Ten influencers are stuck on a deserted island under the guise of, being filmed for a reality TV show about "unplugging". Meanwhile, someone has a sinister plan for revenge and when an influencer is found dead, everyone is worried that they're trapped on the island with a murderer.

The story is told from the point of view of, Max, Kira, Elody, and Logan even though, there are 6 other influencers in the house, plus a PA who set everything up, Tilly. I have to say, I was glad that there were not chapters for every single person, it was already overwhelming keeping up with the dialogue. I often found myself swiping back to check whose chapter I was reading. Also, there is not a lot of character development or character backstory -- which is a given, just based on the number of characters. But I found that it was hard to connect with any particular character because they all seemed selfish, naive, and foolish. But then again, I'm not the age demographic for this type of story, so take the previous sentence with a grain of salt.

Zane being a Leo... spot on!

Final Thoughts: I think this trope has been done over and over again and every time I think writers have found a new angle -- NOPE. The incriminating evidence on some of the influencers is wild, probably the best twists in the whole book. However, the unraveling of the plot and the final chapter just didn't seal the deal for me. It was a good read. The writing was okay - no complaints there, it reads like it was written by a Gen-Zer and for Gen-Zers.

In my opinion, there were too many characters and too many things going on. I get that, with multiple characters it's a ploy to throw the reader off of the actual culprit but, like I mentioned before, it made the dialogue hard to follow with so many people speaking often at once. The plot twist was, meh. I guess I was thinking more along the lines of Jigsaw -- like from the Saw movies but, considering the genre, I should have known better. Would I pick this up again? No. Would I recommend it to young readers, sure!

"People to Follow" by Olivia Worley is your ticket to a modern-day slasher with a twist! Brace yourself for a mix of "And Then There Were None" and "One of Us Is Lying," but set on a deserted island with ten influencers who are all about hashtags and likes.

I thought the multiple POVs were on point and that characters were easily distinguishable (although I saw harsh reviews on here saying the contrary) ... You might feel a bit overwhelmed by the number of characters and their Gen Z lingo, but as a zillenial who lives chronically online, it was pretty easy to follow. Welcome to 2023.

"People to Follow" should definitely be on your TBR list. Expected publication: October 31, 2023.

Thanks to Wednesday Books I received an advanced reader copy in exchange of my honest review

Thank you Wednesday Books for my Netgalley copy of PEOPLE TO FOLLOW by Olivia Worley, out 10/31/23.

Ten teen influencers come to a remote island to star in a reality show, but when one of them winds up dead, they realize that this time, the price of being “canceled” could be their lives.

This book was outrageous! It was completely goofy and ridiculous, but also I finished it in practically one sitting, so…..

This book is a page-turning ride with multiple POVs that are pretty easy to keep separate with distinct voices and commentary on influencer culture that is very modern, very true and very disturbingly fascinating. Definitely for fans of Gossip Girl, Love Island, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Dance Moms, etc. This is a YA thriller so it is very juvenile at times, but it’s so fun and fresh. Compared to your run-of-the-mill thriller, you need to love pointless drama to really enjoy it (it’s me, I love drama). The ending reveal is nuts and I loved every second of it.

Would love to read more from Olivia Worley and hope she comes out with an adult novel next!

4.5 rounded up. The thank you NetGalley for the ARC on this book from a new and upcoming author. For a debut author this book was great and definitely kept me on my toes throughout. It had a similar starting premise to the book She Started It but overall I found this one to be way better and the characters more like-able. There was plenty of drama and mystery to keep you turning the pages. After finishing the book I really wanted to go back and look for breadcrumbs along the way because I believe they were there but I just missed them. Definitely was not expecting the ending at all!! There was one motive I found a little over the top but aside from that it all came together wonderfully! I wish they put the text messages in the book in a different font or separated more to make it easier to know when the message began and ended. If you're looking for a murder mystery with some reality tv type drama this is a good one to read.

This one was a fun lil 🍿🥨🍟 I whipped through in one sitting apparently 🤣 think And Then There Were None meets The Club meets Hype House (tik tok for anyone i just lost). Don’t go into it thinking you’re sitting down for a serious content mystery/thriller but if the synopsis sounds good to you it DELIVERED.

