This is a decent thriller about Chloe Cates. The various POVs and the fact that some of the chapters were excerpts from Abby's journal added to the story. This book had a good pace, which kept me wanting to read more. While I enjoyed the overall storyline of this book, I was not satisfied with many of the twists. I kept thinking "that would never happen." Overall, I thought Chloe Cates is Missing was an entertaining thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Disturbing!

Imagine you are a police detective and a homicide was perpetrated by a narcissistic loon in your community. This investigation will drag you behind the scenes into the glitter-bomb realm of internet influencers and social media hype. The escalating trouble with dysfunctional families who live entirely for the whims of the camera, the sponsors, and the clicks . . . perception and persona become blurred between the act and real life.

This story did not hook me until halfway in, which means some will DNF it before it has a chance to grab you by the boo-boo. Occasionally it was a tad over the top drama for me (I'm probably too old), mainly because beyond pithy discussions of books and/ or film, I can’t relate to much of what takes place on platforms of the interactive web.

This novel needs to be finished in its entirety to be fully felt or appreciated and I have an inkling it will do quite well with the younger pop-culture-loving crowd.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Scarlet for an advanced copy of Chole Cates is Missing for my unbiased evaluation. 3.5 stars

The book is a thrilling new take on the mystery genre. As someone who does not read this type of book normally, I found the fast paced nature of this book a breathe of fresh air.

I want to give a spoiler free review, as the book is full of twists and turns, but you will be kept on the edge of your seat the whole time.

I’ve always wondered about those kids whose parents have them on full social media display. The parents who stage perfect photos for their mommy blogs, the ones who make their children influencers and have them constantly performing for YouTube or Instagram. I figure some kids really enjoy it, but I imagine the majority of kids making money for their parents have times when they hate it.

Abigail is 13 years old, and has been in the virtual public’s eye for over a decade. Her mom, Jennifer, has one of those ‘perfect mom’ blogs, but of course it’s all a facade. She has rebranded her daughter into a perfect ball of glitter and sparkles named ‘Chloe Cates’. With her popular online show, “CC and Me”, Abby is pulling in sponsors and making money - but it’s never enough for her mother to be happy.

Abby is over being Chloe. She’s over the constant content creation, she’s over wearing inappropriate clothes that she hates, she’s over doing appearances at malls, and she’s over being homeschooled because her schedule is so crazy. Jennifer doesn’t care about any of those things - she cares about likes, subscribers and making money (she’s truly an awful character, one you’ll love to hate!).

One morning, Jennifer goes to wake up Abby for an important photo shoot, and realizes she’s gone. Her window is open, leaving one to think she snuck out, but her phone is still charging on the nightstand. After her husband, Jackson, and son, JJ, also can’t find her, the police are called.

Detective Emilina Stone is assigned to the case, and she soon realizes she knows Jennifer … twenty years ago, they were great friends, but after one horrific night, they stopped speaking. Neither woman is happy to be working with the other, but they also don’t want to reveal the secret that binds them, so they stay silent about their past as the search for Abigail begins.

The book is written from the viewpoints of Jennifer, Emilina and Jackson, and also has excerpts from Abigail’s diary (probably my favorite parts in the book). I remember being 13, and the thought of my parents putting pictures and videos that I hated online for the world to see would have mortified me. I really felt for this character and her situation, and it worries me that real kids could be going through the same thing (hopefully not to the extent that it does in this book!).

This is one of those stories that grabs you immediately and doesn’t let go; with a few red herrings, I found myself trying to figure out every angle and I still had no clue about anything… but I liked where it was going. I wanted the book to end so I could find out everything, but I also didn’t want it to end because I was really enjoying the ride!

I’m pretty surprised (and impressed) that this is a debut novel. It was so well-written, it seemed like it was created by a seasoned suspense writer. I think this book will be big when it’s released in January, and I’m looking forward to more from this author! Five stars for this one, for sure, and a reminder to scrutinize what’s in the eyes of those hyped-up, label-wearing, fun-having kiddos on YouTube. If their parents are anything like Abby’s, they are going to need some help.

(Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company, Mandy McHugh and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of Chloe Cates is Missing from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinions. WOW this is an unbelievably amazing book!!!! You can't believe all the twists and turns throughout the entire book! I absolutely loved this! Great job Mandy McHugh! I can't wait to discuss this with all my friends and family!

3.5 ⭐️

14 clicks

Jennifer Scarborough missed her $1000 bonus by a mere 14 clicks.
AGAIN

How far would Jennifer Cates (influencer name) go to make a post on her blog, “CC and Me” go viral? She certainly has no qualms about exploiting her 13 year old daughter, Chloe Cates (real name-Abigail Scarborough) for money. She doesn’t care if the things that are captured on “live feed” embarrass her daughter.
AT ALL

At what age, can a person decide that they no longer want to be a “social media celebrity”? How far would Chloe Cates go to escape the life her Mother won’t allow her to relinquish?

Is Chloe Cates missing? Or is this all a ruse for more clicks?

