Remember dial-up? Not really, right? Now it’s endless scrolls and curated feeds. The digital age meant sharing ourselves in public, navigating love via DMs, and finding community in niche corners of the web. It’s a hyper-real, beautifully messy experience, and we’re here to unpack it. Take a look at these books that offer similar stories and explore what it’s like growing up online.

Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler

What happens when your boyfriend is secretly a conspiracy theorist? A woman discovers this unsettling truth on the eve of Trump’s inauguration, plunging her into a world where online lies define reality. Disillusioned, she flees to Berlin, navigating deceptive spaces from dating apps to expat meetups. She questions trust and reality, finding alienation in both the digital and physical realms.

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So Sad Today: Personal Essays by Melissa Broder

If you’ve ever caught yourself doomscrolling existential dread at 2 a.m., this one’s for you. Before relatable content was a brand, Melissa Broder spilled her anxieties onto Twitter (X). Exploring the raw, existential dread of living in a digital age, she delivers brutally honest essays on anxiety, sex, addiction, and the internet’s role in shaping our most profound insecurities.

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No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood

A woman who lives online—literally—begins to question reality when her real life takes a devastating turn. Elevated by social media, she navigates the portal, where online voices control her thoughts. Existential threats fuel her descent into a digital void of post-sense imagery. When a family crisis collides with the absurd online world, she confronts the stark contrast between digital detachment and tangible loss.

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We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets

Content moderation: the invisible labor force that keeps the internet (somewhat) tolerable. Kayleigh, tasked with reviewing disturbing online content, confronts the raw darkness of the digital world. Amidst this grueling job, she finds fleeting connections, but her colleagues and girlfriend begin to crumble. As conspiracy theories seep into their lives, Kayleigh questions her own grip on reality.

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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Coming of age in the internet era means falling in love through anonymous emails, right? Simon, a closeted teen, faces blackmail: reveal his sexuality or play wingman. His secret threatens his friendship group and the anonymity of Blue, his online crush. Simon navigates the complexities of digital communication and real-world relationships.

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Y/N by Esther Yi

When a woman has an obsession with a K-pop idol, she transforms her life into surreal fanfic. Moon’s adoration causes her to suddenly retire and journey from Berlin to Seoul in pursuit of him. Navigating mistranslations and a Kafkaesque entertainment company, she seeks the elusive star, no matter the cost.

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Girls Can Kiss Now: Essays by Jill Gutowitz

From Tumblr shipping wars to the sapphic awakening of pop culture, Jill Gutowitz’s life, a pop culture collision, explores identity and sexuality via internet-era media. Through personal anecdotes, including FBI encounters sparked by tweets and pivotal TV moments, she examines how digital culture shapes our values.

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She Memes Well by Quinta Brunson

From viral videos to TV stardom, Quinta Brunson chronicles her internet-fueled rise with humor and heart. Part memoir, part cultural commentary, she highlights how memes, social media, and digital creativity shaped an entire generation, reminding us that internet fame is never quite what it seems.

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Idol, Burning by Rin Usami

Obsession, isolation, and the all-consuming power of online fandom. Akari, a teen obsessed with J-Pop idol Masaki, lives through his online persona. Her devotion bordered on religious fervor. When a scandal erupts, her online world collides with her isolated reality. As Masaki’s downfall spirals, so does Akari’s, blurring the lines between fandom and dangerous obsession.

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I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel

Growing up online means navigating a world of toxic envy and asymmetrical relationships. Social media warps love into power plays, where online surveillance blurs real-world boundaries. When a woman becomes fixated on her lover’s influencer girlfriend, she spirals into a toxic cycle of scrolling, comparing, and self-destruction, revealing the dark side of digital connection and modern relationships.

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