Cassie is in her 30’s, and working for a tech start-up in San Francisco. She lives her life being followed by a black hole, that shrinks and grows but never disappears. She attempts to navigate a job she hates with people she hates in a city she hates, all the while with a swirling black hole, constantly hovering.

I don’t want to say too much more, because this is definitely a book that demands to be read. But it’s vivid and angry and bitter. Sarah Rose Etter does an incredible job building this inescapable tension throughout the book, and you almost feel like you’re hurtling towards something.

It’s incredibly bleak - she didn’t shy away from depicting the gulf of inequality in San Francisco, a city of immense wealth and of immense poverty. I went there about 5 years ago and I’ve never felt so uncomfortable, and so guilty - I couldn’t imagine living there and Etter portrays it so unflinchingly well.

It’s an absolutely phenomenal piece of writing, and it’s reminiscent of another one of my favourite reads this year, Our Wives Under the Sea. But I would approach it with caution. It’s not something I would recommend if you’re already in a bad head space, or if you’re struggling. Like I said, it’s incredibly bleak at parts. But it’s also beautifully written and has some great facts about black holes too!

Thank you so much to @verve_books and #netgalley for this ARC - Ripe is out on the 15th of August!

I really did not like this book. I initially liked the writing style, but found it odd how I never felt drawn to go back to it. I'd sit and read 50 pages in a go and then forget it existed. And then my big issue was how miserable it got. I love sad stories - my favourite films are stuff like Seeking a Friend and The Purple Rose of Cairo. But this was extreme. I was still considering giving up on it ten pages from the end because it was such a miserable experience to read about, explained in the most miserable way. And all the stuff about seeing the other people in the world as these brain-dead sheep.. while she's projecting the exact same image? I kept thinking it would turn in to everyone feeling the same, everyone having a black hole, and the issue being people not talking about their pain. But this never went beyond surface level. I'm really sorry but I don't recommend this at all

This is a gorgeous, uncomfortable, haunting book. The language is immediate and visceral, working to maintain a tension throughout the story that never seems to let up. This is felt all the more as the challenges that Cassie faces will be similar to the ones this novel's readers are facing - how to live in an increasingly corrupt world. Rather than being depressing this book acts as a balm almost, a confirmation and vindication of what you already knew; yes, the world is as bad as you say it is, and no, you are not crazy.

I couldn’t get into it, sorry! I really wanted to like this as I heard great things but I just wasn’t a fan of all the e.g.s and the pace of it overall. I made it to 16% :(

cassie has lived her entire life alongside a miniature black hole, a constant threat and companion that feeds on her depression and anxiety. we follow her as she moves for a new job to a dystopian-like city where men set themselves on fire, people defecate on the streets, and a virus gradually creeps across the globe. 'ripe' is a surrealist, candid look into mental illness, toxic workplaces and families, corporate culture, and the glaring wealth disparity due to late-stage capitalism

the world that etter has created here is a mirror of our own. an unsettling reminder that as we move towards late-stage capitalism, we move towards dystopia. written with brutal candour, etter outlines how our society is in a state of cataclysmic decline. through the use of a sad millennial protagonist that many of us will identify with, the reality of our future becomes horrifyingly inescapable for the reader

the novel unfolds slowly, the gutting intensity of etter’s writing produces a horror that lingers long after the story has ended. the black hole was the only speculative aspect of this novel. i thought it was handled really well, though i can see the lack of subtlety in the imagery being off-putting for some readers. for me, the heavy-handedness of the black hole symbolism complements the drab, monotonous tone of the story perfectly (and even opens the novel up for a more satirical interpretation). this book was dreary, exhausting, and sent me into an existential spiral more than once. for that reason, i would only recommend this if you’re in a healthy headspace

all in all, ‘ripe’ is a memorable 2023 release that urges us to acknowledge the severity of the capitalist hellscape we’re currently living within, calling on us to question the role we're playing in our society's current descent into a real-life dystopia — i'd definitely recommend!!

It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the book's subject matters & those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on suicide, parental abuse, financial insecurity, homelessness, substance abuse, pregnancy, abortions, debates in relation to being pro-choice, mental illness, & others.

