4.5 stars. I *loved* Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and enjoyed Dial A for Aunties, so was excited to read more from this author, especially a "non-cozy" thriller!

I recommend NOT reading the plot synopsis from Goodreads - it gives away something that doesn't happen at the beginning of the book and may spoil your enjoyment/suspense.

Here, we have two friends turned rivals in the social media influencer/mom-fluencer world. It was fun to get a glimpse into that world, but the two characters were not particularly likable. There may have been one or two tiny plot holes, and I'm not sure I would call the ending satisfying, but I did enjoy reading this and it definitely kept my interest. Will definitely read more from Jesse Sutanto--she can do both cozy and non-cozy thrillers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review this book.

I first came across this authors with “Dial A for Aunties” and loved her work. Of course when a new book on NetGalley showed up, I jumped at the chance. I had high expectations.

Sadly, the author let me down. The book itself was fine. A mediocre 3-star. Entertaining enough, even though predictable.

The worst part was reading everything I did about diabetes. As a mother of a child with type 1 diabetes, I was appalled at the inaccurate references. Considering this book was published by a major publishing house, I was shocked. I took notes in all the areas where the references were incorrect. At some parts I had to cringe just to get through the book.

There is so much awareness about type 1 diabetes and the access, to knowledge about it, is infinite. I don’t know how this got past the editors. I have emailed the publisher with no response. Hopefully NetGalley will reach out.

With all that said, I give this book 1 star. It could have had a good thing going if someone bothered to do their homework.

If inaccurate medical references and mediocre drama incites you, pick this one up.

Lots of twists and turns in this one and I did not see them coming. You will absolutely hate both Meredith and Aspen and will have no clue whose side you’re on. I think this book will start a momfluencer main character trend.

Oh my gosh, I loved this book! Engaging and so many secrets and twists to figure out, with a pretty satisfying ending. I still have some questions - a few things that never were really fully explained - but I was not at all disappointed in this book.
And Jesse - I’ve enjoyed many of her other books of different genres…how does she write them all so well?!

OBSESSED!!! Thank you NetGalley, Jesse Q. Sutanto and Berkley Publishing Group for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a deliciously twisted, incredibly clever, utterly gripping and thoroughly entertaining influencer trope thriller that delves into the complexities of toxic friendships and pervasive influence of social media!! You Will Never Be Me is an insane popcorn thriller right from the start, featuring truly reprehensible and unlikeable main characters. Typically, I avoid books with such awful characters because I struggle to relate to or root for them. However, this one totally drew me into their lives and I couldn't get enough! I found myself completely unable to tear my eyes away from this addictive story. The insane tension, seething rage, envy, popularity, jealousy, secrets, deception, stalking, and suspense all contribute to making this a wild and crazy ride. With twisty twists and a shocking jaw-dropping ending, it's an unforgettable journey that keeps readers engaged to the very end! This is my first read by this author and it did not disappoint. Now I am excited to read other books by Sutanto!! 💜💜💜💜💜

Influencer Meredith Lee didn't mentor Aspen Palmer on social media success just to be abandoned once Aspen achieved fame. So, can anyone truly fault Mer for indulging in a bit of light stalking? Nothing too serious, just a dash of Stalking Life. Then, Mer strikes gold; she comes across one of Aspen's children's iPads and swipes it, gaining access to the family calendar and Aspen's social media accounts. What unfolds next is both harrowing and achingly plausible, mirroring the real realities of our contemporary society.

The book skillfully shows the extremes to which social influencers will go in pursuit of fame and fortune from their followers. I was absolutely captivated from start to finish! I highly recommend this unputdownable, engrossing read and it deserves all the stars!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Two best friends, Meredith and Ashley, get into social influencing, and though one helped the other to gain followers at the beginning, both become fierce competitors, always comparing the number of followers they gain. They both need the money from their social media work, as Ashley's husband makes a meager salary, and Meredith is a single mom.

I liked the plot direction that takes the reader on a roller coaster ride between the two former friends, and how one tries to sabotage the other. I also think the book is a spoof on the lengths social influencers will go to get fame and fortune from their followers. The book also shows the negatives to this kind of lifestyle, when it becomes extreme, and how it affects families and readers alike.

The suspense becomes more intense as Meredith and Ashley compete fiercely, and after one sabotages the other secretly, one of them disappears. At the end, I found myself rooting for one of them. This is fiction, after all, but one with a unique way of bringing a social media message.

I was struck by the similarity of the two friends Meredity and Ashley to two influencer friends in a K drama I am now watching on Netflix. "Celebrity" has two female friends, one who helped the other in the influencer field to get more followers and fame. They soon became heated rivals, however. A look inside the sometimes complex world of social media rivalry.

This was a pretty alright thriller. I was excited to get it because I loved “Vera Wong.” The narration was great but the story was ten sort of ways of insanity. And although I enjoyed the way it was written, I didn’t enjoy the characters very much.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for this ARC. This book will be out in August.

