Follow Me had a great premise, but for me, the idea of this one was better than the reality. I don't need to like the characters to enjoy the story, but it does help when I don't want to pinch the main character's head off myself. Audrey irritated me to no end. She suffers from a major case of it's all about me syndrome, which isn't helped by the pedestal the author puts her on. What I mean by that is we're expected to believe that all these men are falling for this thoroughly self-centered woman - not just her stalker but nearly every man she comes in contact with. Plus people just drop everything to run to Audrey when she needs something. It's like no one has a life in this story except the annoying damsel in distress. That brings me to the identity of her stalker, which isn't revealed until close to the end of the book. Kathleen Barber does give us a fair amount of red herrings to consider, but in all honesty, I didn't like Audrey enough to care who the stalker was. In fact, I was surprised that a couple of people didn't at least attempt to take her out before the stalker had a chance to reveal himself. Not that the rest of the characters were much better. In the end, I don't think there were really any characters that I particularly liked in this one. At the end of the day, what it really comes down to isn't whether the characters were likable or not. It's more about whether this mystery/thriller kept those pages turning. I will say that I finished the book, but that was more out of sheer determination than any real curiosity about the stalker's identity or how it would all play out. There was too much of the mundane and not enough tension for it to be what I would consider a thriller. That said, there was a decent twist at the end, but when it happened I wasn't thinking 'wow, I can't believe that happened.' Instead, I was thinking that I couldn't believe it took that long for that character to go off the deep end. Maybe this just wasn't the book for me, which is quite possible. I do realize that I'm in the minority on this one, but I really expected more, and just didn't find it here.

Audrey Miller has just moved and to D.C. for her job. She posts on social media often. The selfies, where she had lunch, what she is doing daily. Typical influencer oversharing. As for real life, she only has a couple friends nearby. Her friend Cat and an ex-boyfriend.

Unfortunately for Audrey, someone has been following her online for years. Someone who is more than just interested. Someone obsessed,. Her new move has brought her within this person's reach. Her stalker decides to move the stalking into real life. As this happens, Audrey's life starts spinning out of control.

Follow Me is all too scarily plausible. It's a very good read and makes one stop and think about social media oversharing.

Wow, wow, wow. Buckle in buttercup for the ride of your life. Make sure you have plenty of time because it's unputdownable. It's heart pounding, exhilarating and engaging. Pick up this winner of a book. You will not be disappointed. Happy reading!

As a person who posts daily, yeah about books lol.. but DAILY.. this book really freaked me out. Being super active on social media can seem harmless, it’s a way to interact with others, meet new people, make new friends. All the “normal” things that happen these days, that are more acceptable. But there’s so much to worry about, stalkers, identity theft, bullying, online harassment. Social media is glamorized, it makes things/people seem flawless effortlessly. Don’t believe everything you see online.. this novel is a depiction of what could really be.

What I really liked about this book: The writing is crazy good, you dive deep into the story line with great detail, and suspense. Multiple POV’s a writing style that has never let me down as a reader, one that I prefer actually. We see different perspectives, which expands the story much more with character AND story development.

I can also see why some readers may have compared it to the novel YOU, but this one is spectacular with it’s own twists and turns.

I thought I knew where the story was headed, but I loved being proved wrong! That twist!

Format: Kindle Edition
This is a very thought provoking storyline addressing the perils of social media. It really got me thinking!! So many twists and turns throughout. I was engaged in the story from chapter one. Very well written and entertaining. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review

When I started the book I was truly getting some "You" by Caroline Kepnes vibes. I enjoyed that novel so I kept going, enjoying the picture Kathleen Barber was painting. It definitely made me think of technology today and the harm versus the help. Overall this book was written very well and I really enjoyed it!

Kathleen Barber’s latest contemporary fiction, Follow Me is a thriller that will have you questioning not only if you should engage in social media, but also, who might be watching you.

In real life, Audrey Miller is anxious and insecure; she has a deep need to be not just liked but to be enviable. Online, she is happy and carefree. She hides behind the persona she presents on Instagram. Her followers make her feel liked; they make her feel that she has friends. However, some should make her feel afraid.