However. And let me get this out now. If I ever read one more HON or BABE I will lose it 🫠 drove me bonkers.

A whole bunch of characters you love to hate and sometimes hate to hate mixed in with a little horror movie-esque moments where you’re like BUT WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT THAT’S ON YOU. The thing that makes this stand apart from similar ones (like The Club) is that it all came together very satisfyingly imo. The author truly was like this is what I want to happen here, and went for it. Which doesn’t always happen!!! Especially for a debut.

For a debut it was DRAMA ✔️ PAGE TURNING ✔️ DEVELOPED CHARACTERS ✔️ and ENDED WITH A BANG ✔️, what more could you want?

it started off okay, but gradually got worse. i also found half the characters really annoying and were whiney, rich, kids. it's like tiktok but in a book form which isn't so good in my case. The plot and how it unravels was also very predictable, despite seemingly interesting from the blurb. and the teens talk weird?? especially the lingo they use is just off and sounds forced. I think this book will be up someone else's alley, but it wasn't up mine.

Oh, this was such a fun, twisty thriller. I didn’t guess the twists, and I actually enjoyed every character (even the more amoral ones). Definitely recommend this one!

PEOPLE TO FOLLOW by Olivia Worley is a modern, teenaged take on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, featuring a group of ten social media influencers. The teens are recruited to shoot a reality series on an isolated island but quickly find out that they've gotten roped into a deadly game. The story is fast-paced and tense, which makes for a fun read. It explores themes relevant to influencer culture like self-image, grooming, and the responsibility that influencers have toward their fans' behaviors. Plausibility issues aside (and most of us have learned to accept high levels of implausibility in our thrillers), it could use some more depth in the character and theme departments, but it makes a fun beach read.

I loved the concept of this story. A bunch of influencers in an "And Then There None" type scenario. Varying perspectives is also nice, especially with unreliable narrators. It took me a bit to keep everyone straight. While I didn't anticipate most of what happened I will say I was a tad disappointed. Too much seemed to rely almost on chance. Plus I still don't quite get what the original end game was supposed to be.

Title: "People to Follow"

Author: Olivia Worley

Genre: Thriller

Publication Date: October 31, 2023

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

In her debut novel, "People to Follow," Olivia Worley dives into the treacherous world of social media influencers. With a high-stakes plot and a cast of interesting characters, Worley takes readers on a well-written journey filled with suspense, danger, and unexpected twists.

The story revolves around ten young adult influencers who, enticed by the promise of continued or renewed fame and fortune, find themselves isolated on a private island for a reality show. What initially seems like an escape quickly transforms into a nightmare when they discover the true purpose of their trip: to pay for their past transgressions. As the body count rises, those who survive must navigate a treacherous game of trust and betrayal, desperately trying to unmask the person, or people, behind their impending cancellation.

Worley's portrayal of the social media landscape is on the nose. With a sharp eye for detail, she captures the alluring façade of influencers' lives, contrasting it with the darker underbelly of social media. Through her exploration of the modern-day practice of sharing our lives online for the world to see, she raises important questions about the consequences of our actions and the power dynamics that shape our virtual world.

The strength of "People to Follow" lies in its well-developed characters. Each influencer whose voice is used throughout the book possesses a distinct personality and backstory, making them feel authentic and relatable, sometimes annoyingly so. As their secrets unravel, Worley adeptly portrays the psychological toll of constantly living in the spotlight, and how much those living in the spotlight can sometimes get away with.

The pacing of the novel is quick, with tension building steadily from the moment the group arrives on the island. The alternating perspectives offer a multifaceted view of events that, while hard to keep up with in the early chapters, levels out and enhances the suspense of not knowing what will happen next. 

There are moments when the narrative becomes slightly predictable, relying on familiar tropes of the genre. Additionally, some plot developments require a suspension of disbelief, stretching the boundaries of plausibility. EIther way, Worley's talent shines through, and these minor issues do not detract significantly from the overall story. "People to Follow" firmly establishes Worley as a promising new voice in the genre. Prepare to be riveted, shocked, and left questioning the influence of social media long after you turn the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

So while I don’t normally like books with a lot of characters, I seem to find that in YA this is a trend. If you like me have a hard time of keeping track of who’s who… with this book definitely make yourself a cheat sheet. With that aside, once I got a firm grasp on the characters, one was already dead! This book is fast paced and packed with drama and backstabbing. While I admit to not technically knowing all the hip new lingo it still was a fast and exciting book.

