Member Reviews
Camryn Lane has just published her first book and is riding high with excitement over her achievement. However, she receives an email containing a blistering one-star review. This not only starts a series of other bad reviews, but someone is determined to prove that Camryn has chosen herself and her job as a school counselor in order to create her story. In fact, Camryn is being accused of stealing stories from the students she counsels. She is being accused of being extremely unethical. The reviews keep coming, and there just might soon be a face-to-face confrontation with the person who will not let up on Camryn.
As Camryn splits custody with her teen daughter with her ex-husband, she also is in what seems like a good relationship with Theo. Her normal and contented life, soon her entire life, family, school and social, explodes. Camryn is desperate to figure out who is behind the barrage of brutal messages and reviews. Will it ever stop? What about Camryn’s desire to keep writing?
I’m not sure if it’s my inner nerd, but reading about a writer’s struggles was super interesting. As a book reviewer, I was really drawn to this story and even imagined if one of my favorite authors was going through something similar. That’s why The Haters was such a wild ride. It was like watching a roller coaster out of control or someone gingerly walking around landmines. Camryn’s love for writing might have just been her downfall, and I was hooked from the very first page.
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Yesss! I love Robyn Harding. This one is about a guidance counselor who gets famous writing a book that loosely ties into her experience as a therapist. Someone is threatening her and she gets worried for her reputation and eventually her safety. Auto read author!
This book will get under your skin and make you question everything on social media (if you don't already). While it's marketed as a thriller, I don't think I'd really put it in that category, but I also don't really know where I'd slot it. Maybe domestic thriller? It'll keep you on your toes, but won't really get your heart pounding like others have.
The characters all brought this book down a star. if I'm being honest lol. None of them were likeable and the main character was very hard to like and root for. While I enjoyed the chapters from the authors book within the book, I felt it took away a bit from the actual plot line of the book. Overall, still very enjoyable and a quick, easy read/listen!
What a gripping thriller!
Camryn Lane’s dream has come true—her first novel, Burnt Orchid, has been published and seems to be on the right path. Then, she receives an email through her author's website from a reader accusing her of using her students' personal problems and secrets in her book. Camryn is shocked by the accusation. She would never exploit the sensitive issues the schoolchildren shared with her and write them into her work. The email deeply affects her, and things only get worse when her book's rating begins to drop after a reviewer tears it apart on a popular book site.
Someone is out to get her. It feels very personal, and as the novel progresses, a growing sense of danger envelops Camryn. She needs to figure out who is targeting her before it’s too late.
The Haters was engrossing. You could tell that Camryn's paranoia was well-founded—someone truly hated her. With multiple red herrings, the novel keeps you on edge. Kudos to the author for keeping us guessing until the very end.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A high 4 stars for me. I really enjoyed this one.
It really shows you how dangerous social media can be for not only teenagers but adults as well. Everyone has something to loose. It only takes one person, one comment, one post and your world is turned upside down and inside out.
You need to be careful of who your friends.
A good psychological thriller for anyone who enjoys a bit of a twist.
I’m almost afraid to write a review for this book 😅. Just kidding because I enjoyed it. This was a thrilling read centered but scary look at the realities of the internet and social media. Robyn Harding is definitely an auto read author for me.
This is a great intro book into thrillers. While I enjoyed it didn’t give me the wow factor like the drowning woman did. For me I wanted more thrill
In Robyn Harding’s novel, The Haters, high school counselor Camryn Lane has just had her first novel, Burnt Orchid, published. Camryn is divorced and shares custody of her daughter Liza with her X. Camryn also has a younger lover, Theo, and feels that she’s on top of the world…. until a nasty email from a woman who calls herself Ingrid Wandry accuses Camryn of exploiting the “psyches and crises of your vulnerable public school students to make a few bucks.” Yet Camryn insists (to her editor, agent, and basically anyone who will listen) that the book is fiction and is concerning homeless kids living on the mean streets of LA. Then a scathing review written by “I.W.” turns up, and things go downhill from there.
