I really enjoyed this MeToo novel. We follow Rose who works as a PA at a magazine and ends up getting involved with mega pop star Milo Jax. What follows is a whirlwind of emotions while Rose navigates feelings of shame, disappointment of confusion.

Petter mostly managed to keep me invested in the story through subtle 'show don't tell's' until the end which somewhat dropped the ball for me in it's convenience. That being said, I'm not a fan of neatly wrapped up endings both in films and books.
Still, especially considering this is a debut novel, I would definitely recommend this!

Rose works as a publicity assistant for a big fashion magazine, excelling and complicit in the exploitation of celebrities and influencers for money. Her encounter with the biggest star of all, Milo Jax, doesn't end well and Rose acts as any teenager would although she is trapped inside a grown woman's body.. The book is an insightful glimpse at a corrupt world, there are multiple episodes of excess that offer commentary on the rights and wrongs of people with money and influence exploiting those who don't have it. The ending came a bit abruptly, overall left me wondering about the intended message.

A subtle thriller on the cult of celebrity

Without giving away any spoilers, this is a fever dream of celeb culture, on the tension between new media and print, on the power of fame on both the famous and the public, and the secrets we tell ourselves and the world around us. Rising star publicist Rose encounters the world's most famous pop star Milo Jax at an afterparty and ends up connecting with him, mentally and physically. But Rose wakes up the next day with no memory of what happened at the very end of the night, with only some very upsetting evidence.

The novel depicts Rose's work and personal lives in gritty detail: the world of pre-pandemic magazines and the shift to digital, glossy parties and even glossier influencers; and her London life, sub-letting from her best friend, navigating dating apps and posh house parties, her relationship with her mum. There's also a thin undercurrent of her art school ambitions to be a portraitist, but not enough is made of this, particularly when the cover is a dramatically painted portrait.

I really enjoyed this, a more cerebral thriller than most, that starts off like.a new adult, Hello! romcom and then rapidly steers off the rails as Rose starts to realise that something is very, very wrong.

Well worth the time: four well-deserved stars.

4.5 stars

Gold Rush is an incredible debut novel that offers a powerful exploration of celebrity culture and consent. Set in the pre-MeToo movement era, Olivia Petter spins a keen narrative that scrutinizes the rise of influencers, the power we give celebrities, and the dark side of both these cultures alongside the overwhelming presence of online media.

We follow Rose, who works as a publishing assistant at a dying traditional media magazine. This role offers her a realistic look at how "unglamorous" life in the spotlight can be, but it doesn't stop her from wanting to be part of this "exclusive" group. After a work event leads to a troubling encounter with superstar Milo Jax, Rose wakes up the next morning with fragmented memories and a haunting sense of something gone terribly wrong. As she grapples with the aftermath of her final interaction with a man adored by the world, Rose's professional and personal lives become increasingly complicated.

Rose is an unfortunately relatable character for women everywhere, something that Petter captures poignantly. The novel explores celebrity culture and the impact of our interactions with it through themes of obsession, control, manipulation, entitlement, and the harsh realities of living in the limelight. The fast-paced narrative is at times messy, truly indicative of Rose's mental state, resulting in a harrowing story with no neat resolution.

The more I think about this book, the more I love it. I absolutely recommend you pick this up as it's being published today!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC.

A good book that explored the impact of men’s actions on women’s feelings, and how situations can’t be interpreted differently depending on who views it. Whilst I personally thought the book could have been shorter, it was impactful, and I would recommend to others.

Rose works in PR. After meeting Milo, a famous singer, at one of her events, a brief drunken encounter leads to her waking up one morning questioning exactly what happened.

This would not be my typical kind of book to read, but the synopsis of it drew me in. It is essentially a story about consent. It is thought-provoking, sad, and infuriating at times... But above all else, it is a book that any woman is going to be able to relate to. It is a compelling read and a wonderful debut novel. I highly recommend it, even if like me, it wouldn't be your usual type of book. I particularly think it would be a wonderful option for a book club.

Thank you to NetGalley, 4th Estate, and William Collins, for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This novel, set in a time before the #MeToo movement, offers a keenly observed narrative that touches upon nepotism, the rise of influencers and the overwhelming presence of online media.

When Minnie confronts Rose about Milo’s true nature, Rose is forced to confront her own perceptions and the reality of that night with Milo. Her growing relationship with Clara further reveals that despite her outward success, Rose's personal life is far more troubled than it appears.

The depiction of the disastrous hen party is a stand out part for me - it’s vivid, capturing the awkwardness and discomfort that everyone endures in an effort to seem like they're enjoying the festivities for the bride's sake.

Gold Rush examines the grim realities of fame and the aftermath for those left in its wake. It scrutinizes celebrity culture and the heavy costs associated with it. Rose's silence in the face of Milo's fame highlights the pressures and constraints within her social circle.

This contemporary novel is often an uncomfortable read, yet it addresses critical issues of power and fame that are essential to discuss.

Was very much hooked on this book as soon as I started reading. Dealt with important themes of sexual assault, famous people and their lack of accountability, the aftermath of trauma and how it affects the people who experienced it and the people around them. I enjoyed this book.

