ADULT DRAMA - Natalie Beach


 I had never heard of Natalie Beach when I requested an ARC of this book and I most certainly was not aware of the conflict/drama between Beach and Instagram influencer Caroline Calloway.  Heck, I only first heard the term 'influencer' a year or so ago and if I glance at my Instagram feed once a week I'm being pretty active. So what would draw me to this book?  I enjoy a well written essay.

And these are VERY well written.

The conflict between Beach and Calloway plays an important role in a number of these essays and, in a nutshell, Beach acted as a ghost writer for Calloway's internet persona which led to a book deal for Calloway (and, hence, her ghost writer, Natalie) but Calloway couldn't keep up with her end of the work and backed out of the deal, costing Beach some work and money as well. Their feud has gone public (not surprising, given that Calloway is an entirely fictitious, public persona) and they've put forth dueling essays about each other.

Who cares?  There are probably people out there who actually care about this she said/she said conflict, but frankly, I don't.  What I DO care about is a fantastic read, and Beach, who has clearly been influenced by her relationship with the influencer ("Ghostwriting for Caroline was like writing in a new tense - first person beautiful - the rules of time and inevitability were just different for her") proves to be a really fantastic writer in this collection.

It wasn't a symbiotic relationship (though I admit I'm only getting Beach's side of the story) and frankly these essays don't paint Beach herself in a very good light - "I never felt better than when viewed through Caroline's eyes" ... "Being the foil to a hot girl was taking its toll, and writing someone else's love story was even harder".

While the relationship with Calloway is a major incident in Beach's life, and something she probably needs to write about, some of her other essays were much more interesting.  I think I liked "How May I Help You?" you the most, describing some of her time as a shopgirl ("A shopgirl becomes useless when she hates the customers for shopping.").

These essays are deeply personal and borderline dark (Beach writes about her virginity and her first sexual encounters, as well as how badly she's treated by men) and I often felt like a voyeur, but as she herself writes: Every true story is disgusting.

Looking for a good book? If you like non-fiction, and even if you don't give a rat's ass about social media stars and feuds, Natalie Beach's collection of essays, Adult Drama, is a must read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

4-1/2 stars

* * * * * *

Adult Drama

author: Natalie Beach

publisher: Hanover Square Press

ISBN: 9781335914026

hardcover, 272 pages

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