Human society exists on the corner of a crossroads. Simultaneously we walk the streets of riches & decomposition; never certain of our position in the hierarchical structure of wealth & security, we mince our meagre existence to compound fear into submission. Tomorrow is a day far away from the one we are experiencing & yet it remains the messenger of the future. Our savings & settled structures lay in anticipated wait. The city streets of every great nation denounce the cruelty of its own people as they sidestep their coin-tossed fate. The imaginary labour that prevents poverty; the lucky clover & soul-bearing sale, our bid to ensure we are not the dried crust of a life that weasels alongside the empire towers of the capital city. 

Our dedication to forgiving the bladed knife of effort is lost on us. Perhaps we opt to believe that what we have is based on merit, like the religious titans of old who pillaged our minds with a need for forgiveness & sin. This leaves little room to incorporate a diversity of nuance. No single person has left untouched the sin of the species. What constitutes the merit of a good life? Who is the innocent that wealth seeks to protect? 

In Etter’s novel, the possibility of a teetering utopia hinges on the individual’s belief that their choices are a result of a match made in heaven. The premise of this story dedicates itself to readers with language that is soft & metaphorical in a tangibly simple approach.  The main character, Cassie, is nearing the completion of her first year working at a tech start-up whose main goal is the collection & sale of personal data. Cassie is consumed by despair. Having grown up in a small American town, several States away, she finds herself calling her father for reminders that her current position in life is better than the alternative.  

The premise of this story meanders the engaged mind of the reader as they seek to pinpoint an antagonist; someone who might be responsible for the collapse of validation. Cassie is an interesting character as she is the optimal representation of a culture of people who have to work to survive. This statement is not meant to exclude anyone nor shame the lives that are led down different pathways. Simply, Cassie is tethered to her career, ever so much as she hates the person she has become while working in it. 

The necessity for a salary might lead a person to feel that their personal value is representative in the system of numeric sequences. In a world where our possessions act as a representation of our successful accomplishments, whilst our inner turmoil is allowed to be sheltered & bathed in loathing; one loses sight of the self. Cassie toys with her living condition & her grocery bill; she needs a home but not one that costs her over three (3) grand to maintain. She needs food but not enough to impoverish herself in the stores of the ignorantly wealthy. The reader grows frustrated with Cassie as the narrative moves forward. Why does she make such stupid choices?

Why does Cassie work at a job that requires the sacrifice of all her personal freedom? Why does Cassie live in an apartment that surpasses her means? Why doesn’t Cassie advocate for herself? Why does Cassie allow her thoughts to drown her in sorrow? 

No one question necessarily has a simple answer. The terror of this narrative is that any one reader might find themselves reflected in Cassie. Are we to bemoan one another for a collection of books or film posters? Is it wrong to want to enjoy a streaming service or a selection of sweaters? Where do we draw the line between life enjoyment & living in excess? For Cassie there is not necessarily a clear definer of security nor does she possess the ability to gauge her own needs. This narrative presents the main character as though she were living in a dystopian world gone utterly awry, yet, this world is our own. 

Cassie’s corporate job resembles the corporate world of snakes & ladders. I also work in a field brimming with sea urchins & sour weeds. Many people benefit from the pull of performance; what others think of our accomplishments matters more than the success itself. While others find the cold lonely chair of architecture without community rather malevolent.  No one has a black hole circling their skulls but they do wear the darkened circles of skin under their eyes & the dreary look of extroversion. I cannot blame them—I am one of them. My life is just as much a part of the corporate culture as Cassie’s. We go into an office space & we are expected to perform. 
No one shares meals until a person’s intent is clear. Yet the people littering the street with their inability to be like the corporate crawlers act as a reminder that the freedom of privacy remains up for grabs. If one does not go to the lunch, does not show up to the greeting; does not have their camera on, is not dressed presentably; or does not look eager to be there; they are reminded that others around them want it more. One need only step aside to make way for the forward movement of the eager as they greedily relinquish their independence for the machine. 

Yet, I do not believe it is as dreadful as all of that. I rather enjoy my job. I appreciate all the freedom that my revenue accords me. However, I remember when I had none. The story explores the very real probability of falling between the cracks. This reality has recently gained traction as our society experiences the cycle of community. Our ability to share knowledge has been tinged with the malaise that awakens when information is misrepresented—situations fraught with lies. Our social networks heave the weight of misinformation in a bid to save the lost minds of the unlucky. 

