This is a highly entertaining thriller that is hard to put aside. The subject knowledge is something that too many people are likely familiar with: online bullying. In this case, it started with a bad review of a debut book, and it escalated quickly to stalking and other threats against the MC and those in her life. The writing pulls the reader in. Characters are well developed and relatable, and the pacing is flawless for this novel full of twists and turns. It may leave readers wondering just how far some people will go, and it may also cause them to consider the impact their online comments can have on other people.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I read the drowning woman this year and really enjoyed the pace and short chapters - exactly what I need in a thriller. The Haters certainly gave similar vibes as far as the pace in the drowning woman. This is a bingeable thriller for sure. The concept in this book about internet safety and social media may have hit a bit too close to home for me... I found the idea terrifying. Especially with my hobby being reading and writing reviews and how horribly wrong things went for this author (the main character in the book).

Ultimately, I wanted more from this book. There were not enough twists for my preference and I do not think this "type" of thriller is my jam. Plenty of mystery and tension involved but I have a hard time with online harassment, bullying, and stalking in books. I think many will like this if they like drowning woman but I had a hard time with the content.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Robyn Harding. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

All of Camryn Lane's hard work and perseverance have finally paid off - her first novel has been published. Everyone in her professional and personal life are thrilled for her. But then she gets a message from an unknown person saying that she used her experience as a school counselor as material for her book. When she checks a popular book review site, she sees a one-star review that quickly gains traction and soon becomes personal. Who is so intent on destroying her?

I really liked this peek into an author's view of online reviews and reviewers; basically seeing exactly what I'm doing from the other side. It's so frightening to see how quickly social media rants become viral and people feel free to spew hatred of someone they don't know from behind the safety of their screens. Camryn certainly didn't make great decisions on handling this situation, but most of her actions were certainly understandable. How do you know the right way to handle trolls? This book also has a "book in a book" format, as we get to read excerpts of Camryn's book. There's plenty of domestic drama here too, as we see how all this affects Camryn's personal life. Another good thriller from Robyn Harding!

Unbelievably good!!! I've had plenty of time on the beach🌴 to read, but no time to write a review!! I love Robyn Harding books and this one is no exception. A scary defining moment with the dark side of social media. When Camryn Lane struggles with rejections, her debut book is finally published. Burnt Orchid is sure to be a hit!!
Then....a sudden twist in fate...a one star review slams her book then many more to follow. One email comes to her for threats her book circulating is about her students she had in high school as she serves as their counselor. The train wreck escalates into real life threats. It is disturbing! I felt sorry for her as she tried to recover from online harassment. This is bullying at its worst. The final twist is awesome!!
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved The Drowning Woman and thought the premise of The Haters sounded really good. Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me and I decided to DNF at 35%. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

My fifth novel from this author!

She is one that I can count on to keep the pages moving! This time we have a story about an author who finally gets her first novel published. Camryn Lane is on top of the world UNTIL.... Dun,dun,dun... the reviews start rolling in. 😐

I've read some pretty brutal one star reviews (IRL) and I did actually feel bad for Camryn. She decides to take steps to investigate why readers seem to be jumping on this bandwagon taking her overall rating sinking by the day.

There is plenty of juicy book drama, finger pointing and a peek at just how social media can wreak havoc and do damage to anyone (yikes), this one may keep you engaged and guessing just who was behind the social curtain!

This book started out with a bang! Author Robyn Harding is one of my favorite authors and she always writes a twisty story. I did find this particular book to be a little juvenile and not her best but I still enjoyed it. I was intrigued with how this story would end up, and what the conclusions would be.

BOOK REVIEW: THE HATERS 📱📚👥

A high school counselor publishes her first book and is so excited for her writing career to take off. However, her book is met by criticism by online trolls claiming that she based her book off of her students real life struggles.

This one was super bingeable and fast-paced with lots of suspicious characters! Def had a good creep factor too with the MC Camryn feeling like someone was stalking her not only online but irl.

