Kids Run The Show – Delphine de Vigan (translated from French by Alison Anderson)

The journalist asked her if she realised that some people, even very young viewers, might be shocked to see children put on display like that. Mélanie shook her head sadly, as if to say no, she didn't get it, and then she answered, her voice gentle but firm. As a mother she knew very well what was good for her children and what wasn't. And in any case, these were her children, she hastened to add, stressing the pronoun.

Melanie had her 15 minutes of fame in the early 2000s, the peak of reality TV, and how she wants all 24 hours. She becomes a “mommy vlogger”, videoing her children Sammy and Kimmy, uploading videos to YouTube and earning millions of views. This vision of wealth and happiness is cracked, however, when Kimmy disappears one day while playing hide-and-seek, seemingly abducted.

The book sells itself, at least in part, as a police procedural thriller, but this is definitely the weakest part of the book. We are introduced to Clara, a cliché of a female detective (so much so that the author makes Clara remark on it herself…), who is unaware of the family’s online fame and forces herself to watch their content, a parade of unboxings and challenges that anyone who is online will instantly recognize. Her parts of the narrative drag the most, and the eventual resolution of Kimmy’s situation is quite underwhelming, if better than the ending I expected.

What this book will do, especially in a group setting, is generate discussion. I’m roughly the same age as Melanie, so I recognize a lot of the touchpoints here. We’re a generation who started watching others, and then wanted to be watched ourselves, and then assumed our children would feel the same. There’s nothing new in the points raised here, but that familiarity helped make this book more entertaining for me, and the final third added something more poignant that the book sorely needed.

A solid 3-star thriller with a lot to discuss, but other problems that are too big to ignore.

Thank you to NetGalley and Europa Editions for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Her parents had got it wrong. They'd believed that Big Brother would be incarnated in an outside power, authoritarian and totalitarian, against which they would have to take up arms. But Big Brother hadn't needed to use force. Big Brother had been welcomed with open arms and a heart starving for likes, and everyone had agreed to become their own torturer. The borders of privacy had moved. Social networks censored images of breasts or bottoms. But all it took was one click, one heart, or one thumbs up, and you could display your children, your family, and the story of your life. Everyone had become the curator of their own exhibition, and that exhibition in turn had become an indispensable part of self-realization.“

I really enjoyed this book! Although I don’t think it says anything particularly new about the ills of social media and exposure of children on those platforms, I found it to be a clever and entertaining interpretation of the topic. The juxtaposition of the two main characters, Clara and Melanie, was subtle and thoughtful. I also thought the last quarter of the narrative was an interesting way to double down on themes presented earlier in the story. Perhaps my only critique is that the translation felt a bit awkward at times (especially when dealing with colloquialisms and slang), but in other sections it was very strong (as in the passage above). Overall, this was a highly enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to reading more by this author in future!

I appreciated the thought provoking read that this was... it highlights the potential dangers of social media and over exposing children.
The thriller aspect of this book just didn't quite hit for me. It was a little slow and maybe a little too long.
I would still recommend to readers!

Kids Rule the Show was a very interesting story about children and the cost of reality shows. Melanie Claux tried out for a popular show as a young adult and only lasted one night. After the birth of her first child, Melanie became a successful YouTuber with multiple shows starring her children. She created an enterprise where her shows are earning millions and the shows have stolen her children’s lives. When little sister Kimmey goes missing, my favorite character, Clara Rousol the Paris Crime Squad evidence supervisor watches every minute of their televised lives to aid in the investigation. While the writing was good and the tempo was quick, it fit in with my other mysteries with complicated families.
3 Stars – Pub. Date 11-28-23
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Europa Editions for the eARC and the opportunity to review Kids Rule the Show by Delphine de Vigan.

@jopiazzaauthor was the first person to make me consider the long-term effects of modern social media on child influencers in her "Under the Influence" podcast. Then I read Swipe Up for More!: Inside the Unfiltered Lives of Influencers by @stephemcneal earlier this year and I really started to think about how this cultural shift will affect an entire generation. For example, child labor laws limit the amount of time a child actor can be on a set, but what if their "set" is their entire life?

We've also heard horror stories of children's parents/managers mismanaging their funds. What sort of regulations can be put in place to ensure that these children are properly compensated for their work? Most importantly, how can children be protected from online predators and those with malicious intent?

