With all of the recent discussion on social media and book review sites, this is timely. I’ve watched a few authors who’ve decided to engage with negative reviews and it doesn’t appear to work out well. Don’t do it! Peeps be crazy.

I’ve enjoyed other Robyn Harding books, so it’s no surprise that I loved this one so much. In fact, it’s my favorite of hers so far! The characters are well developed and the plot is engaging. I like the message throughout the book that women need to continue to demand fair treatment in all facets of their lives including relationships. This was showcased in so many ways and in many different relationships. It was subtle and well done. There were so many suspects here that I continued to change my mind throughout the story of who I thought the perpetrator was. I also enjoyed the book within a book and thought that added to the story.

Camryn's excitement upon the publication of her debut novel quickly turns to despair when accusations surface, alleging that her book is not a work of fiction but rather a retelling of a student's real-life tragedy. Thus starts the onslaught of online hate which plunges Camryn in a nightmare straining her relationships with her daughter and boyfriend, and jeopardizing her career as a high school counselor. Determined to uncover the person behind this malicious onslaught, Camryn refuses to rest until she finds out the truth.

The Haters by Robyn Harding is skillfully written, with characters that feel authentic and a plot rife with unexpected twists and turns. A gripping narrative of deception and betrayal, which left me hooked until the very end.

I would like to thank Grand Central Publishing & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing and Robyn Harding for the advanced copy!

As an avid reader/reviewer this one definitely hit different! I think lots of us Bookstagrammers have seen instances of one-star review bombing authors deemed problematic and it was interesting to see this from the POV of the author who is experiencing the vitriol.

It's also a good little lesson that authors are human beings and they see these negative reviews and probably often take them to heart. (That is not to say we as readers are not allowed to have these opinions!)

I think Harding did a great job with this one, and the big reveal is one I probably should've seen coming but definitely didn't. I was satisfied with how everything wrapped up as well. Looking forward to whatever Harding comes up with next!

The Haters pub date: July 2

After obsessing over “The Drowning Woman” last year, Robyn Harding quickly became an auto-buy author for me. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on “The Haters.”

This book is everything I’ve come to expect: good writing, well-developed characters, flawless pacing, and twisty plot. And while the subject matter wasn’t my favorite, I found the novel very enjoyable. It’s a quick & easy read— a popcorn thriller: 4/5 ⭐️

Robyn does it again! Camryn writes a book and the hate begins. It seeps into every aspect of her life. As her life falls apart so do her relationships. Who is trolling her and why. This was such a good read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Camryn Lane's dream of becoming a successful author finally comes true with the publication of her first novel. However, her joy is short-lived when she receives a disturbing message and discovers scathing one-star reviews flooding popular book sites. As the online harassment escalates and begins to seep into her personal life, Camryn is determined to uncover the identity of her tormentor before it's too late.
Harding expertly crafts a suspenseful narrative that delves into the dark and murky world of cyberbullying and obsession. With each twist and turn, the tension mounts, leaving readers guessing until the final shocking reveal. Camryn's journey to uncover the truth is fraught with danger and betrayal, making for a compelling and unpredictable read.
Overall, "The Haters" is a gripping thriller that will leave readers questioning the true nature of fame and the lengths some will go to in pursuit of revenge. With its compelling storyline and well-drawn characters, this novel is sure to satisfy fans of suspense and mystery alike.

I love the authors writing style. It always keeps me interested. I didn’t particularly love the main ideas of the book, but I still enjoyed it. I think the book dragged a little bit and was a bit slow, but I still kept going to find out what happened. The characters were likable and I did feel invested in them and the story. Overall, it wasn’t my favorite book by Harding, but it was still a solid read. I will continue reading all of Hardings books as she’s one of my favorites.

Camryn Lane has finally made it to her dreams, publishing her first book and diving into the world of being an author. She has a positive start to her journey, until one review comment throws her back to the ground. Authors are supposed to be tough skinned and able to handle negative feedback, but Camryn quickly sees the downhill slide. The negative reviews grow online bringing down her overall rating, then it worms into her personal life. Her work as a high school counselor is questioned, family and friends begin to doubt her, Camryn becomes lost in a downward spiral. She sinks lower into fear and sadness. Who could be doing this and what do they have to gain from tearing her work apart?

This book spoke so much to current times where people can hide behind a screen and spew negativity. The different ways cyberbullying can affect the human pysch is on full display in this book. The Haters was a fast paced read about an author dealing with the negative of being an author and human. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Haters by Robyn Harding due to be published July 2, 2024.
Camryn Lane is finally fulfilling her dream of becoming a writer and has published her first novel. She has a boyfriend, her daughter is proud, and her friends are excited. Then, Camryn receives an alarming email and gives her book a scathing review. Why does this person want to ruin her career and possibly her life? Is it someone she knows or just a jealous “fan”?
I was excited to get this since I loved The Drowning Woman and The Arrangement. Loved this one, too! It had me hooked from the first chapter. The characters were very well described and totally believable. It was also a “book within a book” as it contained chapters from the book that Camryn published. I was captivated by Camryn and her life and by who was causing her life to spiral out of control. The book was unpredictable and suspenseful, and I could not put it down until I found out who was harassing Camryn, and the ending was truly shocking!
This is a “must read”!
#NetGalley #RobynHarding #GrandCentralPublishing #TheHaters