I loved the snippets of Camryn’s book weaved throughout — so compelling! Also enjoyed the different dimensions of Camryn’s character as a mom, her relationship with her bf, friends, and professionally. Even though I guessed the ending, I loved the wild ride!

As a former school counselor myself, I really appreciate the (mostly) accurate portrayal of what school counselors do! Their role is so often misconstrued that this was refreshing seeing an accurate look at what their role entails.

This is a stressful story that is ripped right out of the book influencer headlines! When Camryn's first novel is published, she is incredibly happy. She is looking forward to becoming a full time author and quitting her counseling job at a local high school.
It's not long, however, before some haters claim that she is using her own student's stories to drive her novel's success. Camryn is beside herself and unable to handle the stress or the advice to not respond to social media posts.

It's not long before her whole life is encompassed into a nightmare that impacts her job, her relationship with her daughter and her boyfriend. The question is, who is behind it all? If you love social media stories, are a writer or just are interested what drives the social media trolls (who isn't?) The Haters is for you!

This story could be considered every author's worst nightmare. Anyone with a public social media account can sympathize with Cam regarding the trolls and hate-filled comments. However, Cam, at times, frustrated me, going against the advice of people who had her best interest in mind. I can’t tell you how often I said, “Just STOP!” But upon reflection, I can understand the need to defend yourself when your character and work are being attacked and canceled.

Overall, the audiobook contains the right amount of tension and suspense. The narrators, Megan Tusing and Jess Nahikian, deliver fantastic performances. I suspected everyone regarding the mystery of the one-star review, but the reveal totally shocked me! What a fun and twisty summer thriller. Definitely a good one for the beach or pool!

I was hooked from start to finish with this book! I loved the writing and the plot. I was a little disappointed with the twist and really wanted it to go in a different direction and be a bigger twist. I also hated the horrible behaving teens/young adults. I know that was part of the story but it just bothers me too much. Overall I enjoyed this book but I just didn’t love it.

"The Haters" by Robyn Harding is a popcorn thriller that, while serviceable, tends to lean into the corny side. The plot centers around Camryn Lane, a debut author who finds herself targeted by an unknown assailant through disturbing messages and a barrage of one-star reviews. This online harassment quickly escalates, impacting her personal life and leading Camryn on a desperate quest to uncover the identity of her tormentor.

The book’s premise is intriguing, tapping into the fears many authors and public figures have about the power and reach of online criticism. Camryn's journey, from initial excitement over her novel's release to the dread and paranoia that follow, is a compelling setup. However, several aspects of the story fell flat for me. While Camryn's anguish and desperation are palpable, other characters lack depth and nuance. The relationships feel somewhat one-dimensional, and it's difficult to fully invest in their dynamics.

The narrative pacing is uneven. There are moments of intense suspense, but they are interspersed with slower, less engaging sections. This inconsistency detracts from the overall tension and thrill. The plot twists, while numerous, are somewhat predictable. The reveal of the antagonist and their motives felt underwhelming and didn't pack the punch I was hoping for. Some plot elements and dialogues veered into corny territory, reducing the impact of key scenes and making the story feel less serious and credible.

Despite these criticisms, "The Haters" is not without its merits. Harding's exploration of the dark side of social media and online harassment is timely and relevant. The book within a book, "Burnt Orchid," adds an interesting layer to the narrative, even if it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential.

In summary, "The Haters" is a decent thriller that offers a few moments of genuine suspense but ultimately falls short due to its predictability and lack of character depth. It’s a quick read for those who enjoy thrillers, but don’t expect it to leave a lasting impression. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the ARC via NetGalley!

• more of this (things i loved): thriller set in the publishing world with unlikeable characters (especially the main character, but not sure if that was intentional. actually, scratch that, i know it clearly wasn't, but i didn't see it for her so watching her life spiral didn't make me feel bad for her. does that make me a villain? i guess *shoulder shrug*).

