The Subtweet by Vivek Shraya is a beautifully moving novel following the struggles with fame and social media.

If you are looking for a contemporary read that touches deep topics but makes it easy to digest, this book is perfect. Sexism, racism, relationship/friendship drama, the negative sides of the internet and social media, and the darkness of the music industry are all touched on. And to make this book even better? LGBTQ representation, and in such a beautiful way that it's not forced and thrown in your face.

Vivek Shraya is an artist and an author. The Subtweet is moving but also has a great analysis in it of culture today, all packed into one excellent fictional book. I wish I had more books like this in school where it's easy to read but also really punches you in the gut with it's meaning. It's so beautiful! Pick it up! Give Vivek all the love!

Also, I need to grab some more Vivek Shraya books! ASAP!

Five out of five stars. ( )

I fell in love with the characters and they broke my poor little care-bear heart to pieces.

Well written characters and wonderful thoughts on feminism, the performativeness of white allies, the appropriation of the work of women of color, colorism, feminist discourse, politics, call outs and accountability.

The author has also recorded the song that is used as a plot point, as both the original version and the cover. Both can be found on spotify and are worth a listen, but maybe after completing the story. The descriptions of the songs are so erudite that no actual song could ever really compare. ( )

Though lauded as a trans novel, The Subtweet only mentions the main character being trans in brief passing, and this facet of her identity somehow does not play any role whatsoever in her life (even amidst her social media scandal) and instead chooses to focus only on her race. I had a very hard time suspending my disbelief there, that a world very hung up on race and gender would not at all be concerned with her trans identity. The author is trans and the book has been nominated for a Lambda award in Transgender Fiction, but I personally do not consider this a trans novel.

This was a wonderful novel. It dealt with relationships in a social media age, and the challenge of navigating social justice issues and celebrity online versus in real life. I'm going to seek out more by Vivek Shraya for sure. ( )

So, I had to google what a subtweet was, because I think twitter is toxic. It is a passive-aggressive tweet, calling an unnamed someone out for some sort of bad behavior. It is NOT the same as vaguebooking, which is needy attention seeking on facebook, using vague statements to get people to ask about the poster.

This novel looks at the Toronto music scene, and the impact of social media on it and on individuals.

It was OK, but made me feel old. I think it is very much intended for the 25-4o crowd.
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Neela has been a respected Toronto musician for years, with a steady following. Now one of her songs has been covered by the up-and-coming Rukmini and Neela isn't really sure what to think. But then they meet and become fast friends. Rukmini's star is still rising though, and she gets an invite to open for a big tour. And takes Neela's long-time keyboardist.

The ins and outs of the Toronto (or any) music scene, but now throw in social media. Twitter and Instagram--this is how Neela learns that Cassie is on the tour. This is how she learns about what's going on on the tour. Selfies and tweets. Is she jealous? Not exactly. Angry? A little. Frustrated? Definitely. But then her own subtweet about the whole tour brings Rukmini down as it is picked up on by a journalist they all know (who was thinking similar thoughts).

But there is more! Rukmini was actually in a short-lived band in college that made one album for a class. Now it has been re-found. So much drama. ( )