Maybe “God complex” was taking it a little too far.  It’s just that the main character Isa talks like (writes like? thinks like?) she has a rare and unique perspective on life. She sees through everyone and their intentions, but they don’t see through her. She’s impenetrable, mysterious, hard to pin down.   When she moves to New York with her best friend Gala, everyone they meet is inexplicably taken with them. “Inexplicably” is really the perfect word. There’s something so frustrating about being told a main character is just amazing and loveable and perfect, and all they’ve done to deserve it is be thin, judgmental, and mildly witty. I call it the Tori Vega from Victorious/Elena from the Vampire Diaries phenomenon. Inexplicably adored main characters are just not likeable. 

Isa and Gala spend their summer taking odd jobs (because they don’t have a visa), and going to cool dinners and events with wealthy artists and elites in the city. How we’re meant to believe they’re so poor they share a bed, but also randomly know a bunch of rich attractive people who are obsessed with them, is something I gave up trying to understand. That’s another similarity with insatiable: main characters insisting they have no money yet living life among the stupidly rich. Anyways, we’re introduced to a lot of male side characters who don’t end up doing too much for the plot, and are only really there so we can see Isa and Gala in action. It’s a lot of names to juggle, but ultimately nice because you end up really focusing on Isa and Gala. Uncarley, the booktuber who inspired this read said she liked it because it centres female joy, and female friendship. I agree. Ultimately its about two carefree girls galavanting around New York city making the most of their youth. 

I really really loved the friendship. Gala is such a flawed but likeable character. She’s messy, she’s gullible, she’s strong, she’s jealous. And Isa’s own flaws are at their most interesting when they are in the context of this friendship. For example, when Isa talks like she thinks she’s better than Gala, it’s not annoying to read, it works as an interesting commentary on the kind of competition that can exist in complicated close female friendships. 

I just wish Isa was confident in a cool feminist “young women are allowed to like themselves” way, and not in a sulky, “all these people who (might I add, I chose to hang out with) are all sheep, and I’m different because I see through the rose coloured glasses of New York City capitalism” kind of way. 

Despite all my complaining, I did enjoy reading this book. And I would recommend it if you have the time on your hands.