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Made You Look
A Catskills retreat turns deadly for a group of influencers when a snowstorm cuts them off from their greatest resource—their followers—just as a killer strikes in this irresistible debut thriller.
Sydney Kent is the ultimate It Girl. You want her effortless style, her charisma, her hair. You want to be her; you want to be with her.
But the trouble with a star is that everyone else looks dull in comparison.
Despite Caitlyn’s social media cunning, it’s impossible for her to step out from Sydney’s shadow. Even Lucy, Sydney’s best friend since before her fame, can’t escape her role as full-time photographer to the influencer.
When the women are invited to post content for a secluded new retreat in the Catskills, alongside Sydney’s boyfriend Jeff, stylist Nash, and manager Brent, the weekend feels like it will be a fresh start. But an unexpected snowstorm traps the group together with no cell service, no Wi-Fi, and no way out.
Then a killer strikes, and the dream trip becomes a nightmare. Secrets, lies, and scandals are forced to the surface, and the friends can’t help but suspect the murderer might be among them. Worse, the killing has only just begun.
But where there’s danger, there’s juicy, jaw-dropping, name-making content to be created. You know you want to look.
Sydney Kent is the ultimate It Girl. You want her effortless style, her charisma, her hair. You want to be her; you want to be with her.
But the trouble with a star is that everyone else looks dull in comparison.
Despite Caitlyn’s social media cunning, it’s impossible for her to step out from Sydney’s shadow. Even Lucy, Sydney’s best friend since before her fame, can’t escape her role as full-time photographer to the influencer.
When the women are invited to post content for a secluded new retreat in the Catskills, alongside Sydney’s boyfriend Jeff, stylist Nash, and manager Brent, the weekend feels like it will be a fresh start. But an unexpected snowstorm traps the group together with no cell service, no Wi-Fi, and no way out.
Then a killer strikes, and the dream trip becomes a nightmare. Secrets, lies, and scandals are forced to the surface, and the friends can’t help but suspect the murderer might be among them. Worse, the killing has only just begun.
But where there’s danger, there’s juicy, jaw-dropping, name-making content to be created. You know you want to look.
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First published November 18, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
November 16, 2025
⭐️ 2 ⭐️ I try to be selective in terms of the books I pick on NetGalley because there is nothing more upsetting (at least for me) than giving a debut author a poor rating. Everything about this book was promising from the outside—six influencers mysteriously locked-in on a remote Catskills resort with suspenseful things happening—who wouldn’t be intrigued? But on the inside, Made You Look was as flat as a pressed panini. With obnoxious characters and unthrilling drama, this was far from juicy and jaw-dropping content that will in fact Make You Look Away.
While I admit that I was initially hooked, that hook quickly dissipated with the improbability of events. Imagine icy mountains, new resort that’s still in the works, has no phones nor WiFi (only in one place that barely even works), has a pool thats well kept but no other amenities, no snack closet, no food nearby, no towels and a 911 call center that completely disregards you. Majority of events were not believable. I think the problem was that Grant delivered them in the most unrealistic way.
I mean, I expected a thriller more than influencer drama but Tanya Grant gave us so little that even that drama lacked tension and made the mystery less suspenseful. While this was built on multiple POVs, I found them all to be of similar voice. I had a hard time following whose chapter I was reading. Lastly, what bothered me was the nature of the murders. Completely nonchalant and so forgettable!!
Thanks to NetGalley & Berkeley Publishing Group and the author, Tanya Grant for this eARC.
Publication date: November 18, 2025
While I admit that I was initially hooked, that hook quickly dissipated with the improbability of events. Imagine icy mountains, new resort that’s still in the works, has no phones nor WiFi (only in one place that barely even works), has a pool thats well kept but no other amenities, no snack closet, no food nearby, no towels and a 911 call center that completely disregards you. Majority of events were not believable. I think the problem was that Grant delivered them in the most unrealistic way.
