Confidence

A Novel

By: Rafael Frumkin

Narrated by: Em Grosland

One of The Washington Post’s 50 Best Works of Fiction of 2023
A New York Times Editors’ Choice
One of Them’s Best Books of 2023
One of Crimereads Best Crime Novels of 2023
“Theranos but make it gay.” —Electric Literature

Best friends (and occasional lovers) Ezra and Orson are teetering on top of the world after founding a company that promises instant enlightenment in this “propulsive, cheeky, eat-the-rich page-turner” (The Washington Post) about scams, schemes, and the absurdity of the American Dream.

At seventeen, Ezra Green doesn’t have a lot going on for him: he’s shorter than average, snaggle-toothed, internet-addicted, and halfway to being legally blind. He’s also on his way to Last Chance Camp, the final stop before juvie.

But Ezra’s summer at Last Chance turns life-changing when he meets Orson, brilliant and Adonis-like with a mind for hustling. Together, the two embark upon what promises to be a fruitful career of scam artistry. But things start to spin wildly out of control when they try to pull off their biggest scam yet—Nulife, a corporation that promises its consumers a lifetime of bliss.

“Propulsive” (The New York Times Book Review) and “laugh-out-loud funny” (BuzzFeed), with the suspense of The Talented Mr. Ripley, the decadence of The Great Gatsby, and the wit of Succession, Confidence is a story for anyone who knows that the American Dream is just another pyramid scheme.

Critic reviews

One of the Washington Post’s 50 Best Works of Fiction of 2023

"Em Grosland takes listeners inside the mind of Ezra Green, a con man who is hopelessly in love with Orson Ortman, his con artist partner. Grosland excels at voicing the two men from their first meeting at a camp for juvenile delinquents to Ortman's wedding more than a decade later...Grosland keeps listeners invested and even engenders sympathy for Green, a manipulative liar, fraud, and all-around sociopath whose diseased eyes torment him until his world turns black."

Tragic but addictive

This story is truly a train wreck you can't look away from. But a pretty fun read along the way, even though it's ultimately a tragic cautionary tale. I laughed out loud many times...probably just as often as I rolled my eyes at the lies the protagonist believed (or told himself) or the clear bullshit they peddled. I also saw so much from past experiences and people I've known.

A surprisingly great read

The characters of Ez and Orson are among the most fascinating I have encountered in the last five years of listening to Audiblw

Loved

Loved the story, adored the characters. Captivating writing, definitely one I’ll come back to again

Can’t help but root for the bad guy

Got sucked into the narrative quickly and enjoyed all the twists and turns. Found this on a recommendation from Instagram and I’m glad I spent the time listening.

Meh

For me a good novel takes you on a rollercoaster ride but this one only goes one direction: down. I was hoping to eventually like this protagonist, but I couldn't; I really ended up hating him- his self-destructive behavior and actions never change and the downward spiral never ends. The narration was good enough, but not good enough to lift the bleak storyline.