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vacantbones's review against another edition
5.0
What an absolutely beautiful stunner of a book.
As I write this review, I've just read the last page of Followers and am hours away from getting on the train for my trip. I was in a time crunch to finish this read, which usually means that I sort of speed read the last pages without really taking much time to think about what it is I'm seeing. Not with Followers, though. I savored every last page up until that perfectly emotional ending.
I could sit here and wax poetic about the ideas Angelo is touching on - things about media consumption, celebrity, technology, the state of American politics, motherhood. I could talk about how well she paints a portrait of a future in which we've simply gone too far. But I'm really so dumbfounded by how unexpectedly delightful I found this gem to be that I can't conjure up the brain cells to do so. Instead, I'll just say this: this book is both bitingly humorous and emotionally poignant. I think I'm going to have to pick up a copy for my shelf because I'm dreading dropping it in the library return slot.
Truly did not think I'd like this book this much (not a big fan of futuristic takes), but it's high up on my 5 star list. Strong recommend.
As I write this review, I've just read the last page of Followers and am hours away from getting on the train for my trip. I was in a time crunch to finish this read, which usually means that I sort of speed read the last pages without really taking much time to think about what it is I'm seeing. Not with Followers, though. I savored every last page up until that perfectly emotional ending.
I could sit here and wax poetic about the ideas Angelo is touching on - things about media consumption, celebrity, technology, the state of American politics, motherhood. I could talk about how well she paints a portrait of a future in which we've simply gone too far. But I'm really so dumbfounded by how unexpectedly delightful I found this gem to be that I can't conjure up the brain cells to do so. Instead, I'll just say this: this book is both bitingly humorous and emotionally poignant. I think I'm going to have to pick up a copy for my shelf because I'm dreading dropping it in the library return slot.
Truly did not think I'd like this book this much (not a big fan of futuristic takes), but it's high up on my 5 star list. Strong recommend.
brandidean's review against another edition
3.0
This is a low 3, but it could be that I was too distracted to enjoy it. Definitely an interesting plot and parts of it I did get pretty into. About halfway through I recommended it to a couple of people — can’t decide if I should go take the rec back! But it seemed to drag on for a looong time. And usually when a book is switching back and forth between timelines or perspective, you should be left wanting more at the end of each section, right? But I was usually glad to get away from the head of whomever we’d been with. Definitely more of an “oh good, we’re moving on” than a “nooo, don’t leave me hanging!”
I just had an hour left in the audio book last night (and I did think the narrator did a good job), so I decided to push through and finish it. I was nodding off a bit at the end, but my impression was that there really wasn’t any big climax. The threads come together, there’s a big monologue to catch the old timeline up, the characters meet and talk and everything’s fine. It was a lot of work to get to such a flat ending.
Edited to add ... I think the problem is the 2016 timeline has a climax, but the 2053 (or whatever it was) did not. And the 2016 climax was a good bit before the actual end. So it felt off.
I just had an hour left in the audio book last night (and I did think the narrator did a good job), so I decided to push through and finish it. I was nodding off a bit at the end, but my impression was that there really wasn’t any big climax. The threads come together, there’s a big monologue to catch the old timeline up, the characters meet and talk and everything’s fine. It was a lot of work to get to such a flat ending.
Edited to add ... I think the problem is the 2016 timeline has a climax, but the 2053 (or whatever it was) did not. And the 2016 climax was a good bit before the actual end. So it felt off.
amylauren36's review against another edition
3.0
I am loving me some love stories lately!
This book was cute. Nothing totally groundbreaking, but I loved the premise and how the main characters meet. We can all relate to the dread of doing something alone that’s meant for couples (like a wedding haha) and trying to find a date last minute time something.
If you like cute romantic fluffy books- this one’s a good place to start! I can’t wait to read the other ones by her!
“ Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn't normally do. But there's something about Drew Nichols that's too hard to resist.
On the eve of his ex's wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend...
After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she's the mayor's chief of staff. Too bad they can't stop thinking about the other...
They're just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century--or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want...”
This book was cute. Nothing totally groundbreaking, but I loved the premise and how the main characters meet. We can all relate to the dread of doing something alone that’s meant for couples (like a wedding haha) and trying to find a date last minute time something.
