REVIEW: JUST FOR CLICKS

Just For Clicks by Kara McDowell is a book that discusses internet fame and the struggles young influencers face. I loved the prominent theme of family and the main character who faces many challenges. The story provides interesting insight, and some heavy topics are discussed alongside some fun.

❀ INTERNET INFLUENCERS

This book tells the story of Claire and Poppy, internet influencers who pretty much have it all. However, Claire wants to be normal, but the brand would fall apart if she were to quit. I enjoyed how the story tackles the subject of what family is, and I love any book about sisters. There are also some multimedia aspects such as texts and emails at the end of each chapter, which are an engaging addition. Fans of books about internet culture will enjoy this one.

❀ REALISTIC MAIN CHARACTER

Claire is a realistic main character, and I sympathized with her. She doesn’t really fit in with the rest of her family, but she also doesn’t want to disappoint them. Everything about her is available online, and she feels pressure to contribute to the brand instead of being her true self. I was glad to see her transform and go with what she wants throughout the book.

❀ THOUGHT-PROVOKING

Just For Clicks is a thought-provoking novel that raises questions about today’s internet culture and internet fame. I enjoyed the theme of family and the authentic main character. I enjoyed this one, and I would recommend it to those looking for a book that is both cute and contemplative.

I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

Claire and Poppy were born into Internet fame. Their mother is a fashion blogger turned mommy blogger, and she has been blogging since before they were born. Once they were born, Twin Tuesdays came along with their mom chronicling their life publicly.

But now that Claire is 17, she wants to be done with this online fame. When she was around 8 years old, someone tried to kidnap her, and she still deals with the effects of that today. She’s tired of the trolls and the mean comments. She just wants to be a normal teen, but her mom insists on continuing the brand, especially now that Poppy and Claire’s YouTube channel has hit 1 million subscribers.

At school, Claire meets Rafael who has just moved to Gilbert, Arizona. She thinks this is her chance to start over with someone who doesn’t know who she is and to become who she wants to be–a normal 17 year old girl. But after Rafael finds out her secret, every aspect of her life becomes more complicated.

This was such an interesting topic for a book. What happens to those kids as the mommy bloggers grow up? Do they embrace their popularity? Do they reject it? When does it become their choice?

While the topic was fascinating, I wish that we had seen a bit more on-page conflict with the reasons why Claire wanted out. We saw a lot of internal conflict from her, but a lot of the reasons for the internal conflict happened off-page.

While I did want more out of this book, if the concept is interesting to you, still pick it up. It’s a very fast read.

I liked but didn't love this book. It was YA which I read a bit of but I felt like the writing and editing was a little sloppy. That said, I enjoyed the topic, as a blogger for 15 years, I do wonder what it would be like being a kid who's parents' documented your every move growing up. I'd recommend this book to twins and bloggers because I think they'd especially like it even though it was a little lightweight.

The glow of a screen makes it easy to avoid thinking - Claire Dixon
Every time she talked about checking her phone reminded me of how we used open the fridge because we were bored before touch screens existed.

Claire Dixon daughter of Mommy Blogger Ashley Dixon and the twin sister of perfect Poppy Dixon is tired of not being in control of her life. Tired of not being in control of what she does and what people think.

Her only way out of it is going away for college but the idea soon becomes another impossible dream when her sister's dream comes true.

Just for Clicks by Kara McDowell is a book about social media, cyber bully, family, love and making the change you want and deserve.

I love the fact that the book is so much in sync with what is happening today, everyday. As a blogger myself I related to it as if it was my life, but I was Poppy.

Claire on the other hand is someone who would rather code and be behind the blog than braid her hair to be in front of it. Her strained relationship with her mom, sister and newly found friendship Raphael keeps you in the moment.

I did have some trouble at the start but I ended of reading half of the book in a night. Kara has a unique way of writing, she talks about the issues while also making you laugh. She looks through Claire's eyes even though the family wants best for her, she doesn't feel it and neither do you.

The story arc also takes a very satisfying turn by the end and I am so glad Kara ended the book the way that she did. (No Spoilers) It brakes a pattern and still gives you the truth and all the feels.

Verdict: Just For Clicks is refreshing and still manages to talk about all the unsettling situations in teen lives.
****

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I certainly appreciated a take on the overwhelming power of the internet, especially considering the current use of YouTube and Instagram to promote products and a celebrity culture. A fairly average YA read overall, with a somewhat unnecessarily dramatic midway twist and a bit of a pat wrapup, it does handle social media issues in a way both timely and engaging.

Arc provided by Net Galley, all opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were very well put together and I fell in love with both Rafael and Claire. I loved how Claire was the total opposite of how you’d expect a fashion YouTuber. I also liked how Rafael didn’t have a phone and how they both bonded over that.

