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Influencer
Aaron Fortin is new in town. He drives a brand-new Acura—a gift from his parents for uprooting him in the middle of senior year. Showing up on his first day at the local public school in that nice of a car? He knows he’ll never blend in, and he doesn’t care to try. The car, the new kid mystique, he can use all that…
Crystal Giordano carpools to the same school in her friend Trevor’s beat-up van. In the van along with Crystal and Trevor are Paul, Harmony, and Gayle. Crystal’s technically part of their misfit group, but most of the time, she feels like she’s the only one who doesn’tfit.
When Aaron Fortin sits at their lunch table, Crystal can see he’s not who he says he is. But how big of a fraud is Aaron Fortin? Crystal clumsily exposes Aaron and becomes his target, falling victim to his insidious campaign to erase her. Only then does she discover who he truly is—and it’s so much worse than she thought.
As her friends begin to follow him one by one, Crystal wonders if she can protect them or if his influence is just too strong.
Please note: This Audible Original contains graphic violence and themes of drug addiction and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.
Crystal Giordano carpools to the same school in her friend Trevor’s beat-up van. In the van along with Crystal and Trevor are Paul, Harmony, and Gayle. Crystal’s technically part of their misfit group, but most of the time, she feels like she’s the only one who doesn’tfit.
When Aaron Fortin sits at their lunch table, Crystal can see he’s not who he says he is. But how big of a fraud is Aaron Fortin? Crystal clumsily exposes Aaron and becomes his target, falling victim to his insidious campaign to erase her. Only then does she discover who he truly is—and it’s so much worse than she thought.
As her friends begin to follow him one by one, Crystal wonders if she can protect them or if his influence is just too strong.
Please note: This Audible Original contains graphic violence and themes of drug addiction and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.
368 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2024
124 people are currently reading
7865 people want to read
About the author
Adam Cesare
65 books2,588 followersAdam Cesare is a New Yorker who lives in Philadelphia. His books include Clown in a Cornfield, Video Night, The Summer Job, and Zero Lives Remaining. He’s an avid fan of horror cinema and runs Project: Black T-Shirt, a YouTube review show where he takes horror films and pairs them with reading suggestions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 517 reviews
November 11, 2023
With one of the best opening scenes in recent memory, I knew I was in for a ride with this book. While it did slow down quite a bit after that until the final act, that wasn’t a bad thing. It turned more psychological for a good part of the story, and with extremely well written characters, it just flat out worked. The performances were both top notch throughout as well. Highly recommend!
July 11, 2024
ARC for review. To be published October 8, 2024.
Who doesn’t love a teenage psychopath?
Told in alternating points of view, Crystal Giordano suspects that she and her crew, best friend Gayle and Paul, Trevor and Harmony (she really doesn’t seem to know the rest of them very well for them to be her best friends, but, whatever) are being targeted by the new kid in town, Aaron Fortin. Probably because they are. And he’s a really, really bad guy who is lucky enough to have his parents move just when he needs them to.
Pretty good for YA, if you buy that teenagers are basically mostly awful people just wearing for permission to BE awful. Up to you.
NOTE: I didn’t listen to the audio version; this is being released in book form.
Who doesn’t love a teenage psychopath?
Told in alternating points of view, Crystal Giordano suspects that she and her crew, best friend Gayle and Paul, Trevor and Harmony (she really doesn’t seem to know the rest of them very well for them to be her best friends, but, whatever) are being targeted by the new kid in town, Aaron Fortin. Probably because they are. And he’s a really, really bad guy who is lucky enough to have his parents move just when he needs them to.
Pretty good for YA, if you buy that teenagers are basically mostly awful people just wearing for permission to BE awful. Up to you.
NOTE: I didn’t listen to the audio version; this is being released in book form.
October 20, 2024
“I’m fascinated by the little tragedies you can find anywhere, in the most normal of people, if you poke around inside for any length of time,” (107).
“I can see the hurt fall off her in waves with each bounce of her foot. She’s a space heater giving off pain and anxiety,” (174).
“Nothing good comes when there’s someone in a ski mask standing over your bed,” (251).