I mean, I expected a thriller more than influencer drama but Tanya Grant gave us so little that even that drama lacked tension and made the mystery less suspenseful. While this was built on multiple POVs, I found them all to be of similar voice. I had a hard time following whose chapter I was reading. Lastly, what bothered me was the nature of the murders. Completely nonchalant and so forgettable!!
Thanks to NetGalley & Berkeley Publishing Group and the author, Tanya Grant for this eARC.
Publication date: November 18, 2025
December 4, 2025
The perfect escapist read for any thriller lover, Made You Look had my attention from the very first chapter. Almost coming off as a gore-less slasher, I was beyond impressed by the multiple POVs and flawlessly paced plot. Pulling me into a storyline where bodies began dropping like flies, the isolated setting and surprise snowstorm that cut them off from the world made me downright giddy inside. After all, one of my absolute favorite tropes is a locked room murder mystery, so I couldn’t have been happier to see this slow-boiling influencer story shift in that direction just before the fast-paced game of cat-and-mouse arrived on the scene. A fun, wild ride of well-plotted thrills and chills, Grant pulled me into this popcorn thriller in no time at all. You see, that ending both came out of the blue yet also felt like the absolute perfect climax and conclusion.
All said and done, despite the need to suspend all disbelief and a somewhat less intense plot than I would’ve expected, the complex group dynamics and layers of dark secrets meant it was an utter home run. From the short, addictive chapters that were packed with cliffhangers to the small cast of mostly unlikeable characters, I loved it all and flew through the book in no time at all. Even better, however, were the eye-popping revelations. In spite of my usual knack for guessing the twists, this time around, I didn’t have a clue. Perfectly interwoven into the onion-like plot, there were a flurry of jaw-droppers in the last fifty pages. Pulling secrets from each of their traumatic pasts, I didn’t see them coming at all. Ultimately, not only was this book perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, but it delivered a solid gold tale that was impossible to put down. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Sydney Kent is the ultimate It Girl. You want her effortless style, her charisma, her hair. You want to be her; you want to be with her.
But the trouble with a star is that everyone else looks dull in comparison.
Despite Caitlyn’s social media cunning, it’s impossible for her to step out from Sydney’s shadow. Even Lucy, Sydney’s best friend since before her fame, can’t escape her role as full-time photographer to the influencer.
When the women are invited to post content for a secluded new retreat in the Catskills, alongside Sydney’s boyfriend Jeff, stylist Nash, and manager Brent, the weekend feels like it will be a fresh start. But an unexpected snowstorm traps the group together with no cell service, no Wi-Fi, and no way out.
Then a killer strikes, and the dream trip becomes a nightmare. Secrets, lies, and scandals are forced to the surface, and the friends can’t help but suspect the murderer might be among them. Worse, the killing has only just begun.
But where there’s danger, there’s juicy, jaw-dropping, name-making content to be created. You know you want to look.
Thank you to Tanya Grant and Berkley Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 18, 2025
Content warning: cancer, drug overdose, infidelity, ableism, knife and gun violence, mention of: rape, fatal hit-and-run, murder
All said and done, despite the need to suspend all disbelief and a somewhat less intense plot than I would’ve expected, the complex group dynamics and layers of dark secrets meant it was an utter home run. From the short, addictive chapters that were packed with cliffhangers to the small cast of mostly unlikeable characters, I loved it all and flew through the book in no time at all. Even better, however, were the eye-popping revelations. In spite of my usual knack for guessing the twists, this time around, I didn’t have a clue. Perfectly interwoven into the onion-like plot, there were a flurry of jaw-droppers in the last fifty pages. Pulling secrets from each of their traumatic pasts, I didn’t see them coming at all. Ultimately, not only was this book perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, but it delivered a solid gold tale that was impossible to put down. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Sydney Kent is the ultimate It Girl. You want her effortless style, her charisma, her hair. You want to be her; you want to be with her.
But the trouble with a star is that everyone else looks dull in comparison.
Despite Caitlyn’s social media cunning, it’s impossible for her to step out from Sydney’s shadow. Even Lucy, Sydney’s best friend since before her fame, can’t escape her role as full-time photographer to the influencer.
