Idol, Burning

Idol, Burning – A Haunting Exploration of Obsession, Fandom & Social Media

🔥📱 A Powerful Novel on Toxic Fandom & Digital Devotion That Took Japan by Storm 📱🔥

Idol, Burning, the electrifying debut novel from award-winning Japanese author Rin Usami, is a twenty-first-century Catcher in the Rye—a gripping tale of obsession, alienation, and the dark side of idol culture.

🎤 Meet Akari, a socially awkward high school junior who is utterly devoted to her "oshi," Masaki Ueno, a member of the hit J-pop group Maza Maza. She meticulously documents every detail of his life on her blog, convinced that Masaki is her only source of strength and meaning.

💥 But when scandalous allegations against Masaki explode across social media, Akari’s world begins to unravel. As she obsessively defends him, her grip on reality weakens, blurring the line between fandom and self-destruction.

⚡ Idol, Burning is a blistering look at stan culture, social media toxicity, and the emotional void of modern obsession. Usami, a writer barely older than her protagonist, shines a raw and unflinching light on the idolatry and exploitation of pop culture’s biggest stars.

📖 Perfect for fans of psychological fiction, pop culture critiques, and gripping contemporary novels about fandom and identity. 📖

Translated from Japanese by Asa Yoneda.