Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well in this heat wave. In some recent news, I turned 30! It feels a bit weird to say out loud, but it’s exciting. I thought about doing a post about 30 books everyone must read, or something like that. I, however, decided to simply enjoy the day. With all of that being said, I have another review for you. Let’s talk about If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant For You.

Content Warning: Some Strong Language, Sexual Content, Substance Use, Mental Health Crisis

Dayna Lev is having the worst day. Her entire life is turned upside down when she finds out her boyfriend wants to break up with her via a Reddit post. With nothing to lose, she decides to take up an offer with an old friend. She would become a content manager for young influencers at an up-and-coming hype house that was formerly a Hollywood landmark. Dayna sees the potential to turn this crumbling manor full of twenty-somethings into a spectacle. The house, though, is missing one key component. Becca Chambers, a tarot influencer, disappeared after posting a cryptic message. Dayna is not the only one interested in finding Becca. Nineteen-year-old Olivia is a burgeoning influencer and one of Becca’s biggest fans. Dayna and Olivia dig through the secrets of the house and its occupants (past and present) to find out what happened to Becca.

Typically, I am hesitant to read books that heavily feature social media in the narrative. Books like those tend to feel dated before you even finish reading them. If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant For You is not like that at all. It feels refreshing in a time when everyone is trying to make their novels as specific to the modern age as possible. Leigh Stein brilliantly explores the dangers of making one’s life available to the public, whether that be through traditional media or social media. While platforms like TikTok and Instagram play a role in the novel, those don’t distract from the atmosphere that Stein has created. The Gothic influences are undeniably present. I saw glimpses of Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, and Perkins-Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, among other notable works. Everything from the past and present blended together seamlessly in this endlessly interesting depiction of the state of social media. I was genuinely surprised and satisfied by this novel. I am certainly going to recommend If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant For You.