If Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars was thrown in a blender together with IG and the year 2019, this cute little book would emerge. It was an easy, fast read that took my mind off being stuck inside my house, and I enjoyed the look inside the glitzy, sometimes suffocating world of influencers. I did think the mystery was a little unnecessary in terms of what it added to the story being told (influencers have it harder than it appears) and either I totally missed the clues or the culprit came literally out of nowhere...but overall it was a fun read, and I could see it popping up on The CW in a few years.

Influence is a page turner full of scheming and secrets. Delilah is new to LA and intends on moving up in the world of influencers. She quickly befriends Fiona and Jasmine, two popular social media stars that are hiding big parts of themselves. It doesn't take long before Delilah has her own secrets to hide.

I'm a fan of Pretty Little Liars and was interested in checking out Sara Shepard's upcoming release. I went into Influencer knowing that I'm not in the targeted age range. That being said, it was difficult to put this book down! There are a lot of fun subplots to follow and unpredictable twists. It's fun getting a peek into both the perks and drawbacks of being an influencer.

All of the characters could use more personality and development. I found myself picturing them as blank faces and would have to go back to previous chapters because I kept mixing up which details applied to each character. There were a few parts that were so far fetched that it was hard to stay engaged - particularly scenes with Delilah's mom.

I would recommend this book to any YA fans looking for a dramatic, suspenseful, and fun read.

This isn't my normal genre but I picked it up because I loved Pretty Little Liars and it did not disappoint! It centers in a group of LA based social influencers, with chapters alternating between the 4 girls and in some cases, their vlog entries. I read the book in one sitting because it was really interesting and fast paced- I felt like I got a glimpse into a lifestyle that I know very little about, but was able to fully immerse myself for a few hours. I loved that it was co-written by someone who really understands that lifestyle- it added a air of authenticity.

I have very few complaints about the story- I didn't fully understand why Delilah was accepted into this new world so quickly upon moving to LA, and worried about the intentions of all of those around her. This added a tension throughout the story, even when seemly innocuous things were happening.

There were a few twists and turns before finding out what really happened , and each of them surprised me, but were believable. I rarely read a book where I don't figure out who the villain is, and this one got me more than once!

Overall, this was a super fun read and I'd recommend it even to those who normally don't pick up young adult books, or books about the growing genre of social influencers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pretty Little Liars for the Millennial generation? Just what this social media, vlogging obsessed society ordered!

As soon as I saw that Sara Shepard had a new book up on Netgalley, I hit the request button in the blink of an eye. I have been a fan of Sara’s since the first book in her PLL series hit shelves, and have been religiously reading her books throughout the years since. I was further intrigued by this latest book when I glimpsed the synopsis and read that it centered around the glitzy world of social media stars and influencers and the like. Especially when I saw that an actual influencer, Lilia Buckingham, co-authored it and added some of her own influence to the pages of this novel (haha see what I did there? no pun intended. Okay, maybe just a little.)

Influencers and vloggers have gained in such vast popularity over the past few years, and while I must admit I don’t know much about many of them and don’t really watch many of them, I have watched a few videos here and there on youtube, if only out of curiosity (here’s to looking at you Teala and Sierra!) and must admit there is something alluring and fascinating about the lives they lead. It all looks so glamorous and carefree and easy.

‘Influence’ while fictional, shows us both the glamorous and ugly sides of the competitively glittery, glitzy world of internet stars and influencers.

In typical Sara Shepard fashion, this book is a juicy, scandalous tale filled with dark secrets, drama, jealousy, betrayal, shocking revelations, and even murder. Each of the characters that this book centers around is a famous influencer with something to hide, and as you continue to read, you are left to wonder who has the most to hide and what lengths they are willing to go to in order to keep their secrets from coming out on social media and thus be revealed to their fans and the world.

While this book was enjoyable and fun to read, I have to admit that it wasn’t quite my favorite Sara Shepard book out of them all so far. Even with that being said, I feel that this is the perfect read for the upcoming younger generation of Sara Shepard fans, as it is both a fun, but also cautionary tale of the darkly glamorous world of social media and what dangers may just lurk behind the scenes. More and more of the younger generation are putting themselves and their lives out there on their social media pages for anyone and everyone to see, throwing caution to the wind in the name of fame, and not paying attention to the dark underbelly of this glamorous world, not paying attention to the dangers that may come with sharing their lives on the internet and all of the strangers (and even people they may know, because hey, on the internet you just never know) who may be viewing their content.

All in all, danger and seriousness aside, this was a fun, addicting PLL type of read and despite a bit of a lackluster ending, I could see it having a follow up book, and if Sara Shepard does so decide to write one at some point, I will definitely be picking up a copy!

Not my favorite, but still a fun, quick, alluring read. Definitely recommend!

I was hooked instantly once I started reading Influencer. It follows the lives of 4 young influencers and soon we find out nothing is as it seems behind the lens. Delilah the newest influencer gets thrown into a world of parties, photographers, boys, and backstabbing once her family moves to LA. I was desperate to find out the end of this book and all my guesses proved wrong. I loved all the glam and behind the scenes look we got. At times it seemed far fetched but then again in LA I think is probably pretty normal. I was a little disappointed when we discovered who was responsible I felt there were characters that would have been a better choice. The ending left me wanting more in a good way and kept me thinking. I wouldn’t be surprised to see another book following up this one.

I really enjoyed this book! It had a rapid start and kept up a great pace throughout the book. In our modern world of social media obsession, a new book like this is just what the doctor ordered! It was a great read and I devoured it in a few different reading sessions. The characters felt really real and were struggling with some big issues. Overall, again, a fabulous book that I thoroughly enjoyed!!!

This book is similar in many ways to Pretty Little Liars - dark secrets that could be revealed, rich girls, and a mystery. I found this book okay, but it did not engage with it as much, but I think if people are very interested by influencer culture, they will likely found this an interesting read.

Thank you to Random House Children's, Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this book!

If you enjoyed Pretty Little Liars (books or show) you will likely enjoy Sara Shepard's newest book, Influence. The story follows four popular influencers who all have some dark secrets. But there is someone out there who knows all their secrets and is threatening to spill them all. Sound familiar? The entire book had major similarities to Pretty Little Liars, including a “faking her own death” plot line. I really didn’t find the book original given Sara Shepard’s other books are exactly the same. Influence comes out June 30, 2020. I received this book from Netgalley to read and review.

- C

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Great read. I could not put it down. It was a great mix of Pretty Little Liars and modern influencer culture. Perfect for fans of Sara Shepard and readers looking for something new!

This book was not what I thought it was going to be! To be fair I did see a lot of Sara Shepherds normal storylines but that is part of why I wanted to read it! The first 25/35% of the book dragged out a bit but once it was time for the gratitude prom everything shifted and I really couldn’t put the book down. There were a lot of unexpected twists. It was also a really interesting perspective, a social media Influencer. I did not know who Lilia buckingham wasn’t before I picked up the book but her intro gave all the information I needed for the story.

The authors write very compelling characters. The murder was very unexpected. It was a good book. I thought the characters in the book were like able and I found the story interesting. It’s not a book I thought I would like.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Very quick read. An undercover look at the world of social influence, as told from the POV of Delilah, Jasmine and Fiona. Things aren't as easy as they seem in the spotlight. Fiona struggles with something that happened in her past, and is being blackmailed. Jasmine is chafing at the constraints of her juvenile image, and Delilah is a newcomer, who inadvertently falls for Jack, the boyfriend of one of the most notorious influencers, Scarlett Leigh.

I like that the book is well balanced, quick to read, and the characters are decent. There's a good bit of whodunnit to the story as well, and that keeps it moving quickly. The resolution makes sense, and isn't forced. All in all, a good read!

