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Fruit Fly
Anyone can write a bestseller. Here’s how:
GO GAY
It’s been seven years since Mallory shot to fame as a literary sensation. But after years of struggling with writer’s block, she’s desperate to resurrect her career before it spirals into obscurity. She needs inspiration to strike – and fast.
GO SAD
Enter a young struggling addict sleeping under bridges and trading sex for survival. He’s vulnerable. He’s enigmatic. He’s exactly what Mallory has been looking for.
GO DARK
Mallory needs Leo if she wants another bestseller. Authenticity sells, and there’s nothing more authentic than real life. She’s the perfect person to tell Leo’s story. Gay, sad, dark – just what the world needs right now. But as secrets threaten to unravel more than just her career, Mallory must just how far will she go to pen the perfect story?
GO GAY
It’s been seven years since Mallory shot to fame as a literary sensation. But after years of struggling with writer’s block, she’s desperate to resurrect her career before it spirals into obscurity. She needs inspiration to strike – and fast.
GO SAD
Enter a young struggling addict sleeping under bridges and trading sex for survival. He’s vulnerable. He’s enigmatic. He’s exactly what Mallory has been looking for.
GO DARK
Mallory needs Leo if she wants another bestseller. Authenticity sells, and there’s nothing more authentic than real life. She’s the perfect person to tell Leo’s story. Gay, sad, dark – just what the world needs right now. But as secrets threaten to unravel more than just her career, Mallory must just how far will she go to pen the perfect story?
476 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 663 reviews
April 25, 2026
”Virginia Woolf would have loved Grindr.”
What a sharp, witty, and scathing commentary on the commodification of ‘sad gay’ stories, & who gets to write and profit from them most of the time.
By far one of the more unique books I’ve read in a while, I could barely put it down & was completely engrossed from start to finish. Also, loved the ending, didn’t expect that last few pages!! Truly recommend picking this one up. I’m excited to see what Silver comes up with next.
What a sharp, witty, and scathing commentary on the commodification of ‘sad gay’ stories, & who gets to write and profit from them most of the time.
By far one of the more unique books I’ve read in a while, I could barely put it down & was completely engrossed from start to finish. Also, loved the ending, didn’t expect that last few pages!! Truly recommend picking this one up. I’m excited to see what Silver comes up with next.
April 22, 2026
*A Little Life has left the chat*
June 10, 2026
alors là je suis choqué what a ride
June 18, 2026
2.5 stars🌟
*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley Read Now Section. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This doesn't affect my opinion, rating or review. Quotes may be subject to change.
See my Spotify Book Playlist here- https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1oj...
Content/Trigger Warnings: **may contain ‘spoilers’**, anxiety, anxiety attacks, blackouts, addiction, assault, abuse, abusive parents, domestic abuse, homophobia, hallucinations, swearing, substance addiction, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, sexual assault, stalking, on page gang-rape, mental illnesses, mentions of former psychiatric admission (These were all I noted, but there is no guarantee that I haven't missed anything. This is also a very heavy book, which is why I am not tagging these as ‘spoilers’, so please take care while reading. Mention and discussion of these in the review.)
I was intrigued by Fruit Fly from the moment I read the description, and when I saw it was available on NetGalley Read Now I downloaded and read it instantly. The first 30 pages of the book were absolutely fantastic, and had me convinced that this would not only be a 5 star read, but also be a new all time favourite. Unfortunately, as the book progressed, it turned out to be a disappointment for me.
THE PLOT
Former famous bestselling author Mallory has been stuck in a “writer's block” for years. Desperate to resurrect her career, she decides to follow Reddit's simple advice “Go gay. Gay sells.” But as Mallory meets Leo, a gay man struggling with addiction and mental illnesses, the question arises, how far is she willing to go for the perfect story?
MY THOUGHTS
Fruit Fly had an interesting concept. The underlying messaging, of who gets to write stories of marginalised people, and “who gets to profit off them” is definitely a conversation worth having. The first 30 pages in particular, are very well written. However for me, the book goes downhill from there. Many readers are calling this the “gay Yellowface”, and while I do see the resemblance, I don't feel this goes hard enough on any of its messaging. I loved Yellowface to the point of giving it 5 stars, and yet I found that too to be lacking in certain aspects of its social commentary, and Fruit Fly is even more so. (Also this is dual POV, unlike that one, just a heads up!)
I get that this book is meant to be a satire with mystery/thriller vibes. And it worked, at first. Mallory being the “clueless straight women” venturing into the “gay world” made for an amusing start, in contrast to the darker tone the book set up with Leo's POV. But there's only so much of that one can take, before it eventually gets boring.
It did not help that to me, the characters were almost caricatures, in the sense that they read “two-dimentional”, there was a lack of emotional depth. Without spoiling too much, both these characters go through their own journeys of struggle, except neither feels “authentic” enough. There is just this major lack of connection or even feeling towards either of them. I saw another review (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) saying that Leo reads like the character Liam that Mallory wrote, and not like his own person, and I completely agree. Now, before you argue that was the point of the book, or the intention with this choice, if that was the case, it did not do a good enough job, and to be very blunt, I do not think it was smartly written enough for that kind of a full circle impact. I do think certain aspects like Leo's addiction was written well enough, and the abuse Mallory faces was actually almost terrifying to read. But ultimately, I was left wanting more. Also this was filled with so many pop culture references that just did not work for me.
