe. Who knows.

The protagonist (unnamed) has an increasingly homebound husband and a father that has died multiple times in the hospital after a near-fatal accident (does it count as near-fatal if he's died already) She takes a trip into the desert and stumbles upon a cactus. A cactus one of the hotel workers claims doesn't, and can't, exist. When she goes back to visit the cactus, it's not there. She remembers the flesh, the moisture, the coolness, the visions inside of it. She continues her hike until realizes that she's lost. As the day passes time is ticking. Her water is running low. The sun is blistering. She needs to make it back. But every step leads her somewhere new. Somewhere she's not meant to be. Are her visions real? Is her father gone? Is her husband better? Can she survive? Can she grieve? Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows. I know because I read it. You can know if you read it too.

What I loved - Melissa's writing is always a joy (and by 'joy' I mean it sends me into a helical storm of reflection, depression, and anxiety over someone knowing too much about me and I hate it and hate her and I love her and love her. Fuck her for doing that. But also thanks)

What I disliked - Nothing. Melissa Broder has never done anything wrong a day in her life. (something something I didn't connect to the father dying stuff because mine is dead and I hated him, but it's not her fault that she wrote a weirdly specific book about a situation relating to me soon after his death... fuck her for doing that. But also thanks)

Did reality meet expectations - Nope. I went into it expecting an absolute shit show of a relationship. I thought she would cheat on her husband with one of the side characters. I thought their fight would be bigger. I thought the mommy issues would exist (rip Melissa's mommy issues era, hello Jethra fanfic) I thought the father/daughter dynamic would be more toxic and cruel (what does that say about me) Instead we get a shit show of a person. Which is great. I love inserting myself into shit show characters. I loved that it didn't go the way I expected. I loved how I was wrong about everything. That's what makes Melisa bae.

5/5 stars because it's my favorite, just like everything she does is my favorite. I can't help that my fav only writes iconically.

This was absolutely not what I was expecting, but that’s a good thing!

After Milk Fed, I think I was expecting another crazy yet serious romp filled with sarcasm and wit, and while there is still some of that in Death Valley, this is more an exploration of grief and healing.

It was about finding oneself amidst the turmoil of life. It was absolutely stunning and I am speechless.

This book was relatable and at the same time kept me very entertained. I found the first three-quarters of this book to be propulsive and the last quarter of this book to sort of lag, which lowered my star rating slightly. It also punched me in the gut in some sections and made me want to go back and reread. To me, grief and loss are hard topics to make enjoyable, but Broder did a wonderful job.

I really like Melissa Broder. She is such an oddball (check out her Twitter feed). Even though I didn't love "Death Valley" as much as her previous works, "The Pisces" and "Milk Fed" - I still found things I enjoyed about this short and quirky novel. This is a character-driven novel. It feels deeply personal. I'm not sure if this book is autobiographical, but it definitely feels that way. You can tell Broder was going through things while writing this. Also, I didn't realize until the end of the book that we never learn the first name of the protagonist. This why I assumed this book is from the author's perspective. The unnamed protagonist is riddled with guilt, grief, and depression. She has a sick husband, and her father is on the brink of death. She escapes to the desert to sort out her professional and personal life. "Death Valley" is a slice of a life kind of novel. It's a quick read, but profound, and delightfully weird. Melissa Broder is one of my favorite authors. She's eccentric and her writing always make me think and feel. A very unique and brave storyteller.

Thank you, Netgalley and Scribner for the digital ARC.

This is a nice and quick read. Personally, I thought some of the characters were a bit boring, but I think that’s just because Broder didn’t delve too much into their personal stories. I couldn’t relate much to the MC, but I did enjoy her as the protagonist.

I think after “Milk Fed” I was expecting a little bit more. However, this book has really great prose and an interesting plot.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the eArc; the following thoughts are my own.

I’m a sucker for a weird book, and I’m a sucker for Melissa Broder. I read Milk Fed a couple years ago, and while I didn’t consider it a five star at the time, I think I need to give it a re-read, because I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.
That said, this is the most incredible fever dream I’ve ever experienced, and this is a new all-time favorite, WITHOUT HESITATION.
The MC is unlikable, but fascinating. The relationships are painfully and awkwardly relatable. The story??? Bonkers is the only word I’ve got for it, but it was such a good ride. It made me feel things, and my depression hasn’t let me feel things in a long time. All the stars.

