Welcome to a summer of outrageous reality television hi-jinx and influencers galore!

Life hasn’t been the same in Byron Bay since Chris Hemsworth moved to town. Now there’s annoying tourists during the summer, keep cups galore, influencers flooding the streets, and journalists flocking to get a scoop on Australia’s hottest destination for the stars. It’s far from the Byron Bay that Aimee Maguire grew up in, although Byron has always had a bit of an alternative vibe. Now it’s just on steroids. But making this summer worse is the fact that the building housing Aimee’s bookstore is up for sale, her fiancé has called for a summer time-out, and prices have absolutely skyrocketed so she can’t find a new place in town. The only positive is the arrival of her niece Freya, who’s decided her first summer since graduation in Byron. But with Freya’s arrival, Aimee is soon roped into the new reality television series being filmed in town, following a bunch of influencers. And Freya’s one of them. It’s the last thing she wants to do, but with zero savings to her name, the paycheck from being involved will be enough to keep her going for a few months. It’s a world she’s never understood and always been pessimistic about, but if she wants to finally face her fear of change and finally take some risks, she’s going to have to embrace everything this outrageous adventure throws at her.

I’ll admit, this took me a little to get into as I wasn’t quiet sure of the vibes James was going for with this story at the beginning. But once we got into the reality TV stuff, I couldn’t get enough of this ridiculous cast of characters! James has such a fabulous writing style that brings all these wonderfully weird and different personalities to life and really pulls you into the lives of these characters. While Aimee is the focus of the story, there are so many interesting characters that get a chance to shine, and SO many laugh-out-loud moments. The Brats Of Byron Bay really needs to be a real television series because I need to watch this drama unfold onscreen!

You don’t have to have been to Byron to know the stereotype that has been generated about the town, and I think James perfectly encapsulated the Byron Bay vibes, along with the outrageousness of influencer culture and reality television. At the same time, there’s underlying life struggles and realness - it’s not just all sunshine, beaches and hooking up. Between all the laughs, there’s the fear of taking risks, accepting change, finding the strength to move on, and reaching a crossroad in your life.

For a good chunk of the book, I was ready to shit on the whole ‘Aimee & Time are on a no-contact, no-rules break’ thing because it was so weird to me - it was clear from the get-go that Tim was using it as a chance to go out and hook up with people over the summer with no repercussions. None of the Aimee’s friends seemed to question this arrangement, and the fact that it was a suggestion by Tim’s mum (who really grinds my gears) was a major red flag. But obviously, as we progress through the book, we see Aimee realise that her relationship was not the same as it was twenty years earlier when the pair first got together, and that both she and Tim were completely different people all these years later. Questionable method as it was, it provided some interesting and intense moments throughout the book.

What I wasn’t expecting with this book was the final like 20% where things started going off the rails but in the best way possible. This was an absolute riot from start to finish, and James brought it all to close with one last dose of outrageousness. The only thing I wanted to see was a little more resolution with one of Aimee’s summer flings - the book’s focus isn’t romance, but I really wanted to see something a little more endgame for Aimee and the guy I was hoping she’d end up with. But Aimee’s ending was perfect for her after everything that she’d learned about herself throughout this story, so I can’t complain too much. I just bloody love romance books!

This was such a fun summer read with plenty of laughs, sweet moments, and crazy reality television hi-jinx. So book your ticket to Byron to get in on the action and #DontForgetYourKeepCup!

The Hemsworth Effect is an entertaining and enjoyable look at the changes in the stunning beach side paradise of Byron Bay over the past few decades as seen through the eyes of born and bred local, Aimee. James Weir uses his wicked sense of humour to take us into the world of Influencers, reality television, and the cashed-up newer inhabitants of Byron to examine how change affects people, and what can happen if you're just too resistant to it.

If you can't manage to make it to beautiful, bohemian Byron Bay to spy yourself a Hemsworth, this humorous and hilarious book is the next best thing!!

Late review been busy with classes and working but I absolutely loved and adored this book and the characters and everyone’s storyline’s

The Hemsworth Effect had some interesting elements and story. First time read from this author.
Review copy received from the Publisher via Netgalley

The book's concept, which is that wealthy out-of-towners are taking over Byron and pushing the locals out to their reasonable chagrin, appealed to me. I could perfectly comprehend the premise, the producers' shenanigans on "influencer reality TV," and the locals' reactions, but I just didn't get the connection between the main character Aimee and her "fiance." The man I had been living with for 18 years would be out on his arse so quickly that his head would spin if he said he wanted a break before we got married and then quickly hooked up with a 20-something girl.

