I keep going back and forth on this one: it was super compelling, and very uniquely written, and I liked it a lot, except it's annoying to write a murder mystery that's never solved. Like, come on, that is objectively annoying even if the truth is ~not the point~. At the end of the day I respect the experimentation here and I'll keep thinking about this book not only for annoyance reasons - so let's cut it down the middle at three stars.

My thanks to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I think that Eugenie Montague's "Swallow This Ghost" is going to stick with me for awhile. A very smart genre defying novel that almost feels like multiple books with its shifts. A singular event occurs that shapes 3 lives in totally different ways.
For starters, within the story we have what may be one of the most brilliant ideas ever for marketing a new novel. I was intrigued and could absolutely see an author or publisher using social media the way it is done within these pages. Jane, the marketing company she works for, are working with Jeremy, using different characters from his novel to tell parts of the story via their own social media accounts, making it feel real and causing a viral sensation.
Montague is also very clever with showcasing the endless cycle of routine, and all the little secrets we hide in that. A lot of secrets for Jane, and what she hides from Jeremy as the line of professional and personal relationship blurs.
Tragedy strikes and the story takes a totally different turn and new perspective. I think I enjoyed this part of the book the most. I refuse to give anything away. Eventually this takes us to what I'll say is act 3 which, again, brilliant on Montagues part, in giving us yet another perspective on what happened, and the aftermath of it all.
Ultimately for me, a sharply written examination on our public vs private lives and how what we reveal in them changes everyone's perspectives of us.

mixed feelings? i think this book is not particularly innovative, and yet there are aspects of it that I appreciate. The first two parts read like a true crime podcast and the third part (which is actually a podcast) sort of wraps up the loose ends from the first two parts. each part is written in a different character's perspective and the author does a really good job at differentiating between the characters, it's pretty impressive that they were able to write in three distinct narrative voices without conflating them.

there were some lovely lines in there about grief and the ways people come to terms with things that happen to them and around them but it didn't feel like this book had anything to say that hadn't already been said before. I did almost give up because the first part was just not particularly interesting... but it's possible that was because i forgot what the book was about before i started reading since it had been a while since i picked it up. the third part was my favorite so it's worth it to stick around

I was not sure what to expect going into this, but was pleasantly surprised. This book is told in three parts. The first part was my favorite. I loved the detached writing style and the beautiful prose. I loved the main character, Jane, and connected with her quickly. The repetitiveness added to the eerie and unsettling vibe that the detached style was giving off.

The second part started off shocking. The jolt from third person to first person narration was a jarring switch. The new character, Jesse, slowly grew on me, although some of his actions were confusing or frustrating. I loved seeing Jane’s life from another angle, and it was interesting to have different opinions on some characters when seen from Jesse’s lens vs Jane’s lens.

The third part was my least favorite, and the reason I am rating the novel 4 stars instead of 5. I found it to drag a bit, and the writing style didn’t speak to me or draw me in as much as in the first two parts. This section centers around Jeremy, who was my least favorite character. I felt like the reader is left unsatisfied with the tragedy/mystery, which I didn’t like, and slowly realizes that each narrator has been unreliable to a degree, which I did like. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will be thinking about this one for a while!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love when a book surprises me. But what I love most is reading a book and realizing that I have no idea how it will end.

Most of the time I am reviewing books that I loved but knew what was going to happen pretty early on. Swallow the Ghost is nothing like that!

Suffice to say, the less you know, the more enjoyable it will be. What you can know now is that Jane is a millennial, working at a social media marketing company. Her current client Jeremy has written a novel that she is helping build buzz through online story. Jane is excited by the work but also bored by her life, her daily routines, her compulsions. Enter a potential love interest and a detective of sort.
This is like no book I have ever read and I can't wait to hear what you think!

My one gripe is the end was focused on my least favorite person in the book and I am just not sure why. Read this book!
.#mullhollandbooks #swallowtheghost #eugeniemontague

"Swallow the Ghost" by Eugenie Montague is difficult to summarize! In fact, I feel like if I tried to, it would give away too much. One of the most rewarding things about this novel was the shock and surprise. This is one of those books where its best to go into it knowing nothing.

