In Olivia Worley's "People to Follow," ten influencers find themselves thrust into "IRL," a gripping reality show set in a tropical paradise. Except this is a deadly game where not everyone will make it off the island alive. From fitness enthusiast Kira to documentary filmmaker Max, each influencer brings their own unique persona to the show. As they navigate the challenges of island life without their electronic devices, tensions rise and secrets begin to surface. When one of them is found dead after a night of revelry, the group is plunged into a sinister mystery where everyone is a suspect.

Set against the backdrop of a secluded Caribbean island, the story unfolds with chilling intensity, punctuated by shocking revelations that peel back the layers of each character's facade. Told from the perspectives of Kira, Max, Elody, and Logan, the narrative delves into the dark consequences of fame and the relentless pursuit of social media stardom.

While character development may be light, the plot's twists and turns keep readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly unraveling the mysteries hidden within. With themes of betrayal, deception, and the dangers of cancel culture, "People to Follow" is a chilling thriller that explores the deadly consequences of living life in the spotlight.

A bunch of people go to an island paid for by a mysterious rich person (presumably) and then they start getting killed. Very “and then there was none”

Personally I do love this kind of closed door mystery but this one just fell flat for me.

More of a “people to unfollow”

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

I really wanted to like it. The idea of social media influencers, reality tv, and murder seem like they’d make such a great book! I felt like the target audience really should be lowered for this book though. I enjoy young adult books but felt like this likely would do better with teens. I feel as if being someone who watches reality tv, tiktok, and works with kids that I’d enjoy it but I just felt too old and was annoyed by the way some of he characters spoke (the word babe was in here at least 100 times).

I also found it hard to keep characters straight with how many viewpoints this story was told from (4).

This was an okay thriller. I loved that it took place on a deserted island and that the characters were influencers. They all traveled to the island to film a reality TV show, but one of the influencers start killing them off one by one.

I enjoyed the multiple POV’s and felt the plot was entertaining which kept me wanting to read. There were some twists and the mystery behind the murderer was interesting. With it being a YA it was a quick read but there were a lot of characters which initially made it difficult to keep everyone straight and a lot of the characters lacked maturity. Other than that it was an ok thriller with suspense and twists.

This book is messy in that "I can't look away" kind of way. Someone has invited quite a few young influencers to an island to film a reality TV show. All the members of the popular TikTok house, The Bounce House, are there, as well as a couple of former members, a journalist that does exposes, and an up and coming Twitch streamer. They are met by the mysterious Tilly, who tells them they're on their own for the next 3 weeks and it doesn't take long for tensions to rise....and people to die.

Messy, messy, messy, in both good and bad ways. We all love a book that shows us rich and famous people behaving badly and getting their just desserts, and this book takes it to the extreme as people start dying--someone falls off a balcony, another person somehow comes into contact with peanuts, and more. I can't believe the body count this book has--and every time someone else died, I wondered how there were still people left on the island to die.
Since it is a locked room/island mystery in the vein of And Then There Were None, you know that the person behind everything *has* to be on the island, and Worley kept me guessing until the final reveal. Every time you think you have it figured out....you don't. That was really well done, but the characterization of all the characters was....not the best. They were all just stereotypes of all the different influencer types--the fitness guru, the nutrition expert, the gamer, the journalist, etc. You could easily predict how each character was going to react to everything by which archetype they were. That was predictable and honestly kind of boring. But what saved the book from being the hottest of messes was how well Worley kept the secret of who actually was behind everything and why.
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I'm a sucker for the stranded thriller trope - especially one set on an island. There was no way I was not going to read this. The premise was so fun - And Then There Was None meets TikTok. It was like the writer was writing it specifically for me! LOL.

Ten influencers decide to star on the new reality show, In Real Life, which is being filmed on a private island. Each one has their own reason for deciding to star on the show and each has their own reason for wanting each other dead. Now they are trapped on an island with each other and one of them may just be a killer...

Although there are 10 main characters, we only get the perspectives of 4 of them - Kira, Logan, Elody, and Max. The characters are mostly unlikable, but despite this, I did find the book to be quite fun. My one complaint was that it was a bit hard to keep track of the characters because they did come off as very similar. I had to keep a little notepad that listed the characters out with a brief description of each one so I could remember who was who.

I recently read a book called Never Coming Home and it had a premise very similar to this one, but I will say that I think this one was executed better. Overall, I found this book to be a quick read with a fun ride. Sadly, my husband did not agree and didn't enjoy this one. Womp Womp.

I look forward to reading Olivia Worley's next novel, The Debutantes, which sounds so good!

"People to Follow" by Olivia Worley is a pulse-pounding debut novel that takes readers on a thrilling journey into the dark side of social media fame. Set against the backdrop of a remote Caribbean island, this gripping tale follows ten teen influencers who find themselves trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

"In Real Life" is the latest reality show sensation, promising fame and fortune to its contestants as they unplug from social media and confront the harsh realities of life without filters. But when the production crew fails to show up and a member of their group is found dead, the influencers realize that they're not just playing a game—they're fighting for their lives.

