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The Influencer
Dive into the diabolical new domestic thriller from a USA Today bestselling author. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Jeneva Rose, Colleen Hoover and Alice Feeney. Shae Halston lives a life of luxury–at least that’s what her followers think.
After a devastating affair ends her marriage, the internet influencer and It Girl must confront her new normal without losing her grip on reality–or any of her devoted followers. In an act of furious desperation, Shae befriends her husband’s new lover, but the closer she gets to their new life the more her mental health unravels. Soon, manic delusions replace her sanity and before long compulsive thoughts of revenge obsess her until the lines between her online persona and reality blur.
When a tragic accident turns violent, the spotlight turns to Shae and the threat of losing everything looms again. Until an opportunity arises that could secure her freedom for good…even at the cost of another life.
After a devastating affair ends her marriage, the internet influencer and It Girl must confront her new normal without losing her grip on reality–or any of her devoted followers. In an act of furious desperation, Shae befriends her husband’s new lover, but the closer she gets to their new life the more her mental health unravels. Soon, manic delusions replace her sanity and before long compulsive thoughts of revenge obsess her until the lines between her online persona and reality blur.
When a tragic accident turns violent, the spotlight turns to Shae and the threat of losing everything looms again. Until an opportunity arises that could secure her freedom for good…even at the cost of another life.
274 pages, Paperback
Published January 13, 2024
4452 people are currently reading
35092 people want to read
About the author
Adriane Leigh
61 books2,887 followersis a USA Today bestselling author of multiple novels and novellas. With appearances in publications such as Vogue Magazine and The Montreal Gazette, the award-winning author, in addition to writing, founded RARE: Romance Author & Reader Events, a community of internationally-renowned book conventions that draw thousands of readers and #1 bestselling authors to events around the world each year.
She hosts a podcast, The Rebel Artist, and her books are translated into French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.
She lives on Lake Michigan with her family.
She hosts a podcast, The Rebel Artist, and her books are translated into French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.
She lives on Lake Michigan with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 745 reviews
March 2, 2025
Wow I hated this book. It was bad. Like nothing made sense, I didn’t like a single character and I just didn’t care about anything that happened to them. I was confused the whole time and just wanted something to happen. The dialogue just went in complete circles like the characters just kept repeating themselves but then they’d also constantly contradict themselves? I like didn’t know what any of them actually thought about anything. Anyways no way am I finishing this series. Sorry girly author but it just was not for me
July 27, 2025
I have seen a lot of marketing for this one, especially on my IG feed, so I had to read it after some of my favorite authors mentioned it as worthy. I listened to the audio and it was a quick 4 hours, but packed with suspense. The writing is good and full of manic delusions.
Shae is a huge influencer while her husband Dean is a realtor. Her followers and success has grown into epic numbers, but her attention for her husband has downsized, as well as his business. It soon becomes obvious she cannot afford the styles, marketing techniques and places to keep up her glamorous lifestyle. She also pays a stunning Jesika for her marketing on Instagram. Dean soon leaves her for Jesika. Her manic delusions replace her sanity with obsession. She follows them and befriends the very pregnant Jesika, as she plots to kill both of them.
The author uses a lot of sarcasm, but it soon turns into an unhinged quest for revenge, blurring the lines of reality and she cannot determine which was dreamed or created. It does become very disturbing and graphic. I kept thinking there would be more or expecting a different ending, but overall it was a quick twist on a thriller and cannot wait for the other two books in the series.
Shae is a huge influencer while her husband Dean is a realtor. Her followers and success has grown into epic numbers, but her attention for her husband has downsized, as well as his business. It soon becomes obvious she cannot afford the styles, marketing techniques and places to keep up her glamorous lifestyle. She also pays a stunning Jesika for her marketing on Instagram. Dean soon leaves her for Jesika. Her manic delusions replace her sanity with obsession. She follows them and befriends the very pregnant Jesika, as she plots to kill both of them.
