I absolutely love Harding’s writing! I love how she’s able to pull me into every story and she writes characters SO FREAKING WELL! What I loved about this one also is that although the MC made some awful mistakes, I wasn't screaming at her for being stupid. Rather, I felt for her helplessness and totally understood why she made the choices she was making. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and I tore through the entire book in a matter of hours!

Meta books are always fun and Harding gives us a book within a book. School counselor Camryn Lane writes her first novel, but things quickly go wrong when she gets a bad review on a popular site (ahem), which feels incredibly personal, with ties to her personal life as a counselor. Soon her book is being bombarded with negative reviews and despite the advice from her team, Camryn wants to investigate and fight back.

What follows is a very tense story about the dangers of social media and what happens when you engage with trolls--but also how horrible people can be when they hide behind the anonymity of the Internet. Camryn's life is systematically broken apart, with online harassment, bullying, stalking, and much more. Before she knows it, they've infiltrated her relationships with her daughter, boyfriend, and friends. It would be admirable if it wasn't so terrifying. Harding does a good job of ratcheting up the tension; there are plenty of suspects, and it's a quick read trying to determine who wants to destroy Camryn.

This is a tense read, with plenty of dark and scary pieces, though it's not the type that feels like it will stick with the reader forever. There's always a sense that this sort of plot has been done before. Still, it's an enjoyable, quick thriller.

After reading the haters I think everyone may want to take a step back and really evaluate their social media presence.
As the majority of my following is book reviewers and authors, this book will definitely hit close to home. It also deals with complexities of relationships; mother/daughter, friendships, intimate relationships, strangers. With a big emphasis on how social media can affect these relationships and our daily lives.
I think Harding was clever with the execution of the novel and I really didn’t figure out who the bad reviewer/stalker was until it was revealed. A slow burn mystery type thriller yet quick read with short chapters and lots of layers within the novel that create one wild ride of a read. It also had a novel within a novel aspect that I always think is a nice touch.

Camryn Lane has finally published her novel. She is so proud and excited, and already working on her next project. When she receives a scathing message about her book, she tries to brush it off. This is something that most authors deal with, right? But then the messages and reviews become more intense, and the next thing Camryn knows - the world seems to be against her. She feels the wrath of anonymous keyboard warriors and it really is affecting her emotionally. If the online reviews weren't bad enough, the activity escalates when some starts messaging Camryn directly with threats. Who is behind the online bullying and why are they doing it?

The Haters showed just how much an online community can damage someone's reputation. The thought of how far people will go and how damaging their comments can be was truly terrifying. I felt for Camryn and how everything she did was the wrong move. This was a guessing game of who the mastermind behind the events was. The author did a great job of making several people a suspect. Overall, this was a realistic story with a satisfying ending.

This novel is an eerie modern-day depiction of a writer's worst nightmare. Camryn Lane’s dream of becoming a published author has finally come to fruition. Hard work and years of rejection are finally paying off . . . gaining a steady stream of readers and true legitimacy amongst her peers. Her publishing team is so delighted by early feedback that they begin talks of drafting a follow-up release. Camryn’s bubble of happiness suddenly pops after one scathing review is posted. A ruthless voice that acquires a platform and quickly leads to public embarrassment and an onslaught of hate and harassment for Camryn and her family. Could Camryn's pages of fiction have inspired and unleashed such vitriol? Or could this steady stream of poison be oozing out of some other unseen wound?

I highly recommend you find out July 2, 2024.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Haters for my unbiased evaluation.  5 stars

"The Haters" is a gripping thriller that delves deep into the dark side of social media and the lengths individuals will go to safeguard their reputations. From beginning to end, the tension is palpable, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for sending this ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

✨Robyn Harding is a master when it comes to a shocking twist, and this one is no different.
I stayed up late one night assessing each character to determine who the bad guy was. I thought I had it figured out, but nope. She got me! I should have seen it coming, but didn’t.