My other complaint is the length. This book was too long for the story it was trying to tell. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that topics or themes like this don't warrant a long book, just that this one in particular would have been a way better novella. I feel the longer the pages, the more this just dragged, with one bad event after the other happening to the characters. And I do not mind dark stories, but at a certain point, as harsh as it's going to sound, I just felt that there was almost no reason for this trauma, because we don't see enough of the healing, and most of the “development” of these fictional characters happens off page. And look, again, I am not saying that people shouldn't have trauma represented in fiction or that darker stories shouldn't exist as they are. All I am saying is that all the events of this book could have had the same, and even better impact if this was like 160 pages. If anything it would have made for a very sharp read. Unfortunately, I think many readers are going to get bored of this story post 20% and not complete it.
Another small gripe I have is I do not quite get this Book Title. Maybe there is something that I missed, but why is Fruit Fly called Fruit Fly? (Edit 5/6/26: The lovely Ash told me that 'Fruit Fly' is a word used for straight women fetishisising gay men. That makes the title make a lot of sense, its actually quite clever! Though i wish the book incorporates a mention of this in the Author's Note or something. Ofc not the responsibility of the author to educate, but this would be missed by many and adds a lot to the book! Also makes the Yellowface comparisons make more sense. I am changing my rating from 2 star to 2.5 star bec of this additional context.)
However, it was not an awful book, and I have read way worse. The writing was pretty good. I also somewhat liked the ending, but I think many people will not.
Overall, Fruit Fly did not quite work for me, but I do appreciate this book for making me have enough thoughts to write such a long review (it's been a while!) AND making a book playlist. I do think a niche audience is going to love and resonate with this story, as I am seeing with the reviews, so don't let me discourage you from reading it. And of course this is just my opinion, and if you like the book good for you, but please don't start being rude in my comments, you will be blocked. I am definitely going to read more from this author, and even would read a sequel to this one, as long as it's shorter in length.
Now, onto the next!
#Book 65 of 2026
#Book 3 for Pride Month June 2026- Rep: Gay MC
Review written on 3rd June, 2026.
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite
*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley Read Now Section. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This doesn't affect my opinion, rating or review. Quotes may be subject to change.
“Virginia Woolf would have loved Grindr.”
See my Spotify Book Playlist here- https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1oj...
Content/Trigger Warnings: **may contain ‘spoilers’**, anxiety, anxiety attacks, blackouts, addiction, assault, abuse, abusive parents, domestic abuse, homophobia, hallucinations, swearing, substance addiction, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, sexual assault, stalking, on page gang-rape, mental illnesses, mentions of former psychiatric admission (These were all I noted, but there is no guarantee that I haven't missed anything. This is also a very heavy book, which is why I am not tagging these as ‘spoilers’, so please take care while reading. Mention and discussion of these in the review.)
I was intrigued by Fruit Fly from the moment I read the description, and when I saw it was available on NetGalley Read Now I downloaded and read it instantly. The first 30 pages of the book were absolutely fantastic, and had me convinced that this would not only be a 5 star read, but also be a new all time favourite. Unfortunately, as the book progressed, it turned out to be a disappointment for me.
THE PLOT
Former famous bestselling author Mallory has been stuck in a “writer's block” for years. Desperate to resurrect her career, she decides to follow Reddit's simple advice “Go gay. Gay sells.” But as Mallory meets Leo, a gay man struggling with addiction and mental illnesses, the question arises, how far is she willing to go for the perfect story?
MY THOUGHTS
Fruit Fly had an interesting concept. The underlying messaging, of who gets to write stories of marginalised people, and “who gets to profit off them” is definitely a conversation worth having. The first 30 pages in particular, are very well written. However for me, the book goes downhill from there. Many readers are calling this the “gay Yellowface”, and while I do see the resemblance, I don't feel this goes hard enough on any of its messaging. I loved Yellowface to the point of giving it 5 stars, and yet I found that too to be lacking in certain aspects of its social commentary, and Fruit Fly is even more so. (Also this is dual POV, unlike that one, just a heads up!)
I get that this book is meant to be a satire with mystery/thriller vibes. And it worked, at first. Mallory being the “clueless straight women” venturing into the “gay world” made for an amusing start, in contrast to the darker tone the book set up with Leo's POV. But there's only so much of that one can take, before it eventually gets boring.
It did not help that to me, the characters were almost caricatures, in the sense that they read “two-dimentional”, there was a lack of emotional depth. Without spoiling too much, both these characters go through their own journeys of struggle, except neither feels “authentic” enough. There is just this major lack of connection or even feeling towards either of them. I saw another review (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) saying that Leo reads like the character Liam that Mallory wrote, and not like his own person, and I completely agree. Now, before you argue that was the point of the book, or the intention with this choice, if that was the case, it did not do a good enough job, and to be very blunt, I do not think it was smartly written enough for that kind of a full circle impact. I do think certain aspects like Leo's addiction was written well enough, and the abuse Mallory faces was actually almost terrifying to read. But ultimately, I was left wanting more. Also this was filled with so many pop culture references that just did not work for me.
My other complaint is the length. This book was too long for the story it was trying to tell. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that topics or themes like this don't warrant a long book, just that this one in particular would have been a way better novella. I feel the longer the pages, the more this just dragged, with one bad event after the other happening to the characters. And I do not mind dark stories, but at a certain point, as harsh as it's going to sound, I just felt that there was almost no reason for this trauma, because we don't see enough of the healing, and most of the “development” of these fictional characters happens off page. And look, again, I am not saying that people shouldn't have trauma represented in fiction or that darker stories shouldn't exist as they are. All I am saying is that all the events of this book could have had the same, and even better impact if this was like 160 pages. If anything it would have made for a very sharp read. Unfortunately, I think many readers are going to get bored of this story post 20% and not complete it.
