Society of Shame

More about the book

In this timely and witty narrative, a viral photo of a politician's wife's "feminine hygiene malfunction" thrusts her into unwanted fame, blending satire of social media stardom with a tender mother-daughter tale. Kathleen Held's life spirals when she returns home to find her house ablaze and her husband, Bill, in his underwear on the lawn. The scandal isn't just Bill's clichéd affair with a young staffer; it's the accidental capture of a period stain on Kathleen's pants. Overnight, she becomes the unwitting face of a social media women's rights movement, #YesWeBleed. Humiliated, she seeks refuge from the spotlight but discovers the Society of Shame, led by infamous author Danica Bellevue. Here, Kathleen joins others working to transform their lives post-scandal. Embracing the society's teachings, she turns her humiliation into a platform for self-reclamation. However, as her online popularity grows, her obsession threatens her most vital relationship: that with her budding activist daughter, Aggie. Hilarious and heartfelt, this story explores the intersection of politics and the challenges of being "extremely online," all while navigating the complexities of identity and family.