Thank you, NetGalley and Zero Day Books, LLC., for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
It's not often a book leaves me speechless, but this book had me reeling from the twists and turns. This book originally caught my eye because of her microbiologist background, similar to my own as a student. I was very excited to read a book about a girl navigating the world as a microbiologist and poker player, but when the book takes a sharp and sinister turn, I had to put the book down briefly to process the events. It's not often a book pulls me into the story so deeply, but from page one, I was hooked on the story. I give this a five out of five stars, and I am waiting for more amazing writing from Tessa Pacelli.

Omg this book was literally so good!! I loved it from the beginning all the way to the end. It was such a captivating story! I definitely need to get a copy of this when it comes out for keeping!

2.0. Definitely not my kind of book. Way too much technology, sci-fi and AI. Not for me, although writing was okay. I tried to stretch and get through it but I couldn't. Recommend for folks who like technology, sci-fi and AI.

It had been a while since I'd ventured into the suspense genre. However, when I read this one, I remembered my sincere passion for the genre. This is a fast-paced, intelligent book that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to do nothing but read.
I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the eARC.

Thanks to Net Galley for providing me this ARC.

Garbage Man” by Tessa Pacelli is a techno-thriller that grabs you by the collar and whispers, “Trust no one, especially your screen.”

It’s sharp, fast, and unsettlingly relevant—basically your worst digital nightmare wrapped in a plot twist. The main character’s a badass, the tension’s nonstop, and I read in one day.

Still, if you like your thrillers smart, pissed off, and socially conscious, Pacelli delivers the digital paranoia with flair.

WOW! This was not what I was expecting. It was a sci- fi thriller with creepy AI mixed in. It hit a little close to home and kept me reading to find out what was going to happen next. 4 stars because some of the extreme details bogged it down. Otherwise a really enjoyable read!

The Garbage Man pulls you in from page one and doesn’t let go. Kayla Mousavi is fresh out of Harvard and lands a dream role at General Recycling—the golden child of tech with its magic trash-eating bacteria and larger-than-life CEO. But what starts as career goals quickly turns into a high-stakes thriller where nothing is what it seems.

Tessa Pacelli balances fast-paced corporate intrigue with unsettling psychological twists. Kayla’s journey from ambitious analyst to hunted whistleblower is wild—in the best way. The company’s glossy surface hides secrets that are genuinely disturbing, and the deeper she goes, the scarier it gets.

It’s one of those thrillers that feels a little too close to real life, with technology, power, and privacy all tangled together. Plus, the writing is snappy and sharp, with just enough edge to keep you flipping pages way past bedtime.

If you’re into smart suspense with a tech twist and a strong, relatable lead, definitely put this on your list.

Thank you to Tess Pacelli, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.