Aaron has always known he’s different. Obsessed with studying serial killers - he respects them in some ways, but still believes he’s smarter than them. His YouTube channel, which he updates religiously, makes meeting new people easy for him. He knows how to mimic emotions, even if he doesn’t feel them, and his followers never question him.
But when Aaron moves to a new town and a new school, he meets his match: Crystal Giordano.
This book starts out with a BANG. It sinks its hooks into you from the jump and doesn’t let up until the very end. The suspense was expertly threaded throughout. It was a fun read with all the makings of a perfect horror read.
You’ll feel all the anxiety with this one. I also love how the author tied in one of my favorite movies ever “Funny Games” and learning about the Hays Code - something even my college film class didn’t cover - but seems it should have. It’s always fun when a book teaches you something new.
The story will also have you reflecting back to your high school moments. For me, my math teacher used to “check” our homework just like in the book - glancing at it without really reading. I quickly learned to scribble nonsense and still got an A+ every time. My science teacher also gave us all the answers to our midterms and finals. If anyone was actually paying attention - which most weren’t.
Fantastic read! Couldn’t recommend it more.
“I can see the hurt fall off her in waves with each bounce of her foot. She’s a space heater giving off pain and anxiety,” (174).
“Nothing good comes when there’s someone in a ski mask standing over your bed,” (251).
Aaron has always known he’s different. Obsessed with studying serial killers - he respects them in some ways, but still believes he’s smarter than them. His YouTube channel, which he updates religiously, makes meeting new people easy for him. He knows how to mimic emotions, even if he doesn’t feel them, and his followers never question him.
But when Aaron moves to a new town and a new school, he meets his match: Crystal Giordano.
This book starts out with a BANG. It sinks its hooks into you from the jump and doesn’t let up until the very end. The suspense was expertly threaded throughout. It was a fun read with all the makings of a perfect horror read.
You’ll feel all the anxiety with this one. I also love how the author tied in one of my favorite movies ever “Funny Games” and learning about the Hays Code - something even my college film class didn’t cover - but seems it should have. It’s always fun when a book teaches you something new.
The story will also have you reflecting back to your high school moments. For me, my math teacher used to “check” our homework just like in the book - glancing at it without really reading. I quickly learned to scribble nonsense and still got an A+ every time. My science teacher also gave us all the answers to our midterms and finals. If anyone was actually paying attention - which most weren’t.
Fantastic read! Couldn’t recommend it more.
August 28, 2024
First, Cesare did not hold back. This story is dark, and it delves into some very gruesome and raw horrors. So, prepare yourself. There were pet deaths I had to skip over. Otherwise, this book was so intriguing. Portrait of a modern psychopath.
January 19, 2025
3.5⭐️
genuinely quite scary
genuinely quite scary
November 5, 2024
”Controlling how your followers greet each other, inserting yourself into their everyday language, altering their lexicon is how you blur the lines between a fandom and a religion.
Don’t just speak, act. They’re words to live by."
Charles Manson meets the internet age. Don’t ever underestimate the power of social media.
Cesare certainly knows how to write a terrifying story. Instead of sending in the clowns to do the dirty work we get a teenager who can swindle the pants off of anyone he comes into contact with. That's scarier than a masked killer because any one of us could be dark soul evil.
I loved the dual pov and this may sound bizarre but I really found myself enjoying the devious tricks that were played to ruin Crystal's life. It's wild what people believe when things get posted on social media. The entire story was eye-opening. That prologue will forever haunt me. Even though it's my favorite part of the book.
Be careful who you make friends with and maybe stay off of social media!
Don’t just speak, act. They’re words to live by."
Charles Manson meets the internet age. Don’t ever underestimate the power of social media.
Cesare certainly knows how to write a terrifying story. Instead of sending in the clowns to do the dirty work we get a teenager who can swindle the pants off of anyone he comes into contact with. That's scarier than a masked killer because any one of us could be dark soul evil.
I loved the dual pov and this may sound bizarre but I really found myself enjoying the devious tricks that were played to ruin Crystal's life. It's wild what people believe when things get posted on social media. The entire story was eye-opening. That prologue will forever haunt me. Even though it's my favorite part of the book.
