This was a slow build read that had an ending that really packed a punch. I think that I would have liked to see a little more drama throughout the book especially since I felt like there were many rabbit holes that the plot could have gone down to make it a little more twisty. However, I think because it stuck more to the straight and narrow, we got more of a believable read that made the villain of this story truly snake-like as the title suggests. It also allowed readers to see how easily a person can morph into a villain by convincing themselves that the lies they tell to make themselves feel better are actually the truth. Overall, an easy ready with undertones of malice that will keep you questioning it long after you finish.

Interesting book, a bit draggy for me. I'm not sure how I felt about the three different point of views, whether or not it added anything to the plot point of the story or if it would've helped to have been one. I don't just felt a little flat of what I was expecting.

I love novels with this premise, and I read quite a few of them. The wellness industry is a popular trope at the moment. That said, I thought this was very well done, and very cleverly written. It didn’t jump the shark or pull the rug out from under the reader, but it certainly kept me turning the pages!

🐍SNAKE OIL by @kraedimberg 🐍 is another cautionary tale about the deadly consequences of our obsession with the health and wellness industrial complex. Thank you to the author, @netgalley, and the publisher, @marinerbooks for the e-ARC.

Dani has worked at Radical Wellness in San Francisco for 3 years and is absolutely enchanted by Rhoda, the wellness start-up's founder and girl-boss extraordinaire. Eager to impress, Dani will do almost anything to get face-time with the power-house and, while pregnant, agrees to be part of a trial for a new skincare test product.

Cecilia works in the Radical call center and secretly runs an exposé blog about the company and it's practices. Cecilia has a chronic illness, something that Radical purports to be able to heal but she knows this is all just lip service to sell more product. Dani and Cecilia are friends, but Dani is a believer and as Cecilia starts to unravel the secrets of Radical, she mysteriously goes missing...

🛢️🛢️🛢️

While I found this entertaining and enjoyed the juxtaposed characters of Dani, Rhoda and Cecilia, it is clear I have read too many of this subgenre recently as they are kinda melding together. Beauty Horror is one of my favorite subgenres currently since it is really having a moment! If you liked stories like YOUTHJUICE, ROUGE, NATURAL BEAUTY, etc, this might be your jam too. Overall I did find the characters compelling, the story scandalous and the startup culture commentary was scathing. Plus, look at this cover!! These are some of my favorite colors together.💚

Hat tip to the author for including a chronically ill human that is not portrayed in a negative light and to expose the very real harm of false claims that are perpetuated by the billion-dollar beauty and wellness industry.

3.5 rounded up/5

This story follows multiple people at this one wellness company (think Goop) and their different perspectives on what's going on at the company. Because, oh boy, there is drama.

Someone at the company is posting angry tweets about the company, the CEO is a weirdo and people are trying to work their way up through the company because that's the only way to make any money or to have any influence. Girl-bossing all the way. (This really is full of characters who would use that term seriously and that's icky.) At some points the characters did fell a bit flat, but overall, this was such an interesting way to tell this story. And I really liked that we got to see the tweets alongside whatever was happening in the company and the company's internal reaction to those tweets.

This book is full of social commentary and an almost satirical approach to describing this company and what's going on within its culture.

This really reminded me of the book Youthjuice, but this was way more engaging and entertaining to me. But if you like that genre or type of book, I would highly recommend you give this one a read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Wow, after finishing Snake Oil I am a bit at a loss for words. Snake Oil by Kelsey Rae Dimberg is dystopian look at wellness and hustle culture. It does remind me of the few others in the same genre since this trope is gaining popularity. That being said, I ate it up. I love the toxic beauty and wellness 'thriller' type of novel. The story follows the lives of 3 women at Radical - Rhoda the CEO/owner, Dani an employee who lives and breathes everything Radical, and Cecilia an employee who isn't sold on the products and turns into a whistleblower. Following all of their points of view was super interesting. I also really enjoyed the corporate board, venture capitalist pitches, board of trustees angle of the story as well. There are so many layers to the company and it seems like each one is slowly crumbling. When a death of one of the main characters shocks everyone there is even more distrust and worry about the brands takeoff. I really enjoyed this book, but also felt like it was stradling genres? I wouldn't call it a mystery or thriller but it's not just general fiction. Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for this eARC!

Rounding up from 3.5 stars. Admittedly, I did have fun reading this mystery/suspense novel surrounding the wellness company, Radical and its founder, Rhoda. It feels very much like a fictionalized version of Goop and Gwyneth Paltrow and explores the point at which wellness strays into a cult-like experience with a divine queen at its center through untimely death, obsession with success, and a would-be whistleblower. These concepts are all extremely fun to me, and I loved how unique this angle felt in a genre where career ambitions and corporate strife can feel commonplace. I was truly hooked when I started this novel and always wanted to dig a little deeper into the goings-on at Radical.

