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People to Follow
Ten teen influencers come to a remote island to star in a reality show, but when one of them winds up dead, they realize that this time, the price of being “cancelled” could be their lives.
A reality show on a remote Caribbean island. Ten teen influencers. One dead body.
Welcome to “In Real Life,” the hot new reality show that forces social media’s reigning kings and queens to unplug for three weeks and “go live” without any filters. IRL is supposed to be the opportunity of a lifetime, watched closely by legions of loyal followers. But for these rising stars--including Elody, an Instagram model with an impulsive streak; Kira, a child star turned fitness influencer; Logan, a disgraced TikTok celeb with a secret; and Max, a YouTuber famous for exposés on his fellow creators—it’s about to turn into a nightmare.
When the production crew fails to show up and one of their own meets a violent end, these nine little influencers find themselves stranded with a dead body and no way to reach the outside world. When they start receiving messages from a mysterious Sponsor threatening to expose their darkest secrets, they realize that they’ve been lured into a deadly game…and one of them might be pulling the strings.
With the body count rising and cameras tracking their every move, the creators must figure out who is trying to get them canceled—like, literally—before their #1 follower strikes again.
A reality show on a remote Caribbean island. Ten teen influencers. One dead body.
Welcome to “In Real Life,” the hot new reality show that forces social media’s reigning kings and queens to unplug for three weeks and “go live” without any filters. IRL is supposed to be the opportunity of a lifetime, watched closely by legions of loyal followers. But for these rising stars--including Elody, an Instagram model with an impulsive streak; Kira, a child star turned fitness influencer; Logan, a disgraced TikTok celeb with a secret; and Max, a YouTuber famous for exposés on his fellow creators—it’s about to turn into a nightmare.
When the production crew fails to show up and one of their own meets a violent end, these nine little influencers find themselves stranded with a dead body and no way to reach the outside world. When they start receiving messages from a mysterious Sponsor threatening to expose their darkest secrets, they realize that they’ve been lured into a deadly game…and one of them might be pulling the strings.
With the body count rising and cameras tracking their every move, the creators must figure out who is trying to get them canceled—like, literally—before their #1 follower strikes again.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 2023
95 people are currently reading
18.2k people want to read
About the author
Olivia Worley
6 books276 followersOlivia Worley is an author born and raised in New Orleans. A graduate of Northwestern University, she now lives in NYC, where she spends her time writing thrillers, over-analyzing episodes of The Bachelor, and hoping someone will romanticize her for reading on the subway.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 900 reviews
July 8, 2023
People To Follow is a YA thriller in the vein of And Then Were None featuring teen influencers.
10 influencers travel to a deserted island to film a reality show titled In Real Life (IRL). They thought living, in reality, wasn't going to be hard, but they were wrong! Cut off from technology and their followers, their true personalities are revealed as their dirtiest secrets are exposed. Even more dramatic, one influencer is out for revenge and begins killing off the contestants one by one.
The reader is exposed to four POVs: Kiral, Logan, Elody, and Max. None of the four were particularly likable, but Kira and Max are the most stable. Most of the 10 are hideous, and I was happy when they were killed. The narrative is uneven, with some voices being more developed than others.
Chapters vary in length--some were short, some were long. Messages and challenges are shared by the Sponsor via smartwatches.
This is a fun, guilty pleasure read if you can tolerate privileged teen influencers whining about their first-world problems. The mystery behind the murderer was interesting, and there were some decent red herrings and twists mixed in. Overall, a solid debut by Worley.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway!
10 influencers travel to a deserted island to film a reality show titled In Real Life (IRL). They thought living, in reality, wasn't going to be hard, but they were wrong! Cut off from technology and their followers, their true personalities are revealed as their dirtiest secrets are exposed. Even more dramatic, one influencer is out for revenge and begins killing off the contestants one by one.
The reader is exposed to four POVs: Kiral, Logan, Elody, and Max. None of the four were particularly likable, but Kira and Max are the most stable. Most of the 10 are hideous, and I was happy when they were killed. The narrative is uneven, with some voices being more developed than others.
Chapters vary in length--some were short, some were long. Messages and challenges are shared by the Sponsor via smartwatches.
This is a fun, guilty pleasure read if you can tolerate privileged teen influencers whining about their first-world problems. The mystery behind the murderer was interesting, and there were some decent red herrings and twists mixed in. Overall, a solid debut by Worley.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway!
August 1, 2023
Ten influencers are stuck on a deserted island under the guise of being filmed for a reality TV show about "unplugging." Meanwhile, someone has a sinister plan for revenge, and when an influencer is found dead, everyone is worried that they have become trapped on the island with a murderer.
