Bracing, darkly funny, and deeply felt.
In Wang’s blistering debut, a queer millennial’s search for freedom spirals into chaos, fame, and a murder charge. When Pete Chan, a self-aware and pop-savvy Chinese American in his late twenties, impulsively quits his corporate job and dumps his artist boyfriend Toby, he’s chasing reinvention. But when a latte-throwing incident at his barista gig goes viral, he becomes internet-famous overnight. Frankie, a sharp-tongued troll, becomes Pete’s most relentless critic, and unexpected romantic entanglement. But just as things begin to shift, Toby is found dead, and Pete is arrested for murder. His only alibi? Frankie, the hater he blocked.
Wang’s prose is razor-sharp, blending biting cultural critique with raw emotional undercurrents. Equal parts bratty, wounded, and brilliant, Pete’s voice carries the novel with confessional energy. As Pete tries to prove his innocence, Wang carefully builds a layered mystery, not just of who killed Toby, but of who Pete is beneath the posturing. Throughout, the novel examines digital identity, queer longing, and the disconnect between the curated self and the lived self.
A savage, smart, and emotionally layered novel about visibility, shame, and what it means to be truly known.
Books in Color
Pub date September 9, 2025
ISBN 978-1069506412
Price $14.99 (USD) Paperback, $5.99 Kindle edition