A falling out with her snarky roommate pushes Audrey to get over her anxiety and leave the comfort of familiarity to take a dream job in a city several states away. Her youth and naivete lead her to make some questionable choices in this move. The shady basement apartment and the creepy neighbor add to the feeling of menace as Audrey posts every move she makes on Instagram. Unbeknownst to Audrey, “Him” has been obsessing over her for years, and she has moved into his hometown.

As the story progresses, Audrey was easy to worry over, but not easy to like. I felt the same about many of the secondary characters. Ms. Barber made me question most characters as possible candidates for “Him”. Even the two people she knows in town--an oddly protective sorority sister and an ex-boyfriend--had me questioning their motivations and actions.

There is a delicious mounting of tension throughout the story, which made Follow Me a page-turner. The denouement is a quick wrap up after all the twists and turns, but Follow Me was none-the-less an engaging thriller.

We are inundated with warnings about the internet and social media - limit personal info shared on social media. Do not conduct certain transactions on a shared Wi-Fi. Never use the same password twice. Do not open attachments from unknown senders. Everyday there is a new suggestion to make us less susceptible to internet scams, identity theft, and privacy invasion. In Follow Me, we meet a young woman who disregarded most of these warnings. As a result making herself vulnerable to a very troubled person.

Audrey is wild and vivacious, with millions of followers on Instagram. A lifestyle Instagrammer, her feed is filled with perfectly filtered pictures of her exercising, shopping, having dinner. In stark contrast Cat, Audrey’s best friend, is introverted and studious. Cat has her eye on the prize of partner within her prestigious D. C. law firm. Despite their differences Cat and Audrey have been friends for years. Pretty early on, it becomes clear to me that their friendship is a bit one sided. One person constantly giving, while the other constantly takes. With this type of dynamic, Barber gives readers someone to like and someone to dislike (although readers should reserve judgement until the end of the book). While Follow Me is a story of suspense, it is also a relationship study. For me solving the mystery (identifying the stalker) took a back seat at times. The mystery is compelling but Cat’s and Audrey’s complex friendship was equally intriguing.

In addition to Audrey’s lifestyle Instagram feed, she also has a day job. She is the Social Media Manger for a museum in D. C. Through the use of Instagram and other social media platforms, Audrey must promote the museum’s upcoming exhibit The Life and Death of Rosalind Rose. Using dioramas - the artist tells the story of Rosalind arriving in L.A., her search for fame, achieving fame, and finally her death at the hand of a mentally disturbed fan. The dolls featured in the dioramas are described as vivid and creepy. Causing some who view the exhibit to turn away and shudder, Audrey included. The exhibit is a small part of Follow Me but while reading it stuck with me. Since finishing Follow Me, I have been trying to figure out why The Life and Death of Rosalind Rose was so fascinating to me. As I am writing this review, I still have no idea. However The Life and Death of Rosalind Rose played out in the background of the story like a wonderfully creepy detail.

Follow Me is not what I expected. Since the book is about social media, I assumed there would be a technical element to the book. I was expecting pages filled with technical jargon I would find taxing. I was wrong. The technical portions of the story are minimal and comprehensive. Readers looking for a tense and entertaining read should look no further than Follow Me.

Murder and Moore Rating:
4.5 out of 5 Stars

A fantastic thriller very much of our current times that will make you question everyone you know, people you don't know, and everything you have ever posted online. Pick it up and then cover all your internet cameras.

In a digital world where everyone shares the details of their lives on social media, a story about a stalker who turns his social media stalking obsession into a real life obsession is absolutely terrifying. Add in the ability to hack into a person's computer and watch what they do both physically and digitally in the comfort of their home, and it's a complete nightmare. One that feels like it could really happen. This story jumps right into the dangers of the our modern, digital world, and it will make you think twice about what you post online or who might have access to the web camera on your computer.

Often with thrillers, I find myself extremely pulled in at the beginning, but as the story goes on, it starts to lag. Perhaps the twists are too far out of left field or the pacing is too slow or I figure it all out too early. But this book got better as it went on. I liked it okay at the beginning but wasn't really sure if it would hold my attention. I'm glad I kept reading because soon I was hooked, and I really loved the ending.

