The Subtweet

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.

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

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.