Invisible Girl: A Novel

Owen reads stories online of false accusations of sexual assault. He finds an incel discussion forum and feels particularly drawn to the username YourLoss. YourLoss outlines the issues in his own work environment when a coworker accused him of sexual harassment. Owen feels connected to YourLoss, especially since YourLoss says that he has never had a serious girlfriend, even though he is in his thirties like Owen. The next day, a police officer comes to Owen’s door to ask him questions about Tilly’s assault.

Owen becomes agitated the more he thinks about his suspension, obsessing about the fact that he has never had a girlfriend. He reads the posts on YourLoss’s website in which he describes himself as an incel, resentfully outlining his belief that women are not going on dates with certain men because they want to punish them.

Jed and Holly call Owen into the office for another meeting. Holly tells Owen that several people at the Christmas party corroborate the girl’s story about Owen’s behavior. Holly gives Owen a pamphlet about a sexual harassment seminar and says that if he attends the seminar and implements what he has learned into his work life, then he can stay at the college.