Us Against the Likes

by Marie Voinson

An (anxious) travel influencer, a sister (first and forever), a (hopefully) future award winner.

Against her mother’s wishes, Abby Martins drops out of university to follow her dream: share her travel stories with the world.
With over 90 000 followers and her sister’s help, a talented photographer and her forever best friend, Abby’s thriving on this new path. She’s managing her anxiety (for the most part) and she’s (almost) making a living out of her passion.
Winning a prestigious travel influencer award might just be the thing to push her off that ledge.
Desperate to prove herself, Abby steps out of her comfort zone. From Scotland to Italy, from unexpected influencer trips to thrilling collaborations, Abby stretches herself and her own mental health thin for the likes.

But what, and most importantly, who, will she risk to lose on her way?

Us Against The Likes is a heartwarming college-aged YA book about how social media shapes us - and changes us. Perfect for fans of Amelia Diane Coombs and Kara McDowell.

Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, Mental Health

334 pages, Paperback

Published October 23, 2024

About the author

Marie Voinson (she/her) is a young adult books writer. Copywriter by day, Marie lets the fiction words loose by night to tell heartfelt, emotional coming of age stories she hopes can make people feel all the things.

Us Against the Likes is her first novel.

You can find her online at marievoinsonauthor.com.

Reviews

[Kat(ja) · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, I want to start by saying that I've known Marie for a very long time and it makes me so incredibly proud to see her realize her dream of publishing her own book.

This novel is an embodiment of all the things that matter to her and you can feel that while reading. The characters are authentic and relatable, making you feel all the emotions alongside them. I also found the story to have great pacing - some chapters are short and snappy, while we rightfully linger on the important moments.
All in all, this was a fantastic take on mental health, social media and complicated family relationships. I also want to give a shout out to the very cute design of the messages and comments that were included throughout the text.
I'm really happy I got to read Marie's story. I basically flew through the pages, I was so invested.

[Nynyx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got lucky to get access to an early copy and Us Against the Likes is a real gem! ✨

This story is all about the unbreakable bond between sisters, the every day struggle of anxiety and how social media can become too consuming.

The writing is filled with emotions, I just couldn’t read fast enough! 100% recommend! 💞

[Marie Voinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this! (What is life). I read it about a gazillion times. I think it's okay. I actually really like it, okay.

If you like :
- upper-YA contemporary books (ft. college-aged main characters),
- dealing with social media, influence,
- ft. sisters,
- online friendships,
- mental health representation (anxiety),
- loads and loads of traveling...

I think you'd enjoy this!!

Content warnings: this book deals with anxiety and features panic attacks at times. Take care of yourself, first and always x

Releases October 20th, 2024.

[Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She didn't need to save people to do something that mattered. Something that made her heart beat faster, stronger. Something that made her feel alive.”

REVIEW

Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! All quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to changes.

➽ I'm so hyped to be reviewing Us Against the Likes, as it's my blogging friend Marie's debut novel 🥰 I'm so proud of her achievement and knew from the beginning that her book was right up my alley as it contains so many of my personal buzzwords. The story follows Abby, a travel influencer who dreams of making it her full-time job while dealing with her anxiety and her family's expectations. When she receives a nomination for a prestigious award, Abby is determined to prove to everyone that she deserves the recognition! I loved the anxiety representation, the travelling and the discussion of social media, Us Against the Likes has everything I look for when it comes to contemporary books. I also love mixed media, as this book includes messages, comments and descriptions of reels!

"On the outside, she was living the dream. On the inside, her anxiety, her mother and her own deadlines made her feel like she was a ticking time-bomb, about to explode any second."

➽ It was so easy to emphasize with Abby, especially as I also struggle with anxiety. I really related to her perfectionistic tendencies and her need to always have a plan. The upcoming awards put a lot of stress on Abby, who is doing everything to show the jury that she's a worthy nominee. Initially, Abby gained her following by showcasing her passion for travel and always telling a story, but now she feels like she needs to do more. What follows is a downward spiral of her taking on greater risks for her pictures, so they stand out. Even her sister's concern doesn't stop Abby. I literally couldn't look away from Abby's anxiety spiral and I felt so bad for her, as she's overworking herself and barely interacting with her online friends anymore. I understood why she wanted to prove herself so badly - especially as her mother isn't supportive of her job and many people don't consider social media to be a 'real job'.

