While I found most of the characters in Under The Influence to be extremely unlikeable, I ended up enjoying the story. Books about fictional influencers are “in” right now, but this title stands out because of the cult-like actions of the company Harper, the protagonist, works for. Crooks, the author, shows the (questionable) business side of being an influencer by giving readers a title reminiscent of The Devil Wears Prada.

💚💸Book Review:
Title: Under the Influence
Author: Noelle Crooks
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/4 stars

Oooookkkkkkkkaayyy, little Miss Charlotte Green, you can take it down a notch.🤌🫰 I don't care how much money you offer me, I could NOT work under these conditions! I will NOT give my entire life away for my job, no way.

Harper Cruz is offered the job of her dreams, but she literally must accept it right.now.no delay.this.second. and that is pretty much how it is the whole story. Living in New York City is not for the weak or the broke. So when Harper is offered a job to start immediately at triple the pay, she jumps on it. I mean, what could go wrong?

First, she is required to move to Nashville, where headquarters is. The Greenhouse is where the magic happens by self-help guru, Charlotte Green. More like, everything-is-about-me guru 🥴. Harper eventually learns that there is more to meet the eye than this woman who claims to have it all and all the answers to obtain it. Talk about a flake! I loved the cattiness and bratiness! I was entertained the whole book! Incredible debut novel!

WHAT A BOOK!!!! I devoured this one. The author had me Crooks, line, and sinker! ;) Devil Wears Prada meets influencer world in this juicy, fast-paced novel about a young professional who goes to work for a wildly popular, Instagram-famous self-help guru. This book will be especially fun for those intimately aware of the type of (or exact? *wink wink*) influencer Crooks observes with razor-sharp detail, satirical humor, and tender honesty. This book made me THINK. It made me feel. I really enjoyed the breezy writing style and searing twenty-something perspective. Five stars!

This book just wasn’t for me. I felt like the pacing was a little too slow and I never found myself eager to pick the book back up. It wasn’t the writing that I didn’t care for but the development of the story.

I went into this book hesitant, but overall happy that I read it. I loved the stark satire of influencer culture and how appearances can be deceiving. The ending made up for the lack of conflict throughout the novel and I appreciated the narrator's happy ending. Overall, happy that I read!

I am fascinated by influencer culture, especially mommyblogger culture. This is such a juicy and thinly-veiled depiction of what it’s like to work for someone like Rachel Hollis. I loved every page.

I found this book good, there were things missing for me and I felt someone of the characters just didn't feel real and right for the story kind of. Though I loved the main character and the 2-3 people directly around her.

I absolutely could not put this down. I think we've all been Harper at some point, and we've all seen tons of people like Charlotte. Great characters, great story, great lessons.

The story delves into working for an influencer and the world they create around themselves. This book shows how artificial their environment and world are. charlotte is not everything she wants others to think; she hides her mean and vicious nature behind the filters, angles and editing of her social media persona. I thought the characters were very flat and there was no character development. I read the book wondering why Harper actually took the job originally and even more, why she stayed when she was treated so poorly. I found I didn’t like the characters, nor did I care what happened to them. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book for an honest review.

This was a compelling narrative that blends elements of The Devil Wears Prada with The Assistants, offering a glimpse into the hidden complexities of the influencer culture. The novel occasionally feels formulaic, relying on well-worn tropes of the ambitious but morally conflicted protagonist navigating a glamorous yet morally dubious world, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as we all love these tropes for a reason, but it didn't quite work for me here. Despite these drawbacks, the book shines in its examination of the toll that the pursuit of success and perfection can take on personal relationships and mental well-being. I think if you enjoy books with rich people problems, or rich people behaving badly, you could love this one!

Under the Influence by Noelle Crooks is a modern workplace drama reminiscent of David Wears Prada. It’s modern day #girlboss chaos, and the book is compulsively readable and relatable. Don’t miss it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery books for the ARC - Under the Influence is out now!

This book gives you a look behind the curtain into the "world of the influencer" and shows you that what they may be portraying to their audience isn't always what it seems. In the book, Harper finds herself in the middle of influencer Charlotte Green's world, and while she was enamored with it at first, she realized that everything isn't as "green" as it should be. This is a great read for anyone who is interested in seeing how "the sausage is made" with some influencers.

