not sure how i felt about this one tbh. the characters weren’t likeable but this is what adds to the story and makes it better when the characters are killed off. the writing was very clearly for teens so it wasn’t super spooky but still good

This book was something else. Lol
If you like reality TV shows and mystery/thrillers this may be for you!

I can't say I really connected to any particular character. There were so many POVS. But the train wreck was so hard to look away from. Definitely sucked me and I needed to know how it ended. I loved the modern being cut off from technology approved as well.

Thank you @stmartinspress & Wednesday books for allowing me to read and give my honest review.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for my honest review.*

The cover on this novel is so very misleading! Ten teen influencers sign on for a reality TV show where they are cut off from the rest of the world on a secluded island and recorded non stop. But the watches they are given as gifts are actually linked to production. And production requires them to share personal details and then vote on who is lying. Whoever 'wins' the vote is 'canceled' and winds up dead.

So many characters and many are just so unlikeable that it is very easy to be happy when they wind up canceled. And the rest fight to find out who is in charge of the mayhem and messages and cancelations.

Very apropos of the cancel culture going on now in public lives. And a great way to show how the public eye can cause serious damage to people and their lives. A good read!

Another YA book centered around influencers. It reminded me of Influencer Island in some ways. I knew this book was YA going into it but it felt like it was written for tweens/younger teens. The characters were not likeable. All whiney, entitled children.

I'm a sucker for some reality tv shows and with the promise of a story meant to keep me on the edge of my seat, how could I say no? People to Follow was a thrilling and exciting read based on influencers left alone on an island. From the start readers are immersed in a fast-paced 'who did it' chase of uncovering the truth.

With multiple POV's and dark secrets from each character, I was constantly changing my theories on who was behind the 'cancelling'. The ending started to come together and while I did end up guessing who was behind it, I had no real idea because Worley twists it into such a deeper uncovering. This was a fun and wild ride and perfect for thriller lovers.

This kept me invested until the very end!

Though not a single character is likable, that's what adds to this story. I was aching to find out who was behind the murders because every person there had a motive. The inclusion of multiple view points, though not ALL viewpoints lended to the suspense. I could not put this one down.

This book gives a very accurate, and slightly disturbing, view at how social media has become a a focal point of our lives and how it affects individuals. This book surrounds teen influencers who are surrounded by first-world problems and are thrust into murder scene. I thought the mystery around the murder was done pretty well and left you guessing until the end but the characters themselves were very unlikeable.

I enjoyed this YA thriller more than I was expecting to. Ten influencers are sent to a remote location to shoot IRL, a reality television show. One by one they are getting “cancelled” and by cancelled I mean dead. Is it The Sponsor sending them messages on their watches or is it one of them? The twists and interconnectedness of the characters gets a bit hard to follow about who hates who and why , but I like that this one is basically making a bit of a social commentary on the craziness of social media. Perfect for the YA readers.

I'm always ready to read a retelling of And Then There Were None. While also showing the ugly side of influencing, it's a mystery of who is out to get the group of influencers on an island.

This one might have skewed a little too young to be a homerun for me, I was ultimately entertained as I tried to figure it all out. A good suspenseful read for the young adult crowd and maybe even the young at heart.

**The Plot:** Ten social media superstars, each with their own dedicated online following, are invited to participate in a new reality show called "In Real Life." The twist? They're whisked away to a remote island and forced to ditch their phones and all forms of technology for three whole weeks! Talk about culture shock!

**The Players:**

* **Elody, the Instagram queen:** Think flawless selfies, designer outfits, and a penchant for going viral.
* **Kira, the fitness fanatic:** This former child star turned gym guru is all about #fitspo and clean living.
* **Logan, the TikTok bad boy:** Edgy, mysterious, and with a dark past he's trying to outrun.
* **Max, the exposé king:** A YouTuber known for his tell-all videos and sharp wit.

And that's just a taste! Each character has their own unique personality, hidden depths, and secrets waiting to be unearthed.

**The Intrigue:** As you can imagine, things don't exactly go smoothly on this tech-free island paradise. Alliances are formed and broken, hidden agendas come to light, and when one of the influencers turns up dead, the game takes a deadly turn.

**Why you should read it:**

* **Fast-paced and suspenseful:** This book will keep you guessing until the very last page.
* **Twisty and unpredictable:** Just when you think you know what's going on, Olivia throws in another curveball.
* **Relatable characters:** Even though they're social media stars, you can't help but find yourself rooting for (or against) these complex characters.
* **Thought-provoking themes:** The book explores the dark side of social media, the perils of fame, and the importance of human connection in a digital age.



So, if you're looking for a book that's both entertaining and thought-provoking, "People to Follow" is definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared for some serious binge-reading!

Social media influencers in their 20s are brought to an island thinking they signed up for a new reality show. No one knows who is coming until they all arrive. Relationships are strained amidst a few of them and things get heated the first night. The next morning, one of the 10 are dead.

