American Subversive is a novel by David Goodwillie published in 2010.
American Subversive tells the tale of Aidan Cole, a New York-based failed journalism student turned Manhattan gossip blogger and Paige Roderick, a "home-grown" eco-terrorist turned radical by the Iraq War death of her beloved brother. The novel explores the roots of radicalism in the modern world and it is structured as a split memoir, alternating between the points of view of the two characters, who are now hiding in separate safe houses, following a radical action that went terribly wrong.
Writing for The Daily Beast, Claire Howorth describes the novel as "a fast-paced, engaging novel of pop-culture and big ideas, authentically subversive, and thoroughly American" which "spins the themes of morality, loyalty, and patriotism into an insightfully entertaining commentary on modern history and contemporary society",[1] while Publishers Weekly hailed it as "an incisive depiction of radicalism’s seductive roots".[2]
Criticism of the book focused on the shallow nature of the two main characters and the handling of the emerging love story which "feels more expected than earned", according to a review in the New York Times.[3] Similarly, NPR questions the "bland romance" between Aidan and Paige, claiming that "Goodwillie is a terrific and observant writer, but even he can't roll political critique, social comedy, fast-paced thriller and mushy love story into one convincing package".[4]
American Subversive was a New York Times Notable Book of 2010,[5] and a Vanity Fair and Publishers Weekly top ten spring debut.