✨This book really made me think about how an author must feel when reading reviews. I do believe that reviews are for readers, but it must be impossible for an author to avoid them completely. I’ve always tried to keep this in mind when writing my reviews, but I will double down on my efforts to be kind after reading this. .

✨I really enjoyed the inclusion of the passages from the main character’s novel BURNT ORCHID (a book within a book). If I were to offer any feedback at all, it’s that I would have liked to see the two narratives come together more at the end. BUT I PROMISE I STILL LOVE YOU, ROBYN HARDING. No negativity here.

✨The last line is 🤌 *chef’s kiss*!

🌿Read if you like:
✨Books about books
✨Books within books
✨Social media narratives
✨Vancouver settings

My thanks to @grandcentralpub and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

Thank you @grandcentralpub @novelsuspects for the ARC!

Pub Date: July 2, 2024

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥.

Camryn Lane is living her dream. She's a newly published novelist and basking in the success of her debut novel. However, her dream turns into a nightmare when she receives a disturbing email and scathing 1-star review online from the same reviewer. Soon, her book is bombarded with negativity and the online harassment spills over into her personal life, threatening both her career and her safety, Camryn embarks on a desperate mission to unmask the person behind the attacks. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows?

Robyn Harding's writing is so easy to read it feels like a friend is writing it. It was interesting to see the perspective of the author receiving all the negative reviews and attention. I have disliked books before but I would never go to such lengths like this. While I was rooting for Camryn, there were a times where her actions annoyed me. I am going to think twice about being too negative in reviews though. I was satisfied with how everything wrapped up and look forward to whatever the author comes up with next.

Read if you’re looking for:
✨Learning about what it’s like to be a published author
✨Why you shouldn't leave negative reviews
✨Dark side of social media and publishing world

For a psychological thriller this book deserves at least 15 stars!!!! I was riveted to my chair the entire book and actually read it in 2 days! Robyn Harding, as always, grabs the reader from page one and doesn't let loose until the end.

I just love this author. I have read all of her books and I love how they are all different than each other. This one is about an author that is on the verge of success when she receives a nasty message and begins getting horrible reviews of her book, which escalates quickly, no matter what she tries to do to stop it. She becomes afraid for her and her daughter’s lives. Who is out to get her???
This is a perfect juicy book for your beach bag.

If I ever thought of being an author, Camryn's situation in The Haters has presented a cautionary tale that has me feeling glad just to be a reviewer. Although I would never do to anyone what people were doing to Camryn. If I were to become an author, I could deal with a bad review, but not with having my life upended.

This story felt almost too realistic, considering all the ugly and hateful reviews that authors have been receiving lately. It was very suspenseful and hard to put down! I felt so stressed out for Camryn the entire time and wish I could have been there to support her (and tell her not to do stuff that would make things even worse). I also liked the parts from the book Camryn wrote, and they felt almost as real as the story itself. I was invested in what was happening for Orchid, even though she was a fictional character created by a fictional character.

Add The Haters to your TBR this July and prepare to get nothing else done!

(Trigger warnings below)

Movie casting suggestions:
Camryn: JoAnna Garcia Swisher
Theo: Brenton Thwaites
Liza: Isabella Crovetti
Adrian: Scott Porter
Tori: Dominique Swain
Martha: Yara Martinez
Fiona: Amiah Miller

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TW: Cyberbullying, stalking, the book within the novel talks about teenagers selling drugs and sex

This book gave me so much anxiety! And I mean that in the best way. Harding cleverly weaves multiple storylines into a complicated web that really pays off in the end. I was guessing until the final reveal. And what makes it so terrifying is that it could happen (and does!) today.

With all of the recent discussion on social media and book review sites, this is timely. I’ve watched a few authors who’ve decided to engage with negative reviews and it doesn’t appear to work out well. Don’t do it! Peeps be crazy.

I’ve enjoyed other Robyn Harding books, so it’s no surprise that I loved this one so much. In fact, it’s my favorite of hers so far! The characters are well developed and the plot is engaging. I like the message throughout the book that women need to continue to demand fair treatment in all facets of their lives including relationships. This was showcased in so many ways and in many different relationships. It was subtle and well done. There were so many suspects here that I continued to change my mind throughout the story of who I thought the perpetrator was. I also enjoyed the book within a book and thought that added to the story.