This was such a fun and engaging thriller!! It is not often that I enjoy a book where the main characters are so unlikeable, but that is what is so special about this book, it draws you in you end up obsessed with their lives...which is ironic in and of itself as the book is trying to warn about the dangers of social media and influencing. I think that is why this book is so interesting, it touches on real life, raw issues in a very blunt way. Obviously it's dramatized for entertainment value in some aspects, but not all of them.

Readers meet Aspen and Meredith, two social media "mom-fluencers" when they first meet, Meredith has already risen to fame and takes Aspen under her wing to help her along. Fast forward many years and Aspen has now surpassed Meredith in popularity and they have had a blow up fight over jealously and popularity. When Meredith stumbles upon a chance to try and take Aspen down a few pegs, she can't resist. What follows is a stark reminder of how dangerous the world of social media can be, while also providing a fast paced, binge-worthy thriller read!!

I spent the weekend glued to the pages of this book. I must say that none of the characters were remotely likeable except for the children and I loved it! Eight years ago Meredith was an established beauty and fashion influencer and took an aspiring singer under her wing. Meredith helped the newly named Aspen to learn the ropes and that her YouTube music videos just weren't doing it. They became very good friends and then Aspen met Ben and started documenting their love story on Instagram. She had finally found her niche and Meredith was proud of her. Now the tables have turned and Aspen is one of the top #MomGoals content creators while Meredith feels left out. After seeing the success that Aspen has had as an Instagram mother with her three adorable girls-a set of twins and a toddler, Meredith decides the single mom doing it on her own should be her niche. Only Meredith soon realizes that motherhood is not as easy as Aspen makes it look and despairs that she had a boy and not a cute little girl since boy's clothes are so boring. Like I said, these are not sympathetic people. When the story opens, Meredith and Aspen have had a blowup that has demolished their friendship.

Aspen's life is anything but perfect with her husband and children less and less interested in being props for her content. When Meredith swipes one of this children's iPad's, she suddenly has access to Aspen's calendar and unedited videos-morning routine filmed at 4pm. Meredith uses this information to make more appealing content and cause Aspen to miss important meetings with potential sponsors.

What Meredith doesn't realize is how far Aspen will go to maintain the facade of a perfect life. Being the primary breadwinner is hard work.

I loved that Aspen was so resourceful and that there weren't any loose ends left by the end.

This is a crackling and spooky thriller about social influencing and how quickly it can go wrong. Meredith taught her friend Aspen the ropes for social media, she was happy to have a convert and wanted a buddy to consult with. It wasn't long before Aspen surpassed her and left her behind. Meredith is so hurt and so jealous she takes steps that descend into stalking and madness. What happens next will leave your mouth open in shock but the truth is, we could all see it happen in real life.

If you love a good thriller, commentary on social media or just want to be a fly on the wall of a "real-life" housewives style meltdown. Read You Will Never Be Me! #youwillneverbeme #jessqsutanto #berkley

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

You Will Never Be Me is a book about 2 influencers who used to be best friends. Mer taught Aspen everything she knew. When Aspen surpasses Mer in followers and influence jealousy ensues, leading to a falling out between them.

This book is a quick, engaging read. I binged it and finished it in 24 hours. There were several times when I chuckled as they were discussing the very ridiculous world of social media, and the lengths people will go to make their lives look post worthy.

There were twists that I did not necessarily see coming and I enjoyed the book through to the end.

Other than the children, none of the characters is likeable. It is so rare that I can enjoy a book and cheer for no one. lol

Overall, I really enjoyed this quick read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

A book I binged in a day.

A peek into the lives of two women and their experiences as "influencers" on IG and TikTok and the demise that slowly happens. Meredith and Aspen become best friends and help one another in their online growth. As the years go on, Aspen becomes huge, with millions of followers and their relationship starts to become strained. Jealousy evolves as Aspen grows her online community and her family and Meredith begins to feel left out. Watching this complex friendship turned to stalking was fascinating.

A completely indulgent book that was a quick read, gripping, and had enough depth to keep me engaged. A friendship book that turned into a thriller and I loved it!

My biggest advice, DON'T read the GR synopsis. IMHO there is a major spoiler that you want to find for yourself!

This had a different feel from Sutanto's previous books, Dial A For Aunties and Vera Wong. Both of those had a level of humor in it. This didn't have the humor, but it still had some lightness to it. It didn't drag me down or feel dark, even though it was a serious book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the complimentary eARC.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the ARC!
Aspen is a YouTuber with a minuscule following who wants to make it big. She meets Meredith, a “big” influencer, who takes Aspen under her wing. As their friendship grows, Meredith guides Aspen on how to gain a following and a bigger social media presence — and eventually, Aspen builds a brand bigger than Meredith’s. Needless to say, jealousy is a b*tch, and things spiral from there.
Suspenseful, funny at times, thrilling, and makes you wonder whose side you’re on after all.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley publishing for my gifted copy.

