Six influencers head for a retreat at a luxurious spa in the woods, but they won't all be coming back. The first death looks like it could have been an accident, but with an unexpected snowstorm and a power outage keeping them all stuck in place, it quickly becomes clear that the deaths are only just beginning.

This book just wasn't for me. I couldn't keep my attention on it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

A group of influencers with their agent, stylist and photographer travel to a new retreat in the Catskills to do a marketing campaign. When they arrive, they realize they may be underprepared for the weekend. A snowstorm leaves them stranded with little food and no connection to the outside world. Things go a bit haywire as these influencers are unplugged.

The premise to this book really drew me in. There was definitely some pacing issues but overall I enjoyed the vibe of the mystery thriller. The characters weren't particularly likeable but did have an interesting dynamic with each other. I do wish a couple of the characters had been better fleshed out. The ending also felt like it lacked motivations being completely developed.

Tropes
* Influencers
* Snowed in at a remote cabin
* Locked Door Mystery
* Winter Vibes
* Who-dun-it Mystery

3 stars

Tanya Grant’s Made You Look throws six social media influencers into a remote Catskills retreat, then snatches away their phones, their fans, and any sense of safety. What starts as influencer drama turns fast into a deadly game of survival when it’s clear someone in the group might be a murderer. The tension builds in a setting that’s all icy windows and creeping dread, feeding the isolation and paranoia that quickly take hold.

At the heart of the story is Sydney Kent, the ultimate “It Girl”, magnetic, perfectly put together, and used to living her life on display. But Grant digs beneath the curated surface, exposing the insecurities, rivalries, and secrets that lurk behind every filtered post. The cast, a tight circle of frenemies and would-be allies, lays bare the shifting power plays and fragile egos that define influencer culture.

Grant doesn’t just use the classic locked-room setup to ratchet up suspense; she turns it into a sharp commentary on online life. Stripped of their digital armour, the influencers are forced to face who they really are, and what they’re willing to do when the audience is gone—themes of identity, belonging, and the cost of being constantly “on” permeate the drama.

The writing is razor-sharp, the pace relentless, and the dialogue brims with wit and bite. Grant’s not afraid to show her characters’ dark sides, making for a read that’s as juicy as it is suspenseful. The reveals are clever, the stakes stay high, and the pages pretty much turn themselves.

Made You Look stands out for its fresh, satirical spin on the thriller, its vivid sense of place, and its willingness to both mock and humanize the world of influencers. There’s more than just drama here, Grant finds room for real questions about family, friendship, and what community means when the masks come off. If you can’t stand influencer culture, some characters might leave you cold, and the fast pace could feel overwhelming if you prefer your suspense to unfold at a slower pace. But for anyone who loves a locked-room mystery with a modern twist, this one delivers both chills and sharp social insight.

When a small group is invited to a private retreat in the Catskills by none other than social media royalty, Sydney Kent, the group believes they are in for stardom. Just being in Sydney's presence could raise their followers count. Upon arriving they're struck by the beauty of the cabins and the mountains. The quiet is a chance to unwind from their busy worlds. Unfortunately for them, their online life is their income. Without being seen they could lose everything. Right away parts of the trip package aren't adding up, food is missing and the wifi is spotty. How are they meant to survive? As the weather turns severe and a member of the group ends up dead, will the others begin to place the blame on each other or is their a chance someone else is out there in the woods picking them off one by one.

Tanya Grant wrote a compelling book diving deep into the world of social media and all its flaws. Those who make their income online can lose it in an instant. Her main characters are flawed and struggling with the weight of their choices. Lucy is an immediate favorite for me. As someone behind the camera, she's seeing the world through a different perspective. While Caitlyn, Sydney, and Jeff are all deeply embedded in the online world they've built. This story speaks out strongly about the slippery slope they all stand on online. Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

The synopsis of this book sounded like this would be an amazing thriller- influencers snowed in at a new to open retreat center in the middle of nowhere, no internet or cell service and maybe a murder? What’s not to like about this?
First, it took a while to keep the characters straight, Once I figured that out, I was able to focus on the story. Parts of the story dragged on, I even skipped complete pages that seemed unimportant to the plot. There were some exciting parts, where I wanted to keep going to find out who did what, but they just didn’t work for me. I had plenty of unanswered questions by the end, but that could just be my own need to wrap things up neatly!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I love thrillers where a group of influencers are together and murders occur. This seems to be a new yet rapidly growing trend in the genre. It wasn't my favorite, but there's a few good twists towards the end. One of the characters is gluten free but there was actually detail to it with what foods they ate which I appreciated as a gluten free reader.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Berkeley Books, and author, Tanya Grant for advanced copy copy for honest review

Made You Look, had me looking, seeking and trying to find out who was ruining such a special weekend. Influencers, specifically Sydney, got access to a newly renovated and set to open lodge up in the Catskills. But being an influencer can come at a cost. You don’t know who around you is so jealous that they could kll. While trying to promote different products , including their accommodations, a freak snow storm traps them in. Stopping here without any spoilers, who could be behind getting revenge? After all, jealousy is the thief joy. 5 stars, highly recommend

This book is a bit of a mess but it’s also interesting enough that I wanted to keep reading even while I was rolling my eyes. It’s kind of like watching reality TV.
Many plot points are telegraphed so loudly that it feels like amateur writing, but then these terrible people are interesting enough to follow that I have to praise the writing that kept me turning pages. It’s a mixed bag to be certain, and none of it felt like anything close to real life, but real life if a nightmare so why not.