Detective Emilia Stone from the Children and Family Services Unit, in Albany, will have to piece together the evidence from Chloe’s journal entries and from what she knows about Jennifer from the past, when Jennifer was Jen Groff- her middle school best friend.

I requested this one because I am always drawn to stories which are told through multiple formats such as diaries, journals, Pod Casts and the like. But these journal entries give much of the book a YA feel, and I have outgrown my enjoyment of that.

If you haven’t, and you enjoy reality series about families or wives who enjoy the spotlight or Moms who push their children to be in Dance, or Cheer or perhaps to be Beauty Pageant contestants, you may enjoy the DRAMA that this book offers! Unfortunately for me, those things don’t interest me so I wasn’t a great fit for this book.

Available January 18, 2022

Thank You to Scarlett Publishing for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

This was a modern day Jon Benet Ramsey meets social media and it was so good!!! From the beginning to the end each twist and turn was so unexpected. Looking forward to reading more of Mandy's books in the future! Thanks for the advanced copy!

I really do love a thriller and when it involves a situation so relevant at the moment - in this case influencing and social media - it often grabs me even more.

This was the case here and this book involves a family in which the mum runs a blog and social media accounts based around her daughter. This book takes you an a wild ride of twists and turns - hold on tight! It was cleverly written, there were great characters involved and I didn't know where it was going to take me next.

I absolutely loved and devoured it, it was exactly what I needed when I went into hospital and took me just three days to get through. Highly recommend a read for every thriller fan, you will love this!

When Jennifer Scarborough wakes up, she is already planning everything she has to do to keep CC & Me successful. She needs followers, likes, and viral excitement to keep the sponsorship money flowing. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt if her daughter, Abby, known to her fans as Chloe Cates would just ditch the attitude and cooperate with her mother's plans.
When Jennifer can't find Abby, the true dysfunction that is this family quickly rises to the surface. Detective Emilina Stone is assigned to the case, and Jennifer immediately wants her out of her house. Seems they knew each other when they were younger and there is no love lost between them.
The story moves from the present to the past and let's just say Jennifer and Emilina share something that very few people will ever have in common. There is a lot going on with Chloe's disappearance and I had more than one theory about what happened to her. Jennifer gets the grand prize for being possibly,no definitely, not only a horrible person, but the worst mother ever. Does she want Chloe back home because she loves and misses her or maybe it's the fact that her finances depend on her daughter.
Secrets and lies swirl around these characters and every chapter ends with a jaw-dropping revelation or another one of many character flaws. When the mystery is solved, you might think that would be it, but without spoilers, I can say that there is still much more to discover.
Did I scream “What” at my Kindle at least a hundred times? Yes, I did and I loved this addicting page-turner. Take all the stars! My next read may suffer the comparison consequences.

For someone who doesn't read mysteries/thrillers too often, I was fairly captivated by this book. It was a quick read, with an interesting and modern premise that draws the reader in and leaves you guessing as to who the perpetrator is for the majority of the book (at least if you're someone like me who doesn't have the skills to guess the perp quickly)

The book opens with a scene about the mother of Chloe Cates at the park with her first child. You watch as she struggles to fit in; struggles to adapt to the new life of motherhood and what it means to drop everything for your child. The author pulls at your heartstrings, forcing you to feel empathy for this unideal mother and her strifes with fitting in. However, in the very next chapter, Chloe (or, Abby), disappears and you are thrown into the world of this little family and their webs of secrets unbeknownst to the internet and all that inhabit it. The rest of the book is written from the perspectives of multiple characters, including the "momager", the father, the brother, Abby (in journal format), and the detective working the case.

While the story takes place in the modern world, you are also privy to a dark past between Detective Emilina Stone and Jennifer Scarborough, a past in which a middle school-aged Jen murders a girl and recruits Emilina to help her dispose of the body. For 20 years they both harbor this secret until it is brought to the forefront of their minds for the duration of the search for Abby.

This book was really well written, and I personally enjoyed it. The characters are strong and likable or written well to be *incredibly* unlikeable. Along with most of the cast, I found myself absolutely despising "momager" Jen, and feeling very strong sympathy for Abby. Later, when we find out through subtle clues in the conversation between Abby and Emilina that the murderer was not Jen, but Abby, I still found myself rooting for Abby and relishing in the fact that Jen was going to jail- she was just that awful of a person.

My only real issue with "Chloe Cates is Missing" is the major twist. At the very end of the book, we learn that Abby murdered Missy because they got in a tiff, so Abby smacked a spotlight into the side of her head. Aaaand that's it. It just felt like such a boring murder that did not live up to the suspense that Mandy McHugh spent the entire book building up. Sure it was a twist. But a good one? Not really. Also, about halfway through the book, we learn that Emilina is pregnant. It doesn't have much effect on the story, other than her having to vomit every 10 minutes in the middle of something important. It just felt like an unnecessary plot point that could have been left out entirely. And this doesn't seem to be the first in a series, so it was doubly unnecessary. Was this book still good? Absolutely! It had well-written characters, gut-wrenching suspense, and a good plot. It was just a little lackluster in the areas that mattered.