I inhaled this book! I loved reading about these pretentious influencers. The lengths in which they'd go for the attention and acceptance of strangers was absolutely wild and HIGHLY entertaining. Jesse Q. Sutanto wasn't afraid to be bold and shock readers. I love that the conclusion took a different direction than a lot of books would - and I'm here for a twisty ending!

I will be posting my full review on my Instagram closer to pub date.

I have to be especially careful how I review this book because I don't want to give anything away.... so I'll just say that sometimes I appreciate bravery and dedication to the endgame, even if I don't specifically like a character. The ending had me conflicted, but not necessarily in a bad way. Admittedly, I didn't particularly care for any of the characters- they was all pretty self serving and out of touch, but this is the rare book where that fact didn't cause me to dislike the actual book. Since it sounds as though I am speaking in riddles, I'll stop now.... but I'll definitely recommend this book. I couldn't put it down, and I don't think anyone else will be able to, either.

Hello, Toxic Friends!

Well, if you’re in the mood for toxic friends, diverse main characters, and over-the-top-holy-crap situations, this is the book for you!

This is pure popcorn from the very first page and it does not let up.

I was absolutely appalled by these people and friends I did not care! I wanted to read more and more and more. It’s just so deliciously vicious.

This is a blast of a book feature the WORST people living their WORST lives and I was so here for it!

• ARC via Publisher

Oh my god, You Will Never Be Me was such a fun/wild ride! I literally finished it in one sitting, unable to put it down. I was absolutely engrossed in Meredith and Aspen’s story and how everything was going to play out!

In the age of mommy influencers and family channels and just influencers in general it was so intriguing to see how things can take a dark turn all in the name of views and social media fame. this was so entertaining and dare I say I was rooting for the *bad guy* by the end possibly?

Y’all better not let this one flop!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

📜You Will Never Be Me
✍️Jesse Q. Sutanto
📠Berkley Publishing
📚Mystery/Thriller, Fiction
🗓️Pub date: August 20, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Thank you @NetGalley and @berkleypub for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Also, thank you to @jesseqsutanto for always keeping me glued to the pages 🤩

✨Influencer Meredith Lee had it made, until she took a budding young woman, Aspen Palmer, under her wing, teaching her everything she knew, and made her into an overnight sensation. Then Aspen drops Meredith like a hot potato.

✨The only remedy to this situation is to start stalking Aspen. Meredith convinces herself it’s Stalking Lite—no duct tape, black clothing, chloroform, binoculars, or rope in tow. Joe Goldberg would be grossly disappointed.

✨Once Meredith gets her hands on Aspen’s daughter’s iPad, she has unlocked the vault to Aspen’s social media life—uncut videos and saved material that has yet to be posted.

✨What would it hurt to make a few changes to Aspen’s calendar and posts? What would happen if Meredith steals Aspen’s ideas? After all, Aspen owes her big time.

✨I love Jesse Q. Sutanto’s writing. She’s the queen of emphasizing the complexities of a female friendship (as dysfunctional as it can be for some). I read You Will Never Be Me on the heels of I’m Not Done With You Yet, and it was equally as sharp and amazing! Darkly amusing and keeping up with what society loves most in this day and age—social media and its influencers—this is not one to miss! Loved it!

#netgalley #youwillneverbeme #jesseqsutanto #berkleypub #summerreleases #advancedreadercopy #arc #bookreview #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #ivegotbooks #killmewithwords #idratherbereading #thrillerfiction #socialmediainfluencers #thiscovertho #readthis #now #amazingbook

Influencer Meredith taught up-and-coming influencer Aspen everything about gaining more followers. So, when Aspen surpasses Mer as a momfluencer, Mer gets very jealous. She ends up stealing Aspen's kid's iPad and then causing chaos in Aspen's life.
This was a decent friendship drama in the world of influencers. Not one character is likeable as all they care about are followers and making sure they look Instagram worthy all the time. Aspen's family is sick of always being filmed, but Aspen won't stop making TikToks about their "perfect" life.
I couldn't relate to any of the characters, and it really opened my eyes to what some influencers will do to get followers. I found the first half a little boring, but the main twist comes at the halfway point. I didn't see that coming!
I had to keep reading to find out how it would end. I liked the end, which was very clever.
Overall, a decent read.

If you like friendship drama then does Satanto have one for you! I have read a handful of influencer trope thrillers and man did this one really dive into the delusions of these characters. Okay, NONE of the characters are likable. Not. One. They are selfish, petty, self centered, backstabbing…you get the idea. You find yourself having to root for one of them though. Do you want jealous Meredith or fake Aspen?

When one of them goes missing and the other becomes a suspect you get pure choreographed chaos!

The ending felt a bit rushed but overall I would recommend this book to those who like friendships gone wrong.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC!