This novel shows us a world where our follower count and social standing is more important to us than our real friendships. Equal parts horrifying and entertaining the story is half Orla, a journalist in 2015, and Marlow, a 2051 "influencer" celebrity. Sometime between Orla's and Marlow's lives, an event was known only as "the Spill" caused the Internet as we know it today is gone, and Marlow lives in a completely different world. The government regulates all internet traffic, including entertainment, and Marlow has grown up in a Truman Show-like city called Constellation, which is an ongoing, immersive reality series. Both women yearn for more meaning in their lives, and each of their stories unfolds to show how they grow and change, while also revealing how they become connected over the years if you liked Ready Player One and The Farm, you'd like this one. It's much like a Black Mirror episode in that you'll need to give it a little time to get going. I put it down twice because I could not figure out what it was getting at besides an- internet= lousy message.

The description for Followers promises a lot. I expected a thrilling sci-fi that would be similar to a Black Mirror episode, with an in depth look into Orla and Floss' relationship and an interesting event that would lead to Marlow's version of America. Unfortunately, this book fell really flat for me.

The story was very long and unnecessary. I kept thinking that it was being drawn out and nothing was really happening. The actual reveal for what happened to America (referred to as "The Spill") was so far near the end, that it wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped. There are also some twists, but they were very predictable.

The characters were also very weak. Every single character is unlikeable and not relatable. Orla, Floss, and Marlow are the main characters, but I didn't feel anything for them because they weren't written very well. They are very shallow and didn't have much personality beyond their motivations. I found it hard to sympathize with any of the characters because I didn't feel like any of them deserved it.

While the concept of the book was very intriguing, the actual content is what brought this down for me.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

Followers is a difficult book to review; it doesn’t easily fit into a nice, clear-cut niche for me. It combined elements of women’s fiction with science fiction while throwing in quite a bit of social commentary and just a touch of dystopia. As if that wasn’t enough, the author gave us main characters that, while well written, were just not nice people. Despite everything, I did want to know how it was all going to come together in the end.

I really wish the author would have picked one genre for the story. I enjoyed the science fiction aspects the most and would have liked them expanded; specifically, the Spill, the time surrounding it and more about how people dealt with it.

I think this book will hit home with a lot of readers and, maybe, even give them something to think about. It would be a great choice for any book club.

**Disclaimer: I recorded a free advanced reader's copy of Followers by Megan Angelo in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this opportunity.
Followers by Megan Angelo is a Sci-Fi/contemporary story about the downsides of fame and technology. It takes place in two different timelines, with two main points of view, but eventually those timelines collide. I gave it four stars on Goodreads.

Here's the summary from Goodreads:
An electrifying story of two dream-chasing friends, the dark choices they make, and the profound moment that changes the meaning of privacy forever.
Orla Cadden dreams of literary success, but she’s stuck writing about movie-star hookups and influencer yoga moves. Orla has no idea how to change her life until her new roommate, Floss—an ambitious, wannabe Kardashian—comes up with a plan for launching them both into the high-profile lives they so desperately crave. But it's only when Orla and Floss abandon all pretense of ethics that social media responds with the most terrifying feedback of all: overwhelming success.
Thirty-five years later, in a closed California village where government-appointed celebrities live every moment of the day on camera, a woman named Marlow discovers a shattering secret about her past. Despite her massive popularity—twelve million loyal followers—Marlow dreams of fleeing the corporate sponsors who would do anything, even horrible things, to keep her on-screen. When she learns that her whole family history is a lie, Marlow finally summons the courage to run in search of the truth, no matter the risks.
Followers traces the paths of Orla, Floss and Marlow as they wind through time toward each other, and toward a cataclysmic act of terrorism that sends America into lasting upheaval. At turns wry and tender, bleak and hopeful, this darkly funny story reminds us that even if we obsess over famous people we’ll never meet, what we really crave is genuine human connection.
As often happens with NetGalley, I think the cover for this one caught my eye and drew me in and the summary sold me on the story. It seemed like an interesting concept that I definitely might enjoy. However, I will admit that it took me a bit to get into it. The start is kind of slow, though not confusing. I didn't understand why these were the two characters that we were following and I was confused about Marlow's world could be so different from Orla's even though the time between them wasn't really that far apart.
However, as often happens when one is reading a book the answers did eventually come out. As the story unfolds, you learn what happened to change the world so drastically and how our two main characters are connected. The payoff is definitely worth it in the long run, and the story definitely kept me guessing. I had a lot of wonders as the story progressed.
I did really enjoy Angelo's writing style, and the way she interlocked the two timelines made me want to keep reading. Sections would end on a cliffhanger and I would need to continue on through the next section so I could find out what exactly was happening. However, there were times when I felt that Angelo skipped past what felt like key scenes and that was occasionally frustrating.
Overall, the story was creative and original, but I had a hard time buying into the premise. They always say that you need to have some willing suspension of disbelief and I tried, but it was hard. Then even after I found out what had happened to change the world so greatly, I wasn't really sure that I bought into it.
The real star of the show were the characters in this story. Marlow and Orla were both super interesting in their own way. Neither were particularly great people but this book was populated with characters who were awful, which I think was part of its point. It depicted the ugly side of people and that is something that it's important not to forget.
Followers comes out on January 14th, 2020.