The plot twist in the middle left me shook. I honestly did not expect that. It left me wanting more and finishing the book in two days! I do wish there was a little more about Claire and Rafael when they started dating, but otherwise this book was amazing.

The writing was really good. I liked how in between each chapter there are texts and different things. It made it a lot more fun to read. I also thought it was great how the author gave the pros and cons of being famous. It also has a really good message about not judging people that I think lots of people could use. Overall I highly recommend it!

Woooow a cute fluffy read i got hooked from the first chapter i really loooove the topic of this book wich is related to most of us as we book bloggers it was funny, cute and family read, it is of course one of my favorite contemporary book now, it is an excellent debut novell 😍

Je cherchais une petite lecture légère pour le mois de janvier, et je n'ai pas été déçue !

Kara McDowell nous raconte l'histoire d'une jeune fille dont la vie semble toute tracée : elle sera blogueuse et vlogueuse comme sa mère, et continuera le business familial dans ce domaine. De toute façon, elle n'a pas le choix : à travers le blog de sa mère, toute sa vies est exposée quasiment en temps réel, minute à minute, orchestrée à coups de campagnes de publicité et de tutoriels beauté. Sauf que tout n'est pas si rose, et le récit nous emmène rapidement dans une intrigue dynamique, dans laquelle on n'a pas trop de difficultés à entrer.

Les personnages sont faciles à aimer (et à détester, pour ceux qui sont détestables), et la romance est douce et agréable à lire. Le thème m'a bien plu - explorer le rapport aux réseaux sociaux et à la célébrité vu par des jeunes d'une génération née en plein milieu de l'ère des blogs - et le livre en lui-même se lit très rapidement, ce qui a été parfait pour la fin de mon mois de janvier !

This book is mostly exactly what you'd think it would be both romance and story-wise except for all the stuff that is tackled and resolved quickly in the last few chapters. Family fights and misunderstandings - check. Possible romantic competition - check. Sacrificing dreams due to unconditional love - check. Getting over your attitude problem that is causing you to misread situations - check. And more! Of course I didn't go into this book looking for a downer so I wanted the happy ending to all of those stories, but maybe not so many stories and not so fast. Claire's turnaround from disavowing her family to recognizing their worth happens in the blink of an eye and the thing that causes her to change her attitude is also revealed mighty fast. I feel like that amount of crazy might not be revealed so quickly in real life.

Despite those ending flaws, there are a few things I liked a lot about this book.

1. Claire and Poppy's mom is sort of a stage mother but not in a bad way at all. She totally cares about her daughters and it shows in how she treats them which is a great change from the portrayal of most parents in YA books.

2. Rafael is a really nice guy and the romance progresses very slowly rather than with insta-love. Most of their interactions in the book consist of them talking and asking questions of each other. Like, actually getting to know each other!

3. The downside of being internet famous (probably famous in any way at all) is unflinchingly shown. Of course it appears that these people have perfect lives but the online harassment and the work involved in maintaining that appearance is no joke.

4. And speaking of work... It is made clear that you don't just get famous by writing a few entries and being discovered. It's a fulltime job getting your name out there. It's a good lesson for all those teens who are going to monetize their videos and get rich quick.

*I WAS APPROVED OF AN e-ARC THROUGH NETGALLEY IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION*

When I heard about a book centering around blogging and social media influence, I knew I just had to get my hands on it.

However, the beginning of this book did little to interest me. It was slow, and it seemed like every other sentence the main character was complaining about something. Not to mention, when the anointed "love-interest" showed up, it was like she immediately had a crush on him.

I normally don't have a problem with the MCs crushing on someone that we readers have just met, but this time was different. It felt forced. It felt like he was just there for comedy relief and to make the MC seem different and a little happier.

At one point in time, the MC made a remark, saying, "Agoraphobia grips my chest..." I was really uncomfortable while reading this sentence because, once again, it felt forced. It felt like it was added in to make the story more "relatable." The author could have easily made this disorder apparent—as it already was being made—through descriptions or hints.

Another thing; Poppy and Claire's sisterly-relationship wasn't very real. It seemed like Poppy was—just like the last person—there to satiate the story and add in depth that wasn't actually depth.

Toward the middle of the story, the plot began to pick up the pace and I actually started getting interested. Things got more intense, and the writing seemed to shift in a different direction. The characters really started to develop after the midway point, and the scenes became clearer and more important.

The ending wasn't entirely the best, and it seemed to be wrapped up way too nicely. It seemed like everything was forgiven—when in reality, people would be wondering why Claire did this or that and their family would still need a serious dinner talk.

