Gym

Clever, witty, and wild: With her new novel, Verena Kessler takes the literary world of the gym by storm and pushes her main character to the limit. Shiny mirrors, defined bodies, casual flirts at the counter. The protagonist in Verena Kessler's vibrant novel loves her new job at the mega gym. There’s no pressure to perform, no overtime, just lovable colleagues and a boss who is a proud feminist. Everything is perfect, except for the tiny little lie she let slip during the job interview. She claimed to have recently given birth, and now everyone wants to see baby photos and constantly asks about "the little one." But it’s not until bodybuilder Vick shows up that it becomes clear that an invented child isn’t the only secret this reticent narrator is hiding. A story about obsession, ambition, and the self-destructive side of beautiful surfaces.