I love Sara Shepard and I was so excited to see a book about influencers co-authored by @lilia who has 1.7 MILLION followers. Featuring a cast of fictional influencers, we get a glimpse into the world of mom-agers, frenemies, and curated relationships.

The Insta-famous teenagers in this book each have a secret... but we all know that secrets don't stay that way for long! Some of the storylines seem a bit far-fetched, but if you want to get lost in the BTS of Instagram fame, you'll love this book.

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

The cover is perffffffff.

I feel this book would be perfect for someone of the ages of 13-17ish, written in a juvenile manner. There is talk of suicide & pregnancy which some parents may find unsuitable.

The start was very strong, I enjoyed the introduction of the characters and how detailed they were. As the story develops you really see how you can’t judge a book by its cover. It shows a bit of ugly truth of what young social media influencers may go through today.

This is an easy read & exactly what I’d expect from Sara Shepard.

2.5 rounded up. This book was trying to do a lot. I suppose the murder made sense given that Sara Shepard was involved, but it just wasn't all that believable to me. I enjoyed the three main characters and found them well developed, but would have appreciated something other than a murder to bring them to a conclusion. By the end, and the unsuccessful exposure of several red herrings, I found myself getting bored. Perhaps I just don't understand the teen influencer lifestyle enough to resonate with this.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this Ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am not really into influencers and don’t really understand the interest in it. For that reason, this book was a slower read for me in the beginning. Once I got halfway through the book, it picked up and became really interesting to me. Not my favorite Sara Shepard novel, but definitely worth the read.

A glamorous new and addicting read from Sara Shepard and Lilia Buckingham

This co-authored book encompasses several common themes of Sara Shepard’s other novels. Everyone has a secret and there is an omniscient being lurking around every corner waiting to expose them. The first quarter of this novel is very angst and dramatic which I happen to enjoy. Normally, I find excessive hinting towards some big secret to be annoying but this was done just right. I was so invested and dying to know what the heck happened at the gratitude prom! Each of the characters behaves the way they do to showcase a certain aspect of the Influencer culture. My one complaint is that during some scenes it was very repetitive before the plot finally moved forward. The story also doesn’t pick up speed until it’s almost over and then the true mystery wrapped up very quickly. But I could not predict the ending like I normally do which is always a nice treat for me.

Wow. What a twisted ending. Sara Shepard did it again!! I loved every second of reading this book, honestly couldn't put it down. This was just the kind of entertaining read I needed.

Oh, how I love Sara Shepard.

Diving into an old favorite is like slipping into your favorite cozy sweatshirt. I read my first PLL book over ten years ago when I first started teaching and wanted to dive into the titles that were popular with my students. Oddly enough, I loved the PLL universe. I watched every season through to the end--yes, in spite of plot holes, wild, unrealistic plot points, and a cast of characters that acted more like early 20s than high school bebes.

I was totally a Spencer with Hannah's fashion sense.

For all these reasons, I was THRILLED to receive an eARC of Influence. Shepard has proven she's got a deliciously evil handle on upper-class girl world, but I was curious to see how a co-written work would go, especially when the co-author is an Insta-famous "influencer," for lack of a better word.

Delilah is a junior influencer, famous for saving a dog from a fire. Fiona is popular, on the cusp of having her first ABC pilot. Jasmine is the trademarked Disney star, with a cult following, tight regiments, and no freedom, who desperately wants to branch out and grow up. Above them all is Scarlet, one of the most popular Insta stars, with millions of followers, a YouTube ship, and a chance to take her fame to the next level. What none of them know is a murder is about to shake their worlds, and one of them won't make it out alive.