The story is told from the point of view of Max, Kira, Elody, and Logan, even though there are six other influencers in the house, plus Tilly, a personal assistant who sets everything up. I was relieved there weren't chapters for every character; it was hard enough to keep up with all the dialogue, and it became overwhelming. I ended up swiping back to check whose chapter I was reading. At this point, my mind started to wander, and I found it challenging to focus; swiping through the pages was not a good sign. I struggled with my choice to keep reading or DNF. It seemed every character had the same personality with no real depth or background, which made the different perspectives very confusing. The characters felt to be one-dimensional. I couldn't connect with any particular character's personality because they lacked real human emotions. They were selfish, self-intitled and whiney. Then again, there were spoiled, rich teenagers.
I'm not in the age demographic for this type of story—so please take the previous sentence with a grain of salt. I think it comes down to a personal choice. I didn't realize it was a YA book. I made a mistake and should not have requested the book. I think the demographic for this book is on the earlier cusp of YA because it reads younger than most YA books. Would I pick this up again? No. Would I recommend it to young readers? Yes! I realize that influencer-based books are not my cup of tea.
I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own
The story is told from the point of view of Max, Kira, Elody, and Logan, even though there are six other influencers in the house, plus Tilly, a personal assistant who sets everything up. I was relieved there weren't chapters for every character; it was hard enough to keep up with all the dialogue, and it became overwhelming. I ended up swiping back to check whose chapter I was reading. At this point, my mind started to wander, and I found it challenging to focus; swiping through the pages was not a good sign. I struggled with my choice to keep reading or DNF. It seemed every character had the same personality with no real depth or background, which made the different perspectives very confusing. The characters felt to be one-dimensional. I couldn't connect with any particular character's personality because they lacked real human emotions. They were selfish, self-intitled and whiney. Then again, there were spoiled, rich teenagers.
I'm not in the age demographic for this type of story—so please take the previous sentence with a grain of salt. I think it comes down to a personal choice. I didn't realize it was a YA book. I made a mistake and should not have requested the book. I think the demographic for this book is on the earlier cusp of YA because it reads younger than most YA books. Would I pick this up again? No. Would I recommend it to young readers? Yes! I realize that influencer-based books are not my cup of tea.
I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own
November 6, 2023
A little too drawn out.
I like a good YA mystery, especially one that pays homage to And Then There Were None, but this one skewed a bit too young for me unfortunately. It's overall satisfying in the end once things are explained, but some of the things were kind of eye rolling as they were happening.
A group of ten influencers are invited to an island resort, leaving all phones and technology behind. They are participating in a reality series called In Real Life. But things quickly turn deadly and their darkest secrets start to be revealed.
Reminded me a lot of these books that I've read in the past year, You Can Trust Me
and Never Coming Home, so I feel like maybe I compared them a bit in my mind and got the situations a bit confused together. The "influencers on an island" thing has been a bit overdone at this point.
I thought the character development was a bit lacking, I had difficulty telling the various people apart and their immaturity made it even more difficult. It is a very quick read though and was entertaining enough to keep my interest.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I like a good YA mystery, especially one that pays homage to And Then There Were None, but this one skewed a bit too young for me unfortunately. It's overall satisfying in the end once things are explained, but some of the things were kind of eye rolling as they were happening.
A group of ten influencers are invited to an island resort, leaving all phones and technology behind. They are participating in a reality series called In Real Life. But things quickly turn deadly and their darkest secrets start to be revealed.
Reminded me a lot of these books that I've read in the past year, You Can Trust Me
and Never Coming Home, so I feel like maybe I compared them a bit in my mind and got the situations a bit confused together. The "influencers on an island" thing has been a bit overdone at this point.
I thought the character development was a bit lacking, I had difficulty telling the various people apart and their immaturity made it even more difficult. It is a very quick read though and was entertaining enough to keep my interest.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
April 14, 2022
I knew this book would be fire from the moment I heard the pitch, and could not be more thrilled (ha) to see it being published! Olivia's voice leapt off the page and smacked me in the face, and I knew she'd be on shelves ASAP.
People to Follow is perfect for fans of isolation trope thrillers, who have wondered "what if you mixed And Then There Were None with reality TV and influencers?" With sharp social commentary and memorable characters (especially our queen, Elody), People to Follow delivers an un-put-downable page-turning ride.
Add this one to your YA thriller TBR!
People to Follow is perfect for fans of isolation trope thrillers, who have wondered "what if you mixed And Then There Were None with reality TV and influencers?" With sharp social commentary and memorable characters (especially our queen, Elody), People to Follow delivers an un-put-downable page-turning ride.
Add this one to your YA thriller TBR!
July 28, 2024
3.5/5
Fajna rozrywka, ale końcówka była dla mnie zbyt przekombinowana.
Fajna rozrywka, ale końcówka była dla mnie zbyt przekombinowana.
May 2, 2023
And Then There Were None, but with 100% more JoJo Siwa . . .