Another small gripe I have is I do not quite get this Book Title. Maybe there is something that I missed, but why is Fruit Fly called Fruit Fly? (Edit 5/6/26: The lovely Ash told me that 'Fruit Fly' is a word used for straight women fetishisising gay men. That makes the title make a lot of sense, its actually quite clever! Though i wish the book incorporates a mention of this in the Author's Note or something. Ofc not the responsibility of the author to educate, but this would be missed by many and adds a lot to the book! Also makes the Yellowface comparisons make more sense. I am changing my rating from 2 star to 2.5 star bec of this additional context.)
However, it was not an awful book, and I have read way worse. The writing was pretty good. I also somewhat liked the ending, but I think many people will not.
Overall, Fruit Fly did not quite work for me, but I do appreciate this book for making me have enough thoughts to write such a long review (it's been a while!) AND making a book playlist. I do think a niche audience is going to love and resonate with this story, as I am seeing with the reviews, so don't let me discourage you from reading it. And of course this is just my opinion, and if you like the book good for you, but please don't start being rude in my comments, you will be blocked. I am definitely going to read more from this author, and even would read a sequel to this one, as long as it's shorter in length.
Now, onto the next!
“We're all the same, he keeps saying. Inside we're all the very same.”
#Book 65 of 2026
#Book 3 for Pride Month June 2026- Rep: Gay MC
Review written on 3rd June, 2026.
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite
January 25, 2026
This has completely and utterly blown me away. I’ve been a fan of Josh since his debut, HappyHead was released a few years ago and have read everything he’s written with fevered excitement. Ever since Fruit Fly was announced I’ve been dying to read it so much so that the moment I was approved for an earc I started reading it straight away.
Quite frankly, it’s a stunning book. It flips between comical, to creepy, to sad, to hopeful, to totally bonkers and back again. The plot is handled with such care and skill, I could not stop reading, desperate to find out what would happen next.
I really enjoyed Mal and the unravelling of her life. I loved Leo and his struggle to try and sort his life out.
Honestly this book has to be read and appreciated. My words just do not cut it but Josh Silver’s most certainly do. I wish I could scoop this book out of my brain so that I could read it again for the first time!
Thank you to NetGalley and Magpie for my earc!
Quite frankly, it’s a stunning book. It flips between comical, to creepy, to sad, to hopeful, to totally bonkers and back again. The plot is handled with such care and skill, I could not stop reading, desperate to find out what would happen next.
I really enjoyed Mal and the unravelling of her life. I loved Leo and his struggle to try and sort his life out.
Honestly this book has to be read and appreciated. My words just do not cut it but Josh Silver’s most certainly do. I wish I could scoop this book out of my brain so that I could read it again for the first time!
Thank you to NetGalley and Magpie for my earc!
June 2, 2026
May need a palate cleanser to recalibrate my nervous system because this book has been flooding my body with cortisol for DAYS.
The most tense and uncomfortable I have felt while reading a book in YEARS.
Fruit Fly is a biting satire centered on cultural appropriation and authenticity. There is so much commentary on the way that people use the trauma of others to benefit themselves. And we need that discourse right now.
This was a masterclass in chaos. A twisty plot that knows how to maintain its pacing coupled with the inclusion of moments that feel smaller and profound gives us an end result with a great balance.
Not only is the tension palpable and dialed up to 10, but there is a lot of complex emotional material and so many heavy moments that are thrown at you — all of which leaves you in a state of perpetual anxiety.
While reading the book, I found myself thinking about it throughout the day, looking forward to being able to pick it back up to see what would happen.
I love that Mallory and Leo are morally grey characters. In theory, they aren’t that likable. But they are given so much nuance and context that you build genuine empathy for them, while still questioning their choices and audibly groaning at many of them.
People love to throw the word “gaslighting” around, but this was a genuine exploration into the actuality of it. I haven’t disliked a character as much as Ronan in ages.
Finally … That ending. I had no clue where Josh Silver was going to take it, and the route that he ended up taking? I’m speechless. The final page gave me absolute CHILLS. I was left with my jaw on the floor. It was brilliant.
Enormous thank you to NetGalley for the eARC — I’ve seen rave reviews for the book everywhere online, and I’ve been wanting to read it so bad — beyond happy I don’t have to wait until the US release.
Fruit Fly is what the book space needs right now. I absolutely LOVE seeing all the praise it’s been getting, because it is well-deserved.
The most tense and uncomfortable I have felt while reading a book in YEARS.
Fruit Fly is a biting satire centered on cultural appropriation and authenticity. There is so much commentary on the way that people use the trauma of others to benefit themselves. And we need that discourse right now.
This was a masterclass in chaos. A twisty plot that knows how to maintain its pacing coupled with the inclusion of moments that feel smaller and profound gives us an end result with a great balance.
Not only is the tension palpable and dialed up to 10, but there is a lot of complex emotional material and so many heavy moments that are thrown at you — all of which leaves you in a state of perpetual anxiety.
While reading the book, I found myself thinking about it throughout the day, looking forward to being able to pick it back up to see what would happen.
I love that Mallory and Leo are morally grey characters. In theory, they aren’t that likable. But they are given so much nuance and context that you build genuine empathy for them, while still questioning their choices and audibly groaning at many of them.
People love to throw the word “gaslighting” around, but this was a genuine exploration into the actuality of it. I haven’t disliked a character as much as Ronan in ages.
Finally … That ending. I had no clue where Josh Silver was going to take it, and the route that he ended up taking? I’m speechless. The final page gave me absolute CHILLS. I was left with my jaw on the floor. It was brilliant.
Enormous thank you to NetGalley for the eARC — I’ve seen rave reviews for the book everywhere online, and I’ve been wanting to read it so bad — beyond happy I don’t have to wait until the US release.
Fruit Fly is what the book space needs right now. I absolutely LOVE seeing all the praise it’s been getting, because it is well-deserved.
