I love the cover.

I also love how the author created two sisters; one is not excited about the all the attention they get online and the other thrives on it. Their relationship coupled with their Mom’s involvement in the social media relevance and ‘clicks’ gave me ‘Momager’ feels. It was hilarious as it was a great read.

Perhaps the greatest thing about this book is that it speaks of the current times and the angst not only young but everyone experiences now with content we share online. We cannot escape the vlogs, blogs and lifestyle updates- constantly catching up with people’s lives.

It’s fast paced, touches on internet use and privacy and also has surprising twists and turns, just what you need to enjoy reading it!

I would like to send my regards to Netgalley and Amberjack Publishing for granting me an eARC to read.

I like the main premise of this storyline, regarding online presence and insta-families. I'm not sure that the more "soap opera", dramatic storyline is necessary. I think the story might have been more powerful if Claire had been able to stand up for herself without it.
And I'm not sure that I do believe that Ashley truly loved her as Rafe kept telling her. This book brings up some really interesting themes, in regards to internet privacy. And it makes you wonder about Ashley, the twins' mom, and how much she really cares about their needs versus the demands of the pubc.
So I think this book had promise, but it ended up taking the easy way out by adding a dramatic plot to push the family to accept Claire's need for privacy, plus it brought Rafe and Claire together and then sent them to college at a local university.
And I think that last part is particularly sad... if Claire is looking for privacy and anonymity, she's not going to find it at a state university. She should be going away to college.

Super cute read! The characters were nuanced, I loved the family dynamics, and the love interest was adorable. Highly recommend!

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of JUST FOR CLICKS by Kara McDowell in exchange for my honest review.***

3.5 STARS


Fraternal twin Claire is tired of being the subject of her mom’s blog and ready to give up the vlog she does with her sister Poppy. Saying no isn’t easy when your family is counting on the income. Poppy loves life as an influencer, while Claire would rather have an offline life. Secrets threaten the twins and the surprises are just beginning.

Everybody loves books about twins and what could be more timely than viral sensations in JUST FOR CLICKS. Kara McDowell’s writing and Claire’s complexity kept me reading from start to finish in one day. Although the twins were seventeen, I felt as though I was reading a story geared toward tweens of young teens from the writing to the plot to the characters. The story lacked edge and tension; I never worried the story would end on a down note.

JUST FOR CLICKS fizzled out at the end, leaving me feeling meh. I do think tweens and young teens will love the story, so I’m rounding up to four stars.

Fun coming of age story with romance and drama for the internet age (I think calling it the internet age makes me sound old, but whatever).

Well written and engrossing and timely. Recommended.

I read this in one sitting.

Personally I'm not a fan of mommy blogs because of the potential privacy issue (which may lead to horrible things like cyber-bullying, stalking, low self-esteem for the children later on). This book examines this problem through the eyes of Claire who is sick of all the 'fame.' I enjoyed Claire's character and of course Rafael (what a sweetheart).

Everything wraps up nicely but I can't really buy into the idea that her mother and her fame hungry sister would easily give all that 'influence' up. They were both so hard-pressed about it all

There basically wasn't a single thing I didn't like about this book. I liked the writing and the format (having text messages, chats, emails, etc). I loved the relationship between Claire and Rafael. The sibling relationship between Claire and Poppy was incredibly believable. And the plot was really good as well. Overall I really enjoyed it.

Thank you for letting me read this egalley.

First off I want to say how much this book blew my mind. I went in thinking this would be a fluffy story and man was I wrong. This book is so much more. There is drama, love, family, and an overarching idea that sometimes life may look bad from your point of view but others may see something else. Perspective. This book has it and it makes you sit up and listen.
Poppy and Claire are sister goals and I will forever root for them.
If you are in the mood to be moved and feel all while getting that warm feeling of love pick up this book.