Messages from a mysterious “Sponsor” start showing up. Someone is pulling the strings, but who?

I enjoyed the plot and the twists of the book. Some of the characters are a bit vapid but isn’t that to be expected with influencers? A well written YA thriller that hit all the spots.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC. People to Follow is out now.

An enjoyable YA thriller. Yes, some of the characters are annoying and vapid - but they are teen and early 20s influencers... that's how they are going to be! A perfect trashy beach read that I will recommend to friends next summer.

"People to Follow" was a fast-paced young adult mystery. Several influencers are brought to a private island for what they think is a reality show, but the island quickly turns deadly. No one knows who to trust, including the reader. This book could have gone in so many directions, and it was a true puzzle to figure out. I liked the mystery; the characters were okay. The issues discussed in this book are real and relevant right now. I would read more from this author.

This book just was not for me. I already don't love influencers and this just really made me dislike them all. I struggled to read each chapter and am shocked I even finished.

Get ready to embark on a rollercoaster ride through the wild world of social media in Olivia Worley's debut novel, "People to Follow"! This thrilling tale takes a deep dive into the consequences of fame and the treacherous pitfalls of cancellation in the age of hashtags and viral takedowns.

Worley weaves an enthralling narrative around ten teenage influencers who find themselves stranded on a remote island, the perfect setting for a reality show that promises to be anything but ordinary. As you flip through the pages, you'll be hooked by the suspenseful atmosphere that permeates every twist and turn.

One of the shining stars of this novel is the fantastic cast of characters that Worley has crafted. Each one is not only relatable but also downright intriguing, adding layers of complexity to the story and making it impossible to put the book down. You'll find yourself rooting for, questioning, and even side-eyeing these characters as they navigate the tumultuous waters of social media stardom.

But "People to Follow" is more than just a gripping story—it's a commentary on the modern challenges faced by influencers. Worley fearlessly tackles the pressures and dilemmas that come with the territory, offering readers a front-row seat to the constant scrutiny and the struggle to maintain a flawless online presence. It's a theme that hits close to home in our Instagram-obsessed world.

The mysterious island setting amps up the tension, creating a palpable sense of isolation and danger that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This backdrop transforms the novel into a nail-biting thriller, where you'll find yourself eagerly anticipating what unexpected twist awaits on the next page.

And let's talk about that plot—brace yourself for a wild ride! "People to Follow" boasts a well-paced and engaging storyline, complete with unexpected twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very last chapter. Worley proves herself a master storyteller, skillfully navigating through the intricate web she has woven.

In summary, "People to Follow" is a captivating and thought-provoking exploration of the dark side of fame and the repercussions of cancellation in a world dominated by social media. If you're a fan of young adult thrillers or simply intrigued by the ever-evolving landscape of online presence, this book is an absolute must-read.

I feel like this book is targeted and marketed towards a reader, like me who loves reality TV, and a good thriller this book did not disappoint, and I highly recommend you’re looking for some thing, action packed and suspenseful five stars!

I always love a good influencer type story. Also the fact that it was teens was even better. And the fact that this was sort like a game just topped it for me. I thought this was well written and I honestly couldn't even tell that it was suppose to be a YA book. Great writing.

Imagine a bunch of social media royalty forced to unplug for three weeks, "In Real Life" style. Elody, an impulsive Instagram model; Kira, a fitness influencer with a child-star past; Logan, a disgraced TikTok celeb hiding a secret; and Max, a YouTuber known for spillin' the tea on fellow creators. Sounds like a recipe for chaos, right? Well, chaos takes a dark turn when the production crew ghosts them, and a crew member ends up six feet under. Stranded, no way to contact the outside world, and the nightmare has just begun.

Messages from a mysterious Sponsor start rolling in, threatening to expose their darkest secrets. Suddenly, it's not just a reality show—it's a deadly game, and someone's pulling the strings. With a rising body count and cameras capturing their every move, it's a race against time to unmask the puppet master before they become the next hashtag.

The author serves up a gripping plot with twists and turns that'll keep you guessing until the very end. The tension is palpable, and the characters, each with their own secrets, add layers to the suspense. The exploration of social media culture and the dark side of online fame is both intriguing and a bit chilling.

People to Follow was a blast.  The premise is goofy fun: ten teen influencers go to a remote island to film a reality tv show, and get cut off from the rest of the world.  One of them soon turns up dead.

I’ve read quite a few thrillers about influencers this year and was getting tired of the topic, but Worley made it fresh again.

Each of the point of view characters is well-developed and has a distinct voice.  I was expecting the book to be fairly shallow, but I found myself empathizing with everyone and regularly changing my mind about who the killer might be.

The dialogue was witty and clever, while being as over-the-top as the premise promises.

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys young adult thrillers, “And Then There Were None”-style mysteries, dark humour, and characters you love to hate / hate to love.  

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for my review copy of this book.

Thank you Wednesday Books for the advance copy.

I tried on multiple occasions to dive into this book but I just cannot get into it. Unfortunately it is a DNF for me.