April 27, 2026
4.5⭐️ - An absolute banger. It leans hard into grief, queerness and dark themes, so obviously I was sold straight away!
We follow Mallory, who used to be a bestselling author, but now she’s stuck, completely drained of ideas and feeling the pressure to deliver something new. When she’s basically told to "go gay, go sad, go dark" to stay relevant, she runs with it, deciding to follow Leo, a gay, drug-addicted sex worker living on the streets, and use his life as the foundation for her next book.
The dual POV works so well because you’re getting both sides of this in real time. Mallory, spiralling and justifying her choices, and Leo, dealing with very real, very heavy circumstances.
The book digs into exploitation, identity, addiction, and that whole "people will consume anything if it’s tragic enough" mindset. I love how it calls out the industry’s obsession with turning real suffering into something marketable, and the imbalance between the people telling those stories and the ones living them. It sounds heavy (and it is), but it’s also weirdly funny in places. The humour is a bit unhinged, a bit cringe, but very self-aware.
Also… Ronan (Mallory's husband). Absolutely not. I don’t think I’ve disliked a character that quickly in a while, and somehow he just kept getting worse. Every scene with him had me wanting to give him a knuckle sandwich.
This isn’t a light read at all. It’s pretty unhinged and deals with some dark topics, so definitely check content warnings if you need to. But if you like books that really commit to their themes and aren’t afraid to go there, this one is worth it. It’s also one of the more unique things I’ve read in a while.
A huge thank you to Bolinda Audio and Libro.fm for the ALC!
We follow Mallory, who used to be a bestselling author, but now she’s stuck, completely drained of ideas and feeling the pressure to deliver something new. When she’s basically told to "go gay, go sad, go dark" to stay relevant, she runs with it, deciding to follow Leo, a gay, drug-addicted sex worker living on the streets, and use his life as the foundation for her next book.
The dual POV works so well because you’re getting both sides of this in real time. Mallory, spiralling and justifying her choices, and Leo, dealing with very real, very heavy circumstances.
The book digs into exploitation, identity, addiction, and that whole "people will consume anything if it’s tragic enough" mindset. I love how it calls out the industry’s obsession with turning real suffering into something marketable, and the imbalance between the people telling those stories and the ones living them. It sounds heavy (and it is), but it’s also weirdly funny in places. The humour is a bit unhinged, a bit cringe, but very self-aware.
Also… Ronan (Mallory's husband). Absolutely not. I don’t think I’ve disliked a character that quickly in a while, and somehow he just kept getting worse. Every scene with him had me wanting to give him a knuckle sandwich.
This isn’t a light read at all. It’s pretty unhinged and deals with some dark topics, so definitely check content warnings if you need to. But if you like books that really commit to their themes and aren’t afraid to go there, this one is worth it. It’s also one of the more unique things I’ve read in a while.
A huge thank you to Bolinda Audio and Libro.fm for the ALC!
April 26, 2026
woweeeee what a banger
Did Not Finish
June 15, 2026not for me.
the biggest issue is mallory, the main chick. i already hate her obnoxious self from paragraph one and u expect me to bear with this twat the entire book?
there is definitely a way to write an anti-hero without making them mind-numbingly obnoxious, but i doubt this book knows the difference.
the biggest issue is mallory, the main chick. i already hate her obnoxious self from paragraph one and u expect me to bear with this twat the entire book?
there is definitely a way to write an anti-hero without making them mind-numbingly obnoxious, but i doubt this book knows the difference.
June 11, 2026
really cool and bingeable book! meta thrillers revolving around authors/publishing are trendy lately but this one was a little different - reminded me of best offer wins. it’s mostly satirical but it does have heavy and graphic scenes based around addiction, quite a dark book
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a fantastic read. I've read all of Josh Silver's other books and loved them all; I wasn't sure how i was going to enjoy this one given that it's his first adult book and the subject matter isn't something I would normally be drawn to. But it's Josh Silver so I had to.
I loved this book; the obsession, the sickness, the gaslighting. And honestly, Mal blasting through her novel made me want to start writing again.
Spoilers Below
What a fantastic read. I've read all of Josh Silver's other books and loved them all; I wasn't sure how i was going to enjoy this one given that it's his first adult book and the subject matter isn't something I would normally be drawn to. But it's Josh Silver so I had to.
I loved this book; the obsession, the sickness, the gaslighting. And honestly, Mal blasting through her novel made me want to start writing again.
Spoilers Below
May 14, 2026
book of the year. book. of. the. year.
March 24, 2026
#bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviews #ilovebooks #lovebooks #bookworm #bookaholic
Damn.. this is one of those books that you know that nothing you can write in a review will give this book the praise or recognition it deserves and I will attempt it:
Fruit Fly is the debut adult novel by Josh Silver. It’s described as a sharp, unsettling and darkly funny novel that delves into the ethics of storytelling and the hunger for relevance, but what they don’t tell you is how brutally raw, uncomfortable and tough this book is.
Mallory Maddox is the main character and narrator. She wrote a best-selling book seven years ago and has since been struggling with writer’s block. She’s desperate and determined to review her career at any cost and decides she needs a new angle. According to Mallory’s mind writing a best seller about a being a young gay man is what she needs to do. She just needs to experience it to be able to write authentically. The fact she’s a married heterosexual women doesn’t seem to faze her and so the story begins.
Leo is a young homeless addict who trades sex for drugs and when he inadvertently crosses paths with Mallory, both their lives are turned upside down for completely different reasons.
I’ve mentioned car-crash literature before, but this really takes it up to a new level. Mallory’s behaviour and actions border on insanity. She’s obsessed and unable to differentiate between reality and danger. She’s not a character you can easily warm to and hopefully not one you can relate to either, but she’s absolutely fascinating. At times I wanted to stop reading as her behaviour spiralled and I just couldn’t stomach what she was about to do next.