This book was so dang ADORABLE! I loved the characters and their bonds and how they all grew throughout the story. Claire was incredible and I love how she learned to stand up for herself and make a future that she wants. I loved Claire and Poppy's relationship, and their mother was the best (even if she didn't always seem like it). And then RAFAEL ALEJANDRO LUNA. He owns my heart and soul now. He and Claire are everything.

This book was really great in showing what it means to be family, how sometimes you just need to disconnect from the internet, and how your perfect soul mate is usually the best friend you can tell everything to without worrying about judgement <3

This book was received as an ARC from Amberjack Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and Thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book reminded me a lot of Jen Calonita's Secrets of My Hollywood Life series how she was always on the search for a life outside of TV and the complications that come with it. Claire reminds me of Kaitlyn of how she wants to get away from the Hollywood and live a normal life. Except for the fact that it is 2018 and social media is now the new Hollywood. Claire was definitely much relateable than Kaitlyn and younger teens will definitely relate to Claire and want to cheer her on.

We will definitely consider adding this title to our YFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

What an interesting idea. I know people who have smaller children who are being "exploited" (not necessarily but it's the best word I can think of for it) for views/clicks on blogs and vlogs. What will happen when those kids grow up and begin to resent mommy and daddy? This is what happens. An interesting story about two sisters, one who shrinks from the spotlight and one who runs full-tilt into it.

"Just for Clicks", is a great book to give to your Young Adult. During the times that we currently live in, this book speaks to the life we are currently living and applicable to the issues that can arise with the use of Social Media.
In a world where everyone wants to be an "Influencer", Kara McDowell gives you two sides to reaching that height of popularity.
This is a great book to read as a parent and for teenagers/young adults, because as a parent you are introduced to what your child could be dealing with "trolls" and social pressures, blackmail, etc. But also, there is a rise of parents that will find themselves as the mother of Poppy and Claire. As a mother, myself, I have struggled with what to share on Social Media, because I think constantly of my child's privacy and security, other parents see it as a normal occurrence to reach whatever goals they are attempting to reach. No matter on what side you are on, "Just for Click", should be read and enjoyed.
I cannot believe this is the author, Kara McDowell's, first novel! It is written beautifully, it is captivating, and sweet. I look forward to reading more of her books.

I really enjoyed this book. Claire is such a relatable character dealing with her struggles and insecurities while trying to live her life in the way that makes her happy rather than worrying about what everyone else wants. The story was filled with drama, a few cringe-worthy moments and a good amount of humor. It had a great balance between light, fun moments and tackling some tough situations and the impact of living your life solely for the purpose of getting likes on social media. If you’re looking for an entertaining contemporary YA read then I’d definitely recommend Just for Clicks.

This was so much fun! Its approach to social media! I've never read anything like it.Claire, she has been in the eye of the public her whole life -- her mother has accounted for every moment of hers and her twin sister Poppy's lives. While Poppy is all in with being a social media influences, Claire wants out.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing with a copy of JUST FOR CLICKS by Kara McDowell in exchange for my honest review.***

This book was fun but at the same time it pissed me off. Claire and Poppy's mom just really pissed me off. It was so hard to read her without wanting to scream. Poppy annoyed me most of the time and Claire did too. It seemed as if Claire was just going in circles. Rafael was cute, though a bit annoying in places.

There were a lot of twists that I didn't expect and I enjoyed that. This book is good. I would suggest it for the preteen, young-teen group.

I really do liked the fact that it touched on privacy and the dark side of being famous. Even though most of the book was just about Claire being silent on the fact that she hated her world and internet world, this book did have some heart touching moments.

It was a cute and fun read though. The ending of the book was ok for me, I kind of expected more and the end was kind of predictable. The one thing that had me thinking is the fact that since the mom and sister were so fame hungry and ok with all the fame that they would give it up so easily. It just didn't fit right with those characters, I expected some sort of drama/fight to happen that would result in a character development for the two. 3.5 stars for me.

I would like thank Netgalley and Amberjack Publishing for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amberjack, and Kara McDowell for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.

