“Sharp . . . absorbing . . . unforgettable. Accomplishes what we seek in fiction: A deeply human connection.”
— The New York Times

“A novel like no other.”
— The LA Times



An instant national Bestseller

One of TIME Magazine’s 25 Books You Need to Read This Summer

One of Good Morning America’s Best Books of July

Starred Reviews from Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly & Booklist

A year into her dream job at a cutthroat Silicon Valley startup, Cassie finds herself trapped in a corporate nightmare. Between the long hours, toxic bosses, and unethical projects, she also struggles to reconcile the glittering promise of a city where obscene wealth lives alongside abject poverty. Ivy League grads complain about the snack selection from a conference room with a view of houseless people bathing in the bay. Startup burnouts leap into the paths of commuter trains and men literally set themselves on fire in the streets.

Though isolated, Cassie is never alone. From her earliest memory, a miniature black hole has been her constant companion. It feeds on her depression and anxiety, its size changing in relation to her distress. The black hole watches, but it also waits.

Sharp but vulnerable, funny yet unsettling, Ripe portrays one millennial woman’s journey through our late-capitalist hellscape and offers a brilliantly incisive look at the absurdities of modern life.

“HOLY SHIT, THIS BOOK WRECKED ME!"

—Samantha Irby, bestselling author of Wow, No Thank You

“astoundingly bold, terrifically haunting, and deeply human. RIPE IS a dazzlingly gorgeous novel and Sarah Rose Etter is truly one hell of a writer."

—Kristen Arnett, New York Times bestselling author of Mostly Dead Things and With Teeth

“Sarah Rose Etter is electric on everything from tech culture’s toxic absurdities to bone-deep loneliness to the science of black holes. Ripe is a harrowing and mordantly hilarious send-up of the horrors of late-stage capitalism, and a potent meditation on the search for meaning in a broken world.”

—Laura van den Berg, author of The Third Hotel

“Ripe is a triumph—blade-sharp and unflinching. It walks a darkly gorgeous tightrope between the bitter and beautiful with skill that takes your breath away.”

—Sophie Mackintosh, Booker-Prize nominated author of The Water Cure and Blue Ticket

The Book of X

WINNER OF THE 2019 SHIRLEY JACKSON AWARD

A BUZZFEED, VULTURE, AND THRILLIST BEST BOOK OF 2019
A FINALIST FOR THE 2019 BELIEVER BOOK AWARD

“Etter brilliantly, viciously lays bare what it means to be a woman in the world, what it means to hurt, to need, to want, so much it consumes everything.”
— Roxane Gay

“I loved every page of this gorgeous, grotesque, heartbreaking novel.”
— Carmen Maria Machado

“Insightful and incisive, this book cuts deep into the failing heart of the feminine mystique. Etter is a surgeon.” 
— Amelia Gray

“Lays bare the absurdities of womanhood. truly original…Etter continues to push the boundaries of her imagination...and ours.”
— Melissa Broder

Available from acclaimed press Two Dollar Radio, The Book of X tells the tale of Cassie, a girl born with her stomach twisted in the shape of a knot. From childhood with her parents on the family meat farm, to a desk job in the city, to finally experiencing love, she grapples with her body, men, and society, all the while imagining a softer world than the one she is in.

“Wonderfully strange…a haunting meditation on loss and loneliness in which nightmares and daydreams cross-contaminate.” 
— Brian Evenson

”Etter is a visionary. Perfectly paced, structurally audacious, and endlessly inventive." 
— Scott McClanahan

fiction & stories

• The Fathers in The Bennington Review (Issue 10)

• Mistake in The Los Angeles Review of Books (Print Issue, Summer 2020)

• The Rash in Gulf Coast Journal (Print Issue, Winter/Spring 2020 Issue)

• Letter from San Francisco in the Short Story Advent Calendar (Winter 2020)

• Love Triptych in Triangle House

• Five Days in Juked (Print Issue 15, Spring 2018)

• Four Days in Who Will Speak for America

• Sea Day at Juked

• Censored Emails from Noam Chomsky at The Fanzine

• Evaporation Field at Night Block

• Volcano Diagram at The Adroit Journal

• Still Life with Bird Holes at The Collagist

• Warren G. Harding at Melville House

• Gown Rain in Salt Hill Journal Issue 28

• Love Film in Black Warrior Review

• I’m Doing Everything I Can to Leave You Alone, Including… at Matter Press

Interviews & Essays

• Mood Swings review for the New York Times

• Songs That Hit A Nerve: Angel Olsen’s Country Music Playlist for Oxford American

