The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done (Clare Stephens, Atlantic)

The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done is a sharp and unsettling novel that makes you reconsider every online interaction, bad review, snarky comment or quick judgment. Journalist Ruby Williams wants to shine a light on women’s stories, but when she publishes an interview with a woman who says her partner pressured her into having an abortion, the response is swift and brutal. High-profile journalist and commentator Felicity Cartwright leads the charge, igniting the social media fury. As Ruby struggles to explain her intentions, the backlash takes on a life of its own, exposing just how easily a narrative can spiral and reawakening a deeper wound that has long haunted Ruby and her family. Clare Stephens, former editor-in-chief of Mamamia, brings her deep knowledge of women’s digital media to her debut novel, charting Ruby’s shift from shaping stories to becoming the subject of one. Stephens’ writing is confident, capturing the exhausting pace and volatility of online discourse with precision. The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done is highly readable and explores the personal costs of public shaming with empathy and nuance. While Stephens offers valuable insight into the mechanics of media backlash, some moments feel more instructive than organic, briefly detracting from the novel’s emotional core. Still, this is a timely and compelling read about the loss of narrative control and the scars it can leave behind. Recommended for readers of Diana Reid, Genevieve Novak and Chloe Elisabeth Wilson. 

Books+Publishing reviewer: Jess Lomas is reviews editor for Books+Publishing. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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