Snake Oil
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
From the author of Girl in the Rearview Mirror comes a stunning novel set in the high-stakes world of Silicon Valley.
It’s a woman’s world, isn’t it?
Rhoda West has the world at her feet.
As the luminously charismatic CEO of Radical, a fast-growing start-up, Rhoda has built a wellness company whose core mission is the betterment of women’s lives. Showcasing her cult products and her perfect life through her social media, Rhoda is the ultimate ‘Radigal’, encouraging her followers to be #bebetter, whilst driving her business to attain the billion-dollar unicorn status that she craves.
But just as Radical announces the latest fundraising round that will take it over the top, an anonymous twitter account begins revealing the company’s secrets and starts questioning its beliefs and approach, and Rhoda herself.
Is Rhoda really the nurturing leader that she presents to the world, or a fraud on a mission to exploit the women she claims to want to help? As tensions rise and enemies present themselves, the only questions are how far will Rhoda go to fulfil her legacy and how far will her enemies go to destroy it…
Exploring themes of ambition, authenticity and female empowerment, this revealing thriller shines a light on the wellness world, and is perfect for fans of The Drop Out and Yellowface.
Praise for Girl in the Rearview Mirror:
‘An exciting, intoxicating debut – it will hold you until its startling final pages’ Megan Abbott
‘Gripping and cinematic, this debut is pure modern noir’ Flynn Berry
‘Utterly compelling. A gripping story that expertly weaves domestic and political intrigue’ Rosamund Lupton
‘A riveting tale of an appealing young woman caught in the thrall of a powerful political family’s prestige and privilege’ Hallie Ephron
‘A charged, tense, highly emotional story that will stay with you’ Caz Frear
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Dimberg's mediocre latest (after Girl in the Rearview Mirror), a conflict involving a wellness guru and her employees turns deadly. Rhoda West, founder of the popular wellness brand Radical, hopes to turn her array of retreats, supplements, and fitness apps into a billion-dollar company. Among her employees are "radigals" Dani Lang, who has loved Radical's products since she discovered them three years earlier; and Cecelia Cole, whose anonymous Twitter account skewers Rhoda as a capitalist charlatan. When Cecelia publishes an anonymous article accusing Rhoda of verbal abuse and outing her plan to fire Dani because she's pregnant, it jeopardizes much-needed funding and creates a riff between Cecelia and Dani. Rhoda retaliates by hiring a lawyer to harass Cecelia, and moves forward with a party for potential investors. Though Dimberg offers a nuanced view of her characters' obsessions with wellness, money, and reputation, the plot goes off the rails after a woman attending the fundraiser falls to her death, and the ending strains credulity. Readers will be hard pressed to go the distance.