• On Leaving Texas in the Wake of Roe for TIME Magazine

• Art & Guts at the 2022 Venice Biennale for Triangle House

• Ongoing Essays at VIBE HOUSE, my Substack

• An Interview with Melissa Broder for BOMB Magazine

• An Interview with Raven Leilani for BOMB Magazine

• An Interview with C Pam Zhang for BOMB Magazine

• An Interview With Samanta Schweblin’s Translator Megan McDowell for Electric Literature

• An Essay on Getting Waxed for a Bad Man for The Cut

• An Interview with Artist Ursula Von Rydingsvard for Philadelphia Weekly

• An Interview with Comedian Hannibal Buress for Philadelphia Weekly

• An Interview with Musician Angel Olsen for Philadelphia Weekly

• An Interview with Artist Cai Guo-Qiang for Philadelphia Weekly

• An Interview with Writer Roxane Gay for VICE

• An Interview with Artist Ann Hamilton for The Fanzine

BOOk
TOUR

Past Events

Saturday, January 25
A Reading with Willie Fitzgerald & Eleanor Eli Moss
Malvern Books @ 7PM
Austin, Texas

Thursday, January 30
A Reading & Q&A Sponsored by The English Department
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL

Friday, February 21
A Reading & Q&A
Brazos Bookstore @ 7PM
Houston, TX

Tuesday, March 10
In Conversation with Emma Copley-Eisenberg for The Third Rainbow Girl
Book People @ 7PM
Austin, TX


Tuesday, March 31
In Conversation with Hilary Leichter for Temporary
Deep Vellum Books @ 7PM
Dallas, TX

Past Events

Saturday, October 19, 2019
Boston Book Festival
Panel: Reading Like A Writer: Experimentation
BAC Beehive @ 12:15PM
951 Boylston St
Boston, MA

Saturday, October 26, 2019
Texas Book Festival
All By Myself: Loneliness in Fiction with Kristen Arnett
Capitol Extension Room E2.016 @ 1PM
1100 Congress Avenue
Austin, TX

Friday, September 6, 2019
Arts & Lectures Reading Series
Quail Ridge Bookstore @ 7PM
Raleigh, NC

Saturday, September 7, 2019
A Panel on Writing with Jeff Jackson & Superchunk
Hopscotch Music Festival @ 2:30PM
Raleigh, NC

Monday, September 9, 2019
East Coast Book Launch!
Featuring Halle Butler, Katharine Faw, Kali Fajardo-Anstine, and Aaron Robertson
Franklin Park Reading Series @ 7PM
Brooklyn, NYC

Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Rosemont College Reading Series
Rosemont College @ 7PM
Rosemont, PA

Thursday, September 12, 2019
Pop-Up Appearance at TireFire Reading Series
Tattooed Mom @ 7PM
Philadelphia, PA

Friday, September 13, 2019
Philadelphia Book Launch: In Conversation with Carmen Maria Machado
Paradigm Gallery @ 7PM
Philadelphia, PA

Friday, July 26, 2019
The Book of X Release Party!
Featuring: Tommy Pico & Trisha Low
The Bindery @ 7PM
San Francisco, CA

Saturday, July 27, 2019
Last Exit Lit
Featuring: Tommy Pico, Kristen Arnett, and more!
You Belong Here @ 7PM
San Diego, CA

Sunday, July 28, 2019
In Conversation with Tommy Pico
Skylight Books @ 5PM
Los Angeles, CA

Wednesday, July 31, 2019
In Conversation with Rita Bullwinkel
Green Apple Books on the Park @ 7:30PM
San Francisco, CA

Saturday, August 10, 2019
Writers With Drinks! Hosted by Charlie Jane Anders!
Make Out Room @ 7:30PM
San Francisco, CA

Tuesday, June 11, 2019
In Conversation with Kathryn Scanlan
The Bindery @ 7PM
San Francisco, CA

Friday, March 29, 2019
AWP Off-Site Reading: A Night of Literature
With Vi Khi Nao, C Pam Zhang, Ryan Ridge, and More
The Slide Inn @ 7PM
Portland, OR

