Why I Finished Evil Genius by Claire Oshetsky in One Day | Book Review

February 24, 2026 · 44 min

About this episode

Olivia Sose reviews 'Evil Genius' by Claire Oshetsky, discussing its themes of abuse and societal issues.

I finished this book in one day—I literally couldn't put it down. I came across Evil Genius by Claire Oshetsky by chance, and I was instantly hooked. It’s a short but incredibly addictive read that left me needing to talk about what Celia went through. In this review, I’m breaking down why this 1974-set novel is such a powerful look at the "invisible" side of abuse. In this episode, I discuss: Domestic Violence is More Than a Punch: Why "he never hit me" is a dangerous myth. I look at Drew’s psychological warfare—from keeping malice for weeks to the "accidental" car crash. The Architecture of Shame: How an older man used isolation and sexual shaming to dominate a 19-year-old who had nowhere else to go. The Workplace Double Standard: Celia’s 1974 phone company job vs. my own experience in a customer-facing role. We talk about why customers suddenly "behave" when they hear a man's voice. Mrs. Brisket Delusion: The mental gymnastics of blaming an employee for a family's personal tragedy. Rating: 4.5/5 I loved Celia’s bravery and that "wonderful surprise" ending. Now, I’m officially asking the author for a sequel!

Topics covered

Domestic Violence
Psychological Warfare
Isolation
Sexual Shaming
Workplace Double Standard

Keywords

Evil Genius
Claire Oshetsky
book review
1974
abuse

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Evil Genius

Why I Finished Evil Genius by Claire Oshetsky in One Day | Book Review

About this episode

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

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