"People to Follow" by Olivia Worley delivers a thrilling and modern twist on the reality show genre, plunging readers into the chaotic world of social media influencers caught in a deadly game of survival. The premise of "In Real Life," a reality show set on a remote Caribbean island where ten teen influencers must unplug for three weeks, promises a unique and gripping story. As the stakes escalate with a missing production crew and a violent death, Worley weaves a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The diverse cast of characters, each representing different facets of social media stardom, adds depth to the storyline. From Elody, the impulsive Instagram model, to Logan, the disgraced TikTok celeb with a secret, the author captures the essence of today's influencer culture. The tension rises as the influencers grapple with being stranded on the island with a dead body, and the absence of a way to contact the outside world intensifies the sense of isolation.

Worley skillfully incorporates the element of mystery as the influencers receive threatening messages from a mysterious Sponsor, hinting at dark secrets that could ruin their lives. The fear of being canceled takes on a literal meaning, and the characters must decipher the identity of the puppet master orchestrating this deadly game.

The fast-paced plot, filled with unexpected twists and turns, mirrors the constant scrutiny and unpredictability of the digital age. The narrative cleverly explores the consequences of online fame and the lengths people may go to protect their secrets. The concept of being trapped on an island with a murderer and cameras tracking their every move adds a layer of suspense that propels the story forward.

"People to Follow" is a gripping and entertaining read that successfully blends the allure of reality TV with a thrilling mystery. Olivia Worley's storytelling captures the zeitgeist of social media culture, making the novel relevant and engaging. I give it four stars for its inventive plot, well-drawn characters, and the suspenseful exploration of the dark side of influencer fame.

This was a quick read with four different narrative perspectives: A locked “island” mystery in which ten influencers find themselves isolated on an island , at risk of being cancelled or murdered.

Their stories reveal some of the more controversial topics related to influencer culture, social media, and the paradoxical relationships between influencers and their followers.

Lots of twists, turns, and misdirections. A murder board made with scrap paper and lipstick. A storm. And many, many secrets.

I think it’s a really high interest YA novel, though I do wonder what teens would think of the influencers themselves, their characters, and their mannerisms. As an adult, I saw them as an accurate representation, but will teens think so about themselves?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This story really tugged on my heart strings. It made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me think. I want to know these characters more. I want an epilogue for the epilogue, to see how they are doing in years to come.

3.5 🌟 rounded up
What a fun, interesting read about influencers ‘unplugging’ on an island thinking it’s for a reality TV show.

I had a hard time getting into this one but the last half had me on the edge of my seat. I did not expect the twist but I had a feeling things weren’t going to plan when the cameras were covered.

Overall very fun and I’ve never read anything like it. Refreshing and I would recommend for people looking for a thriller that’s different.

I absolutely loved this one! Give me a thriller with the setting of a reality show and you have me hooked from the first word. I really enjoyed this one!

This was good and it definitely drew my interest though I found it hard to fully care for the characters in danger and their lives. I wanted to connect with them a bit more and really feel for them and what they were going through.

DNF at 23%. I was just too annoyed the characters. The author did a great job portraying them as dumb influencers and used all the typical young slang I just couldn't deal with it though. The entire book seemed to just be dialect and it was annoying dialect.

Thank you for the earc in exchange for an honest review

This book really did nothing for me. I wanted to love it so much, but for some reason, it fell flat. I was often confused with the story and didn't understand what the plot really was.

Ten teen influencers are invited to a remote island to film a show called IRL (In Real Life) where they must live for three weeks without any social media at all. Told from the POV of only four characters, Elody, the hot IG model; Kira, the child ballet dancer turned fitness influencer; Logan, the TikTok comedienne celeb; and Max, the YouTube documentarian. You come to know the others via their "vibe" or what they're known for on various social media platforms. Corrine is a female gamer of colour, Aaron is the former child actor, Zane is a spiritual yogi/mediator, Graham is a musician, Mckayleigh has her own clothing line, and Cole is a YouTube prankster.

When the first body is found everyone starts receiving strange messages from "The Sponsor" via the "smartwatches" that were in their welcome bags, with threats to expose their darkest secrets. Cameras are everywhere in this beach house. There's nowhere to hide from the threat of being #canceled.