This is the first I have read from this author and could see where she was trying to go, however I think this book fell short of filling out the concept. The narrator is experiencing anticipatory grief and also has a husband that requires care as well. It becomes overwhelming so she escapes to her own personal oasis. I was definitely intrigued by the initial encounter with the dessert and the large cactus, however I think after that point, it was just absurd and did not go anywhere for me. Luckily, this was a quick read. I think there were some good moments just not great. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

I read rave reviews of this book, and the description sounded like it was something I would absolutely love. What I took from this book was a really blurry storyline with some beautiful prose here and there.
I feel like this book could have been so much more if we had more of a backstory of the characters involved. They all emanated these powerful personalities that I wish I could have heard more from- Jethra and Zip, what brought them to be in the exact place, at the exact same time, working at a generic hotel chain in the middle of the desert? I loved them both and wanted to hear more from them. The husband, what was his ailment, when did it start in their relationship? And I wanted so badly to relate to the protagonist, being a woman who is at the age where mere childlessness seems like an act of rebellion, but at the same time it feels like a weakness, a vacancy.
The characters and the story has so much more potential.

Thank you to NetGalley and Schribner + Simon&Schuster for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!!

3.5/5

Melissa Broder won me over with her humorous writing style in "Milk Fed," so when I stumbled upon her latest ARC, "Death Valley," I couldn't contain my excitement. Delving into the realms of love, death, grief, and even a giant cactus, this book had me captivated from start to finish, consuming it in nearly one sitting.

Based on the blurb and its Sci-Fi classification, I thought it would be a bit different.. The novel proved to be an engaging read, showcasing Melissa Broder's witty writing style that initially drew me to her work. While the first half had a stronger narrative progression, the introspective nature of the second half provided a necessary insight into the MC's downward spiral and mania. I wanted to feel a stronger connection to the protagonist's emotions and experiences.

If you enjoyed Melissa Broder's previous works or appreciate a blend of humor and introspection in your reading, "Death Valley" is certainly worth diving into.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the chance to review this in exchange for a review!

Melissa Border's "Death Valley" is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that takes readers on a chilling journey through the unforgiving landscape of the desert. With its taut suspense, well-drawn characters, and a relentless pace, this book delivers a thrilling reading experience that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Melissa Border's writing is vivid and evocative, effectively capturing the harsh beauty and eerie atmosphere of Death Valley. The desolate landscape becomes a character in itself, heightening the sense of isolation and danger that permeates the narrative. Through her descriptive prose, the author skillfully immerses readers in the scorching heat, treacherous terrain, and a growing sense of unease.

"Death Valley" is an enthralling and pulse-pounding thriller that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. Melissa Border's adept storytelling, atmospheric writing, and well-crafted characters make for a gripping and immersive reading experience. This book is a must-read for fans of suspense and anyone who enjoys a fast-paced, tension-filled tale set against a dangerous backdrop. Prepare to be captivated by the unforgiving beauty of Death Valley and the dark secrets it holds.

Thanks so much to the publisher for providing me an advanced reader copy of this book.

Having not read anything by the author before, I wasn't sure what to expect. But I was really happy to find that Death Valley worked really well for me. We follow our unnamed protagonist, an author, in the throes of grief as her father is in the hospital doing poorly. She deals with days of care taking and medical emergencies that she can't seem to escape because her husband also deals with chronic illness. She decides to take a brief retreat to the desert, staying at a prototypical yet eccentric Best Western (a personal favorite of myself as well), where she's recommended a local hiking trail through the desert. On these hikes she comes face to face with physical manifestations of her grief, phantom cacti, children, and personified rocks. And also she gets lost.

This was funny. Like FUNNY funny. The way the author paints her as always on the cusp of a mental breakdown, the LA-esque pseudo mysticisms and therapy talk to deal with grief, the Jewish mother we all know, the subreddits and comments, the weirdly specific desk workers at the Best Western, and even the vulnerable insecurities that come with caring for a dying loved one -- it all came together in a beautiful mural of sadness and comedy. Instead of focusing on the tedious reality of caring for a dying parent, this book perfectly captured the emotions in a surreal way. I particularly loved the dichotomy of the condition of the father and the husband that surfaces several times, though I wish it were explored a bit further. I think there can be a lot to say when comparing age related death to chronic illness.

I do think the first half of this was a bit stronger than the second half. There's more narrative progression in the first half, with the second half being more introspective and surface level philosophical. I do think a dive into the introspective was necessary as way to fully realize the protagonist's fall into manic grief, but I was left wanting a bit more depth to it. Also, the narrator is an author fleshing our her next book about a woman dealing with the death of her father and the illness of her husband -- I thought it was a bit too on-the-nose meta and the plot point didn't really pan out in any meaningful way. It distracted more than it served.

How to recommend this, hmm. If you need a lighthearted exploration of grief, you'll like this. If you like funny, topical books you'll like this. If you like reddit humor, as in literally reading comments from reddit, you'll like this. If you're looking for a rigid narrative, you won't like this. If you want a more serious, or deep exploration of grief, you won't like this. If you think millennial humor is cringe, you won't like this. But I did!