From the first chapter, this book had me straightjacketed. It snatched me up and held me rapt until the last word.

It's just, ugh, there is no word. Oh wait, I got it...

IT'S ELECTRIFYING!
*using bad Danny Zuko/John Travolta impression*

☆ Megan Angelo's writing is top notch.

She has flawlessly woven a complex, multilayered and intelligent tale of the current state of social media and the dramatic effects it has on society some thirty years in the future.

☆ Angelo offers up a masterclass in character development.

There are a ton of characters in this story but I never once felt lost. She fleshed out the three main characters masterfully while simultaneously creating peripheral characters that were real and memorable.

☆ I really encourage you to read the description before diving into this one (but not the reviews). The author drops you off right in the middle of the lives of the main characters and reading the description helped me to quickly gain my bearings. Just a friendly suggestion.

☆ Side Note: this cover has GOT TO GO. It is entirely too uninteresting, especially considering the jewel that lies inside. Plus, it reminds me of a trademark graphic for a feminine hygiene product.

☆ Although Followers doesn't come out until next year, I already know it'll be in my top 10. It's just that damn good.



** I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **

I read this because I received a Net Galley email saying it was available to read now and it looked like my kind of story. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. It was kinda eh to me. Definitely a popular concept as of late.

I found Followers fascinating to read. Mainly because I can 100% picture what happened in the book happening in real life. I did wonder how Marlow, Orla, and Floss were all tied together. But I wasn't expecting what was revealed. It shocked me. I did find parts of the book to be a little hard to believe (the whole scene with Marlow being tied up in the car was a big one) but overall, it was an interesting read. Scary but interesting.

You never really expect your life to change from a moment. No one stands on a rooftop and believes that this single moment will change the rest of their lives- and yet- this is what happens to Floss,Orla and Marlow; a moment somersaults their lives into something unrecognizable.
We follow these girls-turned-to-women as they live their lives under examination.. We see the rise to celebrity and what it costs and what it can deliver. This book was beautifully written to make us stop and see glimpses of what we are giving up in our displays on social media and what it could mean in our own lives.

I do not like writing negative reviews, hence why it's taken me so long to put my thoughts on this book into words. However, it all stems from the one question I had the second I finished the book:

What did I just read?

Followers by Megan Angelo tells the stories of Orla and Marlow. Orla lives in 2016 and works as a blogger in New York City, hoping to make it big as a writer someday. Marlow is a reality star, living in the future (2051) where almost every second of her life is on camera for others to see. At first it seems like these women have nothing in common, but then finally a common thread emerges. Orla begins to help Floss, her roommate in her quest for fame. Surprisingly, their cunning plan works and Floss begins her rise to stardom. Marlow has Floss in her life as well: as her mother. Her world is turned upside down when Floss's husband turns out to not be her father and she goes on a quest to find her biological father. Despite Floss, this common thread that seemingly promised to tie the story together, I still felt like I was reading two different books at the same time. 

The first half of this really long book was good, leading me to believe that even though the characters had gotten themselves into a mess, they would emerge from it victorious and find a way to make their dreams come true. Orla and Marlow were well written characters in a world that is harsh, cruel, and obsessed with a celebrity's every move. Halfway through the story, it seemed to change its direction, throwing in a technological meltdown, a worldwide reaction to the meltdown that was dark and extreme, and a change in everyone's plans and motivations. Neither woman's goals are redefined by the end.

I think it is supposed to be a story about how privacy and friendships are better than millions of followers online, but it fell short of its intended purpose by telling a tale that changed its trajectory around halfway through, leaving me confused and dissatisfied. 

I know other people really do like this book and the views expressed here are simply my own personal opinion. While I struggled to read and enjoy this, I know that others might have better luck with it!

