SOLVED. Adult Sci-Fi - Devices that see into other/ parallel universes to communicate with other selves.

[Lady]

I'm fairly sure I read it this year (2022).

As in the topic title, the story involved devices that could see into parallel universes which people used to communicate with their other selves or otherwise learn about how their lives had been affected by choices they had made (e.g. if I recall correctly one person had turned down a proposal and wanted to see if their other self that had accepted the proposal was happier.)

There was some discussion about how even changes in weather cycles could have a knock on effect in the way the world/universe developed.

There was a support group for people who were addicted to looking into alternative universes.

The main (or one of the main?) characters was attending the support group and also working in one of the shops involved with the devices. She and her boss/co-worker were (view spoiler)[running scams (hide spoiler)], early on they (view spoiler)[trick an old lady out of her money by convincing her she can will it to her alternate self, which isn't possible and they instead pocket the money (hide spoiler)]. Later a famous acting couple get into an accident and (view spoiler)[one dies in the primary focus world and there's an alternative world where the other one dies (hide spoiler)] so the boss/co-worker decides to (view spoiler)[trick someone out of their device so that famous actor A can communicate with his husband though of course they plan to charge a lot for that. (hide spoiler)] Before that plan can go ahead the consequences of their earlier actions come back to haunt them when (view spoiler)[the son of the scammed elderly lady comes and shoots the boss/co-worker dead. (hide spoiler)]

I've checked back through the books I've read this year here on Goodreads, and even into last year, and I cannot find it so I'm guessing I forgot to add it. I also checked my library reading history and I can't see it there which is weird because I've only been reading library books recently. I tried searching the internet and didn't have any luck. I really hope somebody here can help me!

[Lady]

Solved it myself! After more investigation I realised it was a short story from an anthology. The anthology in question is Exhalation by Ted Chiang, and the specific story is Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom. I guess I was too quick to post asking here, but per the rules I'm leaving the post up in solved in case anyone else looks for it.