This is the most fun I’ve had reading a book in WHO KNOWS how long.

Kemp takes an all too familiar concept — wasting time bending over backward for an uninterested, deadbeat man — and turns it into an absurdist adventure, trying to answer the question: is authentic true love possible in a patriarchal world?

For 23-year-old Reality Kahn, her quest begins with finding a boyfriend. No easy task that only becomes more complicated once she meets Ariel, a graduate student with the voice of surfer Miki Dora and major school shooter vibes. Reality makes it her life’s mission to become the perfect girlfriend for Ariel with the help of an experimental drug that promises to do just that.

The synopsis sounds tame enough, however, the more you read on, man, the more disorienting the delirious descent into madness becomes.

So unhinge, yet charming. Dark, yet heartfelt. I need to see this as a movie.

3.75 out of 5

Paradise Logic is one of the most entertaining books I’ve read in awhile. It’s about being young, dumb and full of love. Twenty three year old, Reality Kahn, is a zine maker and one of the greatest water slide commercial actresses in the NYC and New Jersey area. Whenever she’s at a crossroad in life she consults Girlfriend Weekly and treats it like a horoscope.

One day she embarks on a quest to become the greatest girlfriend of all time. Reality attends a party in Gowanus at a place called Paradise. There she meets this dude named Ariel, and there the true love blossoms. Or does it?

Paradise Logic is hilarious, short and sweet. It’s definitely not for everyone, the cover alone might throw some people off (for me it was the complete opposite). At times it’s a psychosexual fever dream with descriptions so chaotic you’ll be rolling on the floor with laughter. And then at times Reality is out in public looking an absolute mess, but you can’t help but cheer for her.

This is one of those situations where if the cover has captivated you then by all means check this book out.

I’m very conflicted about this novel. It’s definitely unique and eccentric, which I tend to enjoy, but I found the story confusing and slightly aggravating. Parts of it were interesting, but I can’t really say I felt fully engrossed with the actual storyline. I know this book is satirical but I just didn’t get it. I thought it reeked of pretentiousness. I like weird characters but I found them nauseating more than anything.

I still am not fully sure what to make of this book. It was definitely different than anything I have ever read before. I found Reality to be both fascinating and extremely naive at times. Her inner monologue was extremely entertaining and at times thought provoking. I think this book says a lot about the way girls (especially the young and impressionable ones) build their entire identity around someone else. Reality’s hyperfixation and obsession with being a girlfriend speaks volumes to how fixated we become on trying to make ourselves seem more appealing to someone else. It highlights the way we often are willing to overlook or ignore red flags bred just because we want someone to love us. Although this book was pretty strange and quite comical at times, I do think the underlying message is very important. It speaks volumes about modern self-esteem and possible identity issues when it comes to romantic relationships. Overall the book gets a 3 star rating for the uniqueness and the important message.

I have mixed feelings about this book! I appreciate the confidence and audaciousness it takes to write a book like this. It is wild, satirical, and funny (depending on your sense of humor). My main issue is that there is no real base reality. There is nothing and no one that is grounded. I think it would have been more successful for me if the world had been normal and Reality/Valerie/Girlfriend had been unusual—or vice versa. OR, if this was set in an entirely different world, and every last thing was wacky but still had rules and world-building. There are a lot of very funny moments and lines, but it would work better as a short story, a Twitter account, a sketch, etc. This premise in a long-form book became a little tiresome towards the end, and the comedy style skews rando—which is not my favorite. If you had the time of your life on Twitter in 2012, you may very well love this.

i can’t remember the last time i read something as unique and creative as this book. kemp weaves a web both hilarious and gut-wrenchingly bleak through reality’s narrative voice, a fever dream of epic proportions. pacing was fantastic and i couldn’t put it down! the blend of satire and tongue in cheek esoterica made for a remarkably well balanced work of literary humor. absolutely cannot wait for more from sophie kemp.

If the US cover of Sophie Kemp’s Paradise Logic appeals to you, the book won’t let you down. It’s upsetting, it’s funny. It’s not NOT a tragically accurate depiction of what dating in New York in your 20’s will do to your psyche.

Think of it as the weird girl fiction final boss. Like any final boss it’s demanding, it will it fatigue you. But I think this book accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do, so anything less than 5* would be wrong.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing this e-arc.

I'm not sure if this book wasn't meant for me, or if it was truly garbage. The narration was jarring, as the protagonist was less of a person and more of an alien in a human body trying to feign humanity. "Reality" was less of a 23-year-old girl and more of a receptacle for male desire. The only desire that she expressed with sincerity was belonging- because being a girlfriend gave her a sense of belonging. It was also fraught with drug use and a general disregard for hygiene that made me nauseous.

Well, what the hell was that? To call this book a fever dream would be an understatement, but with that said, I loved what it set out to do. Reality's mission to be the best girlfriend, before she even has a boyfriend, is a great social commentary on how we idolize relationships, especially ideal relationships, to the point of commodifying everything relating to the acquisition of that relationship. Go into this book with an open mind, and I think you will be rewarded deeply.