This story is told from two different points of view in two different time periods. In 2015 Orla Cadden, an aspiring writer, is working on her novel and blogging about celebrities for <i>Lady-ish</i>. When Orla's roommate, Floss Natuzzi, discovers what Orla does for a living, she convinces Orla to write about her as though she's famous. Orla is dubious, but they pull it off and Floss becomes a celebrity almost overnight. Unfortunately, Orla is dragged into the spotlight by association and the consequences aren't quite what she imagined.

In 2051 Marlow, a thirty-something woman with over 11 million "followers" lives her life on camera almost 24/7 (think Truman Show). Her life is basically an advertisement for a drug called Hysterl, which supposedly keep Marlow on an even keel emotionally. When she and her husband get the news from the writers & producers that they're going to have a baby as part of their next story arc, Marlow discovers that all is not as it seems with her family. She has to decide how to process that information and what kind of life she really wants to live.

The two stories seem completely disconnected for at least the first quarter of the book, but as soon as the connection is made, the reader can also guess the ending. I really wanted to love this book! The premise is fabulous, but the execution is just over the top and the characters are completely unlikable. Honestly, I didn't care what happened to any of them or what happened to cause the huge change in American culture between 2015 and 2051. The writing was all over the place - in some chapters it felt like a campy farce and in others it felt more like literary fiction. Then, the last chapter is nothing but a listing of what happens to everyone after the end of the book. There were lots of snide asides and commentary on technology today and our addiction to devices, including a very obvious pointed jab at the end about Trump and his presidency. While I agree with the author's views on technology, I don't want them bashing me over the head as I try to escape in a fiction book. And while I despise Trump's policies, again I don't read fiction to have the author's politics crammed down my throat, even when I agree with them.

Sadly, this book was a disappointment to me and I cannot recommend it.

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was an interesting book that focuses on the current social media craze in fiction form and imagines what would happen if it were to all implode. Orly, a budding writer, sets out to make her roommate, Floss, famous on social media. She is successful beyond her wildest dreams but the fallacy and distrust that develops from this eats their friendship alive. When the internet comes crashing down, exposing everyone's worst secrets, both women need to figure out how to respond. The book also takes you 50 years into the future when being on camera is a what the government wants and the more followers you have the better. As the next generation tries to make sense of their life, the choices they make will surprise you. While the story was good, most of the characters did not become "relatable" until midway through the book. However, the author's opinion on the current state of social media could not be more clear. Thought-provoking.

This book was miles above what I expected when I read the description. I expected either a shallow vaguely chick lit dystopia, or a shallow thriller. There was nothing shallow about this book. It had elements of a thriller, elements of a multi generation family saga, elements of romance, new adult fiction themes, and yes sometimes a touch of reality TV / Real housewives vibes.

Every character in this book felt three dimensional and real, some of them having an impressive amount of character development with even a small portion of the plot devoted to them (Aston Clipp comes to mind). It’s often more suggested at than painted directly on the page, which is a product of the time shift from present to future. But it doesn’t feel unexplained, it just feels understandable. 35 years is a long time, after all.

The base elements of the plot feel unbelievable and exaggerated, (the entire idea of the Spill) yet somehow when it works it’s way around to that pivotal moment, the author works the story in such a way that it goes down easily and believably.

Absolutely fantastic!

”Sensational, futuristic, smart, entertaining, twisty, mind-bending and surprising ARC reading!” I’m about to slap myself because I waited at least three month to start this book and I let it drown at the bottom part of my growing NetGalley pile. I think one day, they will send me glasses for my red rimmed eyes instead of future releasing yummy books all set to be devoured with two bites!

So welcome to the social media madness. Everybody’s lives depend on the likes and visual encouraging comments they take and raising number of their followers. Yes, just an ordinary day of our lives! The story is moving back and forth between 2015 and 2055. Future parts are more disturbing because the most elite celebrities living in Constellation (not in the space, this is the name of secluded California town.) We’re introduced with Marlow, feeding herself with her sponsor’s branded drug made her look like all her emotions have been taken out from her heart and forced her act like Stepford wife meets over exaggerated botox application victim. She is followed by cameras. Her every move and every inch of her body fat are criticized by her followers. She is not happy with her marriage and now her husband pushes her to have a baby for the celebration of pretentious, fake marriage.