Leo’s character made me want to cry and grab him tight. His addictions and self-destructive behaviour was heart-breaking. As a mother I just wanted to reach into the pages and tell him he was worth so much more and he was loved.
Just to wrap this up: It’s BOLD, it’s DARK, it’s ORIGINAL, it’s HEART-BREAKING, it’s BRUTALLY RAW and absolutely unputdownable.,
Blimey, for someone who said she didn’t have much to say, I obviously did.
Damn.. this is one of those books that you know that nothing you can write in a review will give this book the praise or recognition it deserves and I will attempt it:
Fruit Fly is the debut adult novel by Josh Silver. It’s described as a sharp, unsettling and darkly funny novel that delves into the ethics of storytelling and the hunger for relevance, but what they don’t tell you is how brutally raw, uncomfortable and tough this book is.
Mallory Maddox is the main character and narrator. She wrote a best-selling book seven years ago and has since been struggling with writer’s block. She’s desperate and determined to review her career at any cost and decides she needs a new angle. According to Mallory’s mind writing a best seller about a being a young gay man is what she needs to do. She just needs to experience it to be able to write authentically. The fact she’s a married heterosexual women doesn’t seem to faze her and so the story begins.
Leo is a young homeless addict who trades sex for drugs and when he inadvertently crosses paths with Mallory, both their lives are turned upside down for completely different reasons.
I’ve mentioned car-crash literature before, but this really takes it up to a new level. Mallory’s behaviour and actions border on insanity. She’s obsessed and unable to differentiate between reality and danger. She’s not a character you can easily warm to and hopefully not one you can relate to either, but she’s absolutely fascinating. At times I wanted to stop reading as her behaviour spiralled and I just couldn’t stomach what she was about to do next.
Leo’s character made me want to cry and grab him tight. His addictions and self-destructive behaviour was heart-breaking. As a mother I just wanted to reach into the pages and tell him he was worth so much more and he was loved.
Just to wrap this up: It’s BOLD, it’s DARK, it’s ORIGINAL, it’s HEART-BREAKING, it’s BRUTALLY RAW and absolutely unputdownable.,
Blimey, for someone who said she didn’t have much to say, I obviously did.
March 27, 2026
Yellowface but make it for the gays!
My first Josh Silver book but not my last because I was blown away. Fruit Fly treads so many juxtaposing fine lines and never falters. Comical, unhinged, sad, hyper aware and that’s just scratching the surface. The ending is pitch perfect in my opinion, and I would love a sequel, because that’s how attached I got to the characters. The wonderful thing about Fruit Fly is just how sympathetic you feel to both Mal and Leo (or Mandy and Liam!!), especially Mal by the end. And wonderfully satirical about how the publishing industry uses and discards those under it and how that seeps into the characters dynamics. An easy 5 stars!!!!
My first Josh Silver book but not my last because I was blown away. Fruit Fly treads so many juxtaposing fine lines and never falters. Comical, unhinged, sad, hyper aware and that’s just scratching the surface. The ending is pitch perfect in my opinion, and I would love a sequel, because that’s how attached I got to the characters. The wonderful thing about Fruit Fly is just how sympathetic you feel to both Mal and Leo (or Mandy and Liam!!), especially Mal by the end. And wonderfully satirical about how the publishing industry uses and discards those under it and how that seeps into the characters dynamics. An easy 5 stars!!!!
June 12, 2026
Il faut qu'on parle de l'exploitation des vécus LGBT par des artistes hétéro, et ce livre m'a d'autant plus déçue qu'il m'avait fait croire qu'il y parviendrait et échoue à mon sens à le faire. Je ne parle même pas de la caractérisation pour le moins douteuse de cette héroïne qui ne sert globalement qu'à être 1) une conne (mais tellement, tellement conne que j'ai failli abandonner le livre dans ses premiers chapitres tant il m'était agaçant et aberrant que l'auteur la rende si débile) 2) une victime 3) une menteuse. Tout cela me semble un peu facile et vraiment finalement pas très utile dans cette conversation où, précisément, les gens qui font le plus de mal sont souvent ceux qui pensent avoir de bonnes intentions... et désolée, mais je suis toujours un peu sceptique quand une femme est dépeinte d'une telle façon par un écrivain homme, bref, "je ne parle même pas de", a-t-elle dit, mais elle vient d'en parler.
Ca se lit comme un scénario, et avec la même frustration, c'est-à-dire que c'est un squelette dont on attend longuement la chair jusqu'à comprendre qu'on n'aura droit qu'à ça. Fast-food ! Assez confondant de transparence, les effets sont tous profondément surjoués. Un concentré de dialogues explicites, expéditifs et attendus et certes très rapide à lire, mais qui n'apporte franchement pas grand-chose à la conversation tant les situations qui y sont décrites relèvent du grotesque, de la caricature et de la nourriture à divertissement plus qu'à une réelle analyse. Oui oui l'édition c'est cynique et horrible. On n'apprend rien. Je ne nierai pas avoir poussé un grand "QUOI" à deux ou trois reprises, et je peux en soi concevoir le rôle que peut jouer un roman "défouloir" dans nos communautés, mais je ne peux m'empêcher de trouver celui-ci particulièrement grossier dans ses effets.