I knew going in this was going to be young adult, but since I’m not a regular mom, I’m a cool mom who still appreciates YA (especially the stabby kind) and loves a good Christie knockoff I was all over it. I mean, a group of “influencers” get sent to a deserted island for some reality T.V. show where they aren’t allowed their screens for two weeks and then bodies start piling up? Um, yes please.
Well, it turns out I am a regular mom – not a cool mom *womp wommmmmmp* I appreciated the vibe of . . .
But not only were all of these characters completely interchangeable with the same voice (other than one of them calling every one “Babe” which made me wish she was the first to be whacked), they also seemed to keep forgetting their fellow island dwellers were being offed and did weird super teenage shit like playing spin the bottle instead of freaking the eff out or trying to find a way back to civilization like they should have been doing. I also guessed the first big “surprise” reveal right off the bat, but the actual whodunit was pretty satisfying and I’m always down for a good pool cover. Two Stars means “it was alright” and that’s about as much as I can say about this one.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
I knew going in this was going to be young adult, but since I’m not a regular mom, I’m a cool mom who still appreciates YA (especially the stabby kind) and loves a good Christie knockoff I was all over it. I mean, a group of “influencers” get sent to a deserted island for some reality T.V. show where they aren’t allowed their screens for two weeks and then bodies start piling up? Um, yes please.
Well, it turns out I am a regular mom – not a cool mom *womp wommmmmmp* I appreciated the vibe of . . .
But not only were all of these characters completely interchangeable with the same voice (other than one of them calling every one “Babe” which made me wish she was the first to be whacked), they also seemed to keep forgetting their fellow island dwellers were being offed and did weird super teenage shit like playing spin the bottle instead of freaking the eff out or trying to find a way back to civilization like they should have been doing. I also guessed the first big “surprise” reveal right off the bat, but the actual whodunit was pretty satisfying and I’m always down for a good pool cover. Two Stars means “it was alright” and that’s about as much as I can say about this one.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
July 12, 2023
A remote Caribbean island. Ten influencers. Ten Secrets. One dead body.
Got my interest!
Debut author Olivia Worely explores what happens when those hungry for fame and fortune realize that (1) the price of being ‘cancelled’ could be their lives and (2) they are expected to ‘live’ without social media and completely unplug.
Ten influencers willing to unplug for THREE weeks come to a remote island … I could stop here and it would still be a great book. Imagine what life for them would be like with nobody to ‘watch’ them and nothing worth scrambling to the top for!!! Just watching them know what to do with themselves without their phones would be fun to watch. But, I digress. And show my age! They come to this island to star in a reality show, “In Real Life,” and one of them ends up dead. The realization that they’ve got no way to communicate with the outside world ramps up the tension and adds fuel to the pacing. Who really is the reigning king? Is it one of them? They desperately try to uncover the identity of the one who’s cancelling them. Will their #1 follower strike again?
I quickly discovered that I’m, like, too old for this book, babe. 😅
While there was too much drama and too many characters with not enough differentiation between them FOR ME, I was ultimately entertained. Isn’t that the purpose?!
I know that with direction, this author will appeal to younger social media influencers and will undoubtedly be successful as a writer.
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Got my interest!
Debut author Olivia Worely explores what happens when those hungry for fame and fortune realize that (1) the price of being ‘cancelled’ could be their lives and (2) they are expected to ‘live’ without social media and completely unplug.
Ten influencers willing to unplug for THREE weeks come to a remote island … I could stop here and it would still be a great book. Imagine what life for them would be like with nobody to ‘watch’ them and nothing worth scrambling to the top for!!! Just watching them know what to do with themselves without their phones would be fun to watch. But, I digress. And show my age! They come to this island to star in a reality show, “In Real Life,” and one of them ends up dead. The realization that they’ve got no way to communicate with the outside world ramps up the tension and adds fuel to the pacing. Who really is the reigning king? Is it one of them? They desperately try to uncover the identity of the one who’s cancelling them. Will their #1 follower strike again?
I quickly discovered that I’m, like, too old for this book, babe. 😅
While there was too much drama and too many characters with not enough differentiation between them FOR ME, I was ultimately entertained. Isn’t that the purpose?!
I know that with direction, this author will appeal to younger social media influencers and will undoubtedly be successful as a writer.
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
October 18, 2023
Need to reread this, there's just so much going on and I don't think I speak the language.
Update*
Full review on my blog!
Thank you to the author Olivia Worley, and publishers Wednesday Books, for an advance copy of PEOPLE TO FOLLOW. Thank you also to NetGalley for the widget. All views are mine.
Three (or more) things I loved:
...
2. Elody is a very interesting piece of character work! (But that linguistic quirk ("Babe!") of hers becomes annoying bordering on rage-inducing.)
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. I don't really believe the story parameters; even the producer in the book says how unbelievable and unprofessional it is that producers would leave all these people alone on this island. And yet, the story proceeds with those parameters.
...
Rating: 📱📱/ 5 smartphones
Recommend? Meh.