Be careful who you make friends with and maybe stay off of social media!
September 27, 2024
I haven’t read any of Adam Cesare’s work previously, I know, I know, I’ve been told multiple times that I’m missing out! I really enjoyed this one and will definitely be picking up his previous works and not just his most prolific ones. The Influencer is a YA coming of age story, very culty in its roots and action packed.
I love a good cult read, and The Influencer reminded me a lot of Manson and his followers. Initially Aaron gets his followers to do all his dirty work but eventually he has to get his hands dirty when things don’t go according to plan. It made me really question why the internet has turned into this dirty thing. How can some people just blindly follow influencers and believe everything they say? Why do they trust someone so implicitly without knowing them? The phrase “not knowing what goes on behind closed doors” springs to mind.
The writing is fluid and so easy to follow. The story seeped through my eyes and into my brain as easy as drinking a cold can of coke. The differing points of view helped get a broader sense of what was happening. The author really encaptured what its like to be a teenager in this modern world.
Paul and Harmony annoyed the hell out of me. Like how can you go from being a regular teenager, with regular problems to doing the work of a complete nut job. I felt sorry for Paul, he really did get swept away with the excitement. Harmony was just an all out bitch who deserved everything she got.
I love a good cult read, and The Influencer reminded me a lot of Manson and his followers. Initially Aaron gets his followers to do all his dirty work but eventually he has to get his hands dirty when things don’t go according to plan. It made me really question why the internet has turned into this dirty thing. How can some people just blindly follow influencers and believe everything they say? Why do they trust someone so implicitly without knowing them? The phrase “not knowing what goes on behind closed doors” springs to mind.
The writing is fluid and so easy to follow. The story seeped through my eyes and into my brain as easy as drinking a cold can of coke. The differing points of view helped get a broader sense of what was happening. The author really encaptured what its like to be a teenager in this modern world.
Paul and Harmony annoyed the hell out of me. Like how can you go from being a regular teenager, with regular problems to doing the work of a complete nut job. I felt sorry for Paul, he really did get swept away with the excitement. Harmony was just an all out bitch who deserved everything she got.
May 7, 2024
This book was dragged out too long and it is sooo unrealistic. I understand the influence people have but other than that it is not realistic
November 19, 2024
3.5 stars ...
As if I wasn't paranoid enough already about social media/online activity. Thanks, Mr. Cesare! 😣 If you spend more than a minute per week online, prob'ly you should read this ... or not 😏🤷♂️😉
As if I wasn't paranoid enough already about social media/online activity. Thanks, Mr. Cesare! 😣 If you spend more than a minute per week online, prob'ly you should read this ... or not 😏🤷♂️😉
November 16, 2025
Influencer nails that feeling of knowing something’s off while everyone else is blinded by charm. A teen girl spots the new kid’s dark side early, but her warnings just make her look jealous. As his influence spreads, she realizes she might be the only one seeing the truth — and now he knows she’s onto him. That’s where the real tension kicks in.
I was pleasantly surprised — Audible Originals can be hit or miss, but Influencer is top tier across the board. The suspense hits right away, the writing is sharp, and the narration is on point. The story comes out swinging from the first scene and never lets up.
I was pleasantly surprised — Audible Originals can be hit or miss, but Influencer is top tier across the board. The suspense hits right away, the writing is sharp, and the narration is on point. The story comes out swinging from the first scene and never lets up.
August 11, 2024
This starts off with a really strong BANG which held its pace for me until about 70%. I think personally, the change of POVs from Aaron & Crystal kind of slowed the pace down for me and brought this from a 4 star to a 3 in the final chapters. Now with that being said, I’d like to talk about what I really liked about this book. The Villian MC was INCREDIBLE. Gave me ‘American Psycho’ but modern and a teenager vibes. Cesare did a really phenomenal job creating a character with great depth and that was very terrifying. As you read on, his personal flaws start to become his undoing which to be fair, I understand why Cesare did this, it was just not how I would have preferred things to play out. I don’t want to give too much away but I’ll just say I prefer bleaker endings.