Followers is a standout story with an unusual plot that stayed in my mind long after I read it. It has dual timelines, with Orla in 2016 and Floss in 2051 with Marlow. I love the futuristic vibe. At first it was challenging to keeping the storylines straight, but I quickly got over it as I got to know the characters. It started off a bit slow but the pace picks up as the storyline builds. I love the social media aspects that reflect the perspective of so many people today. This book is about secrets, scandals, technology, ethics, and made me think about how social media is shaping our future in ways that we can never imagine. I recommend this book!

This book was better than I thought it would be. The writing style of Megan Angelos kept me enthralled, while the unique dystopian take on social media and people's need for fame. The plot was nicely divided into two timelines and easy to follow. The dry humor was a slow burn and I found myself falling in love with the the usually unlikable characters.

This book was a trip, and I mean that in a good way. Taking place in two times 2015 and 2051 this book follows Orla (and her roomate Floss) and Marlow. Orla is living in the beginning world of influencers, when social media was really what drew everyone together, and what drew them apart. Things have changed a lot by 2051 in that Marlow is an influencer, but the cameras never stop rolling and she lives in a town of only influencers. There are hints to something bad that happened back in 2016, but things seem to be better now.

I wasn't sure where this book was going for the first little bit, but man did I enjoy the ride. This book brings up important questions about social media and internet use and where we may be going in the future. The "spill" as we learn that it was called in 2016 is a disaster of which I have never seen written about in a book before, and I loved seeing this world of 2051.

The characters were also interesting and complex in ways that I really enjoyed. This book was funny at times and heartbreaking at times and all in all this is a great commentary on the world through a fictional reality.

I am really on the fence on this book. This was my second attempt at reading Followers, and well I am glad that I did give it a second chance, I am not sure it deserves all the hype it is getting.

This story involves a multi-timeline narrative. We have Orla narrating the 2015 timeline, and you have Marlow who narrates the 2051 timeline. Orla meets Floss who is striving to be an influencer and she decides to do everything she can to help her. Floss quickly gains status with the help of Orla and she now becomes the star of her own reality show. Marlow is the center of a media empire. If this is the future of Reality TV, then I guess I will be getting rid of that device. It is 24/7 Marlow and her circle of friends.

Though these stories feel disparate, they will converge on each other. Getting to that point, felt like it took forever, but I have to admit once you got there, the story did improve.

This felt a lot like The Circle in a lot of way. I really loved that book so much, this one fell flat to me. If you love the world of reality TV and influencers, than I do think you will enjoy this one a lot. However, that is not my cup of tea so much.

Thank you NetGalley and Graydon Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I just couldn't get into this story. Some things were simply off and I couldn't pin down what time frame they were in as some things seem antiquated but then it was supposed to be the future. Just weird.

