FourartistsaredrawnintoawebofrivalryanddesireataneliteartschoolandonthestreetsofNewYorkinthis“gripping,provocative,andsupremelyentertaining“(BuzzFeed)debut“Capturestheache-inducingqualityofartanddesire...adeeplyrelatableandprofoundlyenjoyableread,onedrenchedinprismaticcolorandlight.“--KristenArnett,NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorofWithTeethFINALISTFORTHEMINNESOTABOOKAWARD-ONEOFTHEBESTBOOKSOFTHEYEAR:Glamour,PopSugar,DebutifulIt’s2011:AmericaisinadeeprecessionandOccupyWallStreetisescalating.ButattheeliteWrynnCollegeofArt,studentspaintandsculptinararefiedbubble.LouisaArceneauxisathoughtful,observantnineteen-year-oldwhenshetransferstoWrynnasascholarshipstudent,butshesoonfindsherselfadriftinanenvironmentthatprizesnoveltyoverbeauty.ComplicatingmattersisLouisa’sunexpectedattractiontohercharismaticroommate,KarinaPiontek,thepreternaturallygiftedbutmercurialdaughterofwealthyartcollectors.Gradually,LouisaandKarinaaredrawnintoanintensesensualandartisticrelationship,onethatforcesthemtoconfronttheirdeepestdesiresandfears.ButKarinaalsocan’tshakeherfascinationwithPrestonUtley,aseniorandanti-capitalistInternetprovocateur,whoispubliclyfeudingwithvisitingprofessorandpoliticalpainterRobertBerger--aonce-controversialfigureheadseekingtoregainrelevance.WhenPrestonconcoctsanexplosivehoax,thefatesofallfourartistsareupendedaseachisunexpectedlythrustintothecutthroatNewYorkartworld.Nowallmuststruggletofindnewidentitiesinart,insociety,andamongeachother.Intheprocess,theymustfindeithertheirmostauthentictermsoflife--ofsuccess,failure,andjoy--orrisklosingthemselvesaltogether.Withacanny,criticaleye,Sirens&Musesoverturnsnotionsofclass,money,art,youth,andageneration’sfighttoowntheirfuture.