Just for Clicks centers around Claire, Poppy - her twin sister, and their mother. Since they were little girls Claire and Poppy have been vlogging, blogging and doing all sorts of paid sponsorships for their mom’s online brand. The blog started as a way for their mom to share their family moments with friends and also allowed her to support herself and her family after her husband passed away.

I like that the book explores how a well intentioned start can spiral a bit out of control if one doesn’t stop to reevaluate their life choices every so often. Also the contrast between Claire not enjoying the Internet fandom and Poppy loving it, allows for an interesting multifaceted look at the internet life a s career. Neither twin is wrong, just different. It’s nice to see that there’s not the good twin, bad twin dynamic going on. I also appreciated that communication played a big role in the story. Watching the characters learn how to communicate their needs to others was wonderful. And some of the revelations … let’s just say, it keeps things interesting!

There were very few moments that I didn’t enjoy. If I’m being very critical, then some of the miscommunications or non communications became almost annoying after awhile.

But overall, I really enjoyed this fun upbeat look into the behind the scenes world of internet fame as a career. Complex relationships, relatable struggles and a whole lot of fun. Definitely recommend!

This book was really good. I enjoyed it a lot. Social media is part of our lives now. I see lots of people share too much on social media. Kara McDowell wrote this subject really good. It was actually really fast paced book but i couldn't read on my e reader. I don't know it happened only me but the format was weird so i had to read on my computer.

Just for Clicks
by Kara McDowell
Amberjack Publishing
Teens & YA
Pub Date 29 Jan 2019


I am reviewing a copy of Just for Clicks Through Amberjack Publishing and Netgalley:


Claire and Poppy are twins who became accidental social media stars, from the time they were babies their Mom blogged about them. They have been viral stars since they were babies. They are teens now and expected to build their own brand. They enjoy attending NY Fashion Week and they love receiving Fanmail but dealing with internet trolls and would be kidnappers they find maddening.


Poppy takes more to the spotlight than Claire. She’s more interested in the behind the scenes aspect, coding and dealing with technical issues.


When Claire discovers her Mom’s handwritten journals, not the happy blog postings but the ones that reveal a dark secrets.


I give Just For Clicks five out of five star!


Happy Reading!

Initial Excitement & Summary
I was sold on the premise of this one right from the beginning because it's weirdly something I think about a lot. Let me first say that people can make their own decisions and this is just MY opinion - but I can't imagine sharing so much about my children online without their consent. I can see posting some pictures or talking about a few things, but having them reach a certain level of fame before they're old enough to make their own decisions? That's hard for me to figure out. One of my favorite YouTubers has said that she won't feature her children on her channel until they're old enough to understand and decide for themselves, which is probably what I'd do (aside from some pictures here and there). But I digress! The storyline fascinated me because it's definitely going to be an area of contention going forward, as more and more people live SO much of their lives online. This book focused on twin daughters of a famous fashion blogger and how they were essentially pressured into creating their own vlog channel and following in their mother's footsteps.

Story & Characters
I like that this story was both fluffy and young while also having some more serious topics involved. Claire is struggling with her identity because her life has been shaped by her mom's blog. She's famous because she's a twin and is forced to participate in vlogs and Instagram posts all the time... even though she doesn't like it. I don't want to get too into spoilers but the synopsis implies that there's a big secret she uncovers. The book got heavy in those places because it causes Claire to second-guess everything. I liked her as a character for the most part, but she made some very stupid decisions by lying and creating misunderstandings. I can cut her slack because she's a teenager, but I wanted to slam my head against a wall every time she did it. Some things were very common sense "don't lie about that" situations.

Poppy and their mother, Ashley, were also frustrating. I think I started to feel for them more toward the end but it was really hard to read most of the book because of them. They were both very into the online presence, signing up for more sponsorship opportunities, etc. and seemed to completely ignore Claire's lack of interest in them. It was abundantly clear that she didn't want any part of this lifestyle and they didn't seem to care about that. Reading the book from Claire's POV definitely made you want to protect her and sympathize with her, but the end of the story explained things better for everyone else. I was left very satisfied with the ending.