Thank you to Sophie Kemp, NetGalley, and Simon and Schuster for this eARC for my honest review.

What a fun, wild ride! Reality is trying to navigate the turbulent waters of the Brooklyn dating scene to become the BEST GIRLFRIEND EVER. Reality's delusion was on a housewife level and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her perspective. You can judge a book by the cover, it matches perfectly.

reality's mission is simple: it's to be the best girlfriend she can. make of that what you will.

for some people, this will resonate so so much, but the robotic characterization makes it hard to get to know reality and when that development comes, it comes much too late. imagine going on a roller coaster where it's fun all the way up, but when that drop comes, that's it. that's the end. if characterization wasn't the goal, i wanted more of an exploration of gender roles and dating for gen z, but it just wasn't there. i did have a good time though and sped through this one quickly.

Omg. What a fever dream. But honestly “fever dream” is like my favorite sub-genre.

Reality Kahn is a quest to become the best girlfriend in the world, and so as a first step she must find a boyfriend — leading us to Ariel, a very smart and intellectual adjust professor of Assyrian cultures.

Reality makes it her ever-loving job to care for Ariel while also furthering herself to be the best girlfriend ever, which leads her to obsess over “societal” expectations from her favorite magazine “Girlfriend Weekly,” fawn after other girlfriends, and jump into psychopharmacological experiments from evangelical TV doctors. All totally normal stuff right??? lol anything to stay outta Mount Nothing and that annoying voice narrating her every move in her head… lol

Keep an open mind with this book, girlfriend and remember that Existence is meaningless and random. YOLO.

Note: I’m still trying to figure out if any of this book’s plot was real, or just a drug-induced nightmare, but boy oh boy, am I a subscriber to weird fiction. So very well done.

I am so thankful to Simon Books, Sophie Kemp, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access to this book before it hits shelves on March 25, 2025.

This novel is a wild, genre-bending ride through the highs and lows of love, self-discovery, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. Reality Kahn is a protagonist unlike any other. Earnest, ambitious, and guided by the mysterious wisdom of Girlfriend Weekly, she embarks on an absurd yet deeply relatable quest to become the ultimate partner. From starring in waterslide commercials to joining a bizarre clinical trial, Reality’s journey is as hilarious as it is poignant.

The writing crackles with sharp humor, surreal twists, and biting cultural commentary, making every page a delight. The novel expertly balances satire with sincerity, exploring the absurd expectations placed on women in relationships while delivering a truly unique love story that isn’t just about romance but about self-worth and the limits of reinvention.

Brilliantly original and compulsively readable, this book is perfect for fans of offbeat, thought-provoking fiction that challenges conventions while keeping readers entertained.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ummm where do I even start? Or maybe what dimension do I start in? Because Paradise Logic didn’t just take me out of this world—it blasted me across other universes, heaven, hell, and a few fever-dream suburbs in between. This is hands-down one of the most bizarre and hilarious books I've ever read in my life.

At the very start, it was chaotic—kind of made me feel shy and nervous. What am I doing here? Where is this going to take me? But then it hit me: it was Aquarius season, baby. And this book? Pure Aquarius energy.

We follow 23-year-old Reality Kahn on a quest to become the greatest girlfriend of all time. Think zine-making, aspiring notary vibes, and the very very best waterslide commercial actress on the Eastern Seaboard. Oh, and she gets life advice from an ancient, otherworldly ladies' magazine called Girlfriend Weekly.

I know that this book isn’t going to be for everyone but it absolutely is for me. Open your mind, maaan. This book is what I imagine K3t@m!n3 feels like. Freaky, hilarious, insightful, and dreamy in the best nightmare kind of way. I have no clue what was real and what wasn’t—but I do know I’m a different person after reading it.

Paradise Logic is available March 25, 2025. YOLO. Read on, man..

ok wow this was really interesting and i quite liked it. very much a sorta thing KINDA like works by ottessa moshfegh or mia ballard but Reality, unlike many others, doesn't seem to be self-aware. or very aware at a,l. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

you know the clip of trinity the tuck saying ‘girl I don’t know what the fuck she’s saying but I’m living’ on drag face?? perfectly sums up my experience with this book. not really sure what just happened but was thoroughly entertained. bizarre, confusing, fever-dreamish, chaotic…kind of the dream weird girl book. also can’t wait to see what this author writes in the future because I have no idea what’s going on in her brain.

It was a fever dream. A trip. A hotmess but, YOLO lol
The cover? please leave it, I love it! Loved it

Personally, I couldn't get on with this book, but I can see its appeal for the right kind of reader. I appreciated its surreal energy and it's definitely original!

Wow. I felt like I was having a stroke while reading this. It was a fever dream. A trip. I loved it. I don't know why I loved it, because it made little sense and the characters were weird and the whole thing was unhinged. But I deeply enjoyed it. I really liked our odd MC. The cover is wild. Life is meaningless and random. YOLO.

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

ABSOLUTELY BONKERS. I've never read anything like this before. Kemp has a singularly unique voice, and her writing is such a trip. The story is out of this world and while I didn't follow 100% what was happening the whole time, I had a blast on the ride.