Overall though, this was a very fulfilling thriller. I enjoyed reading it, and for once I actually felt like the teenage girl was written by someone who has knowledge of 13-year-olds and how they act. I would definitely read the next book that comes out by this author!

I received in advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review

Hecking heck, this was twisty! I was riveted throughout, and when I figured out the twist about 3/4 in it was satisfying instead of a letdown.-definitely recommend to anyone who loves domestic thrillers half as much as I do

Picture this; Hannah Montana’s mom never dies -instead of her becoming a sensational pop star, she’s an extremely popular social media influencer named Chloe Cates 😂 One day Chloe goes missing and secrets start to pour out of the picture perfect influential vlogger family. This book keeps you on your toes the entire time and is a perfect fast burning who dunit’. The book is told from multiple viewpoints and a diary. The only reason it didn’t get 5 stars was due to some scenarios too fictional for my liking. This thriller doesn’t release till January/2022 but its worth the short wait.

This book is a modern take on the tragic tale of a missing child. With plot twists and turns a plenty, readers are left wondering how this will end until the very last. A very enjoyable novel.

I have to say I was pretty impressed with this book. We have a teenage girl go missing out of the blue, and no one knows why. Could it be because she is a famous blogger and millions know her, or could it be someone close to her? With the help of Detective Stone, Chloe will be found she has to be. However, Detective Stone is closer to the family than most would like to be. There is a past between both Stone and the mother of Chloe, and it was one I did not even think could have happened. Will she be too close to this case to help solve it? I felt like we got a bit deep into how someone who uses social media to benefit themselves can focus on making sure they have their life put out into the world without worrying about what others would think. A lot went on in this story, and I felt like it would just give it away if I mentioned too much. Pick this book up, and I don't believe you to be disappointed. The only reason I gave it four stars was because I didn't understand why someone didn't snitch to save their tail. I felt as though knowing how conniving the character was, she would have tried everything to keep herself out of jail.

A creative story line, well told and well written. So many plot twists and turns, you have no idea how this story will end until the end is upon you. I didn’t find the main characters overly relatable so it loses one star from me for that. But I greatly enjoyed the book so it didn’t harm the over all effect. There were actually some crazy moments in this twisted tale. A very modern take on a missing child.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Penzler Publishers, Scarlet and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Chock full of secrets, suspense, twists, thrills and emotion. This one is a winner.

CC and Me is a successful Mommy blog featuring Jennifer and her adorable daughter, Chloe Cates. Life behind the glitter is far removed from what is posted however, beginning with Chloe herself. Chloe's real name is Abbie and she hates her online persona, her mother's aggressive approach to her daughter's fame, and the normal teenage existence she is missing out on. The whole world may become privy to these cracks forming inside of the family when Chloe goes missing and Jennifer is thrust even further into the spotlight than she could have ever imagined.

I am always interested in a book that focuses on modern-day fame or an influencer's lifestyle. I find much voyeuristic fun from books like these, that expose this world for the reader. This book begun by doing exactly that and what was uncovered was far from pretty.

This story is told from a multitude of perspectives and timelines. I appreciated how these different voices all revealed secrets about the others and aided in the reader uncovering secrets from both the present and the past. It was quickly realised that there were more than just Chloe Cates location to find out and the many mysteries were simultaneously focused on and worked through making this an intense and engaging read, all the way throughout.

The ending had me reeling! I did have my suspicions about the final twist, but the back-and-froth dialogue between the characters before this had me second and third-guessing myself, which proved, again, how cleverly McHugh manipulates her readers. This is definitely a writer I already trust to pen an scintillating thriller and an author I will be reading from again, in any genre.

I really loved how current this book is. Along with being a crime thriller, it addresses the dangers of social media and addiction to social media. It’s extreme, but sadly not so extreme that we can call aspects of the plot dystopian - such levels of social media addiction could easily happen soon.

I also enjoyed the fact that none of the characters are particularly likeable. As the book progresses, you see that there’s no one single villain - which makes the ending of the book all more unpredictable.

WOW. This one grabbed me from the first chapter and didn’t let go. I could not put this book down.
Abigail is 13 and much more well known as Chloe Cates-an influencer character her mom created when she was just a toddler. Now a teenager, Abby is craving some freedom from her alter ego (especially because her mother seems to have forgotten that Chloe is exactly that). On the morning on an important promotional photo shoot, Abby is gone from her bed.
What follows is a heart pounding story of lies, deception, and one fateful night when Abby’s mom was 13 herself and something horrific happened. I absolutely devoured this book!

I received #ChloeCatesisMissing as an ARC courtesy of #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an advanced ARC of Chloe Cates is Missing in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you enjoy thrillers then this is the book for you! Chloe is a pint sized internet celebrity and has gone missing. Did she get tired of having to perform and run away or was she kidnapped by one of her followers?

This book is an easy read. There are many perspectives and the story goes back and forth from the past to the present. Everyone is hiding something including the detective that is working the case. I read this book in one sitting and enjoyed it. Some things were a bit unbelievable, but I did really like this book.