Altogether, I felt that the plot could have used more work, the characters developed less than they should have, and the story was okay. For that, I rate this book 3.5 stars.

Does this come under YA contemporary? I am not exactly sure. But never mind that, I really liked the premise of this book!
Every we end up seeing all these bloggers, almost everyone is either a fashion/food/travel/lifestyle blogger and I just liked seeing how the blogging aspect affects the family. Also seeing as how prevalent blogging is, I definitely enjoyed the whole perspective around the life of bloggers.
I was almost expecting this to be one of those monotonous teenage angst stories, but I am pleasantly surprised!

Also, I really liked how the romance was well developed and not just thrown at you.

Definitely a recommended read if you like such books!

Just for Clicks ties a sweet romance in with a serious plot line that won't leave reader's disappointed in either the mystery or the characters.

[su_quote style="modern-orange" cite="Goodreads" url=”GOODREADS LINK TO YOUR BOOK"]

Mommy blogs are great . . . unless the blog happens to belong to your mom.

Twin sisters Claire & Poppy are accidental social media stars thanks to Mom going viral when they were babies. Now, as teens, they're expected to contribute by building their own brand. Attending a NY fashion week and receiving fan mail is a blast. Fending off internet trolls and would-be kidnappers? Not so much. Poppy embraces it. Claire hates it. Will anybody accept her as "just Claire"? And what should Claire do about Mom's old journals? The handwritten entries definitely don't sound like Mom's perfect blog persona. Worse, one of them divulges a secret that leaves Claire wondering what else in her life might be nothing but a sham... (Goodreads)

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I received an eARC of Just for Clicks from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Just for Clicks needs trigger warnings for mentions of attempted kidnapping, hidden parentage, bullying, cyberbullying, blackmail, video including them going viral, discussion of parental death, discussion of drug use and child protective services, and several ace-antagonistic comments.

I have a lot of thoughts on "mommy blogging" (also known as just blogging about parenthood) and this book dives into two of the biggest ones - the issue of privacy and the effects of having none for the rest of the family among their peers and the unfortunately common stalking issues that come with being a woman on the internet.

It also digs into the fact that this is one of the best ways for many single parents to make a regular income while still being there for their kids, as well as showcasing the skills that come along with hosting and designing your own website, which I loved.

Nearly everyone in Claire's life knows details about her that she would much rather keep private, but it doesn't bother her twin sister, Poppy. While I was reading, I wished that there was a little bit more exploration of the relationship they have, especially since

I actually really loved the romance in this story. Rafael was a delight, and I loved that he called Claire out on her garbage while also being there for her throughout all of her struggles. He was soft and sweet, but he didn't let her walk all over him. I was honestly delighted by the way they flirted through their class and their resumes. It was a really cute way to bring the epistolary style into the modern era without being shoehorned in. It was also really funny.

The mystery at the center of the story left me satisfied, though I felt the ending tied up a little too easily. I still really enjoyed Just for Clicks. You can pick up a copy for yourself on Amazon or Indiebound.

[su_box title="ABOUT JUST FOR CLICKS" style="default" box_color="#ff4400" title_color="#f2f2f2" radius="3" class=""]

Title: Just for Clicks

Author: Kara McDowell

Publisher: Amberjack Publishing

Length: 250 Pages

Release Date: February 19, 2018

Rating: Recommended

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fiction

Representation: Mexican American love interest

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I like how it really tackles the idea of social media and how everyone is different in regards to handling ‘fame’ and gives an insight into the negative aspects of it and the insight into the life of daily vloggers and blog famous characters, it’s a really unique and modern concept to be explored. I also like how the love story was not the focal point of the book, it was more about family and friendship. With that said, I did not really like claire and poppy’s relationship, it was kind of strange for me. Yes, siblings fight and grate on each other’s nerves but I felt like their relationship was very one-dimensional, only towards the end did we see their bond as siblings, but throughout the majority of the book they were so detached from each other, it was almost like they were friends and not twins.

The ending was resolved way too quickly, the character’s mindset changed in an instant and it was just wrapped up a little too nicely, the book would have needed another 50 pages.

It was an enjoyable book and I’m glad I read it but there were some parts that just left me so baffled and the family relationship didn’t feel authentic to me. A good read but personally it wasn’t very memorable.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: Claire and Poppy live their lives in the spotlight. Imagine a fraternal, non-identical version of the Olsen twins, but set in a time of social media and fashion blogs , then throw in a famous mother and you're heading in the right direction.

Their mum is an online star who has blogged about them their entire lives. All aspects of their lives is open for criticism and unlimited embarrassment. Everything is done to garner more likes, clicks and endorsements. Poppy loves life in the spotlight, Claire not so much!

