Extremely promising debut novel. The tone could have been gimmicky in other hands but is well handled here. Full review below.

McGhee's writing is warm and engaging, filled with moments of humor and genuine emotion that make Jonathan’s journey relatable and inspiring. I loved how she explores the theme of kindness, showing how small acts can have a profound impact on others and ourselves. The characters are well-crafted and memorable, each contributing to the overall message of compassion and understanding.

What truly stood out for me was the balance between lighthearted moments and deeper reflections, making it a delightful read for both younger and older audiences.

A funny and enjoyable novel, with poignant moments built in, this is a novel that will truly be a hit. Unfortunately this isn't my favorite style and I regret not waiting for a more fitting frame of mind to pick this up. Nonetheless, it was well written and I can think of many people to recommend this to wh9 would fully appreciate it!

I was drawn into this by the bold eye catching cover and the unusual title- and I loved the premise of the book, the Black Mirror dystopian plotline was fascinating. I didnt love the story telling as much as I thought I would though, it was too bleak for me.- though it may well have been the state of mind I was in. So give it a go, but only on a sunny day when you're feeling unbelievably optimistic about the world!

Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind by Molly McGhee had a synopsis that grabbed me instantly - the titular character is having a run of incredibly bad luck, but is offered the chance to turn his life around - by becoming a Dream Auditor.

Jonathan Abernathy lives in his landlady's basement, where he's behind on his rent. His student loan debt is crippling, and he has inherited credit card debt from his parents. He's at a dead end - until a mysterious group approach him in his dreams, offering him a job. If he accepts, he will receive a (very) meagre wage - but more importantly, for every night he works, he'll erase a portion of his accrued debt.

Jonathan can't understand why the other employees aren't as hyped as he is - this is a great job! Isn't it?!

As Jonathan tries to balance his dream life with his real one, he soon begins to realise that what he's doing may not be morally right. But if he quits, how will he pay his debts?

Described as a "hilarious" take on late-stage capitalism, I was really excited for this one. Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me and ended up sucking the life out of me for weeks until I knuckled down to finish it.

My main issue was that Jonathan was supposed to be 26 - for me, he read much, much older. It also wasn't at all "hilarious" - it was actually quite sad, and while it WAS a worthwhile take on late-stage capitalism, it just served as a reminder that large companies value productivity over humanity.

"The man explains that the job is a key component in the contemporary capitalist model that governs America's economic sector, mostly in that it keeps the public from doing bad stuff. Like murdering each other, he offers. Or having poor workplace performance."

I loved the premise, the whole story just descended into total chaos and I found it quite hard to follow. I just felt sorry for Abernathy initially, but as the book went on, I cared about him less and less - if that was intentional, then well done - but if not, I just found it all a bit of a waste of reading time.

Thank you to the publisher (who I won't tag) for the eARC via Netgalley. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.

Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind by Molly McGhee is definitely a book that stands out for its originality. The narrative blends surreal elements with a sort of deadpan humor, making for a quirky and offbeat read. The plot follows Jonathan Abernathy, an unremarkable man who desperately gets caught up in a strange, bureaucratic system that manipulates dreams in the most horrifying capitalistic iteration. The story is absurd and tragic, the writing style is sharp.

That said, while I loved the book's unique approach, I couldn't help but feel it had the potential to go even deeper. The plot hints at profound themes but doesn't always dig in as much as I wanted it to. Still, it’s a refreshing novel that takes risks and mostly succeeds. If you’re in the mood for something that breaks the mold, you might give this one a try.

This book was poor just like our protagonist, which is a shame, because I think it had potential. I picked it up because I heard comparisons to Severance (the television series), and while I get that a little bit, in order for me to fully enjoy it, it needed to lean into the weirdness far more than it did. As a book, it felt very uninspired and like the most debut-y thing I've read in a while, and I've read some very good debuts in the past. There was SO much telling and not showing. I get its intent, but it could have been done a lot better. The ending was also quite bad, I'm afraid.

I really liked the concept and idea of this, very much up my street both as a writer and a reader. But I wanted to care more for Jon in order to keep me super interested in his plight.

DNF - I was really intrigued to read this book but I didn't end up vining with it as much as I had hoped. The characters left me feeling annoyed & I was hoping to explore a different aspect of the plot.

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

I enjoyed the premise of this novel, exploiting the impact of debt on ordinary citizens, Jonathan Abernathy is caught up in a programme monitoring the dreams of others. Desperate to achieve financial security, he is an ideal candiate for a role that is more sinister than at first appears. I found the writing quite difficult to follow but enjoyed the concept.

A criticism of US capitalism meets a sci-fi like premise where dreams can be entered and edited.

The narrative style was quite unique and fun, and I think this style kept the book from feeling too depressing, even though the theme is bleak (especially because the issues raised in this novel are painfully real). It also was not subtle with the criticism of capitalism, but managed to stop short of coming across as preachy or heavy-handed.

Abernathy as a character is so interesting because he could easily be a real person and his complexity meant that I could never quite be sure if I liked him or not! He is a sympathetic character, who is deep in debt through no fault of his own, and yet, at some points in this book I felt like I was reading a villain origin story due to his complete ignorance of ethics and general self-absorption.

I found some of the dreaming parts to be a bit confusing, though maybe that was the point, since Abernathy didn't care to pay attention to what his job actually entailed! I agree with a criticism I saw in another review about various plot holes, such as the employer at his second job seemingly not noticing that Abernathy had missed shifts when he slept for multiple days. There are a few other inconsistencies that mean I'm still sort of confused about the background and context of the company Abernathy works for and how it all works.