Ca se lit comme un scénario, et avec la même frustration, c'est-à-dire que c'est un squelette dont on attend longuement la chair jusqu'à comprendre qu'on n'aura droit qu'à ça. Fast-food ! Assez confondant de transparence, les effets sont tous profondément surjoués. Un concentré de dialogues explicites, expéditifs et attendus et certes très rapide à lire, mais qui n'apporte franchement pas grand-chose à la conversation tant les situations qui y sont décrites relèvent du grotesque, de la caricature et de la nourriture à divertissement plus qu'à une réelle analyse. Oui oui l'édition c'est cynique et horrible. On n'apprend rien. Je ne nierai pas avoir poussé un grand "QUOI" à deux ou trois reprises, et je peux en soi concevoir le rôle que peut jouer un roman "défouloir" dans nos communautés, mais je ne peux m'empêcher de trouver celui-ci particulièrement grossier dans ses effets.
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May 20, 2026Unsure how to feel about this one…
Many mixed feelings which is why I haven’t given it a star rating. I can’t deny it’s a very enjoyable read for the most part but it is severely lacking on a craft level.
I did read this book in a day which means I was obviously engrossed in it. The premise did intrigue me greatly; a once bestselling author, Mallory, becomes infatuated with a young gay drug addict, Leo, and poses as a therapist in the hopes of stealing the details of his life and using them to write another hit. The Mallory chapters were my favourite. The writing on a prose level is quite incisive in them and has a nice flow to it, even if there are too many pop culture references for my liking (no one has been quite been able to beat Tony Tulathimutte when it comes to writing about pop culture and the internet). Mallory’s chapters are also funny, at least towards the start of the book, whereas Leo’s chapters are disjointed and abrasive. I understand this is the vibe the author is going for and the writing on addiction is incredibly vulnerable and honest, I just don’t think Silver is able to pull off the kind of prose he’s trying to write. It comes across as trying a little bit too hard to be edgy.
I kind of expected a mix of R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface and Percival Everett’s Erasure but gay, and that’s what this book is trying, but not succeeding, to do. I did like what this book had to say about heterosexual authors exploiting gay trauma for their own gains but that does take a back seat to other dramas unfolding which, although very engrossing, were not what I came to this book for. Other things (there’s a sub plot about Mallory’s controlling husband and her emotionally abusive mother) are given equal or more time and I can’t help but feel there’s a much better version of this book in here if some of it had maybe been chiselled away, (we could have lost a lot of the poems which don’t add much of anything really) especially in the last 50 or so pages when the book just won’t end. It’s far too long for its own good, at just over 400 pages. If it had been 300-350 it would be a much slicker and maybe more pointed reading experience.
Many mixed feelings which is why I haven’t given it a star rating. I can’t deny it’s a very enjoyable read for the most part but it is severely lacking on a craft level.
I did read this book in a day which means I was obviously engrossed in it. The premise did intrigue me greatly; a once bestselling author, Mallory, becomes infatuated with a young gay drug addict, Leo, and poses as a therapist in the hopes of stealing the details of his life and using them to write another hit. The Mallory chapters were my favourite. The writing on a prose level is quite incisive in them and has a nice flow to it, even if there are too many pop culture references for my liking (no one has been quite been able to beat Tony Tulathimutte when it comes to writing about pop culture and the internet). Mallory’s chapters are also funny, at least towards the start of the book, whereas Leo’s chapters are disjointed and abrasive. I understand this is the vibe the author is going for and the writing on addiction is incredibly vulnerable and honest, I just don’t think Silver is able to pull off the kind of prose he’s trying to write. It comes across as trying a little bit too hard to be edgy.
I kind of expected a mix of R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface and Percival Everett’s Erasure but gay, and that’s what this book is trying, but not succeeding, to do. I did like what this book had to say about heterosexual authors exploiting gay trauma for their own gains but that does take a back seat to other dramas unfolding which, although very engrossing, were not what I came to this book for. Other things (there’s a sub plot about Mallory’s controlling husband and her emotionally abusive mother) are given equal or more time and I can’t help but feel there’s a much better version of this book in here if some of it had maybe been chiselled away, (we could have lost a lot of the poems which don’t add much of anything really) especially in the last 50 or so pages when the book just won’t end. It’s far too long for its own good, at just over 400 pages. If it had been 300-350 it would be a much slicker and maybe more pointed reading experience.
May 24, 2026
Well, fuck. (Actual review after I calm DOWN)
—
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC. I was in actual despair when I read the premise and couldn’t have it immediately. But then I requested it and instantly: Yas, slay, read on queen. The best.
This was 5 stars for me, basically a perfect book, and probably my favorite read of 2026 so far.
I’m someone who enjoyed Yellowface (an obvious comp for this book), but what it lacked was in failing to give any agency to the protagonist’s “victim.” And that’s the huge point where this novel differs, to the point that I think Yellowface being a comp actually undersells this book. A lot. It might even make me go back and drop my rating for that book.
There is a LOT going on here. The books evolves from a very unserious bit of satire to a real-feeling ouroboros of a story. My head was constantly spinning at how all the pieces just continually came together so well. There are the obvious gay themes, but the book does a really good job of creating a multi-dimensional set of circumstances for both Mallory and Leo to endure that made them both rootable in their own ways despite being rather despicable, both.
Anytime the protagonist veered into a really unbelievable situation, she acknowledged it, and somehow ended up moving through it in a believable way. To the point that each scene almost felt inevitable, entirely convincing.
It’s hard to say a lot about this book because, well, you just need to read it. I want to read it again already.
I loved the length. MORE LONGER UNHINGED (bravery) BOOKS.
—
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC. I was in actual despair when I read the premise and couldn’t have it immediately. But then I requested it and instantly: Yas, slay, read on queen. The best.
This was 5 stars for me, basically a perfect book, and probably my favorite read of 2026 so far.
I’m someone who enjoyed Yellowface (an obvious comp for this book), but what it lacked was in failing to give any agency to the protagonist’s “victim.” And that’s the huge point where this novel differs, to the point that I think Yellowface being a comp actually undersells this book. A lot. It might even make me go back and drop my rating for that book.