I should mention the romance because Rafael was so cute. He was a little too much (i.e. annoying) at the beginning but I warmed to him very quickly. He was a breath of fresh air in this otherwise-kinda-sad story. He and Claire were a good pair and I definitely added him to my book boyfriend list. I wish there was a bit more about his life in general but I think the author did a good job of including HIS thoughts on parenting and family because of his situation.

TL;DR?
This was a really wonderful debut novel that covered a topic that is personally fascinating to me. Should mommy bloggers post a million pictures of their kids growing up without their consent, before they even know what the internet is? How will this affect those kids later in life? I loved pondering these questions while reading because I've always been curious about this topic. If you're looking for a 2019 debut that manages to balance sweet, fluffy moments of first love with heavier topics of finding out who you are and what you want to be, give this one a read.

This is a great look into how social media can affect a family through all years of life. It was a cute book and I liked the dynamic between the characters. My mom is big into social media now and I am glad she wasn't like that when I was young. I have to ask her to not post a ton of pictures of my children because I want them to be able to establish themselves when they come of age.
Fun, cute story. I think teens will like this one.

Just for Clicks was a fascinating look into the effects of social media, what binds families together, and the quest for self-discovery. It feels like Claire's whole life is planned out, whether that be her sponsored outfit posts, her mother's schedule for her day, or her and twin sister Poppy's plans for the future. But as Claire begins to find out more secrets about her mother's past, Claire realizes that she might have more say in her life than she thinks. But what will that mean for her family?

Being someone who puts a lot of their life on social media, I appreciated the ways McDowell doesn't stray away from the dangers and negatives about social media. It's not all free advance read copies, there's the stress, always being 'on', not to mention the dangers. As Claire begins to find out more about her mother's past, she also begins to discover herself, and what she really wants.

Well, that was lovely.

But I have to say this: the start was excruciatingly slow as we got to know our characters. Not much was happening, and the book couldn't hold my attention. It wasn't until the halfway mark when it got really interesting and things seemed to finally be happening. Once I reached that point, I couldn't stop reading. I'm happy I plowed through because it was worth it, but I shouldn't have had to plow through half of the book before I could finally enjoy it. You could argue that that much exposition is necessary to build the story, but I counterargue that you can take out so many parts of the first half while still retaining the heart and integrity of the story.

I gave it 4 stars, though, because the second half of the book is so deliciously good that it earned it and more. There were twists I honestly didn't see coming, and they served the story well and completed the narrative. One thing that I really love about this book is how smoothly the scenes transition from one to the next. I never got confused about what was happening, and I felt like I was right next to the narrator the entire time—the way it was written really makes it feel like you can see the scene, not just words written on a page.

In fact, while the first half was definitely longer than it could've been, the assured writing keeps you going. The writing in this one is, without a doubt, the best thing about it. I felt like I could trust the author while reading the story, because she knew exactly what she was doing and the direction she wanted to take it. Her assured writing is a promise to the reader that this story is worth their time.

And can I just say . . . RAFAEL AND CLAIRE ARE RELATIONSHIP GOALS!!! Haha, yes, I just mimicked the comments Claire is used to getting and rolling her eyes at. But it's true—I absolutely love this couple. Their relationship is so refreshing, because past the halfway mark, they just go at it and talk. And they actually change each other's lives for the better. They started as two teens infatuated with each other and grew to be two (young) adults (a little) wiser and (a little) older. They match each other well, but not because it's fate, or it's meant to be, or what other unrealistic trope so commonly seen in this genre. No, they match each other well because they work for it. They work for their relationship, and it's for that reason that I am 100% confident they will last a long time.

I also really love how the book dealt with PTSD: with sensitivity. Claire's emotions are so visceral that you feel out of breath when she does. There was this one scene where I related so much to her, as I'm sure a lot of other readers will, too, especially in this digital age where it's so easy to feel suffocated. Like Claire, I, too, want to drive up the mountain and watch the sunset, feeling the wind gently brush past me. I will be alone, but I will not be lonely.