An enjoyable beach read. It had some slow moments though but I enjoyed hearing about different generations of women. Four out of five stars.

The Hemsworth Effect is a very fun novel from everyone's favourite MAFS reviewer, James Weir.

Aimee Maguire is a long-time Byron local who is struggling with the effect of her home becoming the must-visit destination of influencers and celebrities. She is being priced out of her home and shop rental and obnoxious botoxed and tanned influencers are everywhere. However, when her niece unexpectedly arrives in town, Aimee finds herself agreeing to take part in a reality TV show, where, to her horror, she is forced to interact with not only the worst of Byron's newcomers but her ex and his new much younger girlfriend. With her love-life, her work and her home all in various states of chaos, what will Aimee do?

This book is a lot of fun. It includes lots of Easter Eggs for MAFS fans and fans of reality TV in general. I did find the storyline with the ex-boyfriend a little bit of a drag (the relationship was so clearly over) but otherwise, a weekend of reading well spent.

The Hemsworth Effect was a delightful read. I spent most of the book laughing out loud at the situation the main character was getting themselves into. Also, it raises some fascinating commentary at the impacts of celebrity culture on a region and how it affects everyday people—looking forward to more work from James Weir.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

Being an Queenslander, living not far from Byron Bay, I am really familiar with its charm and vibrancy, as well as its strange evolution over the years from a coastal town to a 'big deal' with celebrities and the rich. This is what drew me to this book - I was hoping to identify with the protagonist and find some similarities between my thinking and those of the characters.

I think I am just too old. People who really understand influencers and their emergence might understand some of Aimee's choices, but I certainly didn't. I was baffled actually, and then started thinking like her mother, which is NOT the feeling I usually get when reading a contemporary romance.

An interesting perspective on reality tv and how there are some truly cr@ppy people in that industry - which I think I can relate to.

Overall, I book that was light, entertaining and satirical at times, but may be more suitable for a younger audience. I just didn't really get it.

Despite this book feeling like the longest book I have read in ages, I really did thoroughly enjoy it. James Weir has a gift and I already look forward to reading more of his work. This story is truly very funny, with twists and turns you don’t see coming. The premise of the book being a satirical dig at cashed up out of towners taking over OG Byron is the perfect summer beach read. Initially I find Aimee the main character particularly frustrating, but it is all of her quirks that make her rather likeable. For someone who is portrayed as boring and uptight, the situations she ends up in are hilarious. James Weir perfectly captures all the Byron cliches and whilst this makes me realise I am staring down the door of the big 5 Ohhhhh, the way he brings in popular culture of the younger generation is like eaves dropping on my L plater influencer daughters. Without giving anything away, this is a good easy read, ideal for holidays. An unbelievable plot with an annoying main character that you can’t help but grow to like. More drama than you can even begin to imagine. Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC. The title couldn’t have been better! I’m sure this will be a popular Aussie summer read and deservingly so.

A timely and fun read for anyone who has ever visited the Byron area. Weir captures the contemporary issues facing this beautiful part of the world in a lighthearted story about reality TV and finding your path.

Rating: 3.5

I'm very conflicted about this book,. On one hand I found some parts of it very funny and it made me laugh out loud however, on the other hand where the story goes around the middle of the book I found it very unbelievable and that hinder my ability to really enjoy the overall story.

This book has a little bit of everything: love triangles, reality tv, drugs, scandals, bookstores, difficult family relationships, self worth etc...

Thank you to the publisher for providing me an e-arc of the book.

I was running hot and cold with this story.
I was initially intrigued by the reality TV plot. I do love a good reality TV show!
Aimee, in her late 30's, has lived her whole life in Byron Bay and is annoyed by the gentrification of the area, which she blames on the Hemsworths. When Aimee gets on her soap-box to air her complaints she gets labeled as 'Byron Karen'. Her rant goes viral and catches the eye of the Bratz of Byron Bay reality show producers and, enticed by the money she badly needs, Aimee finds herself part of the show.
This is about where the story fell apart for me. I enjoyed the humour but besides that every single character annoyed me. The concept of the story was intriguing but the execution fell flat.
I will leave this for the young ones. I'm sure they will enjoy it. May even relate!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.

