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Rejection
Rejection: Fiction | Tony Tulathimutte
10 posts | 8 read | 9 to read
From the Whiting and O. Henrywinning author of Private Citizens (the first great millennial novel, New York Magazine), an electrifying novel-in-stories that follows a cast of intricately linked characters as rejection throws their lives and relationships into chaos. Sharply observant and outrageously funny, Rejection is a provocative plunge into the touchiest problems of modern life. The seven connected stories seamlessly transition between the personal crises of a complex ensemble and the comic tragedies of sex, relationships, identity, and the internet. In The Feminist, a young mans passionate allyship turns to furious nihilism as he realizes, over thirty lonely years, that it isnt getting him laid. A young womans unrequited crush in Pics spirals into borderline obsession and the systematic destruction of her sense of self. And in Ahegao; or, The Ballad of Sexual Repression, a shy late bloomers flailing efforts at a first relationship leads to a life-upending mistake. As the characters pop up in each others dating apps and social media feeds, or meet in dimly lit bars and bedrooms, they reveal the ways our delusions can warp our desire for connection. These brilliant satires explore the underrated sorrows of rejection with the authority of a modern classic and the manic intensity of a manifesto. Audacious and unforgettable, Rejection is a stunning mosaic that redefines what it means to be rejected by lovers, friends, society, and oneself.
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review
ImperfectCJ
Rejection: Fiction | Tony Tulathimutte
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Mehso-so

Oh...kay. So, this is a...book. Longish, loosely interconnected stories that work to varying, universally cringey degrees, and do a self-consciously meta thing that doesn't really work for me. I'm intrigued by the form, and the characters are definitely complex underneath the stereotypes, so I am curious to read other work from this author, even as this one feels kind of hit-and-miss. #tob25

BkClubCare Longish or just thickly intense?! Yeah, I too gave it a so-so but also glad that I attempted it. If that makes sense. So cringey.😬 1w
ImperfectCJ @BkClubCare Main Character was longish, I think. Others just kind of felt long. I liked the first three stories, though. 1w
51 likes2 comments
review
cariashley
Rejection: Fiction | Tony Tulathimutte
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Pickpick

Excellent linked stories and a satisfyingly meta experience. It‘s really smartly done, though some of the stories went really over the top, but that was clearly the point. Highly recommend the audio (but make sure to use earbuds or your family may question your reading habits!). Book 4 of #tob25 done - I have a long way to go but am excited to participate this year after skipping last year!

BarbaraBB Glad you‘re into the ToB again! And glad you liked this one, I didn‘t very much 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1mo
cariashley @BarbaraBB I honestly went back and forth while reading/listening to it, and liked the beginning and end much more than the middle. Overall I probably respected it more than liked it! 1mo
squirrelbrain I‘ve pre-ordered this one in print, as it‘s not out here yet. I decided not to do audio as I don‘t like that kind of subject matter on audio - it‘s somehow more cringeworthy/ embarrassing.😳 1mo
See All 6 Comments
cariashley @squirrelbrain that‘s smart. If I hadn‘t liked the various narrators so much, the content in this one would have been better in print. Super cringey. 1mo
Larkken I always have a time trying to decide which on the Tob list I should/can audio. 1mo
cariashley @Larkken me too! I struggle with it outside of the TOB too but given I always have a big hill to climb to get through the full shortlist once it‘s announced, it creates even more pressure! 1mo
47 likes6 comments
quote
BkClubCare
Rejection: Fiction | Tony Tulathimutte
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I am trying to DNF this extremely interesting, sex-heavy, weird and kinda icky book. #sigh
Connected short stories? Or thematically-related, I cannot say. But UNCOMFORTABLE comes to mind readily.

#Dec2024 Book 118
“… affirmations to the sky full blast: I am ill! I am chill! I am phat! I am fly! I am clutch! I am fetch! I am based! I am bae! I am slae! I am cray!…”

(Prefer Mrs. Nash: I am a delight.) IF you read this, eBook is best 👇

BkClubCare because then you can more easily check back for how these connect. Imo 1mo
fredthemoose I recently finished this one and was texting my sister about it being wacky 1mo
BkClubCare @fredthemoose - definitely outside my typical fare 1mo
BarbaraBB Uncomfortable indeed. I dnf some of the stories. 1mo
33 likes1 stack add5 comments
blurb
BkClubCare
Rejection: Fiction | Tony Tulathimutte
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A foggy frosty drive home from Nebraska but we are warming up as we travel southward. Started this last night for #ToBshortlist; was NOT aware it is a story collection (or forgot) and yowza! That first one is scary/unsettling. Not at all festively holiday-themed LOL but I did encounter a pie reference, so there‘s that.