➽ I loved the discussions about the downside of social media. It was great that we also saw the good parts, such as Abby's genuine connection with her followers and her love for taking them along to her favorite places. However, the story shows how quickly you can lose yourself just to get more likes and more attention. The algorithm is merciless and Abby feels the pressure to always post more content and surpass her current stats. I really liked how we saw how different influences cope with peer pressure and expectations. Her newest friend Gabrielle quickly becomes a bad influence, as she's chasing fame and encouraging Abby to do dangerous stunts to get the perfect picture. It's clear that she's not respecting Abby's boundaries, but Abby can't help but feel like she needs to be like her to truly make it. Other influencers such as Joel show that you can do what you love without completely changing yourself and constantly getting swept up by the likes.

"A moment where she could be anything and everything all at once, staring back at a city that welcomes her with no judgment, no past, no questions asked."

➽ Of course, I also loved all the travelling! Alongside Abby's follower count, we always see her location and I loved seeing her explore both familiar and new places. Seeing someone with anxiety who also loves travelling like I do felt so special and it activated the travel bug in me again! I was eager to see what places I had visited and which ones were still on my list, so I kept a tally as I read!

Locations Visited

Strasbourg, France ✔️
Paris, France ✔️
London, England ✔️
Oxford, England ✔️
Amsterdam, Netherlands ✔️
New York, USA ✔️

Still on my Bucket List Edinburgh, Scotland
Cambridge, England
North Ireland
Rome, Italy
Split, Croatia

➽ The story showcased so many great, complicated relationships! Front and centre is Abby's relationship with her sister Lizzie. I don't have any siblings, but their bond made me really envious of anyone who's close to their sibling. Lizzie only wants what's best for her sister, but can't keep Abby from taking risks she never would have before the award nomination. The sisters are drifting closer apart and it's tough on Abby who always relied on her sister to be her travel buddy! I was rooting for both of them to find their way back to each other again and talk about what happened. I also loved that Abby had so many online friendships, it always means a lot to me when books show that online friends are just as valid! Plus, there is also an adorable romance blooming between Abby and her long-time online friend Asher. It was very much in the background, but we still got a few sweet scenes and I was so happy for Abby to find someone who expected her, especially as her last ex was horrible!

"It's not the likes, that matter, or the followers. You're the one that matters. And some things just aren't worth losing yourself over."

INFORMATION
➽ CW's: Anxiety, Panic Attacks
➽ Representation 🌷 Anxiety

You can find me here 💖 Book Blog | Twitter | Be my friend on GR!

[Shannon Miz · Rating 5 out of 5]

CW at start: "Us Against the Likes is a work of fiction, but it deals with many real mental health issues such as anxiety and panic attacks. Take care of yourselves, first and always."

I won't lie, I was so thrilled when Marie was looking for early reviewers, because I have loved reading her blog and chatting back and forth with her for many years now. Then, I was nervous, because how do you review books by people you actually like? (This, I assume, is why most authors end up not reviewing after they become friendly with other authors!) And this book felt quite personal, in fact- though far as I can tell, Marie isn't risking her life dangling off of bridges, it is very clear that she poured her soul into this one. Happily, I report that I quite adored this book!
Now, you'll note, it is not my usual fare- it is much more... well-adjusted than you're used to from me, but every so often I like to take a break from the doom, gloom, and general end of days and lighten things up! Especially if it contains some of my favorite contemporary topics, which this one does! I'm going to be fully up front and say that my one struggle was that it took me a bit of time to warm up to Abby. But I did, so if you find yourself there too, I really think you'll come around to love the story like I did.