Gold Rush

Rose awakes alone in her bedroom, naked and bleeding. She had spent the night with the current hottest man on the planet, musician Milo Jax. She remembers some of the evening’s events such as getting into a taxi with Milo but not everything.
Milo doesn’t respond to her emails or attempts to contact him and Rose tries to put it aside. But it continues to haunt her.
However, their two worlds will coincide as she works in PR at Firehouse HQ and deals with the famous and those clinging determinedly to its coat tails. She has little sympathy for some celebrities and her wry observations on them bring humour to the narrative. Rose knows that she is seen as an underling and Oliver, a co worker who apparently has celebrities at his fingertips seems to resent her. But her boss, Minnie is supportive,
Rose’s world is one of cut throat social media influencers and the celebrities of the moment. Gold Rush is set in 2017 and Firehouse HQ is a print media empire as the internet begins to bite. However, it is about to launch a digital publication called ‘StandFirst’ and Rose is soon caught up in cajoling a top influencer, Clara, to walk on the cat walk at the launch party while fending off hints about her night with Milo.
Slowly she begins to accept that her night with Milo was ‘never an invitation at all….she would always be turned away….’ But however hard she tries to put out of her mind, Rose still suffers from its effects and as the night of the party approaches she realises that their paths will be crossing again….
This was a sharply observed novel and was set in a period prior to the #MeToo movement which is referenced at the very end. Roses has to deal with nepotism, the rise of influencers and the domination of online media.
The hen party from hell was really well described in all its cringemaking, uncomfortable glory. After all everyone wants to be a good sport and appear to be having a good time for the bride.
But when Minnie calls out Milo’s behaviour to Rose for what it really is, Rose begins to flounder and starts to acknowledge what the night with Milo was really about. And, as she gets to know Clara, Rose realises that, although, she has a successful life, her actual life situation is much darker.
Gold Rush explores fame’s darker side and the people who have to pick up the pieces afterwards. It also delves into celebrity culture and the price that is put on it. Rose stays silent because of Milo’s fame and the world in which she moves in.
This was a very contemporary novel and an uncomfortable read in many places in the narrative. But it was a story of power and fame that needed to be told.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

A well written fast paced book about celebrity culture. The book deals with the themes of obsession control, manipulation, entitlement and consent. A very powerful book which at times makes uncomfortable reading. Well depicted characters who live their lives in the limelight. A sad indictment of our society but a book that is worth reading and discussing. There is humour despite the dark themes.

This book really highlights the difference between the perception and reality of celebrity and the successful influencer life. It was such an uncomfortable but engrossing read, a tale that felt like it could happen to any of us. Rose is just like you and your friends - she has a seemingly glamorous job in PR but that isn't her life. She lives with a rich friend, paying a small rent to be in a nice place, giving her a sense of imbalance and a feeling that she should always be grateful and not rock the boat. She eats pasta in front of reality TV, has a sometimes fractious relationship with her mum, and attempts to navigate the politics of her workplace...all so familiar. She is starting to see the shine of the celebrity world fade the longer she is around it but she still enjoys her work and the perks that come with it. Then something terrible happens. The ripple effects of that one night are as huge as you would expect them to be, Rose's mental health shatters and Olivia Petter takes us along to witness it first hand. The writing is amazing, it's haphazard and messy, lurching from one scene to another which captures what must be going on in Rose's head so well. The casualness with which sexism and abuse of power is shown really paints a depressing picture of an industry that is built on facades and power imbalances.
Showing the other side of this picture in a sub-plot about an influencer who appears to have it all, people falling over themselves to give her free clothes, shoes, food, invites to all the best parties, and the perceived power to control her life fully, is a genius move that really hammers home how entrenched the patriarchy is in society.
Without giving away any spoilers I will say that this book doesn't have a tidy ending that resolves all the threads and gives the reader closure...and it is all the better for it. Life doesn't work that way, resolutions aren't guaranteed. I just hope Rose found a way to achieve peace.

Ohhh this was so good!

It delves into the world of showbiz, celebrity culture and consent, as the main character Rose spends the night with one of the most sought after celebrities. But not is all as it seems and she can’t remember what happened, until she starts to piece it all together, bit by terrifying bit.

There were some powerful quotes in this which I’ve highlighted below and if they don’t convince you to read this then I don’t know what will…

“We treat them like superior beings. Like they transcend humanity purely because they can…we give them a power they don’t deserve”

“He has an actual physical mark. He has evidence.”

“I have memories, which means I have nothing.”

“I just wish he had hit me…because then I’d have evidence too. Something to show people so that they would believe me”

This is a thought provoking read which follows Rose who has a one night stand with a world famous celebrity.

It is an easy read, one you get caught up in very quickly and I enjoyed the writing and the plot line, I was not sure where the story was going but was completely invested in it.