Finished: July 27 23, August 28 23
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, SMPI
Read this book if you like:
💄 social media Influencers
😈 mean girls
🍻😱 irresponsible partying as danger looms
⚰️ body count
Update*
Full review on my blog!
Thank you to the author Olivia Worley, and publishers Wednesday Books, for an advance copy of PEOPLE TO FOLLOW. Thank you also to NetGalley for the widget. All views are mine.
Three (or more) things I loved:
...
2. Elody is a very interesting piece of character work! (But that linguistic quirk ("Babe!") of hers becomes annoying bordering on rage-inducing.)
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. I don't really believe the story parameters; even the producer in the book says how unbelievable and unprofessional it is that producers would leave all these people alone on this island. And yet, the story proceeds with those parameters.
...
Rating: 📱📱/ 5 smartphones
Recommend? Meh.
Finished: July 27 23, August 28 23
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, SMPI
Read this book if you like:
💄 social media Influencers
😈 mean girls
🍻😱 irresponsible partying as danger looms
⚰️ body count
November 20, 2023
Ten influencers in their late teens and early twenties are transported to an island to participate in a TV show. They wind up alone and stranded, with no way to communicate to the rest of the world, when the production crew does not arrive. Soon they start getting troubling messages from the sponsor, and one of them dies.
This plot has been done to death. The plotting and writing have to be extraordinary to make books like this stand out. Unfortunately, this book is just adequate. Maybe you need to be 15 years old to find any of this original. The characters aren’t interesting. It’s disappointing to think that these vapid and feckless people are actually successful influencers.The sole person of color is more or less ignored until the end of the book. On the positive side, I could not identity the culprit until their motivation was explained to me.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
This plot has been done to death. The plotting and writing have to be extraordinary to make books like this stand out. Unfortunately, this book is just adequate. Maybe you need to be 15 years old to find any of this original. The characters aren’t interesting. It’s disappointing to think that these vapid and feckless people are actually successful influencers.The sole person of color is more or less ignored until the end of the book. On the positive side, I could not identity the culprit until their motivation was explained to me.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
August 15, 2023
This is a very competently executed YA take on my all time favorite trope - the isolated closed circle thriller popularized by And Then There Were None. If you like that plot, this will deliver. For me, there was something missing in terms of character and connection. It just didn't have as much suspense for me because I didn't care that much about the people in danger. That will vary greatly from reader to reader, though, so I would certainly recommend this to anyone who likes this kind of thriller
June 8, 2023
What a pleasure to read! This debut novel by Olivia Worley convinces me that hers is a name that we will see often in the future. This book will be released in October, 2023. Modern day plot reflecting social media and influencers that is fresh and witty. I foresee great success.
My thanks to the author, Olivia Worley, and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for my Advanced readers edition of this exciting book. It was received through a Goodreads Giveaway.
My thanks to the author, Olivia Worley, and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for my Advanced readers edition of this exciting book. It was received through a Goodreads Giveaway.
March 10, 2023
Thank you Netgalley, St. Martins Press and Olivia Worley for letting me read “People to Follow” in exchange for an honest review.
The cover is just gorgeous, right? I love the colours.
I noticed a bit too late, that this is a YA mystery. I did not totally mind that, i also did not love it. You see, the thing is, i definitely start to feel old. I had my trouble with the language used. I mean, i am not returning to Shakespearean English any time, but I also don’t want to read about “babe” and “likes” anymore in a while. But I think that for the intended audience, this would be fitting.
The beginning was a bit confusing. A group of ten people is a bit big, for my taste. It took me a long while to remember and differentiate them all. I read the persons name at the start of a chapter and after a few pages I was wondering who’s POV I was reading? They all sounded the same! 🙄 The different POVs confused me as well. Let’s just say I was confused, alright?
The story is nothing too new. A group of people in a secluded place, a mysterious sponsor and they are k*lled off one by one. A lot of suspicion and doubting each other.
The setting here is a luxurious island and a group of social media influencers. I don’t exactly mind the influencer trope. I even enjoy it at times. But here, I was not really sold. Mainly because I think it would have been wiser to focus on only two different POV’s. I missed the reality tv part. Also the formatting could have been better, as in the text messages could have been marked in a clearer way.
I think this is a fine novel for a younger crowd, not too much for me. Too much drama, too less mystery and suspense. But that’s just my taste.
The cover is just gorgeous, right? I love the colours.
I noticed a bit too late, that this is a YA mystery. I did not totally mind that, i also did not love it. You see, the thing is, i definitely start to feel old. I had my trouble with the language used. I mean, i am not returning to Shakespearean English any time, but I also don’t want to read about “babe” and “likes” anymore in a while. But I think that for the intended audience, this would be fitting.