Here's what I can say: The novel’s narrative structure is notably distinct, divided into three parts, each shifting in point of view and storytelling medium. Of these, the middle section, with its detective mystery style, resonated most conventionally with me, offering a more familiar narrative rhythm. There were many insights in this novel that I found super interesting.

The first part, characterized by its repetitive nature ended up being really intriguing to me, and I was excited to see where it would go. I felt excited to learn more about Jane, to be privy to her mystery. For example, I was super interested & intrigued by her sense of wrongness when she wakes up each morning: “But she had woken up with the feeling that something was wrong, that she had done something wrong. She waits for the shame to loose its hold on her, to realize it belonged to some dream, but then she remembers, and the dread she perceived, which felt like a heavy but lifeless presence, transforms into something restless and grasping.” Ultimately, I wanted this to be explored more, or understand how it connected to the rest of the novel but was kind of let down. Or perhaps it was, but was just lost on me.

The novel's overall structure was ambitious. I was hoping for more of a sense of resolution at the end, but we didn't get that. Perhaps this was done on purpose, but given that the novel was already experimental, I think it should have offered a little more resolution at the end for us curious, and maybe less literary readers. Nonetheless, Montague’s evident potential as a writer keeps me hopeful and interested in her future works, as "Swallow the Ghost" feels like a stepping stone in her journey to finding her unique voice.

Here are some of my favorite insights/quotes from the novel (not spoilers):

“There’s something about reading that opens the portal between the worlds — possibly because to write the book in the first place, someone from this world had access to that world.”

“When a writer has blind spots in fiction, it could be a blind spot in real life.”

“How many moments never make a memory? How many moments do people live through together that are experienced so differently by each of them, its almost like they didn’t experience something together at all."

Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the ARC.

This one wasn't really for me. Not a bad book at all, just not for me. The premise and the way it's set up was interesting to me. The book is broken into three parts, from three different POVs. I didn't feel connected enough to the character in the first part, which made it hard to care for parts two-three.

Part three of the book was also kind of a letdown as I was expecting more of a resolution. It wasn't at all the ending I was expecting. Part three felt like a whining, pretentious diary entry.

Still an interesting book about how we portray ourselves online vs. real life.

Swallow the Ghost is a uniquely told murder mystery from the perspective of three central characters in three different sections. The first half had me hooked, particularly the jarring beginning to part 2. The story lulls a bit from there though, and it never quite recovered for me. Each character is dealing with their own personal issues amidst the overarching plot and it felt like both too much and not enough at the same time. I was hoping for a satisfying ending that would make the lulls feel worth it but there was very little closure. I would have loved part 3 to be from either Kaya or Tom’s point of view. But alas we hear from the least interesting character describing in the most pretentious terms how his life was affected by this tragedy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First off thank you to the publisher and net galley for the chance to read this advance copy. This book is told in three parts. Each part is a different character and at a different point in the story. This makes it quite unique. But I wasn’t feeling the final part with Jeremy. It was a change in the flow up to that point and I wasn’t as big of a fan. I found myself trying to get through it more than reading it deeply. This was a quick read overall. A good who did it storyline, that kept you thinking it was this person or that person. But overall it left a lot of empty spaces for me. Things that just didn’t get closure in the story and areas that didn’t have as much detail as I would have liked. It wasn’t bad by any means, just not a book that will top my list.

I found the premise of this novel very compelling and I enjoyed the concept of writing a fictional story entirely through social media, but I don't think this worked perfectly for me. I enjoyed the writing style of the first section, it is very clever and really makes you feel like you are inside Jane's mind. However, I think it becomes a bit too repetitive, which made it drag for me. The second section was the most interesting and I was kept at the edge wanting to solve this mystery, but the ball didn't drop and I genuinely am not sure if it was solved. I did not connect with the last part and it was hard for me to follow. Overall, the sections felt a little too disconnected for me and I had trouble making sense of the plot.

