I think I'm just a little too old for this one. I found all of the characters exhausting, which really took me out of the story. I love books about influencers and reality television, so it seemed like a great fit for me, but the plot just got to be too campy for my taste. I think I may also be burnt out on locked room mysteries, so I don't blame the book for that. Overall, I would recommend this to someone in the YA age range, but I think anyone older will have a hard time getting into it.

Fun and fast-paced with characters that you love to hate but still end up hating. A smart look at the price of social media fame and what it means to have a large platform. The twist was well done and I found myself wanting more in the end.

I do think the book has some pacing issues, but so many details throughout the novel worked themselves out in the end.

I think ultimately, I'm too old for this book. An interesting take on the locked room mystery, 10 influencers are tricked into staying on a private island to shoot reality TV. What they don't realize is someone lured them here for more sinister purposes. The mystery was interesting, and if you love watching characters try to figure out which one of them might be a killer, you'll probably enjoy this one. I struggled with the cultural aspects of it, not being of the TikTok generation (and having spent approximately 10 total minutes on TikTok). There was some interesting commentary on the lifestyles of young influencers and the dangers of influencer culture and child-fame. Overall, it was enjoyable, but not a wow for me.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and Olivia Worley for free e-ARC of People To Follow in return of my honest review.

“People To Follow” presents an intriguing premise that explores the intersection of social media fame and real-world consequences. Set on a remote Caribbean island, the story follows ten teen influencers who are thrust into a high-stakes reality show that quickly devolves into chaos when one of their own is found dead. The concept of influencers unplugging from their curated online personas adds a fresh twist to the typical murder mystery, inviting readers to consider how fame and pressure can lead to dangerous situations.

The characters are a mix of familiar archetypes from the social media landscape, such as the impulsive Instagram model, the reformed child star, and the disgraced TikTok celebrity. While their distinct personalities create entertaining dynamics and conflicts, they often feel more like caricatures than fully realized individuals. This lack of depth makes it challenging to form a strong emotional connection with them, which detracts from the overall impact of the story.

As the plot unfolds, the tension ramps up with the arrival of a mysterious antagonist known as the Sponsor, who threatens to expose the influencers' darkest secrets. The suspense keeps the pages turning, and the setting provides a captivating backdrop that enhances the feeling of isolation and danger. The twists and turns are engaging, and there are moments of genuine intrigue as the characters navigate their treacherous predicament.

However, despite the entertaining premise and fast-paced narrative, “People To Follow” ultimately feels like it lacks the depth and complexity that would make it truly memorable. The themes of authenticity versus performance in the age of social media are present but not explored as thoroughly as they could be. The resolution, while satisfying, doesn’t leave a lasting impression, and the characters' arcs feel somewhat unfulfilled.

Overall, “People To Follow” is an enjoyable read for those looking for a light, suspenseful escape. It offers an entertaining glimpse into the world of influencers and the darker side of fame, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights of a standout thriller. If you're in the mood for a quick, engaging story that keeps you guessing, this book fits the bill, but don’t expect it to linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the last page.

I really like the new influencer trope, so I was excited to see a thriller based on influencers. However I think when I requested this one I didn't realize this was YA and YA thrillers aren't usually for me, lots of cheese and some fluff. I think this one may make a really good movie or limited series.

This thriller follows 10 influencers that are invited to a remote island to film a reality show, but have to leave all technology behind. When one person ends up dead and the production company doesn't show up, they have to figure out who the killer is before they all wind up dead.

While I did find the ten characters hard to keep track of at first (I ended up making a character map) once I got a handle on the characters, the pace of the book really worked well for me and it was a quick, fun read.

Thank you St Martins Press and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book.

Holy Crap... at first I thought it was just going to be a rip-off of Glass Onion: Knives Out since Cole was very very similar to the fitness guy who died in that movie. For the first half of the book, it felt like I was too old to be reading this as a college student but honestly, I don't think that anymore. I think the whole high school getting drunk party they had the first night on the island made me feel that way. Once Aaron died, I was so invested that I finished it in one sitting. I actually gasped out loud a few times in the second half. Overall I enjoyed this book even though the beginning was a little slow-paced. It's an easy read and got me out of a reading slump. Is it my favorite book of all time? No, but would I recommend it to someone who wants an easy read? For sure. This author is definitely one I want to look more into now!

About the Characters...
I wish we got to learn more about Aaron, Graham, and Corinne. They all felt one-sided to me. I hated Cole immediately and was happy he was gone even though it was predictable he'd be dead. The characters did not have much to them, which made this feel more for a younger audience too. I wish Kiara's "bad thing" was more extreme or talked about more. She seemed to be the saint the whole time and then the ending glosses over her too quickly. Again, I enjoyed the book but probably won't pick it up again or think about it too much.

