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lizzyqd's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
k1ttym0del's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoy quick reads that are full of karma. This book was a good pallet cleanser between more intense reads. It’s a pretty straight forward thriller about mom influencers. I was a little disappointed in the ending. I prefer thriller style books that you can look back through the story and figure out all the nuanced ways big reveals are foreshadowed. This book didn’t have that in a satisfying way. It was a good vacation/weekend read, but didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat.
mrs_bright_side's review against another edition
3.0
So none of the characters are particularly redeemable. Dan, the one seemingly decent character, ends up turning a 180, and selling out (hard to believe for his character).
I spent most the time confused bc Emmy is pretending to NOT have it together for the sake of her influencer status on Instagram. The confusing thing for me as a reader is that she doesn’t have it together. Like - her marriage is on thin ice, her daughter has troubles, their family is being targeted. I was very confused why so much emphasis is on her faking when she does have big problems (albeit not the exact ones she says she does).
There’s also confusion in the variety of storytellers. She loops in the connection relatively close to the end. Some hints along the way but hard to keep track and connect with little bits and characters we haven’t connected with/don’t know where they fit.
I did like the subtle moments of the cost of the lifestyle and the insight into it. There’s plenty of not subtle moments but the subtle ones were interesting, particularly Coco’s behavior. 2.5 stars.
I spent most the time confused bc Emmy is pretending to NOT have it together for the sake of her influencer status on Instagram. The confusing thing for me as a reader is that she doesn’t have it together. Like - her marriage is on thin ice, her daughter has troubles, their family is being targeted. I was very confused why so much emphasis is on her faking when she does have big problems (albeit not the exact ones she says she does).
There’s also confusion in the variety of storytellers. She loops in the connection relatively close to the end. Some hints along the way but hard to keep track and connect with little bits and characters we haven’t connected with/don’t know where they fit.
I did like the subtle moments of the cost of the lifestyle and the insight into it. There’s plenty of not subtle moments but the subtle ones were interesting, particularly Coco’s behavior. 2.5 stars.
mand_g's review against another edition
5.0
Ressentiment
The Kierkegaardian concept of ressentiment is at the heart of Ellery Lloyd’s debut novel, People Like Her. Lloyd has married the concept to the digital era phenomenon, Instagram, which is relevant right now. The bones of the story are strong, and it is meticulously crafted. There is a sense of Gone Girl and a dash of Girl on the Train. There are even examples of modern Homeric cataloguing.
Emmy—one of the three narrative voices in the text—plays her life out on social media. She is an ‘Insta-mum’ and has a million followers. She regularly displays photos of herself, her husband and children on the social media platform. However, once her husband Dan has narrated chapter two, the reader discovers that Emmy’s life has a warped sense of reality. Dan’s version of events is very different to hers. She is an unreliable narrator, whereas Dan appears to be reliable. Having said that, Dan’s version may also be questionable as he is oblivious to his own Kierkegaard ressentiment towards his wife; although, he recognises the concept in her followers.
A bent on existentialism bubbles beneath the surface of Emmy’s flawlessly crafted Instagram world. However, although Emmy comes across as a selfish unlikeable character, the reader can’t help but pity her. ‘The Truman Show’ facade begins to crumble when someone else notices, through tragic circumstances, that Emmy isn’t giving honest advice to her followers.
The third narrator—the follower— bears similarities to the underground man in Dostoevsky’s Notes From the Underground. Similarly to underground man, this narrator goes unnoticed and remains nameless through most of the story, which adds to the rising tension.
I read a lot in this genre, so I usually have an idea of where a story is going; However, in People Like Her, the plot twists and turns, and flips the perceived outcome on its head. The aftershocks are already rippling through my social media usage.
The Kierkegaardian concept of ressentiment is at the heart of Ellery Lloyd’s debut novel, People Like Her. Lloyd has married the concept to the digital era phenomenon, Instagram, which is relevant right now. The bones of the story are strong, and it is meticulously crafted. There is a sense of Gone Girl and a dash of Girl on the Train. There are even examples of modern Homeric cataloguing.
Emmy—one of the three narrative voices in the text—plays her life out on social media. She is an ‘Insta-mum’ and has a million followers. She regularly displays photos of herself, her husband and children on the social media platform. However, once her husband Dan has narrated chapter two, the reader discovers that Emmy’s life has a warped sense of reality. Dan’s version of events is very different to hers. She is an unreliable narrator, whereas Dan appears to be reliable. Having said that, Dan’s version may also be questionable as he is oblivious to his own Kierkegaard ressentiment towards his wife; although, he recognises the concept in her followers.
A bent on existentialism bubbles beneath the surface of Emmy’s flawlessly crafted Instagram world. However, although Emmy comes across as a selfish unlikeable character, the reader can’t help but pity her. ‘The Truman Show’ facade begins to crumble when someone else notices, through tragic circumstances, that Emmy isn’t giving honest advice to her followers.
The third narrator—the follower— bears similarities to the underground man in Dostoevsky’s Notes From the Underground. Similarly to underground man, this narrator goes unnoticed and remains nameless through most of the story, which adds to the rising tension.
I read a lot in this genre, so I usually have an idea of where a story is going; However, in People Like Her, the plot twists and turns, and flips the perceived outcome on its head. The aftershocks are already rippling through my social media usage.
a_chickletz's review against another edition
2.0
Talk about a mostly boring book about the dangers of social media.
I disliked the main character and I thought the only one who had any sort of a 'mind' was her husband. Who unfortunately was painted to be somewhat of a villain in this piece?
The villain themselves was hard to understand why they were stalking/out to get the main character for a good chunk of the book. It isn't until the last fourth of the book do you really understand.
The outcome of the book was not something I saw coming and or the ramifications on how the family handled their issue of the stalker and the effect that it had on her family and or her followers.
For a duo, husband and wife, working on this book... concerning.
I disliked the main character and I thought the only one who had any sort of a 'mind' was her husband. Who unfortunately was painted to be somewhat of a villain in this piece?
The villain themselves was hard to understand why they were stalking/out to get the main character for a good chunk of the book. It isn't until the last fourth of the book do you really understand.
The outcome of the book was not something I saw coming and or the ramifications on how the family handled their issue of the stalker and the effect that it had on her family and or her followers.
For a duo, husband and wife, working on this book... concerning.
martinaferro's review against another edition
2.0
This book had way too much telling and not enough showing, which got boring after a while.
I thought the social media aspect would be interesting but the execution didn’t do it for me. It was too simplistic and unrealistically shallow. I’d have appreciated a more complex take. Not just a ‘social media is bad because people are all fake’ take.
I thought the social media aspect would be interesting but the execution didn’t do it for me. It was too simplistic and unrealistically shallow. I’d have appreciated a more complex take. Not just a ‘social media is bad because people are all fake’ take.
lydabuff's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
3.5
Overall a good book but go in with a warning, there are two very graphic descriptions of child death. I was not ready for how dark bits of the book became.
I felt the book lumbered on in places, you could've missed whole chapters and still understood the plot.
I didn't really like any of the characters, but was more sympathetic to one, however unacceptable their behaviour was.
I felt the book lumbered on in places, you could've missed whole chapters and still understood the plot.
I didn't really like any of the characters, but was more sympathetic to one, however unacceptable their behaviour was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
jessika2391's review against another edition
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Self harm
jnmoore's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
clairebeedee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Dark but great thriller. Well developed plot, great pace