Search History

Search History

A Novel

About the Book

“Curious about a new guy, Ana falls into a social media sinkhole when she sees her predecessor: gorgeous, blonde, and dead. . . . This propulsive debut will give you chills.”—People (Best Books Fall 2023)

“A serious blend of Fleabag and Rebecca with the pulse of modern-day existence.”—Weike Wang, author of Joan Is Okay

The truth could be just a scroll away. . . .

After Ana flees to Melbourne in the wake of a breakup, all she has to show for herself is an unfulfilling job at an overly enthusiastic tech start-up and one particularly questionable dating app experience. Then she meets Evan. Charming, kind, and responsible, Evan is a complete deviation from her usual type; Ana feels like she has finally awoken from a long dating nightmare.

As much as she tries to let their relationship unfold IRL, Ana can’t resist the urge to find Evan online. When she discovers that his previous girlfriend, Emily, died unexpectedly in a hit-and-run less than a year ago, Ana begins to worry that she’s living in the shadow of his lost love. Soon she’s obsessively comparing herself to Emily, trawling through her dormant social media accounts in the hope of understanding her better. Online, Evan and Emily’s life together looked perfect—but just how perfect was it? And why won’t he talk about it?

Perceptive and original, full of both pathos and humor, Search History explores the contradictions and uncertainties of twenty-first-century romance. Ana’s journey down the internet rabbit hole of modern dating asks the question: Which is our “true” self—the one we show to the world online, or the one we keep to ourselves?
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Praise for Search History

“Curious about a new guy, Ana falls into a social media sinkhole when she sees her predecessor: gorgeous, blonde and dead. If you’ve ever obsessed over a partner’s ex, this propulsive debut will give you chills.”People, “Must-Read Books for Fall 2023”

“[A] sharp and pacy cautionary tale for the extremely online . . . As the protagonist of this compulsive debut discovers, you click at your own risk.”The Guardian

“[This] debut from Amy Taylor is being lauded as the book of 2023.”Harper’s Bazaar (Australia) (“Best New Releases in May 2023”)

Rebecca meets Fleabag, Taylor’s debut novel explores themes of identity, obsession and dating within the age of the internet.”InStyle (Australia) (“Best Book Releases in May 2023”)

“[A] quick-witted debut novel . . . [Amy] Taylor writes in crisp and clever strokes. . . . Search History is a light-hearted and earnest take on the challenges that courting has for those eager to hit search before the reply button.”Books+Publishing

“Sharp, elegant, wry, wonderfully nuanced, and insightful . . . a must-read for anyone interested in questions of love, relationships, and what it means to know another person in today’s world of instant online gratification—or, really, to know anyone at all.”—Jane Pek, author of The Verifiers

Search History delivers a real, emotional, and keenly heartfelt roller coaster.”—Weike Wang, author of Joan Is Okay

“Incisive and clever, Search History examines how the internet has transformed modern romance into a hall of mirrors and brims with humor, insight, and uncomfortable truths.”—Antonia Angress, author of Sirens & Muses

“I squirmed in recognition on nearly every page of this witty, warm, and painfully honest novel. Search History begins as a story of masochistic obsession before slyly transforming into a battle cry for radical self-acceptance.”—Caitlin Barasch, author of A Novel Obsession

“Glorious . . . As masterful as it is engaging. With precise detail and a writing style that sings, Amy Taylor is able to present the complexities of modern dating . . . I couldn’t put it down.”—Jana Casale, author of How to Fall Out of Love Madly

“A razor-sharp and disturbingly familiar exploration of the way we live and look for love now . . . It made me want to delete my accounts.”—Isabel Kaplan, author of NSFW

“[An] astute debut . . . Funny, keenly observed, and, at times, painfully relatable. Taylor’s willingness to hold up a mirror to cringe-worthy impulses make her a writer to keep tabs on.”Publishers Weekly

“Taylor’s image of dating in the digital age is up-close and honest, [with] sexy scenes, amusing one-liners, and a playful critique of corporate wellness culture.”Kirkus Reviews
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About the Author

Amy Taylor
Amy Taylor is an Australian writer based in Naarm/Melbourne. Search History is her debut novel and she is currently working on her next book. More by Amy Taylor
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