There’s a lot of body horror and mental gymnastics in this thriller that will keep you turning the pages and invoke a lot of anxiety and dread. Ultimately I enjoyed this read and I think this will be a very popular release come October with a lot of readers really loving it. And it will be deserved praise. I think I just struggle with YA (which this does read, just more violence than traditional YA). But that’s more of a personal preference than anything else. If you’re a fan of Adam Cesare’s books, you enjoy YA and you’re looking for a Thriller with a lot of action and violence I recommend you pick this up when it drops in October.
There’s a lot of body horror and mental gymnastics in this thriller that will keep you turning the pages and invoke a lot of anxiety and dread. Ultimately I enjoyed this read and I think this will be a very popular release come October with a lot of readers really loving it. And it will be deserved praise. I think I just struggle with YA (which this does read, just more violence than traditional YA). But that’s more of a personal preference than anything else. If you’re a fan of Adam Cesare’s books, you enjoy YA and you’re looking for a Thriller with a lot of action and violence I recommend you pick this up when it drops in October.
February 22, 2024
I’ve not been able to stop thinking about this story since I finished the audio yesterday. What an incredible experience. Adam Cesare is a horror master, and anything he puts out is an auto-buy for me.
November 12, 2023
This is definitely meant for a certain audience and luckily, I am that audience. This was deranged and really fun to listen to.
June 23, 2024
2.75/5
This story seemed to be trying for American Psycho but only manages to be a pale CW version.
This story seemed to be trying for American Psycho but only manages to be a pale CW version.
April 23, 2024
What an audiobook! I really enjoyed the narrators on this one. Thank you Isabela Merced, Christopher Briney and Brittany Pressley for a very entertaining performance. And to Adam Cesare for a fun YA thriller/light horror read. I truly had some fun with this one.
The opening scene is chilling and drew me in IMMEDIATELY. I started it with the intention of putting it aside and doing other things but alas, I ended up spending the next 2 ½ hours on the train popping bubbles in a game while listening to this (at 2.0 speed in case you were curious). After this opening, we get to know our cast of characters with our mains being Aaron and Crystal.
Aaron is new but already comes in with a plan for those he decides to befriend. He has very big JD from Heathers vibes. He’s cunning, smarmy and unbeknownst to most, he’s a popular, masked influencer who uses his powers for…. well, it’s definitely not good. Which Aaron will he be in this new town? The only person who thinks Aaron is questionable is Crystal. She’s a bit of the outcast in her own group of “friends” and early on exposes/unmasks Aaron for being this famous influencer. Most of the group quickly become enamored with Aaron and Crystal feel even more like a misfit among them as his influence becomes stronger.
While the tone of the book tends to soften after the initial pummel from the opening, Cesare gives us a great cast of characters, albeit no one to really like.. which is fine by me as I love to hate on characters. Even the ones we are to be rooting for quickly got on my nerves. Maybe I’m just so old now that these kids just can’t find a nerve on me that won’t get plucked. But really, this also made it quite fun to see what was happening. Then we got to the ending. Sadly, it just didn’t quite work for me. And for the most part, this is quite a predictable story for me. However, I do like being inside the head of a psychopath and his victim. Full circle, my friends.
Overall, if you are a lover of YA… and this has a very big YA feel with dark subject matters… cult like influencers and that Heathers vibe, this is the story for you. Go on. Be influenced. 😉
3.5 stars
The opening scene is chilling and drew me in IMMEDIATELY. I started it with the intention of putting it aside and doing other things but alas, I ended up spending the next 2 ½ hours on the train popping bubbles in a game while listening to this (at 2.0 speed in case you were curious). After this opening, we get to know our cast of characters with our mains being Aaron and Crystal.
Aaron is new but already comes in with a plan for those he decides to befriend. He has very big JD from Heathers vibes. He’s cunning, smarmy and unbeknownst to most, he’s a popular, masked influencer who uses his powers for…. well, it’s definitely not good. Which Aaron will he be in this new town? The only person who thinks Aaron is questionable is Crystal. She’s a bit of the outcast in her own group of “friends” and early on exposes/unmasks Aaron for being this famous influencer. Most of the group quickly become enamored with Aaron and Crystal feel even more like a misfit among them as his influence becomes stronger.
