You Have a New Memory

Reviews

“Such an addictive and mesmerizing book. Reading You Have a New Memory felt like being at one of those slumber parties I always wished I was invited to. The essays are dishy in the best way, from behind-the-scenes glimpses of influencer life to a cancellation unfolding in real time. But the true heart of this brave and deeply-observed book is in its tenderness. Within its pages you will find love in the apocalypse and hope in the doomscroll.”
 —Frankie Barnet, author of Mood Swings

"If, like me, you have trouble metabolizing the present, and you want your media to transport you out of reality, this book will heal you. It will horrify you, comfort you, and fill your bleak future with hope. Aiden’s writing is proof that being smart and sincere doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive. Her superpower is being a critic without judgement; somehow finding the depth and beauty in the world we must live in."

—Phoebe Bridgers, singer-songwriter "In You Have a New Memory Aiden Arata reports directly from the source, as a living, breathing participant in the creator/consumer samsara, where the stakes have never been higher. Delivered in her signature undulating prose, she knits microscopic observations with the shock of humor, violence and unexpected pathos, resulting in a vivid, hyperreal effect; the kind often reported in psychedelic use where the world is rearranged and seen anew."—Nada Alic, author of New York Times Editors' Choice Pick Bad Thoughts “The great charm ofYou Have a New Memory rests in how it coordinates human affairs on galactic scale and geological time. The result feels something like beholding a full moon through a freshly sucked gummy bear, or reading a tweet from the Pope, an uncanny double exposure of registers. Aiden Arata is a high priestess in the temple of context, huffing ceremonial fumes and divining insights from the guts of modern life. And it's funny too!”
 —Tony Tulathimutte, award-winning author of Rejection “You Have A New Memory is more than an essay collection about the present moment, culture, or the internet. It is a brilliant interrogation of humanity. Each essay will teach you something new about the world while ripping your heart from your chest. Aiden Arata is a powerhouse — and one of the best writers we have today.”
 —Sarah Rose Etter, award-winning author of Ripe “I devoured these essays—it’s the kind of book where you keep texting people passages because they’re just too good not to share. Reading Arata feels like staying up late with your most perceptive friend, the one who somehow always manages to articulate exactly what you’ve been feeling about the internet, about relationships, about existing and consuming in this pre-apocalyptic world. Her observations are so piercing, yet playful, they will make you laugh, wince, and feel less alone. For anyone who’s ever experienced the quiet thrill of a DM or the hypnotic pull of an endless feed (hello, all of us), this book is a must-read.”
 —Alexandra Chang, author of Tomb Sweeping “I learned so much from this revealing and inquisitive collection of essays—what it means to be a human on the Internet, the art of self-excavation and authenticity in the land of influencer culture, and the ways the past informs our unknown future. Aiden Arata has offered us a brilliant invocation of intimacy with the world and ourselves. You Have a New Memory is an addictive, heart-opening, and darkly humorous work by a bold new voice.”
 —Chelsea Bieker, bestselling author of Madwoman and Godshot "Arata’s shimmering debut not only showcases a unique breadth and depth of thought, but also serves as a roadmap for seeking out beauty in a world that always feels like it’s ending."—Priyanka Mattoo, author of Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones "Aiden Arata's crackling and insightful debut essay collection presents a singular yet relatable vision of being young and online and simultaneously confused, horrified and seduced by TikTok phenomena like the 'stay-at-home girlfriend' meme. Arata's skillful and endlessly entertaining guided tour through the Very Online Posts of our past made me laugh, shudder knowingly, and think more critically and rigorously about what it means to grow up on social media."—Emma Specter, author of More, Please “Aiden Arata’s You Have a New Memory is a kaleidoscopic portrait of growing up gripped in the fist of the internet age. These essays are tender, curious, and shamelessly smart. Arata understands the painful ache of wanting to be seen–and the price we pay for getting the very thing that we want.”—Isle McElroy, author of People Collide Expand reviews