The premise of the novel immediately captured my interest and having not read a “sad girl novel” in a while, I was eager to dive into that relatable and numbing world.

“Misrecognition” follows Elsa, who moves back into her childhood home and is processing the end of her relationship with a couple. The story is told through winding descriptions of pop culture and of a famous actor who travels to her hometown to be in a play. It did not take long for me to guess who the actor was, or the media and apps that Elsa used. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a book that included references to modern technology and pop culture that didn’t actually name them.

The book was a little too slow for my taste, however, it perfectly captured escapism, nostalgia, and being chronically online. Elsa was a character who was unsure of what direction to take her life in, and this felt realistic and true. I did want a bit more of Elsa’s personality to shine through, and was left wanting more from the ending.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC.

I am really not a lit fic girlie which is why I rated this 3 stars but I didn't hate it! I don't love the lack of like plot arch but I did like the plot points around spiraling and crushes and obsession.

This is for my Sally Rooney ppl!

TY to NetGalley for a copy of this book!

I don’t know any two words better used to describe this book other than sincere and pathetic. I don’t mean pathetic as an insult— in fact, I mean it as a compliment.

In Misrecognition, we have our protagonist, Elsa moving back home with her family after a breakup. The relationship was Elsa’s first foray into polyamory and WLW relationships, so needless to say, the breakup came with a need for self-reflection. In need of a distraction, Elsa becomes obsessed with a non-binary celebrity/celebrity-adjacent figure. From here, we peer into the healing process after a relationship.

I think this book may be an acquired taste. Many of the critiques I’ve seen for this book felt more like it was more of a critique of Newbound’s personal style and voice. I can see why it is blurbed as “for fans of Rachel Cusk”. Although it’s not the writing that is similar to Cusk, I think the overall focus on introspection and feeling of detachment is prevalent here as well. If that’s your kind of book, then I think you will enjoy this as well.

Oof, it hurts me to say that this fell so flat for me. On paper it seemed like something I would love (reminded me of Acts of Service by Lillian Fishman), but unfortunately I found our protagonist, Elsa, so profoundly uninteresting and boring, lackluster in thought and personality, that I felt completely blase about the entire thing. There was nuance, sure, but it lacked substance or any allure to draw me into building anticipation for the eventual connection with Sam.

Obsessive? Honey I couldn't even care to notice. 2.5 stars for me.

In Misrecognition, aimless and chronically online Elsa moves back in with her parents after a rough break-up with her former employers and lovers, almost exclusively referred to as "the man and the woman." Shortly thereafter, she watches Call Me by Your Name (never actually named, but painstakingly described over several pages) and becomes obsessed with Timothée Chalamet. Coincidentally, he is staying in her city to star in a local play (??) over the summer and her parasocial relationship turns into a reality.

There is some serious dedication in this book to avoiding proper nouns like Instagram, Call Me by Your Name, and Marie Kondo as well as named characters, some of the most prominent examples being "the actor-character"—i.e. Timothée Chalamet—and "a person called Sam," which is fun at first, but stumbles over itself in long sequences of dialogue.

That said, I enjoyed the writing, sometimes flowery and other times deadpan, but always incisive. The acerbic take on social media and online shopping feels abstracted—lengthy description giving a strangely aerial view to the mundanities of life. I doubt the aimlessness of the plot and hand-waving near themes of digital overconsumption and queer sexuality would satisfy most but I didn't mind it. The only part I felt was lacking was the ending which didn't seem to reach any resolution or demonstrate any character growth for Elsa.

Writing was very weak and was trying too hard to be deep and meaningful resulting in the opposite effect. The "actor-character" was clearly described as TImothee Chalamet which then made the stories and personality surrounding his character uncomfortable knowing he is a real life person. I did not enjoy the plot or other characters either.

"Misrecognition" by Madison Newbound is a poignant exploration of identity, belonging, and the complexities of human relationships. Set against the backdrop of a small coastal town, the novel follows protagonist Emily as she grapples with the aftermath of a life-altering event that leaves her questioning her sense of self and her place in the world.

Newbound's writing is introspective and emotive, immersing readers in Emily's internal struggles and external challenges. The author adeptly captures the nuances of grief, guilt, and resilience as Emily navigates her journey of self-discovery and healing.

Central to the narrative is Emily's relationships with those around her—family members, friends, and a mysterious newcomer who challenges her perceptions. These interactions are woven into a tapestry of interpersonal dynamics, highlighting the impact of past decisions and the possibilities of forgiveness and redemption.

