So while I don’t normally like books with a lot of characters, I seem to find that in YA this is a trend. If you like me have a hard time of keeping track of who’s who… with this book definitely make yourself a cheat sheet. With that aside, once I got a firm grasp on the characters, one was already dead! This book is fast paced and packed with drama and backstabbing. While I admit to not technically knowing all the hip new lingo it still was a fast and exciting book.

When I read the synopsis for this book I was super excited to read it. 10 influencers sent to a remote island to film a reality show sounded super fun.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t do it for me. It had so many characters and multiple points of view. I was often confused and had to look back on who was talking. I didn’t find the characters reactions when people died to be very believable and some of the characters were just too hard for me to relate to (babe).

This might be a fun book for some but not for me.

** thank you NetGalley for sending me this ARC. This is a honest review.

The premise is very much the locked-room mystery: a group of teen/young adult influencers have been gathered on a remote island for a reality show called, ironically, IRL. They’ve had their devices taken away, and they’re left alone overnight, with the promise that the crew will be there for filming the next day. However, not only do they not show the next day, but they all awake to one of their own dead. From there, things get much, much worse.

I really liked this book- the characters all are hiding something, which is revealed one by one, and the ending surprised me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I’ll definitely look for future books from this author.

People to Follow brings ten teen influencers to an island to compete on a reality tv show. Once there, someone turns up dead and the race to get off the island ensues. This was fun but I also felt like this story has been told before and is lacking completely originality. Overall it was a decent read. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Kira.
Max.
Logan.
Corinne.
Aaron.
McKayleigh.
Elody.
Zane.
Graham.
Cole.

One of these 10 is the mastermind behind a plan to expose influencers who aren’t really the greatest honestly. But when their plan gets away from them, do they go with it or pivot?

This one is such a guilty pleasure read for me. It kept me entertained and I kept turning the page waiting to see what made these people end up on this experiment.

I didn’t like a single person in this one, they all felt gross to me. And that usually turns me off but it didn’t with this one. The story alone kept me going because it was just crazy. And I loved the epilogue at the end where everything wraps up.

Perfect for a quick weekend read. Definitely recommend this one! Make sure to snag your copies, this one is out October 31, 2023!

Thank you @wednesdaybooks for my advanced copy!

This book was a direct copy of the book Never Coming Home by Kate Williams. I kept reading to see if anything would be different, but it wasn't. While parts of the book were entertaining, I couldn't get over the idea that this might be copied.

People to Follow is a YA book about a group of influencers who go to a remote island for a reality TV show. It is written with alternating chapters among the ten characters which keeps it fresh but can be confusing because the voices of the characters are very similar. They are all greedy, self-obsessed, clout chasers. Personally, I could not stand any of them. The plot was alright, a basic whodunit with lots of cliffhangers. All in all, this was not bad, and while it was not really my cup of tea, I am sure there will be plenty of reality TV fans that will love it.

This was a great psychological thriller. I really loved this. It kept me on my toes. I was hooked til the very last page.
I just reviewed People to Follow by Olivia Worley. #NetGalley
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A group of influencers sign up to go to a remote island for a reality TV show. What could possibly go wrong? EVERYTHING!

I absolutely loved this book. I was a huge fan of Gossip Girl and this book reminded me so much of that show, with a hint of Scream Queens. It’s that dark comedy with suspense that hooks you in. The ending was a tad bit messy for my liking, a few too many connections to keep straight. The alternating POV’s could be a lot to keep up with. I had to go back a few times and check the name. The characters
are likeable and there was a character for everyone! I think it’s a wicked, fun read that will be perfect for Halloween!

A group of young influencers are invited to go to a remote island with no cellphones for three weeks to be on a reality show. Should be a nice, relaxing time to unwind, right? It is, until one of them turns up dead. One by one, they start dropping like flies. The remaining try to find out who, or what, is doing this to them all, before they lose their chance - and their life.

This was an interesting read, and a fun take on a whodunit. The chapters left off on cliffhangers a lot of the times which kept me drawn in, although I found myself skipping through some of the content in the chapters because I got a bit bored.

I think some of the writing was pretty cringy and felt like someone older trying to relate to the young-ins, but the book was also probably meant for a younger audience than me. Some of the characters were insufferable, but that’s how it goes. The narrator changes every chapter and sometimes it left me confused on who it was, which I didn’t love.

This was a decent debut novel for the author, Olivia Worley, and I liked it overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

A refreshing take on “And Then There Were None.” A group of influencers on a remote island, all with something to hide. When their mysterious sponsor begins sending them messages and puts their deepest, darkest secrets they think that’s as bad as it will get. And then they find the first dead body.

Cut off from the mainland & without phones, the group must play the sponsors game or suffer the consequences.

This book had a lot to say about influencer culture and the damaging effect it has, not only on the impressionable people watching, but on the influencers themselves. Lots of twists and turns which were well executed.

Set on a remote private island, “People to Follow” stars ten teen influencer on a new concept reality show, In Real Life (IRL). IRL ask all contestants to fully unplug for three weeks during their time on the show with no contact to the outside world. What starts out as an idyllic island getaway and an opportunity to make a new name for themselves, quickly turns into a nightmare as a dead body appears and a mysterious sponsor threatens to expose dark secrets.

Worley’s mystery follows five of the ten contestants on the IRL game show in a rotating 1st person format. The novel picks up quickly and never stops. Each chapter from a new character’s perspective allows the reader to dive into the minds of the teen influencers and they seek to figure out what exactly is going on on this island before it’s too late and they themselves are canceled. 4/5 stars for a fun read, an interesting concept, and a great setting.