Finally, the theme of the Internet being so pervasive and how it affects our day-to-day lives has been consistent all throughout. Its message may seem cheesy to some—the Internet is the greatest irony in that it gives us so many ways to communicate with each other but at the same serves as the biggest barrier to open and honest communication—but it never felt cheesy. It felt honest, it felt sincere, and it felt so real. It's like these characters are really alive out there, and that's a testament to how the author didn't just write these characters—she breathed life into them.

I'll leave you this to think about:

"We all text and blog and email so often that we feel connected, but we were never really communicating honestly with each other."

It was a really cute book. I really liked Claire and Rafael (and Poppy later on). It was a very easy read, but it did bother me how long it took Claire to say how she feels. But maybe that's just because I'm a lot more stubborn than she is.

3.5/5

Oooh! I didn't expect to really like the book!
Especially since the first few chapters just didn't speak to me. I couldn't feel Claire, nor Poppy, not even the obligatory boy-problem there.

But then after 40-50% mark and I couldn't stop reading it in one go. It proved to be a problem since I was overwhelmed with work, so I dedicated today to finish it and put on a review.

Claire and Poppy are twins who grew up under the spotlight of their blogger mum. Now that they're older, they become what we call internet celebrities. They have their youtube channel, instagram sponsorship, and their mum's blog that keep on writing about their 'daily life'.
But of course, none is what it seems.

And I totally get it. As someone who's neither famous nor rich, I still carefully crafted what I put online. It's kind of the unwritten rule: you only post good things, or none at all. Besides, not many (if any!) wants to know our sobs stories, something we reserve deep down or for someone(s) familiar enough.

This is what the book is about. A teenager who wants to (I know this sounds cliche) live a <i>normal life</i> vs her twin and mum who want influence (and the power behind the influence).
There's this family secret that needs to be uncover, a cute boy to add another conflict, and a family who needs to stay on together no matter what.

If there's something I want more from the book, it'd be about the BITES forum (I'm totally stealing Nora Borealis name, it sounds fun). I need to know more about the internet friends and it'd be nice if Claire could have a real friend besides her sister.

Finally, the book entertained me so much and I like to read/hear more from Poppy's side since she is the embodiment of someone who clearly wants the power/influence. Sometimes, it's not about the free stuffs, it's about how you can command others to buy the stuffs that you get for free. Internet is scary that way.

(I received a digital ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

This was a great book! It's always interesting to read books that deal with internet fame and Kara McDowell did it really well. The family as a whole was super interesting and the romance was adorable. I'd recommend it!

This was such a cute, pleasantly surprising book! I was initially interested because it seemed like a quick, fun read (which it was) but OH MAN- it was actually really great! Claire was a funny, interesting narrator and all of the characters had their own personalities. There's a lot of great friendships and relationships in this book that it's hard not to root for at least a couple. I really enjoyed Claire and Poppy's relationship throughout (most) of the book and though I agree with some other readers that the ending was a bit rushed, I like how it ended.

Also, there were some truly shocking twists in this. I did NOT see either of the two main twists coming at all and it really shook me up. The second twist is almost chilling- I honestly read the line and it felt like my heart stopped. I can't presently remember another line that I've read recently that affected me as much as this one did. Hopefully some other readers will know which one I'm talking about!

There were some instances in which I was really annoyed by what certain characters were doing- or not doing- so this book wasn't perfect. There were also a few cheesy moments (the second-hand embarrassment is REAL during a few parts) but I felt that it fit the book's overall vibe fine, so I was alright with it. It was also interesting to read more about the whole "Mommy Blog" lifestyle. I worked for a mommy-blog type company a few years ago and it was a LOT of work and at times very overwhelming, so I could relate to some of the things that happened in this book.

Overall, I was surprised by how much I liked this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a cute, fast read!

