Hello, all. I’m going to be querying a novel soon, and am in the hunt for some comps that are similar to mine in tone. I do intend to read any comp I mention in the query letter. So to that end, I’m looking for works of fiction, written in the first person, where the protagonist is a woman with a sarcastic or sardonic tone. To that end, I’ve read: My Year of Rest and Relaxation, by Ottessa Moshfegh (enjoyable, and while self-aware, not quite on point), Milk Fed, by Melissa Broder (not my cup of tea), and revisited an old favorite, Story of My Life by Jay McInerney (way too old for a comp). Bonus for GenX protagonists (as sarcasm was our generational lingua franca).
Any others that you might recommend?
by JeremynStreeter
7 Comments
I don’t think any are Gen X except Margaret. But here are a few:
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Artimis by Andy Weir
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
I just finished I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue and it might fit your criteria. First person, past tense – sarcastic/cynical FMC. The cynicism/defensiveness of the character is largely due to trauma and anxiety.
Definitely not Gen X, but I think the protagonist in Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy fits this. Just a warning though, the book is pretty graphic and might be disturbing to some people.
Lorrie Moore’s Anagrams or Self Help
I really liked Valerie Valdes’ sci-fi trilogy Chilling Effect, Prime Deception, and Fault Tolerance. Solid sardonics in action, and extra brownie points for Latin American culture.
Evade the Dark, RG Halleck
Up market?