I loved the pacing. The story never dragged, in my opinion, and kept me guessing throughout. The clues are there but cleverly hidden. My biggest criticism was having to go back to the first chapter a lot in the beginning to understand who was who and why they were famous. Sometimes I had to check who's POV I was in because there wasn't much differentiation in their voices...but then again, these are influencers and they all run together irl. Overall, a great read with lots of tension.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While I tried getting invested in People to Follow through multiple sittings, I couldn't get into the plot or characters. There were too many points of view that kept me confused and puzzled. I may try out another book by debut author Worley in the future!

This one was okay! I think it may be for a younger audience. There was a lack of substance to the motivation and it felt senseless at times. Not a wrap up I enjoyed.

I love these new trends of novels about social media influencers being sent to islands or on games to "compete" or test out an amenity only for their secrets to be revealed and people to turn to MURDER.

People to Follow is about ten spoiled rotten teenage social influencers who take the challenge of "unplugging" and allowing their faithful followers to see who they really are, In Real Life.

We follow the stories of Elody, Kira, Max, and Logan, none of whom are pleasant or likable characters. You have to be able to handle the whining and complaining of these characters, as they are in the mindset of 'the world is owed to them endlessly' because of that privilege they are engulfed in.

I did enjoy this read, however, the whining and complaining seemed to drag on more than necessary. I would potentially read this again, just to pick up something new that I missed the first time, however, it isn't something that I would depend on as a regular reread in my bookshelf.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review. It was enjoyable, and definitely not my normal reads.

Love this debut! People to Follow follows ten teen influencers, reality tv, and a shocking death. I don't read a ton of YA, but when I do it's a good mystery thriller. This is a unique take on a thriller classic that I think a lot of people will enjoy. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Good Girl's Guide to Murder.

These are my favorite types of YA mysteries/thrillers... typically. I liked this one for the most part, but I did find there to be a few too many characters to keep track of. It was hard to try to remember how each of them was connected and who was hating on who. I think if the author had just taken out a few, it might have been a little easier to follow and a lot more engaging. Granted, it would have also been easier to guess the killer that way as well. I loved the idea of a secluded island and the dark stormy weather. I just got lost in the details of each of the people sometimes.

LOCKED ROOM MYSTERIES.
Locked room mysteries are usually my jam, but this one was iffy.
It's always hard to do these kind of mysteries in modern settings, and I liked the way that they used a "social media break" as a way to get rid of some of the modern conveniences, but still kept some aspects of it to add some more mystery to the story.
With the 10 influencers on the island, the story is told through the POV's of four of them, and its through their eyes that we witness the various murders and try to figure out what is actually happening on this island.
None of these characters were particularly likable, Worley did an amazing job of writing tiktok influencers that were a little too life like if you know what I mean.
The actual mystery part - I figured out who was behind everything pretty easily, the character in question didn't even try to hide certain mannerisms between their IRL self and The Sponsor.
As for the reveal? Things fell together rather quickly and easily, and everything just seemed to wrap up a little too well for my liking, but overall it was a fun and rather light hearted mystery.

People to Follow was an interesting look at influencer culture and how damaging it can be, especially for young adults. It's a fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.

I loved how Worley took the premise of various late-teen and early-twenty influencers, told them they were heading to an isolated island to film a reality show, and instead things turn deadly. I, personally, didn't connect to any of the characters, but I sort of felt like that might have been the point. None of the characters were created to be likable.

I did like how the story unfolded, and ultimately how each of the characters' careers as influencers played a role. I've always been a fan of the locked room, or in this case, isolated island trope, and thought it was well done.

A good read and I can see a lot of people interested in YA enjoying this book.

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

I realky wanted to enjoy this book more. The premise was intriguing but I felt like the writing lacked in some parts. Overall, I’d recommend this story!

This was a really fun YA read. A bit murder mystery, a little bit cautionary tale about the power of social media, and wild drama amongst “friends”. I love an isolated island setting as well as the multiple POVs. I thought this was eerie and enjoyable!

This is a 'whodunit' book involving a handful of influencers. I felt like I read something similar before. This one wasn't for me.