When the women are invited to post content for a secluded new retreat in the Catskills, alongside Sydney’s boyfriend Jeff, stylist Nash, and manager Brent, the weekend feels like it will be a fresh start. But an unexpected snowstorm traps the group together with no cell service, no Wi-Fi, and no way out.
Then a killer strikes, and the dream trip becomes a nightmare. Secrets, lies, and scandals are forced to the surface, and the friends can’t help but suspect the murderer might be among them. Worse, the killing has only just begun.
But where there’s danger, there’s juicy, jaw-dropping, name-making content to be created. You know you want to look.
Thank you to Tanya Grant and Berkley Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 18, 2025
Content warning: cancer, drug overdose, infidelity, ableism, knife and gun violence, mention of: rape, fatal hit-and-run, murder
June 30, 2025
The synopsis of this book had me hooked. A snowed in retreat, a group of influencers cut off from their followers, and a killer on the loose? Say less. I was ready for a juicy, twisty, page turning thrill ride. The prologue had me thinking, Yep, this is gonna be one of those can’t put it down reads.
Well… no.
The promising start gave way to a slow, drawn out slog of a story that felt more like a drama filled influencer getaway than any kind of gripping thriller. The writing? Meh. It lacked the punch and atmosphere you'd expect from something billed as a suspenseful debut. I kept waiting for the tension to kick in—for the dread to build—but it just… didn’t.
Some characters felt completely unnecessary, like they were added just to hit a headcount. Others were mildly tolerable, but let’s be honest, there wasn’t anyone really worth rooting for. The cast had all the surface drama, but none of the depth.
To be fair, about halfway through it almost reeled me back in. The writing improved a little, the pace picked up but just as quickly, it lost me again. The story kept dipping back into “boring” territory like it couldn’t decide what it wanted to be.
I did enjoy the “story post” chapters. Those had a creative flair that gave some freshness to the structure and voice. But that alone wasn’t enough to save the rest.
As for the grand reveal of the killer? Honestly, I laughed. (Sorry.). The “twist” felt weak, the motive flimsy, and by that point, I just wanted it to wrap up. But then… it didn’t. It kept going. And I kept asking, what’s the point? 🤷🏻♀️
In the end, this wasn’t the irresistible thriller I was promised. Just the whole the lack of tension, unlikable characters, and a forgettable payoff made it fall flat for me.
- 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.💐ᡣ𐭩
Well… no.
The promising start gave way to a slow, drawn out slog of a story that felt more like a drama filled influencer getaway than any kind of gripping thriller. The writing? Meh. It lacked the punch and atmosphere you'd expect from something billed as a suspenseful debut. I kept waiting for the tension to kick in—for the dread to build—but it just… didn’t.
Some characters felt completely unnecessary, like they were added just to hit a headcount. Others were mildly tolerable, but let’s be honest, there wasn’t anyone really worth rooting for. The cast had all the surface drama, but none of the depth.
To be fair, about halfway through it almost reeled me back in. The writing improved a little, the pace picked up but just as quickly, it lost me again. The story kept dipping back into “boring” territory like it couldn’t decide what it wanted to be.
I did enjoy the “story post” chapters. Those had a creative flair that gave some freshness to the structure and voice. But that alone wasn’t enough to save the rest.
As for the grand reveal of the killer? Honestly, I laughed. (Sorry.). The “twist” felt weak, the motive flimsy, and by that point, I just wanted it to wrap up. But then… it didn’t. It kept going. And I kept asking, what’s the point? 🤷🏻♀️
In the end, this wasn’t the irresistible thriller I was promised. Just the whole the lack of tension, unlikable characters, and a forgettable payoff made it fall flat for me.
- 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.💐ᡣ𐭩
November 17, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
My favorite thriller trope is isolated with a killer. A storm cuts off all contact with the outside world and if you add snow to the mix, you’ve got me kicking my feet and squealing.