Incredibly poignant and deeply relevant, Followers tackles the boundless impact of social media, and the effect it has on our lives. Set in modern-day New York and futuristic California, it follows Orla, Floss, and Marlow. Orla is a struggling writer whose roommate Florence, “Floss”, is desperate to become famous. Together, the two hatch a plan to launch Floss to stardom, at all costs. Thirty-five years in the future, Marlow is an actress in the reality TV town Constellation, California, where stars are watched 24/7 and fans around the country can follow them online. As the two plots converge around a secret that impacts all three women, the dark truth of it all is slowly revealed.

Deeply imaginative and well thought out, Followers revolves around the influence of fame and the importance and fragility of privacy. It imagines a future that is equal parts terrifying and intriguing. After a catastrophic event known as “the Spill”, the government takes control of the internet. Smartphones are a thing of the past, replaced by “devices”, a chip implanted in the arm that connects directly to the brain. Privacy no longer truly exists, the government now has limitless access to your location and data.

At times funny, and others deeply dark and disturbing, Followers is a wild ride. It calls into question the influence of social media and the internet, the potential for problems, and the cost of fame.

This one didn't turn out like I thought. I so wanted to dive right into this, but I couldn't get into it at all. Once I was finally able to make a go of it, it just wouldn't hold my attention.

For me, it started off way too slow. Also where the story started, was a bit problematic for me as I honestly didn't have any idea what was going on. It took too long to explain things and tie in the opening scenes and characters to the overall plot.

This book was better than I ever could have imagined. I liked the summary but the way the story evolved and Megan Angelos writing style kept me enthralled. I would look forward to coming home to read more and a sci-fi style fiction novel like this one hasn’t kept me this engaged in a long time! I love the storytelling style mixed with the mystery of Marlow, Orla, and Floss’ history and ultimate fate that entwines all their lives in the most human yet surreal way. This story underneath the characters and plot is really about the world we live in now and the evolution of our connectedness and human connection. It made me reflect but also felt eerily possible... like a Black Mirror episode. Can’t wait for this to come out in 2020!

The story is told in two timelines, 2015 and 2051. We follow Orla and Floss from 2015 and also through 2051 (from their twenties to their sixties). I really liked that we followed them through the decades and saw them change (or not change) as life moved on Marlow has the POV for the 2051 thread.. Her crisis point arises as a married, thirty-five year old who is about to embark on motherhood and what she does in response to that is what turns out to be the beginning of a whole new life. Her life's been wrapped up in social media followers and influencers much like her mother before her with an additional feature of reality tv on overdrive with pharmaceutical tie-ins and all run by the government.

From the start, characters reference an event called The Spill, where everyone's online lives are basically used against them and social chaos ensues culminating in a government takeover of the internet, China style. And that made me want to know about what happened, who was responsible and why they did it. So of course, this information was teased out slowly but very well in the narrative and it didn't bother me a bit when the big day finally arrived somewhere around the 80-85% point. I'd usually be raging at taking so long but I was gripped. Deftly written by Megan Angelo.

To the characters, I found that Marlow and Orla were best drawn. There were plenty of contexts that went to make their points of view clear and their actions understandable. Floss is another story altogether. She was determinedly shallow but never had enough background given or perspective depth to make her anything more than that. I wanted to know why she made the decisions she made, if anything deeper than a need to be seen drove her and what she truly valued. By the book's end, she seemed the least changed and that was something of a disappointment. Aston, who was a tertiary character at best, had a deeper characterization and backstory which was very well done.

By the time I was 95% in, I still didn't know how this was going to end. A big takedown of Constellation? A family reunion and new life for Marlow? Honey's downfall (because she really needed one; wth was with her parties with only white and fair-skinned people allowed?)? All of the above? None? That was a wonderful feeling and I'm not telling you how it ended. I will say the ending felt a bit abrupt and a tad too tidy but I appreciated the ending the author wanted to tell.

There was plenty that was highlight-worthy and a couple of my favourite quotes follow:

"She was- though she couldn't admit it directly, not even to herself- in search of a shortcut. A way to be someone who had done something without having to actually do it."

"She knew how strangers saw her; as the cheapest sort of star, the tagalong friend of a TMI queen. But the point was: they saw her. She was visible. She was there."

"I was Twitterfamous," one of the old men croaked at her, glaring, Marlow just nodded and smiled, pretending to be impressed. She has never quite understood Twitter, though Floss still talked about it like a dead, beloved friend. Short messages, but to everyone, mostly pointless, with blatant lies allowed- Marlow could not imagine what had been the appeal."

