I was intrigued by the premise of this book and all of the characters. Dani ended up falling a little flat for me. I was hoping for a better character development there but it took a sharp left turn for obvious reasons. This was a slower read for me overall. Once the first big event happened, it seemed like nothing else happened until the last few chapters. Rhoda did fascinate me though. I liked the POV switches, they helped us get to know each character much better. Trevor was weird. Also I still have so many questions about Lift???

Snake Oil by Kelsey Rae Dimber, When The book starts we meet Dani, she is handing out samples of Reboost made by the company she works for, Radical. The company was started by Rhoda West she is a lifestyle and health conscious guru who Dani found at the lowest point in her life. Her coworker and friend Cecelia also works for radical but hasn’t drank all the Kool-Aid the way Dani has. Dani it’s also pregnant and is one of the participants for radicals trials for their new pill called Lift. Soon after the latest radical retreat a Tweeter starts a blog not only talking negatively about the company and Rhoda but even has pictures from the retreat to go with it. The tweet will just be the first of many and soon secrets from radical will come out and Rhoda wants to know who’s doing it. As if Rhoda doesn’t have enough problems she is planning a wedding her company is about to go public, yet she is starting to believe her left hand man Jason is trying to replace her despite the fact she started and is the face of the company. Right when it looks like things are back on track and they celebrate unicorning, this is when it looks like Rhoda’s life really falls apart especially when the Monday after the party a body is found with Rhoda‘s key card in the pocket and her jacket on. Radical is chaotic but the one thing Danny doesn’t see is tears. Her life is shaken but Dani thinks she may know what happened. This Book was really good and has so much more in it than what I put in this very brief review. Is someone a charlatan if they also believe in what they’re telling others to believe in? I really like the way the author made the characters real people with flaws and positive attributes and not just color them black or white. I think the author did a great job with this book and although I didn’t like the chapters where in a matter of three sentences she went from being at work to at home on the sofa with Trevor I felt like she just started spitting sentences at me but having already invested in the book I continued reading not all the chapters were like that I really didn’t like that riding style but as I said the book is so good I didn’t want to stop until I knew what happened. Still totally recommend this book that is just a minor negative and the rest was so so good. #NetGalley#MarinerBooks, #KelseyRaeDimber, #SnakeOil,

Three women work at the billionaire dollar wellness company, Radical. After tragedy at a company party, they need to confront their loyalties to the company and their products.

I loved the concept and plot of this one although it was a little slow paced for me. The three women blended together for me and Cecelia annoyed me at times. I enjoyed reading the other two characters and especially about the inner workings of the companies; the gossip and intrigue. There’s a major spoiler in the synopsis and beginning but that leads to suspense through out.

“A product isn’t only its ingredient. A product is a bridge between a hope and a promise.”

Snake Oil comes out 9/17.

A suspense novel set in the wellness industry? Yes please! As a former beauty blogger, I am interested in all things beauty and wellness, including novels set in that world.

In Snake Oil by Kelsey Rae Dimberg we are swept up into Radical, a company created to help women. But of course, everything isn’t as wonderful as it seems from the outside.

I really liked this book and all of the cult-like behavior of Radical and their devotees.

One woman’s elixir is another woman’s poison

Rhoda West is Silicon Valley’s favorite female CEO: the luminously charismatic founder of the fast-growing startup Radical, a wellness company whose core mission is the betterment of women’s lives. Rhoda’s Instagram page offers intimate glimpses of her personal life alongside promotions for the cult-status products developed in the Well, Radical’s secretive lab.

Dani Lang is a “quester,” as Rhoda calls her most avid followers. Dani found Radical at a low point in her life and took an entry-level job just to get in the door. When she volunteers to test a controversial new supplement, Dani wins an opportunity to rise in the company, even to work with Rhoda herself.

Cecelia Cole is a “quasher.” She grinds away at the Customer Worship queue, resenting the entitled customers, the woo-woo Radical jargon, and Rhoda’s smiling hypocrisy. Cecelia, who suffers from a miserable chronic illness, knows that the remedies Rhoda sells can’t cure real sickness.

Just as Rhoda announces another fundraising round that could turn Radical into a billion-dollar unicorn, an anonymous Twitter account begins spilling snarky gossip from inside the startup. Is Rhoda really the nurturing leader she presents to the world, or a fraud? Or is this just another case of a woman in business being punished for her strength and audacity?

Tensions rise and loyalties clash, then tragedy strikes during a company party. In the aftermath of what looks more and more like a crime, even the most faithful questers begin to wonder to what lengths Rhoda will go to protect her company.

Part page-turning suspense, part darkly comic skewering of startup culture, Snake Oil is a gripping exploration of ambition and authenticity, shining a revealing light on the wellness world.

