The Goddess Effect

DEBUT In former ABC News writer Marikar’s humorous debut, Anita is looking to escape her drab New York City life and wants to make a fresh start in Los Angeles. She leaves behind an unfulfilling news job to pursue work with a hot, new online outlet called Gonzo. She secures a room in a group living house called “The Gig” that is occupied by others who are working in start-ups and new business ventures. Readers will chuckle at how Anita’s millennial sensibilities don’t jibe with her new Gen Z roommates. Besides not fitting in well with this new crowd, her job prospects aren’t panning out the way she had planned. Anita does find a sense of community at a gym called The Goddess Effect, where she makes a new and wealthy friend, who ends up funding her membership. However, The Goddess Effect reveals itself to be not as zen and women-forward as advertised. Anita realizes in the nick of time and is able to extricate herself from a hairy situation. The ending is satisfying if a little rushed.