Great YA book. This writing style reminds me of Meg Cabot’s books, which I just adore! I love a book about twin teenagers, and it is interesting to read about the con’s (Claire’s side)/ pros’s (Poppy’s side) about vlogging / having your whole life written about online by your mom. Being “internet famous” can have it’s drawbacks! My favorite quote from the book is "so where is the line between what is ok to share with the world and what isn't? Is there a line? Should there be?" Makes you think!

(Will post to Amazon reviews and goodreads once book is released.)

I got in this book with no expectation whatsoever and I really enjoyed the read.

The story follows two twin sisters that are social media famous - it all started with their mom and her blog about the twins, and after they grew up they just went their "own way".

What I enjoyed most about this book:
- The bond between the sisters was amazing to see. I always loved sibling bond in books!
- The plot twist was really interesting. It talks about family love, sacrifices and what is more important than family.
- The slow romance, friends to lovers trope (LOVE IT!)
- The affect of social media in teenagers. That's such a important topic nowadays and it really needs to be addressed more!
- Social anxiety, general anxiety, anti-social behavior.... you name it, the author talks about it in this book.
- The fact that the author worried to add e-mails and texts in between chapters and they're related to what''s happening... so cool!

What I didn't enjoy:
- I still think that, even though it was explained in the end of the book the reasons behind it, Claire's mom is not very nice. This hurts me because I love mother-to-daughter bond and I miss it more in YA...
- The ending was resolved too quickly. Maybe a little more depth to what was behind all those picture/video leakage.

It was a very good book and I enjoyed a lot! Recommend this read for anyone who's looking to unwind and just read something relaxing!

Really enjoyed this story! Really put into perspective how the internet is. Also thought it was a good story about family and what family really is.

I was kind of on the fence on the romance. It was a slow burn one, but at times it just felt a little out of place.

I received a copy of this book in a giveaway from the author. I also got approved by Netgalley at the same time😊

Just for Clicks is about 2 sisters who are popular on social media. This book is very important for teens to see how much they put on social media and how they open their lives for everyone to see. It also brings to the forefront how family doesn’t always mean blood. It hits on anxiety and shows how not everyone feels comfortable just going with the flow. It’s ok to just be you. I enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it.

This book was full of laughs, delight and enjoyable. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a book and is looking for a great read.

I loved this book!! What an unexpected surprise! The voice was fantastic, the story was thought-provoking and filled with just the right amount of drama, and I super loved Rafael from the start! I also related so so deeply to some of the romantic situations Claire found herself in- we're both terribly awkward hahah. The ending felt a little fast but I read this in a day and enjoyed it SO much. It reminded me of an emma Mills or Jenn bennett book, which is the highest compliment I can give. Longer review to come on the blog.

Just for Clicks is the story of Claire, who along with her twin sister Poppy have been the subject of her Mum's blog since before they were born. Every moment of their lives is documented, and as they've grown that has expanded into their own vlog, trips to New York Fashion week, to being recognised in the streets. It's everything Poppy has dreamed of - influence - and yet Claire hates everything about it and is counting down to the days she can quit.

I was hooked from the very first page.

It's an easy read, well written and well told. The twists were a little predictable, but as with most YA novels it's easy to get swept up into the story and just carried along. It was a book I didn't want to put down, and probably could have devoured it in one sitting if time had permitted.

Aside from the enjoyable nature of the book though, it is also one that raises many questions. So many parents post photos and stories of their kids on social media and blogs and their YouTube channels, but it does raise the question of what are the children's thoughts on this? They are minors, so technically the issue of consenting to these posts is up to the parents. But do the parents always have the best interests of their children at heart? Or are their interests self motivated? Do they just want to most likes, the most retweets, the influence that comes with being known as a blogger?

I've got friends who post every aspect of their kids lives online, and others that refuse to post their children's images simply because they can't consent to it, so where do you draw the line? I think it's a sign of a successful, and relevant book that makes you question these things, and possibly rethink your stance on it.

Just for Clicks may be Kara McDowell's debut novel, but I'll bet it won't be her last, and I for one am keen to see what she comes out with next.

**I received a copy of this ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**