This was a fun read, I’m always interested by books which are heavily invested in internet culture as a phenomenon. As somebody who is extremely online a lot I find the world of the internet to be really engrossing and interesting in a way which I don’t think mainstream discourse has fully captured. I’m interested in the way this book explores the idea of events blowing up way out of proportion online, where things which would not have been significant in real life are suddenly made much more significant and worse through internet speculation.

While I find this general point to be interesting, it felt really weighed down to me by how heavy handed the presentation of some of these ideas is, and frankly by how many different social criticisms seemed kinda thrown at the wall without having major bearing on the plot. I think it could have benefitted from narrowing down the points it wanted to get across and exploring how to discuss those in more depth.

I read this as an audiobook which is generally my preferred way of reading, but I actually think in this case the actual text may have been better for me, since things like journal entries and reddit posts and comments don’t really scan for me read out loud.

Kirsten McDougall's She's a Killer is a breath of fresh air in the dystopian genre. It's a whip-smart, darkly comedic tale that tackles the pressing issue of climate change with a unique and irreverent voice.

Alice, our anti-heroine, is a brilliant but unmotivated slacker who finds herself thrust into a world on the brink of ecological collapse. McDougall's portrayal of Alice is both hilarious and deeply relatable. Her snarky commentary and deadpan wit provide a much-needed dose of humor to a bleak subject matter.

The novel is a satirical masterpiece, skewering consumerism, government incompetence, and the widening gap between the rich and poor. McDougall’s sharp observations about society are both biting and thought-provoking. While the plot is fast-paced and full of twists, the book's real strength lies in its character development and social commentary.

She's a Killer is a bold and original work that will leave you laughing, thinking, and questioning the world around you. It's a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction and anyone who enjoys a good satire.

(Stars explained below)

So... I started reading Jason Pargin when he was still "David Wong" and releasing his chapters online. And I really thought it was unique and different and maybe even exciting. But then reality set in, and the accusations started coming in. Everyone said his books were misogynist, steeped in racial stereotypes, juvenile, trolling, and like an incel's manifesto. I've tried to separate that from my review, but it is difficult when the main male protagonist embodies most of these characteristics, but here goes:

The writing is really good, Pargin is excellent with dialog, and gives each character their own unique "voice". His characters are instantly familiar and he intertwines American subculture like no other. He maintains a constant, even, pace and while he is never boring, he might get a little to fantastical with situational events and outcomes. His world building skills are good, but you do have to suspend some belief in reality to accept his world, but if you do, you should enjoy his world. Where he lacks as a writer is with character growth. Most of his characters arrive fully formed and they don't "develop" as much as they share additional information to excuse their behavior. If you like Ready Player One, but prefer your writing less socially and self aware, this could be a good book for you. Basically, if you find yourself thinking that Joe Rogan would make a good story teller, this should be right up your alley. On writing alone, I'd give this book 4.5 Stars. It has a good beginning and while most of the events skirt the edges of believability, the middle of the book does a good job pulling you along with it and all the zany loose ends are neatly tied up.

If I look at this book under the lens of my own beliefs, politics, and societal norms... It is a disturbing look at humanity. It spends an incredible amount of time explaining and trying to justify (or maybe even normalize) the mistreatment of others. Like when you meet someone and they seem like a nice person, but then they start saying some problematic things about people who don't look like you, and it just makes you uncomfortable. And it is so obvious, the author even tries to write a disclaimer about it at the end of the book. So, based on that, I'd give this book a 2.

The narration is very good.

That is why I am giving this book a 3.5 Stars, and rounding it up to a 4, because had I not known about the author, or didn't listen to his "disclaimer"... It is what i would have rated this book.

Two eccentric misfits take a preapocalyptic road trip through a land of confusion in an age of anxiety. The place? The United States of America. The time? Any day now.

When a mysterious young woman offers and anxious Lyft driver $200,000 cash to drive her and a mysterious black box from the exurbs of Los Angeles to Washington D.C., it sets off an internet conspiracy. What follows is a story of how the internet makes people crazy, but also how it keeps some people from going crazy.

I listened to the audiobook, and I'm glad I did. First, the narrator was solid. He was able to craft personality with distinct voice acting. Second, the author is prone to extremely online people going on rants. These are the kind of rants where if I saw them on a message board, I would hit the back button, so why would I willingly read a book full of them? The narration forces you to experience what otherwise I might just have skimmed over.