There is a LOT going on here. The books evolves from a very unserious bit of satire to a real-feeling ouroboros of a story. My head was constantly spinning at how all the pieces just continually came together so well. There are the obvious gay themes, but the book does a really good job of creating a multi-dimensional set of circumstances for both Mallory and Leo to endure that made them both rootable in their own ways despite being rather despicable, both.
Anytime the protagonist veered into a really unbelievable situation, she acknowledged it, and somehow ended up moving through it in a believable way. To the point that each scene almost felt inevitable, entirely convincing.
It’s hard to say a lot about this book because, well, you just need to read it. I want to read it again already.
I loved the length. MORE LONGER UNHINGED (bravery) BOOKS.
June 7, 2026
None of this means anything. That’s the truth. Beneath it all, beneath everything we spend all our lives creating, are we all like this?
A one-hit-wonder author, Mallory, is desperate to escape her life and write another book. After she spontaneously downloads the gay dating app Grindr to do some research, she has a chance encounter with Leo, a young addict, looking for his next fix. What follows is a cat-and-mouse of obsession, exploitation and support.
I was sceptical at first but the novel really grew into itself over the course. The take on Leo is refreshing - there’s no tragic backstory, no narrative reason for why he turned out to become an addict. Sometimes, that happens. Now, Silver does not shy away from showing the dangers of chem sex and the exhaustion of addiction. Leo is mean and manipulative but he can’t help himself.
No worse, Mallory feeds into this with her need to dig deep into some sort of trauma to write her book about. It’s her perspective that took time to grow on me. As her domestic situation unfolds and we start to see the cracks, we can gauge similarities between Mal and Leo that make them end up gravitating towards eachother.
The bits I cared about least were the publishing ins and outs. The third act petered out slightly but found a resolution that was satisfying and created a nice narrative loop. While not entirely a fit, I would say Baby Reindeer on Netflix might pair well thematically with this book. Definite recommend. Breezed through it.
June 9, 2026
I’m not sure that a few words from me can do justice to this utterly compelling read which brilliantly ticks so many boxes for me..
Mallory is a writer with a successful novel under her belt. She has writers block..Her partner doesn’t help. (I found myself wishing extreme harm upon him)! She toys with “going Gay” as the theme for her next book, especially as it seemed to be the ‘in thing’ at that point in time. Then she meets Leo who becomes Liam in her book. A sex worker to fund his addictions, he becomes her inspiration, almost her alter ego. Fast paced, I gobbled up almost 500 pages here in no time at all.
For me the central theme is ‘control’, which comes in so many guises. If we buckle under it could cost us our freedom, creative vision and voice.
Massively recommended!
Mallory is a writer with a successful novel under her belt. She has writers block..Her partner doesn’t help. (I found myself wishing extreme harm upon him)! She toys with “going Gay” as the theme for her next book, especially as it seemed to be the ‘in thing’ at that point in time. Then she meets Leo who becomes Liam in her book. A sex worker to fund his addictions, he becomes her inspiration, almost her alter ego. Fast paced, I gobbled up almost 500 pages here in no time at all.
For me the central theme is ‘control’, which comes in so many guises. If we buckle under it could cost us our freedom, creative vision and voice.
Massively recommended!
June 4, 2026
Crazy. Rage inducing.
Everything yellowface tried to do but actually good.
Everything yellowface tried to do but actually good.
May 24, 2026
Absolutely unputdownable page turning fabulousness ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
May 23, 2026
"it fucking hurts.
all of it.
but at least i feel it."
incredible. incredible. incredible.
all of it.
but at least i feel it."
incredible. incredible. incredible.
June 11, 2026
Best novel I've read this year so far. Josh Silver is a masterful writer, handling the two quite different perspectives from which the novel is told with grandeur. I was hooked from page one and sold by page twenty – one of those cases where you just know this will be a book you'll love. The prose is easy to read, very funny, and contemporary in the best sense. More of this, please.
June 12, 2026
I think the comparisons to Yellowface do this book something of a disservice.
To me, it’s not ultimately about “who gets to tell what story” (even if that is the basic premise). That aspect is rather underexplored, underchallenged, and instead there’s a much more interesting take on exploitation, lack of empathy, how using the people around you to get ahead or just to get by leads to misery all around.
The thriller-y bits made it a brisk read, but I feel like it could have been more effective without them.
To me, it’s not ultimately about “who gets to tell what story” (even if that is the basic premise). That aspect is rather underexplored, underchallenged, and instead there’s a much more interesting take on exploitation, lack of empathy, how using the people around you to get ahead or just to get by leads to misery all around.
The thriller-y bits made it a brisk read, but I feel like it could have been more effective without them.
May 3, 2026
Wow, this was a really fantastic read and definitely one I would recommend. It was sad, suspenseful, deranged and humorous all in one.
It definitely touches on dark themes that deserve trigger warnings, but is written in such a modern witty way that I think they feel easy to manage and apply to the characters depth.
Both the main characters were portrayed extremely well and I seemed to be rooting for them and hating them at different times. I particularly loved Leo and as a Social Worker, was rolling with joy about how accurately he was portrayed; so selfish and manipulative in the throws of addiction, abuse and being houseless.
When I was reading the last 1/4, I wasn’t sure it was heading towards a resolution I was willing to accept. But the final chapter was bloody satisfying and cleverly pulled together the perfect resolution for such unhinged characters. I couldn’t imagine a better way to end our time following Leo and Mal.
Also add my fave bit from Leo:
I’m very much aware I’m not a special case, but something about the way they look at me does make me feel good. They like having people like me that they can talk about in the office, chatting about all the terrible shit that’s happened, looking through history notes, wanting to be the one who says the thing that changes my life. I can picture it: when they go home to their families. There’s this one patient - god, I hope he makes it. I feel like I made a breakthrough with him today. He’s only twenty-two.