I wasn’t a huge fan of this one. There were a lot of characters and they all blended together where you could hardly tell them apart. In addition, I felt they were all a little too calm for everything that was happening in this book. Overall, not a big fan.

This could 100% be turned into one of those cheesy slasher thriller movies and become like a cult classic.

10 influencers are invited to an island where they are completely unplugged for a reality TV show. One ends up 💀 and the drama begins!!

The characters all fit into a different type of stereotypical style social media influencer, and they all have something to hide that could get them cancelled. If they don’t do what the sponsor says, their secret is released on social and they’re next 💀.

I was NOT expecting who the villain was, or what their motive was, so I read this in one day so I could know 😂.

Aside from who the villain was, the plot felt very expected, like it’s the usual formula for these type of books/movies, and I felt like the end got a little preachy on the impact of social media influencers. But aside from that, this was a fun quick read.

Thank you @netgalley and @wednesdaybooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

As a social media professional this one stuck out to me! I felt it was interesting but a bit long. It was just alright!

This book is a charming tale of unexpected love. The setting is vibrant and enchanting, making it easy to get lost in the story. The protagonists start off as unlikely pairings, but their journey together is filled with sweet moments and growth. It’s a lovely reminder that love can blossom in the most surprising situations!

This book was fine. I thought it was going to read like a ya almost new adult thriller but it read more like a straight ya. It’s on me Endor requesting this book knowing it was ya and that I may find it too young. Even though I did, I still found the story to be somewhat enjoyable.

A YA thriller that is a modern day spin on Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. While I do enjoy many YA books, this one did not resonate with me as much as otherwise. The characters are teen influencers, of the “privelaged” type and I don’t tend to follow influencers of this type. That being said, I think this book would be great for someone who does enjoy that world or engages with it in some manner. It’s well written, has multiple POVs, snd is a good book for what it is and for those who enjoy that ! Truly I am just not the right demographic for this books, I recommend this book for the right audience including young readers

An enjoyable read. This was my first novel read by this author and I am looking forward to reading more titles by this author.

People to Follow by Olivia Worley is a gripping young adult thriller that takes readers on a suspenseful journey with ten teen influencers who are invited to a remote island to star in a reality show called "In Real Life." The premise is simple yet intriguing: the influencers are supposed to unplug from their devices and focus on the show. However, things take a dark turn when the production crew fails to show up, and one of the influencers is found dead. Stranded on the island with no way to contact the outside world, the influencers must uncover the identity of the murderer among them while grappling with their secrets and past actions.

People to Follow is a thrilling and thought-provoking read that offers a fresh take on the classic "locked-room" mystery trope. Its strengths lie in its compelling plot, well-developed characters, and timely themes related to social media culture. However, some readers might find the constant focus on the influencers' privileged lifestyles and their petty conflicts somewhat off-putting. Nonetheless, the novel's ability to maintain suspense and its insightful commentary on the impact of social media makes it a worthwhile read for fans of young adult thrillers.

Overall, People to Follow is an impressive debut by Olivia Worley that combines mystery, drama, and social commentary in a captivating package. It is a must-read for those interested in the complexities of modern influencer culture and the darker side of fame.

Im not going to lie, I didn’t think that people were ACTUALLY going to die in this one. Boy was I wrong. Hahaha

It took a minute to get into, trying to learn all of the influencers and what they “did” or how they were connected to each other.

I didn’t see the twist coming, so I really enjoyed it. I just wish the ending was a little more fleshed out!

i was not particularly impressed by any part of this book. it was somewhat compelling, but mostly cliche and overdone. and if you're going to do an and then there were none retelling, you have to commit to it, lol.

This story intrigued me from the synopsis-- ten influencers on a remote island with no cell phones, believing they are starring in a reality TV show. As their fellow guests start getting 'cancelled' one by one, it's a race against the clock to figure out if there is a murderer amongst them, digging through deep dark secrets and lies to get there.

This was a quick, fun read that kept my interest from beginning to end. The writing was definitely very YA-ish, and I felt that some things were over explained in parts. I also didn't feel any connection to any of the characters-- they felt very superficial and lacked depth. I didn't suspect the ending, so the author did a good job at maintaining the mystery for me.

3.5 🌟

What a wild ride!

A group of influencers are summoned to an island for a reality show, and in reality, their world comes crashing down around them quickly as more and more of the influencers start turning up dead. Is it just a coincidence? Is someone out to get them? Every influencer has a secret or two, which is likely why they ended up on the island, but as more and more secrets are revealed, so are more and more dead bodies... What length will these influencers go to in order to protect their secrets, their online personas, and most importantly, their lives?

I loved this book from the beginning. There were so many twists and turns and secrets and I was here for it! Every time I thought I had it figured out, I didn't. I actually liked the ending of this book and it caught me off guard. I can't wait to read more from this author! 5 stars!

DNF-the plot and writing were not for me unfortunately. I think you will enjoy this if you want to start reading thrillers and dip your toes into the genre