The rise of this entire "industry" will obviously lead to a wide-spanning array of legal, psychological, and social ramifications. In Kids Run the Show, Delphine de Vigan details the daily lives of two child influencers, their parents, and their fans. This novel features a great cast of characters but my favorite is mom Melanie. Her background and personality are perfectly detailed and could be applied to almost every currently popular "mommy influencer." de Vigan also speculates a bit about what the near future may hold with her time hop to 2031 near the end of the novel and I have got to say...it's dark.

This book is so creepy and realistic, especially in how pernicious social media is, and how it plays into the delusions of some of the characters.
The realism made it less fun than a lot of thrillers and just kind of an overall bummer. There were also some weird bits with the translation that didn’t seem quite right.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

Kids Run the Show shines a light on the dark side of social media and family-type reality channels that nothing gets done about, I wish the mystery aspect started sooner and the story was a bit faster.

𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅. 𝑰𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒔.

Mélanie Claux has often dreamed of being flamboyant and irresistible and though her first attempt on a reality show fizzled out, she knew one day she would be famous. It is on her social media account, turning the camera on her very young children, that she finds her inspiration and followers. Their life is on display, even with votes deciding the details of what the children wear, but being famous doesn’t protect them from danger. Mélanie’s six-year-old daughter disappears while playing a game of hide and seek with her eight-year-old brother Sammy and the other children in their apartment building. Sammy is the one who alerts their mother Mélanie, by the time the police arrive all that is left is Kimmy’s threadbare camel toy. Mélanie’s informs Commissaire S. that she and her children are famous and surely, it’s possibly someone is jealous, wanted bad things to happen to them. He has no clue who she is, thinking she may be delusional until she shows him her YouTube channel on her smartphone and the millions of views. Receiving a strange message, they are all sure there is a ransom coming, that Kimmy was taken for “unscrupulous reasons”. Police officer Clara Roussel enters the Poison Bleu residence and takes precise details of the crime scene. When she meets Mélanie for the first time, her first impression isn’t flattering, thinking her childish but clearly the mother is in severe distress. Later, Clara watches videos from Happy Recess on YouTube, the adorable little child she is searching for has lived all her young life thus far in a make-believe world, a bubble nothing like physical reality. The world of social media isn’t known to Clara, but the real world is filled with evil people who would abuse children and time is of the essence. Could the stories they share online have led a stranger to their address?

Mélanie cannot believe something horrible could happen, not at their luxury residence. Maybe Kimmy is hurt somewhere? Clara knows when children go missing it is generally the family one suspects, and certainly while interviewing Sammy, it’s obvious Kimmy may not have loved being a social media star as much as Mélanie claims. As neighbors are questioned, it becomes evident there are many who believe the family is exploiting their children, but the police are no closer to finding Kimmy. From the time Kimmy was nearly three, Mélanie shared intimate moments of her clever, talented, poised little girl with Sammy’s protective big brother energy making the team a hit. Soon, they were promoting brands, their lives devoted to their YouTube presence. Clara is bewildered that such a thing exists, that people make untold amounts of money doing such ordinary things and that it isn’t regulated, to protect children. Is she really to believe that Sam and Kimmy want to be stars? Is it a good thing to broadcast their private lives to a sea of strangers? It’s a far cry from acting, isn’t it? They aren’t meant to pretend if they are supposed to be their natural selves.

The author is turning a critical eye on influencers, the dangers that exist, the psychological implications when children are used as props. What are the ramifications of sharing your child’s entire life with a world of strangers, not just the threat of abduction or untold horrors, but the lack of privacy? Can a child, especially as young as 3, consent to online exposure? With Mélanie, you often get the feeling that rather than being the mother hen she claims she is; her mind is obsessed with promoting an ideal, that she doesn’t let her children lives play out naturally. Surely, with a camera following anyone, regardless of who is pointing it in your direction, it’s hard to not feel exposed, pinned like a bug. It is a job for Mélanie, she isn’t just creating these clips for herself, for the love she feels with the likes they collect from fans, she is doing it to give her kids a future. Where, though, does the performance end and reality begin? Is the family truly as happy as they project? Who has Kimmy? Why?