And when we go back to 2015, we’re introduced with Orla (author has interesting name choices) who is ambitious dreamer, pushing herself hard to write her first novel but stuck with her daytime blogging job at Lady-ish website. Her roommate Floss who has no proper ability or any gift of talent to keep her place at the race, wants her help to become celebrity! (Don’t stop reading. This is not KARDASHIANS’ BIOGRAPHY!) And Orla starts her Instagram campaign as: “Sooo What Does the World’s Most Expensive Brow Gel Actually Do? One Instagram It Girl Finds Out!” (Please resume reading. It’s not Kylie or Kendall Jenner biography!)

So she boosts her likes and followers and their paths cross, force them work together for aspiring and inspirational social media management.

So those three women’s connected with each other and the story gets too many surprising twists starting with the unbelievable success of Floss who has TV show with Orla. And as soon as Orla finds out her longtime high school crush/obsession (she’s social media stalker of the guy for years) Danny leaves his wife and appears in front of their apartment.

And in the meantime (40 years later actually) Marlow starts to dig out more about her identity and begin searching who is her real father.

The characters are vivid, lovely, sarcastic, moving and hilarious. Marlow’s not on drugs version is more animated, wild ( Remember the part she attacked the girl’s face like a real blood sucker!) lost woman who needed to learn about her true self and her expectations from life.

So after surprising twists and revelations later, three women meet at Atlantis (Once upon a time this place was Boardwalk Empire! I can hear Temptations’ ‘Under The Boardwalk’ on my mind) And ending is another epic moment of this book!

As a summary: When Tarryn Fisher promotes a book on the social media, you shouldn’t have any doubts, you just dive in without thinking a second! We have a brilliant new author in the literary town! Congrats! Applause! I already opened the Champagne bottle for celebration!

So my 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for the originality, sarcasm, political, social criticism and intelligent creativity.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House for sending me this incredible debut novel’s ARC COPY in exchange my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.

I can appreciate the irony of taking about this book when I received it in digital form and am encouraged to talk about it on social media in order to promote it. While reading this, I couldn't help feeling like I was reading a Black Mirror episode. In fact, if they don't option for this to be adapted into one of their episodes or even a movie, I'd be very surprised. This sort of premise is right up their alley: technology and the internet has evolved in such a way that it's inside a person's head, and it communicates in the first person. Moreover, reality TV has gotten to where a person's entire life is on display with only small spaces as private-- with the network reminding them to go into an on-camera area if they stay away too long.

This book is pretty brilliant in that it feels so true in what it's portraying. The way these people's lives are scripted from who they marry to when they have children, how some of them are sponsored and are expected to have a certain image, how outsiders view celebrities and how quickly they can turn on someone. It also does great with social media and how quickly something can escalate from those platforms. It's also not entirely unbelievable for the government to control the internet, though I think the reaction to the Spill was maybe a little too over-the-top? Though it's hard to say how people would actually react to such a thing.

I like how there is no villain in this. Not even the network and the Spill feels like a villain, more like antagonists. They're just forces working in opposition to our characters' goals. Bad things certainly happen, but none of it feels truly evil. They're all just flawed humans trying to make this world work in their favor, and it's all very relateable. It feels more like a story of self-discovery and finding peace with yourself and your life than anything. I don't want to say more and influence how people read this book. I also liked the different ways the term "follower" was used in the story. Again I don't want to say too much, but I saw three different definitions of the word playing out, and that's clever.

The book is clearly taking place in an alternate universe, but it's one that's close enough to our reality that I think we can glean something valuable from it if we want.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me this arc. I will be reviewing this book in the near future with an honest rating and review.

I wanted to read this book because it touches on social media and how some people get sucked in when it comes to likes and followers. I feel like this book was fitting for this time as social media is such a big thing. As much as I wanted to like this story it just didn't workout in my favor. I had to stop and re read several times as I felt the writing was long and drawn out. The story telling seemed choppy as well and it was so hard for me to connect to the story and characters.