Friday, March 29, 2019
A Reading in Memory of Mark Baumer with Brian Oliu, Matt Bell, Michael J. Seidlinger, and more.
The Channels at the ACE Hotel @ 9PM
Portland, OR

Saturday, March 30, 2019
AWP Off-Site Reading & Wrap-Up Party
With Richard Chiem, Julia Dixon Evans, Carlos Jose Perez Samano, Ryan Bradford, and More
Alibi Tiki Lounge @ 7PM
Portland, OR

Thursday, March 21, 2019
An Instinctive Feeling of Innocence: In Conversation with Dana Grigorcea and Alta L. Price Sponsored by the Center for Art In Translation
Green Apple Books on the Park @ 7:30PM
San Francisco, CA

Tuesday, March 19, 2019
In Conversation With Richard Chiem to Celebrate The Release of King Of Joy
Green Apple Books on the Park @ 7:30PM
San Francisco, CA

Thursday, January 10 2019
Dark Humor and Sharp Teeth: Translator Megan McDowell & Sarah Rose Etter in Conversation on Argentinian Sensation Samanta Schweblin
Green Apple Books on the Park @ 7:30PM
San Francisco, CA

Sunday, August 12 2018
In Conversation with Alice Bolin
The Bindery @ 4PM
San Francisco, CA

Wednesday, June 28, 2018
Who Will Speak for America? Book Launch
With Charlie Jane Anders, Veronica Scott Espisito, and Craig Santos Perez
City Lights Bookstore @ 7PM
San Francisco, CA

Thursday, August 17th
Rare Jawn With Amelia Gray, Jac Jemc, and Berry Grass
L'Etage @ 7PM
Philadelphia, PA

Monday, August 14
Franklin Park Reading Series with Amelia Gray, Jac Jemc, and Lindsey Hunter
618 St. Johns Place @ 7PM
Brooklyn, NY

Friday, July 7
Keynote Speech: Bizarre Feminism - Surrealism In The Service of A Movement
The Society for the Study of American Women Writers Conference
University of Bordeaux @ 1:30
Bordeaux, France

Thursday, July 6
A Reading With Translator Véronique Béghain 
Librarie La Machine @ 6:30PM
Bordeaux, France

Sunday, January 15
Writers Resist: Philadelphia Writers United for Liberty
The American Jewish Museum @ 2:30PM
Philadelphia, PA
 

Thursday, March 28
Live At Kelly Writers House
Kelly Writers House @ 7PM
Philadelphia, PA
 

Wednesday, March 23
The Hatchery Reading Series
With: Chris Tarry, Jaime Fountaine, and Chris DiCicco
The Monkey Club @ 7PM
Philadelphia, PA

Saturday, March 12
Lost In the Letters Atlanta
With: Gina Myers, Ashley M. Jones, and Sabrina Orah Mark
673 Edgewood Ave @ 7PM
Atlanta, GA

Thursday, October 17
Writers Night in America: 215 Festival Edition
With: Nicholson Baker, Brian Warfield, TJ Kong, & more!
Underground Arts
1200 Callowhill Street
Philadelphia, PA
 

Friday, September 23
215 Festival Benefit & Preview
With: Elizabeth Scanlon, Doogie Horner & more
Port Richmond Books
3037 Richmond Street
Philadelphia, PA
 

Friday, June 28, 2013
TireFire Readings Presents: Good Riddance, TeBordo!
Tattooed Mom's @ 7PM
With: Christian TeBordo, Adam Robinson, Mark Cugini, Sasha Fletcher, Jaime Fountaine, Lee Klein, Mike Ingram & more!
530 South Street
Philadelphia, PA

Sunday, March 24, 2013
Three Tents Reading Series
The Big Hunt @ 6PM
With: Matthew Zapruder, James Gendron, Nicole Steinberg
1345 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC
 

Sunday, November 4, 2012
215 Literary Festival @ 7PM
The Mural Arts Campfire Mobile Reading
Location TBD

Saturday, October 13, 2012
Brattleboro Literary Festival with Steve Almond, Randall Brown, Kathy Fish, & more.
Hooker-Dunham Theater @ 530PM
139 Main Street
Brattleboro, VT