While the tone of the book tends to soften after the initial pummel from the opening, Cesare gives us a great cast of characters, albeit no one to really like.. which is fine by me as I love to hate on characters. Even the ones we are to be rooting for quickly got on my nerves. Maybe I’m just so old now that these kids just can’t find a nerve on me that won’t get plucked. But really, this also made it quite fun to see what was happening. Then we got to the ending. Sadly, it just didn’t quite work for me. And for the most part, this is quite a predictable story for me. However, I do like being inside the head of a psychopath and his victim. Full circle, my friends.
Overall, if you are a lover of YA… and this has a very big YA feel with dark subject matters… cult like influencers and that Heathers vibe, this is the story for you. Go on. Be influenced. 😉
3.5 stars
September 23, 2024
Adam does it again. I’m a huge fan of his Clown in the Cornfield series and this author does not disappoint. This book is one that I would not have any problems giving to my teenage grandkids to read. In a live post on TikTok, Adam Cesare said that I was a “cool grandma” and I wear that badge proudly. This book is a story of a demented teenage boy who spreads his evil among a group of fellow students from his new high school. One girl has figured out that he is an “influencer” online and then his devilish plans for her friends. Will she stop him in time? Maybe…maybe not!! You’ll have to read this book to find out.
November 25, 2023
Once I heard the intro I was instantly hooked and knew it was going to be a wild ride. Aaron reminded me of Joe from the Netflix series "You", but he's more terrifying. I felt like I was watching a TV show because of the sound effects and narration . I finished this in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The terrifying reality is that our phones, have given us more access via social media and other internet platforms, to people who convince us to "follow" them. Beware, Jim Jones and Charles Manson were Influencers too.
The terrifying reality is that our phones, have given us more access via social media and other internet platforms, to people who convince us to "follow" them. Beware, Jim Jones and Charles Manson were Influencers too.
October 26, 2024
3,5*
Told in alternating points of view, we follow Aaron, a rich kid that has many dark secrets he needs to hide and Crystal, the one that will need to destroy him before it’s too late.
The opening scene to this book is quite brutal and I understand why it might upset some people but after that the book slows down and does not bring back that level of gore and violence until the end.
Probably the middle could have been edited down a bit but having two very different main characters telling their story and being truly important to understand, especially Aaron as a character, I can understand why this book was this length.
Aaron has always known he’s different. He is a secret influencer with many followers but his plans are going to put everyone in danger. He will not hesitate to hurt anyone.
Crystal is the only one that seems to be able to read through his bullshit but this also makes her his number one target.
The book touches on a very modern topic which is, how much can an influencer actually influence people’s actions? Do we believe anything someone we admire says without even questioning it? What would we be willing to do for someone we admire?
The power of control should not be underestimated and Crystal is going to learn this the hard way.
Told in alternating points of view, we follow Aaron, a rich kid that has many dark secrets he needs to hide and Crystal, the one that will need to destroy him before it’s too late.
The opening scene to this book is quite brutal and I understand why it might upset some people but after that the book slows down and does not bring back that level of gore and violence until the end.
Probably the middle could have been edited down a bit but having two very different main characters telling their story and being truly important to understand, especially Aaron as a character, I can understand why this book was this length.
Aaron has always known he’s different. He is a secret influencer with many followers but his plans are going to put everyone in danger. He will not hesitate to hurt anyone.
Crystal is the only one that seems to be able to read through his bullshit but this also makes her his number one target.
The book touches on a very modern topic which is, how much can an influencer actually influence people’s actions? Do we believe anything someone we admire says without even questioning it? What would we be willing to do for someone we admire?
The power of control should not be underestimated and Crystal is going to learn this the hard way.
September 21, 2024
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.
This book is quite hard to review without spoiling anything, but this was an absolutely wild and unhinged ride that doesn't water down any of the gory details.
The narration was really interesting as we are following two people, one a psychopath but both unlikable in their own ways. I really liked that both of them were unlikable as that made the story interesting to follow for me. The writing overall was great!
