The Glow: 'Jane Austen on steroids' (Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours)

A witty and dark novel about the pursuit of wellness and the costs it entails, combining elements of Jane Austen and The Hunger Games.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 22 June 2023
Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

Jane Austen on steroids. It's that sharp, that wicked, that laceratingly true. Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours, Intoxicating. . . A wellness tonic for people who like to make fun of the wellness industry. Leigh Stein, author of Self Care.

Jane Dorner has two modes: PR Jane is twenty-five, breezy, clever in a non-threatening way, and eager to sell you a feminist vibrator. Actual Jane is twenty-nine, drifting through mediocre workdays and lackluster dates while paralyzed by her crushing mountain of overdue bills. Enter the impossibly gorgeous Cass, whom Jane discovers scrolling through Instagram - the guru of a wellness retreat based out of a ramshackle country house that may or may not be giving off cult vibes. Suddenly, Jane realizes she might have found the one ladder she can climb. But inner peace and glowing skin will always come at a price...

Jane is a twenty-five-year-old PR professional who is always on the go and eager to sell you a feminist vibrator. She is a breeze to be around and always has a clever comment to make. However, behind her cheerful facade, Jane is struggling with a mountain of overdue bills and a lackluster dating life. One day, while scrolling through Instagram, Jane comes across the profile of Cass, a guru of a wellness retreat based out of a ramshackle country house. Cass is impossibly gorgeous, and Jane is immediately drawn to her.

Jane decides to attend the retreat, hoping that it will help her find inner peace and glowing skin. However, as she gets deeper into the retreat, she begins to suspect that there is something sinister going on. The staff at the retreat are mysterious and secretive, and Jane can't shake the feeling that she is being watched.

As the retreat progresses, Jane begins to experience strange symptoms. She starts to feel dizzy and nauseous, and she has nightmares that seem to be connected to the retreat. She also begins to notice that some of the other participants at the retreat are acting strangely, and she can't help but wonder if they are part of a cult.

Despite her concerns, Jane is determined to finish the retreat and find out what is really going on. She spends hours researching the history of the retreat and the people who run it, and she eventually discovers that Cass is not who she says she is. Cass is actually a member of a cult that uses the retreat as a front for their activities, and they are using the participants as human sacrifices.

Jane is horrified by what she discovers, and she knows that she must escape the retreat before it is too late. She confronts Cass and the cult members, and they try to kill her. However, Jane is able to fight them off and escape the retreat.

Jane is left with a deep sense of trauma and betrayal, but she is also grateful for the strength and courage that she found within herself to survive. She returns home, determined to never let anyone take advantage of her again and to use her experience to help others who may be in danger.

In conclusion, "Wellness on Steroids" is a thrilling and suspenseful novel that explores the dark side of the wellness industry. Jane Dorner is a relatable and compelling protagonist, and the story is filled with unexpected twists and turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. While the novel may be dark and disturbing, it is also a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of the human spirit.

Weight: 528g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781035404162