I love locked-room thrillers and stories about the influencer culture fascinate me so this was pretty much a can't miss! Sydney is an influencer at the top of her game. Well, we all know that the closer to the top you are, the further the fall. She is invited, along with her boyfriend, other influencers and hangers-on to a new retreat in the Catskills in exchange for the publicity. A freak snowstorm comes in and the group is cut off from outside communication. Secrets, and lies and murders, oh my!! The setting was amazing! As a Texas girl who has never seen a REAL snowstorm, I love cold-weather stories and Tanya Grant definitely brought it to life! The characters were all people you love to hate, and I enjoyed the inside look into the lives of influencers. The story is told from three POV's and had a few draggy parts but overall, this was a solid debut. I loved the BUT WAIT! THERE"S MORE! at the end. I will definitely watch for more from Tanya Grant!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Tanya Grant and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Instagram and other social media and retail sites upon publication day of November 18, 2025.

Another twisty thriller with unreliable narrators, a seemingly enviable setting, and a lot that could go wrong - this was a fun ride from beginning to end, and I didn’t guess what was going on until right before it was revealed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC. This book was slow at the beginning 40 percent in before the action really started. But oh boy once it did. I thought I had it figured out a couple of times but the twists were good. The ending wrapped everything up with a pretty bow. Would recommend.

Thank you for the free book, Berkley!

In this atmospheric thriller debut, a group of influencers travel to the Catskills for a preview weekend to share with their followers. When they arrive to the secluded property, they find that there’s no food, Wi-Fi, or staff to help. The group is on their own and when a snowstorm hits, they become desperate. When one of them turns up dead, the situation is downright grim. Will any of them make it through the weekend?

I really enjoyed this take on an influencer/locked room thriller. The setting was creepy and set the stage for isolation and an eerie, unsettling feeling of being watched. The influencers were untrustworthy, unlikable, and made for good unreliable narrators. I liked the contrast of two different narrators, particularly toward the end of the book. Although the twists weren’t earth-shattering, they were still unexpected and provided a good end to the story. This book would make an excellent choice for a cozy fall or winter read to snuggle up by a fire and warm beverage. Just make sure to leave a light on!

If you love Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and thrillers by authors like Alice Feeney or Shari Lapena, then this is a must read! Things go from bad to deadly when a group of influencers heads out on a winter retreat in the woods. Grant explores themes of friendship, envy, and influencer culture in this action-packed thriller.

Made You Look had a really intriguing premise, group of influencers stuck at a snowy retreat with secrets, drama, and a possible killer. The beginning grabbed my attention, and the setting and suspense were fun and atmospheric, giving off a Nine Perfect Strangers vibe. I can totally picture Nicole Kidman playing a lead role in a TV adaptation!

That said, the story lost some momentum about halfway through. The pacing dragged, the characters felt somewhat underdeveloped, and the plot got a little muddled. I didn’t feel fully connected to the people in the story, and some of the drama seemed over the top.

Even so, the ending pulled things together nicely and delivered a fun, dramatic reveal. Overall, it’s an entertaining, quick read, especially if you enjoy influencer culture, suspense, and a snowy, isolated setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The title of this one grabbed me immediately, and the story loved up to it. A killer on a secluded Catskills retreat… count me in!

Solid thriller. So much better than most these days. I was annoyed at what I thought was the "big reveal" after it being so well done until then and then bam, a whole extra, deeper level came along and gave it a solid end.

A little more of the true atmospheric intensity than I prefer for my anxiety level which also therefore lessens my enjoyment, but that's a personal preference.

Impressed at the depth of each story and the characters themselves. Will be interested in more from this author!

Although I wasn't personally connected with any of the characters, after page 50 l was hooked. It took too long for the way the book was described but I enjoyed it once it picked up. It took me two weeks to finish the first 50 pages and then three days to finish the rest. The end I was still left like but why? The social media Stories and post between the chapters added a layer I am realizing I like just POC switches.
Unique location, influencers, and good writing def have put this on in my recommendation list. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for the ARC!

📖 Book Review 📖 This is the story of group of influencers picked to stay in a resort and film themselves for their droves of followers to see what happens when people when people stop being polite... and start getting real. As the snow falls and traps the group, the trip evolves from a glamorous all inclusive luxury getaway to a fight for survival in a slow-burning suspenseful page turner. Listen, I’m not one to root for chaos,backstabbing, and some bloodshed but when it comes to Tanya Grant’s Made You Look, I am here for it.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'Made You Look' by Tanya Grant - expected release date of 11/18/2025. This book was just OK. The characters, storyline, twists and turns, it was all just, eh... There was nothing wrong with any of it, it just lacked depth and excitement. I didn't really care enough about any of the characters to root for them, and when the killers and their motives were revealed, even that didn't bring up my interest.