DNF. Wasn't a good fit for me with the writing style and the neverending chapters. I would recommend however to sad lit fiction enthusiasts.

First and foremost I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this. Unfortunately, this book was a DNF for me. The chapter Groundhog Day 2 was a never ending chapter that read like a police report listing an account of an event. Just short brief mentions of what was done or said and then on to the next. Or like the author listed out the events of the story line but never actually wrote the full story. It was very hard to push through as far as I did but absolutely nothing was happening in the book and I could not force myself to push any further. I am a short chapter girlie and i need books that are a bit faster paced at least with bringing the main part of the story in. I am not sure if the "list" style was intentional but this writing style is just not for me and unfortunately not something I would recommend to anyone. I feel bad that I couldnt make it through this book but it just was dragging and dragging and was often confusing because it was very listy. Again, thank you for the opportunity to read this, so sorry that i just couldnt get through it. This book and writing style was not it for me.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc! I am most certain this will be a hit upon its release. This feels genre bending all the while falling under the unhinged tropes. A trope often done but done effectively here.

4.5 rounded up.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a murder mystery split into three different perspectives/books: the victim, the investigator, and the accused. I thought it was a very clever and fresh spin on this genre. There was more depth to the narrative besides the classic 'whodunnit,' and I think everyone who reads it will come away with a different interpretation. 100% recommend.

The first segment focuses on Jane, a young woman who suffers from control issues manifesting in bulimia. Jane's book was my favorite of the three. The way the author uses repetition to show how monotonous and precise her daily routine is is so creative. It was enjoyable to read because you could tell the author really cared about Jane and her struggles. I'll admit that when I began reading, I had forgotten that this was a murder mystery, and when Jane's chapter ended abruptly, I was shocked.

The other characters/narrators, Jesse and Jeremy, were well thought out and, although I enjoyed Jesse's book more, the medium of Jeremy's chapter was refreshing and very telling of his character. Both of these characters were complex and distinct. Seeing Jane's world through Jesse's eyes and seeing Jesse through Jeremy's eyes was a fascinating mindfuck.

I can't wait for it to come out so I can get a physical copy. Keep your eye out; this is worth the read.

I hope that you pick this up blind. I requested an ARC, but had mostly forgotten what I was getting into when it came time to start reading this, and so the twist at about 30% in was WILD, and you deserve to experience too!

Eugenie Montague is smart, but she doesn't bash you in the face with that intelligence (Jeremy does, but he's big on literary theory, so he gets to be a bit pompous). The writing is sharp, and grabs you. I read this in two sittings, and they were both far from tedious.

I think its Jesse (but it could be Aaron or Jeremy - not that the male characters are in any way interchangeable) that discusses how he had read about someone overcoming their fear of death by experiencing it. It is obviously not an option for all of us who fear death, to experience it and come back, but I do wonder if this fear/curiosity was the inspiration for the book. Rita is missing suspected to be dead, (view spoiler), Jesse's mother and Jeremy's sister's mother-in-law are aged and ill, and so it is naturally on the mind of the characters and the author.

In showing how the disappearance of fictional character Rita affects collective minds, how Jane's interrupted life affects Jesse and Jeremy, I felt like maybe we were being encouraged to consider that death may not be so fearsome?

Montague uses narrative style and devices with a deft hand, and I really encourage you to pick this up, while I will be watching to see what she puts out next.

thank you netgalley and mulholland books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! this book captured me immediately due to its unique structure; divided into three parts from three different perspectives.

the first two parts had me completely hooked, feeling like two distinct stories: a main plot and a metaphorical exploration. sadly (and this may just be a personal problem), i found myself a bit lost and disengaged in part 3. it felt dense, lacking the closure i typically appreciate in lit-fic. i usually enjoy open-ended narratives, but in this case, it left me wanting more resolution. overall though, the book provides a thought-provoking take on the complexities of our online and offline worlds, how we construct our online personas, and the impacts they have on our lives.