With plot twists in thrillers, they need to be a tad bit obvious, because the reader needs to feel like they are "in" on the secret to stay invested, and also the twist needs to be genuine to the storytelling. If the twists are totally random, it often just doesn't make sense. And that's frustrating for a reader. With Follow Me, the twist was not a total surprise. It is the kind of twist that the reader will probably figure out ahead of time and then get the satisfaction of watching the main character discover the twist that they already predicted was coming. Yet even with that, there are still a few surprises waiting at the end. I really loved the last few chapters, which wrapepd up this book brilliantly.

Follow Me is a creepy thriller. It's not overly twisty and doesn't go for a huge shock value, but it smartly weaves together these characters to keep you reading and on the edge of your seat until the last page.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery books for sending me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Audrey Miller moves from New York City to Washington, DC after receiving a dream job offer at a museum--running their social media accounts. She rents an apartment sight unseen and finds herself in a creepy English basement unit, with a faulty lock and watched constantly by her landlord's sketchy nephew. She feels isolated, as she only knows two people in the city--her old college friend, Cat, now a busy lawyer, and her former boyfriend, Nick, whom she broke up with when she moved to New York. But on Audrey's Instagram, she presents a bright and perfect life. For that, she's rewarded with over a million followers, constant comments, and free items from brands. She shares everything with her fans--pictures, her locations, her thoughts, and more. Little does she know that there's someone out there who has been soaking up those thoughts for years, since Audrey started her first blog. And now that Audrey has moved to his city, he's determined it is fate. He's going to use advice garnered on the dark web to make Audrey his--no matter what.

The first word I can think of to describe this book is "menacing." It's definitely creepy at times, but it mostly projects a sinister feel, as Audrey's stalker--who tells bits and pieces of his side in a POV entitled "Him"--moves closer and closer into her private world. Our other two POVs are Audrey herself and her friend Cat, her socially inept lawyer friend, who begs Audrey to move in with her as Audrey's own apartment becomes increasingly unsafe.

"But the internet can reveal just as much as it can obfuscate."

It's hard not to compare this book to Caroline Kepnes' YOU. But the portions from "Him" are slim, and I just didn't find the narration as creepy and engaging as Joe's. When I read YOU, I literally felt watched, the book was so convincing. This book feels more like a cautionary tale about oversharing on social media.

And in that facet, it does a great job. Our friend Audrey: she shares it all. Instagram stories, photos, and more. Audrey getting her daily coffee? On insta. Her latest exercise class? Shared. And, of course, her move from New York City to Washington, DC is carefully catalogued. It's easy, we realize, to track Audrey's precise location and schedules. But Audrey seems blissfully unaware, living for the adoration the internet provides her. And it gets you thinking, wondering how much we all share across social media. And why...

"Comments from my followers were hands down my favorite part of living my life on the internet... With a million friends at the palm of your hand, how could anyone ever feel truly alone?"

Audrey goes through a lot in this book, but she's not always easy to like. There are no real likeable characters here. The power is in the escalating narrative. As incidents pile up against Audrey (remember: menacing!), you are kept guessing. There's a handful of characters who could be "Him," and Barber does a good job of letting you wonder who it could be. I would settle on someone and then something would happen, and I'd start to waver, changing my mind.

I really liked the commentary on social media and oversharing, combined with the need to be liked, even if virtually. And while the character of "Him" didn't have the personality I really wanted in his sections, they did capture his desperation and his seeming lack of understanding that what he was doing was wrong.

The ending for this one was rather bizarre and bit tough to swallow. I saw some of it coming and it all happened a little quickly after all the buildup. It was definitely twisty, though! Overall, this was a very captivating thriller--perhaps not as deep as I had hoped, but definitely worth a read. 3.5 stars, rounded up here.

Follow Me is Kathleen Barber's second novel, and it's every bit as delicious as her début. The story feels utterly believable, like the sort of thing you'd read about in your local newspaper, and after reading it, I'm not sure I'll view technology in quite the same light ever again.

Some people say Audrey Miller shares too much of her life with her social media followers, but Audrey doesn't see it that way at all. In her opinion, social media is the most efficient way of keeping the world appraised of what's going on with her, and Audrey is convinced the world is waiting with bated breath for her every post.

When a new job forces Audrey to bid New York City farewell and make her home in Washington D.C. instead, she feels a bit of sadness, but she also knows she'll take the nation's capital by storm. She's been building her online brand for years now, so her new job and creepy basement apartment are bound to provide tons of fodder for her many Instagram posts. True, she doesn't know many people in her new city, but she's not too worried about that. After all, her enormous list of followers is always with her, so face-to-face relationships aren't all that important.