When a group of influencers arrive on a secluded island to film a reality tv show they're cut-off from society and forced to unplug, the premise being play the game or risk be cancelled for good. They must work together to figure out who's pulling the strings but that's easier said than done when everyone is harboring secrets, who can you really trust?

From page one the author drops you into a very modern take on a classic locked room mystery storyline. There were multiple narrators but I found it fairly easy to differentiate each influencer by niche and individual voice. The characters were flawed and overall semi unlikeable at times but it worked really well with the storyline.

I think that this book will resonate very well with its intended audience, I would absolutely recommend this to someone who enjoys a twisty suspense filled YA Mystery Thriller.

Thank you Olivia Worley, Net Galley and St. Martin's Press - Wednesday Books for providing me with and ARC of this book.

It’s a modern day Agatha Christie tale. Ten guilty souls brought to an island to reckon with their misdeeds. Picked of one by one until there were none. Except not exactly. This novel was fast paced, I thought the characters were distinct and well enough developed. I may be slightly outside the target demographic For this story but I would recommend it to any teen or new adult reader who loves a good page turning “whodunit.”

I didnt know how I was going to feel about this book when i started reading it but I kept coming back to it , it just had me hooked! it had Drama, and Murder !

In Olivia Worley's debut novel, "People to Follow," she skillfully combines the allure of reality TV with a suspenseful murder mystery, creating a gripping and addictive story that explores the dark side of social media's influence.

The premise of the book takes us to a remote Caribbean island where ten influential teenagers come together to star in the hottest new reality show, "In Real Life." These rising stars, with their large followings and carefully curated online personas, are eager to seize the opportunity of a lifetime. However, their dreams quickly turn into a nightmarish ordeal when the production crew fails to show up, and one of their own is tragically found dead.

Worley has crafted a cast of characters that both embody and challenge the archetypes prevalent in the world of social media. From Elody, the impulsive Instagram model, to Kira, the former child star-turned-fitness influencer, each character brings their own unique perspective and baggage to the story. As the narrative unfolds, tensions rise among the group as they find themselves stranded with a corpse and no means of contacting the outside world.

What sets "People to Follow" apart is the additional layer of mystery introduced by the enigmatic Sponsor who starts sending threatening messages, promising to expose their darkest secrets. The realization that the influencers have been lured into a dangerous game where one of them might be pulling the strings adds an intriguing dynamic to the story. Worley's writing effectively maintains a feeling of constant suspense, leaving readers guessing as to who can be trusted and who is orchestrating their downfall.

The pacing of the book is well-executed, with the body count steadily rising, and the cameras capturing the creators' every move. The inclusion of social media elements, such as hashtags and followers, adds authenticity to the narrative and serves as a reminder of the high stakes involved in their pursuit of fame.

While the book dives into the dark underbelly of the social media world and touches on themes of identity, fame, and the consequences of our online actions, it does not shy away from delivering an entertaining and thrilling experience. The author's attention to detail and ability to keep readers on the edge of their seats make "People to Follow" an engrossing read from start to finish.

Olivia Worley's "People to Follow" is a compelling debut that successfully merges the toxic allure of social media with a suspenseful murder mystery. Fans of fast-paced thrillers with a contemporary twist will find themselves captivated by the book's engaging plot and well-developed characters.

A group of 10 influencers arrive on a secluded island to film a reality tv show with the promise of a break from the constant pressure of social media. Suspicious things begin to happen on the island, and they start to see the fellow influencers die one by one (And Then There Were None vibes, anyone??).

The story is told from multiple points of view, and it follows 10 different characters. At times, I found it hard to follow each character’s storyline.

I appreciated that the pace kept the book suspenseful from start to end.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded down

A whodunnit in the vein of the iconic 'And Then There Were None' with a social media twist. Multiple first person POVs help keep the mystery alive, but at the cost of suspending our disbelief. Unreliable narrators galore, as to be expected, with mostly positive results.

Also all unlikable characters, babe.

A remote Caribbean island. Ten influencers. Ten Secrets. One dead body.

Got my interest!

Debut author Olivia Worely explores what happens when those hungry for fame and fortune realize that (1) the price of being ‘canceled’ could be their lives and (2) they are expected to ‘live’ without social media and completely unplug.

Ten influencers willing to unplug for THREE weeks come to a remote island … I could stop here and it would still be a great book. Imagine what life for them would be like with nobody to ‘watch’ them and nothing worth scrambling to the top for!!! Just watching them know what to do with themselves without their phones would be fun to watch. But, I digress. And show my age! They come to this island to star in a reality show, “In Real Life,” and one of them ends up dead. The realization that they’ve got no way to communicate with the outside world ramps up the tension and adds fuel to the pacing. Who really is the reigning king? Is it one of them? They desperately try to uncover the identity of the one who’s cancelling them. Will their #1 follower strike again?

I quickly discovered that I’m, like, too old for this book, babe. 😅

While there was too much drama and too many characters with not enough differentiation between them FOR ME, I was ultimately entertained. Isn’t that the purpose?!

I know that with direction, this author will appeal to younger social media influencers and will undoubtedly be successful as a writer.

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

10 Influencers arrive on a remote island to film a new reality show. When things take a darker turn and secrets of revealed, it's only a matter of time until someone ends up cancelled for real.

***

*3.5 stars* rounded down

I thought this was a really great YA read for a debut author! The beginning had me hooked, and I was dying for all of the dirt to be exposed on these influencers.

One thing that irked me was the behavior of these teens and young adults when things started to go south. They all definitely would have been more freaked out from the get-go. And while the end was satisfying, there was a lot of deus ex machina thrown in there.

But not is all that actually appears, and I think the twists were done well. All in all, a great beach read, and a debut author that's worth a chance! Definitely one to watch.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.