I get why people have compared this to Severance (the TV show) - it's definitely got a similar vibe, and the workplace and its overall objectives are similarly mysterious. This novel also does not go into any sort of explanation of how they are able to enter people's dreams, or what technology is allowing them to edit dreams - it's just part of the world that you have to accept as true.

Overall I really enjoyed this one and found it to be a fairly quick read! I'd recommend it to fans of Severance, and fans of anti-capitalism!

Jonathan Abernathy is deep in debt, from his student loans and an inherited debt he had no idea about. Unable to find a decent job, when he is offered a unique government role in order to pay back his debts, he has little choice. The definition of a 'dream job' he will be working as a dream auditor, part of a whole crew who are tasked with entering workers dreams and cleaning up the bad parts in the hopes that they will be more settled, well-rested and therefore more productive in their jobs. But os Jonathan starting to get real-life and dream-life mixed up? And how will it affect his relationships?

This was a quirky, scifi-dystopian tale with an interesting, fresh plot and some brilliant characters, especially Jonathan. He is so likeable and who doesn't love to root for an underdog! It also touches on some important social issues.

Highly recomended if you are in the mood for a unique read that will make you think!

Debt-riddled twenty-something Jonathan Abernathy is in desperate need of a job. So when a government loan forgiveness programme offers him a job auditing the dreams of the white-collar workforce (a scheme corporations can opt into to guarantee a squeaky clean subconscious and maximum work performance from its employees) Abernathy believes things are about to look up. That is until the job takes a darker turn and Abernathy realises there may be no coming back from it.

I was instantly intrigued by the book’s premise and the fact it was marketed as a critique of late capitalism, providing social commentary on corporate exploitation and debt-induced poverty. A bleakness permeates the entire story combatted with Abernathy’s quirky earnestness that’s both heartwarming and depressing; from the first paragraph we know Death is waiting for Abernathy. Death has marked Abernathy and given him three years to live.

Jonathan Abernathy as a main character is quintessentially human and very relatable. He’s bumbling and awkward and desperate to please and be valued. He’s not particularly brave and never knows the exact right thing to say. He struggles to reconcile being a good person with the personal gain and feelings of success and validation that comes with his new unethical job. He was a great character through which to judge this economic culture of inequality and entrapment.

Overall this was a unique, thought-provoking story. The plot dragged a little in the middle and felt quite lacklustre, otherwise this would easily have been a four star read.

An original idea but I think this book is like marmite and it wasn’t for me. Although I can see from the reviews that many loved it I found it difficult to read and even more difficult to understand.

A down-on-his-luck everyman is recruited into a government agency that audits dreams, extracting anxieties and fears so that workers remain productive in the waking world. He is enthusiastic, delighted to have the work and eager to please despite its creepiness. His supervisor dislikes him but over time seeks to help him understand what he's gotten himself into. It's not good. As his waking life and dream life converge, Jonathan Abernathy inches closer to his death.

A black comedy about capitalism and the endless American quest for productivity at the expense of the worker. The author's strong voice creates a fresh world of inescapable horrors. If 1984 had a dark sense of humor, it would be something like Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind. Can't wait to read what Molly McGhee writes next.

The premise of this book was intriguing. Who wouldn’t want to get out of debt given the chance. Yet the ‘job’ is much more than Jonathan can handle.
It’s great to see original and creative narratives being published and this title is certainly going to be talked about.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

This was a twisty, capitalist, hellscape of a book - and I loved it immensely.

Jonathan Abernathy is in a bind. Loaded down with debts from the American education system, alongside inherited debts from his late parents, he feels quite desperate. So when an opportunity for a job, as part of a government loan forgiveness program, appears, he jumps on it. The job? Auditing people’s dreams while he sleeps, removing any issues and blockades in their subconscious that could impede on their waking working performance at their jobs.

I couldn’t put this book down. It felt like falling into an extremely twisted rabbit hole, knowing that things were becoming darker, while Jonathan continues to tell himself that he is kind, he is confident, and is committed to be a good worker, even when he doesn’t believe it himself.

I don’t want to give too much away, as all of the different twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat, breaking my heart, and making me gasp, all at different intervals - or sometimes all at once. Sometimes it felt like peering into the purest raw slice of humanity and feeling. There was one chapter in particular, when Jonathan experienced a lovely day out with his neighbour, and oh god. I didn’t know my heart could be so warmed and so inexplicably broken all at once.

The writing style was unique, which I personally loved, and found compulsively readable, especially with the past tense narrative hinting at what horrors were still yet to come.

It’s a brilliant critique on the current capitalist system we live under, the desperation of many every day people, and the never ending greed of corporations. I want to push the book into so many peoples hands simply so we can discuss it, and they can experience the rollercoaster of this story. I, myself, am still reeling from it.

Thank you to the publishers, and netgalley, for the copy to review.

A copy of this book was sent to me in return for an honest review.

I expected the story to pan out very differently and to be very honest, it wasn’t a satisfying read for me. I think it left me feeling quite down, sadly. I’m sure there is a market for this type of story, but sorry to say, not for me. I hate to give a review that isn’t positive.

This is a really frustrating novel - it's a great premise and it has some at-times highly likeable characters but it really falls apart as it progresses and it's hampered by having a central character who is oblivious to the point of coming across as incredibly dense and pathologically incurious. The plot isn't well drawn enough (and a high concept premise like this really deserves to be properly thought through and the world-building is weak, with a lot of telling rather than showing to compensate. I genuinely almost stopped reading when I was 80% of the way through and I wouldn't have missed much if I had. This is a really great draft but not yet a good novel. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.