Ruby is going viral. She is a senior editor for an online media publication and she prides herself on her feminism and socially progressive work. But suddenly everyone online hates her.
This novel offers a new take on something that we deal with more and more. It goes beyond a simple narrative of online bullying or "cancel culture" and takes a more complex look at truth/lies, good/bad, fair/unfair. It takes a nuanced look at the way good intentions can turn and allies can become enemies. It's not that Ruby hasn't done anything wrong or doesn't deserve the hate, but it shows how anything can be taken out of context and anything can be framed to suit a narrative.
The first half of the book builds tension extremely well. It honestly felt like I was following this story online, wanting to click the clickbait and hate-read all the comments as quickly as I could. I was worried the second half would drag, but it introduces more depth to the characters and new perspectives on the issues.
Overall, it was a great read. Well written and page-turny, but with plenty of depth.
4.5 stars!

I struggled to enjoy this book, a novel which reads more like a homily. The morals of this novel have been explored before, in ways which are more interesting, compelling, and entertaining. This is not really a bad book, but it is very ordinary.

Ruby Williams is the editor of Bared, an online news magazine aimed primarily at young women. She thrives on the fast pace and constant pressure, even as she feels a little worn down by it. And then one day, she publishes an article – and before too long, a full scale internet pile on is in train.

Stephens is not subtle in her writing. We get her point, and then she belabours it. And then hits us with it again to make sure we’ve not missed it.

Unfortunately I didn’t find any of the main characters here to be particularly sympathetic. Ruby is supposed to be, a well meaning victim of a mistake and a person eager for clicks and engagement. But she’s a drab little character, obsessed with her phone and the internet, without any interesting or redeeming characteristics. A late attempt to redeem – or at least explain – some of her tormentors also fails. They still felt a little too cartoon-villainy for my tastes.

It's true that some of the minor characters, notably Ruby’s partner and one of her friends, are interesting and seemed sympathetic. But they get very little space in the novel.

The world of Bared, and the demands of running an on-line publication are vividly portrayed. Presumably Stephens has brought her own experience to bear here, with an interesting and grounded result. I associate Stephens herself with poor quality journalism, but this has not hampered her ability to bring the environment to life.

In the end I just couldn’t like this novel. It dwells on issues that have been explored better elsewhere, and doesn’t have enough to offer to make it memorable in any way. In many ways this felt lifeless, and I was left disappointed.

I was HOOKED! This is a brilliant exploration into the darksides of working in media, and the lasting impact of our digital footprints. Truly had me gasping aloud at points!