The beginning was a bit confusing. A group of ten people is a bit big, for my taste. It took me a long while to remember and differentiate them all. I read the persons name at the start of a chapter and after a few pages I was wondering who’s POV I was reading? They all sounded the same! 🙄 The different POVs confused me as well. Let’s just say I was confused, alright?
The story is nothing too new. A group of people in a secluded place, a mysterious sponsor and they are k*lled off one by one. A lot of suspicion and doubting each other.
The setting here is a luxurious island and a group of social media influencers. I don’t exactly mind the influencer trope. I even enjoy it at times. But here, I was not really sold. Mainly because I think it would have been wiser to focus on only two different POV’s. I missed the reality tv part. Also the formatting could have been better, as in the text messages could have been marked in a clearer way.
I think this is a fine novel for a younger crowd, not too much for me. Too much drama, too less mystery and suspense. But that’s just my taste.
May 16, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: October 31, 2023
“People to Follow” is the debut novel by author Olivia Worley. Labeled as a young adult mystery novel, mostly for its millennial social media content, it was one of those novels that I (definitely not a “young adult” in any way) was able to fly through in one day.
Ten teen influencers are invited to a remote island retreat with only one caveat- they must leave their cell phones at home. There are cameras in every room of course, belonging to the television show “In Real Life”, designed to observe the teens’ every dramatic move. But first, the production crew doesn’t show up (apparently as the result of an incoming storm), and then, the teens begin receiving messages from someone known only as their “Sponsor”, who threatens to “cancel” them if they don’t do what they’re instructed. But “canceling” has a whole different meaning when, one by one, the influencers start turning up dead. With no phones, no Internet and no access to the mainland the remaining teens are forced to accept that the murderer might be one of their own.
“People to Follow” has similar vibes to Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”, with a modern twist. Four of the ten characters alternate narration; Elody, the Instagram model, Kira, the fitness influencer, Logan, the disgraced TikTok star and Max, the documentarian sent to film it all. All of the characters have just enough personality differences to be able to separate them from the other teenage influencers, although it’s a bit confusing at the beginning. Worley ensures that all her protagonists have a deep secret, making each and every one a possible suspect.
The novel flows well and the twists and turns are abundant. “Follow” is not creative or unique in its premise, but it is engaging and suspenseful, and I couldn’t stop reading! The ending was entirely unpredictable yet deliciously satisfying and conclusive. To think that this is a debut novel? Give Worley all the credit she deserves and know that I will be first in line to read her next piece of work.
Expected publication date: October 31, 2023
“People to Follow” is the debut novel by author Olivia Worley. Labeled as a young adult mystery novel, mostly for its millennial social media content, it was one of those novels that I (definitely not a “young adult” in any way) was able to fly through in one day.
Ten teen influencers are invited to a remote island retreat with only one caveat- they must leave their cell phones at home. There are cameras in every room of course, belonging to the television show “In Real Life”, designed to observe the teens’ every dramatic move. But first, the production crew doesn’t show up (apparently as the result of an incoming storm), and then, the teens begin receiving messages from someone known only as their “Sponsor”, who threatens to “cancel” them if they don’t do what they’re instructed. But “canceling” has a whole different meaning when, one by one, the influencers start turning up dead. With no phones, no Internet and no access to the mainland the remaining teens are forced to accept that the murderer might be one of their own.
“People to Follow” has similar vibes to Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”, with a modern twist. Four of the ten characters alternate narration; Elody, the Instagram model, Kira, the fitness influencer, Logan, the disgraced TikTok star and Max, the documentarian sent to film it all. All of the characters have just enough personality differences to be able to separate them from the other teenage influencers, although it’s a bit confusing at the beginning. Worley ensures that all her protagonists have a deep secret, making each and every one a possible suspect.
The novel flows well and the twists and turns are abundant. “Follow” is not creative or unique in its premise, but it is engaging and suspenseful, and I couldn’t stop reading! The ending was entirely unpredictable yet deliciously satisfying and conclusive. To think that this is a debut novel? Give Worley all the credit she deserves and know that I will be first in line to read her next piece of work.
October 3, 2023
Ten teen influencers travel to a remote island to discover what life is like when lived without their phones constantly glued to their hands. They encounter more than they bargained for when challenges begin and the consequences for the losers mean getting cancelled... permanently!
I adore thrillers with social media stars at the centre of them. There is something about discovering who the real individual - behind the filtered, online presence - really is that is endlessly alluring to me. This one allowed me this voyeuristic insight to all of the teens here and it was a wild ride to the truth!
Every last one of them had a secret to hide which meant my mind was swarming with possibilities on what they could be and how all gathered here became connected, as it dually sought to discover who the menace behind the cancelling and murdering of them truly was. I was forever a few steps behind the plotting and thought Worley crafted a very clever plotline - fast-paced, twisted, and full of depth.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Olivia Worley, and the publisher, Hodder Children's Books, for this opportunity.