Swallow the Ghost is a story told in 3 parts. Part one, the story of Jane. Her life as an almost writer but really a content creator for the author of a murder mystery. It captivated me with rituals, and mental illness, relationships, drama. Without reading the synopsis fully, I didn’t know what to expect.
Part two, the story of an investigator, and his job to find out who did it. Who killed her? Finding secrets, retracing steps, rituals, stories, uncovering who everyone really was.
Part three, years in the future, a podcast with the aforementioned author of a murder mystery who also was accused of murder. he reads the stories he’s been able to write since being accused. he discusses what has become of him.

This book was so well written, so captivating, so good. I agree with other reviews that the third section isn’t exactly my favorite but it is very important, very much the finishing of the book. This is one where the mystery is still a mystery, half way solved, but unraveling all that you know yourself and believe. i’m fully amazed at how the author took apart life as we know it, put life back together, discussed human nature at the core, touched on loneliness, mental illness, the craving of doing something and being someone.

probably would’ve been 4.5 but i still hate seeing the pandemic discussed in books (i’m sorry). the writing is gorgeous. thank you for this ARC via netgalley

This book was not what I was expecting at all, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was unlike anything else I've read. We follow three characters throughout the story, which is split into three parts. Each part has a different cadence/writing style to it, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This novel is dynamic and wonderful - I flew through it. Eugenie's writing is moving - she conveys emotion in such a raw, beautiful way. I will be thinking about these characters for a long time.

Thank you to Mullholland Books & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found the whole concept of a story within a story super interesting and the idea of completely telling a story on Twitter by creating individual characters that Tweet @ each other until one disappears and peppering the Tweets with clues as so ingenious, I have to admit that I was waiting for the shoe to drop and to figure out what the heck was going on in the main character's life? She started out seeming so normal and then after a few paragraphs, you can see her as just a typical depressed lonely millennial girl who's working in the big city, living with roommates and being disenchanted with life but the background of starting each of her mornings with the same paragraph made it feel very strange.

I give credit to the author for creating likeable characters that seem relatable and you could imagine them as your actual colleagues and all of them had pretty normal activities and conversations despite the sense of "not everything is as meets the eye" feeling throbbing in the background. Kaya who is Jane's best friend is likeable and believable whilst her boss Tom and the Twitter author Jeremy seem well developed with opinions and authentic interactions with Jane.

Just when you think the book is getting to a happier note, BAM! the main character dies and is discovered having been murdered and the second half of the book starts. The second half is a fast paced murder mystery that has you on the hook to resolve the murder of Jane. The fact that there are 2 clear parts to the story and how the descriptions change in the second half, show a clear pick up in pace and it literally feels like you went up on the roller coaster on the first half and zoomed down in the second half to find out who the killer was.

This is about 74% of the book and then all of a sudden there is a third part of the book which is like a podcast format of the writer Jeremy and the podcast host and it's really an interview as if Jeremy were a real person and writer and is completely unrelated to the actual story although it does mention Jane's death. I thought that the last 25% of the book should have been dropped personally but I can't wait to see what the reactions of others are once the book is published!

Both a sweeping and a claustrophobic story about who we are in reality, on social media, and in our own memories. This book defies genre and seeks to tell a story meant for more than one type of audience. I enjoyed the different voices from the three narrators and was impressed with the skillful style Montague utilizes. Montague brings each character to life, gives them depth, and makes you feel deeply for them. Reading each chapter felt like its own life and the end left me grieving for the voice/narrator I was so invested in. Even when I was rolling my eyes at Jeremy, I was also moved by his story and was compelled by his analyses. I wanted to dwell in Jane's mind and wished her chapter was longer. I found Jane to be very relatable and insightful and would have read an entire novel just about her day-to-day. Overall, I was left with questions about how we display ourselves, how we are perceived by the world around us, and if our stories are written by us or for us. I would recommend this to those who are interested in how social media and true crime impact the individual and society, and those who enjoyed The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty or Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield.