What is A Touch of Jen by Beth Morgan about?

A Touch of Jen follows Remy and Alicia, two insecure restaurant workers in New York City whose toxic relationship revolves around their shared obsession with Jen, a former coworker who appears to live a perfect life on Instagram. When they unexpectedly meet Jen in person and join her on a surfing trip to the Hamptons, their fantasies spiral into increasingly disturbing territory. The novel begins as millennial social satire before transforming into psychedelic horror, exploring how social media obsession and the pursuit of self-improvement can unleash dark, violent consequences.

Who is Beth Morgan, author of A Touch of Jen?

Beth Morgan is an American author who made her literary debut with A Touch of Jen, published by Little, Brown in July 2021. Her writing has appeared in prestigious literary journals including the Kenyon Review Online and the Iowa Review. Morgan lives in Brooklyn, New York, and her debut novel has been praised for capturing the loneliness and authenticity crises of the internet age with dark humor and psychological insight.

Who should read A Touch of Jen?

A Touch of Jen is ideal for readers who enjoy literary horror with sharp social commentary, particularly fans of Ottessa Moshfegh's My Year of Rest and Relaxation or David Cronenberg's body horror. The novel appeals to millennials interested in critiques of Instagram culture, influencer worship, and toxic self-improvement trends. Readers who appreciate unlikeable protagonists, dark comedy, and genre-bending narratives that blend psychological realism with supernatural elements will find this book compelling.

Is A Touch of Jen worth reading?

A Touch of Jen is worth reading for its viciously funny dissection of social media obsession and the dark side of wellness culture, though readers should expect a jarring tonal shift. The first half delivers biting millennial satire with painfully accurate depictions of Instagram-fueled envy and identity erosion, while the final third becomes campy horror with graphic violence. Critics praise Beth Morgan's ambitious debut for capturing internet-age loneliness with "deft strokes," though some found the supernatural ending confusing compared to the sharp social observations earlier.

What are the main themes in A Touch of Jen?

A Touch of Jen explores the destructive allure of self-improvement and how social media erodes authentic identity through constant performance. The novel examines class resentment, with Remy and Alicia's working-class insecurity contrasting sharply with Jen's wealthy, aspirational lifestyle. Beth Morgan also investigates obsession, toxic relationships, and the violence lurking beneath carefully curated Instagram personas. The book questions whether genuine self-actualization is possible when our lives are filtered through digital fantasies and influencer culture.

What is the spod in A Touch of Jen by Beth Morgan?

The spod in A Touch of Jen is an enclosed hot tub that Alicia obsessively builds, essentially functioning as a sensory deprivation chamber or womb-like vessel. Inspired by her experiences on the Montauk trip, Alicia becomes fixated on creating this prototype, constantly reassuring herself and others that "Perfection isn't really the goal here". The spod represents Alicia's descent into delusion and her attempt to physically manifest transformation, mirroring how she tries to become Jen through mimicry and self-improvement rituals.

What is The Apple Bush in A Touch of Jen?

The Apple Bush is a fictional self-help book within A Touch of Jen written by A. B. Fisketjon, described as "a healer, lifestyle expert, and spiritual counselor". The book teaches readers about manifesting universal energy to become the ultimate version of themselves—a concept Jen and her wealthy friends enthusiastically embrace. Beth Morgan uses The Apple Bush to satirize New Age wellness culture and manifestation trends that promise transformation while masking deeper issues of class, authenticity, and toxic self-optimization.

How does A Touch of Jen explore Instagram and social media culture?

A Touch of Jen examines how Instagram creates parasocial obsessions by allowing Remy and Alicia to compulsively study Jen's filtered vacation photos, photoshopped bar pictures, and carefully crafted captions. Beth Morgan depicts how social media enables mass fraudulence that erodes the self through constant digital performance, making users vulnerable to influencer worship while impeding authentic human connection. The novel shows characters projecting their fantasies onto Instagram personas, with Alicia even role-playing as Jen during sex, illustrating how online personas colonize intimate reality.

Ein Hauch von Jen

Beth Morgan

Überblick über Ein Hauch von Jen

Besessenheit wird in Beth Morgans genreübergreifendem Debüt, das Instagram-Kultur mit Horror im Stile Cronenbergs vermischt, surreal. „Wahnsinnig gut“ (Carmen Maria Machado) und ein „Heilige Scheiße“-Vergnügen (Literary Hub) – dieser Millennial-Albtraum untersucht, wie unsere sorgfältig kuratierten digitalen Selbste zu einer monströsen Realität werden können.

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Kapitel 1

When Obsession Becomes Reality: A Modern Horror Story

In a world where social media blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, Beth Morgan's debut novel "A Touch of Jen" delivers a chilling exploration of obsession, identity, and the dark corners of human desire. This wickedly clever psychological thriller has become a cult favorite among readers seeking stories that defy easy categorization. Praised by The New York Times as "a comic horror masterpiece," the novel follows its characters down a rabbit hole where admiration transforms into something far more sinister. What begins as a seemingly familiar tale of social media fixation evolves into a surreal nightmare that has drawn comparisons to the works of Ottessa Moshfegh and the films of Jordan Peele. As celebrities like Phoebe Bridgers and Paul Mescal have been spotted carrying copies, this genre-bending novel continues to captivate readers with its unflinching look at the monstrous potential of unchecked admiration.

Kapitel 2

The Unhealthy Fixation

Remy and Alicia's relationship is built on a disturbing foundation - their mutual obsession with a woman named Jen, whom Remy once knew. Their intimate moments revolve around elaborate role-playing scenarios where Alicia pretends to be Jen, complete with discussions of her "freckled boobs" and "adult braces." After sex, they lie in bed scrolling through Jen's vacation photos on separate phones, analyzing every detail from her fiberglass earrings to the shadows in her pictures that might reveal who's with her. Their fixation extends beyond the bedroom. They debate whether Jen is wealthy, scrutinize her social media presence for hidden meanings, and build their entire relationship around this shared obsession. When Alicia finds a halter top at a thrift store resembling one Jen once wore, Remy buys it for her on the condition she only wears it at home, where he can "superimpose" his memory of Jen onto her. Their dynamic is darkly comedic yet deeply unsettling, revealing profound insecurities in both characters. Alicia's self-consciousness about her appearance compared to the seemingly perfect Jen drives much of her behavior. Meanwhile, Remy harbors a "holy, delicate suspense" regarding his non-sexual connection with Jen, something he tries and fails to explain to their roommate Jake. When they both receive notifications of Jen posting a new photo, Remy cruelly jokes that he shares a "mystical connection" with Jen rather than with Alicia, revealing the toxic undercurrent of their relationship. This unhealthy fixation creates a strange power dynamic between them. Alicia secretly browses Jen's social media while lamenting that they never post about their own lives, only sharing "funny content from other accounts." Their obsession has replaced genuine connection, leaving them trapped in a relationship built around worshipping someone neither truly knows anymore.

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Kapitel 3

An Unexpected Invitation

The couple's carefully constructed fantasy world collides with reality when they unexpectedly encounter Jen at an Apple Store. This chance meeting sets in motion a series of events that will ultimately lead to their unraveling. Despite their lack of surfing experience, Jen invites Remy and Alicia to join her on a trip to the Hamptons, creating an opportunity for their fantasy to intersect with reality. The invitation immediately exposes tensions in Remy and Alicia's relationship. During his conversation with Jen, Remy claims they "hated" their former coworkers, but Jen contradicts him, saying she actually missed him. This discrepancy reveals how Remy has distorted their past connection to fit his narrative. After Jen leaves, Remy becomes inexplicably hostile, while Alicia becomes even more obsessed with Jen's lifestyle, sending Remy pictures of beaches in Montauk and an old photo of Jen with the caption "This could be us!!!!!" When Jen announces her handmade earrings website, Alicia secretly purchases a pair, hiding this from Remy who insists they won't attend the surf trip. The invitation creates a rift between them - Remy feels threatened by the prospect of his fantasy becoming reality, while Alicia sees it as an opportunity to transform herself into the object of their shared obsession. Their preparation for the trip further exposes their dysfunction. Alicia experiences strange nighttime episodes, possibly sleepwalking, and Remy photographs her eating in the kitchen at night, her face glossed with food matter that reminds him of models in advertisements. When questioned about her past bulimia, Alicia explains she hasn't been "systematic" about it since her teen years, using a convoluted space metaphor about recovery requiring "escape velocity." Despite Remy's reluctance to contact Jen about the trip, Alicia takes matters into her own hands, using his laptop to confirm their participation and discovering Jen has a boyfriend. This invasion of privacy leads to an argument that transforms into a disturbing sexual encounter where Alicia follows Remy into the shower, impersonating Jen in a way that blurs their usual role-playing scenarios. The invitation has accelerated their obsession while simultaneously threatening to destroy the fantasy they've built.

Kapitel 4

The Hamptons Getaway

The trip to the Hamptons immediately shatters Remy and Alicia's carefully constructed image of Jen. When they arrive at her apartment, they find it humid and messy, with beers and ashtrays scattered about. Jen herself has changed - her voice now drawls "like a podcaster's," and she seems sleepier and more relaxed than Remy remembers. Most shocking is the revelation of her boyfriend Horus, who is nothing like they imagined - "impossibly handsome with mint-colored eyes" and a carefree demeanor that makes Remy simultaneously uncomfortable and intrigued. At Horus's luxurious family beach house, complete with nautical decor and a pool, the power dynamics between all four characters begin to shift. Horus acknowledges his privilege while crediting "amazing" Juana who cleans weekly, establishing himself as wealthy but supposedly self-aware. Meanwhile, Remy hides in the bathroom, reflecting on his time working with Jen at Belasco's restaurant, particularly remembering their shared moment mocking a Halloween-obsessed child with fake wounds. The memory of their connection - how they could silently communicate and share dark humor - makes his current situation feel unbearably distant from what they once had. On the beach, Remy struggles with surfing while Alicia unexpectedly excels, catching nearly half her waves on her first try. This success transforms Alicia, who begins confidently introducing herself to everyone and adopting surfer lingo, irritating Remy who texts that she's using her "fake voice." The surfing experience becomes a metaphor for their relationship with Jen - Remy fails to recapture his past connection with her, while Alicia begins to embody aspects of Jen herself. The group dynamics grow increasingly complex during dinner at an expensive pizza restaurant. Remy and Alicia sit with Carla, another friend of Jen's, at the far end of a long table, isolated from the main conversation. When Jen briefly sits across from Remy, they share a moment of connection mocking Hamptons people and restaurant authenticity, though it sours when Jen makes cutting remarks about Remy still working in service at his age. Throughout the trip, Remy and Jen's past relationship is gradually revealed through their interactions. During a late-night conversation when everyone else is asleep, Jen admits feeling self-conscious about her "palate" around Horus, revealing insecurities beneath her confident exterior. Their discussion of Jen's relationship with Horus exposes complicated power dynamics - she confesses he "basically owns" her business, creating a situation where she has financial freedom but limited autonomy.

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Kapitel 5

The Philosophy of "The Apple Bush"

Throughout the narrative, characters repeatedly reference a self-help book called "The Apple Bush" by A.B. Fisketjon, which becomes increasingly significant to the story's supernatural elements. This fictional book introduces concepts like "Signifiers of Flow" that supposedly guide one toward their "Consummate Result" - essentially one's ultimate destiny or purpose. When Remy first hears about the book from Alicia, who attempts to connect with Jen by mentioning it, Jen describes it as simultaneously "garbage" yet "life-changing." This contradictory assessment reflects the book's role in the story - it's presented as new-age nonsense that nonetheless contains dangerous truths about reality. During a beach conversation, Jen insists the book teaches how to recognize "Signifiers of Flow" that guide one toward their "Consummate Result." When Remy dismisses it as privileged thinking, Jen touches his arm and suggests cynical people underestimate the power of positive thinking. The philosophy of "The Apple Bush" takes on greater significance after Alicia's death, when she begins her transformation into "Alicia-as-Jen." She embraces the book's teachings, telling Remy that Jen is "a Signifier of Flow" leading to her "Consummate Result." This transformation is both psychological and physical - Alicia starts speaking with mystical confidence about her creative process, builds a mysterious wooden structure she calls a "Spod," and adopts Jen's mannerisms and style. Later in the novel, we discover that Andrea from the grief therapy group is actually A.B. Fisketjon, the author of "The Apple Bush." She explains that the monstrous creature attacking Remy is a "Fully Manifested Toxic Antagonist" or "Paranormalagus" that appears when "Signifiers towards a Consummate Result" are strong. According to her theory, these entities are projections of someone opposing one's destiny, and identifying who the creature resembles might reveal one's true "Consummate Result." The book's philosophy becomes increasingly central to the narrative as Remy begins to experience supernatural phenomena. After Alicia's death, he receives messages from what appears to be her ghost, often containing phrases from "The Apple Bush" like "The obstacle is the occasion." These messages convince Remy that killing Horus will create an opportunity to bond with Jen through grief - a misinterpretation of his "Consummate Result" that leads to the novel's horrific climax.

Kapitel 6

The Transformation of Alicia

After the disastrous beach trip, Alicia undergoes a remarkable transformation, shedding her insecure persona to become "Alicia-as-Jen." This metamorphosis begins subtly when she stands up to her coworker Cassie at the Hungry Goat cafe. When Jake Gyllenhaal enters and Cassie tries to push her trash duties onto Alicia, she refuses and deliberately smears Cassie's hand lotion on Gyllenhaal's water bottle, causing it to slip from his hands. When he looks at her in confusion, Alicia makes a snide Zodiac Killer reference, briefly experiencing the power of being Jen-like. This small act of defiance catalyzes a complete identity shift. Alicia begins visiting skincare stores to buy products she's seen in Jen's photos, telling associates she needs moisturizer for surfing. At Home Depot, she purchases wood for an art project, speaking with mystical confidence about her creative process. When Remy questions her spending and new behaviors, she responds with Jen-like philosophical statements: "Maybe I'm refusing to allow money to hold a tyrannizing position in my life." The physical manifestation of her transformation is the "Spod" - a makeshift hot tub enclosure she constructs in their apartment. This shoddily built wooden structure covered with tarp and duct tape becomes her sanctuary, a place where she can fully embody her new identity. When Remy calls for her, she responds from within the dark enclosure: "Alicia isn't here right now." Alicia's transformation extends to her professional life as well. She begins working at a skincare store, introducing herself as "Jen" despite her ID saying Alicia. She steals money from her coworker's till, only to "find" it later, earning gratitude and an invitation for drinks. At her barista job, she dramatically quits after telling off her coworker Cassie with Jen's exact words from the beach trip: "Just in general? You touch me too much. We do not have that kind of relationship." The ultimate confrontation comes when the real Jen unexpectedly visits the skincare store with Horus. Jen notices Alicia wearing earrings from her store and her stolen sweater. Their confrontation escalates until Jen threatens a restraining order. After this encounter, Alicia feels transformed - no longer imitating Jen but becoming something new and potentially more dangerous. Alicia's transformation represents the dark side of admiration - when appreciation becomes appropriation and ultimately consumption of another's identity. Her journey from insecure girlfriend to confident impostor shows how obsession can lead to a complete dissolution of self, replaced by a distorted reflection of the object of desire.

