this was certainly different from the books I usually read, but I loved it! It was a breath of fresh air, really had me thinking about our media/influencer culture, and gripped me from the very beginning. I would definitely recommend this one!

The cover is what caught my attention and when I got approved I was excited!

It took me awhile to remember who was who by the “month of the year names” but overall I liked this book! It was a great take on how social media effects us and how most people take social media so serious.

The Influencers by Anna-Marie McLemore is a captivating novel that explores the complexities of identity, fame, and the power of social media. The story follows a diverse cast of characters, each grappling with their own challenges and aspirations as they navigate the pressures of online influence. McLemore’s lyrical writing style and vivid imagery bring the characters' struggles to life, making their journeys feel both authentic and relatable. I loved how the book delves into themes of self-acceptance and the impact of societal expectations, making it a thought-provoking read. This novel is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of modern life and personal identity!

The way I wanted to love this one so much. The premise had such good potential. So much could have been explored and done, but unfortunately it missed the mark for me. It was slow, dragging and a little lackluster. I felt like the story was a little all over the place and it was hard for me to keep interest. Also, I felt like there was so much filler and that is something I don't enjoy, I like stories to be straight to the point.

First, excellent cover. It’s what caught my attention and pulled me in.

Synopsis: Secrets come to light as Lily May “Mother May I” Iverson’s second husband, August, is murdered and their house is burned. Her five mixed-race children — January, March April, and twins June and July — are grown adults now after having had their entire childhoods uploaded online for the world to see — and judge. And they are the top suspects.

Like the book’s description says, it’s an “exploration of race, gender, sexuality and class.” I would describe this as a contemporary thriller with a splash of satire. It pokes fun at the mom-fluencer lifestyle but also notes its real hazards and consequences. It includes commentary on the consumers of this content, the online forum commenters who post anonymously and the true crime vloggers who think they can solve any case from the other side of the country.

The first half was stronger than the second half, which felt redundant, disorganized and at times confusing. Great writing (!!!) but needs another round of editing for cohesiveness. Still, this was a solid page-turner.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Random House and The Dial Press for an advanced reader copy of #TheInfluencers. To be published April 15, 2025.

An excellent take on influencers, the culture of voyurism we all live with, and the effects of living in front of a camera on all the kids of momfluencers. Picture the kids of your favorite mommy-blogger, all grown up, some continuing the family business and some running as far away as possible. Picture their new stepfather, dead in the house their mother's work (and their stolen childhoods) bought. The Inverson daughters, all whimsically named for months of the year, are the prime suspects in his murder, though the police investigation is less troubling to them than the leaks of old videos, outtakes and moments thought private now spilled across the Internet. A brilliant book, with a central mystery that builds tension but takes a backseat to the complicated family dynamics and tragedies that come from a live lived without privacy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for an ARC, and here is my honest review.

I loved the title and cover design for this book, as well as the premise — it really drew me in! While I enjoyed the story, I felt that it drug on a bit to the point that the reader isn’t really interested in figuring out who the killer might be. I did enjoy that the story gave light to the pros and cons of growing up in the social media spotlight and how it can alter family dimensions.

The way the chapters were set up and the way the story was written was great! I liked how each chapter was from different perspectives, especially the with outside looking in and speculating. I felt that this would be a great read and hold attention better if it were possibly 100 pages shorter, but I do understand that the mass amount of attention to detail is a big part of this book which is why I feel it was as long as it was.

I was hoping for more of a suspenseful feel for this book based on the summary, but I felt it was more of a story following the realities of growing up as influencers with a *splash* of murder-mystery. I did love the feeling that this could be real events, even with the murder on the side. It didn’t seem too far-fetched and dug into the minds not only of those who follow influencers, but the influencers themselves.

The Influencers was a very fun take on the conceit of social media and the influencer lifestyle. While a touch too slow for me; took me a little bit to get all of the characters and perspectives straight, but once I did, I enjoyed this.

I really love books, especially thrillers, about vlogger families, and The Influencers was a very fun take on this theme. It took me a little bit to get all of the characters and perspectives straight, but once I did, I really enjoyed reading this.

Cute story that feels especially relevant as kids of early influencers are growing up. I didn’t love the characters, but it was a quick read and fun escape into this wild world of Internet fame.

Definitely a book for our current time. Relevant, well done and well written. I truly enjoyed reading it and found it an easy pace to get through. Simple and light read. Don't expect a lit fiction Dickens novel or a documentary on the affects of social media. Parenting and social media and the effects of it are unfortunately our current world in pretty much every country where minors have internet access and parents can make a buck making videos especially with their kids.

I'm not sure if it was a formatting issue for the ARC on Kindle but it looked kinda funky when I started reading it & I couldn't get past that. I felt it was too light & rom com for me. May also have had something to do with attempting to read/concentrate after breaking 4 fingers on my right hand so you probably don't want to take this particular review too serious.

I love this influencer parody story time books. I found this comical and relatable since social media is such a huge influence in our modern day society.

Wow, such an interesting book to read in these weird times we live in where people use their children for social media content and show their entire lives. Can really open up some important discussions.

