Looking back on this one, I can’t tell you why I enjoyed it… but I did. Something about the characters and the work culture being so toxic and chaotic that I couldn’t stop reading, like a train wreck I couldn’t look away from?? I’m not entirely sure.

This story moved slowly and the plot was fairly predictable but I did enjoy seeing the growth in our FMC and the relationships between the characters blossom.

I would recommend the audio for this one, very well done and it helped the characters come to life!

I feel like, now and then, there is a book that has that DWP vibe. This book has exactly that but with a modern twist where cellphones, influencers, and FOMO come into play with such a realistic perspective that it almost made me uncomfortable (and this is a good thing, hear me out.)

Harper Cruz accepts a job out of desperation (I felt that bestie) and she finds herself going down the rabbit hole for her new boss' personality. As the title gives it away, Harper will work for an influencer and she will, indeed, be influenced by this charming, white-teeth, almost annoyingly perfect person who is only this way in front of her camera and for her following (I told youuu, it is entertaining.)

Now, Crooks does not come sh*t on the influencer/digitalization era per se. The story is about 20-something women trying to make it and finding their way in life. The story is not complicated or problematic, but some thoughts and dialogues will make you rethink your entire existence. I get uncomfortable when something calls me out a lot, you see what I mean?

Under the Influence is such a funny and fresh story that is easy to follow and enjoy.

"Under the Influence" offers a thrilling ride through a world where power, fame, and dark secrets collide. Noelle Crooks crafts a narrative that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

The characters are compelling, each with their flaws and strengths. The protagonist's journey into the high-stakes world of influencers and the consequences of chasing popularity paint a vivid picture of the complexities of social media.

Crooks explores the impact of online influence on real-life relationships, delving into the blurred lines between authenticity and façade. The narrative takes unexpected turns, keeping readers engaged as they navigate the twists and turns of the story.

The engaging writing style makes it easy to lose yourself in the pages. The pacing is well-executed, with suspenseful moments that heighten the reading experience. The themes of identity, societal expectations, and the price of influence are woven seamlessly into the plot.

"Under the Influence" is a compelling read for those who enjoy stories exploring the digital age's darker side. Crooks brings a fresh perspective to the world of influencers, making this novel a thought-provoking and entertaining addition to contemporary fiction.

2.0 stars

firstly, i really like this book's cover; i think its simple and interesting, and make me engaged to read the book. that being said, i did not connect with this book. the book's pace was slow to me, and it never truly hooked me in, and so i easily lost interest as i read through it.

This was such and easy read and such a great book. I highly recommend this to everyone!! You need to read this book. I had me going right from the start.

Do you ever read a book and wonder, why did I think this was for me? This is how I feel about this book. The writing is nice, the topic is not for me. I want murder and blood, not influencers and fake girl power.

I think I just wasn't the target audience for this one.

It was an ok debut that kept me engaged throughout. Very entertaining, Under the Influence is a great play on words that gives you a great glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes in the life of an influencer.
Did I expect more from it? Yes, I did, but I'll admit that I at least learned a few tips about how to improve my social media presence. So at least there's that.
The novel included lots of backstabbing and unstable relationships, where everyone is out to advance their situations. Pretty much what happens in real life, but it still left me with a sour taste in my mouth. I am most likely the wrong demographic for this type of novel, but a younger generation will surely enjoy this fast-paced book.
Thank you Netgalley, Simon and Schuster Canada, and Gallery books for my advanced digital copy for review.

I don’t know about you, but as someone who works in marketing, I love a good campaign and I often find myself falling for an influencer ad or two … . Some have been BIG MISTAKES (hello hair halo extensions from a company who will not be named) and some have been AMAZING intros to products like @seed and @arrae.co that have become part of my daily routine *nonspon I just love you

❓Have you ever purchased something because of an Instagram ad? Or tell me when you're currently reading!❓

✨review✨

Under the Influence completely surprised me and is in the running to be one of my top 2023 reads.

Noelle Crooks dives deep into the chaos of the online wellness community and #girlbiss culture. And o.m.g. is it fun to read.

Crooks paints a picture of the influencer type we're all too familiar with - the one who works her team to the bone because they are a GIRL BOSS and that's what GIRL BOSSES DO and talks constantly about how their marriage is the BEST EVER (until it's more lucrative to get a divorce).

While this book is fictional, I would be remiss not to say how much Charlotte reminds me of a certain influencer that may or may not rhyme with Bachel Follis.

As we dive into The Greenhouse and Charlotte's magnetism, I can understand Harper's journey. That feel good vibe is just corporate culture with less coffee and more green juice. We all want attention and gratification, we just go about it in different ways.

Well done, Noelle Crooks! I would love to Whine Wednesday with you any time!

IMPORTANT: this review is obviously not meant to reflect the entire industry and I am not speaking for the author.

I’m going to be completely honest, with the book summary throwing out “there’s a dark side to being a #girlboss” I kinda of thought this was going to turn into a thriller… highkey disappointed it didn’t.

With the book definitely not being a thriller, it’s pretty much what you would expect to read about someone going to work for an influencer who unironically uses the term girlboss. The book is a pretty fast read, I finished it in under 24 hours but overall I found it kindve boring. The story felt aimless, I feel like you can read the description and easily know what happens in the entire book without even opening it. Maybe this style of book just isn’t for me, maybe I’m missing something?

This book stressed me out but in the best way possible. The way it was comped to Devil Wears Prada was perfect. I loved watching Harper spiral from am employee to part of the cult-like environment. It was really interesting to me to see how toxic positivity can be used in so many different ways, including in the influencer sector.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

This was exactly what I had hoped for when I picked this one up. I was ENGROSSED from start to finish and absolutely adore a book that showcases rich people and influencers behaving badly. Everything about this book was like the wonderful pleasure of watching reality tv come to life on the page, and you just want popcorn, wine, and no interruptions as you enjoy the hell out of it.

I also deeply appreciated the cheeky parallels to a well-known influencer who clearly inspired many of the aspects of this book. This reads as both fiction, but with a peek behind the curtain of the crazy world these big name wellness influencers build. It serves as an excellent reminder that social media is not the real world, and curated feeds are not an accurate reflection of people's lives.

Honestly, this makes for perfect autumn reading. A book to get lost in for some relaxing, pleasurable fun.

A modern take on The Devil Wears Prada, this time with social media and influencers. Toxic workplace drama. Not a difficult read but not really my cup of tea, very true to life.

Harper takes a job with 3x her current salary as a glorified assistant with an exclusive title to a #Girlboss influencer. Things seem way too good to be true, there has to be some kind of catch.
Things aren’t always as they seem on social media…let’s face it, most of what we see is not the reality. As Harper dives deeper into this new world, things start to get ugly. The out of touch influencer loves diversity...maybe a little too much. And her #greenteam is just like family, if you're a dysfunctional family, that is.
In this stunning debut novel by Noelle Crooks, we watch as Harper gets pulled into the world of Charlotte and the Greenhouse and "drinks the kool-aid" so to speak.
I feel like this isn't a type of story that we see very often, and it was really interesting to watch Harper sink deeper and deeper into this cult-like workplace, before snapping out of it and rising like a phoenix from the ashes. Not entirely sure if I enjoyed the ending, but I did like the premise and the character arcs and thought this was a solid story

4.5/5 rounded up. This was so pleasantly surprising! I stumbled across this one netgalley and requested it on a whim so I went into it pretty blind. WOWOW It was SO addictingly fast and VERY thoughtful! I binged this in 2 sittings! The commentary on social media and the dark side and how easily you could get sucked into it in a toxic work environment was very enlightening and stuck with me long after I finished reading. It's also super interesting to see how this may be inspired by real life social media star/woman's help icon after a quick google search. It's a very realistic story and I think that's what made this so gripping because it can happen to anyone!
I also love how real the romance aspect felt and the closed circle of the narrative direction especially towards the end. I also love how real the MC felt! Overall such a fantastic read and highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book! I had no idea what to expect going into it, but I was immediately drawn into the story and loved the writing style.

Harper is our MC, and she takes a job as a glorified assistant to Charlotte, an influencer that aims to inspire and empower her followers. But things aren’t always as they seem on social media…actually let’s face it, most of what we see is not the reality. As Harper dives deeper into this new world, things start to get ugly.