As Claire becomes less and less interested in building influence it causes rifts within the family. It took me a while to warm to Poppy because I felt she uses her sister and doesn't try to understand her unhappiness, but the change in their relationship is engaging and it was satisfying seeing them begin to act as twins. Oh the teenage angst!

The pacing was a little off at times, because some events seemed to happen at warp speed and others went on for ages, but I enjoyed seeing the story through Claire's eyes and believe the story is relevant and relatable today with all the online influencers out there and the big following particularly with teenagers and younger.

The romance!! Oh Rafael you cutie pie!! I loved the build up and friendship.

There are some big secrets and revelations throughout the course of the story but I would have appreciated a more developed ending. However, I found the story sweet and engaging.


4 Stars in my Sky!

Thank you so much to Amberjack Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I actually really really liked this book which actually surprised me. This isn’t my typical genre of book and I haven’t read a book like this since I was a teenager. I think since I have followed a couple of youtubers since they started is one main reason I liked this book so much. I loved the authors writing style and I loved the character of Claire.

Claire and her twin sister Poppy are YouTube stars that have been on the internet since their mom’s blog from before they were born. Their YouTube channel is focused on fashion, makeup, and tutorials and brands that want to sponsor them. While Poppy loves it and is constantly trying to make the channel better, Claire is tired of her every move being on the internet and is ready to call it quits which would mean disappointing her mom and her sister. Claire has never felt like she’s truly a part of the family and when she finds her mom’s old journals buried in a closet she finally realizes why. All Claire wants to do is go to college, continue her computer coding, and get to know the new guy in school better. She must make a big decision about whether she should continue to do what is expected of her or if she should start living her own life the way she wants to.

When I first read the synopsis for this book I didn’t think I would really enjoy it. This is a book I would have loved as a teenager and honestly thought I might be too old to read it. But then I started reading it and really enjoyed it. I’m so glad I found this author and hope to read more by her!

This book is about twins who have had their lives chronicled on their mother’s blog since birth and the trial and tribulations that came with it. This book was fine—nothing too special, but had the potential to be great if it was longer. Much deeper than what the cover portrays - isn’t such a cutesy story. I think teens will relate to the social media aspects to the story. We are getting an inside scoop as to what it’s like to be social media stars—the good and the bad. I also would have liked more of the YouTube/Instagram/blog content. I felt like it could have been given much more detail—don’t just tell us your making a YouTube video, show us how it’s done.

There were some really serious moments that weren’t treated with much care, almost as if the author just glossed over them. The author could have dived in more and flushed out those scenes, especially when it came to Claire and her mother. There needed to be more communication. The romance was a slow burn, done in a really incredibly sweet way, even though sometimes you just wanted to shake them both for being so clueless. All in all, I would give this a solid three stars.

I was sent this e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute little contemporary romance. The idea about living your whole life on social media is a scary one but I did feel at times Claire was a bit bratty. The relationship between her and Rafael was nice however there were moments where he really frustrated and their behaviour as a couple was kinda shitty. The familial bomb drops that occur felt a bit under developed and they could have been expanded on for a deeper character analysis. The book had heart but it felt weak at time.

This book for me was between a 3.5-4 stars. I loved all the characters and the character growth in this story was well written. In the beginning, I didn't love the sisters. I found them to be kind of annoying. But as the story progressed, Poppy and Claire became two sisters I love. The "plot twists" were predictable and I think that's what's bringing the rating down. But in the end, I would recommend this. TW: kidnapping

This book charmed the hell out of me! I think it's rare to find an 'internet book' executed this well, and it is clearly a world Kara Mcdowell understands intimately. Her characters are likeable, her twists genuinely surprising, and the form of the novel kept me interested throughout - the interludes between chapters are something I've seen attempted often, and never as successfully as this.

Full review to come closer to publication, but I loved it. Thoroughly charmed by Claire and Poppy and their lives. These are characters I'd like more of. Sequel please!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Claire and Poppy Dixon have been internet famous for their entire lives. Their mom has run a blog featuring their whole lives, and as teenagers, they started their own vlog. They have sponsors who send them more clothes than they could ever wear, get invited to New York's fashion week, and just crossed the threshold of 1 million followers. Poppy loves it. Claire, however, hates the online trolls, the strangers who know so many details about her life, and the fear of strangers since she and her sister were almost kidnapped when they were 9. When Rafael starts at their school after moving from India, Claire is eager for a chance to be just herself, apart from her online life.

I loved the relationship between Claire and Rafael. Despite her internet fame, Claire was relatable; she could be just as awkward as any teenager. I felt like we didn't get to know Poppy well. I know it was Claire's book, but there has to be more to Poppy than her desire to be an “influencer” online. Overall, it was a cute story.