When she arrived at the gym that first day, the receptionist tried to direct her to the changing rooms but she ignored them and walked right in.

The writing is fresh and flows naturally and beautifully, the characters felt real in a way that was often uncomfortable. Chrysalis by Anna Metcalfe is a debut novel about an unnamed woman who becomes a viral internet sensation, told by three people who are/have been close to her.It's fascinating to view this character only through the lens of others; each of the three sees something different in -- and get something different out of-- their relationships with her. The author did a spectacular job showcasing how society views the body of women in such a layered way. Each is left with only the husk of who she was before she became someone else: a woman on a singular and solitary path with the power to inspire and to influence her followers, for good and ill. The protagonist is difficult to like and I usually prefer to be more invested in the characters, but there’s something about her that keeps you reading. Metcalfe's debut is a tribute to The Vegetarian, and her non-conformist unnamed protagonist is reminiscent of Ottessa Moshfegh's transgressive women.

The videos, which are made for high-speed playback, show her statuesque body, surrounded by plants, often outdoors, holding itself exquisitely still for hours at a time. Chrysalis , her first novel, is told across three narratives that describe her protagonist’s transformation from three distanced points of view.She gives us her daughter’s backstory, describing how she endured terrible shaking as a child until a sympathetic teacher gave her a tape recording of meditations and helped sow the seed for her later metamorphosis. Unputdownable, ice-cool, and wittily contemporary, Chrysalis announces Anna Metcalfe as a distinctive and daring fresh literary voice.

The effect of the novel's triptych form feels like looking at the protagonist through the lens of a kaleidoscope, each segment dazzling, but ultimately fractured, leaving compelling gaps in our perception of who she is. It's an easy read that made me think about many assumptions I and society hold about relationships and how we live out lives (easy to read with deep complex themes).Among the grey and black machines, between the gleaming mirrors and the miniature televisions, surrounded by people in shiny leggings with go-faster stripes on their shoes, she looked like something from the past. Had she done that the book would've been a masterpiece, but what I did get was a plunge into a vapid late capitalist lifestyle guru story and mixed metaphors. The parts all stand alone, and while all revolve around the same figure, “she” is never named, and is always a shadowy and unknowable figure. Chrysalis is a savvy exploration of one woman’s desire to inspire others, and how self-presentation can tip into obsession.

The novel charts her physical and mental change into a new person who eschews many societal norms and finds meaning in making meditation and fitness videos online, attracting a huge following.They become friends and, briefly, lovers as she sculpts her physique and bulks up on protein shakes. I loved that the author took us through each stage, even though it wasn’t told the character herself and I think that is what made it very intriguing.