Kinda gross that I like to think they’re doing that. But I think they are.
It definitely touches on dark themes that deserve trigger warnings, but is written in such a modern witty way that I think they feel easy to manage and apply to the characters depth.
Both the main characters were portrayed extremely well and I seemed to be rooting for them and hating them at different times. I particularly loved Leo and as a Social Worker, was rolling with joy about how accurately he was portrayed; so selfish and manipulative in the throws of addiction, abuse and being houseless.
When I was reading the last 1/4, I wasn’t sure it was heading towards a resolution I was willing to accept. But the final chapter was bloody satisfying and cleverly pulled together the perfect resolution for such unhinged characters. I couldn’t imagine a better way to end our time following Leo and Mal.
Also add my fave bit from Leo:
I’m very much aware I’m not a special case, but something about the way they look at me does make me feel good. They like having people like me that they can talk about in the office, chatting about all the terrible shit that’s happened, looking through history notes, wanting to be the one who says the thing that changes my life. I can picture it: when they go home to their families. There’s this one patient - god, I hope he makes it. I feel like I made a breakthrough with him today. He’s only twenty-two.
Kinda gross that I like to think they’re doing that. But I think they are.
December 10, 2025
I loved this book, I am so grateful that I had a chance to read it before it is officially released! Definitely one to grab when it is published!
June 1, 2026
Fruit Fly is the best book I’ve read in 2026. In fact, it might be one of the best books I’ve read in years.
From the very first page, I was hooked. Completely, helplessly hooked. The writing is sharp, the tone is immediately distinctive, and the two leads (Mal and Leo) are so flawed and yet frustratingly likeable that you can’t help but root for them. I even loved how much I hated Ronan. That’s a specific kind of literary achievement.
What surprised me most was the genre-blending. It’s so rare to find a genuine thriller that also manages to be funny, smutty and emotional all at once. Silver pulls it off with an ease that left me in awe so many times.
This is not a light read by any stretch. Domestic violence, sexual abuse, drug use and deep trauma all make appearances. But it’s handled with intention.
The plot twists are unlike anything I can recall in recent memory. spent the entire book convinced I knew where things were heading. I was wrong. Repeatedly. So so so wrong.
And then there’s the ending. I screamed. In bed. With my kids sleeping. I had to clap my hand over my mouth and sit there in the dark with my jaw on the floor.
I can’t stop thinking about this book. I’m honestly not sure I ever want to.
From the very first page, I was hooked. Completely, helplessly hooked. The writing is sharp, the tone is immediately distinctive, and the two leads (Mal and Leo) are so flawed and yet frustratingly likeable that you can’t help but root for them. I even loved how much I hated Ronan. That’s a specific kind of literary achievement.
What surprised me most was the genre-blending. It’s so rare to find a genuine thriller that also manages to be funny, smutty and emotional all at once. Silver pulls it off with an ease that left me in awe so many times.
This is not a light read by any stretch. Domestic violence, sexual abuse, drug use and deep trauma all make appearances. But it’s handled with intention.
The plot twists are unlike anything I can recall in recent memory. spent the entire book convinced I knew where things were heading. I was wrong. Repeatedly. So so so wrong.
And then there’s the ending. I screamed. In bed. With my kids sleeping. I had to clap my hand over my mouth and sit there in the dark with my jaw on the floor.
I can’t stop thinking about this book. I’m honestly not sure I ever want to.
June 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Real rating: 2.25 stars (the boost is for that ending)
I hated every single person in this book.
This book is actually incredibly repetitive and it’s not something that hit me until about the third go-round. Once that thought settled, all I could think about was how unnecessarily long this book is. 384 pages and I am fully confident this entire plot could’ve fit in 190 pages or less.
Everybody is so two-dimensional. And I feel like, instead of giving the characters more depth, they were just given more trauma.
We got the use of Ebonics that’s being passed off as gay culture, specifically white gay culture because I’m pretty sure there’s not a single Black or brown person in this story.
I also really, really hate when books date themselves with hyperspecific references to the current times. Mentioning BookTok, Fourth Wing, Sally Rooney, just to name a few. Then we have the irony that is this entire plot line, given the pen that wrote it. (No, I will not be further explaining).
I’m just—I’m tired.
I know this is satire, but it’s not humorous.
At all.
Real rating: 2.25 stars (the boost is for that ending)
I hated every single person in this book.
This book is actually incredibly repetitive and it’s not something that hit me until about the third go-round. Once that thought settled, all I could think about was how unnecessarily long this book is. 384 pages and I am fully confident this entire plot could’ve fit in 190 pages or less.
Everybody is so two-dimensional. And I feel like, instead of giving the characters more depth, they were just given more trauma.
We got the use of Ebonics that’s being passed off as gay culture, specifically white gay culture because I’m pretty sure there’s not a single Black or brown person in this story.
I also really, really hate when books date themselves with hyperspecific references to the current times. Mentioning BookTok, Fourth Wing, Sally Rooney, just to name a few. Then we have the irony that is this entire plot line, given the pen that wrote it. (No, I will not be further explaining).
I’m just—I’m tired.
I know this is satire, but it’s not humorous.
At all.
May 24, 2026
What a book! I thought the ending was be disappointing but it was certainly satisfying. I do worry that all the modern references could make this book become outdated quickly
May 24, 2026
Very enjoyable but struggles with pacing and knowing what genre it wants to be. Every time it feels like the story is gaining some momentum, there's another time jump. The strangest of these is when it cuts away from its own climax to show us the characters thirteen months later, with no explanation as to how they got there. Still, I had fun
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