Mock documentaries, homemade presentations, & intimate conversations showcase the disparity of wealth that exists across North America. Cassie’s Silicon Valley is no different than the one presented in YouTube shorts & reel formats to eager viewers who wish to know more about their own neighbours. Though her days see people set themselves on fire & sever their bodies against moving trains, the differences between fact & fiction grow fewer as the novel progresses.

Cassie falls pregnant with the man she has been seeing, casually, for some time. A great debate rages inside her, bringing long-since suppressed experiences with Catholicism to the surface.  She does not tell her partner that she has become pregnant nor does she share the news with anyone—which is her right. The city streets reek with human excrement & her office space closes in as she is repeatedly told that her performance is falling short. There is no space for a new life in the decaying forestry of fire. 

The experience changes Cassie. Previously a bonified Easter bunny, she shadows the black hole that salivates at her demise. It is difficult to read about Cassie’s final pensive moments before she commits suicide. The termination of her position in a company in which she poured her entire life; the home that is too expensive in which to reside; the friends who are enemies with scales of performative intrigue; the family that was cold as a marbled stone; Cassie sees no way forward. 

One is left flummoxed but accepting of the end. Cassie’s despair is nothing new. According to her, she has been experiencing a loathsome dread for the majority of her life. When it was time to intervene, the streets were silent with the hum of a stoned heap; no one comes running when we have no jogging mates. Though this view is morbid & rather sad, the reader notes the absence of real connection within Cassie’s world. Her romantic relationship cannot move forward, the man she loves is prevented from loving her—one does not actually know if he wants to fall in love, or simply enjoy the confines of the spaces within Cassie. The family & friends, the society at writ large, no one cares whether Cassie loves her job or whether she becomes like the sleeping man under her window—insane to the high achievers.

The putrid resemblance of our societies is shocking. The author colours the world of Cassie’s surroundings with clear lines; no one escapes their role in the fallen kingdom. One is explicitly seen throughout the pages. Perhaps, the disentangled reader might wish to evade capture. After all, the majority of the characters in this story are crude—downright horrible—people. Who wants to be faced with the masked killer clown doused in makeup so uncomplimentary? Unfortunately, the extremes presented in the character makeup are not meant to be a friendly reminder. One can regard Cassie as an out-of-touch adult who has now been faced with the realism evoked in the hearts of the world. Regardless, some of her traits flare on the skin of readers.

Ultimately, what Etter has done is present the viewer with a home movie; has masticated the familiar features of childhood into alien skin. We watch & listen as the plot thickens; will Cassie kill herself? Death to the self is not so different from death at the hands of a stranger though, we might be inclined to trust the hand we know. The black hole that gobbles the protagonist will litter stones & sticks into the city street, reminders along the curbs for those without homes. What is the reader meant to deduce from this narrative? Can one be inclined to be honest & truthful? Can one pursue truth in the theatrical extremes?

This story explores what it means to be human in a time wherein being human is existing in two worlds. The icons of our profiles mirror only the lies we tell ourselves. The sidewalks know the thud of our step & the kneeling pressure of our psyche on our heels & bones. Who we are is perhaps not so different than the neighbour whom we watch rise up to the hillside to kill his own son or, so the great visionary joked. The magic of the mirror is that one’s mind might intentionally lie. Rainbows, butterflies, bumble bees, & honey are sweet nectar to the human species. Inside of us lies the hidden Hyde that saunters the night in broad day, waiting to play victim & villain to the self; the morosely intelligent, studied, & learned mind of humankind.

Thank you to NetGalley, VERVE Books, & Sarah Rose Etter for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A heavily melancholic novel where Cassie is trying to survive a demeaning tech start up job in Silicon Valley.

Delving into the impact of toxic work culture and the simultaneous cut throat and soul crushing corporate world, a world where you work can 90 hour weeks and still get no where.

In the background of this there is a growing pandemic, wild fires and a black hole of depression that follows Cassie around.

Bleak but hard hitting with amazing imagery worked through.