The author uses a lot of sarcasm, but it soon turns into an unhinged quest for revenge, blurring the lines of reality and she cannot determine which was dreamed or created. It does become very disturbing and graphic. I kept thinking there would be more or expecting a different ending, but overall it was a quick twist on a thriller and cannot wait for the other two books in the series.
May 6, 2026
This was wild and completely unrealistic, just like a guilty pleasure I still enjoyed it immensely.
March 7, 2024
It started promising, but got so lost after half of the book. Felt so disorganised and confusing and became so more and more with every page. Way too gory.
February 19, 2025
I lost brain cells reading this one. Who on earth would actually read the sequel?????
March 12, 2024
This started off so promising. Especially in today’s world of influencers all over the place. The storyline seemed very interesting, too! It just didn’t make it for me.
The unreliable narrator trope has never really bothered me but this one was on another level. Shae was all over the place and it was so frustrating that she never even really had a plan for anything. Her therapist visiting with her in Tahoe didn’t make any sense and crossed so many therapist/patient boundaries it was so unrealistic.
The ending seemed very random and gruesome for no reason and it just felt like the second half of the book was talking about a whole other story. I put this book down several times and forced myself to finish it.
The unreliable narrator trope has never really bothered me but this one was on another level. Shae was all over the place and it was so frustrating that she never even really had a plan for anything. Her therapist visiting with her in Tahoe didn’t make any sense and crossed so many therapist/patient boundaries it was so unrealistic.
The ending seemed very random and gruesome for no reason and it just felt like the second half of the book was talking about a whole other story. I put this book down several times and forced myself to finish it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2025
I had high hopes for this book but I really didn’t love it at all. It was confusing and far-fetched, the characters weren’t interesting or captivating in any way. The ending was disturbing and I just wasn’t impressed. Two stars is being generous 🫣
February 8, 2024
Genre: Psychological Suspense
Type: Standalone in a series
POV: First Person - Female
Rating:
4.25 Stars
Shae Halston found her niche on social media as a lifestyle influencer, Mia Starr. While her life on screen seemed perfect, her real life was crumbling with her marriage on the line. But Shae had a plan and she would do anything to keep the life she always wanted.
Throughout the book, I had conflicting emotions regarding Shae. I couldn’t decide if I should love her or hate her. I liked how she was determined to get what she wanted, but her selfishness and unwise moves made her an unlikable character.
The story was engaging and made me want to keep flipping the pages. I loved how the story ended, but I felt some parts were slightly unrealistic that lessened the impact. I’m looking forward to seeing where the story is heading next.
🌹📷🌹. . . (F)BR with Twinsie CC & Loyda . . . 🌹📷🌹
For more reviews/interviews/book talk/promo visit:
For graphics, trailers & author services visit Warhawke Design Studio.
Type: Standalone in a series
POV: First Person - Female
Rating:
4.25 StarsShae Halston found her niche on social media as a lifestyle influencer, Mia Starr. While her life on screen seemed perfect, her real life was crumbling with her marriage on the line. But Shae had a plan and she would do anything to keep the life she always wanted.
Throughout the book, I had conflicting emotions regarding Shae. I couldn’t decide if I should love her or hate her. I liked how she was determined to get what she wanted, but her selfishness and unwise moves made her an unlikable character.
Dean has no idea what he did that day he chose to walk out on me.
The story was engaging and made me want to keep flipping the pages. I loved how the story ended, but I felt some parts were slightly unrealistic that lessened the impact. I’m looking forward to seeing where the story is heading next.
🌹📷🌹. . . (F)BR with Twinsie CC & Loyda . . . 🌹📷🌹
For more reviews/interviews/book talk/promo visit:
For graphics, trailers & author services visit Warhawke Design Studio.
March 19, 2026
Connect with me!
✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph ✏ TikTok ✏ Facebook
The Influencer by Adriane Leigh drops you straight into a glossy, filtered life that starts to crack almost immediately. Shae Halston is an influencer who looks like she has it all together online with wealth, beauty, and a perfect marriage. Off camera, everything is unraveling. Her husband’s affair kicks off a series of events that quickly turns Shae into dark, obsessive, and dangerously unpredictable spiraling behavior.
