Vivek Shraya

When Neela Devaki's song is covered by internet-famous artist Rukmini, the two musicians meet and a transformative friendship begins. But as Rukmini's star rises and Neela's stagnates, jealousy and self-doubt creep in. With a single tweet, their friendship implodes, one career is destroyed, and the two women find themselves at the centre of an internet firestorm. A stirring examination of making art in the modern era, a love letter to brown women, an authentic glimpse into the music industry, and a nuanced exploration of the promise and peril of being seen.

The Subtweet

Briar's Reviews

The Subtweet by Vivek Shraya is a beautifully moving novel following the struggles with fame and social media.

If you are looking for a contemporary read that touches deep topics but makes it easy to digest, this book is perfect. Sexism, racism, relationship/friendship drama, the negative sides of the internet and social media, and the darkness of the music industry are all touched on. And to make this book even better? LGBTQ+ representation, and in such a beautiful way that it's not forced and thrown in your face.

Vivek Shraya is an artist and an author. The Subtweet is moving but also has a great analysis in it of culture today, all packed into one excellent fictional book. I wish I had more books like this in school where it's easy to read but also really punches you in the gut with it's meaning. It's so beautiful! Pick it up! Give Vivek all the love!

Also, I need to grab some more Vivek Shraya books! ASAP!

Five out of five stars.

Sampurna Saha 

this was both so realistic and fake at the same time like

Ilse

I have mixed feelings about this book, as on one hand I loved how the music scene was fleshed out, and the buildup around the culture and lifestyle of struggling musicians, while on the other hand I missed descriptions about the settings and connection between the scenes. There were a lot of time jumps that I struggled to follow now and then, and I had difficulties connecting to the Neela and Rukmini. 

Still, I applaud Vivek Shraya for addressing so many themes like call out culture, race, social justice, feminism and activism, which I really liked how she did, and is why I’m still scoring it with three stars. I think this is a book you should really try out for yourself if the premise intrigues you, as I do think it was a solid book.

Charlotte Labelle

Joycelyn Ghansah

Emily Carruthers 

Joyce

ohseababy

Mitz

“Biting and beautiful.” — Jonny Sun, author of everyone’s a aliebn when ur a aliebn too Everyone talks about falling in love, but falling in friendship can be just as captivating. When Neela Devaki’s song is covered by internet-famous artist Rukmini, the two musicians meet and a transformative friendship begins. But as Rukmini’s star rises and Neela’s stagnates, jealousy and self-doubt creep in. With a single tweet, their friendship implodes, one career is destroyed, and the two women find themselves at the center of an internet firestorm. Celebrated multidisciplinary artist Vivek Shraya’s second novel is a stirring examination of making art in the modern era, a love letter to brown women, an authentic glimpse into the music industry, and a nuanced exploration of the promise and peril of being seen.

A Novel

Boothby

Aditi

Zahia Saeed 

Jess Johansson

Jana Jenkinns 

Lili Vanden Wijngaert

Zoe McKenna

Maggie

Kimberlee Southard

Krista Kirby

Abi Baker

Geneviève Rouleau

A story of female friendship, with a fast-paced plot and a nuanced examination of art, brown culture, social media, call-out culture, the music industry, and sexism. Following two women from the throes of first friend infatuation to a tweet that splits them apart and destroys one career, THE SUBTWEET is a book only artist Vivek Shraya could write.

Rachel

Jen Taylor