This had so much potential. I loved the drama and the setting, but the tension and suspense you would expect in this kind of thriller just wasn’t there.
2.5 stars rounded up.
My favorite thriller trope is isolated with a killer. A storm cuts off all contact with the outside world and if you add snow to the mix, you’ve got me kicking my feet and squealing.
This had so much potential. I loved the drama and the setting, but the tension and suspense you would expect in this kind of thriller just wasn’t there.
2.5 stars rounded up.
November 13, 2025
LOOK 👀 at this gorgeous cover!! Thank you for the free book @berkleypub #berkleypartner 🥰 Thank you @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner for the free audiobook! 🎧 🎧 I highly recommend the audio!!! 😍 I jumped back and forth between the physical book and the audiobook so I didn’t have to put it down.
Pub date: 11/18/25🥳🥳
Locked room mystery… snowed in… deserted setting… a bunch of influencers.. MURDER… UMMM… YES please!! 🙋♀️ What could go wrong?? Well.. MURDER…😂 I literally laughed out loud when one of the characters said that it was like a slumber party… except for the dead body. 😂👏 Obviously a win for a thriller loving heart. 🖤
This was a slow burn like most locked room mysteries are.. this totally worked for me. I loved the atmosphere and the audiobook was fantastic. 👏
Pub date: 11/18/25🥳🥳
Locked room mystery… snowed in… deserted setting… a bunch of influencers.. MURDER… UMMM… YES please!! 🙋♀️ What could go wrong?? Well.. MURDER…😂 I literally laughed out loud when one of the characters said that it was like a slumber party… except for the dead body. 😂👏 Obviously a win for a thriller loving heart. 🖤
This was a slow burn like most locked room mysteries are.. this totally worked for me. I loved the atmosphere and the audiobook was fantastic. 👏
November 14, 2025
Had a hard time connecting to the story, felt a bit lack luster.. just didn’t hit for me, but I think others may enjoy
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTM3347n7/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTM3347n7/
December 20, 2025
This wasn’t quite the work escape that Lucy, Sydney & Caitlyn bargained for! When social media influencers are sent to post content about an exclusive retreat, it soon turns deadly. Snowed in, no cell reception or communication to the outside world, just stuck! No food or basic essentials. I was drawn in and invested in the outcome of the survivors of this nightmare. Overall a decent read. Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
July 29, 2025
I hate to say it but this book ended up being a forgettable one for me. While I mostly enjoyed it at the time of reading, it didn't feel revolutionary to me. The characters were unlikable and could've been easily interchanged with the characters of most other books that had similar plots to this one.
The pacing in this book felt uneven to me as well. I felt myself getting a bit lost throughout it due to the lack of interest. The pacing was struggling to keep me zoned in. These characters also felt really shallow to me. I didn't feel like I could relate, which isn't always an issue, but I also found myself not really caring about any of them. And the bigger issue was that this book felt as though it had already been written before. There wasn't a uniqueness to this story that I would've liked to see.
My review sounds pretty harsh, I realize. Flaws aside, as I stated earlier, I still did mostly enjoy reading this. It was a nice way to pass the time, it just didn't give me a "WOW" factor.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
The pacing in this book felt uneven to me as well. I felt myself getting a bit lost throughout it due to the lack of interest. The pacing was struggling to keep me zoned in. These characters also felt really shallow to me. I didn't feel like I could relate, which isn't always an issue, but I also found myself not really caring about any of them. And the bigger issue was that this book felt as though it had already been written before. There wasn't a uniqueness to this story that I would've liked to see.
My review sounds pretty harsh, I realize. Flaws aside, as I stated earlier, I still did mostly enjoy reading this. It was a nice way to pass the time, it just didn't give me a "WOW" factor.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
August 12, 2025
I was intrigued by the synopsis of Made You Look. A group of influencers posting content at a secluded retreat gets snowed in with no cell service and a possible murderer on the loose - what's not to love for a mystery reader? The beginning of this book was captivating, with its portrayal of toxic relationships and the revelation of secrets each guest was hiding. However, around the halfway mark, this book lost its stride. The story was very muddled, and the pacing made me lose interest, so I considered DNFing. Although I did finish this book, I agree with other reviewers that Made You Look can be forgettable, especially for readers whose main genre is mystery/thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to review Made You Look. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to review Made You Look. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 24, 2025
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Berkley Publishing Group.
