Thank you to @Bookishfirst for my free copy of “Followers” by Megan Angelo, which was released on 1/14! I used the points I earned reviewing books on Bookish First to claim this book for FREE! If you would like to earn FREE books by giving your first impressions of the the books in the weekly Bookish First giveaway and also for reviewing books on Bookish First, goto Bookish First , create an account and use my referral code 866866da9d3a27200 and we will BOTH earn bonus points!
“Followers” synopsis: An electrifying story of two ambitious friends, the dark choices they make & the profound moment that changes the meaning of privacy forever.
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Orla Cadden dreams of literary success, but she’s stuck writing about movie-star hookups & influencer yoga moves. Orla has no idea how to change her life until her new roommate, Floss―a striving, wannabe A-lister―comes up with a plan for launching them both into the high-profile lives they so desperately crave. But it’s only when Orla & Floss abandon all pretense of ethics that social media responds with the most terrifying feedback of all: overwhelming success.
Thirty-five years later, in a closed California village where government-appointed celebrities live every moment of the day on camera, a woman named Marlow discovers a shattering secret about her past. Despite her massive popularity―twelve million loyal followers―Marlow dreams of fleeing the corporate sponsors who would do anything, even horrible things, to keep her on-screen. When she learns that her whole family history is a lie, Marlow finally summons the courage to run in search of the truth, no matter the risks.
“Followers” traces the paths of Orla, Floss and Marlow as they wind through time toward each other, & toward a cataclysmic event that sends America into lasting upheaval. At turns wry & tender, bleak & hopeful, this darkly funny story reminds us that even if we obsess over famous people we’ll never meet, what we really crave is genuine human connection.
What a book! If you are on social media, use the internet for everything (um, don’t we all?), use text messaging, etc, READ this book! You will think long & hard about your online presence & lack of all privacy these days, whether willingly or at the hands of apps, social media, or government. (For more on government privacy issues, read Edward Snowden’s “Permanent Record”, better yet, listen to it on audio book. It’s a real eye-opener!) You’ll think at times this book is going to be a thriller, but it’s not. It’s suspenseful at times, but more fiction-drama-human studies-meets Netflix’s “Black Mirror”.
A slow-burn at first, but then unputdownable! “Followers” was released on 1/14/20 so get it today anywhere books are sold or listen to it on audio book by going to Libro.fm and use my special code MOMLOVESREADING and get a 3-for-1 audio book deal. Libro.fm is SO much better than “the other” leading audio book app because Libro.fm supports independent book stores with their audio book purchases (instead of helping to line the pockets of a bajillionaire.) I LOVE Libro.fm and all they stand for, not to mention the ease of their app!
*Mom Loves Reading* 