This book was so disappointing.

I requested this from NetGalley based on the premise because I thought it would be an interesting and well put together mystery.

This story turned out to me so dramatically underwhelming. I literally had to force myself to finish it.

Again; reading is subjective so if you want to read this by all means enjoy but for me I really don’t like a lot of nagging, dramatic stories with family drama. This felt like a reality show in the worst way.

Once I realized it was a YA Novel it clicked. I am not a heavy YA reader so I think that could have added to the disappointment as well.

1/5 stars: This is McLemore's stand-alone which is a BIPOC Literary Mystery that follows the aftermath of a massively successful influencer's husband's murder and the fire that destroyed her mansion. The main suspects, the woman's children whose childhood she put online and profited off of. But they're are all grown up now and the ramifications of having their entire childhoods commodified start to spill over into public view. This has a mystery at the center but it's not the main plot point, it's about the lives of the five children, now adults, and how they're dealing with the way they grew up and those ramifications. Told in multiple POVs, McLemore's writing and character work are nicely done. McLemore touches on some very sensitive topics; so take care and CWs. Unfortunately, this just wasn't a book for me; leading me to DNF it at 16%.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book was a bit confusing intially as it was told from multiple perspectives with similar in nature names. I did enjoy this family drama and thought it reminded me of the TV show Filthy Rich, wildly entertaining while sharp and suspenseful.

I’m so grateful to have been given the chance to read this arc! My first one!

I loved the premise of this book, and the different POVs in this story are unlike anything I have encountered before. The group POVs especially held my curiosity.

That being said I did find it a little difficult to maintain the timeline and follow each characters train of thought. This book slowed down a lot for me in the middle but that twist!! Toward the end!! I did not see it coming and I was kicking myself because I definitely should have.

The conclusion of this was a little lackluster for me but dang this was a great case study in what influencers are bringing about for their kids if they include them in content, and I appreciated this book bringing up that conversation.

The plot intrigued me and I figured I'd eat this up, but it fell flat for me. I liked the suspense leading up to trying to figure out how August died, and all of the different POVs with all of the siblings. It had me going for just one more chapter 10x a night! But it was definitely way too long. I figured I was at 50% and when I checked I was only at 17%! Then, with all of the build-up to the ending, it just wasn't surprising and exciting like I had hoped it would be. Great concept, but didn't love the execution.

This one wasn't my favorite. The writing style was certainly unique, but it didn't hit with me. I didn't like the characters, the plot was just okay, and the book was WAY too long, in my opinion. I'm sure many will love this one but it just wasn't for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is well timed with so many family you tubers and social media influences coming under scandal and scrutiny lately. This doesn’t story doesn’t seem so far fetched.

This was an enjoyable debut from various POV’s. There were twists and turns and I did not see that coming. I enjoyed it. It wasn’t the best book I’ve read this year but the right audience will love it. I would recommend it to those who love true crime and influencer fall from grace.

Oof. This had a lot of potential but didn’t quite make the mark. The characters lacked, the plot lacked, everything just lacked… While the plot is timely with the uprising of family vloggers/influencers, the story itself fell flat.

Five sisters with obnoxiously annoying names, and their mother's social media empire, also annoyingly named, are at the center of this mystery that left me annoyed. So much so that I ended up DNF-ing this at about the 30 percent mark. I really tried my best, but I just think this wasn't the right one for me. Social media is already insufferable, but this took the cake. So grateful for NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC, but sadly this one didn't work for me.

Ever wonder what happens when a social media empire burns to the ground? In The Influencers, five sisters are accused of torching their mother's carefully curated kingdom. And honestly, you might end up rooting for them.

McLemore's adult debut follows the family behind Mother May I, a social media phenomenon who turned her daughters – April, June, July, January, and the vanished March – into unwitting stars. But beneath the Valencia filters and perfectly staged moments lies a powder keg of resentment just waiting for a match.

The story unfolds through the sisters' eyes, each voice distinct and crackling with tension. April fights her mother for control of her own image. The twins, June and July, threaten to outshine their creator. And at the center of it all, a mother who never learned when to put down the camera.

What makes this book sing isn't just its delicious mystery – it's how McLemore dissects our obsession with influence. They show us the bruises beneath the highlight reel, the way parents can turn children into content, and the brutal cost of living life through a lens.