There's someone in D.C. who knows Audrey better than she thinks. This person has been keeping track of her since she created her very first blog post, and he knows they're meant to be together. Now, all he has to do is prove his devotion to Audrey herself, and he knows exactly how to convince her they're destined to be together forever.

Follow Me is told from three different perspectives. Of course we see things from Audrey's perspective as well as that of her stalker, but we also get to know Audrey's college roommate Cat, a woman with some dark secrets of her own. I wasn't initially sure how Cat fit into the story; I kind of wondered if the author needed an extra character to provide a red herring of sorts, but as I continued to read, it became clear Cat was an integral part of this twisty tale for reasons beyond my wildest imaginings.

Since this is a thriller, some of the situations the characters get wrapped up in might come off as a bit over the top to some readers, but that's honestly one of the things I liked best about this book. The basic premise could have been taken from the headlines, but the mystery itself is addictive enough to keep readers up well past their bedtimes. There's something so delightful about reading a book where all sorts of crazy things happen, things you'd roll your eyes at in any other setting. You're content to suspend your disbelief and follow where the author leads, and trust me when I say Ms. Barber isn't taking you anywhere you might be expecting to go.

Certain aspects of the story are pretty dark, so if you're disturbed by stories that center around stalking, you might want to give Follow Me a pass. I don't think the author goes overboard when it comes to the level of violence contained in the novel, but everyone's tolerance for violence on the page is a little different. I've read much worse, but I have a pretty strong stomach when it comes to books like this.

Kathleen Barber has once again managed to completely captivate me, and I can't wait for the world at large to be introduced to this book. It's everything I love in a good thriller with several unique twists that make it stand out from the crowd of other similar stories.

Buy it at: Amazon or shop at your local independent bookstore
Visit our Amazon Storefront

This is my first book by this author and I absolutely loved it! I really enjoyed the writing style and the twists and turns she threw in throughout the story.

I loved how the main character is so involved with her social media persona. I feel like it really connected me with the way today's world is! She was so self obsessed and unaware of what posting her entire life could do to her safety. She didn't realize how her obsession affected those closest to her and that definitely rings true with so many people in today's society.

Every time I kept trying to figure out who her stalker was, I was wrong. This one kept me on my toes and I was so sad to finish it.

Have you ever followed a blog or an instastory? Lingered over photos of a beautiful, artfully arranged dinner plate? Tried to copy an influencer’s hair style or fashion choices? Follow Me is a wake up call to everyone with a presence on social media. What we share may bring likes, smily emojis or complimentary comments but there is a dark side. Audrey Miller discovers this when she relocates to Washington, DC to begin her new job as Social Media Director of the Hirshhorn Museum.

From her slightly unsafe basement apartment to her frequent hookups with her ex-boyfriend, Audrey has only a casual regard for her personal safety. She is encouraged to be more careful by her friend Cat, a high powered lawyer who avoids all social media. The reasons why will be revealed later. After her landlord’s grandson enters her apartment with his own key and terrifies her, Audrey begins to pay attention to her surroundings. However, it is too late. Someone who has been following online her since her first posts has now learned how to follow her in real life.

Realizing how much information is shared on social media daily is frightening. Photo tagging, location services and personal information left Audrey vulnerable. We watch her try unsuccessfully to identify her stalker from her many followers and fans. We can all learn from Follow Me. 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, Pocket Books, Gallery and Kathleen Barber for this ARC.

Thx to Netgalley, gallery books and Kathleen Barber for this ARC. This book was suspenseful, informative and a definite page turner. Funny what we can learn about technology we never even thought about before. I now cover my camera on my techie products thanks to Kathleen. Oh and Kathleen wrote such a great thriller, I will now be Following her, but only on paper

This book is being marketed as another You, and for me it fell flat. The first half of the book was very slow for me. This is most likely due to the fact the main character Audrey is such a narcissist. She wants to share everything and in such a way that makes it seem more glamorous. She was annoying at best.

Cat, her supposed best friend was the complete opposite of her. She was shy, awkward, but she was a really hard worker, sometimes too much. She was week though, letting Audrey drag her everywhere to "make her life more exciting" and be more adventurous. She also had a crush on a guy for 8 years!! Girl get a clue.