I can’t recommend this book enough!

I finished this gem in just over a day. I loved the characters, the feel and the twisty plot. Give yourself the gift of a vacation via this novel. Kudos!

3.5 ⭐️

This book has so much going for it!! And was a great debut from Noelle. The cover is incredible and immediately drew me in. This book is filled with rich people behaving badly, a trope I love to binge. It has a really interesting and relevant premise in today's social media filled world, highlighting some really raw and troubling examples of influencer behavior. The characters were almost all unlikable and did become a bit predictable, but it still worked for the story. This is such a great read, and I'd recommend particular to millennial/gen z women. The only things that fell flat were the romance and the ending was not everything I was wanting. Still a really great debut!

I feel like 2023 has been the year of art reflecting life, and this is the second book that’s arrived on my TBR/ NetGalley shelf (along with Ripe) that delves into the influence and the unhealthy nature of corporate America.

As the reader, you could tell from the beginning that Harper is getting herself into a toxic situation: a hasty interview, rushed contract and promise that “this job is unlike any other” are serious red flags.

I felt nothing but fury for Harper as she got deeper and deeper into this “dream job” but knew she’d find her way out (spoiler alert)!

Due to the nature of the story, I found this to be a fast - albeit sometimes triggering - read!

Thanks Gallery Books for the ARC!

Ever peeked at an Instagram #girlboss and thought, "What's fresh hell is it like to clean her toilets- I mean, to work for her?" Noelle Crooks' "Under The Influence" drops you into that "green" smoothie-laden world in her debut, and it was all I wanted it to give me and more.

Broke and in need of a fresh start, Harper's a New Yorker who applies for a job with enigmatic influencer Charlotte Green, and faster than you can say "mandatory dance party," she's off to Nashville to join The Greenhouse. Initially, it's all sunshine and group bonding, but as Harper digs deeper into Charlotte's world, she uncovers the dark side of living a #girlboss life and answering to a She-E-O.

Crooks weaves a darkly comedic tale of the allure of the glamorous and the harsh realities behind the motivational memes. The characters are vivid, the writing sharp, and Harper's humor keeps you invested in her journey.

In short, "Under The Influence" is a hilarious and thought-provoking look at the not-so-Instagrammable side of the #girlboss lifestyle. If you've ever wondered what happens when the filter comes off and want some influencer tea (given that Noelle used to work for a very popular influencer, think "girl, get a grip"). It's a rollercoaster through the world of influencers, perfect for anyone who's a sucker for seeing the chaos behind the Instagram curtain like me.

I wish I had the time to binge read this book in its entirety, I would have. There were for sure parts reminiscent of The Devil Wears Prada, but Charlotte's character was an absolute mental trip! Thank you, Netgalley for allowing me to review this title! I can only hope this is just the first of many Noelle Crooks titles I read in my lifetime!

Wow, I was pleasantly surprised with this novel! Wasn’t sure what to expect but the writing and storyline were great! The characters were bringing all of the drama which is always fun to read about!

When I first began reading this debut novel, I was fairly certain I could tell in advance how it would progress-and how it would end up. I found myself shaking my head as I read the book, thinking that this was so obviously going to continue predictably until the end.
But I was wrong.
Although some of the protagonist’s experiences were predictable as they were laid out in the book, I slowly realized it wouldn’t necessarily play out as I thought it would. And as I progressed through the book, I WAS surprised and pleased that this revelation was indeed true.
You need to read this book-not only as a young person, beginning your journey in establishing your future in business-but also if you are someone who had done so long ago. You will begin to find some of your own familiar stories here. I know I did-and I’m in my seventh decade, now retired. But yes-I recognize so many of these stories as similar to my own experiences, from so long ago.
A cautionary tale for the young—a memory and familiar tale for those older and further along in their own journey. You’ll learn and enjoy this debut novel, as much as I did.
I look forward eagerly to Ms. Crooks’ next book - and hope it comes out soon!

Very easy to read, rarely outrageous of-the-moment book. The author clearly projects herself onto the MC, and given her past, it's kinda warranted. For former Rachel Hollis stans.