Saturday, September 22, 2012
Conversations & Connections Conference
University of the Arts @ 930AM
Terra Hall
Philadelphia, PA

Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Literary Death Match
The Back Room @ 7PM
With: Touré, David Rees, muMs, Baratunde Thurston & more.
102 Norfolk St.
New York, NY

Saturday, March 31, 2012
General Ideas Reading Series
Brickbat Books @ 7PM
With: Mickey Hess, Sasha Fletcher & Julianna Spallholz
709 South 4th Street
Philadelphia, PA

Friday, March 23, 2012
Toiling in Obscurity Reading Series
With: Jaime Fountaine, Christian TeBordo, 
Justin Sirosis & more.
The Dive @ 7PM
947 E. Passyunk Ave.
Philadelphia, PA
 

Thursday, March 1, 2012
Convocation in Chicago
Beauty Bar @ 7PM
1444 West Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL
 

Wednesday, February 29, 2012
AWP Kick-Off Party
The Empty Bottle @ 8PM
1035 North Western Ave.
Chicago, IL
 

Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Rosemont College Reading Series
Main Building @ 7:30PM
1400 Montgomery Avenue
Rosemont, PA
 

Friday, November 4, 2011
Echoes and Visions Reading Series
Wor-Wic Community College @ 7PM
Guerreri Hall
Salisbury, MD

Monday October 10, 2011
Franklin Park Reading Series
With: Blake Butler, Alexander Chee, Scott McClanahan, and more
Franklin Park Bar @ 7PM
618 St. John's Place
Brooklyn, NY

Friday September 23, 2011
Toiling in Obscurity Reading Series
With: Lee Klein, Jaime Fountaine and
Jeremy Eric Tenenbaum
The Dive @ 7PM
947 E. Passyunk Ave.
Philadelphia, PA

Thursday July 21, 2011
PANK: Invasion Brooklyn
With Melissa Broder, Deb Olin Unferth, and more.
Pete's Candy Store  @ 7PM more.
Brooklyn, NY

Friday July 15, 2011
With: Adam Novy and Christian Tebordo
Tattooed Mom @ 7pm
Philadelphia, PA

Thursday June 30th, 2011
Tongue Party Book Release!!!
Ladder 15 @ 6:30PM
Philadelphia, PA

Sunday June 12, 2011
Sunday Salon Reading Series
Jimmys 43 @ 7PM
New York, NY

Thursday May 26, 2011
Philadelphia Literary Death Match
Ladder 15 @ 7pm
Philadelphia, PA
 

Saturday May 21, 2011
The 5ive:ten Reading Series
Minas Gallery @ 5PM
Baltimore, MD

Friday April 8, 2011
A Benefit Reading for The Hive Collective
Bookspace @ 7PM
Philadelphia, PA

Wednesday March 16, 2011
Speakeasy Kelly Writers House @ 8PM
Philadelphia, PA
 

Tuesday March 8, 2011
Painted Bride Quarterly Reading
The Black Sheep @ 7:30PM
Philadelphia, PA 

Saturday March 5, 2011
Invasion:Response Reading
The Underbar @ 9PM
Chicago, IL

Last Thursday of Every Month
Slam, Bam, Thank You Ma'am
Hosted by Painted Bride Quarterly
Pen & Pencil Club @ 7:30PM
Philadelphia, PA

bio

Sarah Rose Etter is the author of RIPE (Scribner), and The Book of X (Two Dollar Radio), winner of the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award. Her short fiction collection, Tongue Party, was selected by Deb Olin Unferth to be published as the winner of the 2011 Caketrain Award.

Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in The New York Times, TIME, BOMB, The Cut, VICE, and more. 

She has been awarded residences at the Jack Kerouac House, the Disquiet International program in Portugal, and the Gullkistan Writing Residency in Iceland.

In 2017, she was the keynote speaker at the Society for the Study of American Women Writers conference in Bordeaux, France, where she presented on surrealist writing as a mode of feminism.

She earned her B.A. in English from Pennsylvania State University and her M.F.A. in Fiction from Rosemont College. She lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Email: sarahroseetter@gmail.com

Facebook: Sarah Rose Etter

Instagram: @sarahroseetter

Literary Agent: Kent D. Wolf
Film Agent: Mirabel Michelson at UTA