Nope. While I feel as though the premise was good - the lasting affect of social media in the lives of children that have been essentially forced to be their parents content - I feel like it missed the mark!
Not the worst book I ever read, but a solid 2.5 stars (rounded up for the rating). Would not recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for the E-Arc.

The premise is fantastic and the book opens with an exciting mystery. When a successful influencer’s husband is murdered, it seems like there are no lack of suspects, including the influencer’s five children who grew up in the spotlight and resent having their upbringing online for anyone to see…

The structure of the book worked for the most part, with short and dynamic chapters that denoted how much time has passed since the killing of August. What didn’t work for me so well were the flashbacks within the chapters - I wasn’t sure what was going on at times and it doesn’t help that I couldn’t always keep track of which Mother May I child was which. There are a lot of topics brought up including parasocial relationships, gender, race, class, exploitation, the ethics of influencing, etc. Because there are so many characters and so many topics, I’m not sure any of them were explored all that deeply. Still, I enjoyed the read and unusual plot (and I would definitely watch a series based on the book!). 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Huge thank you to NetGally and the publishers for the ARC.
Great adult debut by Anna-Marie McLemore.
The beginning was a bit hard to follow with so many characters introduced all at once. Would definitely love this to be made into a TV show.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Influencers focuses on yes, influencers, but also the impact of the mommy influencers on their children, all grown up, and on themselves. May Iverson has her daughters grow up with the emergence of social media, blogging, YouTubing, and Instagramming their childhoods and her own tips and tricks on the most perfect lifestyle. With her daughters all grown up she marries August, who started out as a personal trainer in training and quickly became a social media fame hanger-oner. When August is suspected murdered and part of May’s home torched, the followers of Mother May I, May’s handle, act as our Greek chorus, filling us in on May and her daughters (all under investigation by the police and media) and helping to ramp up the tension as someone begins to expose May and her perfect life as not so perfect. The mysterious thread that also runs throughout is where March, the Iverson daughter who disappeared years ago, is in all of this.

This story focuses on a lot of things, domestic relations, personal choices of gender and upbringing, and of course, the mystery of who killed August. It most shines as a realistic story of what the impact influence can bring, what it can do to young children growing up in a spotlight they didn’t choose, and what type of person it takes to create that environment for them. I’d recommend picking this one up no matter where your interests vary across those topics, because it’s not only well written it reads as believable even with some of its more extremes.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Influencers” by Anna-Marie McLemore is a gripping exploration of family dynamics, the impact of social media, and the dark side of growing up in the public eye. Centered around the Iverson family, a group of five sisters who have spent their lives as social media influencers, the book is part murder mystery, part critique of influencer culture, and wholly captivating.

The story begins with the death of the Iverson sisters' stepfather and the subsequent fire that destroys their mother's house. The sisters, who were once stars of their mother's highly popular channel "Mother May I," are thrust into the spotlight yet again—this time as prime suspects in a murder investigation. As the investigation unfolds, so do decades of family secrets, resentments, and the pressures of a life lived under constant scrutiny.

One of the strongest elements of “The Influencers” is its portrayal of the psychological impact of being raised as child influencers. McLemore does a fantastic job capturing the effects of growing up with every moment of your life on display, showing how it shaped each of the Iverson sisters differently. The exploration of parasocial relationships—the one-sided connections that fans form with influencers—feels both current and deeply relevant, highlighting the thin line between fame and exploitation. As awareness of these issues with child influencers and parasocial relationships becomes more and more prevalent in today’s society, I think this book will really help open people’s eyes to these issues.

The characters are richly developed, each with their own complex backstory. April, the oldest sister, has stepped away from the limelight to become a businesswoman. The twins, June and July, continue to thrive in the influencer world with their own channel, while January has distanced herself from social media entirely, working in theater tech. The youngest sister, March, is shrouded in mystery, having disappeared from the public eye two years ago. Their mother, May, remains a fascinating character as well—her perspective offers insight into her motivations and her justifications for the choices that have impacted her daughters' lives so profoundly.

The pacing of the book can be a bit uneven, with a slower start before picking up momentum. However, once the story dives into the complexities of the murder mystery and the family’s hidden tensions, it becomes difficult to put down. The twists and turns are well-executed, even if some of the plot points can feel a bit predictable. But the true strength of the book lies in its examination of the dark realities of influencer culture, rather than solely in the murder investigation itself, and this particular exploration is what I enjoyed the most about this book.

One unique aspect of the narrative is the way it includes the perspective of the fan base. McLemore cleverly uses this device to show how public figures are dissected and judged by people who think they know them through their online personas. It’s a striking commentary on how social media creates a false sense of intimacy, leading fans to speculate, point fingers, and even "gather evidence" without truly understanding the people they follow.
Overall, “The Influencers” is a compelling read that offers a sharp critique of the digital age while still acting as an engaging mystery. It offers a fresh perspective on the lives of social media influencers, particularly those who never had a choice in their fame. If you're interested in a story that dives deep into family secrets, the complexities of fame, and the impact of living in the public eye, this book is definitely worth a read.

The Influencers is my setting sweet spot. While I appreciated the interesting writing style and points of view, I would have been able to better connect with the characters had their POV chapters been written in first person. I also would have enjoyed more insight into details of the influencer lifestyle. Still, though the ending didn't completely land for me, I enjoyed the ride. 3 Stars.