You Have a New Memory

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Pub Date Jul 22 2025 | Archive Date Sep 22 2025

Description

An open-hearted interrogation of our digital selves, braiding cultural criticism, memoir, and narrative musings into an exploration of identity, girlhood, media, tech, nature and "finding the depth and beauty in the fucked-up world we live in" (Phoebe Bridgers) from writer, artist, and conflicted influencer Aiden Arata.

If you told Aiden Arata in 1995 that the internet would one day crown her the “meme queen of depression” and mega corporations would fly her to conferences to speak about commodifying one's emotions for views, she would have asked you what a meme was. Now, in her highly anticipated debut, she brings us raw reportage from that liminal space between online and offline worlds, illuminating how we got here and where to go next.        
  
In this collection of kaleidoscopic essays, Aiden artfully explores what it means to exist on the internet, from fan fic forums to TikTok. She exposes influencer grifts from the perspective of a grifter, digs into the alluring aesthetic numbness of stay-at-home girlfriend content creators, and interrogates our online fetishization of doom to grapple with the real-world apocalypse. In her own words, “In some ways, the internet feels like a neutral energy in the way that money is a neutral energy, only as virtuous or wicked as the person using it. But then you have to follow that line of inquiry somewhere annoying like, Am I using it for good?
 
YOU HAVE A NEW MEMORY is a deeply human inventory of the digital sphere, a searing analysis of the present and a prescient assessment of the future. Aiden is the wry, unexpected voice we need to navigate existing simultaneously as creators, consumers, and products in our increasingly braver and newer world.
An open-hearted interrogation of our digital selves, braiding cultural criticism, memoir, and narrative musings into an exploration of identity, girlhood, media, tech, nature and "finding the depth...

Advance Praise

"I love writers who tell the truth and can tell it to me in a way I’ve never heard. Aiden does this and has a way of distilling a forty-five-minute existential crisis into a single sentence. Her superpower is being a critic without judgment; somehow finding the depth and beauty in the fucked-up world we live in."
Phoebe Bridgers, singer-songwriter

“Aiden Arata’s You Have a New Memory is a kaleidoscopic portrait of growing up gripped in the fist of the internet age. These essays are tender, curious, and shamelessly smart. Arata understands the painful ache of wanting to be seen–and the price we pay for getting the very thing that we want.”
Isle McElroy, author of People Collide

"Delivered in her signature undulating prose, Arata knits microscopic observations with the shock of humor, violence and unexpected pathos, resulting in a vivid, hyperreal effect."
Nada Alic, author of New York Times Editors' Choice Pick Bad Thoughts



"I love writers who tell the truth and can tell it to me in a way I’ve never heard. Aiden does this and has a way of distilling a forty-five-minute existential crisis into a single sentence. Her...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781538767597
PRICE $28.00 (USD)
PAGES 240

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Average rating from 6 members


Featured Reviews

Aiden Arata’s latest book is a thought-provoking, incisive dive into the complex intersections of media, identity, and capitalism. Known for her sharp writing across platforms like The Rumpus and the popular Substack Under the Influence, Arata has a knack for blending wit, cultural commentary, and self-awareness in a way that both entertains and challenges the reader.

This book feels like an extension of their online presence: ironic but layered with moments of insight that strike a deeper chord. Arata examines the transactional nature of media and the ways in which capitalism shapes not just our consumption but our identities and aspirations. Their perspective is both personal and cultural, oscillating between love and hate for the systems they critique, which adds a compelling tension to the narrative.

While the tone can sometimes feel affected or overly polished, this doesn’t detract from the sharpness of Arata’s observations. There’s a robotic precision to Arata's prose that reflects the very systems she is dissecting, creating an interesting interplay between style and substance. It’s an enjoyable and engaging journey through the complexities of modern life and the media machine.

Arata’s voice is distinct, blending humor, skepticism, and a certain detached curiosity. The book’s glib tone may not appeal to everyone, but for those who enjoy a little cynicism with their cultural critique, it hits the mark. The self-awareness with which she navigated her own complicity in the media landscape—being a culture influencer with 120k Instagram followers—adds a refreshing honesty to the work.

Ultimately, this book isn’t about arriving at neat conclusions or offering solutions. It’s about asking the right questions and holding up a mirror to a world in which influence, consumption, and identity are inextricably linked. Arata may not have all the answers, but her ability to articulate the contradictions of our time makes this a worthwhile read.

If you’re a fan of their Substack or appreciate sharp cultural commentary with a dose of humor, this book is well worth picking up. It’s a fun, provocative ride through the paradoxes of modern life, written by someone who knows how to keep you thinking long after the final page.

#GrandCentralPublishing #AidenArata #youhaveanewmemory

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with meditations on girlhood, tech, social media, mental health, identity, and more, You Have A New Memory is a canon of information. this is a fascinating collection that gives readers a lot to reflect on about their own lives, whether its the reach of the latest tiktok you posted, your closest parasocial relationships, or what it really means to "influence". i enjoyed the writing even if all of the essays didn't strike a chord; undoubtedly an interesting collection that is worth the read.

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