The Scoop

"A darkly funny satirical peek into the world of late-night tabloid journalism and the chaos of our times. With explorations on grief, ambition, and privilege in the media industry, [The Scoop] quickly becomes tough to look away from."
 —Natalie Sue, internationally bestselling author of I Hope This Finds You Well

“Snappy, fun, and set in the always-fascinating world of New York media. Loved it!"
 —Cat Marnell, New York Times bestselling author of How to Murder Your Life

"I gorged on The Scoop as though reading an explosive exposé about the state of the world—which, in many ways, I was. Erin Van Der Meer has crafted a devastating satire that reads the media, and those devoted to making a name for themselves within it, for filth. Smart, savage, and tinged with grief, The Scoop is required reading for anyone who has compromised themselves today for a better tomorrow."
 —Ruth Madievsky, award-winning author of All-Night Pharmacy

“A thrilling page-turner about how far one ambitious journalist will go to land the story that could change her fortunes. It's also a scathing satire of the media outlets that run on celebrity gossip—and our own bottomless appetite for stories of the worst moments in celebrities' lives. I absolutely devoured it.”
 —Leigh Stein, bestselling author of Self Care

"Sharp… The author offers a clear-eyed view into the seedy side of the media world, showing how ethics can be cast aside in the pursuit of clicks... By the end of this well-told story, everyone gets what they deserve."—Publishers Weekly

“Erin Van Der Meer's The Scoop follows down-and-out journalist Frankie Miller as she navigates grief, the dark side of ambition, the sometimes-unbearable pain of self-discovery, all while sinking to absolute rock bottom. A timely, commanding, blistering debut, this one's sure to leave a lasting mark.” 
 —Ashley Tate, internationally bestselling author of Twenty-Seven Minutes

“Spiky… With a propulsive narrative and vivid language, former journalist Van Der Meer pulls the reader into the ruthless 24/7 news cycle of tabloid journalism and Frankie's emotional turmoil.”—Booklist

"The Scoop calls out the modern tabloid newsroom for the dark funhouse mirror it is—where outrage is currency, empathy is a liability, and even the most earnest idealists must learn to weaponize gossip and the private lives of others. Following one journalist’s plunge from glossy-magazine dreams to clickbait drudgery, Erin Van Der Meer captures with biting humor, sharp insight, and impeccable pacing the contradictions of a dying industry clinging to whatever attention it can still scrounge. Anyone who’s ever worked in a newsroom—or dreamed of it—will recognize the desperation, the absurdity, and the flickering hope that maybe, somehow, it still matters. I loved this."
 —Andrew Boryga, award-winning author of Victim

"Clever and fun... [Van Der Meer] clearly knows the terrain; she delivers spot-on descriptions of tabloid excess... A well-written, au courant first novel."—Kirkus Reviews

“Whiplash meets tabloid journalism in this electric debut. The Scoop’s provocative, propulsive story and relentless protagonist kept me hooked and made me reflect on my own role in a culture of navel-gazing and the attention economy.”
 —Warona Jay, author of The Grand Scheme of Things

“An urgent, searing satire of the media that tracks the steady decline of a previously ‘respectable’ journalist, Frankie, as she is sucked into the ruthless snake pit of tabloid journalism. Through exceptional storytelling, this novel explores the cost of ambition, murky moral boundaries, and poses the question: in our perpetual pursuit of information, are we—the reader—really any better than the news outlets whose articles we consume by the dozen? I loved it!”
 —Georgia McVeigh, author of Sorry for Your Loss

"Barbed and immensely engaging … Van Der Meer, a former journalist, knows this terrain well. Her depiction of the well-meaning but naïve Frankie shows how easily morals and ethics can be swayed in the pursuit of success. Sharp and provocative, The Scoop is a smart and satisfying read."—Shelf Awareness

“Juicy, wild, gripping … like if The Devil Wears Prada and Succession had a chaotic little baby.” 

—Rebecca Armitage, author of Reese's Book Club Pick The Heir Apparent