I adore thrillers with social media stars at the centre of them. There is something about discovering who the real individual - behind the filtered, online presence - really is that is endlessly alluring to me. This one allowed me this voyeuristic insight to all of the teens here and it was a wild ride to the truth!
Every last one of them had a secret to hide which meant my mind was swarming with possibilities on what they could be and how all gathered here became connected, as it dually sought to discover who the menace behind the cancelling and murdering of them truly was. I was forever a few steps behind the plotting and thought Worley crafted a very clever plotline - fast-paced, twisted, and full of depth.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Olivia Worley, and the publisher, Hodder Children's Books, for this opportunity.
April 12, 2023
A group of teen influencers go to an island for a reality show. They are deserted there and start being killed off. They all have dark hidden secrets that are being revealed. This was an exciting read and I’d like to thank NetGalley and St.Martins for this ARC that will be released October 31,2023!
July 15, 2023
lol. absolutely not.
August 3, 2023
This book takes a microscope to the lifestyle of media influncers. This group of creators has so much more to hide than you could expect. This made for a thrilling YA read that touches on very important topics. A great debut novel for Olivia Worley.
August 7, 2023
This book was such a fun and wild ride! I was initially drawn to this book because I loved the idea of a thriller involving a bunch of influencers going on a reality TV show. I didn't realize when picking this book up that it was technically YA (which I don't read a ton of), but I ended up LOVING this book.
In my opinion, this book delivered on exactly what was promised in the description. If you are a fan of reality TV, thrillers, and influencer scandals, you will absolutely enjoy this book! I also loved that every chapter felt like it ended on a cliffhanger--I couldn't put this book down. Additionally, I appreciated the structure and style of this book in which each chapter was from a different perspective of one of the influencers. This made for great character building and kept me very engaged in the story the entire time.
Although this is Olivia Worley's debut novel, I will absolutely be checking out any of her future releases! If you are looking for the perfect summer thriller-look no further. This is it.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In my opinion, this book delivered on exactly what was promised in the description. If you are a fan of reality TV, thrillers, and influencer scandals, you will absolutely enjoy this book! I also loved that every chapter felt like it ended on a cliffhanger--I couldn't put this book down. Additionally, I appreciated the structure and style of this book in which each chapter was from a different perspective of one of the influencers. This made for great character building and kept me very engaged in the story the entire time.
Although this is Olivia Worley's debut novel, I will absolutely be checking out any of her future releases! If you are looking for the perfect summer thriller-look no further. This is it.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2023
I'd like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Olivia Worley for the ARC of People to Follow.
I had a genuinely lazy day with this book that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was an easy but suspenseful read. It took my mind off everything I was trying to avoid which was the end game, right?
A murder mystery on a Caribbean Island? Need I say anymore? I will say that this books main characters are younger social media influencers. It has all the young slang in it. If today's lingo drives you crazy then this might not be thy book for you. As someone with 4 teen boys, I wasn't bothered.
I believe the audience for this book is probably late teens to mid 20's, and this book addresses some heavy topics so please keep that in mind.
This book didn't wow me, but I did read it all in one night.
I had a genuinely lazy day with this book that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was an easy but suspenseful read. It took my mind off everything I was trying to avoid which was the end game, right?
A murder mystery on a Caribbean Island? Need I say anymore? I will say that this books main characters are younger social media influencers. It has all the young slang in it. If today's lingo drives you crazy then this might not be thy book for you. As someone with 4 teen boys, I wasn't bothered.
I believe the audience for this book is probably late teens to mid 20's, and this book addresses some heavy topics so please keep that in mind.
This book didn't wow me, but I did read it all in one night.
August 22, 2023
Fun popcorn YA thriller
A lot of characters to keep track of (I had to do a list) and because of the constantly changing POV's, you have to read the whole chapter, but I liked it!
A lot of characters to keep track of (I had to do a list) and because of the constantly changing POV's, you have to read the whole chapter, but I liked it!
April 11, 2024
1.5
i was cringing the whole time but this was fairly entertaining. fairly entertaining enough to make me keep reading instead of dnfing
i was cringing the whole time but this was fairly entertaining. fairly entertaining enough to make me keep reading instead of dnfing
December 5, 2023
Bodies, Bodies, Bodies meets And Then There Were None in this debut isolation thriller following a group of teen influencers on an island for a reality show when people start dying. This is a very solid debut that is plotted in a way that will probably surprise teen readers and will keep you turning the pages. It's a lot of moving pieces to keep straight and doing that effectively is impressive for a new author. There's also a lot of great social commentary and this was written by someone who feels very in tune with the landscape of YouTube, social media, and influencers.
