(Reviewed by JD Jung)
If you enjoy dark humor and offbeat protagonists, Cleaner delivers a bizarre ride. The unnamed narrator—a master’s in fine arts graduate who drops out of her PhD program due to financial strain—returns home unable to find an appropriate job. Her obsession with cleaning lands her a job at an art gallery, but her life quickly changes after an impulsive encounter with a fellow artist, Isabella.
From there, the story unfolds in a series of chaotic, often hilarious misadventures, in between urges to clean. Though she admits that she is unable to maintain relationships or jobs, our narrator becomes obsessed with Isabella, and creeps into her life and that of her wealthy boyfriend, Paul. When Isabella suddenly leaves, the protagonist is left with Paul and a life she is unsure of, hoping somehow that Isabella will return.
What makes the tone of this book appealing is that our narrator recounts her experiences with a detached, almost clinical tone that contrasts sharply with the absurdity of her choices. Though she isn’t entirely self-destructive, these poor choices provide a steady stream of consequences that are both cringe-worthy and entertaining.
I’ll admit—I didn’t feel emotionally invested in the characters. However, that didn’t diminish my enjoyment. The novel’s originality, biting humor, and unpredictable plot kept me turning pages, curious about what would go wrong next and whether our narrator would ever find a sense of purpose.
This isn’t a book for everyone, but if you’re drawn to unconventional storytelling and flawed, chaotic characters, Cleaner just may be for you.