The story is told partially by Camryn but it includes excerpts of her novel. The “novel” is not exactly well written so perhaps the nasty reviews are spot on. But hey.. let’s go with the flow here: Camryn is a first time author. She has no fan base yet so readers and more importantly potential readers see the flood of nasty reviews and there goes Camryn’s new career. While her agent tells her that the reviews are no biggie and these things happen, Camryn decides to sleuth this on her own, and of course things go from bad to worse. Convinced that this is personal, Camryn gets advice from other writers and begins to distrust those around her.
Although Camryn is a victim here, I did not find her character appealing. She’s a little too smug and toyboy Theo is living proof of that. It’s obvious that she’s hiding something and that the review vendetta is personal. As a reader, I find it easy to sympathize with an author who feels defenseless against armchair critics/readers, and in these days of social media, where privacy no longer exists, Camryn finds that it’s just not her book that’s under attack–it’s her personal life too. But in spite of the high stakes for Camryn, I never engaged with her dilemma or felt much beyond mild interest. I seem to be in the minority here as most readers loved the book.
review copy
When I read Camryn Lane's first novel, I was immediately pulled in by the addictive and current plot, which highlights the overwhelming impact of social media. After the novel’s release, it was met with negative reviews and personal accusations, and I could feel the tension when the author was told by her publishing team to stay off social media. I wondered about the author’s motives and how she would navigate the situation.
The portrayal of the publishing industry felt spot on, and the social media scandal was very relevant to today’s world. While I found the chapters of the main characters engaging and well-placed throughout the book, the secondary characters didn’t have the same depth, and their side stories felt a bit underdeveloped.
I was disappointed by how the book built up to a significant plot twist I had already predicted. The reveal at the end fell flat because of that. Despite this, the novel kept me entertained and engaged from start to finish, and its timeliness made it a compelling read.
Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced copy for an honest review.
While not my favorite book by this author, I did enjoy the book reviewer stalker premise. It was fun! It’s a slow build thriller and some stuff really creeped me. I can’t imagine being an author dealing with that.
I got tricked and I liked that part too. Solid thriller here and I’ll always read this authors books. Keep them
Coming Robyn.
Thanks for the opportunity to read this one.
3.5✨
THE HATERS is a perfect popcorn thriller. Nothing too intense, but it keeps your attention throughout. There were so many times I wanted to yell at the main character for the decisions she was making, but all in good fun. Definitely a quick book to read when you’re looking for something fun.
Camryn Lane has just published her first novel. She is out celebrating when she receives an email on her authors account. The email is nasty and accusatory. Then a one star review appears on the popular READEM book site. Then more and more one star reviews appear. Then online harassment rears it's ugly head and soon everything is leaking into her personal life and Camryn can't trust anyone. She's always wanted to be an author but her dream might end before it even begins.
Camryn is a high school counselor and she is being accused of using her students personal life stories for her book. The accusations are false but this doesn't stop trolling which only makes Camryn spiral further. Her obsession to clear her name and fight against the accusations that she exploits the students might be her undoing.
The Haters starts off strong and everyone is suspect but then it dwindles. It's difficult to keep up a high level of pace and interest in a book so this isn't necessarily a bad thing but it pulls you out of the book for a while. Camryn isn't a likable character but that works for this book and makes her more real.
The Haters is interesting and has creepy moments. It's worth taking the time to read.
** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to read this book, but I was let down a little bit. I feel like it's on the mediocre side, with the middle being the most interesting part. It will still be a forgettable book for me. It was suspenseful in places, especially when "the haters" or, really, "hater" appears. However, when the main character, Camryn, starts to investigate who this could be, her paranoia and even hysteria led her to make stupid, immature, and overall bad decisions. She also just wasn't likable, so these decisions she made didn't help her any. The ending did nothing for me. I didn't expect it and it was a bit silly of a choice, honestly. Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
I had such high hopes based on the author’s previous book but this was underwhelming. I found the Mac character to be rather annoying and the plot wasn’t spectacular so the combo of the two left me feeling disappointed.