Abby is so relatable in her imperfection, and that was really the crux of this story for me. She makes some mistakes, no question. But I loved the reasons she makes them! They're so valid. I cannot tell you how many times, as I was reading, I had to internally cringe- because I had done something so similar to Abby! There is something about reading a character with the same insecurities, who makes the same mistakes you have that feels so validating. Like yes, we all have our moments of doubt, our mistakes, our cringe-worthy moments, but it is all about the journey and coming out on the other side.

I also really loved the family focus here. I was unsurprised to see a sisterly bond here, but I loved it all the same. My favorite part is that it too felt very realistic- like relationships can grow and change but there is still that core love there. Oh, and the travel! My wanderlust knows no bounds, so while I'm stuck in my rinky-dink town, Abby let me explore the world for a bit and for that, I was quite appreciative!

A few more pluses: Super mental health positive, realistic character growth that doesn't feel forced, and a lot of great side characters/relationships along the way!

Bottom Line: I closed this book with a smile on my face, and that’s worth everything.


You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

[Kat (Bookish Blades) · Rating 5 out of 5]

what I liked:

- the sister relationship and how it was written and developed throughout the story
- all the places visited and the way they were described
- how each place was something important for the characer's journey
- the mental health rep
- how real it felt
- the cover helloooo

what I disliked:

-??

read the full review on my blog Bookish Blades

[Cas ♛ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s never too late in the year to finish another great book. This one took me an extremely long time to finish, but that was largely for personal reasons. Once I actually got into the story, I couldn’t stop reading.

We follow Abby Martins, a London-based travel influencer, in the weeks leading up to a prestigious awards ceremony, after she’s nominated for the first time. Throughout her travels, we see her changing the type of content she posts, all while navigating challenges in her relationships with those she’s closest to. Living in Abby’s head means we get to see the world from her perspective, and how anxiety affects every aspect of her daily life.

I absolutely adored the characters, especially Asher and Clémentine! Of course, Abby’s bond with her sister Lizzie is a central part of the story and I love how their relationship developed as each of them grew and learned from their experiences. There’s one particular scene I’m thinking of which is one of my favorites, where Lizzie does something for Abby that only a sister would think to do.

Besides Abby’s journey, it’s also about the places she travels to, which are described in detail. I need to visit Europe again, soon! From a layout perspective, I really loved the mixed media element of the book, the way that Abby’s posts, emails, and messages are incorporated between chapters. Since social media is such an integral part of the book, this is such a nice added touch.

Us Against the Likes is perfect for anyone who likes stories about the special bond between sisters, traveling, and how anxiety affects everyday life, especially through social media. It’s a cozy, fun read—not without its serious moments—that I recommend with all my heart.

[Lais · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

as someone who has talked to marie in numerous instances, followed her blog a lot and who has a lot of respect & admiration for her, this is not going to be an unbiased review by any means, but honestly who cares lol

i loved loved loved the way this book talked about social media. it was one of the most balanced perspectives i’ve seen on this topic, as abby definitely experienced the hate and pressure that comes with having an online presence, but also had a lot of lovely friends and connections that were made only possible *because* of social media. it was refreshing to see a book that depicts so well both sides of it.

it’s also clear that marie has a profound understanding of what being an “influencer” entails (like abby is not just editing pictures on her phone all day, there is a lot more to it and we see it in detail) as well as having anxiety and how this affects every aspect of abby’s life. while i may not struggle with anxiety in the same degree as the character, i still recognized a lot of her constant over-thinking and second-guessing herself and i felt a lot closer to the character because of it.

i really liked the side characters (asher was my fav <3) and the descriptions of all the different places abby visits during this book. it was cinematic and detailed, and it immediately made me want to google each place and add it to a bucket list hahah

it was a truly truly awesome time!!!!

“You can do what you love… and you don’t have to let it kill you”.

[The Bookshop Mons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am grateful for having received this copy.

Marie Voisin can write. It shows, and yet she manages to keep a YA feel and a social media vibe in it.

The themes are relatable and yet nuanced.

Overall a great YA book, worth the read for all afficionados of the genre.