• drama about who could be trolling the author (structured like pretty little liars and the character -lots of misdirection, new potential identities, etc. excerpts from the fictional book that's referenced (it's like watching a show where the characters are obsessed with a fictional show. super meta).

riddle me this (things that didn't resonate with me.. respectfully):

• hard to be invested in anyone besides camryn (who i didn't like); everyone else felt shallow and one-dimensional. i was on the troll's side for much of the story to be honest (again, yes, i suppose that makes me a monster).

• ending kinda fell flat for me, and i was left feeling let down. i don't know what was expecting, but it felt like a missed opportunity to do something interesting. now im not trying to hate from outside the club, but i wanted the big "reveal" to leave me speechless and want to throw my book at the wall. but, alas, not so much. teenage plotline weaved into this whole trolling thing was meh. i kept thinking "camryn, these are high school children, please be smarter than them".

overall, this book isa wild ride with some real highs (good parts) and lows (parts that you may also be like eh, this could be flushed out more). if you love a thriller with a twisty plot, give it a try.

This latest thriller from Canadian author, Robyn Harding is every author's worst nightmare come true! When a debut novelist starts getting targeted online with negative reviews and hateful comments her life really blows up. Determined to figure out who's behind the online hate, she finds herself in a spiral where trolls gang up and blow up her family life, including her relationship with her daughter and boyfriend. With a twisty ending and great audiobook narration by Megan Tusing & Jess Nahikian, this is a new fav! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Anyone with an online presence can relate to the HATERS by Robyn Harding. Whether it be authors or influencers, trolls are out there. But what happens when one troll is dead set on ruining your career and life? Well, that’s the premise of this one and readers will feel tense and on edge from beginning to end. Robyn Harding is an excellent author. She’s written some of my favorite thriller books, so I know whenever she publishes a new one, I’ll eat it up and more than likely end up loving it. Guess what? I did! This book pulled me in and didn’t let go until the bitter end. And I didn’t guess who was behind all the hate until it was revealed. That my friends makes for a GREAT book. Pick this one up. You won’t regret it!


𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Haters are part of the deal when you put yourself in the public eye.”

This is such a solid thriller. It feels creepy and realistic, which is something I love in a thriller. If something is too farfetched it can take me out of the story. But here, Camryn is dealing with the fallout of her debut novel that focuses on teenagers that come from a very tough background. She is very clear that her novel doesn’t take any inspiration from her job as a counselor, but that doesn’t stop people from review-bombing her book and harassing her.

There are so many suspects that are plausible and as a reader that keeps you intrigued. The book had a little bit of a slow start for me, but once we start seeing the damage the harassment is doing to Camryn’s life and the people around her the story really picks up speed. It also really depicts some of the difficulties of publishing a book. Authors really put themselves out there with their work, and I’m sure it’s disheartening when there are readers who don’t enjoy the book. Of course, that's part of the deal, but there is definitely a line that can get crossed when there is misinformation or assumptions made about an author or a book.

Some of the most fascinating parts for me were how the harassment impacts her personal life. It extends out from her to everyone she interacts with on a daily basis. And not only does she feel like there is no one she can trust, she sees people start to second guess if the harassment Camryn's facing is real. It delves into that physiological piece of a thriller that can often be difficult to bring to life, Here, we can feel how distraught Camryn is and her confusion feels visceral.

Overall, this was really great and I’m looking forward to reading more by Robyn Harding!

Camryn has just released a book. Initial reviews are good, but after one 1-star review begins to set off a slew of hate-reviews. Then, things begin to escalate into her personal life- embarrassing videos go viral, her email is hacked and emails are sent to ruin relationships close to her. and her car is vandalized. As Cam works to figure out who is behind everything, all aspects of her life begin to spiral, including her writing career, relationship with her boyfriend and daughter, and her day job as a school counselor.

This is my second book by this author. I LOVED The Drowning Woman, so I had high hopes for this one. My expectations fell a little short, but it was still a solid book. The characters in this one were intriguing, and everyone seemed to have a suspicious energy so it was tough to say who the culprit was. The ending was a bit insane. I also felt like Liza was a complete @$$hole for most of the book so when her secret was revealed I was simultaneously surprised and not at all shocked. Sher knew how tormented her mom was, but she still never told her mom what happened.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Haters
Robyn Harding
Pub: 7/2/24
3.5-4☆

Synopsis:
Camryn Lane is living her dream. After years of struggle and rejection, her first novel has finally been published. Her editor is happy; her teenage daughter is proud; and her boyfriend and friends are all excited for her. She’s on top of the world—until she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender.

Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn swallows the sick feeling in her stomach and resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that soon, Camryn’s book is flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her?

As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows? The troll’s actions are escalating, and when the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her—and finally learn why she's being targeted.

My thoughts:
I really liked the premise of this one and had high hopes going in. I enjoyed Harding’s writing style however it just didn’t “thrill” me like I had hoped it would. Could totally just be a me thing, so definitely check it out for yourself.

My first read by Harding, but won’t discourage me from reading more. I’ve seen a ton of hype for the Drowning Woman so that will be next for me.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing and Novel Suspects for the gifted copy.

The Haters
Robyn Harding
7.2.24

I’m a fan of Robyn Harding and have devoured almost everything she’s written. Whether it’s twisted friendships to sugar babies done wrong, or perfect families with deep dark secrets, her writing has the ability to capture my attention and keep me wildly guessing through emotionally wrought characters and intricate plotting. When I pick up a Robyn Harding book, I know I’m in for a heck of a great time – and a few late nights!

In The Haters, she turns the spotlight on the relationship between writer and social media. It’s not always a pretty place, as we’ve all seen, social media is great when it’s used to uplift and promote but when it’s used to disparage and dox, it can be a hateful place infiltrating every aspect of a person’s life.

Camryn Lane has finally published her first book; it’s her lifelong dream and it’s finally coming true. After a whirlwind of good press and a successful launch, Camryn is hopeful and happy. Then comes the email with accusations and vitriol. Soon after, she receives a one-star rating on a popular book review site but it’s very specific and soon more follow. Despite the warnings from her publicist, Camryn engages and soon, things spiral out of control, spilling over into every aspect of her personal life.

This is a stressful and tense story; there are times when I was saying, Cam, girl, don’t do it but also, on the other hand, I felt her frustration because the accusations are specific, personal and vindictive and because of this Cam’s inner circle and professional life begins to suffer.

The plot is twisted beyond! I had no idea who was behind this and to me, everyone was a suspect and Robyn, those red-herrings! I trusted no one! But what a blindside! Loved it!

Robyn Harding has done it again, book friends! Just like the author’s previous thrillers, THE HATERS sucked me in and did not let go. I inhaled it in just a few evenings. Harding’s novels are perfect examples of popcorn thrillers. They’re absolutely addictive—you can’t stop once you start. The juicy drama, suspense, and intrigue are all just way too good.

This thriller is MADE for the book community. Book bloggers, BookTokers, bookstagrammers, and reviewers will eat this one up! Get this:

New author, Camryn receives a disturbing email about her new book, and it also receives a one-star review on a popular book site. The reviewer is so convincing that even MORE bad reviews start to flood in. The online harassment escalates and creeps into Camryn’s personal life. Things get pretty dark, twisty, and disturbing very quickly. Who is trying to sabotage her?

I must say that Camryn made me want to pull my hair out. She’s a tad unlikable and slightly irritating, yet I still felt for her. As a book reviewer myself, I couldn’t even imagine doing something so horrific to an author.

READ IF YOU ENJOY:

- Complex mother-daughter relationships
- Teenage angst and behavior
- Social media and internet trolls
- Juicy drama and entertainment
- Writer/author life
- Books about books
- Shocking moments and reveals
- Vancouver, BC setting

Robyn Harding is officially the queen of popcorn thrillers in my opinion. Her catchy and addictive writing style just can’t be beat! She truly excels at describing teenage behavior. If you loved The Party, one of her earlier novels, then please don’t miss out on this one.

Oh, and I have one piece of advice: Don’t start this one late at night. I can guarantee that you will stay up WAY past your bedtime. It’s so hard to put down! 4/5 solid stars for THE HATERS! It’s out on July 2nd!