Sure, the story sometimes gets tangled in its own web of perspectives, and thriller purists might grumble about the pacing. But that's missing the point. This isn't just a whodunit – it's a sharp-toothed commentary on what happens when your childhood becomes someone else's brand.

The Influencers isn't perfect, but it's perfectly timed. In an era where kids become content before they can walk, McLemore asks: at what point does influence become abuse? And when your whole life is content, what wouldn't you do to take back control?

3.5 stars. This is a good choice if you like family drama with social commentary and a dash of arson.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honesr review.


I had to DNF this book. Unfortunately I dont think I was the target audience and was pretty bored while reading. I liked the premise and felt it had great potential but just fell flat for me.

DNF @ 20%

I'm so sad that this didn't work for me :( I loved Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore, so I was hopeful going into this one. I started reading this in December and didn't pick it up again until mid-February as a last ditch effort. I loved the idea, and the family dynamics were fascinating. I was honestly more invested in where March (one of the Iverson sisters) was than who murdered May Iverson's husband, August. There are so many mixed reviews on this book that I think you just need to pick it up and see for yourself; you might end up vibing with it! To me it just feels waaaay too long.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book!

Some people will like this book, and it’s well written. There was some interesting turns and twists. Overall, this book is a summary of a lot of online conversations in a novel. The takes and metaphors in it are really obvious to me, and it doesn’t really have a fresh perspective. It’s like she’s hammering you over the head with the point. I don’t mind this book at all and I’m sure it’ll sell, but it wasn’t a revelation.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this novel early in exchange for a review.

I probably wasn't the right audience for this book.

The blurbs describe it as "a campy and escapist exploration of race, gender, sexuality, and class" -- and to me it was not that at all. Race, gender, and sexuality were used as simple plot devices to score points as much with readers of the book as any influencer would do in trying to sell a product.

I realize that's more or less the point of publishing a novel, but it's not one that worked well for me.

the overall story was good. the answers to all the questions we have are answered by the end, the characters are interesting, and the environment/plot is unique and fun. the way it’s told is also really interesting and keeps attention. it moved a little slow at the beginning, but able to push through. there were a few things i didn’t like though. i felt like some plot points came out of nowhere and weren’t fairly hinted at mostly for shock value as opposed to mystery story vibe. i also felt like some character opinions/thoughts came in randomly and weren’t fairly hinted supposed to be big but the fact that it was so random made it feel fake. overall good, but not my fave

pretty good. i liked the vibes. i loved the rep. i wasn't a huge fan of any of the chars at all, and the murder was meh. 3 stars. tysm for the arc.

I will be recommending this to everyone I know when it comes out because this book has it all! Great plotting, unforgettable characters, and a riveting mystery.

Interesting premise, but it was a bit slow at the start. I did enjoy the eccentricity of the characters and learning their backstories, but the pacing was not the best.

2.5⭐️

This book had incredible potential. The overall concept is so interesting and unique which immediately draws you into the story. The ever changing perspectives in this book are so fun and again so unique!

I enjoyed a lot about this book including the family and sibling dynamics. I also really enjoyed being in so many different POVs throughout the story and the writing style was quite enjoyable.

Where this book fell flat was the ending. There was nothing to really tie the book together. The mystery felt unresolved despite the entire book leading you up to what really happened. I would say I greatly enjoyed the first 75% of this book despite it being a bit slow at times. The last 25% of the book was just confusing and seemed like an afterthought. Overall mixed emotions on The Influencers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC.

4.5./5, this one surprised me! I was curious about it based on the description, and one of the blurbs referring to it as a "Knives out, but influencers" type plot. When I started, I wasn't sure it would be as solid as it was. Initial chapters left me doubting. I found the multi-POV from each daughter, the mother, and other important characters very interesting. I enjoyed the fan perspectives / public perspectives, but would have been ok with less of those chapters and more from the main characters.

The Influencers did one key thing: it KEPT ME READING. I couldn't put it down because I had to know if I was right, and how everything played out.
There are a lot of different commentaries in here that are needed in today's world of over-sharing. I appreciated that it looked at the life of Mother May I from when I was coming up with bloggers etc, to the way influencers are today.

Give this a read: it'll surprise you.

thank you to penguin & NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.