This book has everything attention-grabbing: fame, money, television, beautiful girls famous for being...well, beautiful. Most importantly, drama. ALL THE DRAMA. These girls have secrets, hold grudges, and play amateur detective when things go south. It has all the makings of a Freeform hit, and with good reason. Shepard and Buckingham create a world of jealousy and beauty that is both realistic and, at times, gross. And when I say gross, I mean how did we get to this point? Where Influencers have as much if not more clout than established Hollywood celebrities. The transition of reality TV from a guilty pleasure to a domestic mainstay is fascinating, and this book would not be possible if it weren't based in truth. How many Buzzfeed articles are devoted to Insta-worthy places? Or people? Or covering the drama between your favorite makeup YouTuber? Rarely do we get a peak behind the curtain, but Influence gives us just that.

One point I want to make if you're on the fence, sometimes this genre can be daunting to read. The slang, the conversational tone--I understand that it's not everyone's cup of tea. However, I did not find this annoying or exaggerated. I quite enjoyed the banter between the characters, and the use of slang wasn't overkill, a solid narrative with excellent pacing.

I can see this being the new PLL, but I'm hesitant to throw that phrase around because these girls are playing in a different league. Influence is fun, flirty, and scandalous. If you're looking for a lighthearted read, especially in a time when it pays to take your mind off the constant Corona coverage, this is the book for you.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review consideration.

4.75/5 Stars

as of 79% into the book:
THIS BOOK OMGGGG!! I picked this book up as an ARC at Y’allFest and had low expectations for this book. It just didn’t seem like my cup of tea and I thought I’d get nothing out of it. So far I’ve had a terrifying look into the twisted worlds of social media influencers and a great mystery. The characters all have such a realness to them and are written so well! The twists have left me shook and I’ve never been left satisfied after reading a chapter! I always just want to keep devouring this book and all its awesomeness!! I have never read/ watched Sara Shepherd’s Pretty Little Liars but now I have such an interest in these co-author’s style that I think I’d enjoy her individual writings and hope that Lilia writes her own book eventually or that they co-write again because :chefs kiss:. I right now at the moment would have to give it a 4.5/5 stars because of how well I’m enjoying it. There are some small things I think they could add like a few more descriptions on the characters themselves (appearance wise mainly) but yet again this is still an ARC and they might change things (??) but either way it won’t make me mad in the slightest. I’ll write more later after I progress more and finish and final thoughts :).

finished:
yES. tHIS BOOK WAS INCREDIBLE!! I am so glad I enjoyed it because I wouldn’t have finished it otherwise and what a shame that would’ve been!! The twists and turns kept me constantly guessing and never trusting anyone! Also to anyone who is thinking about reading this book but the synopsis doesn’t interest them PLEASE JUST GO FOR IT!! If you are interested in murder mysteries and thrilling page turners and an intense story that grabs you from the start and never lets you go, this book completely wowed me.

Characters: 3-4/5 - There was some things about certain characters that you usually don’t see in books! Of our main characters alone we have a diabetic, a character with OCD, and 2 lgbtqia+ character leads and a few side characters that had a few moments! The only reason I gave a 3-4/5 is because I feel like they were a bit forgettable to me personally.

Plot: 5/5 - Always kept me entertained and I never wanted to put it down! It was truly a page turner and unexpected from the start.

World building: 4/5 - The world was so like ours in how a normal person would see it but through the eyes of social media influencers was eye opening for many different reasons. Yes, I am aware that some of the eye opening crazy moments were because this was a book and fiction, but still it could happen and that makes it even scarier. Some times I wish they would just describe some things a bit more in depth so I could imagine things better but overall very well done.

Writing style: 4/5 - This isn’t the over-the-top fantasy terminology and stuff I usually read so this was nice to just have easy names and simple words to read. Sometimes I get to focused on the words themselves and not the meaning so it was just nice to flow through it so easily and not have to think to much except for guessing the mystery.

OVERALL ONE OF MY FAV MYSTERIES EVER (idc that i’ve only read two and no i don’t take constructive criticism😤) AND IM SO GLAD I GOT TO READ IT AS AN ARC AND SHARE MY LOVE FOR THIS BOOK!!

Thank you to the publishers at Y’allFest 2019 who had arcs for this and those at Netgalley!!