The opening of this hooked me, and then unfortunately, it did get a little boring for a bit, but then it really picked up again after 50ish pages, and I couldn't put it down. The ending was so good and chaotic, but it really fit the whole vibe of the book.
So, if you're looking for an unhinged book with unlikable narrators and all the gory details. This is definitely the book for you. (Please check trigger warnings before reading)
This book is quite hard to review without spoiling anything, but this was an absolutely wild and unhinged ride that doesn't water down any of the gory details.
The narration was really interesting as we are following two people, one a psychopath but both unlikable in their own ways. I really liked that both of them were unlikable as that made the story interesting to follow for me. The writing overall was great!
The opening of this hooked me, and then unfortunately, it did get a little boring for a bit, but then it really picked up again after 50ish pages, and I couldn't put it down. The ending was so good and chaotic, but it really fit the whole vibe of the book.
So, if you're looking for an unhinged book with unlikable narrators and all the gory details. This is definitely the book for you. (Please check trigger warnings before reading)
May 9, 2025
This freaked me out. The fact that things like this have happened and how an unhinged mind can influence and cause irreparable damage is insane. Well written and addictive.
November 7, 2023
This book was absolutely deranged. I was digging it up until the 20%.
October 9, 2024
This book is sick and deranged...in all the right ways! The prologue had me hooked, and all I wanted to do was devour this book. Adam Cesare is such a fun and entertaining writer. I love how dark and twisted his books are. They creep you out, which is something that I want from a horror book. I want to feel uneasy when I experience a horror story, and Influencer did not disappoint. I will preface that this book will not be for everyone. The prologue alone was graphic and violent, but if you enjoy horror, especially YA horror, then you will definitely enjoy this book. I think my only complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed, but that's not even a negative for me really because it ended exactly how I wanted it to end.
I highly recommend this book, but I do suggest that you check out trigger warnings before diving in if you are a little squeamish.
I highly recommend this book, but I do suggest that you check out trigger warnings before diving in if you are a little squeamish.
October 19, 2024
Bonus points for having a dog named Fizzgig in it 😂. It starts off decently, though trying a little hard to be a teenage American Psycho. But then it gets pretty silly. We’re supposed to believe someone is able to influence and manipulate people into a cult in a week, then murder a bunch of people. For a book referencing cults so much, it’s a little weird to not actually get into how that might happen. The “influencer” part of it all is also completely unexplored. I have zero idea why anyone would follow this douchecanoe, let alone be willing to engage in mass murder for him. I will say that I was interested to see where it was going. But I’m pretty sure that’s just because it was audiobook. I think it would be enjoyable for teenage readers. But it was just too simple and silly for me.
November 8, 2023
This pulled me in but I just couldn't finish it.
Its really predictable.
It almost very slightly reminded me of the book "You"
Its really predictable.
It almost very slightly reminded me of the book "You"
October 9, 2024
This is great look into how some people can be pulled into social media. And great POV from the psycho.
December 27, 2024
This was pretty good. Probably would have been a five star read except for the protagonist MC making some insanely stupid decisions that made me want to throw the book across the room multiple times. They kind of make sense based on how the character is written, but I have a hard time believing someone that smart can be that stupid that often. I managed to get past that and the last part of the book picked up and almost made up for it.
The writing was similar to Clown in a Cornfield without the tongue in cheek and humor. Looks like there's potential for a sequel, so I'm sure I'll read it if it happens.
The writing was similar to Clown in a Cornfield without the tongue in cheek and humor. Looks like there's potential for a sequel, so I'm sure I'll read it if it happens.
September 10, 2024
One of the more welcome and unintended side-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and an extended nationwide quarantine that saw many schools switch to virtual instruction was the halting of mass school shootings. Of course, we're no longer in quarantine, and the start of the 2024-2025 school year was marred by that most American of all pastimes as a 14-year-old shot and killed two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Georgia on Sept. 4. According to CBS News, this was the 218th gun incident at a school in 2024.