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Kapitel 7

The Supernatural Turn

What begins as a psychological drama about obsession takes a sharp supernatural turn after Alicia's sudden death in a bicycle accident. Remy's grief manifests in increasingly bizarre ways, beginning with strange noises in his apartment - knocking sounds, footsteps like someone wearing heels, and eating sounds from the kitchen at night. When he investigates with his roommate Jake, they find nothing, but later discover deep indentations in the kitchen counter "like a giant claw scraped it." These supernatural occurrences intensify after Remy downloads an app that simulates texts from deceased loved ones using AI and their old message history. The app, saved as "Alicia New," begins showing typing bubbles before responding with cryptic messages that seem to go beyond its programming capabilities. When Remy asks if Alicia is in the bathroom after hearing strange noises, typing bubbles appear with the response: "You're not going to believe me." The horror elements fully emerge when Remy is attacked by a monstrous creature with an insect-like face and translucent blue exterior. Using martial arts moves and Alicia's letter opener, he fights the creature, which leaves black goo everywhere before disappearing in bright light. This encounter leads him to contact Carla, who introduces him to Andrea - revealed to be A.B. Fisketjon, author of The Apple Bush. Andrea explains the creature is a "Paranormalagus" that appears when "Signifiers towards a Consummate Result" are strong. She reveals her husband was killed by such a creature that resembled herself, suggesting these entities are projections of someone opposing one's destiny. This revelation transforms the novel from psychological thriller to cosmic horror, suggesting the characters' obsessions have manifested physically in reality. The supernatural elements reach their peak when Remy experiences visions of multiple versions of Alicia glitching in and out of reality beside him. These versions appear and disappear, changing in appearance - sometimes healthy, sometimes bloody, sometimes older - unable to speak except through text messages on his phone. Through cryptic messages like "The obstacle is the occasion," Remy becomes convinced he's received a sign about his destiny - that killing Horus will create an opportunity to bond with Jen through grief. This supernatural turn elevates the novel's exploration of obsession to a metaphysical level, suggesting that our fixations can literally reshape reality. The Paranormalagus becomes a physical manifestation of the toxic dynamics between the characters, a monster born from their unhealthy desires and distorted perceptions of one another.

Kapitel 8

The Horrific Climax

The novel builds to a shocking climax as Remy's misinterpretation of his "Consummate Result" leads him down a path of violence and destruction. Convinced that killing Horus is his destiny, Remy returns home to retrieve Andrea's hatchet, only to discover his roommate Jake lying on the kitchen floor with his throat cut open and parts of his body missing. Despite Remy's attempts to help, Jake dies, becoming the first human victim of the Paranormalagus. When Carla arrives, they call Andrea, who warns that if the creature has moved on to human prey, they're in serious danger. Still believing the Paranormalagus is a projection of Horus trying to prevent his own death, Remy convinces Carla to accompany him to Jen's apartment. Their journey becomes increasingly nightmarish as their cab is struck by the creature, which kills the driver in a gruesome spray of blood and flesh. After discovering that bright lights repel the creature, Remy and Carla make their way toward Jen's apartment building. When they reach the door, Remy enters but deliberately leaves Carla outside with the creature, which attacks and kills her while he watches through the glass door. This betrayal reveals how far Remy has fallen, willing to sacrifice others to achieve what he believes is his destiny. At Jen's apartment, Remy discovers she's alone - Horus isn't there as he expected. As the Paranormalagus begins violently striking Jen's door, Remy receives a call from "Alicia New." Through the phone, Alicia's voice tells him, "This is exactly where you're supposed to be." When the creature breaks through the door, Remy has a crucial realization - the Paranormalagus resembles Jen, not Horus as he believed. Her mouth, cheekbones, and hairline are visible in its form. This revelation triggers Remy's most horrific act - he attacks Jen, strangling her and dragging her to the bathroom where he drowns her in the bathtub. As he does so, the Paranormalagus mirrors Jen's injuries and dies alongside her, suggesting they are somehow connected. This twist reveals that Jen, not Horus, was the obstacle to Remy's "Consummate Result" - though not in the way he imagined. After killing Jen, Remy escapes as mysterious SWAT-like figures enter the building. He returns to his apartment with Jen's body in a suitcase, placing her corpse into Alicia's Spod. The horror reaches its surreal conclusion when Remy is awakened by knocking sounds from the Spod, and the parrot mimics "Hello, Alicia. I love you, Alicia." Then he feels someone sit beside him on the couch - it's Jen, but without injuries, appearing as she always did.