3.5, rounded up for the premise and construction. Megan Angelo's Followers paints a picture of an all-too-possible future, where social media and "reality" television converge in a real-life town reminiscent of The Truman Show. The set up is great, with dual narratives, set decades apart: one in 2015/16, before "the Spill", and the other in 2051. The winding stories are well told, with Angelo setting up and navigating the worlds with a deft hand. Orla, Floss, and Marlow are all dynamic characters, each possessing her own strengths, desires, and flaws. However, the story begins to drag and then goes a bit off the rails in the last third of the book. I think around the time Marlow starts talking about the nursing home where her purported father is being kept is when it started to veer off for me. At that point, it stops being as concerned with the impact of social media and followers, and becomes more about the scandal that has rocked the characters' lives. When the concept of Atlantis is introduced towards the end, I felt like it might get back on track, as it seemed like a sort of Atlas Shrugged-inspired utopia of defectors from traditional society. But then that, too, becomes convoluted and I found myself quite confused at where we were at any given point and what was going on in the story. I did enjoy the brief moment in which the story goes into the future tense, to give us a taste of what happens after the events of the novel conclude (this device is unusual and much appreciated, as I often find myself wondering what happens to characters when the story ends). On the whole, Followers is a good book, but I think it misses the mark, not delivering on the promise of the premise or the first half.

I'm not sure where to start with this one. I liked this book very much although it did throw some hurdles my way. I initially passed this book over twice when requesting titles from NetGalley. The cover art didn't entice me; after just one glance, I had already decided that the book was women's literature -- not my favorite. The cover's saving grace, and what drew me in, was the Austin Powers - fembot flair I felt pulsing from it. Once I waded through the pink and purple and read the description, I knew that I had to read this book. Much to my surprise, it was an okay balance of women's literature meets science fiction (light).

There were moments where I felt I had to "chew" through certain passages. Some sections were very verbose, consistent with classic chick-lit. As I became rooted in the story, it was very easy to get over the random bits of wordiness. The details served to build a rich environment and didn't slow down the storyline. The book hosts a group of well-developed characters that you love and love to hate - not mutually exclusive. We encounter three very different women (Orla, Floss, and Marlow) who struggle very publicly with some intensely intimate issues during a technological catastrophe/breakdown/takeover. Orla and Marlow act as narrators for the story, each retelling their experiences set in drastically different times. Incidentally, Ms. Angelo does a great job at separating and defining each timeline; happily, there were no continuity mishaps.

We are first set in a near-ish future where something cataclysmic, called the Spill, has happened; we learn soon enough that the government now controls the internet, and paper is a relic of the past. Biological links to the internet exist for all, and a select few have their lives globally broadcast for the pleasure of others. It's certainly not difficult to imagine this bit of fantasy as reality. Although the details on the full impact and happenings of the Spill aren't revealed to us until midway through the book, we can see its impact from page 1. Once she's settled us with this quick peek into a bleak future; Angelo then drops us back into the present and allows us to view how this future stage innocently unfolds. The warnings throughout this book on the pseudo-evils of social media and the overall vice of oversharing, in general, are loud and clear.

We listen to Orla’s words and follow as she and Floss on their hungry climb to fame. We lend witness all their faulty, sometimes dangerous, decisions; both women sported visceral flaws that reaffirmed their authenticity – no airbrushing here. I found myself flipping between sympathy, annoyance, and plain dislike with both characters based on their decisions, or lack thereof. They smoothly swap the mantles of victim, villain, and "heroine,” dependent on their current desires. The second narrator, Marlow, touched me in a much different way. Unlike Orla and Floss, Marlow is born into fame and never has a choice. She is forced to live out her life in a fishbowl with no autonomy. I truly grew attached to her and was rooting for her the entire time. That moment when she decides to take charge and enact change in her life was awesome and frightening. Once free, I was extremely proud that she was able to overcome all the "horrors" of the real world to get her questions answered. Or, at least, I imagine that she gets all her questions answered. Sadly, this isn’t resolved by the end of the book.