Camryn's excitement upon the publication of her debut novel quickly turns to despair when accusations surface, alleging that her book is not a work of fiction but rather a retelling of a student's real-life tragedy. Thus starts the onslaught of online hate which plunges Camryn in a nightmare straining her relationships with her daughter and boyfriend, and jeopardizing her career as a high school counselor. Determined to uncover the person behind this malicious onslaught, Camryn refuses to rest until she finds out the truth.

The Haters by Robyn Harding is skillfully written, with characters that feel authentic and a plot rife with unexpected twists and turns. A gripping narrative of deception and betrayal, which left me hooked until the very end.

I would like to thank Grand Central Publishing & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing and Robyn Harding for the advanced copy!

As an avid reader/reviewer this one definitely hit different! I think lots of us Bookstagrammers have seen instances of one-star review bombing authors deemed problematic and it was interesting to see this from the POV of the author who is experiencing the vitriol.

It's also a good little lesson that authors are human beings and they see these negative reviews and probably often take them to heart. (That is not to say we as readers are not allowed to have these opinions!)

I think Harding did a great job with this one, and the big reveal is one I probably should've seen coming but definitely didn't. I was satisfied with how everything wrapped up as well. Looking forward to whatever Harding comes up with next!

The Haters pub date: July 2

After obsessing over “The Drowning Woman” last year, Robyn Harding quickly became an auto-buy author for me. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on “The Haters.”

This book is everything I’ve come to expect: good writing, well-developed characters, flawless pacing, and twisty plot. And while the subject matter wasn’t my favorite, I found the novel very enjoyable. It’s a quick & easy read— a popcorn thriller: 4/5 ⭐️

Robyn does it again! Camryn writes a book and the hate begins. It seeps into every aspect of her life. As her life falls apart so do her relationships. Who is trolling her and why. This was such a good read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Camryn Lane's dream of becoming a successful author finally comes true with the publication of her first novel. However, her joy is short-lived when she receives a disturbing message and discovers scathing one-star reviews flooding popular book sites. As the online harassment escalates and begins to seep into her personal life, Camryn is determined to uncover the identity of her tormentor before it's too late.
Harding expertly crafts a suspenseful narrative that delves into the dark and murky world of cyberbullying and obsession. With each twist and turn, the tension mounts, leaving readers guessing until the final shocking reveal. Camryn's journey to uncover the truth is fraught with danger and betrayal, making for a compelling and unpredictable read.
Overall, "The Haters" is a gripping thriller that will leave readers questioning the true nature of fame and the lengths some will go to in pursuit of revenge. With its compelling storyline and well-drawn characters, this novel is sure to satisfy fans of suspense and mystery alike.

I love the authors writing style. It always keeps me interested. I didn’t particularly love the main ideas of the book, but I still enjoyed it. I think the book dragged a little bit and was a bit slow, but I still kept going to find out what happened. The characters were likable and I did feel invested in them and the story. Overall, it wasn’t my favorite book by Harding, but it was still a solid read. I will continue reading all of Hardings books as she’s one of my favorites.

Camryn Lane has finally made it to her dreams, publishing her first book and diving into the world of being an author. She has a positive start to her journey, until one review comment throws her back to the ground. Authors are supposed to be tough skinned and able to handle negative feedback, but Camryn quickly sees the downhill slide. The negative reviews grow online bringing down her overall rating, then it worms into her personal life. Her work as a high school counselor is questioned, family and friends begin to doubt her, Camryn becomes lost in a downward spiral. She sinks lower into fear and sadness. Who could be doing this and what do they have to gain from tearing her work apart?

This book spoke so much to current times where people can hide behind a screen and spew negativity. The different ways cyberbullying can affect the human pysch is on full display in this book. The Haters was a fast paced read about an author dealing with the negative of being an author and human. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.