This was such a page-turner that delves deeply into the psychological struggle of an author dealing with online harassment. I was glued to the page as I followed Camryn, a debut novelist try to figure out who is review-bombing her on Goodreads, sending her creepy messages, and making what should be an exciting time (first novel out in the world!) into one filled with dread and paranoia. I really understood all of Camryn’s choices, good or bad and stayed up late trying to figure out who was behind it all. Also, it was set in Vancouver! And captured it so well.
The Haters by Robyn Harding is a psychological thriller that delves into the dark consequences of fame and the perils of social media. The story follows Camryn, a high school counsellor turned author, who faces relentless harassment as she starts promoting her newly published book. Camryn's rise to success is abruptly interrupted when she begins receiving vicious online abuse and one-star reviews that accuse her of exploiting her students' personal stories in her novel. As the harassment escalates, Camryn's personal and professional life begins to unravel, leading her to a desperate quest to uncover the identity of her tormentor.
Robyn Harding's The Haters is a chilling, incisive look at the perils of fame and the destructive power of social media. With its compelling characters, timely themes, and suspenseful narrative, the novel is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Harding's adept storytelling and keen insights into human behaviour make The Haters a thought-provoking and engaging read that will resonate with readers long after they've turned the last page.
What a bingeable read! I always find this to be true of Robyn's books. Fast paced, exciting and exactly what my mood wanted. It was such a good page turner. I loved the way she fused the world of books, writing and publishing with social media.
In this story, a new debut author finally got her dreams realized when her book was published. But it was short lived as she quickly started getting random, creepy messages and a particularly horrible one star review of her book brought on a slew of other ugly reviews and hate messages. This online harassment quickly infiltrated her personal life and no matter where she turned, she didn't feel safe.
This was the kind of book that made you think and I had a bunch of theories in my head while reading. I was on the right track, but ultimately I didn't guess the ending completely right. It was the perfect pace for me and I kept wanting to know more.
If you're a fan of Robyn's other books and if you like a good thriller, this will definitely be right up your alley. Check it out!
This story stressed me out often as Camryn's life was ripped apart after the publication of her first novel by vigilante "reviewers." While the story isn't directly taken from the headlines and social media, it's got enough truth in it that it might make any author pause. I still have some questions, and these are characters that get under your skin.
What A Wild Ride!!
Camryn Lane has just published her debut novel “ Burnt Orchid” which is a huge accomplishment and has been a lifelong dream! She’s a forty four divorcée with a teenage daughter, she works as a high school counselor as a day job and even her love life is looking up since she started dating a much younger handsome man!
She soon finds her joy is short-lived when she receives a hateful email from an unknown sender, which is then followed by a harshly worded one-start review on a popular book review site. Then a disturbing chain of events happens, non stop negative reviews, online trolling and harassment.
The situation escalates, her close relationships begin to suffer, people begin to cast down onto her professional ethics and integrity and it begins to look like she stands to lose everything she worked so hard to achieve. The story follows Camryn as she searches for the person targeting her, while she lives in fear on what is going to happen next. Could it be someone she knows or is there a stranger that could possible hate her this much? This book makes you stop and think about how your online actions have consequences. Like the saying goes.. “if you don’t have something nice to say don’t say anything at all!”
✨️Review: The Haters by Robyn Harding✨️
Rating: 4.25 🌙's
Overview: Camryn Lane finally has the career she's always dreamed of. She landed a publishing deal and her book is finally published. The only problem is she's got a lot of Haters on the internet right out of the gate. Could this be the end of her dream?
Opinions/Thoughts: This book hooked me from the beginning. We are all aware of the power of the internet and what it can do. It can make or break a career. It can rip your life apart.
I loved that there were unreliable characters all over the place. The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat and everyone seemed like a suspect to me. Those books are always the best to read because you fly through the pages begging to find out who is causing so much chaos.
I would most definitely recommend this: to any reader who loves unreliable main character’s. Also anyone who is afraid of the internets power and how real online attacks can become. Even if they aren't true they can destroy everything.
Thank you for hatchet books and netgalley for my ARC of this lovely book in exchange of an honest review.