The only problem is that it doesn't feel like these ideas really go anywhere. I wanted drama in the conclusion of this tale, but much of the plot fell flat and amounted to nothing in the end. Lots of enjoyable build-up with little in the way of payoff.

I loved this book! The whole premise of a wellness brand being a modern-day snake oil was really appealing to me. Although the book is fiction, it felt like a realistic look at what it might look like behind the curtain of a wellness startup. The mystery added in helped to keep things interesting and to help move the plot forward.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Kelsey Rae Dimberg’s “Snake Oil” is a razor-sharp literary thriller that delves into the cutthroat world of wellness startups, where ambition and authenticity collide with deadly consequences. This novel offers a darkly comic and suspenseful exploration of the lengths people will go to achieve success and the cost of maintaining a facade.

The story centers around Radical, a fast-growing wellness startup founded by the charismatic Rhoda West. Rhoda is Silicon Valley’s darling, embodying the #girlboss ethos with her visionary leadership and magnetic personality. However, beneath the glossy exterior of Radical lies a web of deceit and power struggles. As Rhoda’s empire expands, the cracks begin to show, leading to a series of events that threaten to unravel everything she has built. Dimberg’s portrayal of the high-stakes startup culture is vivid and chilling.

Rhoda West is a compelling protagonist whose drive and determination are matched only by her willingness to manipulate those around her. Her character is a fascinating study in ambition and the moral compromises it entails. The novel also follows two other women, each vying for power within Radical. Their interactions and conflicts add depth to the narrative.

“Snake Oil” explores themes of authenticity, ambition, and the dark side of the wellness industry. Dimberg delves into the psychological toll of maintaining a public persona and the ethical dilemmas faced by those in positions of power.

Dimberg’s writing is sharp and incisive, with a keen eye for detail that brings the world of Radical to life. The pacing is brisk, with enough twists and turns to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

“Snake Oil” is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that offers a scathing critique of the wellness industry and the pursuit of success at any cost. Kelsey Rae Dimberg has crafted a story that is both entertaining and unsettling, with characters that linger in the mind long after the final page. This novel is a must-read for fans of literary thrillers and anyone interested in the darker aspects of startup culture.

I love books that poke at the wellness industry lining, and this did just that. It combines social media, marketing ploys, wellness culture, and the pressure for females to be their perfect selves 100% of the time to deliver a fast-paced psychological thriller.

Snake Oil is a slow burn. I found myself immediately pulled into the world of Radical and happily read on and on about the conflicting relationsihps between the characters, but as a thriller it didn't work for me. Even when the stakes were high, I didn't feel any real sense of urgency or concern about the fates of the characters.

The wellness industry has a ton of secrets but they’re scarier than we thought! All former people who referred to themselves as “girl boss”, this one is for you! There is so much drama and mystery wrapped up into this cult like culture, get ready for twists and turns.

Being a former “girl boss” myself, I couldn’t wait to dive into this! I did feel like the middle of the book dragged and I had a hard time keeping up with who was who. But the payoff was worth it! I really enjoyed this story and how it showed behind the scenes truths that the public will not always know about. I really felt for some of the characters and enjoyed this book a lot!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Kelsey Rae Dimberg, and Mariner Books for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This published on September 17th.

I have posted my review on Goodreads, my Facebook book club, and will make a TikTok.

✨️Review snake oil 1/5 🌙's✨️

Overview: Radical is a company that sells miracles to women everywhere. While claiming to be for the women with the women Rhonda the CEO uses all of her female employees as pawns in her larger scheme for a mega machine.

I really wanted to like this book. I wanted to enjoy it. But I just didn't. Thr characters needed a little more love. And maybe not knowing how an MLM works The catty cult boss made me want to roll my eyes a little. I think this story is meant for someone just not me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I was intrigued by Snake Oil’s premise and so glad I picked it up. The book follows a startup that is centered on wellness, Radical, and doing seemingly well. But when it’s much lauded founder, Rhoda, gets caught up trying to find a mole in her midst, things get really complicated really fast. Radical seemed such a realistic type of company in this day and age, focused on marrying wellness and tech with products that don’t seem too far off to what we see today. But the best parts of this book come when we focus on two worker bees in Rhoda’s little kingdom - Cecilia, who hates Radical, and Dani, who is overly bought into it. The three women spin suspense in this story, and I truly didn’t know who was driving the big key event until the very end.