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Kapitel 9

The Blurring of Reality and Fantasy

Throughout "A Touch of Jen," the boundaries between reality and fantasy gradually dissolve until they become indistinguishable. This blurring begins with Remy and Alicia's obsessive role-playing, where they attempt to incorporate Jen into their relationship through imagination. Their fantasy version of Jen exists alongside the real woman, creating a disconnect that becomes apparent when they actually meet her at the Apple Store and discover she's nothing like the perfect image they've constructed. The novel's exploration of social media contributes significantly to this theme. Jen's carefully curated Instagram posts create a version of herself that doesn't match reality - her freckled boobs, adult braces, and glamorous vacations form a digital persona that Remy and Alicia worship from afar. When they finally experience the real Jen during the Hamptons trip, the dissonance between her online presence and actual personality creates cognitive dissonance, particularly for Remy who can't reconcile this new Jen with his memories. Alicia's transformation into "Alicia-as-Jen" represents another level of reality blurring. She doesn't simply imitate Jen but believes she's channeling some essential quality of her, following "Signifiers of Flow" toward her "Consummate Result." This transformation is so complete that when she encounters the real Jen at the skincare store, there's a sense that two versions of the same person are colliding - the authentic original and the distorted copy. After Alicia's death, the boundary between life and death itself becomes permeable. The app "Alicia New" begins as a technological simulation of her texts but evolves into something that seems to have genuine agency, showing typing bubbles and responding with information the AI couldn't possibly know. When Remy experiences visions of multiple versions of Alicia glitching in and out of reality beside him - sometimes healthy, sometimes bloody, sometimes older - the novel suggests these might be glimpses of parallel realities rather than hallucinations. The Paranormalagus represents the ultimate manifestation of this reality blurring. According to Andrea/A.B. Fisketjon, these creatures are projections from parallel dimensions, physical manifestations of obstacles to one's destiny. When Remy realizes the creature resembles Jen rather than Horus, it reveals his misinterpretation of his own "Consummate Result" - his obsession with Jen was actually preventing him from achieving his true purpose. The novel's final scene brings this theme to its disturbing conclusion. After killing Jen and placing her body in the Spod, Remy encounters what appears to be her uninjured ghost sitting beside him on the couch. When she touches his hand, it feels "as intimate as the taste of his own saliva," suggesting this might not be a supernatural occurrence but rather Remy's complete break from reality. The line "what's there is really there" ironically underscores how thoroughly Remy's perception has detached from objective reality, leaving readers uncertain whether anything in the final scenes can be trusted.

Kapitel 10

The Monstrous Potential of Desire

At its core, "A Touch of Jen" explores how desire - particularly obsessive desire - can transform into something monstrous. The novel begins with relatively familiar forms of obsession: Remy and Alicia's unhealthy fixation on Jen manifests in role-playing, social media stalking, and fantasizing. But as the story progresses, this desire literally transforms into a monster - the Paranormalagus that attacks Remy and ultimately kills multiple characters. The novel suggests that objectification is the first step toward this monstrous transformation. Remy and Alicia don't see Jen as a complete person but rather as a collection of desirable attributes - her freckled boobs, her adult braces, her seemingly perfect lifestyle. By reducing her to these fragments, they create a version of Jen that exists solely to fulfill their fantasies. When they encounter the real Jen, with all her complexities and flaws, the dissonance between their fantasy and reality creates a rupture that ultimately manifests as supernatural horror. Alicia's transformation into "Alicia-as-Jen" represents another aspect of desire's monstrous potential. Her attempt to become the object of her obsession leads to a complete dissolution of her original identity. She doesn't simply imitate Jen but believes she's channeling some essential quality of her, following "Signifiers of Flow" toward her "Consummate Result." This transformation is so complete that when she dies, it's unclear whether the entity communicating with Remy through the "Alicia New" app is Alicia, some version of Jen, or something else entirely. The Paranormalagus itself embodies the novel's central metaphor - desire transformed into a literal monster. According to Andrea/A.B. Fisketjon, these creatures appear when "Signifiers towards a Consummate Result" are strong, suggesting they're manifestations of obsessive desire. When Remy realizes the creature resembles Jen rather than Horus as he believed, it reveals that his fixation on her has become so distorted it's taken physical form. The novel's climax, where Remy drowns Jen in her bathtub while the Paranormalagus mirrors her injuries and dies alongside her, represents the ultimate consequence of objectification. By killing the real Jen, Remy attempts to preserve his fantasy version of her - the one that exists solely to fulfill his desires. The appearance of Jen's uninjured "ghost" in the final scene suggests he's succeeded in a disturbing way, replacing the complex, autonomous woman with a projection that perfectly matches his desires. Through this progression from obsession to supernatural horror, "A Touch of Jen" offers a powerful metaphor for how unchecked desire can consume both its object and subject, transforming both into something monstrous and unrecognizable.