squirrelbrain This doesn‘t come out here until mid-Feb but I was gifted vouchers for Christmas so will pre-order it, in time to read before the Tournament. Safe rest of your trip! 1mo
BkClubCare @squirrelbrain - thank you! Happy Holidays! I have full intention of being a Completist this year, and might even have time reread a few I didn‘t fully “get” (All Fours) 1mo
squirrelbrain Happy Holidays to you too! I‘m hoping to be a completist too, although there are 3 not out yet in the UK. I‘m also reading as much of the #ToBlonglist as I like the look of but there‘s a few on there I don‘t fancy. Currently reading Cuckoo and just started an ARC of Model Home. 1mo
BkClubCare @squirrelbrain - yes, I am enjoying ALL your reviews. I have kept Model Home on my library holds but canceled a LOT. Best to both of us, ALL of us ToB readers 1mo
tpixie Merry Christmas 🎄📘🎁 1mo
46 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
fredthemoose
Rejection: Fiction | Tony Tulathimutte
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 What a trip… Separate short stories of rejection (feminist dudebro no women want to sleep with, woman romantically obsessed with a friend, etc.) that veer into the very explicit, and then into someone creating an online bot universe? Finishes with a “rejection letter” to the author about the book‘s flaws. I liked some, some went maybe farther than necessary, and the end got too navel-gazey for me. Soft/equivocal pick. #ToB25 #Tob2025

review
Chelsea.Poole
Rejection: Fiction | Tony Tulathimutte
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Pickpick

This book keeps popping up in best of the year lists. I was dreading reading it because it‘s a collection of stories. But I have FOMO on these lists and knew I‘d be forcing myself to read it. HOWEVER! I‘m shocked to say this was a total winner for me! Loved the original concept and vivid characters. The connected stories were just enough to carry on the thread but still be completely unique. Cringy but thought provoking. I accept “Rejection”! ⬇️

Chelsea.Poole Bonus as it‘s also on the #tob25 longlist. Really worked for me! 2mo
BarbaraBB Glad you liked it. I did too, the first few stories. Later on I didn‘t any longer 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2mo
Lesliereadsalot I‘m not that crazy about short stories either, but will give it a try. I do like ones that connect. 2mo
Clare-Dragonfly How wonderful when a book is a pleasant surprise! 2mo
69 likes3 stack adds4 comments
review
Hooked_on_books
Rejection: Fiction | Tony Tulathimutte
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Pickpick

This collection of connected short stories is a bit of a doozy. It‘s by turns gross, funny, disturbing, and thought-provoking, sometimes all in one story. There are parts of it I didn‘t like, but ultimately I think it‘s incredibly creative and unique and I expect it to stick with me.

NBA longlist, fiction

BarbaraBB Great review. I agree with you mostly yet thought the first stories were better than the latter so when I finished I ended up being a bit underwhelmed 4mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 4mo
45 likes2 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Rejection: Fiction | Tony Tulathimutte
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Mehso-so

This book contains loosely connected stories, all of them about people who‘ve been rejected in one way or another.
I enjoyed some a lot, some less. Be prepared for very explicit sex, going on for pages and pages, and some extreme bullying.
So it‘s not an easy or very pleasant book but it‘s written very well. I hope it‘s fiction - as it states on the cover.

TrishB Great review- don‘t think it‘s going top of the list! 4mo
sarahbarnes That does sound like a tough read. Great photo though. 😊 4mo
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Thanks 🩷 4mo
See All 6 Comments
squirrelbrain Doesn‘t sound like my kind of book…. 🤷‍♀️ 4mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain No it isn‘t I think. 4mo
Suet624 Ugh. 4mo
57 likes1 stack add6 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
Rejection: Fiction | Tony Tulathimutte
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#WeeklyForecast 40/24

I just started a book from Percival Everett‘s backlist and it has drawn me in immediately, as usual.
Next will be either the tagged one, from the NBA longlist, or Irena Rey, which I have been interested in ever since it was longlisted for #CampLitsy24.

Ruthiella I admire your focus when reading a favorite author‘s backlist. 😃 4mo
squirrelbrain I keep considering reading Irena Rey, then getting sidetracked…. 🤷‍♀️ 4mo
BarbaraBB @Ruthiella I am always so happy to find a new author I love lol! 4mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Yes me too! Hopefully this week! 4mo
65 likes4 comments
blurb
Rhondareads
Rejection: Fiction | Tony Tulathimutte
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Short story writing at its best.

13 likes1 stack add