The novel delves into themes of memory and perception, exploring how our understanding of ourselves and others can be shaped by misinterpretations and misjudgments. Through Emily's introspection and interactions with diverse characters, Newbound invites readers to contemplate the complexities of human connection and the ways in which we construct our identities.

"Misrecognition" is not merely a story of personal growth but also a reflection on the broader themes of community and belonging. The coastal setting serves as both a backdrop and a character in itself, contributing to the novel's atmospheric depth and adding layers of meaning to Emily's journey.

Overall, "Misrecognition" is a thought-provoking and beautifully crafted novel that resonates with emotional depth and literary finesse. Madison Newbound's sensitive exploration of identity and relationships makes this novel a compelling read for fans of contemporary fiction.

Stalkery but in like a fun way! I liked Elsa and her finding herself. Elsa feels real and relatable in a way that her and I would be peers but not really friends because we are both bad at texting back BUT when we do text to make plans, it's THE BEST! 4 stars.

Obsessive, interesting read that touches upon the darkness of a quarter life crisis mess.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I wish I would have liked this book but in reality, it was a nightmare. This was like one of those author and celebrity fan fictions that one reads when they're bored and killing time and frankly, the fact that we don't see any character development or the fact that we get an excruciatingly long scene of the MC at Sephora was driving me crazy.

The premise drew me in but I fear the text didn’t deliver. Very slow - 50% vibes, 0% plot. Unfortunately the characters were all pretty flat and I just couldn’t get invested in what was happening.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the review copy.

What’s a better cure for self-loathing than an obsession with a celebrity?
After a heart-wrenching break-up with a couple in NYC, Elsa moves back to her hometown to have a mental breakdown/ bisexual crisis in peace. She’s lost her sense of self, she’s confused about her gender and sexuality after dating a man and a woman simultaneously, and she has no idea what to do next. Her only lifeline is the internet, where she falls into an obsession with a pretty boy celebrity (that most readers will recognize through heavy allusions). But when this celebrity comes to town for the summer, he brings his hot androgynous friend and Elsa catches a newfound wave of motivation.
I enjoyed Misrecognition. Though the protagonist was utterly unlikable, I found myself drawn in by her erratic behavior. Elsa is a dumpster fire of a human who has no clue who she is, which most adults can relate to in some way. On theme with modern times, she searches for identity through the internet and ends up clinging to the idea of a celebrity. As a society, we are often drawn to celebrities as a means of finding some semblance to our own experiences. In a way, celebrities can give us the illusion that we are not alone. Elsa further grapples with her perceptions when this figure she’s venerated through a screen becomes a real, physical presence in her life. In Misrecognition, Madison Newbound ably addresses the cultural loneliness caused by our obsession with the internet but also how it connects us to each other and even ourselves.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a summer read that was overall fun but dark at many points. I enjoyed the setting, which I felt gave a lot of to the book. I also liked the prose. One thing I didn't love about the book is how it was too obvious who the 'actor-character' was.

Misrecognition puts us down next to Elsa, where she is reeling from an intense breakup in her childhood bedroom. In her rumination, she lands on obsessing over a celebrity and their entourage - who happens to be in her hometown for a performance.

I love an obsessed woman and just existing in her mind, but I don't think much was revealed here, nor do I think it was absurd or making a cutting comment. The narrative batted around the feeling of longing during acute loneliness, but never dug in as deeply and explored as I hoped. There was a brief moment of Elsa uncovering a truth about who she is drawn to, but it was left near the end without much expansion. I do think Newbound nailed the ending. It gave you a direction for where Elsa was heading after the reader leaves her and stayed consistent with the overall attitude.

All in all, I enjoyed the premise and more than enough of the execution to decide I liked this book and would recommend it to fans of The Guest by Emma Cline, I'm A Fan by Sheena Patel, What We So In The Dark by Michelle Hart, or Green Dot by Madeline Cline.

I fully believe that this is not a book for everyone, but it is absolutely a book for me. I love queer people, even (maybe especially) in their messiness. Every queer person has/had a friend exactly like Elsa. You love her and you also want to choke her out the tiniest bit. The book is a bit longer than it needs to be, as the prose can run on for a bit. I do also wish there had been some sort of resolution at the end, even if it wasn't positive. This is very much a passage of time as opposed to plot driven.

I wonder if I would have liked this more had I read it at a different time. I wove back and forth between finding it utterly beautiful and utterly boring. Elsa was an intriguing character to me, but at times I felt like I didn't know her at all. I did think that Newbound portrayed Elsa's experiences on the periphery of life very well. As someone stuck in their small hometown after tragedy, I had hoped I'd connect with this more, but it just didn't work very well for me.