Orla and Floss undergo many trials and transformations throughout the story; however, they end up in the same pigeonholes at the end. Two halves of a persona; Orla is still Floss's “content,” and Floss is still an empty shell. I'm not sure either woman has grown at all. I expected Orla to grow a backbone and to force the hard conversations that needed to happen to occur, or for Floss to realize that the fame she desired was worthless and her undoing. Sadly, neither happened and Marlow, the only one who made a change, doesn’t get the final word. This lackluster ending and unappealing cover are what led me to give this book a 4. I recommend this book to fans of women's literature and new adult fiction. Although there are many science fiction elements to the story, the peripherals may not make it engaging to exclusive sci-fi fans.

Followers is not a genre that I usually read but intrigued by the description and the cover, decided to try it. I loved it! Jumping between 2015 and 2051, it was a timely topic - social media/internet/privacy concerns. My only comment is that the ending felt a bit rushed to me. i even went back thinking I had missed part of the book. Overall 4/5 stars. I will definitely recommend and will certainly read another Megan Angelo book. Thank you for the advanced copy.

Absolutely loved this book! The story flows, the characters are fascinating and I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend.

Imagine the Jim Carey movie The Truman Show crossed with a bit of Skynet from The Terminator series. Followers explores the lengths people will go to control their destiny following a breakdown of the internet as we now it now. But is that control real or an illusion the government has created following the event, called the Spill, that changed the world? Told in two narratives, one leading up to the Spill and one far past it, I had a hard time putting this one down!

Instagram:
FOLLOWERS is a near future #scifi with a slightly reimagined present. Told both flashing backward to “how we got here” and forward to a town in California where everyone is on reality tv 22 hours a day 7 days a week (and our main character grew up on this show) and “phones” are now attached to your skin with no screens - they’re just thoughts in your mind. It’s a future where the government controls America’s internet and this reality tv is trying to get them to start sharing on social media again. My absolute favorite part of this book is that the government social media is called Amerigram 😂 I loved the premise and world building but the ending massively disappointed me. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Thank you to the publisher for giving me a copy via @netgalley
#bookstagram #instabook #bookblogger #booklover #bookish #bookalicious #bookaholic #instabook #bookshot #ducksinthedistance #boston #netgalley #kindlepaperwhite

GoodReads:
The last chapter of this book really tanked it for me. I loved it right up until then. Really loved it. The world it creates is fascinating - a future where a terrorist hack into social media gets everyone to sign up for the government running the internet but then are too afraid to "share" about their lives anymore so those who used to be influencers sign up to live in a 24/7 filmed town in a government-backed effort to convince people to share again. It focuses on two women - one before the terrorist attack and another who grew up in the 24/7 town. Such a cool idea! But the last chapter goes off into left field with a totally different vibe (writing style AND story direction) from the beginning of the book that I was left utterly stunned it was the last chapter. I thought someone was dreaming or something. Disappointing. It was so close to being a lifetime well-loved read for me. Interesting how the last chapter can do that.

*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

I loved the idea of this book (social media craze and the idea of followers being with you at all times). However, I’m not sure if this book really ‘hit the mark’ for me. At times, I found it quite confusing and not sure where the author wanted it to go. I was definitely confused at the end and wasn’t sure what the purpose of it was. I did like that the author chose to show the perspective of ‘present’ 2016 and ‘future’ 2051. It’s sad, but I can definitely see a world where privacy becomes a thing of the past with our fast consumption of social media and our need of always being connected through WiFi and smartphones. That being said, I wasn’t entirely sure where the author was going with this… but the ideas presented were though provoking!

I appreciate when authors can construct future worlds and this one was interesting, with a few things from today that I really hope do not make it to 2051. The central issue of the story is privacy and the author has some interesting thoughts on social media/online sharing.