Beta Vulgaris is labeled as horror but it’s not the type of horror that goes bump in the night, it’s societal horror that’s explored in this surreal debut novel by Margie Sarsfield. We follow Elise and her boyfriend Tom as they take a seasonal job harvesting sugar beats. For Elise it’s the chance to earn enough to pay a few months rent and escape the never ending calls of debt collectors. But then people start disappearing and she keeps finding strange pamphlets relating to the beat harvest, not to mention her growing suspicions of her boyfriend cheating on her. She begins to disassociate and fall back on disordered eating habits, and we, the reader, begin to question the what is real and what’s in her mind. 

This was a really interesting read that delves into class, consumption, mental health, trauma, and an exploration of self loathing. Elise is a flawed but sympathetic character and seeing her deterioration and breakdown was rough. The atmosphere of the novel is strange and surreal, a bit like a fever dream. The ambiguity of the ending may leave readers wanting but I feel like it works and left me thinking about it long after I had finished reading it. Sarsfield’s writing definitely left an impression on me and I want to read more of her work in the future.

I think that this will appeal to those who enjoy Mona Awad and Melissa Broder’s writing. It also had My Year of Rest and Relaxation vibes.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.