I also learned a lot about actual black holes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Verve
4/5 ⭐️

How far would you go for success? 
A huge thanks to everyone involved in approving me this title. Cassie did what her parents told her to. She broke up with a boyfriend, graduated school, and left home directly after as her parents told her there was no place for her there anymore. "The train is leaving" and she was on it. To everyone's amazement Cassie got a job at a cutthroat Silicon Valley startup. Long hours, drugs, an affair with a chef, all stress her out, but she is supposed to be thankful. What a ride. It took me a while to read this as it stressed me out. Ripe includes many topics, including Corona, drug abuse, abortion, etc. If you know and like Sarah Rose Etter's Book "Book of X" you're gonna love this as well. A little more adult and as addictive.

This was a really disorienting, powerful read that I sound simultaneously compelling and exhausting. I thought her description of the isolation she’s feels and the permanent weight of melancholy that she carries around to be so spot on and beautifully captured. I also thought the stark contrast between the houseless people living outside of a billion dollar city to be infuriating but important nonetheless. Usually I don’t like to see covid mentioned in books but I thought the impending doom represented by covid to be very effective to the malaise that Cassie is experiencing. I really enjoyed this!

Not for me.

Ripe has all the potential of a decent novel but ends up lacking in substance.

Cassie is underdeveloped as a character and as a result, it's hard to feel anything for her. The only real insight into her character is through the black hole that is used as a metaphor for her depression. If used sparingly this could have added to the narrative, however its overuse became cringy. All the other characters are one dimensional and offer nothing other than to further the narrative.

Etter's dialogue is forced and unnatural causing the book to feel rushed and like an unedited first draft. There are several plot points that could have been interesting and used to fleshed out the novel however these are either dropped or meander along pointlessly.

Overall, perhaps a decent airport/holiday read if you like easy reads but otherwise due to the poor dialogue, underdeveloped characters and vacant plot, I can't recommend.

“Maybe there must always be two of us – our real selves and the ones we create to survive in the world as it is.”

Cassie is trying to survive working at a soul-crushing tech startup (“How many more hours of my life will I spend listening to men talk about themselves?”, “I want to die at every biweekly All Hands meeting, and today is no different.”) while the world falls apart. She’s also haunted by the black hole that’s been with her since birth.

I’m not a big fan of magical realism but this was an otherwise great – if at times painful – read.

"Ripe" by Sarah Rose Etter is a captivating exploration of the dark underbelly of Silicon Valley and the toll it takes on the human psyche. The story unfolds through the eyes of Cassie, a young woman trapped in a corporate nightmare, battling long hours, toxic bosses, and unethical projects. Etter skillfully portrays the stark contrast between obscene wealth and abject poverty, showcasing the disillusionment and despair that permeate this tech-driven world.

The narrative is predominantly told in the present tense, creating a sense of immediacy and uncertainty. We witness Cassie's struggles, her isolation, and her constant battle with a metaphorical black hole that feeds on her anxiety and depression. Through vivid descriptions and introspective moments, Etter effectively conveys the suffocating atmosphere of the protagonist's life.

One of the notable aspects of the book is the absence of a clear resolution, mirroring Cassie's own uncertainty about her future. The characters surrounding her, including her colleagues and so-called friends, remain superficial and unknowing. This lack of connection reflects the pervasive loneliness and pretense of modern life, where vulnerability is suppressed, and authentic relationships are elusive.

Etter's use of dictionary definitions to evoke memories and highlight Cassie's longing for a simpler life outside the Silicon Valley bubble adds depth to the narrative. The book serves as a thought-provoking commentary on capitalism, work culture, and the sacrifices demanded by the pursuit of success.

"Ripe" is a haunting and unsettling portrayal of contemporary realities, painting a bleak picture of a society where personal fulfillment is sacrificed at the altar of professional ambition. It is a compelling read that will leave you questioning the price we pay for the glittering promises of modern life.