J.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was such a joy. Grounding in the best way possible and a great reminder to remember your 'why'

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby is addicted to travel, always searching for the next destination with her sister by her side. Trying to make it as a social media influencer is harder than it looks. When she is nominated for a prestigious award in the travel category, she feels she must do everything in her power to win, even if it means making some bad decisions and losing some people and herself along the way. This was a great coming of age story of the power of losing yourself to find yourself. This was fast-paced and very well thought out, from the plots to the characters, everything really felt like it aligned perfectly. First off, the plot was so good, the morals and lessons our main character Abby had to learn and go through were painful, but so necessary to make her a stronger character. The reader loved her transformation; they thought it was so real, raw and relatable to real life. The travel plots were so much fun, it really made this reader crave an adventure and to explore more. The author did such an amazing job of making the reader long for and dream of new places. As well, her representation of anxiety was so spot on that it almost made this reader mad at how accurate it was. It truly hit in the feels, and they wanted to be mad at Abby because they could see themselves so deeply represented. Speaking of character, the ones in Abby’s life were so well developed and so well utilized. We could see how each of them were strategically placed, but they also could stand on their own two feet without Abby. The reader truly loved Clémentine the most, the way she was first portrayed to the way things blossomed was magical to watch. Even the stuff with Asher was super cute. The reader liked that even though there was a hint of a romance plot, it was never the forefront and didn’t overpower the overarching plot and all the girl friendships, the sister bonds and the mother-daughter relationship. The reader liked the addition of the family, especially the mom because it’s a very relatable relationship. In the end, this novel had the reader feeling all sorts of feelings; it was a story with a great plot, cute characters and a fun atmosphere. 

[Poulami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great book! I pre-ordered this and was so exicted for it.
Anxiety has been my bestfriend since childhood and boy, I could relate to Abby. Sometimes I wanted to hug her, sometimes I wanted to shake some sense into her! Also, I am sucker for stories with sisterhood- Abby and Lizzy's friendship was literally sister goals.

The character growth, the development, the friendships, and the hint of romance!! Everything you could ask in a book. I stayed up last night to finish it until 3 am. So worth it!

[USOM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Us Against the Likes is a story about sisters, social media and 'reality', and mental health. It's a reminder that algorithms don't care about us. In a world where it seems like productivity equals worth, it's a reminder that we aren't defined by numbers, awards, or prestige. This debut is multi-layered as a story about diverging dreams, complex relationships with our parents, and the intoxicating pull of social media. So much of what we see online is curated and it's hard to fight that pull.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice reading! Love the choice page structure : story, message etc

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and having followed Marie's blog for some time, I was very excited to read it!

What I loved about this book was how it deep dived into the influencer world and the issues with social media. It's something I haven't seen in many YA books before but is a serious topic of current times. I thought it was quite refreshing seeing it brought to the limelight in a book.

I also loved the travel aspects of the book and the wanderlust. Many of the places mentioned in the book, I have been fortunate enough to have traveled to before. But it did make me want to go back, seeing it through Abby's eyes.

And then there was the sisterhood, which I thought was really lovely to see, especially because I know how much it meant to the author!

Overall, a really solid debut novel! It touches upon important topics and I thought it was a special book!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this! (What is life). I read it about a gazillion times. I think it's okay. I actually really like it, okay.

If you like :
- upper-YA contemporary books (ft. college-aged main characters),
- dealing with social media, influence,
- ft. sisters,
- online friendships,
- mental health representation (anxiety),
- loads and loads of traveling...

I think you'd enjoy this!!

Content warnings: this book deals with anxiety and features panic attacks at times. Take care of yourself, first and always x

Releases October 20th, 2024.

[M. C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like a fun jaunt to a European city and a warm hug all at once. Abby is such a sympathetic character, and the portrayal of her anxiety and panic attacks was very sensitively done. I also loved the relationship between the sisters and the different influencers. This story really captures that dual nature of social media as a wonderful way to connect, and as a fickle beast! I can't wait for more by this author.

[DB (DB's Guide to the Galaxy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

😍😍😍😍 oh Abby I feel seen 😅 gorgeous storytelling, great sister relationship writing 💜

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Hits all the right notes with a relatable main character and meaningful themes about identity and sisterhood.