When I say Shae spirals, I mean it. What begins as jealousy turns into stalking, manipulation, and something far more sinister. Shae’s blurred sense of reality, shaped by deep childhood trauma, makes every choice feel like it’s teetering on the edge of disaster. Shae inserts herself into her husband’s new life by befriending his pregnant fiancè. Shae's revenge schemes are equal parts fascinating and horrifying. You know it’s going to end badly, just not how badly.
The tension builds in layers, and the story leans hard into psychological instability. It works. The twists kept coming. I genuinely didn’t see all of them ahead of time. The pacing is sharp, the stakes keep rising, and the narrative never really lets you breathe. This is exactly the kind of thriller that makes you say, “just one more chapter,” until suddenly it’s 2:00 a.m.
Shae herself is not a character you root for in a traditional sense. She’s volatile, manipulative, and at times completely out of touch with reality. She is also very compelling and an unreliable narrator. That’s what makes this book so addictive. You’re not here for a moral compass. You’re here to watch the fallout.
The audiobook experience elevated the suspense. Amy Hutchins delivers a performance that fully captures Shae’s instability and emotional swings. It added a level of immersion that made the story even more intense.
If I had to nitpick, this is a story that goes big. The events escalate quickly and dramatically, which may feel over the top for some readers. For me, it worked because the tone commits fully to a high level of chaos. It knows exactly what kind of story it wants to be and doesn’t hold back. This was a wild ride. Dark, addictive, and packed with shocking moments that keep you hooked from start to finish. I will absolutely be picking up more from Adriane Leigh.
✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph ✏ TikTok ✏ Facebook
The Influencer by Adriane Leigh drops you straight into a glossy, filtered life that starts to crack almost immediately. Shae Halston is an influencer who looks like she has it all together online with wealth, beauty, and a perfect marriage. Off camera, everything is unraveling. Her husband’s affair kicks off a series of events that quickly turns Shae into dark, obsessive, and dangerously unpredictable spiraling behavior.
When I say Shae spirals, I mean it. What begins as jealousy turns into stalking, manipulation, and something far more sinister. Shae’s blurred sense of reality, shaped by deep childhood trauma, makes every choice feel like it’s teetering on the edge of disaster. Shae inserts herself into her husband’s new life by befriending his pregnant fiancè. Shae's revenge schemes are equal parts fascinating and horrifying. You know it’s going to end badly, just not how badly.
The tension builds in layers, and the story leans hard into psychological instability. It works. The twists kept coming. I genuinely didn’t see all of them ahead of time. The pacing is sharp, the stakes keep rising, and the narrative never really lets you breathe. This is exactly the kind of thriller that makes you say, “just one more chapter,” until suddenly it’s 2:00 a.m.
Shae herself is not a character you root for in a traditional sense. She’s volatile, manipulative, and at times completely out of touch with reality. She is also very compelling and an unreliable narrator. That’s what makes this book so addictive. You’re not here for a moral compass. You’re here to watch the fallout.
The audiobook experience elevated the suspense. Amy Hutchins delivers a performance that fully captures Shae’s instability and emotional swings. It added a level of immersion that made the story even more intense.
If I had to nitpick, this is a story that goes big. The events escalate quickly and dramatically, which may feel over the top for some readers. For me, it worked because the tone commits fully to a high level of chaos. It knows exactly what kind of story it wants to be and doesn’t hold back. This was a wild ride. Dark, addictive, and packed with shocking moments that keep you hooked from start to finish. I will absolutely be picking up more from Adriane Leigh.
January 29, 2025
Bat shit crazy. That's all I can say. The story started off actually pretty good...but then it got real crazy - fast. Don't want to add spoilers.. but it was so psychotic and moments you'd just say WTF to yourself that you can't believe it's happening.. and the ending.. didn't see that coming.. but now I can see how that is plausible.