I think this is an interesting topic, one we won’t fully understand until years from now. As with any technology there is the good, the bad and the ugly, there will be children who become adults and are angered by the lack of discretion shown in their lives and others who love being the subject of such attentions. Where is the middle ground? Kids run the show in this novel, and it’s disturbing. It fascinates me that people often go on and on about agency but don’t think about their children’s future narrative, often we think we are doing good, whether it’s sharing cute videos or stepping up on our soapbox about our child’s struggles. Parents generally mean well, but there isn’t a flawless generation that I know of. It isn’t that Mélanie is giving full disclosure about every moment of her children’s lives, it’s that she is producing it all, forcing them into what she feels viewers will love. That is what is damaging.

What does the future hold for this family? Will Kimmy be returned? I felt sorry for the fictional children, as there are parents out there who use their kids in the social media world, before I get attacked, certainly there are parents who don’t do it in a manipulative way. I’m not claiming every single influencer with children on social media is a self-centered, delusional, abuser but if you find yourself forcing a narrative down your kids throat and having them pretend rather than be who they naturally are, you may want to reflect. I wish the culprit had more story.

Published November 28, 2023

Europa Editions

More or less a lecture on the dangers of social media and overexposure of children online. Really interesting premise but the "thriller" aspect moved a bit too slowly and the characters were one-dimensional to the point that dialogue and description felt repetitive at times.

Reality TV obsessed Melanie, who did appear many years ago in one episode of a dating reality show (kind of), fills her postpartum sized hole with, you guessed it, reality TV. She's all grown up and proud mother of two kids who she records relentlessly for the masses. It's creepy, it's sad, it's pretty much blatant exploitation.

When one of the children disappears and Paris police come into the picture, Melanie's path crosses that of Clara, an officer on the case. We experience the unfolding events from both of their perspectives. Clara has a little Lisbeth Salander in her, she's very smart, very observant, and might have a chip on her shoulder - she's very slight in stature but very tough.

The case evolves, and in Kids Run the Show, there's a scathing indictment of the whole reality TV / vlogging / making money off your kids scenario. There's no hiding where de Vigan stands. A big time jump solidifies that stance.

Taut, suspenseful, with the whodunit taking second place to the wider social dilemma of having cameras everywhere, always recording. It's unnerving.

My thanks to NetGalley and Europa Editions for the ARC.

A sad story highlighting the potentially detrimental long term effects of excessive social media use. This contributed to my ongoing mental debate of whether or not to delete all my social media accounts (except Goodreads of course). I think this could have definitely been shorter but still a thought provoking read! Thank you Delphine De Vigan, Europa Editions, and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

this a dark side eye of a novel that considers the impact of social media and 'influencer' culture on society and families. This a well-thought-through commentary and a very engaging read. The character development is well done and the additive but destructure nature is thoughtfully explored. Thought-provoking narrative ensures this is a page-turner although the translation feels little stiff at times.

Unfortunately this didn't live up to the quality of this author's previous works. This may be partly due to translation being noticeably clunky and it may have been a better book in the hands of a more skilled translator. I couldn't feel connected to any of the characters' inner thoughts and emotional lives - they felt clichéd - formed only to illustrate the author's didactic message. De Vigan can write brilliant books - sadly this wasn't one of them.

I loved this book from start to finish. This is a compelling novel perfect for readers interested in a literary take on influencer culture and the impacts of social media, especially on children. When happiness depends on the "likes" of others, what does that mean? What sort of desperation might that mindset lead to? deVigan has her finger on the pulse of this generation and this fascinating cultural phenomenon. She uses her talents to craft a compelling and suspenseful narrative that is sure to keep readers turning the pages.

I received a complimentary e-galley from NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

I liked the book, but also felt like it would be better if I read it a few years ago. It seems like a little behind the times. I would prefer more of a crime take on it from Kimmy's POV. Good writing.

I toggled between 3 and 3.5 stars, but the ending really didn’t work for me.
This story was a tragedy and an eerily accurate commentary on current influencer culture. It was entertaining and I read it in two sittings, but the perspective felt removed, the psychological explanations were quite on the nose and it just felt like this would work better as a short story.

Thank you to Delphine de Vegan, Net Galley, and Europa Editions for the advance copy.

This was almost impossible to put down once I started. The story centers around two different French women, Melanie and Clara. Melanie is the mother of two children, Sammy and Kimmy, who she is constantly recording and has made the stars of their own YouTube channel. She encounters Clara, a police investigator, when Kimmy goes missing during a game of hide and seek in her apartment complex.