Worley expertly crafts a diverse cast of characters, each with their own secrets and vulnerabilities, adding layers of depth and complexity to the story. From Elody, the impulsive Instagram model, to Logan, the disgraced TikTok celeb with a hidden agenda, every character is fleshed out with nuance and authenticity.

As the body count rises and tensions mount, the influencers must navigate a treacherous landscape of betrayal and deception, all while being watched by an unseen audience and threatened by a mysterious Sponsor. With cameras tracking their every move and their darkest secrets at risk of being exposed, the stakes couldn't be higher.

Filled with twists, turns, and heart-pounding suspense, "People to Follow" is a riveting page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Worley's sharp writing and knack for storytelling make this novel impossible to put down, offering a chilling glimpse into the dangers of fame and the lengths people will go to protect their image. Fans of thrillers and social media culture won't want to miss this captivating read.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC for my honest review. All ratings and any reviews are opinions of my own.

I, like probably a few others, did not realize this was a young adult book when I selected to read it. Had I known, I wouldn't have chose to read it. I would recommend it to young adults/teens, but not for adults who like adult thrillers, lol!

Since this novel was for a younger crowed, it was mainly drama between the characters, and less mystery and suspense. It was entertaining enough for the first bit, but then it became really predictable and kind of boring for me. I also didn't really like any of the characters!

Thanks for the copy!

This book is such a good time. The story takes place on a small isolated island where 10 influencers in their late teens/early 20s agree to leave their phones and all form of communication on the mainland for the sake of a reality TV show about disconnecting from social media. Through a series of suspicious coincidences, the TV crew never shows up, and then influencers start dying. It's told from the POV of 4 different characters and none of them are 100% reliable, leaving the reader questioning until the very end. I won't give too much away except that the ending did surprise me and I loved the way everything wrapped up. One of the best parts of this book was the epilogue where all the loose ends were tied and nothing was left without explanation. I'm not a massive reader of thrillers, especially YA thrillers, so I can't speak to how original these characters/plot points/twists are, but to me they felt unique. Overall I was a huge fan and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA thrillers or YA books in general.

This book was a little too drawn out for me. I think this book was a little too YA for me. I personally couldn’t connect with any characters.

This book is officially my last try in the influencers are stuck on a dangerous island/place genre. Either this book is awesome, orrrr I’m giving up….. I have high hopes that I’ll love it! Or I’ll just know that concept isn’t for me 🤷‍♀️

Edit, review: So I think I’ve officially decided this concept just isn’t for me. I want to love it bc conceptually I find it so interesting- but actually 4x trying it? Maybe it’s me!

I would've loved this book when I was younger -- the "locked room"-style mystery, messy and toxic characters, multiple POVs, and over the top antics would've checked every box for me. Being a bit outside of the target demographic and a lifelong thriller reader, I still appreciated the popcorn thriller vibes and reality tv type of escapism that the story provided.

I felt like the premise of this was so good. But the execution was what lacked for me. While multiple POV is one of my top tier reads, this one just had way too man characters to keep track of where I was constantly going back to see who exactly I was reading. It was definitely a really nice YA thriller that still had those elements of surprise.

Honestly, this was so identical to Never Coming Home that I thought it was the same book rereleased with a new title at first. Unfortunately, it had the same drawbacks of that one too — too many POVs, characters you don’t care about, and a plot that drags.

A reality show where the top influencers must disconnect from social media for three weeks. Everyone has their perfectly curated lives, but they also have secrets that they can't have getting out. A mysterious Sponsor is threatening to expose them all, and with the body count rising, they're running out of time to save themselves.

I truly think this is more so that I'm not the right audience for the book. While I do love some YA books (especially horror and thrillers) not all of them are a hit. While this wasn't my favorite, I did read this in one sitting. A solid YA popcorn thriller

Wow, I didn’t put this one down! It was so suspenseful and well written. I was so shocked by the ending and couldn’t believe who the sponsor was. This was a stunning debut novel!

A remote Caribbean island 10 influencers secrets and drama and a dead body I'm intrigued! I loved the concept of influencers having to not always be on unplugging from social content. Overall a good story it did feel a bit longer than it needed to be for me personally. Overall solid story good execution by the author.

This was a twisty, turner thrilled filled with unlikeable characters. If you have a fascination with influencer culture and you like thrillers this one is for you. While this wasn’t my favorite thriller it was a fun time.

YA thriller about influencers stuck on an island together afraid of being “#canceled”. While I did find this story enjoyable it was told in multiple POV which was slightly confusing in the beginning with so many characters. However, once I figured out who was who I had no trouble. If you mix reality tv with murder… this is exactly what the book reminded me of. I had no idea who the killer was until it was literally spelled out for me.

Thanks to NetGalley& St Martins Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.