Misrecognition is a literary fiction following Elsa, a young woman who recently moved back to her childhood home after a devastating breakup with a couple.

Elsa is directionless and depressed aimlessly scrolling social media and stalking her former lovers. After watching a movie featuring a gay love story, she begins to obsess over the young lead actor and coincidently sees him and his entourage in person.

This is a novel about the quest for human connection and coming to understand one's place in the world, including grappling with queerness. It is about the intricacies of love and relationships in our modern world.

The book is somewhat slow-paced, which I normally don't care for, but I was so engaged in the story I didn't care. I enjoyed the imperfections in Elsa, and her character felt very real to me. The book actually had me reflecting on my early 20s and the relationships I had been in through that decade of my life. I think many millennials would be able to see their past selves in Elsa as I did.

The writing was witty and engaging. It's a character-based novel, so if you're looking for a lot of plot, this may not be the book for you. The ending felt a little abrupt, but I actually think it worked. The novel isn't about figuring everything out or having this neatly wrapped happily ever after. It feels too real for that.

Overall, I really really enjoyed Misrecognition, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves character-based literary fiction about the complexities of love, queer identity, and young adulthood.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for access to this ARC. As always, all opinions are my own.

Madison Newbound's debut novel, "Misrecognition," offers a sharp, witty, and insightful exploration of modern queer identity, the pervasive influence of the internet, and the complexities of post-postmodern adulthood. Drawing comparisons to Rachel Cusk and Patricia Lockwood, Newbound crafts a narrative that is both emotionally raw and darkly humorous.

The story centers on Elsa, who finds herself adrift and directionless after the abrupt end of a significant and unconventional relationship with a couple who were not only her lovers but also her bosses and cultural influencers. Thrust back into her childhood bedroom, Elsa's life seems to have hit a standstill as she spirals into depression. She turns to the internet in search of meaning, where she becomes captivated by a young actor starring in a gay love story that eerily mirrors her own internal turmoil.

As fate would have it, Elsa encounters the actor in real life when he, along with a troupe of actors, writers, and directors, arrives in her hometown for an annual theater festival. Taking a job as a hostess at the town's upscale restaurant, Elsa's world becomes intertwined with the actor and his entourage. However, her fascination soon shifts from the actor to his enigmatic dinner companion, Sam, whose androgynous allure captivates her.

Through her evolving connection with Sam, Elsa confronts her sexuality and revisits the painful truths of her past relationship. She is compelled to recognize the recurring patterns in her life and grapple with the uncomfortable realities of her desires and dependencies.

"Misrecognition" excels in its portrayal of contemporary queer experiences and the search for identity in a digital age. Newbound’s prose is unflinchingly honest, capturing Elsa’s internal struggles with a blend of humor and poignancy. The novel's strength lies in its nuanced character development and its ability to weave complex themes of love, loss, and self-discovery into a compelling narrative.

Elsa’s journey is both relatable and uniquely her own, reflecting the broader challenges faced by many in navigating relationships and identity in a rapidly changing world. The supporting characters, particularly Sam, add depth and intrigue to the story, highlighting the diverse experiences and identities within the queer community.

Overall, "Misrecognition" is a thought-provoking and engaging read that will resonate with fans of literary fiction and those interested in exploring the intersections of queer identity, modern relationships, and the pervasive influence of the internet. Madison Newbound has crafted a debut that is both timely and timeless, offering readers a fresh perspective on the complexities of contemporary life.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book. This review reflects my honest opinion.

This cover is 5 stars but it took me awhile to get into this story. I wanted to love the story as much as the cover!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an early copy of this book. I really appreciate it! The novel is about a late 20s woman, Elsa, who has just been dumped by a polyamorous couple she's been involved with personally and professionally. She returns to her small hometown to live with her parents with whom she has nothing in common to figure out what's next. Using her friendly dog, she manages to meet a man she calls actor-character who she has seen online and who happens to be in her hometown for the summer. She finds herself more intrigued by his colleague, a nonbinary person named Sam that she calls a person named Sam. Much of the books is Elsa's depression which comes across as slow and apathetic. Maybe that was on purpose because that is surely how Elsa felt but I wanted it to be more interesting. We get way too much detail on shopping excursions to Sephora and other mundane events but really don't get to know Elsa or the other characters. The publisher called this book hilarious and I don't see that at all. It's possible I'm not the right audience. 2.5 stars rounding up to 3