Much of the novel works like a standard thriller, where you have a missing child and a team of investigators racing to figure out what happened as more and more secrets come out. This part of the book worked so well, and I loved how the author revealed more about Melanie, her children, and Clara as the investigation progressed. It's also a pretty bleak depiction of how many modern children are growing up completely online and serving as the main source of revenue for their families, often before they can even understand what is going on. (I, admittedly, am not as familiar with YouTube, aside from knowing who Ryan is and just how much money he and his family profit from their online presence).

I am a bit torn on the ending, which extends into the future and becomes a bit more speculative. I do think much of the novel served to make the points that it wanted to, and the ending wasn't completely necessary in driving them home. Mostly it was kind of overkill and very very bleak, but there was some satisfaction in seeing what happened to the characters and having some resolution.

Overall, this was an enjoyable and interesting book that tackled a topic I don't encounter much in the fiction I read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Europa Editions for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the story of two very different women, Melanie Claud Diore, who, along with her family is an Instagram/You Tube star and Clara Roussel a young police officer. They have joined forces to search for Kimmy, Melanie’s six year old daughter and one of the stars of her channel which has five million subscribers who has gone missing or been kidnapped. Diore’s family which includes husband, Bruno and son Sammy, age eight, all have secrets.

The book follows the aftermath of the loss of Kimmy then picks up with all the characters twelve years later and examines their lives.

Predictably the book looks at the effects of social media on our lives. Clara, raised by activists and living a life completely outside social media cannot fathom what Melanie is doing, but watches the family’s videos, trying to understand the motivation, noting “and now the hearts, likes and virtual applause had become her mainspring, her reason for living: a sort of emotional and affective return on investment which she could no longer live without.” And the scariest part about that is, in that, Melanie simply belonged to her era. She was no outlier.

The author has a keen eye for her characters, and does an especially good job with the more difficult to pin down Clara (Melanie is a bit easy,) noting of the childless by choice Clara, “and because she hadn’t become a mother herself, perhaps she’d remained a daughter more than anything.” Very good book, translated from the French. Recommended.

Thank you Europe Editions for the ARC. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.

Writing: sparse prose | Plot: great premise | Ending: last 30% went off the rails

SYNOPSIS

An exploration of the devastating costs of social media fame.

MY OPINION

First things first, THIS IS NOT A MYSTERY OR A THRILLER. Don't let the synopsis or NetGalley fool you. Yes, the bare bones of the plot is Clara, a young 'detective' of sorts, is investigating the disappearance of Kimmy, a famous child YouTuber who is managed by her clout-chasing mother, Melanie. But this isn't your typical police procedural wherein you're bagging forensic evidence and running tox screens.This is more of a social commentary on how lost in the sauce people get trying to be famous on Al Gore's internet, and how messed up it is when adults pimp out their children for clout.

I absolutely loved Delphine de Vigan's The Loyalties, but this is a totally different vibe. The prose is very minimalistic and there's little world-building or dialogue. If you don't enjoy being inside the characters' heads, skip this one. It's inner monologue after inner monologue, with some 'interviews' thrown in here and there. Also, if you need someone to cheer for, you won't find it here.

I enjoyed the commentary about the addiction of fame and how people will do anything, even put their children at danger, for a lil notoriety. But was it groundbreaking? No. Profound? Not exactly. But it's an important discussion and a worthwhile read if you're not chronically online. I thought the parts about introducing laws to protect the rights of children and ensure they get their cut financially were interesting and necessary. I think it would spark some great book club debates.

Everything was alright until the last 30%. I would've given this four stars just for kicks but that last third felt like a second book penned by John Marrs that was tacked on the end. Maybe it was done to lend credence to the book being slotted as a mystery/thriller? Idk. But... one star because wtf?? There was way too much crammed into the end and it drifted into "OK BOOMER" territory. Not Clara, a law enforcement officer who has directly benefited from technological advancements, moaning on and on about how she wished she could go back to pre-Internet times. Girl no one is forcing you to be on Instagram.

Anyways. This was a bit of a letdown for me, but I do recommend it to older readers who are not chronically online. Highly recommend you tackle it with a pal, or a couple of pals, so you can rant and debate amongst each other.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: interesting concept, great look into the consequences of being a child social media star and how whackadoodle the parents are, more showing than telling (until the last 30%)

Cons: last 30% should've been kept in the drafts; felt very preachy also the pace went 0-100 and not in a good way. tbh if you told me John Marrs ghost-wrote (lol?) that last third I wouldn't be shocked