↓ Similar Reads ↓

After attending a reunion dinner with old friends, the recently engaged Lola runs into an ex she hasn’t seen in years. The next night, she finds herself face to face with another…and then another. What seems a coincidence proves to be a purposeful experiment, and Lola is its subject. The perpetrators are members of a contemporary cult, but “not in the traditional sense,” using mystical meditation and submissive messages to force Lola’s exes into her path. As she struggles to maintain her current relationship, Lola roams Chinatown to confront her romantic ghosts. 

If you were in Lola’s shoes, what would you do?

This book isn’t on my “Similar Reads” list, but Lola reminds me of Casey Han, the protagonist in Min Jin Lee’s debut novel Free Food for Millionaires. Much like Casey, Lola is very flawed and, because this is never hidden from the reader, her vulnerability and frankness makes her so likable. Lola’s tendency to relive past relationships and versions of herself is incredibly relatable! I loved every time Lola reflected on the ways human culture has (d)evolved. She is wickedly funny and cynical, and she has become one of my favorite characters.

To speak on the plot, the narrative structure had me on my toes at so many moments. The stakes just kept getting higher, and the mystery behind this non-cult cult became ever more knotted. Admittedly, I entered this novel more blind than I thought I had, but I enjoyed every single surprise. This story also led me to reflect on my own past experiences, some cringier than others, and the books that move you, truly affect your thoughts and actions, prove that literature can be extremely powerful. 

I also have to comment on Clive, a secondary character who maintains a certain ominous presence across the entire novel. The power he wields, which Lola warns us about, seeps into every part of the story. It starts from the Prologue and continues all the way to the final page. He is a fascinatingly aloof character.

Sloane Crosley has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Cult Classic will not be leaving my mind any time soon. That is, until I can pick up another of Crosley’s titles.