Esther is Now Following You: Tanya Sweeney's novel about digital stalking
A psychological thriller about celebrity obsession, parasocial relationships, and mental health
What is the book about?
Esther is Now Following You is a striking debut novel from Irish journalist Tanya Sweeney, published by Bantam in January 2026. The novel is set in London, where we follow thirty-year-old Esther, whose life takes a drastic turn when she randomly spots Canadian actor Ted in a local park. What starts as an innocent interest quickly develops into an all-consuming obsession, drawing connections to modern phenomena such as parasocial relationships and digital surveillance.
Throughout the narrative, the reader witnesses how social media acts as a catalyst for Esther's stalking. The book explores the psychological mechanisms behind why a person begins to project their own needs and deficiencies onto a stranger simply because they are publicly known. Sweeney manages to balance the tragic and the uncomfortable while exposing the vulnerability of digital life.
The real case
Although Esther is Now Following You is a fictional work, the book draws on very real issues surrounding stalking and mental health. The novel has been compared to popular cultural phenomena such as Baby Reindeer and Fleabag, precisely because it delves into the darker sides of human attachment. Although the characters Esther and Ted are invented for the occasion, their interaction mirrors the many cases of celebrity stalking that police in both the UK and Canada handle annually.
Themes such as grief, isolation, and chronic depression serve as a backdrop for Esther's actions. Thus, the novel functions not only as a thriller but also as a social commentary on how modern society and technology can facilitate unhealthy obsessions. It highlights how the boundaries between the private and the public have become blurred in an age where everyone is accessible with a click.
About the author
Tanya Sweeney is an acclaimed Irish journalist, and her background in the media world is clearly reflected in her sharp observations of celebrity culture. With Esther is Now Following You, she has created a narrative that quickly placed second on the bestseller lists. Her ability to portray complex female characters with both humor and depth has made her a significant new voice in the psychological thriller genre.