To say that Influencer is a timely read feels a bit on the nose. I began reading Adam Cesare's latest in the shadow of this most recent tragedy because, let's face it, school shootings have become an inescapable facet of American life that we simply refuse to do anything about or care a whit about at all, as evidenced by our continual reelections of politicians who proudly wear AR-15 buttons on their lapels and shrug off scores upon scores of dead kids with a "whaddaya gonna do" indifference. Sure, I could have held off on starting Influencer for another time but, odds are, there'd just be another cycle of mass violence and thoughts and prayers, so may as well dive on in.
Take two parts disturbed teen and school violence, add in social media obsession, teenage angst, and perpetually techno-savvy kids keeping at least ten steps ahead of their parents, it feels unlikely that Influencer will feel dated anytime soon. In some ways, it's a modern riff on Stephen King's yanked Rage, by way of a Zuckerbergian American Psycho for the YA crowd. Aaron Fortin (pronounced with Frenchie flair as "fourteen," which also makes our central antagonist sound like a walking, talking username handle) is a minor Instagram celebrity, broadcasting anonymously as the masked The Speaker. He's built up a steady cult following, with Cesare spectacularly highlighting the cult aspect, à la a young, upstart Charles Manson.
Aaron's parents have yanked him across the country to a Long Island suburb, giving him a chance to reinvent himself as the new kid on the block and expand his profile. At least until Crystal blows his cover and quickly identifies him as The Speaker in front of her friends. It's something Aaron hadn't planned on, and he is nothing if not a meticulous planner. He's unsettlingly intelligent and charismatic, and he stalks through these pages like a spider tracking its prey across dangerous webs he's woven. Crystal immediately becomes his sworn enemy, even if she doesn't realize it right away, and Aaron sets about enmeshing himself with her friends on the road to completely destroying her, mentally and physically.
Cesare delicately and deliberately engages the two in an escalating game of cat-and-mouse. Crystal is driven out of the group, her friends banishing her in favor of the new, attractive, and mysterious Aaron. Aaron subtly and effectively manipulates all of them, engaging in their desires and influencing their decisions, shaping them into the killers he wants them to become. It's not his first rodeo of course. Cesare lays out the stakes immediately in a wildly fraught opening sequence revolving around a home invasion that has been staged by Aaron and ends in a confusing symphony of violence, murder, and arson. What Aaron has planned for Crystal and her ex-friends will make all that look like small potatoes.
High school and horror are simpatico bedfellows, and the horror genre is rife with what Roger Ebert derisively called "Dead Teenager Films." Influencer doesn't feel derivative of works like Scream or Prom Night, but it certainly wears those cinematic influences on its sleeve, along with plenty of true crime inspo, while also engaging in the hot button topic of deranged kids who kill. It's a taut, and often uncomfortable, work of psychological suspense, cult horror, and with a few moments of slashery goodness for some extra oomph, but one that exists within a uniquely American political flashpoint we perpetually choose not to extinguish.
To say that Influencer is a timely read feels a bit on the nose. I began reading Adam Cesare's latest in the shadow of this most recent tragedy because, let's face it, school shootings have become an inescapable facet of American life that we simply refuse to do anything about or care a whit about at all, as evidenced by our continual reelections of politicians who proudly wear AR-15 buttons on their lapels and shrug off scores upon scores of dead kids with a "whaddaya gonna do" indifference. Sure, I could have held off on starting Influencer for another time but, odds are, there'd just be another cycle of mass violence and thoughts and prayers, so may as well dive on in.
Take two parts disturbed teen and school violence, add in social media obsession, teenage angst, and perpetually techno-savvy kids keeping at least ten steps ahead of their parents, it feels unlikely that Influencer will feel dated anytime soon. In some ways, it's a modern riff on Stephen King's yanked Rage, by way of a Zuckerbergian American Psycho for the YA crowd. Aaron Fortin (pronounced with Frenchie flair as "fourteen," which also makes our central antagonist sound like a walking, talking username handle) is a minor Instagram celebrity, broadcasting anonymously as the masked The Speaker. He's built up a steady cult following, with Cesare spectacularly highlighting the cult aspect, à la a young, upstart Charles Manson.
