Overview

In Fake Accounts, we follow a young woman living in New York who discovers that her boyfriend is running a secret online persona linked to conspiracy culture. This revelation cracks open their relationship and pushes her to question her own online habits and sense of self. After the breakup, she moves to Berlin, drifting through work, friendships and digital spaces while trying to understand what is real, what is performed, and where she fits in a world shaped by the internet.

Writing & Voice

The voice is sharp, dry and very aware of itself. We found the writing funny in a quiet, cutting way, especially when it looks at social media, dating and work culture. The narrator’s thoughts move quickly, often jumping between observation, judgement and self doubt. This suits the subject well, though it can feel cool and distant at times.

Characters

The narrator is the clear centre of the novel. She is thoughtful, critical and often unsure, which makes her believable even when she is difficult. Her boyfriend’s online identity acts as a contrast to her own careful self image. Other characters, especially those she meets in Berlin, feel more like background figures, there to reflect ideas rather than develop fully.

Themes

This book looks closely at how people shape themselves online and what that does to real relationships. It explores identity, performance, loneliness and the pressure to appear informed and detached. We also see how easy it is to lose sincerity when every thought feels like it might become content.

What Worked

• Clear satire – The book captures internet culture with precision and humour.
• Strong sense of time – It feels rooted in a very specific digital moment.
• Confident voice – The narrator’s tone carries the novel.

Minor Quibbles

• The emotional impact can feel muted beneath the social commentary.
• Some sections feel more like essays than scenes.

Final Thoughts

We found Fake Accounts to be smart, unsettling and often funny, offering a clear eyed look at how online life shapes who we think we are.

Rating: ★★★★☆ / 5