Were there some things I didn't like about the book? Sure. It gets a little repetitive at times. But at the end of the day, it's been a while since I've been so intent on finishing a book because I wanted to find out what would happen next and how the characters would get out of it. It's definitely not for everyone, but it was definitely for me. 5 stars.

This is a great and original book combining so many elements. of character, humor, farce, and social commentary.. When a YouTuber/ne'er do well gets recruited to help a woman transport a mysterious box to Washington DC by July 4. The Internet chatrooms where he is active become obsessed with the contents of the box and the motives and relationship of the people, digging up all kinds of real or imagined backstory based on assumptions from the few photos and quotes they have. People try to interfere with the delivery and the pair have amazing adventures and discussions around the very internet phenomena that brought them to notoriety/infamy. There are tons of examples reinforcing their concerns about people doing things for shock value, cancel culture and the forbidden numbers that break people's self=delusions.
This is a great book for both fun and just a step past our world.

◇ Synopsis
Outside Los Angeles, a driver encounters a young woman sitting on a large black box who offers him $200,000 to transport her and the box to Washington, DC, under strict conditions: no looking inside the box, no questions, no telling anyone, immediate departure, and leaving all trackable devices behind. As they embark on this mysterious journey, social media rumors swirl, suggesting the box is linked to a planned terror attack aimed at igniting a civil war. The reality, however, may be even more bizarre and potentially world-changing.
◇ Thoughts
I really enjoyed the book; it was a lot of fun with engaging characters and situations. It offered some thought-provoking views on social media and human nature, often with a satirical twist that highlighted the dangers of online platforms. What stood out to me was how the story suggested that the negativity we often see in the news and on social media can be countered by stepping away from them. It’s a reminder not to assume the worst about society while still being aware of potential risks. The conversations the characters have will probably stick with me for a while. Overall, I’d recommend this novel to just about anyone—it’s a great read that also offers some food for thought long after you’ve finished it.
Thanks to Netgalley for an early audiobook copy.
◇ Publisher
Macmillan
◇ Audio
Macmillan Audio provided the audio of this novella and was narrated by Ari Fliakos. The performance was well done although I did speed the audio up a nudge.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an arc of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve been a fan of Jason Pargin’s since John Dies at the End. Ari Fliakos also just so happens to be my favorite narrator of all time, so I was beyond excited to listen to this audiobook. I love the premise and the initial cast of characters are just what you would expect in a Pargin novel. I really enjoyed the social commentary and debates between primarily Abbott and GSG.

However, at almost halfway into the book, the reader is given a glimpse into Abbott’s controversial (to me) opinions via older recordings of his Twitch streams. In one such stream, Abbott defends Harvey Weinstein and claims that he is the real victim. I had to stop the audiobook.

Now I know Abbott is intended to be unlikable, but there’s unlikeable and then there’s reprehensible. I feel bad DNFing an arc (especially one I was enjoying and looking forward to) but I find Abbott as a character too triggering. If this book was already published, I would probably attempt to find out from other readers if Abbott eventually…well, stops being a misogynistic loser, but I can’t.

If you’re a sensitive reader like me for topics like these, I would give this a pass. The narration and plot were great, however, so I’m sure it will still be enjoyed by many.

As someone who often overthinks and expects the worst, this book felt like looking in the mirror, (a distorting funhouse mirror!!) The internet turning just a simple road trip into a chaotic adventure is depicted with such witty commentary.
I have a very strong feeling someone I know will LOVE this book and I plan on buying it for them!!

Possibly the funniest book I've ever read. I've already made plans to buy several copies as gifts for several people who I think will appreciate it.

Review copy provided by publisher.

This book proves that even outside of his series’ work, Jason Pargin is the best at good social commentary that’s also entertaining and funny.

How do I even begin to sum up the insanity, wisdom and mind blowing-ness of this book?

It is a book of contradictions. It is hilarious, it is serious. It is hopeful, it is cynical. It is both sides of the argument. It is empathetic, it is self centered. It is a study on humans with the internet. Humans *on* the internet. Humans living within the internet. It was humbling. Mind blowing. Gut busting.

I am an over-thinker, a pro at catastrophizing, who lets the bad news feed the curse that is my empathy, so this book was honestly a breath of fresh air and a whiff of hope. Maybe humans aren’t as bad as I thought.

What was most hilarious, though, was how quickly a road trip across America was highjacked by the internet (looking at you, reddit). How quickly a box in a backseat with stickers snowballed into this avalanche of chaos. It was a cracked out game of telephone. And the commentary! My god. It was wonderful. Witty, spiteful, freaking funny.