The authors skill at selling Milo Jax - the charismatic, handsome world famous singer lured you into his world of women, fame and money. Set against this is Rose, working hard, making ends meet and attracted to this icon. As the story moves forward, I found myself willing Rose to tell her story, she cannot remember what happened on the night she had a one night stand with Milo. As she tries to find answers she finds herself struggling to cope with her life and I found this so heart breaking.

It’s a story of consent and how we look at many celebrities and the power dynamic at play. It’s an emotional read but one which I really enjoyed.

This was described as being set in the pre-Me Too era and I did find myself wondering how much has actually changed since then as I was reading. Would Rose feel more able to speak out now than she did then? I honestly don’t know that she would. There is still a lot of stigma around women who make accusations against popular male celebrities, especially in the circumstances described in this book.

It did get off to a bit of a slow start and I think some of the filler could have been cut but as a whole the book is a fairly scathing indictment on celebrity culture. She touches on the fakeness of some of the influencers and how despite acting like they are just like everyone else and showing their whole lives on their social media channels they generally actually show a very carefully curated snapshot rather than the full picture. This also speaks to how lonely a life it can become for some of them and how trapped they can feel by the life they thought they wanted. Very much a life lesson in be careful what you wish for.

This is contrasted with Rose, who, despite her job, doesn’t appear to really have any designs on a celebrity life and doesn’t seem to fit in with a lot of the trappings of her job and the people around her. She is a pathological people pleaser and this often leads to her ending up letting people down because she can’t actually keep everyone happy when their conflicting demands are pulling her in different directions.

The issue of consent comes up multiple times in multiple ways and the way different characters dealt with it was very relatable.

The ending for me felt slightly rushed and I would have liked a little more time given to that part of the story.

As described the story does deal with issues of consent and sexual assault and whilst it is in no way graphic or gratuitous I would be mindful of this if deciding to read it.

“Gold Rush” was a very interesting and thought provoking story.

If I had to explain this book to someone, I would describe it as a complex story about a woman navigating a world and industry dominated by males. It's the kind of book that people either love or hate with no middle ground. The book is genuinely upsetting, but it's also incredibly well-written and has a compelling structure. What's most disturbing is that the situation it portrays is not rare; it's something that many women actually experience. The book delves into the trauma of abuse and how it affects both the victim and those around them. For me, it felt more like a screenplay than a traditional book, and that influenced the rating I gave it. But is a solid good story and worth to be read. Thank you very much to The author and the editorial for the early access to this arc

I feel the book has the potential to be hit but I also think it needs a lot of tweaking here or there.

I found the chapters way too long. There were parts that, I found, were unnecessary, or needed more added to it to be more relevant. For example the Hen party, what happened next?? The whole Dad situation, what happened next??

The different POV needs to be removed, in my opinion and that part of the story written in Roses POV.

The whole Clara story feels unfinished and the ending felt rushed.


The book needs more time and work put into it and then I think it could be an excellent book.

Obviously these are just my opinions and as I have never written I book I feel bad writing my criticisms into this review but I would definitely suggest reading it because I DID find it a real page turner. The main concept of the book is good and I would like to see this be a hit. The character Rose will stay with me for a while. I want to know more feel her ending needs to be happier.

Very powerful exploration of trauma and the harm of non-consensual relationships. I found the harrowing scenes effective but also sensitively handled, they conveyed the distress Rose goes through with great emotion. In some ways I wanted more retribution for her, and her to take the latter half of the book more into her own hands, but I also found her actions understandable, especially considering the isolation she felt. It’s really well written and the pacing is excellent. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book was truly addictive, I couldn’t stop reading it. Not only does it relate to me having been from the PR world which already felt enjoyable to me, it also talks about an important topic related to celebrity culture, and what powers they can have over ‘normal’ people. Great book

A terrifying and insightful look into the world of celebrity and those who are unwittingly captivated by it despite shallowness. The main theme is what constitutes as consent and abuse. The plot centers around Rose, a PR assistant for a magazine, who having recently broken up with her boyfriend becomes easy prey for the alluring heart throb Milo Jax.
The two meet at an event she has helped organised and there is obvious chemistry from the outset when he invites her to an after party. Later, overwhelmed by his attention and messages via social media, she visits him and as the drinks flow they sleep together. This is when things take a drastic turn for the worse as Rose has no recollection of the night but is aware of severe pain and bleeding the following morning when she wakes up at her home.. With increasing violent flashbacks and panic attacks it is clear that she needs to piece together events before her life spirals out of control. There is one problem however, Milo has no intention of speaking to her again and without even his phone number Rose is left vulnerable and broken.
Petter does a good job in portraying this fickle and shallow industry where celebrities, particularly men are protected and excused while their female fans are abused and used as their play things. It is fair to say this was triggering reading especially in light of the Me Too movement. Petter's ability to depict Rose as spiralling out of control was truly engaging. The shock and abrupt ending made me want to scream for justice.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

This book is readable and fairly engaging, and the main topic is important and handled well. I just think it could maybe have been a little shorter, there are a lot of interactions with characters who aren't particularly well developed or necessary to be included, and all of the dialogue is written in a way that makes it quite difficult to follow who is speaking. I also found the single chapter from a different POV a little jarring and unnecessary.