If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant for You

In this intriguing if convoluted satire from Stein (Self Care), aspiring influencers compete for fame while living together in an infamous Los Angeles mansion. The Deckler House gained notoriety for its use in a 1950s horror film, and for the mysterious deaths of patriarch George Deckler and two of his wives. It’s owned by George’s son, Craig, who embarks on a scheme to cash in on the crumbling mansion by renting out rooms to content creators and hires his old friend Dayna, a down-and-out former writer for Entertainment Weekly, as a producer for his tenants. At first Dayna is skeptical of the arrangement and her producing skills. Soon, though, she embraces their wild world, and even facilitates an attention-seeking wedding between two housemates. She also gets caught up in the mysterious disappearance of former tenant Becca, a tarot card–reading influencer whose fans now vie for her spot in the house. The many plot strands make the novel a bit unwieldy, with touchstones ranging from Rebecca to The Real World, but Stein’s winding narrative effectively builds drama thanks to its solid characterizations and increasingly creepy vibe. There’s plenty to enjoy in this smart social comedy. Agent: Erin Hosier, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner. (Aug.)