Idol, Burning by Rin Usami

Idol, Burning by Rin Usami is a short but mighty novel that sheds a light on the world of superfans, obsession and the dangers of building your identity around a phenomenon that can disappear in a second. Akari is obsessed with Masaki Ueno, a member of J-Pop group Maza Maza. Despite struggles in her ‘offline’ life, Akari excels at being an online superfan and she shows her devotion to Masaki, her ‘oshi’, by meticulously researching his life and writing about it on her blog. But when rumours begin to surface online that Masaki assaulted a female fan, Akari’s world is shattered and her idol’s fall from grace opens an emotional void that causes Akari’s fanatical obsession to spiral to increasingly darker depths.

Usami’s novel lifts the lid on the unique world of fandom and ‘stan’ culture in Japan. Written in the voice of her teenage protagonist, Usami’s narrative transports the reader directly into the mind of a young, impressionable superfan. It explores the complex relationship between pop stars and their followers as well as exposing the darker side of cancel culture and the sometimes extreme commercial pressure of being involved in online fan communities. Sharply encapsulating the experience of being a superfan, with all its highs and lows, Idol, Burning is the perfect quick read for anyone who has ever wanted to understand the somewhat elusive world of ‘stan’ culture.

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Canongate, 3 Nov