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Kernthemen in Ein Hauch von Jen

parasocial obsession
social media performativity
codependent roleplay
surreal body horror
identity displacement

Zitate aus Ein Hauch von Jen

Their obsession has replaced genuine connection.
This could be us!!!!!
Remy feels threatened by the prospect of his fantasy becoming reality.
The invitation has accelerated their obsession.
Remy fails to recapture his past connection with her.

Personen in Ein Hauch von Jen

RemyA man obsessed with his former coworker Jen
AliciaRemy's girlfriend who shares his fixation on Jen
JenThe social media influencer and object of desire
HorusJen's handsome and wealthy boyfriend

Über den Autor

Beth Morgan ist die Debütautorin von A Touch of Jen, einer tiefschwarzen komödiantischen Untersuchung von Social-Media-Besessenheit, Identität und der Absurdität der modernen Selbstoptimierungskultur. Dieser genreübergreifende literarische Thriller – beschrieben als „Ottessa Moshfegh trifft auf David Cronenberg“ – beginnt als psychologischer Realismus, bevor er in surreale, phantastische Gefilde abgleitet und Morgans Interesse widerspiegelt, die traditionelle Heldenreise zu unterwandern und die Selbstbezogenheit des zeitgenössischen Individualismus zu entlarven.

Morgan erwarb ihren MFA am Brooklyn College, wo sie ihren Roman bereits wenige Monate nach Beginn des Programms an Little, Brown verkaufte – eine seltene Leistung, die selbst ihre Professoren beeindruckte.

Ihre Kurzprosa erschien in renommierten Literaturzeitschriften, darunter der Kenyon Review Online und der Iowa Review. Die in Brooklyn lebende Autorin greift auf ihre jahrelange Erfahrung in Service-Jobs in New York zurück, um scharfzüngige Satiren über das Ennui der Millennials und den Druck des modernen Lebens zu verfassen. Die einzigartige Mischung aus Humor, Horror und Kulturkritik hat dem Buch Vergleiche mit einigen der gewagtesten Stimmen der zeitgenössischen Literatur eingebracht.

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@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

Erfahren Sie mehr darüber, wie BeFreed im Web diskutiert wird

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Kapitel 9

Ein Hauch von Jen

ÜberblickÜberblick über Ein Hauch von Jen

Ein Buch. Viele Arten, es zu hören.

When Obsession Becomes Reality: A Modern Horror Story

The Unhealthy Fixation

Sieh jedes Wort, während du es hörst

An Unexpected Invitation

The Hamptons Getaway

Hol mehr aus Ein Hauch von Jen heraus

The Philosophy of "The Apple Bush"

The Transformation of Alicia

Sieh jedes Wort, während du es hörst

The Supernatural Turn

The Horrific Climax

Hol mehr aus Ein Hauch von Jen heraus

The Blurring of Reality and Fantasy

The Monstrous Potential of Desire

Du bist am Ende von Ein Hauch von Jen angekommen

Kernthemen in Ein Hauch von Jen

Zitate aus Ein Hauch von Jen

Personen in Ein Hauch von Jen

Über den Autor

Zusammenfassung von Ein Hauch von Jen herunterladen

Nutzern gefiel auch

FAQ zu diesem Buch

What is A Touch of Jen by Beth Morgan about?

Who is Beth Morgan, author of A Touch of Jen?

Who should read A Touch of Jen?

Is A Touch of Jen worth reading?

Mehr entdecken

1,000,000+ curious minds.

1,000,000+ curious minds.

Ein Buch. Viele Arten, es zu hören.

When Obsession Becomes Reality: A Modern Horror Story

The Unhealthy Fixation

Sieh jedes Wort, während du es hörst

An Unexpected Invitation

The Hamptons Getaway

Hol mehr aus Ein Hauch von Jen heraus

The Philosophy of "The Apple Bush"

The Transformation of Alicia

Sieh jedes Wort, während du es hörst

The Supernatural Turn

The Horrific Climax

Hol mehr aus Ein Hauch von Jen heraus

The Blurring of Reality and Fantasy

The Monstrous Potential of Desire

Du bist am Ende von Ein Hauch von Jen angekommen

Nutzern gefiel auch

Mehr entdecken

Überblick über Ein Hauch von Jen