The most absurd and astute rendering of our current political and societal climates I have ever read. It is funny, it is terrifying, it is all too familiar--not to mention it's a road trip novel, a genre I will forever adore.

I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom
Written by Jason Pargin
Read by Ari Fliakos
Book 138/250
Genre: Satire, Thriller
Format: Physical/Audio, ARC
Pages/Time: 384/12hr 21min
Published: September 24, 2024
Rating: 9.5/10
Narration: 9/10

“Never challenge a man in a Buick. He’s got nothing to lose.”

“He felt the weight roll off him. The exquisite relief of cancelled plans that extroverts will never know.”

Special thanks to Jason for a Physical ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, and thanks to NetGalley for the Audio to sample!

Wow, I am incredibly impressed by Jason Pargin’s newest novel. I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom is hilarious satire, wrapped in a cross-country road trip. Throughout this book I found myself laughing out loud and physically cringing in the best ways possible.

It is astounding how much Pargin says in this book, without it feeling overly crowded or preachy. IStWATBBoD dives into the modern climate of America and how social media can take an idea and inflate it to astronomical proportions. The ideas infused within every page really hammer home how the anger and cynicism that breed on social media, taint our view of reality. In this way we are simultaneously more interconnected and disconnected than people have ever been. This book is a fantastically thought-provoking and diabolically hilarious from start to finish. Give it a read!

Also, Jason, West Virginia is clearly the better than its adjective-less counterpart.

This was such a great idea, and I always love stories where there's a mysterious container making its way around while multiple forces fight with each other. However. This was too long, and the too long parts were mainly political or interrupting again to do more telling not showing lots and lots of background. The main character was really awful and the attempt to redeem him felt weak. The narrator was game, but this was hard to pay attention for this long.
I will always read everything by this author because even this book that didn't live up to my expectations had moments of excitement and hilarity. It's got to be difficult to always be trying to live up to the brilliance of John Dies at the End.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

Such a fascinating look at internet culture, I’ve already recommended it for our system discussion group.

This is a darkly funny and madcap adventure that delivers laughs and important themes. It addresses loneliness, social media, and the tribes that people assemble for themselves when traditional family structures fail them.

Case in point, Abbott is an occasional ride-share driver with a large number of Twitch followers. He is driving his father’s deluxe Navigator when he picks up his Lyft fare. She (Ether) has a large black crate on wheels and proposes he accompany her on a cross-country road trip to deliver it in exchange for a life-changing amount of cash. He is bullied reluctantly into her hare-brained scheme, but first has to pick up his prescription.

Then the Internet gets involved. His buddy starts a sub-Reddit thread that is soon completely and hilariously out of control. Abbott, Ether, and her black case are pursued online and IRL. Various backgrounds and motivations are assigned to the humans while the contents of the crate is believed to be a serious threat to life. Still, there are funny bits about Malort (the famously unpalatable Midwest liquor), bunny moms, Bitcoin, and more.

A key theme of the novel is the characters’ failure to communicate with each other, even when — and especially when — they are on the same side. As a result, the book includes many heated discussions between Abbott and Ether, some of which are familiar. For example, Abbott complains that attractive white girls always get a pass for bullying while Ether argues that manipulation by females is a learned protective strategy to help prevent being assaulted or worse. The audiobook does a good job of voicing both sides of such arguments in ways that are easy to follow and consistent with the characters.

I’ve had “John Dies at the End” on my TBR list for ages, so I jumped at the chance to get an early-release audiobook of this standalone novel by the same author. I was not disappointed!

My thanks to the author, publisher, audiobook producers, and #NetGalley for loaning me the audiobook copy for review purposes. To be published Sept. 24, 2024.

I have never read anything by this author so was curious to check this one out and I was intrigued by the title and cover. I loved the ending as it made me laugh.

This book is filled with dark satire. Abbott is a lyft driver living at home and makes his main income playing games and making money on social media twitch. He gets offered a job to take Ether and a large mysterious black box from LA to Washington DC for the 4th of July. The commentary of these two bickering in the car and all their wild misadventures was comical. Abbott did make me cringe each time he opened his mouth with his huge rants about women and he was such an unlikeable person.

Rumors fly on what is in the box and trying to catch them. I didn't like all the political rants and I felt the book was long and parts could have been trimmed. When it was finally revealed what was in the box I was not expecting that as I stuck in there to see what was inside. The narrator did a good job with making it entertaining and laughable.