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ESTHER IS NOW FOLLOWING YOU

Tanya Sweeney

A hilarious, fresh and deeply affecting story about celebrity, fandom and what happens when it all becomes a bit too real.
It's 2011 and Irish thirtysomething Esther is living her best life, according to her Facebook posts. She's living in London, working in finance and married to easy-going Johnny. What's not to like? There's only one problem: it's all an illusion.

The job in high finance is in a dank basement with brown walls inputting code, listening to her office mate Francesa drone on about her children, her relationship with Johnny is waning and life in London isn't nearly as exciting as she makes out. Even her stand-up comedy act is falling flat. The only thing keeping her going is Canadian comedian Ted Levy and the fan site in which his adoring superfans parse his every move.

On paper, he shouldn't draw such adoration. He's quite short and his comedy routine doesn't crackle, but to Esther and thousands like her, he's just perfect. Onto his occasional appearances with model/actresses, they can project all of their hopes and fears. They can peer at his trainers, gawp at his stick-thin girlfriends and pry into his private life to their hearts' content. For the 'Tedettes', fandom offers them connection, the hope that they aren't entirely alone in the world.

Except only Esther is mad enough to take the plunge and make her dreams a reality. When a sudden tragedy strikes, Esther is on the first plane to Toronto, Ted Levy in her crosshairs. All she has to do is to leave her bewildered husband behind, invent an entirely new backstory, move in with his sister and act like a lunatic to make it happen. Simple.

But Esther is about to find out that the gap between dreams and realities is more of a chasm, and that, in spite of the mess she's left in her wake, there are still people who love her and are looking out for her. IRL.

This thrill ride gives us a ringside view of the unique appeal of fandom and obsession. It peels off the layers of madness and adoration and reveals its all-too-human side. Deeply painful, incredibly insightful, funny and surprisingly kind.

Tanya Sweeney is one of Ireland's most celebrated journalists. She writes for the Irish Independent and is beloved by her readers for her unique style of storytelling. Originally from Dublin, she lives in Kildare, Ireland with her husband and daughter. Tanya has also a Master's in screenwriting.
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Published by Bantam

Comments

It was SUCH a pleasure to read Esther. Tanya's voice is so funny and moving. Esther's story shows how trauma and loss can lead to fixation and mental illness. There's such a sad story at the heart of the book but it's told with great verve and lightness of touch. I really REALLY felt for her and also for Johnny. The dialogue is chef's kiss! This is such a great book - it's hard to believe it's a first novel - it's done with great confidence and conviction. People will LOVE it!

I loved this book. Messy Essie is a wonderful character. A wild ride of a read, funny yet poignant, it is a gripping page turner.

A debut novel about one woman's emotional struggles deftly lays bare the dangers of obsession in the age of social media.Esther is Now Following You is a witty, riotous, and topical examination of extreme parasocial relationships and an exploration of the boundaries between fandom and obsession. You will feel yourself drawn into Esther's quest, overwhelmed with the urge to share her but, ultimately, hoping she finds peace and contentment.

Esther is a fantastically nuanced character - Tanya Sweeney has such an eye for detail, the characters leap from the page, bright and alive. Humorous, chilling, and sometimes an uncomfortable read but you're never not in Esther's desperate, awkward corner that she has backed herself into. A sharp and addictive insight into the mind of a grieving woman, who fills her emptiness with obsession. I thoroughly recommend.