PRAISE

“A darkly funny, satirical peek into the world of late-night tabloid journalism and the chaos of our times. With explorations on grief, ambition, and privilege in the media industry, it quickly becomes tough to look away from." — Natalie Sue, author of I Hope This Finds You Well

“Snappy, fun, and set in the always-fascinating world of New York media. Loved it!" —Cat Marnell, New York Times bestselling author of How to Murder Your Life

“I gorged on The Scoop as though reading an explosive exposé about the state of the world—which, in many ways, I was. Erin Van Der Meer has crafted a devastating satire … Smart, savage, and tinged with grief, The Scoop is required reading for anyone who has compromised themselves today for a better tomorrow."—Ruth Madievsky, award-winning author of All Night Pharmacy

“The Scoop is a thrilling page-turner about how far one ambitious journalist will go to land the story that could change her fortunes. It's also a scathing satire of the media outlets that run on celebrity gossip—and our own bottomless appetite for stories of the worst moments in celebrities' lives. I absolutely devoured it.” — Leigh Stein, bestselling author of Self Care 

“The Scoop calls out the modern tabloid newsroom for the dark funhouse mirror it is—where outrage is currency, empathy is a liability, and even the most earnest idealists must learn to weaponize gossip and the private lives of others. Following one journalist’s plunge from glossy-magazine dreams to clickbait drudgery, Erin Van Der Meer captures with biting humor, sharp insight, and impeccable pacing the contradictions of a dying industry clinging to whatever attention it can still scrounge. Anyone who’s ever worked in a newsroom—or dreamed of it—will recognize the desperation, the absurdity, and the flickering hope that maybe, somehow, it still matters. I loved this.” — Andrew Boryga, author of Victim

“Whiplash meets tabloid journalism in this electric debut. The Scoop’s provocative, propulsive story and relentless protagonist kept me hooked and made me reflect on my own role in a culture of navel-gazing and the attention economy.” —Warona Jay, author of The Grand Scheme Of Things

“Erin Van Der Meer's The Scoop follows down-and-out journalist Frankie Miller as she navigates grief, the dark side of ambition, the sometimes-unbearable pain of self-discovery, all while sinking to absolute rock bottom. A timely, commanding, blistering debut, this one's sure to leave a lasting mark.” —Ashley Tate, internationally bestselling author of Twenty-Seven Minutes

“An urgent, searing satire of the media that tracks the steady decline of a previously ‘respectable’ journalist, Frankie, as she is sucked into the ruthless snake pit of tabloid journalism. Through exceptional storytelling, this novel explores the cost of ambition, murky moral boundaries, and poses the question: in our perpetual pursuit of information, are we—the reader—really any better than the news outlets whose articles we consume by the dozen? I loved it!”—Georgia McVeigh, author of Sorry for Your Loss

“This dark and propulsive tale sucked me in, left me feeling guilty about every time I've clicked on a story about a flailing actor, and spat me out gasping.” — Chris Bridges, author of Sick To Death

press

“All of New York media is about to shiver in fear/recognition.” [LitHub, The Most Anticipated Books of 2026]

“Get ready to binge THE SCOOP … this book is incendiary.” [Debutiful, The Most Anticipated Books of 2026]

“Clever and fun … a well-written, au courant first novel.” [Kirkus Reviews]

“The Scoop is a warning, and a scathing takedown of the state of media.” [Sarah’s Bookshelves]