That said, I wasn't as invested in any of the characters as I wanted to be for building tension of the book to really work for me. And some of the decision-making and thinking felt conveniently stupid. Plus I don't feel like the ending was super satisfying for spoilery reasons. I think this might have worked better if there was at least one character the reader really cares about. That said, I still liked this and there's definitely skill to being able to manage such a sprawling cast of characters and complex plot. I received a copy of this book for review via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
That said, I wasn't as invested in any of the characters as I wanted to be for building tension of the book to really work for me. And some of the decision-making and thinking felt conveniently stupid. Plus I don't feel like the ending was super satisfying for spoilery reasons. I think this might have worked better if there was at least one character the reader really cares about. That said, I still liked this and there's definitely skill to being able to manage such a sprawling cast of characters and complex plot. I received a copy of this book for review via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
August 30, 2023
3.25 stars
People to Follow held my interest and it was a quick read. I was intrigued at where things were headed even though the cast of characters had quite a few individuals who were obnoxious. The ones who didn't get on my nerves, I was indifferent about at best. Can't say I loved the ending but points awarded for creativity. So yeah, there were things I liked about the book and things I did not.
A group of social media influencers have been invited to take part in a reality tv series. The young adults will be filmed in a big house on a secluded island. The participants must give up their phones during their stay. After making it to the island the influencers find out the production crew will not be arriving until the following morning. So they will be there by themselves that first night and guess what? Someone dies. Even though they don't have phones they are able to receive messages and they get one threatening to expose their deepest, darkest secrets.
This story requires you to suspend disbelief and just get on board the crazy train. To be fair that's something you have to do with a lot of books in the mystery and thriller genres or when watching a horror film. It's wild and outlandish but there's stuff that isn't so off the mark. The author takes that whole social media influencing thing but ratchets it up a few notches. I didn't like every creative decision but at least I wasn't bored while reading.
I won an advance copy in a Goodreads giveaway. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
People to Follow held my interest and it was a quick read. I was intrigued at where things were headed even though the cast of characters had quite a few individuals who were obnoxious. The ones who didn't get on my nerves, I was indifferent about at best. Can't say I loved the ending but points awarded for creativity. So yeah, there were things I liked about the book and things I did not.
A group of social media influencers have been invited to take part in a reality tv series. The young adults will be filmed in a big house on a secluded island. The participants must give up their phones during their stay. After making it to the island the influencers find out the production crew will not be arriving until the following morning. So they will be there by themselves that first night and guess what? Someone dies. Even though they don't have phones they are able to receive messages and they get one threatening to expose their deepest, darkest secrets.
This story requires you to suspend disbelief and just get on board the crazy train. To be fair that's something you have to do with a lot of books in the mystery and thriller genres or when watching a horror film. It's wild and outlandish but there's stuff that isn't so off the mark. The author takes that whole social media influencing thing but ratchets it up a few notches. I didn't like every creative decision but at least I wasn't bored while reading.
I won an advance copy in a Goodreads giveaway. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
November 8, 2023
4,5!!! Brilliant! ❤️ It was impossible to put down and I love/hated the characters. I love that it was relatable and they talked like actual teenagers/ya do these days, but at the same time the book managed to stay well written and combine the best of both worlds. Such types of mysteries always fascinate me and I hope to read more by Olivia Worley in the future.
October 25, 2023
It's a picture-perfect retreat built for influencers—three weeks away from the world, without phones or social media or follows or likes. But there's a catch: the ten influencers will be filmed 24/7 for a reality show.
And then there's another catch: Everyone has a secret to hide, and somebody is determined to expose all their secrets to the world...and when bodies start piling up, it's clear that the remaining influencers are at risk of far more than being cancelled.
I'm starting to think that I'll have to set a Goodreads shelf for #influencerlife or something—it is a such a specific/weird subgenre, but for the time being at least I'm completely here for it. (Is it weird that I'm even more here for it that authors keep writing #influencerlife books in which influencers get murdered? I don't want that in real life—if it needs to be said—but I'm never going to say no to more fiction with camp and murder and over-the-top-ness.) People to Follow has some heavy Agatha Christie vibes (and I'm here for that too), but set at a modern, sub-drenched retreat and, you know, with cameras everywhere. Plenty of red herrings to keep a reader busy.
There are ten influencers on the island, a few of whom serve as narrators throughout the book. I have some mixed feelings about that (all you have to do is scan the chapter headings to see who survives until at least late in the book, and I did have to keep checking the chapter headings to see whose POV I was in), but I also enjoy the sense of not being able to fully trust any of the narrators in addition to wondering, you know, whodunnit. Very enjoyable quick read (I blasted through this on a very long bus ride), and very much a read for fans of Live Your Best Lie, Killer Content, et cetera.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
And then there's another catch: Everyone has a secret to hide, and somebody is determined to expose all their secrets to the world...and when bodies start piling up, it's clear that the remaining influencers are at risk of far more than being cancelled.