I struggled to read this and found myself neither liking nor disliking this, just in the middle.

Aimee Maguire, a Byron Bay local who owns a local bookstore is about to lose everything, as her landlord has passed away, and the landlord's daughter has decided to sell the property. She is soon approached by a reality TV show called The Brats of Byron Bay that are filming in the area and wants her to appear on the show with her niece.

We follow Aimee's life and the drama that follows on the show, as she grows as a person. While Aimee was not my favourite character, it was nice to see her grow.

This was the perfect summer read. I really enjoyed the premise and thought it was written so cleverly. Very enjoyable.

A fun, lighthearted novel about stepping outside your comfort zone and not taking things at face value.

It wasn't laugh-out-loud hilarious, but there were some comical moments that made me smile. It's well-written and rather than being a bit of fluff poking fun at influencers, the novel delves a bit deeper into the people behind the public face.

The one aspect of this novel that really annoyed me was how it has obviously been written for an American audience, with American words used instead of the local Australian ones. This annoys me because it sends the message that Australia's culture and language is inferior, and it also denies American readers the opportunity to fully experience Australian culture. If they don't know what the bonnet of a car is, they can Google it, like the rest of us do when we don't know what a word means.

And this idea that one of the characters always carries a Starbucks coffee as a sign of elitism - well, any Australian coffee-lover knows your local coffee shop provides coffee that's far superior to anything Starbucks has to offer (but maybe that's the point...).

This is a better-than-average light holiday read that's a nice escape from the mundane.

As a reader of James Weir’s recaps and media columns as soon as I saw he had written a book I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.

The story centres around Aimee Maguire a Byron Bay local who owns a local bookstore who is about to lose everything as her landlord has passed away and due to prices increasing in the area due to as Aimee refers to it ‘The Hemsworth Effect’ his daughter decides to sell and when Aimee approaches the bank for a loan is told she is unable to afford anything locally.

Aimee ends up getting dubbed the Byron Bay Karen and is approached by a reality tv show called The Brats of Byron Bay which was filming in the area to appear on the show with her niece. The story centres around the drama that unfolds on the show and also in Aimee’s personal life.

I particularly liked the descriptive nature and name dropping areas like the lighthouse and Wategoes which transported me to the beauty of the beaches on the East Coast.

Overall I found it to be a lighthearted, easy summer read however I did find it to be quite long.

I want to thank Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for generously providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m sorry I was unable to finish this book. I got to over 1/3 of the way through and it wasn’t for me. The setting and precis drew me in, but it was a hard slog to get to where I did.

The main character, Aimee was immature and frustrating, I found her best friend, Jane, even more annoying.

I didn’t find it funny. There didn’t seem to be much of a story line and reading it made me feel I was in the middle of one of those dreadful, fake reality TV shows.

Maybe it would appeal to younger readers or those who enjoy chicklit.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary honest review.

My rating 1*

A fun and hilarious read about Aimee (AKA Byron Karen) who is fed up with cashed up celebrities forcing up house prices. But this book is not really about gentrification, it's really about Aimee's stale 18 year relationship with her fiance Tim. When he asks for a 'timeout' to see other people, then her niece rocks up in town with a reality show in tow, Aimee's life snowballs into one crazy scenario after another.

It's a rollercoaster of emotions, trending topics, hashtags, laughs, nude pics, Brazilian butt lifts, drugs, music festivals and taco vans. Aimee's self discovery (and often poor choices) is a hell ride made funnier by her best friend Rob, a cast of self absorbed, B-grade reality celebrity wannabees and some strange/heartwarming locals. Does she even still want to be in a relationship with Tim? (Seriously, if my finance asked for a relationship time-out it would be a Bye Felicia moment. Permanently.)

A very apt book for the times with house prices soaring from cashed up out-of-towners pushing long-time locals out of areas that suddenly become popular and everyone trying to make it big through reality tv. Plenty of pop culture references but a bit too long. Perhaps 50 pages shorter would have been better.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Australia for the ARC.

Missed the mark for me.
Somewhere between chick-lit and romance but not quite either.
I liked the premise but the execution was long and a bit all over the place, felt like a slog to finish.