Review: A Complete Fiction - RL Maizes

Review:  A Complete Fiction - R.L Maizes - November 2025

Every now and then, a book comes along that doesn’t just entertain—it pokes at the edges of our comfort zones and asks the hard questions. A Complete Fiction is one of those reads. I picked it up expecting a juicy publishing scandal, and what I got was a layered, provocative story that had me thinking long after I turned the last page.

At the heart of the novel is P.J. Larkin, a would-be author who posts a “nibble” on the social media app Crave—accusing editor George Dunn of stealing her manuscript. With little evidence, the post goes viral, and suddenly George’s career and reputation are hanging by a thread. The twist? George’s own #MeToo experience inspired the story, while P.J. wrote it based on her sister’s trauma. Cue the moral minefield: who owns a story, and what happens when cancel culture turns its lens on the accuser?

This book reminded me of the messy, emotionally charged conversations we often avoid—especially in today’s social media-saturated world. It’s not just about plagiarism or publishing politics; it’s about consent, authorship, and the ethics of storytelling. I found myself torn between empathy for George, whose life unravels in real time, and discomfort with P.J.’s choices. The novel doesn’t offer easy answers, and that’s what makes it so compelling.

As someone who’s spent years reviewing books and watching the literary world evolve, A Complete Fiction felt eerily timely. It echoes the real-life tensions between truth and narrative, especially in the age of viral posts and instant outrage. I also appreciated how the story subtly explored neurodiversity and trauma without turning characters into caricatures.

This isn’t a cozy read—it’s sharp, smart, and sometimes unsettling. But it’s also deeply human. If you’ve ever wondered about the ethics of writing someone else’s pain, or felt uneasy about the speed at which cancel culture moves, this book will resonate.

A must-read for anyone who loves fiction that challenges, provokes, and reflects the world we live in and if you loved Yellowface by RF Kuang, you will enjoy A Complete Fiction by RL Maizes as it gave me similar vibes of touching on an important subject in the world of publishing of who gets to tell what story and why? 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3I9sUwM