The Haters by Robyn Harding is a new thriller focused on one reviewer tanking an author's career because (s)he has a personal vendetta against the family. What we don't know is why... and as the plot unfolds, readers grow increasingly supportive of the author who truly is trying to do all the right things. Perhaps because I'm an author myself, I identify fully with the protagonist. In complete agreement that we need thick skin, but in a world where one's livelihood may depend on income from their work, there needs to be a line when a reviewer's opinion crosses line. Here, Harding depicts such a drama that pits the author against the reviewer... and while there is some error on the author's side, a much larger reason lurks behind the scenes... one that easily draws readers into a web of chaos and confusion. I really enjoyed this book. My primary constructive feedback is that when things finally come to a conclusion, the author's life is still left in ruins, and it would have been nice to have a bigger payoff for those who were wronged. Maybe I'm too much of an equality / fairness guy... that said, I'll emphasize that the writing was great, the characters were convincing, and I always enjoy this author's books.

this was absolutley wild and I loved it so much. I had absolutley no clue what was going to happen, as the ending threw me for a loop. I did find he main character annoying, which is probably mean of me, but I felt bad for her with all the harassment she received.

I was weirdly into reading this, despite the fact that the main character is a bit of a cipher and the whole plot is absolutely unbelievable. What can I say? It's readable. I finished it in days.

Like all of Robyn Harding's books, The Haters is an addictive read. I stayed up and finished it within a day/night. This is the first-person POV story of a debut author whose publishing experience quickly turns toxic thanks to a mysterious review bomber, who seems hellbent not only on destroying her writing career--but also her life. Like The Drowning Woman, this novel touches on homelessness and surviving on the streets. Harding remains an auto-buy author for me!

Robyn Harding has become an auto-read author for me. Her latest is another 5 star book that will suck you in until the end. Everyone is a suspect in The Haters and the twists just kept on coming. I didn’t see the ending coming, which I LOVE! I would definitely recommend this book to other readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I’ve read most of Robyn Harding’s books so I knew what to expect, and I am satisfied. Easy, can’t put it down thrillers are her thing and she manages to keep you guessing until the very end. This was a modern, relatable story that moved very quickly. There were a lot characters, perhaps too many, and the ending was a bit of a letdown in terms of how realistic it was, but otherwise this was an enjoyable reading experience and I finished it in less than a day. I liked it!

This was an instant must-read for me based on how much I loved Robyn Harding's The Party. When high school guidance counselor and debut author Camryn is review-bombed online and the harassment bleeds into her real life, all aspects of her life are impacted, and her attempts to find her tormentor seem to make things worse as the people around her question her motives and grip on reality. I will recommend to readers who loved The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter, The Personal Assistant by Kimberley Belle, Prom Mom by Laura Lippman, and/or None of This is True by Lisa Jewell.

Why do I want to cry after reading a thriller?

This one seemed personal.

As bloggers, we hold power. We might not see it as such, but it’s true. We can make or break a book and honestly, as a blogger. I don’t believe this should be the case.

Who am I to make or break someone’s career?

I’ve always said, on my page, I choose to only post the positive. If I don’t like something or it doesn’t resonate with me, I won’t post it on my page. I’ll still review on NetGalley and GoodReads as this is the commitment I made when I request an arc but I’ll do it with grace and always point out the things I DID like about the book.

After reading The Haters, honestly, I’m sick to my stomach. I never want an author who worked so hard at debuting a book to feel attacked .

Reading Camryn’s store took a toll on my emotions. I felt for her. Her most accomplished achievements were being diminished by an online troll. Her family imploding.

There’s one thing I can’t stand and it’s mean girls and this book was filled with them.

I felt every pang of misjustice, I wanted to scream!!!! “SOMEONE DO SOMETHING!!” . Someone has to protect this fictional world. Fiction is meant for entertainment, not ridicule and hate.

Robyn Harding is a mastermind when it comes to getting us readers to “feel” everything she narrates. I hung on her every word, I was riddled with anxiety and I cried quite a few times.

I’m not a hugger, but I truly wanted to reach through the pages and hug Camryn.

Why did this book hit so close to home?

Well, I have a very good friend of mine whom is an incredibly talented author, have this happen to her last year. It plagued “Bookstagram” and took a toll on her mental health, family life, and love for writing BUT,that’s a story for another day.

This book resonated with me. I felt it all.

Yes, this is a thriller but even more so, it is so powerful and needs to be read by bloggers, authors and critics .

The power of your words, once said, can not be taken back, use them wisely…

Check out this teaser :

The bestselling author of The Party and The Drowning Woman returns with a twisted tale of fame, obsession, and the dark recesses of social media..
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.

Strong and fun thriller. I was drawn in by the cover and this one certainly fulfilled all the expectations thanks somuch for the arc.

Overall, this book was a slam dunk...until the end. I can honestly say that I was left guessing right until the end who was behind everything, but it fell flat for me on the motive. While the ending left a bad taste in my mouth, I did love the story itself, the characters, the "book" within the book, and the tension that I felt throughout. It kept me wanting to know more. This would have been a 5 star for me, had the ending been more plausible.

The Haters
By Robyn Harding
Pub Date July 2, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I really like this author and recommend her books if you like psychologic thrillers,
I read this book in just a few days. It had my complete attention, I found the content believable and interesting.
The epilogue was great!
5 stars