If you like cute romantic fluffy books- this one’s a good place to start! I can’t wait to read the other ones by her!
“ Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn't normally do. But there's something about Drew Nichols that's too hard to resist.
On the eve of his ex's wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend...
After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she's the mayor's chief of staff. Too bad they can't stop thinking about the other...
They're just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century--or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want...”
blankpagealex's review against another edition
4.0
This is a brilliantly woven thriller about our willingness to give up our own privacy and the consequences of an increasingly open world. The characters are rich and the twists are unpredictable and build on the themes in a smart, interesting way.
As someone who is not overly invested in social media, the 2016 timeline felt a little far-fetched in how much the world cares about one so-called "influencer" and the mistake that leads to her inevitable "cancelling" (the book never uses that phrase) seemed pretty benign. However, the Truman Show-esque 2051 timeline felt wholly accurate and was brilliantly intertwined with the characters who we meet decades before.
The message here is dark, but ultimately hopeful and this page-turner is definitely worth your time!
As someone who is not overly invested in social media, the 2016 timeline felt a little far-fetched in how much the world cares about one so-called "influencer" and the mistake that leads to her inevitable "cancelling" (the book never uses that phrase) seemed pretty benign. However, the Truman Show-esque 2051 timeline felt wholly accurate and was brilliantly intertwined with the characters who we meet decades before.
The message here is dark, but ultimately hopeful and this page-turner is definitely worth your time!
attyrania's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
trigger warning: su!c!d3.
black mirror-coded, me thinkz. thought-provoking. funny at times. beautiful storytelling.
black mirror-coded, me thinkz. thought-provoking. funny at times. beautiful storytelling.
alitad's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jesssica__berg's review against another edition
4.0
a gripping exploration into the complexities of our online personas versus our real selves, a theme that's more relevant now than ever. This novel is a smart, thought-provoking dive into the future of social media, friendship, and the fine line between public and private life.
Angelo constructs a compelling narrative that alternates between past and future timelines, illustrating the long-term effects of our current digital obsessions. Her characters are a mix of ambition, vulnerability, and flawed humanity, making them both relatable and fascinating. Orla, Floss, and Marlow's intertwined stories reveal the dark underbelly of internet fame and the high cost it demands on personal relationships and self-identity.
What truly stands out in "Followers" is Angelo's speculative take on the future of social media. It's both imaginative and unsettlingly plausible, serving as a cautionary tale that resonates deeply in today's selfie-obsessed culture. The futuristic aspects are well-crafted, offering a mirror to our present-day actions and their potential to shape our future.
Angelo's writing is sharp and insightful, weaving societal critiques with personal dramas in a way that's both entertaining and enlightening. Her depiction of the contrast between online facades and real-life complexities is handled with finesse, making the reader question their own digital footprints and connections.
I'm giving "Followers" four stars because while the book offers an engaging and insightful reflection on digital culture, some parts felt a bit overdrawn, and the pacing occasionally lagged. However, the novel ultimately delivers a powerful message about the importance of genuine human connections in a world increasingly dominated by screens and superficial interactions.
Angelo constructs a compelling narrative that alternates between past and future timelines, illustrating the long-term effects of our current digital obsessions. Her characters are a mix of ambition, vulnerability, and flawed humanity, making them both relatable and fascinating. Orla, Floss, and Marlow's intertwined stories reveal the dark underbelly of internet fame and the high cost it demands on personal relationships and self-identity.
What truly stands out in "Followers" is Angelo's speculative take on the future of social media. It's both imaginative and unsettlingly plausible, serving as a cautionary tale that resonates deeply in today's selfie-obsessed culture. The futuristic aspects are well-crafted, offering a mirror to our present-day actions and their potential to shape our future.
Angelo's writing is sharp and insightful, weaving societal critiques with personal dramas in a way that's both entertaining and enlightening. Her depiction of the contrast between online facades and real-life complexities is handled with finesse, making the reader question their own digital footprints and connections.
I'm giving "Followers" four stars because while the book offers an engaging and insightful reflection on digital culture, some parts felt a bit overdrawn, and the pacing occasionally lagged. However, the novel ultimately delivers a powerful message about the importance of genuine human connections in a world increasingly dominated by screens and superficial interactions.
rachelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I was really into this book and then the ending just fell really flat.