As speculative fiction goes, this had it all. It was rooted and grounded enough in the current landscape but the steps forward felt quite plausible and made for an uncomfortable read. I'm not an over-sharer online but when banking, medical and other online information that people don't control came into play here, it made the hair on my arm stand on end. We already live waiting for the next corporate entity to do a tepid mea culpa when they've had a data breach with our information so that thread of the story felt all too possible. So, think before you share and post to mitigate the possible damage.

Lastly, extra points for the mention of CoreStates bank. It took me back to my childhood.

Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

Dystopian take on social media and our need to have our 15 minutes of fame. The plot was at times convoluted but the author seemed to hit her stride by the middle of the book.

I am a huge fan of dystopian/futuristic plots. I love the very extreme future this book created. As an active social media user, I can see the future in this book. I hope this book is around in 2055 so that we can look back and compare our reality.

This book was so dryly humorous. I loved every word! The characters were so likable, and I found myself loving how their individual stories were going to intertwine. When you see the cover, you might expect a shallow, basic story about social media. This is anything but. I read about social sciences. I had deep inner discussions on the future and where I would like to see it go. This is a definite must-read!

If you've been looking for a book to make you feel guilty every time you pick up your phone to scroll Instagram instead of reading, well, this is it. Followers is taking on influencer culture and the demons of screen devotion in an entirely new and terrifyingly compelling way. Told between the very recent past and the near future, Followers tells of a Truman Show type community in California that's entirely populated by influencers who are followed by the general public on their implanted "devices", which replaced the screens people were addicted to a generation earlier, before a massive scandal destroyed the internet as we know it now. Alternatingly, we're told the story of Orla, a blogger at a celebrity focused site who wants to write her own novel but can't quite get started, and her roommate Floss, who sees Orla and her work as a way to get a foothold as an influencer and celebrity. Soon, readers will realize how these stories connect, and as the secrets and scandals emerge, this story gets even more compelling. It's not just the guilt you'll feel if you set this down to pick up your phone- you truly won't want to as it's entirely engrossing.

The writing is good, the story is well put together but this just wasn't my thing. I think plenty of other people are going to love it though. I wish I could have gotten in to it more and may try re-reading at a later date.

3 stars⭐⭐⭐

"𝓞𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝓸𝓯 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓵𝓸𝔀'𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰"

⏳𝐓𝐋;𝐃𝐑:⏳
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬: Told in alternating timelines, Followers centers on two women: Orla Cadden, who decides to concoct a plan to make her friend and roommate Floss famous, and Marlow, who lives in a Truman Show-esque community called Constellation where twelve million people follow her every move.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭: Some really fascinating concepts: The Spill, the Constellation community, Atlantis, etc. However, I didn't like the focus on Orla and Marlow as a vehicle to communicate the story through
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: A little slow at times with certain subplots, but generally fast-moving and complex
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: Almost none are likable, which isn't a major issues but it was hard to feel emotionally connected

I was a little frustrated with this novel simply because I loved some of the concepts and the premises, but was frustrating by the choice of how to tell the story. I did like connecting the current obsession with phones and social media to the future almost post-apocalyptic world.

👍𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬:👍
-Fascinating concept and premise
-Mostly enjoyable writing style- moved fairly quickly despite its length

👎𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬:👍
-Unlikable main characters
-Confused about the central message
-Some wordy/slow passages

𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

I really loved the premise of this book, and thought it was super intriguing and relevant in today's society that's obsessed with social media and followers! I got the sense that there would be some satire involved, which made me excited.

However, I found the writing a bit messy, and I really struggled to connect with the characters. I understand the satire behind it, and even found myself chuckling a few times at the ridiculousness of their behaviour, but it was also difficult to see them as anything other than vapid and--well, ridiculous. I totally know I'll be in the minority here (based on the already raving reviews that love exactly what I'm struggling with), so maybe I'll give this another chance in the future.

A startling journey into what our society has become. Angelo holds a mirror up to the faces of social media worshipers and it is not pretty. Highly recommend!