As we all know, even the publishing industry is extremely dependent on hypes created on social media channels, attention, clicks, whatsoever. Hypes that create international mega sellers. That makes THE UNREPENTANT revealing and intriguing – even for paper loving publishing people.
— German original publisher

“The Internet’s Ten: Alina Penner pushes them to their limits. We experience it all right alongside them. This novel is like a digital‑age car crash—unforgettable.” — Member of Parliament Ricarda Lang

“Alina Penner is the Capote of a new generation. She effortlessly crafts gripping stories whose protagonists are crushed by the absurdities of our self‑centered society.” — Ninnia Lagrande

“Alina Penner, the voice of our overburdened women, holds up a mirror to us with her witty pen, bringing us to tears and making us feel deeply understood. Only she could do this so brilliantly.” — Caroline Rosales

“This novel is like the comment section: merciless, noisy, and utterly addictive.” — Kathrin Wesling

“The internet is finally no longer an unknown territory: Alina Penner not only understands it, but also the people who inhabit it. With astonishing speed and a unique sense of humor, she explains it all to us.” — Dana Wöwenkeller

“More thrilling than a thriller, more moving than a romance, the author reveals to readers the terrifying realities of the digital age.” — Buchlust

“This book may well be a mirror held up to our overburdened, selfish, and hypocritical society… Penner paints this picture with razor‑sharp precision, rich irony, and delicate humor.” — Britta Schmais, NDR Culture Radio

“Combines feminist conviction with pop‑culture savvy” Melanie Schippling — kultur.west

“[...] Offers many fascinating insights into digital identities, online communication, and behavioral patterns.” — Elisa Pirog — Instagram

“Penner does not deliver a one‑sided critique of our self‑obsessed digital society; instead, she tells a compelling, powerful, and humorous story.” — Elmar Veeser — Südkurier

“[...] A gripping, nail‑biting tale that had me laughing out loud at times and in tears at others.” — Anna Sasse — Instagram

“[...] Completely unexpected, at times downright crazy, definitely not light reading—but that’s precisely what makes it so unforgettable.” — Tuğba Bayrali — Instagram

“The strength of the author’s narrative style lies precisely in her refusal to dehumanize her characters, but rather…” “It’s a question of how these people veered so far off course.” Antonia Leise — WDR Westart

“A highly engaging and timely concept, brimming with bold ideas and a clear sense of the times. For anyone who loves media criticism, reality‑show mechanics, and the darker side of social networks…” — Stephanie Sommer — Instagram

“Shocking yet hilariously funny, utterly captivating.” “A must‑read!” Rainer Francke — Rainer Francke

“A riveting story that brings to life characters who are real, broken, loathsome, yet somehow sympathetic, all while packing in plenty of social critique.” — Carolin Tönnis — Literature Blog

“A satire that is equally clever and witty.” — Franziska Trost — Kronen Zeitung

“When Alina Penner tells a story, she always masters the pacing with finesse and expresses herself in wonderfully vivid language.” — Hartmut Horstmann — Westfalen-Blatt

“The writing is so compelling that once you start, you simply can’t put it down.” Elke Geist — Leipziger Volkszeitung

“A book that has stayed with me long after I finished it; I’ll definitely recommend it to others.” — Sena Cesur — Instagram

“[...] This is a sharp, witty, and strikingly contemporary book that shows just how close entertainment and the abyss can be.” — Anne Lehmann — Instagram

“An intriguing experiment, [...] packed with substance.” — Anika Falke — Papierstau podcast

“Penner dissects the gray area between influencer culture, morality, and the unbridled rage found in the comment sections.” — BÜCHERmagazin

“With just the right mix of incisiveness and subtle humor, Penner tackles rampant misogyny [...] and builds a suspenseful atmosphere.” — kulturnews

“Delightfully entertaining, and you don’t even need to go online.” Sally‑Charel Derin — SR Kultur

“Clever, witty, and at the same time critically examining our digital selves. [...] A gripping story [...] that both entertains and makes you think.” Eleni Efthimiou — Radio Eins

“Chillingly enlightening, chillingly profound.” A must‑read! « Katharina Martini ― 59plus.de

“I rarely come across a book as gripping, relevant to current events, and captivating as Alina Penner’s latest.” — Silke Willmy — Instagram

“Penner’s work is multifaceted and always full of unexpected twists; she exposes the depths of human nature in a world warped by social media and the internet.” Vera Drude

“This book clearly demonstrates just how exceptional a writer Alina Penner is—it’s undoubtedly one of the highlights of the year.” Pia Ciesielski — Pia Ciesielski

“The author’s new novel sparkles with brilliant dialogue and a thoroughly modern language.” Tobias Lentzler — Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

“If you’re looking for a good laugh, the author’s latest novel might be just what you need.” — Dano Senger — Instagram

“Very strange, but really very good.” — Westfälische Nachrichten

“Savory, clever, and highly entertaining” — Tina Kroeber — Emotion Website

★ Praised by numerous European media outlets and magazines! It seamlessly blends the suspense of “Black Mirror,” the ensemble‑driven dynamism of “Friends,” and the incisive edge of “This Is Us,” using precise prose to explore influencer culture, media critique, the logic of reality TV, and the dark underbelly of social networks—crafting a nuanced yet profound allegory of a contemporary society weighed down by excess, vanity, and narcissism.
★ A novel that is both engaging, moving, and strikingly modern! Witty and humorous, sharp and biting, wickedly suspenseful… it pulses with the rhythm of the cyber age while gazing into the abyss of glamour and human nature in the digital world. Prepare yourself: within these pages, you’ll encounter a reality show that will shatter your preconceptions! ★ Partial English translations available.

The internet is like an echo chamber: exposure and traffic are currency, while silence and oblivion are punishment.
Haɪmlɪk is the hottest app around—sophisticated, mysterious, and anything but harmless. Ten users with the highest-level access have received invitations to a secluded estate for a weekend getaway.
Ten people—each one a product of the internet age. Is it going to be some kind of event? Of course—but there will be no press conferences this time. There’s no cell service, no internet connection, and one thing everyone knows all too well: Haɪmlɪk knows everything they’ve tried to hide. Among them is a mother who has turned her child into a brand; a bus driver torn between healing crystals and online harassment; an influencer whose rear end is the most famous in the country; three women whose follower counts rival stock prices; and seven men who leave comments in the comment sections. They all wield immense influence online—yet each harbors secrets best left untold.

But suddenly, it all becomes real, no longer just virtual. And off‑line, more and more people begin to disappear. Someone is watching, quietly observing it all.
What starts as a tale of an influencer retreat gradually unfolds into an intimate drama about power, guilt, and self‑promotion. Everyone recognizes the world on display here—the digital society presented as a newsfeed, as comments, or as algorithms. But what happens when it slows down, intensifies, and ultimately turns against itself? The author herself describes it as “a blend of Friends, Black Mirror, and 1984, with just a dash of Truth,” and that description hits the mark perfectly.

P.S. There’s also a special interview with Elina Pena about this book, in which she discusses reality TV, women’s position online, and the array of dangers that arise when the internet remains a legal gray zone.

Elena Penner
Born in 1987, Elena Penner barely qualifies as a Soviet citizen. For more than thirty years, she has been explaining why she is a Mennonite German rather than a Russian. In 2022, her debut novel, “Nightberry,” was published, and now she no longer needs to offer such explanations. She studied in Bavaria and Berlin, lived for many years in her hometown in East Westphalia, and runs the online magazine “Capital Moms.” Her articles have appeared in publications such as Der Spiegel, Vogue, and 11 Freunde.
Her books “Immigrant Mother” and “The Unrepentant” have also been published by the same press as her first work.