When I read the synopsis for this book I was super excited to read it. 10 influencers sent to a remote island to film a reality show sounded super fun.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t do it for me. It had so many characters and multiple points of view. I was often confused and had to look back on who was talking. I didn’t find the characters reactions when people died to be very believable and some of the characters were just too hard for me to relate to (babe).

This might be a fun book for some but not for me.

** thank you NetGalley for sending me this ARC. This is a honest review.

The premise is very much the locked-room mystery: a group of teen/young adult influencers have been gathered on a remote island for a reality show called, ironically, IRL. They’ve had their devices taken away, and they’re left alone overnight, with the promise that the crew will be there for filming the next day. However, not only do they not show the next day, but they all awake to one of their own dead. From there, things get much, much worse.

I really liked this book- the characters all are hiding something, which is revealed one by one, and the ending surprised me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I’ll definitely look for future books from this author.

People to Follow brings ten teen influencers to an island to compete on a reality tv show. Once there, someone turns up dead and the race to get off the island ensues. This was fun but I also felt like this story has been told before and is lacking completely originality. Overall it was a decent read. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Kira.
Max.
Logan.
Corinne.
Aaron.
McKayleigh.
Elody.
Zane.
Graham.
Cole.

One of these 10 is the mastermind behind a plan to expose influencers who aren’t really the greatest honestly. But when their plan gets away from them, do they go with it or pivot?

This one is such a guilty pleasure read for me. It kept me entertained and I kept turning the page waiting to see what made these people end up on this experiment.

I didn’t like a single person in this one, they all felt gross to me. And that usually turns me off but it didn’t with this one. The story alone kept me going because it was just crazy. And I loved the epilogue at the end where everything wraps up.

Perfect for a quick weekend read. Definitely recommend this one! Make sure to snag your copies, this one is out October 31, 2023!

Thank you @wednesdaybooks for my advanced copy!

This book was a direct copy of the book Never Coming Home by Kate Williams. I kept reading to see if anything would be different, but it wasn't. While parts of the book were entertaining, I couldn't get over the idea that this might be copied.

People to Follow is a YA book about a group of influencers who go to a remote island for a reality TV show. It is written with alternating chapters among the ten characters which keeps it fresh but can be confusing because the voices of the characters are very similar. They are all greedy, self-obsessed, clout chasers. Personally, I could not stand any of them. The plot was alright, a basic whodunit with lots of cliffhangers. All in all, this was not bad, and while it was not really my cup of tea, I am sure there will be plenty of reality TV fans that will love it.

This was a great psychological thriller. I really loved this. It kept me on my toes. I was hooked til the very last page.
I just reviewed People to Follow by Olivia Worley. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

A group of influencers sign up to go to a remote island for a reality TV show. What could possibly go wrong? EVERYTHING!

I absolutely loved this book. I was a huge fan of Gossip Girl and this book reminded me so much of that show, with a hint of Scream Queens. It’s that dark comedy with suspense that hooks you in. The ending was a tad bit messy for my liking, a few too many connections to keep straight. The alternating POV’s could be a lot to keep up with. I had to go back a few times and check the name. The characters
are likeable and there was a character for everyone! I think it’s a wicked, fun read that will be perfect for Halloween!

A group of young influencers are invited to go to a remote island with no cellphones for three weeks to be on a reality show. Should be a nice, relaxing time to unwind, right? It is, until one of them turns up dead. One by one, they start dropping like flies. The remaining try to find out who, or what, is doing this to them all, before they lose their chance - and their life.

This was an interesting read, and a fun take on a whodunit. The chapters left off on cliffhangers a lot of the times which kept me drawn in, although I found myself skipping through some of the content in the chapters because I got a bit bored.

I think some of the writing was pretty cringy and felt like someone older trying to relate to the young-ins, but the book was also probably meant for a younger audience than me. Some of the characters were insufferable, but that’s how it goes. The narrator changes every chapter and sometimes it left me confused on who it was, which I didn’t love.

This was a decent debut novel for the author, Olivia Worley, and I liked it overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!