In the decade since graduating college, once inseparable friends Lizzie and Bex have completely lost touch. That doesn’t stop Lizzie from creeping on Bex’ Instagram page, where she is now Rebecca, a wildly successful farmhouse influencer with a gaggle of kids and loads of traditional family values. Certainly not the party girl Lizzie once knew. Lizzie is trying to eke out a career in the dying publishing industry when, out of nowhere, Bex calls her with an opportunity: join her at the MomBomb influencer conference to get an exclusive interview about her upcoming top secret business venture – a story that could be a huge boost to Lizzie’s career. However, soon after reconnecting at the conference, Bex goes missing and her husband Gray is found dead on their farm. While everyone else is scrambling to enthrone the new queen bee, Lizzie is rushing to figure out what, exactly, happened.
Yesteryear is currently on everyone’s lips as the satirical tradwife influencer thriller, but this one did it first. (And differently- think of this as a tradwife Mean Girls.) Piazza has skillfully layered both gender and sexuality dynamics within the thrall of social media fame and financial success. It is packed with ambitious, unlikable characters in the best way – the kind who are strategic enough to earn our respect. Everyone is playing a game here, but who’s playing the long one?
4.25 out of 5 stars.
Pair with: Gibson gin martini
Peaches to Apples 