I Make My Own Fun by Hannah Beer

A queer thriller that proves fame is the scariest monster of all…

This book is a wild ride and painfully relevant.

The novel follows Marina, a famous actress dubbed America’s Sweetheart, as she pursues Anna, a bartender, after a one-night stand. What begins as obsession slowly curdles into something far more disturbing, as Marina becomes fixated on Anna and refuses to let anyone—or anything—stand in her way. Beer executes this descent expertly through her writing.

At first, I genuinely hated Marina. She’s entitled, fatphobic, and deeply unpleasant. But as the novel progresses, that hatred turns into fear. Her cruelty and sense of entitlement become genuinely terrifying. The book draws a sharp and timely connection between fame and entitlement, especially in light of events like the release of the Epstein files, which exposed how powerful men felt untouchable—protected by money, status, and public adoration.

Beer also weaves in Reddit threads, news articles, and online discourse throughout the novel, which brilliantly illustrates Marina’s relationship with the public. You really feel the parasocial bond her fans have with her and how she’s perceived as kind, wholesome, and almost angelic. It strongly reminded me of the Ellen DeGeneres scandal, when the public began to realize that the generous persona they believed in was largely a façade, masking cruelty and abuse behind the scenes.

That being said, if you’re looking for a queer thriller that interrogates fame, obsession, and power, you need to pick up this book.

Please check content warnings before reading: fatphobia, animal cruelty, sexual assault, stalking, and more.

RATING: 4.25/5