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Paper Wasp
Paper Wasp | Lauren Acampora
13 posts | 12 read | 9 to read
An electrifying debut novel from the acclaimed author of The Wonder Garden, The Paper Wasp is a riveting knife-edge story of two women's dark friendship of twisted ambition set against the backdrop of contemporary Hollywood In small-town Michigan, Abby Graven leads a solitary life. Once a bright student on the cusp of a promising art career, she now languishes in her childhood home, trudging to and from her job as a supermarket cashier. Each day she is taunted from the magazine racks by the success of her former best friend Elise, a rising Hollywood starlet whose life in pictures Abby obsessively scrapbooks. At night Abby escapes through the films of her favorite director, Auguste Perren, a cult figure known for his creative institute the Rhizome. Inspired by Perren, Abby draws fantastical storyboards based on her often premonitory dreams, a visionary gift she keeps hidden. When Abby encounters Elise again at their high school reunion, she is surprised and warmed that Elise still considers her not only a friend but a brilliant storyteller and true artist. Elise's unexpected faith in Abby reignites in her a dormant hunger, and when Elise offhandedly tells Abby to look her up if she's ever in LA, Abby soon arrives on her doorstep. There, Abby discovers that although Elise is flourishing professionally, behind her glossy magazine veneer she is lonely and disillusioned. Ever the supportive friend, Abby becomes enmeshed in Elise's world, even as she guards her own dark secret and burning desire for greatness. As she edges closer to Elise, the Rhizome, and her own artistic ambitions, the dynamic shifts between the two friends--until Abby can see only one way to grasp the future that awaits her. The Paper Wasp is a thrilling, unexpected journey into the psyche and imagination of a woman determined to fulfill her destiny from one of our most unique and incisive writers.
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LiteraryLona
The Paper Wasp | LAUREN. ACAMPORA
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Pickpick

I‘m reading this one next! It‘s a little out of my usual genre, but I‘m hoping it‘s good.

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nikirtehsuxlol
Paper Wasp | Lauren Acampora
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I‘d long nurtured the private suspicion that I was an outcast not because I was inferior, but because I was exceptional ....

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Nitpickyabouttrains
The Paper Wasp | LAUREN. ACAMPORA
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Pickpick

After a high school reunion, a woman moves to la to chase her old friend. She is a little obsessive. And their relationship is toxic and becomes codependent.

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BkClubCare
The Paper Wasp | LAUREN. ACAMPORA
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Went to an author event last night; just starting The Paper Wasp and I am into it and obsessed as the character! The writing is smart and sharp. We have a creative artist waiting her time to have her brilliance acknowledged and allowed her outlet — she is obsessed with a childhood friend who is a Hollywood actress. It's good. I recommend so far!

23 likes1 stack add
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Godpants
The Paper Wasp | LAUREN. ACAMPORA
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July reads part 2: The Paper Wasp was my favourite of my second half of the month reads. Lock Every Door was good but I don‘t know if people NEED to read it.

11 likes1 stack add
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Godpants
The Paper Wasp | LAUREN. ACAMPORA
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Pickpick

I really loved this book, its hallucinatory and tense and a wild ride about friendship and ambition.

BkClubCare Tense! Yes, I couldn‘t seem to come up with that word in my blurb. Tense with a slow dread licking at the edges 5y
9 likes1 comment
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Godpants
The Paper Wasp | LAUREN. ACAMPORA
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Are people liking this book? Reviews are all over the place but it sounds so good. I‘ll let you all know what I think.

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fictionaltiff
The Paper Wasp | LAUREN. ACAMPORA
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Mehso-so

The Paper Wasp is weird, creepy, and will blow your mind. This author is an extremely creative writer, and as a result, I flew through this book and was fascinated with it up until the end. This was so so good, I‘m still glad I read it, but I can‘t give it more than 3 stars because I grew a bond with this book, and it in turn punched me in the face and ran away, leaving me nothing but confusion and shame 😉.

TrishB Great review 👍🏻 6y
marleed Oh I feel you. Sometimes I really like a book but there‘s one thing The happens - the ending, or the author‘s take on a topic that may not even be key to the story that leaves a star dangling. And upon reflection there‘s that star on the floor losing its luster. 6y
fictionaltiff @TrishB thank you! 😊 6y
fictionaltiff @marleed if, as an author, you‘re going to make me spend my time reading your extremely well-done book, don‘t give me a bad ending! Haha I‘m still mad 6y
10 likes4 comments
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BookFreakOut
The Paper Wasp | LAUREN. ACAMPORA
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Pickpick

I think this will be a love it or hate it book - I loved it, gave me that “what did I just read?!“ vibe. A minor infatuation with a friend-turned-movie-star turns stranger, more possessive and straight-up bizarre. The inside look at Abby's mind is unnerving, the slide from eager friendship to subtle manipulation, to supreme arrogance and condescension. Some weird sexual dreams if that bothers you. Had me dumbstruck and engrossed to the last page.

Megabooks I‘m so excited for this one! I loved her first book. I‘m waiting to see if my library purchases it. 6y
BookFreakOut @Megabooks I haven't read anything of hers before so I had no idea what to expect! Hope your library gets it soon! 6y
19 likes2 comments
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Lauren.Archer
The Paper Wasp | LAUREN. ACAMPORA
Mehso-so

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Press for an Advanced Reader‘s Copy of this book. This book revolves around two women and their dark friendship. This book at time felt like vignettes rather than a complete story. This is a short book, but it does pack a punch. At times, I was not actually sure what was happening. The writing is excellent in this one, but this is not going to be for every reader.

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BridgetteM
The Paper Wasp | LAUREN. ACAMPORA
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My current read, The Paper Wasp. It‘s really good so far! The main character is a bit creepy...

57 likes3 stack adds
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fictionaltiff
Paper Wasp | Lauren Acampora
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Just received this in the mail to review. Release date June 2019.
“The Paper Wasp is a thrilling, unexpected journey into the psyche and imagination of a woman determined to fulfill her destiny from one of our most unique and incisive writers.”
#arc #bookpreview #bookish #thriller

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Rhondareads
Paper Wasp | Lauren Acampora
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Creepy sounding great cover two high school friends one now a Hollywood Star a chance meeting a polite invite visit next time your in La.When the doorbell rings and it‘s the childhood acquaintance the tension rises the chilling story begins.Thanks @GroveAtlantic for this delicious read,