Startup culture vs wellness culture. Is there any question why the beginnings of both phrases start with the word cult? The toxic positivity pressed upon the ill in our society is one of the main themes in the brilliant Snake Oil. When women are searching for wellness, they are told that they just need more: more sleep, relaxation, meditation. The body is the problem after all and Radical has the cure. But are they selling wellness or selling a dream?

I absolutely loved this book. The constant discussion of pain and illness and how women go about the searching for health was tackled with such a profound sense of understanding and compassion. Kelsey Rae Dimberg has a clear understanding of what it’s like to live with chronic illness in a society that doesn’t respect those that aren’t in good health. It’s a place that no one wants to inhabit, and she handles it with dignity and grace. Whether you’re healthy or on your own journey with getting well, you should absolutely check out Snake Oil.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for or an honest review and feedback.

*Snake Oil* by Kelse Rae Dimberg is a sharp, compelling thriller that masterfully unravels deceit, power, and ambition. Dimberg’s captivating prose and intricate plot twists create a tense and immersive narrative. It's a gripping, thought-provoking read that keeps you on edge until the final page.

While it doesn't have the race component in play, this corporate sendup bears a lot of similarities to Yellowface. For instance, the internet outrage machine is in full force. Just sub out publishing for the wellness industry and venture capitalism.

I loved getting the nuanced, morally questionable perspectives of all three POVs - ambitious CEO, her loyal Kool-Aid drinker, and her determined detractor. They, along with a secondary character or two, form a complex cast that ever so slightly blurs the lines of right and wrong. This would make for some really interesting book club discussions as a result!

There are a couple plot twists that are thriller-adjacent, but the book doesn't read like a thriller. It's very much a contemporary satire.

I didn't finish it. I really couldn't get into it, I just didn't care about the characters and I was almost halfway thru. The plot seemed slow and unbelievable. I typically like thrillers, but just this one didn't do it for me.

This just landed a spot in my favorite books I’ve read this year. I personally love books like this about the health and beauty industry due to my job because I’ve experienced the real life bizarre cultish things that get passed off as totally normal. I enjoyed that this story is told through 3 different POVs all giving their own account of similar experiences and seeing how their own truth can be drastically different. I will say this went to some dark and depressing places I wasn’t fully expecting but I have to say the author did a great job in making me feel for each of the 3 women deeply. The reason this book is a 5 star for me was the ending, obviously I’m not giving anything away but just know the ending in my opinion was perfect!
Thank you NetGally and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rhoda West has poured her whole life into her wellness start up Radical. From the outside, her organization looks perfect with matching jackets and free vegan lunches for the staff, and perfect employees like Dani Lang. But the facade begins to crack when allegations of misconduct go viral. Rhoda West fires Cecilia Cole, the Twitter malcontent, but when both women go missing, even true believer Dani isn't sure if Radical is truly all it's cracked up to be.

It feels like Snake Oil was pulled in too many directions: part missing person story, hinting at but never realizing woo-woo wellness horror ala Rouge or youthjuice, part corporate boardroom drama akin to Succession, and part legitimate criticism of the wellness industry and big tech that gets lost in the other plot points. I would have loved for it to narrow its focus and really dig in to one or two of these instead of spreading itself half-heartedly across four. But with its thriller-like fast pace and different perspectives, Snake Oil is still compulsively readable and and enjoyable.

Kelsey Rae Dimberg's Snake Oil can be looked at like social commentary on today's wellness industry.

There is the stereotypical 'girl boss' leading a wellness company that promises the perfect everything. While Rhoda has perfect skin, hair and nails, deep inside, she is driven by her own ambitions while also fearful of a quick downfall. She trusts very few and is reaching desperation to continue her lifestyle and empire.

Dani is a Rhoda acolyte. She sold her house and moved across the country, just to apply to Radical. When Rhoda picks Dani for the dream job, she is quick to learn that not everything is golden on the backend.

Cecile also works at Radical, however in a less glamorous role. She's part of the "Customer Worship" team, which is a nice way to say the complaint line. What no one else knows is that she's also behind the anonymous Twitter account that is set on bringing Rhoda down.

At a company party, a tragedy occurs and the company splits into two parties - the ones who believe in the company, and the ones that see that it's all a facade.

I LOVED this. I am always a bit skeptical on wellness companies overall, so this was an interesting look at a boss and a company.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I love books about the downside of girl boss culture, and while this one was engaging and entertaining, I just feel like this one didn’t pack the same punch that other similar stories have. I feel like the cliffhangers and reveals weren’t executed powerfully enough, but overall the story was enjoyable. Would’ve liked more from the ending as well. A solid read, but not my favorite.