I loved how Charlotte’s character was written. I was constantly trying to figure out if I kind of liked her or kind of hated her. It was also cool to read from the POV of someone whose morals and opinions drastically changed as the story progressed.

I will say that the story gave me major The Devil Wears Prada vibes, to the point where I knew what was going to happen next because of the similarities. I’ve never read the book but it’s one of my favourite movies, so the comparisons were fun for me at first, but I do wish that they weren’t quite so similar.

Overall, I really liked this one and thought the author did a great job of showing the power that social media has over all of our lives.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted copy!

This book is very real and you can really see this happening. Social media is very much about showing what you want to but behind the scenes life is very different. I loved how the book was about how women are viewed differently then men for working hard to reach their goals but the story is also about how work is not your life and that you don’t really know everything about your boss (they are just your boss not your friend). Really loved this book and I think it is a great read for everyone.

In a time where perfectly curated lives on social media aren’t always as they appear, Under the Influence by Noelle Crooks gives us a peek at the supporting roles behind the face of the influencer.  Harper is desperate to find work, and when an offer she can’t refuse comes from self-help influencer Charlotte Green in Nashville, she decides to take the job and leave everything and everyone she knows behind and joins The Greenhouse team.  This book lives up to the Devil Wears Prada comparison as Harper quickly discovers that working for Charlotte (akin to Miranda) means giving up her free time to attend “optional” events, posting in the mandatory group chat, and going the extra mile to please Charlotte.  Harper manages to garner positive attention from Charlotte for her writing abilities (writing as Charlotte for her followers) threatening those who have remained loyal to Charlotte since the beginning.  Harper finds herself inspired by her boss, often defending her in public.  Charlotte garnered fame by being relatable as a stay-at-home Mother, but as her fame grew, she became out-of-touch with her followers and eventually her own staff.  Loyal staff have been leaving the company leaving Charlotte paranoid in their wake.
 
As Charlotte continues to challenge her staff with her ambitious goals, what is Harper willing to sacrifice to get ahead in the fickle world of self-help and social media? What is clear to the reader throughout this story is that ambitious women are often challenged by others and have to work harder to garner the respect and the inevitable criticism that comes with success.  I really enjoyed the relationships in The Greenhouse and seeing what boundaries the characters had as Charlotte continued to take credit for the hard work and sacrifices of others.  What will be the tipping point for everyone?  What lies beneath Charlotte’s façade?
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

this is definitely very similar to the devil wears prada but it was enjoyable! i found it slow a some points but it was still an interesting read! i think it was good at showing the manipulative tendencies that Charlotte the influenced had but how subtle it was. I also liked the cyclical feeling the book had at the end

Have you ever had a crazy boss? Under the Influence could bring back some painful memories. ⁣
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This book follows Harper as she’s recruited to be an assistant to Charlotte Green. Charlotte is an Influencer who has transformed her platform into a mega business. Of course, the ✨good vibes✨ don’t last long and Harper has to decide how much she wants to be a part of Team Green and what she’s willing to give up. ⁣
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This was fascinating because it’s still hard for me to wrap my head around influencers being a mega brand like described in the book even though I know it to be true. Charlotte Green was giving me Rachel Hollis meets Miranda Priestly. It was very reminiscent of A Devil Wears Prada for me. I am enjoying this wave of influencer based books lately. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫⁣
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This is what I liked about it:⁣
💚 capturing the day-to-day craziness at Team Green ⁣
💚 Harper’s family⁣
💚 Nashville as a location⁣
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Thank you to @netgalley and @simonschusterca for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This contemporary fiction shines a light on influencer culture, and how it is nothing like it seems.

This book had moments that were shocking but also not surprising, if that makes sense. We know there is no way massive influencers can do everything that it looks like they’re doing, they must have a team doing all the legwork for them. But this also shows a toxic work environment that is hidden with a “positivity” and “we’re a family” narrative.

It was crazy to see how these people were overworked and under recognized for all the work they were doing. And being employees to a narcissist, it was her tearing them down to then making them feel like she can’t be without them.

Harper’s character arc was good, and it was interesting to see her fall into something like a cult and then snap out of it.

Definitely one that I would recommend!