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Esther is Now Following You

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A fresh, funny and deeply affecting novel about a thirty-something woman who begins stalking a celebrity crush - and about what happens when it all becomes a bit too real. Perfect for fans of Baby Reindeer.

*AN INSTANT NO.1 BESTSELLER*

You're the love of Esther's life. You just don't know it yet...

Esther first sees Ted walking in a park in London. They lock eyes and for a fraction of a second, she feels something she’s never felt before.

She starts by reading up about his life in Canada and his work as an actor. Then she watches every interview with him online. It isn’t long before she’s joined Ted’s fan site online where her and the ‘Tedettes’ stalk his every move.

When Ted gets a new celebrity girlfriend, Esther decides that things have gone far enough. She leaves her husband, takes all their savings, and buys a one-way ticket to Canada.

After all, Ted might not know it yet, but they are meant to be together – he just needs a little bit of persuading...

'This is such a great book. People will LOVE it!’ MARIAN KEYES, bestselling author of Grown Ups

'I loved this book. A wild ride of a read, funny yet poignant, it is a gripping page turner.' LIZ NUGENT, award-winning author of Strange Sally Diamond

'Looks set to be the smash hit of 2026.' IRISH TIMES

‘I raced through this funny yet unsettling book – and found it all too relatable.’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, Best Debut Novels for 2026

© Tanya Sweeney 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

 Crime Thrillers Dark Humour Domestic Thrillers Literature & Fiction Psychological Romantic Suspense Thriller & Suspense Celebrity Funny

Critic reviews

‘It was SUCH a pleasure to read Esther. Tanya’s voice is so funny and moving. Esther’s story shows how trauma and loss can lead to fixation and mental illness. There’s such a sad story at the heart of the book but it’s told with great verve and lightness of touch. I really REALLY felt for her – and also for Johnny. The dialogue is chef’s kiss! This is such a great book - it’s hard to believe it's a first novel - it’s done with great confidence and conviction. People will LOVE it!’
I loved this book. Messy Essie is a wonderful character. A wild ride of a read, funny yet poignant, it is a gripping page turner.
'Light and dark all at once – sharply observed, full of heart, and easily the funniest book I’ve read this year, I adored it and was rooting for Esther right to the end.'
Tanya Sweeney’s debut, Esther Is Now Following You looks particularly appealing. It’s about a woman who suffers a trauma and turns towards an obsession with a celebrity to cope.
Esther is a fantastically nuanced character - Tanya Sweeney has such an eye for detail, the characters leap from the page, bright and alive. Humorous, chilling, and sometimes an uncomfortable read but you’re never not in Esther’s desperate, awkward corner that she has backed herself into. A sharp and addictive insight into the mind of a grieving woman, who fills her emptiness with obsession. I thoroughly recommend.
A sex, drugs and rock'n'roll spin on Bridget Jones. This is car-crash reading at times — uncomfortable and cringe, but completely compelling.
Oh, I adored this book so much I read it in a day. Bittersweetly funny, wildly entertaining and tugs at your heartstrings, Esther is a wonderful character at the heart of an exceptional book. Esther, I'm now following you!
Sharp, funny and written with a whole lot of heart.
Billed as Fleabag meets Baby Reindeer, this darkly funny page-turner follows Esther's increasingly unhinged obsession with a celebrity actor. The debut takes aim at fandom, parasocial relationships and the fine line between devotion and delusion.
'Tanya Sweeney is a brilliant writer. She really has it all. A smart, funny, emotional new voice with the added bonus of perfect, snappy, zingy prose. Esther is Now Following You is funny and sad, dark and light, poignant and cringeworthy all at once. I honestly couldn't put it down. It had me laughing out loud at points, cringing behind my fingers at others, and had me close to tears. A brilliant book about growing up, wising up and realising what - and who - is important in life.'
All stars
Most relevant
Firstly, the trigger warning at the start does not do justice to the content. Please do not read if you have been affected by baby/child loss or miscarriage as these are the predominant themes. Other triggers include domestic violence and mental health.
The book was sold to me as a humorous lighthearted story about a girl who becomes obsessed with a celeb. The plot (without spoilers) is neither. It is however an enjoyable story that keeps you reading and definitely makes any girl who's "fan girled" inwardly relate; albeit on a lesser level, phew! The book reads well and the narrator is fine but the jarring contrasts between triggering content and baby reindeer esque behaviour, in my opinion don't make it an easy listen. I find it easier to like or dislike a main protagonist, this gives neither. Its good, just ok good, not brilliant

A story of contrasts. Mental health, grieving, obsession and not lighthearted

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very likeable despite her obsession. displays the fragility of the mind when dealing with grief and loss

enjoyable

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This wasn’t a bad book at all, but I didn’t know it would deal with some triggering issues. It threw me but I carried on, because it’s not like I’ll always know what every book I read is lol.

The narrator pronounced the name Johnny as Joanie and it drove me mad! Apart from that they were fine.

Not really my thing and I can’t put my finger on why. I enjoyed parts of it but wouldn’t read again.

Not what I thought

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