The Narcissist

Ryan Slater has spent his life running: from the trauma of his broken childhood, from the guilt of mercilessly bullying a classmate who later took his own life, and from the hollow identity he built in its aftermath. Determined to reinvent himself, Ryan relocates to Phoenix, where he begins dating a young woman with dreams of becoming a full–time social media influencer. Through her, he is introduced to a world obsessed with appearances, validation, and online fame. It's in this digital landscape that Ryan hatches his most reckless idea yet: creating a fake profile as a man transitioning to a woman. Posing as "Avery Skye," he begins documenting a fabricated journey of self–discovery, never expecting it to gain much traction. But when his lie goes viral, Ryan is trapped in the very persona he invented–admired, envied, and scrutinized by thousands who believe his every word. Then the nightmare begins. Ryan awakens in a dark, unfamiliar room–disoriented, terrified, and altered in ways he cannot comprehend. His captor knows who he really is, and they are determined to make him live the deception he once faked. Stripped of control over his body and identity, Ryan–now Avery–is forced into a harrowing psychological and physical battle to survive. As they search for answers, Avery uncovers chilling truths about who orchestrated this twisted revenge and why. But nothing is as it seems, and every revelation pulls him deeper into a web of obsession, betrayal, and reckoning. A haunting exploration of identity, guilt, and the dangers of a life built on lies, The Narcissist is a gripping psychological thriller that will leave readers questioning how well we ever truly know ourselves–or the people who watch us online.

-- Erica Rivera