There was so many instances that she should have called the police and didn't which made this so unbelievable. The story regarding the "RAT" software that can hack into your computer and see what you are doing and the message boards should really have played a bigger part in this book. It was more interesting and super creepy.

Overall this book dragged for me and I kept finding myself wandering off to other things, as it wasn't keeping my interest. Maybe because I am not one to overshare on social media. The ending was interesting, but couldn't save it.

I read an advanced copy through NetGalley, and I thank them. I am not at all sure why I requested it as it's just not me. It's about a young woman, Audrey, who publicizes her entire life on Instagram and has over a million followers. This kind of life is not something I would ever aspire to or one I even understand. Petty and extremely dangerous, it is worrisome to know so many give out just too much information about themselves on line. Of course she is recognized everywhere she goes and of course we learn she has a stalker, who thinks he is in love with her. Her best friend Cat thinks she is too self-absorbed and constantly needy, especially when the stalker becomes needy too. I would agree. You make your own bed, Audrey -- time to grow up.

Although I wasn't sure at first if I really wanted to read this, the mystery of who the stalker was and a couple of other things kept my interest until the end. Audrey, Cat, and the stalker "Him" all tell their perspectives alternately, which was done well.

Audrey, a social media influencer, shares mostly every aspect of her life on Instagram. From stories, to live videos, to sponsored posts, Audrey does it all, so it should be no surprise that people take note of all the details of her life. Her followers recognize her friends, they know her favorite color, and they follow her move to Washington D.C. as she takes on her dream job. But what happens when someone starts paying too much attention to Audrey's carefully-curated internet identity? One admirer in Audrey's life takes the phrase "follow me" quite literally in this timely thriller. This was a quick read! I didn't find any of the characters to be especially likeable, so I wasn't too invested in what was happening to Audrey in particular, but the plot is insanely creepy and insanely real, and not liking characters is often a sign of good writing to me. Good pacing kept the story moving and kept me reading. If you are looking for a good, quick thriller, add this to your list. Thank you to Netgally, the author, and the publisher for my review copy.

Summary: Audrey Miller has over a million followers on various social media accounts. She photographs and posts her every action — her choice of clothing, her furnishings, her job, her meals, her activities. Being a social media influencer is hard work. She has to post very frequently in order to maintain her following.

Despite the lack of a post-graduate degree, Audrey’s social media experience lands her a job with the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. She is also reunited with some old friends, including a sorority friend from college, Cat, and a former boyfriend, Nick.

Audrey rents an apartment sight unseen. When she arrives, she finds several things wrong with it, but she’s determined to make it work. Besides being in the basement, the landlady’s grandson is a creepy drug addict who likes to break into her place and harass her.

Meanwhile, in separate chapters labeled HIM, we meet Audrey’s stalker. He follows her every move on social media and starts following her in real life. He spins tales in his head that she will fall in love with him. He ratchets up his desperate acts. Audrey begins to notice disturbing and frightening things — like someone peeping through her window and leaving orange roses at her door.

She’s not safe at work either. One of her annoying coworkers keeps trying to impress her by wearing her favorite color, orange, and some weird guy keeps sneaking into the off-limits, under construction, exhibit that Audrey is promoting.

As Audrey’s life gets increasingly strange and stressful, she spins further and further out of control. She barely keeps up with her job and personal social media accounts. She is on the verge of a meltdown when suddenly life gets better. But then…it isn’t.

Comments: Follow Me kept me guessing until nearly the very end. It was a real nail-biting, page turner! Everyone Audrey knows is a suspect at some point. The creepy HIM chapters keep the reader in the loop even though Audrey is clueless most of the time.

I personally enjoyed the setting, Washington D.C., as I was born there and spent a lot of time in that city throughout most of my life.

If you like psychological suspense, put Follow Me at the top of your reading list! And keep the lights on.

Very highly recommended for readers of Psychological Suspense.

My Rating 5 AWESOME STARS

A fast paced thriller that will have you flipping through the pages. Very timely in the age of social media and posting too much. I enjoyed the mystery stalker’s point of view as well as Audrey and Cat’s. I felt it kept the book moving at a fast pace.