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The Worst Thing I've Ever Done

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The Worst Thing I've Ever Done

By: Clare Stephens
Narrated by: Emma Leonard
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Summary
 A timely debut novel from an exciting new voice in women's fiction about cancel culture and appearance versus reality.

It's an ordinary Tuesday morning when Ruby Williams' name starts trending online.

She's uploaded an interview that has outraged journalist Felicity Cartwright, a social media personality who has built her profile by policing exactly what women are allowed to say and how they're allowed to say it. Ruby is at the centre of a brutal public shaming, watching on in horror as her reputation is torn apart.

At first Ruby thinks she can get on top of it if she can just explain herself better. But she soon realises she'll never be able to placate the tsunami of strangers baying for her blood.

The vitriol pouring in through her phone cracks open a visceral, personal shame from her past that she's refused to face. Because the worst thing Ruby's ever done is not defined by this interview, but by a single, chilling scream.

With skilful empathy, Clare Stephens holds a mirror to online personas versus actual lives, exploring what is truly important in a noise-ridden world competing for our attention.


'As compulsive as any app. Clare Stephens creates a cautionary tale for our times, full of wit and nuance.' JANE HARPER, author of The Dry and Exiles©2025 Clare Stephens Best of 2025 Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction
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As an regular Mamamia podcast listener, I had to read this book. Not quite what I was expecting, but in the best way. I loved how no one was the hero or the villain - everyone was perfectly human with reasons for everything they did.

Thought provoking, challenging and heart wrenching

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Great concept but couldn’t finish as found the same issue was repeated and the story didn’t move along. Maybe it got better in the last third of the story

DNF

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I ound The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done to be an interesting and, at times, uncomfortable listen for multiple reasons. I really appreciated her willingness to call out aspects of cancel culture and the volatility of social media discourse; something I personally struggle hard with, as it often feels like it’s just eroding civility and sense. And I worry much for humanity from it.

That said, I found the structure uneven. The repeated examples of online backlash felt overly drawn out and could have been trimmed without losing impact. I also struggled through the middle section, particularly the flashbacks leading up to her worst thing; they created a sense of prolonged dread that, for me, became difficult to get through because you know what’s coming.

Overall, though, it left me with a greater sense of empathy for people in the media. It’s a reminder that behind every headline is a human being, and that words can be interpreted in so many subjective ways. It reinforced for me the value of pausing and trying to see a story from more than one perspective.

Lots on Whinging.

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Alot of presumptions, narration was on point, love Australian audio books. The end felt a little messy but otherwise a solid story.

Good narration

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The best thing to happen was reading this book. A whole new outlook of every time you’ve ever had an opinion of someone online. I changed my mind about Felicity a few times over the course of reading this book. It all just goes to show JUST BE KIND. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT SOMEONE HAS GONE THROUGH OR GOING THROUGH. JUST BE KIND.

The exact opposite of the title

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