Twisted evil full of greed, empowerment, and arrogance… So many characters in Snake Oil are self-centered and oblivious to everything except their personal brand of success. The book spirals along as their pursuit of greatness overwhelms even basic mores.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I started this and truly couldn't get into it! I enjoy women's fiction about the insane quest to achieve societal beauty standards, but this book seemed incredibly cult-y and derivative of other similar books in the genre that I didn't care for (namely The Glow by Jessie Gaynor and Self Care by Leigh Stein).

Thank you Mariner Books for the copy of Snake Oil by Kelsey Rae Dimberg. I have worked for startups and have friends who are startup founders and I loved how Dimberg captured Rhoda’s inspirational, supportive public voice and the cultish nature of the employees. Dimberg is obviously well-versed in how startups operate. The character and story development were great, but it took so long to get to the “shocking tragedy” that my interest started to flag, waiting for something to happen. Things picked up and I couldn’t stop reading until the startling reveal. If you want a fun, fast read, try this one. You won’t be disappointed. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Snake Oil isn't your run of the mill tell all faux wellness company story. Dimberg has conjured a very believable start up and very believable characters. The main voices are complex human beings. The story doesn't end with a big reveal -in fact at that point, it is just getting started!

Enter the world of Radical - a wellness culture for woman started by Rhoda, a young(ish) and hungry capitalist. She is pushing against the male dominated start up world with every step supported by her business partner Jason. Inside the company, Dani is a young(ish) customer service rep who is anxious to do what ever it takes to be the perfect woman Radical helps you imagine. Her friend and colleague Cecilia is a bit more....realistic.

Perfect plotting and timing and thrilling
#mariner #marinerbooks #snakeoil #radicalidiocy #kelseyraedimberg

This book has a large spoiler close to the beginning, so the synopsis is about all that can be covered! The story is about Radical, a lifestyle/wellness company that kept making me think of a high-tech “Goop” while I was reading it. Of course the emphasis is on beauty from clean living (aka, using their skincare products), but they also make MANY supplements for a host of ailments. Their newest product is Lift, something of a homeopathic anti-depressant that could revolutionize the market.

The women who work there, the “Radigals”, are encouraged to try Lift for market data and research. The book is about the company, but also three of those women - Rhoda, the founder and CEO, Dani, a pregnant woman working at Radical and doing the Lift trial, and Cecelia, a Customer Service Representative (known at Radical as the “Customer Worship” department). Cecelia never bought into the whole wellness thing, and created an online account called @radicalidiocy, where she posts her frustrations about the company.

Then, as we know from the synopsis, something bad happens at a party, and then that’s the rest of the book. These three women are thrown into the wringer, and as more comes out about Radical’s past, Rhoda’s current employees begin to question their commitment. Is anything she says true? Are they really just selling her expensive snake oil?

I’m very torn on this book - if you work at a place like that, you probably have some idea that profits are more important than actual health and well-being. Egos are more important than meditation and soothing balms. Maybe it just took some people longer to catch on. Also, the beginning and ending of the book are great, but the middle got very drawn-out. The writing was very flowy (I get jt, I can be the same!) which made for a lot of unnecessary pages that bogged the book down. Overall though, this was decent-to-good with some fun surprises. 3.5 stars.

(Thank you to Mariner Books, Kelsey Rae Dimburg and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 17, 2024.)

"Snake Oil" is a contemporary social satire set in the world of a billion-dollar wellness company, Radical, where appearances and ambitions collide with skepticism and hidden agendas. The novel alternates perspectives between Rhoda West, the charismatic yet paranoid founder of Radical; Cecilia Cole, a cynical team member grappling with chronic pain and a secret mission; and Dani Lang, a loyal employee whose dream job turns into a nightmare of disillusionment. The narrative explores themes of ambition, deception, and the murky truths behind the wellness industry.

While some find the portrayal of startup culture and the wellness industry compelling and well-developed, others criticize its treatment of feminist themes and its shallow exploration of intersectionality. The plot, filled with twists and turns, keeps readers engaged, although opinions on its feminist critique vary. Overall, it's recommended for those interested in thrillers and intrigued by the complexities of wellness and hustle culture.

This book reminded me a lot of Mona Awads "Rouge" and E.K. Sathue's "Youth Juice" hence hte 3 star rating. I speculate that I would have enjoyed it more had I not read Rouge or Youth Juice. However, good book and fun summer read!

Kelsey Rae Dimberg, you will always be famous. I'm still trying to process how you were able to craft this masterpiece. I cannot wait until the world gets to have access to this book. GREAT JOB!

Snake Oil was filled with twists and turns that kept me stuck to its pages. Initially starting slow, about halfway picks up its pace and has you questioning which of its narrators is telling the truth. The premise of the dirty business behind a wellness start up is almost too realistic it makes you question what goes on behind the products you may swear by. Overall interesting plot and incredible ending.