It's super fast paced, chapters aren't lengthy so you can get through this pretty quickly. I am intrigued to see how the other books turn out.
It's super fast paced, chapters aren't lengthy so you can get through this pretty quickly. I am intrigued to see how the other books turn out.
February 10, 2025
The first half of this book was ok- then I don’t even know what happened. Maybe the author decided she didn’t want to be an author anymore and just wrote some crap to finish it so it could be called “a book”. I dunno. Don’t bother with this one
February 7, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
February 12, 2025
I cannot believe i stuck it out & finished this book. The main character was DELUSIONAL and I cannot stand her. So much wasted storyline.. yeah it’s a no for me dawg.
November 25, 2025
3.75⭐️ this was a wild ride. I felt like I was inside the mind of someone seriously deranged. The twist was great! What a fun quick read.
April 8, 2026
very entertaining! this woman is unhinged!
May 6, 2025
2.75 ⭐
Fell a bit flat for me. Was predictable and a bit over the top, but still somewhat enjoyable.
Fell a bit flat for me. Was predictable and a bit over the top, but still somewhat enjoyable.
January 29, 2026
I mean.. this was just unhinged
December 1, 2024
A twisted and wild ride. A psychological thriller at its finest. If you enjoy unreliable and unhinged characters/stories then you need to read this book.
I must have had at least five different theories going at one point or another in this story and they were all wrong. Love being surprised by an ending and surprised I was.
Tired of living in the shadows of her online influencer persona, Shae’s husband, Dean, decides he wants a divorce. But Shae is unable to cope with the impending divorce and to make matters worse Dean isn’t just divorcing her he’s leaving her for a much younger model.
So Shae does the only thing she can think of and follows the couple to Chicago, where she begins stalking them, and then befriends the new girlfriend.
Action packed and full of jaw dropping twists; you won’t be able to put this one down. Such a fun read. I can’t wait to begin book number two in this series.
The perfect revenge and survival story.
I must have had at least five different theories going at one point or another in this story and they were all wrong. Love being surprised by an ending and surprised I was.
Tired of living in the shadows of her online influencer persona, Shae’s husband, Dean, decides he wants a divorce. But Shae is unable to cope with the impending divorce and to make matters worse Dean isn’t just divorcing her he’s leaving her for a much younger model.
So Shae does the only thing she can think of and follows the couple to Chicago, where she begins stalking them, and then befriends the new girlfriend.
Action packed and full of jaw dropping twists; you won’t be able to put this one down. Such a fun read. I can’t wait to begin book number two in this series.
The perfect revenge and survival story.
January 26, 2025
This was hard to finish. Could have been a good storyline but it was quite confusing, jumped around all a lot and didn’t make a lot of sense. The final chapters were also unnecessarily gory. Do not recommend.
April 23, 2025
It wasn't that bad, to be honest. Just wasn't very influenceryy and more stalky crazy. The ending was not it, though I agree with the other reviewers on that, but I did enjoy some parts, especially with her plot and schemes. Just couldn't care less about Mia Starrs.
February 14, 2026
This was a wild tale about the main character who is manipulative and tunnel-vision obsessed with what she wants. It was a crazy ride and a fast read. It’s part of a series, which I enjoy. Jumping into book 2 now.
February 18, 2026
Silly in lots of ways, but great to listen to while cleaning and doing laundry. Overall highly entertaining!
April 2, 2026
Hot garbage
Went into this blind and by 7% in I already knew I’d only be able to finish this as a hate read
I usually love trashy stuff if it’s self aware and knows how to play it up, but this????
It’s like if you asked an alien to write a thriller about humans but their only frame of reference for our behavior was through CW shows
Went into this blind and by 7% in I already knew I’d only be able to finish this as a hate read
I usually love trashy stuff if it’s self aware and knows how to play it up, but this????
