The plot of this book is awesome, dystopian and instagram generation-type BUT the execution is kid of confusing, lots of times we got lost in the dialogues, the storyline seems to but in fact isn't linear and on final accounts it's all messed up by the author's ideas.

I tried to like but the reading experience gave me headache.

I can’t deny I have used social media a lot more this year. I thought Social Media Central would be an entertaining read that focuses on the changes that have occurred in society due to the rise of these social media platforms.

In a way, it was. It could have been a modern version of 1984, where the truth is whatever the ‘government’ – the figure behind the platforms –wants it to be: a full murder trial through an online poll or making the masses believe there is a radioactive uranium mine just outside of town are just two examples.

Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver. The characters were shallow and had no development. The plot was allover the place – there were several occasions where I was unsure what was going on. There were also several clichés thrown in and, while not entirely predictable,nothing came as a surprise.

The main character, Tayler, was flat and undeveloped. He starts off as being opposed to social media. But as soon as he gains a little attention, he suddenly lives for being in the spotlight, for being recognised and have his own fan-base despite not having his own channel, all because he is friends with some famous people. He inserts himself in their lives and acts like this is who he has been all along.

Then there’s the twist where – shock horror – social media is bad. A message that is driven home forcibly throughout the entire book to the point it feels grating. Naturally, Tayler is the first leading the resistance because the masses adore him and want him to spearhead the change. He became famous by association and does nothing to make you feel like there is any depth to him.

Tayler declares early on he is not homosexual. Until he randomly decides he wants to ‘go down’ on a male guard just to escape. He wants to sleep with Mike, at the same time as falling for Connor, and has kinky thoughts about a random stranger in the park. While at the same time wanting Madeline back. It felt like it was designed to shock, but just made him shallow and inconsistent.

At the beginning of the book is a warning for explicit sex. There’s not. There’s really not. There is sex, but it’s written in such a flat and unrealistic way that it means nothing. Blink, and you’d overlook it. The warning implies the book is something it’s not.

The plot was completely all over the place. The premise is ultimately they are trying to get people to talk to one another rather than using a screen. But it twists and turns – and not in an unexpected and exciting way – the whole way through to the point where it jumps from one idea to another so fast you’re not actually certain who is trying to do what.

This was not the book for me, unfortunately. I was in a sense of disbelief throughout because I didn’t know what was going on!

Not surprising that some creative writer would use social media as the focal point for murders, and Klehr did a marvelous job of capitalizing on that theme. The story line was tense and very well written, and I spent more evening hours reading it than I should have on a work night! Highly recommended.

I have a fondness for books that are clearly fiction but are plausible visions of our future. This is one such book. The setting is a world in which meeting a real person is rare. Almost everyone connects via Social Media Central for their social interaction. Tyler is an exception. He leaves his home each day to go to work and is one of the few people who doesn't own a personal computer. Various events lead to him being thrown in to SMC where he fast attracts a following. As he tries to come to terms with this new and intoxicating experience, he discovers all isn't as it seems. This was a gripping read for me. It was a little slow to start but once it pulled me in I was hooked. It's an intruiging and plausible plot with characters that are bold, fearless, and seemingly unaware of how just how little power they have. What they do have is influence and the reader can only hope that will be enough. The only thing that threw me off was the sexual aspect. It's touched upon briefly but I found the inclusion to be almost awkward. When fictional books touch on sexuality, especially gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual etc the experiences are usually described in depth. Not necessarily the act itself but the emotional and psychological aspects as characters explore the dynamics. I found it hard to believe the main character would seem so unaffected by his first time with a same sex partner. That said, I can understand that if more of the processing of the event was done, it could detract from the storyline. It's a thought-provoking read. I liked it. I think most troubling for me was the decline of books being relevant. Most traumatic line in the book for me? "What's a Library?"

At first I did not think I would enjoy the book something about it didn't seem my type but I like reading new and different things so thought why not.
the book had an interesting plot line and this made it addictive and a quick read - once the story picked up half way through it made it extremely difficult to put down and for this I enjoyed it - as I found something which I enjoyed I would say it is more of a mystery and thriller book instead of lgbtq book however that was explored through the book in sections.
overall I would recommend this as it is a different unique and very good read.

I really wanted to like this book but it just fell short for me. I have very little patience with pretentious characters and writers (hence why I do not like John Green at all, no matter the praise he gets) and unfortunately, this is another one I can throw on the list of: It just wasn't really my cup of tea.

The premise of the book was interesting to me, especially seeing how involved everyone is nowadays in social media and getting followers. But the plot just did not work in my opinion and I found myself being increasingly annoyed at the main character.

All in all, I do not think I would recommend this book

Set in the near future (50 years or so), ‘Social Media Central’ has a premise that does not seem terribly implausible at all. Tayler is sitting on a park bench one day when a beautiful woman with an entourage of device carrying groupies walk by. Tayler is quite taken by her but has no idea who she is much to the surprise of the older man sharing the bench with him. The woman, Madeline Q, is intrigued enough by his ignorance to give him her card. Tayler’s phone is just that; a phone. It doesn’t connect to the web and he has no presence on Social Media Central which is a reduction of the internet into one interface and portal.

Astra City in this era is a city with empty steel and glass buildings because most people no longer work from offices. Schools no longer exist and children are educated via online instructional videos. People don’t go to each other’s houses for meals; instead they ‘mirror meal’ whereby they each get the same meal, connect and eat in front of their computers. Tayler is an anachronism among his generation because he prefers actual contact with people but Madeline intrigues him enough to go to one of her soirees. She is a fashion icon with a massive following and her opinions or actions are always trending. Tayler gets swept up in her lifestyle until somebody dies and he, Madeline and two others seem to be implicated.

‘Social Media Central’ is an interesting and thought-provoking read because along with its Orwellian undertones there is quite a powerful social commentary running through it. We’ve all read on the internet and Facebook how detrimental our addiction to screen and devices is. Ironic, isn’t it? There is a character in the novel who runs a book shop but it only had on bookshelf in it because people can no longer read anything longer than bite-sized chunks. I felt depressed about the lone bookshelf for a moment and then realised that it’s been ages since I read a book with pages I can turn and get a paper cut from.

I enjoyed reading this but there were parts where the pace dropped off and the characters were a little like blind moths bumping into each other. At times it also felt too didactic in its delivery but the mystery and intrigue around the dead body balanced that out to some extent.
On the whole, this is a good read with a lot to mull over.

Book received from Netgalley and NineStar Press for an honest review.

Did Not Finish. I care about myself too much to read a book from a male author about how all technology is evil and how his male insert 'Tyler' is so unique and special for not giving into society. Also, Madeline Q? Ohhh, this women has breasts! And flirts! And enjoys technology! HEATHEN. Jesus Christ. Lighten up Kevin you miserable old fart.