That certainly was not the American dream
San Francisco portrayed as a living hell with nobody seemingly happy.
Cassie has moved to SF to work in the tech sector, partly to escape from her mother who has a massive negative impact on her life.
But the dream is sour from the very start as she lives in a tiny , miserable but barely affordable apartment. Men at work steal all the praise and the women undermine her too.
SF seems to falling apart at the seams also with squalor a constant presence.
With so much negative , it could be imagined that it would be difficult to like this book but I did as it so well written and really conveys the feelings of hopelessness that Cassie carries . Like the black hole that accompanies her throughout her life.
Despite knowing that there is just more misery to come and there will not be a happy ending , somehow i felt i had to read on.
Easy to empathise with the miserable life Cassie has and the analogy with black holes is interesting and heavily developed in the book.
Weirdly the book made me remember the music video to Roger Sanchez-Another Chance, as it’s inflatable heart being carried around was the exact opposite of the imagery in this book.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Wowowowowow! I can't remember the last time I was so completely sucked in by a novel. Whatever it was that Etter did here, all of it worked for me. The inside peek at the dark underbelly of the Silicon Valley startup industry would have been funny, if it wasn't so horrific. Cassie's soul-crushing anxiety and depression was palpable. I loved the end-time vibes: wildfires, a new virus, the shrinking middle class. It will give you all of the feels, in the best possible way.

I won't include a summary here because the blurb provided by the publishing company is spot-on. BIG thanks to Etter, VERVE Books, and NetGalley for this winner!

Ripe is a raw and sadly relatable book about depression, anxiety and the impacts of unhealthy work-life balance/relationship with work. This is quite an impactful read with incredibly unique and beautiful prose that sucks you right in and takes you on an emotional journey. Although this is a slow read it is definitely worth reading and I highly recommend.

Cassie has a black hole following her everywhere.
Sometimes it's really big, sometimes it gets smaller. Sometimes it sings, sometimes it's her silent companion.
She works in tech where she hurts due to the inequality of living in the Silicon Valley - we learn she is earning 6 figures a year, but she can barely afford to eat, after paying her rent, bills and student loan.
Her tech job overworks her and expects her to do the impossible, her boss is incredibly abusive.
She has a boyfriend, who actually has a girlfriend.
She has a fake self that she is able to conjure at any given time to give the illusion she is happy.
Until she can't...

I loved "Ripe" so much: it's sad, it's depressing, but it's real.
I've spent the last 5 minutes typing and deleting what I was going to say, because words can't really describe what i felt reading this - this is definitely going to be one of the top books of the year.

Oh, and the reader will learn a heck of a lot about black holes.

Ripe has put Sarah Rose Etter in my to-watch list of authors whose sharp prose never lets you release that breath you've been holding. I wanted to hug Cassie and shake her at the same time.

Oh boy this book is bleak but scarily relatable in parts. This is a very ambitious contemporary book and covers a lot of topics including mental health, corporate toxicity and societal expectations. I think it did a good job at approaching these topics and describing our millennial protagonists struggle with trying to have it all whilst simultaneously not really having anything.

It’s very readable and I’ve no doubt it will be very popular. I’m not sure how I felt about the dictionary definition sections and felt the ending was very ambiguous so for that reason I’m giving this a 3.5

Also the US cover is gorgeous.

Thanks to netgalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It's a highly entertaining book that fits the current trends in the literary market and I loved every second of it.

Leaning into the capitalist hell hole and mid-life crisis paired with the black hole metaphor has really pulled me into the book. Moreover, the writing style is also quite entertaining as we gradually get to experience Cassies past through her core memories and the way she perceives them.

All in all a quite an entertaining read that I will hold very dear to my heart.

Cassie works for a startup tech company in Silicon Valley, dealing with toxic positivity and the relentless drive for productivity whilst also having to contend with a pregnancy scare, a boyfriend who isn't allowed to love her, spiralling rent prices, and the looming threat of a novel virus from overseas. Hovering over her the entire time is her black hole, threatening to drag her into its crushing depths.

This is a difficult book to read and also difficult to review. It starts off very slowly, tracing Cassie's days as she treks to and from the office, parties, and dates with her not-quite-boyfriend. The sense of pressure on her slowly building is quite effective, but the 'maybe pregnancy' was strung out for so long that there were times I wanted to scream at her to just get a pregnancy test. The last quarter or so of the book, though, is raw and brutal and deeply, deeply sad. Etter's writing style is darkly beautiful and very compelling, and I loved the use of the pomegranate metaphor throughout.

A distressing portrait of how the tech industry lures in bright, talented young people, chews them up and spits them back out again, I feel Ripe will appeal to fans of authors such as Ottessa Moshfegh, Ling Ling Huang, and Eliza Clark.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free copy in return for an honest review.