It’s like if you asked an alien to write a thriller about humans but their only frame of reference for our behavior was through CW shows
February 6, 2024
4.25★
For years, Shae Halston had wanted to escape from herself and found the perfect solution in creating an online persona as an influencer known as Mia Starr. While living through the lens of Mia, Shae finds validation but it is not enough to maintain the illusion.
Narrated in Shae’s point of view, the plot builds as her life begins to crumble. Perception is important to Shae and she is willing to take extreme measures be Mia to her followers, but wondering what is real to her throughout the story is intriguing. What she would do next kept feverishly turning the pages and my feelings for Shae would change repeatedly. The suspense continued to build until the very end.
The Influencer is about the fragility of emotions and mental health. This book would appeal to those seeking a suspenseful read. This story does continue in The Imposter.
*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey and Loyda*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
For years, Shae Halston had wanted to escape from herself and found the perfect solution in creating an online persona as an influencer known as Mia Starr. While living through the lens of Mia, Shae finds validation but it is not enough to maintain the illusion.
“Well, keep in mind how you feel and what is reality are two different things,” she cautions.”
Narrated in Shae’s point of view, the plot builds as her life begins to crumble. Perception is important to Shae and she is willing to take extreme measures be Mia to her followers, but wondering what is real to her throughout the story is intriguing. What she would do next kept feverishly turning the pages and my feelings for Shae would change repeatedly. The suspense continued to build until the very end.
The Influencer is about the fragility of emotions and mental health. This book would appeal to those seeking a suspenseful read. This story does continue in The Imposter.
*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey and Loyda*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
February 20, 2024
"𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙮 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙜𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜."
Son of a fricken cliff hanger! GAH! Ms. Leigh, give me book 2 now please and thank you!! 🤯
Holy moly, that was…intense. Addicting. Toxically diabolical. So fricken 🤯. This was the true definition of an unputdownable binge-worthy thriller! Nearly every character is unlikeable and represents everything that is wrong with social media and influencer culture—but you literally can’t.look.away. 🤯🤯🤯
Shout out to Steph (@accio_literary_escape) for joining me for another great #buddyread! Absolutely loved our chat and the fact that we couldn’t help but binge this thing in one evening! 😁
Son of a fricken cliff hanger! GAH! Ms. Leigh, give me book 2 now please and thank you!! 🤯
Holy moly, that was…intense. Addicting. Toxically diabolical. So fricken 🤯. This was the true definition of an unputdownable binge-worthy thriller! Nearly every character is unlikeable and represents everything that is wrong with social media and influencer culture—but you literally can’t.look.away. 🤯🤯🤯
Shout out to Steph (@accio_literary_escape) for joining me for another great #buddyread! Absolutely loved our chat and the fact that we couldn’t help but binge this thing in one evening! 😁
January 8, 2026
Well I originally was going to give 3 stars but the more I think about it, I realize FMC backstory was delivered far too late in the story for me to even care about her. No characters really made me root for them, not even the therapist….. the beginning was really strong, I was intrigued. Then we got to Chicago, picked up quite a bit but there was still confusing dialogue between the characters and not enough detail when FMC finally did snap. I found myself rereading to see what I missed quite a few times throughout this. No sequel for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2024
2.5 stars. I really wanted to round up to 3 but… this book was SO predictable I just knew there had to be a real plot twist (that was equally predictable)… no it wasn’t. Then when a plot twist “happened”… it was just… bad. Yikes. I had high hopes for this. It was definitely fast paced though.
December 22, 2025
Ummmm that ending!!!!! Definitely did not expect the ending but it was a decent thriller overall. It did get a bit crazy in the middle but I guess it was meant to be that way. Would read more from this author.
March 12, 2025
LMAO what??? GR reviews were true - after 67% i was literally getting whiplash. It kept me intrigued nonetheless but…. There’s no way this would’ve panned out (i realize it’s a book and it’s fake but ya gotta make it a little believable)
December 31, 2025
The ending of this didn’t hang together well. I found the majority of it entertaining though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 745 reviews