About The Book

Haunting, philosophical horror for these modern times about what one aspiring actress is willing to give up in exchange for making her dreams come true—a groundbreaking collaboration from the author of Foe and I'm Thinking of Ending Things and the filmmaker of Our Father, the Devil and the upcoming erotic drama Fleur.

Missy Djalo has spent years trying to mold herself into a real working actor. Someone who can become anyone. Someone who belongs in the spotlight. But so far, her life has been an endless loop of failed auditions, of sleepless nights running monologues in the seedy apartment she can barely afford, of constantly comparing herself to the prettier, richer, better-connected actresses that she’s passed over for again and again.

She knows her struggles will be worth it once she makes it big. Then, she’ll laugh in the face of everyone who ever doubted her. Like her mother, who never understood Missy’s passion.

When Missy is invited to audition for a lucrative commercial, it feels like a light at the end of the tunnel. The kind of paycheck and exposure that could change everything for her. But as the audition stretches on, the boundaries between reality and fantasy become increasingly blurred, and Missy begins to wonder: What will she have to sacrifice to reach her dreams?

Brimming with unease until the very last page, A New Kind of Clean is a surreal, minimalist fable about memory, alienation, ambition, and reality, from two critically acclaimed masters of their craft.

Appearances

OCT 17
12:00AM
In Person
Ellie Foumbi

FESTIVAL - Calgary Wordfest

Calgary Wordfest
1221 2 St SW
Calgary Public Library - Memorial Park
Calgary, Alberta T2R 1N8
OCT 23
7:00PM
In Person
Ellie Foumbi

EVENT - Grimsby Author Series

Grimsby Public Library
18 Carnegie Ln
Grimsby, Ontario L3M 1Y1

About The Authors

Photograph by Iain Reid

Iain Reid has written five books, including the New York Times bestselling novel I’m Thinking of Ending Things, which has been translated into more than twenty languages and was adapted into a Netflix film by Oscar winner Charlie Kaufman. His second novel, Foe, was also adapted to film, starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal. His third novel, We Spread, was nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award.

Photograph © Jeanne Krajka

Ellie Foumbi is an award-winning screenwriter and director. She was born in Cameroon and grew up in Westchester, New York. After completing an MFA at Columbia University’s School of the Arts, she made her debut feature film, Our Father, the Devil, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and received universal critical acclaim. She was named one of 25 New Faces of Independent Film by Filmmaker Magazine. Ellie’s work is focused on unique, character-driven stories that explore pressing cultural and social-political issues through a genre lens.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Scribner Canada (October 6, 2026)
  • Length: 208 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781668223826

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Raves and Reviews

"An original, eerie work unlike any other. A New Kind of Clean works its way under your skin, and stays there." Sara Gran, author of Come Closer and Little Mysteries 

“An original, eerie work unlike any other. A New Kind of Clean works its way under your skin, and stays there.”

– Sara Gran, author of Come Closer and Little Mysteries

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