Aaron's parents have yanked him across the country to a Long Island suburb, giving him a chance to reinvent himself as the new kid on the block and expand his profile. At least until Crystal blows his cover and quickly identifies him as The Speaker in front of her friends. It's something Aaron hadn't planned on, and he is nothing if not a meticulous planner. He's unsettlingly intelligent and charismatic, and he stalks through these pages like a spider tracking its prey across dangerous webs he's woven. Crystal immediately becomes his sworn enemy, even if she doesn't realize it right away, and Aaron sets about enmeshing himself with her friends on the road to completely destroying her, mentally and physically.
Cesare delicately and deliberately engages the two in an escalating game of cat-and-mouse. Crystal is driven out of the group, her friends banishing her in favor of the new, attractive, and mysterious Aaron. Aaron subtly and effectively manipulates all of them, engaging in their desires and influencing their decisions, shaping them into the killers he wants them to become. It's not his first rodeo of course. Cesare lays out the stakes immediately in a wildly fraught opening sequence revolving around a home invasion that has been staged by Aaron and ends in a confusing symphony of violence, murder, and arson. What Aaron has planned for Crystal and her ex-friends will make all that look like small potatoes.
High school and horror are simpatico bedfellows, and the horror genre is rife with what Roger Ebert derisively called "Dead Teenager Films." Influencer doesn't feel derivative of works like Scream or Prom Night, but it certainly wears those cinematic influences on its sleeve, along with plenty of true crime inspo, while also engaging in the hot button topic of deranged kids who kill. It's a taut, and often uncomfortable, work of psychological suspense, cult horror, and with a few moments of slashery goodness for some extra oomph, but one that exists within a uniquely American political flashpoint we perpetually choose not to extinguish.
August 29, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley, Union Square & Co, and Adam Cesare for this ARC of INFLUENCER. Available on Audible and coming October 1st to print and digital formats.
This dual-narrated story grips you from the start and never lets go. It's a YA horror novel so well-written that you often forget you're reading about high school-aged kids. The book gave me Netflix's YOU vibes in all the right ways.
Aaron Fortin, a mysterious new kid, moves to town and befriends an unlikely group. Almost immediately, Crystal Giordano recognizes him, and the group is stunned by who is sitting among them. From there, they begin to unravel into the crazy world of The Speaker. Friendships are tested, and the boundaries of right and wrong are pushed. You're about to discover just how far these kids will go to impress their favorite influencer.
This dual-narrated story grips you from the start and never lets go. It's a YA horror novel so well-written that you often forget you're reading about high school-aged kids. The book gave me Netflix's YOU vibes in all the right ways.
Aaron Fortin, a mysterious new kid, moves to town and befriends an unlikely group. Almost immediately, Crystal Giordano recognizes him, and the group is stunned by who is sitting among them. From there, they begin to unravel into the crazy world of The Speaker. Friendships are tested, and the boundaries of right and wrong are pushed. You're about to discover just how far these kids will go to impress their favorite influencer.
February 1, 2025
This was okay. I don’t think it’s really YA appropriate even though it’s apparently being marketed and shelved that way? Most of this is fine but the opening chapters are really horrific.
I thought the audio book was well done, there were little sound effects added here and there which were cool. The narrators did a good job (there are two).
I think what didn’t work for me was just the build up of the Influencer/Speaker exercising his influence over people.
Otherwise I thought the characters felt pretty authentic to teenagers with teenage worries and anxieties and dramas, etc. the pacing was solid. The speaker was a chilling POV. Just had trouble staying focused on the story is all.
I thought the audio book was well done, there were little sound effects added here and there which were cool. The narrators did a good job (there are two).
I think what didn’t work for me was just the build up of the Influencer/Speaker exercising his influence over people.
Otherwise I thought the characters felt pretty authentic to teenagers with teenage worries and anxieties and dramas, etc. the pacing was solid. The speaker was a chilling POV. Just had trouble staying focused on the story is all.
July 31, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I actually really enjoyed this book, the ending was just really underwhelming.
I actually really enjoyed this book, the ending was just really underwhelming.
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