I loved the look into what could be a real company, with the accompanying intrigue, and the suspense of this story!

absolutely love the suspenseful satirical take on the wellness industry and the social commentary. the wellness space isn’t discussed enough and this does so in a smart and funny way.
also, who of us hasn’t wanted to make an anonymous twitter account to vent?
the pregnancy plot line did feel forced even if it came together in the end.

3.5 rounded up for Goodreads/NetGalley

Snake Oil is a story centered around three women.
Rhoda is the founder and owner of Radical, a popular health & wellness brand
Cecilia works at Radical and writes mean tweets about the company on the sly
and Dani, who also works at Radical and has visions of working her way up from the bottom.

The story is told from their POVs in short, bingeable, chapters. I would say this is a psychological thriller shot through with biting social commentary exposing the internal, sinister world of marketing, social media, corporate businesses, scandals, "girl bossing", brand management and optics, ladder climbing, jealousy, health & wellness scams, and influencers.

The behind-the-scenes style drama and escalation were so addictive.
Highly recommend for readers who enjoy dark satire reflecting the truth behind so many issues modern women face.
Read if you enjoyed:
Youthjuice
Natural Beauty
Yellowface
and The Devil Wears Prada

Snake Oil presents an engaging exploration of the wellness industry, female ambition, and the allure of startup culture. The novel cleverly delves into the lives of three women tied to Radical, a billion-dollar wellness empire, as they confront the brand's toxic underbelly.

The characters, particularly Rhoda, the enigmatic founder, are well-crafted, and the story’s premise of deception and ambition makes for an interesting read. Dimberg effectively critiques the superficiality of the wellness industry while developing an intriguing web of power dynamics.

However, the novel’s pacing felt uneven at times. Some sections dragged, while others rushed through key moments that could have used more depth and engagement. Additionally, while the plot twists were entertaining, a few felt predictable, lessening the impact of the story’s climactic moments.

If you enjoy stories about power, deceit, and ambition, this book offers plenty to keep you hooked, though it may not fully surprise you.

Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC.

Drew me in right from the beginning if I could have sat and read this one straight through I would have. Switching points of view from Rhoda and Dani made it even more interesting seeing both sides and wondering where it will lead. Would have liked a longer ending didn't feel like quite enough for me but none the less this was a great book that I would read again.

A suspenseful story that delves into the gray underside of the wellness industry. Rhoda is the CEO of a wellness products startup looking to raise a fresh round of capital. Cecilia is a tweet-friendly disgruntled employee. Dani is Cecilia's friend and Rhoda's loyalist and finds herself caught between the two. The author has done a great job of highlighting the downsides of the wellness industry, the cut-throat business of funding innovation, the tough decisions and sacrifices called for, the double-edged sword that is private equity as also the productive and destructive power of social media. A very modern, very contemporary story. I wouldn't call it a thriller, yet it keeps you on edge and guessing till the end. The pacing is slow, there is a lot of character and atmosphere-building and it may have benefitted from being a bit of an edit in the beginning parts. It takes a while to get to the plot but overall its an entertaining read.

Thank you Netgalley, Mariner books and Kelsey Rae Dimberg for the ARC

Snake Oil was one of those books that I didn't know would hook me until it did. I absolutely cruised through it in literally a day! I couldn't stop thinking about the characters and how all of their stories would weave together in the end.

Snake Oil follows Rhoda West, the CEO of a startup called Radical, focused on whole wellness through supplementation - both physical supplements like a bracelet and supplements to take internally, like pills, tinctures and a wide variety of other 'it' potions. These potions are created in The Well, a secretive spot in the headquarters of Radical where trials are held on new products and some things don't quite make it out of the vault.

Speaking of The Well, another character telling her story in the book is Dani, who is a high-effort member of the Customer Worship team - aka customer service, who places high regard on treating people with respect, and clearing as many tickets from the queue as possible. Joining Dani on the Customer Worship team is Cecelia, who, more than once made me as a reader wonder why she would work somewhere she hated so much.

Rhoda, Dani and Cecelia all have their own voices shared in this story, and I was completely sucked in and could barely myself away from the book, wanting to know so badly what would happen next. From what seems like just another everyday multilevel marketing scheme on the outset comes a hell of a whistleblower Twitter feed, a mysterious murder, trials that may not be for the first time, basically espionage, and more - this was a GREAT read, and I had no idea exactly how much I would enjoy it until I was finished with it. The twists and turns kept me coming back for more more than once!