Cult Classic, by Sloane Crosley

Serial monogamist Lola is a 30-something New Yorker, living with her fiancé. A former magazine editor, the collapse of print publishing precipitated her move into the online space. She has doubts and questions about her engagement, which only intensify when she suddenly starts running into her exes and starts analysing her previous relationships and dating behaviour. Two former magazine colleagues introduce Lola to a secret group conducting an experiment that will enable her to confront her past without getting lost in it. The story comes across as a kind of stream of consciousness Sex in the City, as Lola encounters her many exes in an attempt to reach closure and decide if she can move forward with her fiancé. But former boss Clive is aiming to monetise the experiment, using Lola as the poster girl. It is all very New York, with lots of ‘in’ words and locations and it’s a little hard to swallow that smart, cynical Lola would go along so easily with the attempted cult. A twist at the end is also highly unlikely, even if it brings resolution.