Publication Date: September 27, 2024
A razor-sharp literary thriller about three women vying for power at a wellness startup, where the cost of ambition might be deadly
One woman’s elixir is another woman’s poison
Rhoda West is Silicon Valley’s favorite female CEO: the luminously charismatic founder of the fast-growing startup Radical, a wellness company whose core mission is the betterment of women’s lives. Rhoda’s Instagram page offers intimate glimpses of her personal life alongside promotions for the cult-status products developed in the Well, Radical’s secretive lab.
Dani Lang is a “quester,” as Rhoda calls her most avid followers. Dani found Radical at a low point in her life, and took an entry level job just to get in the door. When she volunteers to test a controversial new supplement, Dani wins an opportunity to rise in the company, even to work with Rhoda herself.
Cecelia Cole is a “quasher.” She grinds away at the Customer Worship queue, resenting the entitled customers, the woo-woo Radical jargon, and Rhoda’s smiling hypocrisy. Cecelia, who suffers from a miserable chronic illness, knows that the remedies Rhoda sells can’t cure real sickness.
Just as Rhoda announces another fundraising round that could turn Radical into a billion-dollar unicorn, an anonymous Twitter account begins spilling snarky gossip from inside the startup. Is Rhoda really the nurturing leader she presents to the world, or a fraud? Or is this just another case of a woman in business being punished for her strength and audacity?
Tensions rise and loyalties clash, then tragedy strikes during a company party. In the aftermath of what looks more and more like a crime, even the most faithful questers begin to wonder to what lengths Rhoda will go to protect her company.
Part page-turning suspense, part darkly comic skewering of startup culture, Snake Oil is a gripping exploration of ambition and authenticity, shining a revealing light on the wellness world.
Three women with differing viewpoints showcase a satirical dive into the wellness industry.
Author Kelsey Rae Dimberg sets up an interesting storyline centering around a wellness company called Radical. Touting high-end products and rituals, the founder’s determination for success knows no limits. Snake Oil is both a witty and sobering story.
The three female main characters may be tied together by Radical, but their experiences are vastly different. As the scrappy founder of the start-up, Rhoda tells her part of the story via first person. She is the woman everyone wants to emulate; she has built a reputation around the concept.
Dani yearns to be more involved with the company and is willing to do whatever it takes to be noticed. Meanwhile, Cecilia is the disgruntled employee who hides behind a screen while criticizing Radical.
Their stories intertwine, creating a bond between two women regarding a deadly secret. In a twisty tale based on selling a concept supported by products with questionable efficacy, the search for perfection is unveiled.
Snake Oil delivers a fascinating story delving into the wellness industry and the battle to stay on top.
Kelsey Rae Dimberg is the author of Girl in the Rearview Mirror. She received an MFA from the University of San Francisco. Before writing novels, she wrote copy for startups like Google and Groupon. She lives in Chicago.
