The Obsessed
She is a fully realized character through whom we see not only the world she inhabits but also slivers of our own. A wincing relatability as we recognize similar past mistakes ... Provides us with an endearing portrait of a young person moving past a series of parasocial relationships to start a process of building something new.
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If the plot sounds bizarre, and it is, debut novelist Buehler makes it work by capturing the nervous disillusionment that seems to always hover just an arm’s length away.
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Thought-provoking if underwhelming ... Though Astrid’s obsessions sometimes feel too tepid to be truly gripping, Buehler offers intriguing insights into the many ways parasocial relationships take shape—not only with celebrities, but also strangers, fictional characters, and even idealized lovers. Fans of Elif Batuman’s The Idiot will find much of interest.
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