I'm starting to think that I'll have to set a Goodreads shelf for #influencerlife or something—it is a such a specific/weird subgenre, but for the time being at least I'm completely here for it. (Is it weird that I'm even more here for it that authors keep writing #influencerlife books in which influencers get murdered? I don't want that in real life—if it needs to be said—but I'm never going to say no to more fiction with camp and murder and over-the-top-ness.) People to Follow has some heavy Agatha Christie vibes (and I'm here for that too), but set at a modern, sub-drenched retreat and, you know, with cameras everywhere. Plenty of red herrings to keep a reader busy.
There are ten influencers on the island, a few of whom serve as narrators throughout the book. I have some mixed feelings about that (all you have to do is scan the chapter headings to see who survives until at least late in the book, and I did have to keep checking the chapter headings to see whose POV I was in), but I also enjoy the sense of not being able to fully trust any of the narrators in addition to wondering, you know, whodunnit. Very enjoyable quick read (I blasted through this on a very long bus ride), and very much a read for fans of Live Your Best Lie, Killer Content, et cetera.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
September 25, 2024
Od books4ya siegam po wszystkie thrillery i kryminały w ciemno. Dodatkowo cały opis tej książki dawał vibe współczesnej wersji "I nie było już nikogo" od Agathy Christie. Dostajemy grupę influencerów, którzy mają wziąć udział w reality show, jednak z czasem zaczynają nam się pojawiać zwłoki. No nie powiecie mi, że nie brzmi to intrygująco. Jest to książka na dosłownie jeden wieczór, bo tak się płynie przez te krótkie rozdziały i sekrety gwiazd. Poza oczywiście trupami, które wielbię dostajemy dużo problemów jakie się kryją za tworzeniem w mediach. Czarną stronę tego wszystkiego, nie mogę wam napisać wprost, bo byłby to spojler, ale po prostu w książce przedstawione jest to, jaki wpływ na nas mają niektórzy twórcy internetowi i jak z pozoru nieistotne rzeczy, które mówimy mogą wpłynąć na innych, którzy traktują media jako wzór do naśladowania.
Przyznam, że moja ocena w dużej mierze opiera się na tym, że była to po prostu świetna rozrywka, która wyciągnęła mnie z przestoju czytelniczego i chociaż w zestawieniu z innymi krwistymi książkami, które czytałam pewnie wypadłaby gorzej to śmiało będę polecać ten tytuł.
Przyznam, że moja ocena w dużej mierze opiera się na tym, że była to po prostu świetna rozrywka, która wyciągnęła mnie z przestoju czytelniczego i chociaż w zestawieniu z innymi krwistymi książkami, które czytałam pewnie wypadłaby gorzej to śmiało będę polecać ten tytuł.
May 29, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for an advance ecopy for an honest review. This was a solid 3.5 stars for me.
Ten influencers go on a reality tv show on a remote island wherein they are to be social media free for 3 weeks. They all seem to have their own secrets that they don’t want shared. As the secrets come out, so does the true personalities.
This was a young YA book. It was fun but I don’t think I was the target demographic
Ten influencers go on a reality tv show on a remote island wherein they are to be social media free for 3 weeks. They all seem to have their own secrets that they don’t want shared. As the secrets come out, so does the true personalities.
This was a young YA book. It was fun but I don’t think I was the target demographic
July 18, 2023
I had so much fun reading this. THIS WILL be a movie or tv show. It really kept me guessing. It's a fun read ! Check it out if you reality shows and influencers for sure ! Just a all around fun read
Thanks netgalley!!!!!
Thanks netgalley!!!!!
October 27, 2023
People to Follow is a locked room mystery involving ten content creators (influencers) who get invited to a remote island to star in a reality show. What starts as an exciting getaway soon devolves into a deadly game of cat and mouse. It becomes a game that could end each of their careers for good.
The plot unfolds through multiple points of view. I seem to think, however, that the better delivery for this novel would have been through a single point of view due to the novel’s theme. I got lost several times and it became a little frustrating to constantly refer to the table of contents to determine whose point of view I was reading.
The characters were not distinguishable from one another. They all seemed to have the same personality regardless of their gender. Perhaps it was this lack of character development that was the root cause of me losing my way in the novel.
There were a number of plot twists which made for a suspenseful whodunit. Despite the lack of character development, it was the plot twists that kept me moving forward until the surprising finale. Four stars.
I received a DRC from St. Martin’s Press & Wednesday Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The plot unfolds through multiple points of view. I seem to think, however, that the better delivery for this novel would have been through a single point of view due to the novel’s theme. I got lost several times and it became a little frustrating to constantly refer to the table of contents to determine whose point of view I was reading.
The characters were not distinguishable from one another. They all seemed to have the same personality regardless of their gender. Perhaps it was this lack of character development that was the root cause of me losing my way in the novel.
There were a number of plot twists which made for a suspenseful whodunit. Despite the lack of character development, it was the plot twists that kept me moving forward until the surprising finale. Four stars.
I received a DRC from St. Martin’s Press & Wednesday Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
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