Sydney Kent is the ultimate It Girl. You want her effortless style, her charisma, her hair. You want to be her; you want to be with her. But the trouble with a star is that everyone else looks dull in comparison. Despite Caitlyn’s social media cunning, it is impossible for her to step out from Sydney’s shadow. Even Lucy, Sydney’s best friend since before her fame, can not escape her role as full-time photographer to the influencer.
When the women are invited to post content for a secluded new retreat in the Catskills, alongside Sydney’s boyfriend Jeff, stylist Nash, and manager Brent, the weekend feels like it will be a fresh start. But an unexpected snowstorm traps the group together with no cell service, no Wi-Fi, and no way out. Then a killer strikes, and the dream trip becomes a nightmare. Secrets, lies, and scandals are forced to the surface, and the friends can not help but suspect the murderer might be among them. Worse, the killing has only just begun.
But where there is danger, there is juicy, jaw-dropping, name-making content to be created. You know you want to look.
Made You Look had a strong premise, and I really enjoyed the drama and the setting, but the suspense you expect from a thriller just was not there. The short chapters were a nice touch, and the opening pulled me in with its toxic relationship dynamics and the secrets each guest was hiding. But as the story progressed, the pacing slowed down, things got a bit muddled, and it became harder to stay invested. I kept waiting for a big twist or an unexpected reveal, but it never came. There were moments I genuinely liked, and the idea had plenty of potential, but overall it did not quite land for me. It is a decent read, but if you are looking for a sharp, twisty thriller with real insight into influencer culture, this probably is not the one for you.
Sydney Kent is the ultimate It Girl. You want her effortless style, her charisma, her hair. You want to be her; you want to be with her. But the trouble with a star is that everyone else looks dull in comparison. Despite Caitlyn’s social media cunning, it is impossible for her to step out from Sydney’s shadow. Even Lucy, Sydney’s best friend since before her fame, can not escape her role as full-time photographer to the influencer.
When the women are invited to post content for a secluded new retreat in the Catskills, alongside Sydney’s boyfriend Jeff, stylist Nash, and manager Brent, the weekend feels like it will be a fresh start. But an unexpected snowstorm traps the group together with no cell service, no Wi-Fi, and no way out. Then a killer strikes, and the dream trip becomes a nightmare. Secrets, lies, and scandals are forced to the surface, and the friends can not help but suspect the murderer might be among them. Worse, the killing has only just begun.
But where there is danger, there is juicy, jaw-dropping, name-making content to be created. You know you want to look.
Made You Look had a strong premise, and I really enjoyed the drama and the setting, but the suspense you expect from a thriller just was not there. The short chapters were a nice touch, and the opening pulled me in with its toxic relationship dynamics and the secrets each guest was hiding. But as the story progressed, the pacing slowed down, things got a bit muddled, and it became harder to stay invested. I kept waiting for a big twist or an unexpected reveal, but it never came. There were moments I genuinely liked, and the idea had plenty of potential, but overall it did not quite land for me. It is a decent read, but if you are looking for a sharp, twisty thriller with real insight into influencer culture, this probably is not the one for you.
June 10, 2025
I was really intrigued by the synopsis and had high hopes going in—it sounded like something I’d absolutely love. And at first, I was pulled in. But around the 40% mark, I started to lose interest. The pacing began to drag, and the storyline became a bit muddled, making it hard to stay fully engaged. I also struggled to connect with the characters, who felt underdeveloped as the plot moved forward.
That said, the concept had a lot of potential, and there were definitely moments I enjoyed. I think this one just didn’t hit the mark for me personally, but I can see others connecting with it more.
Thank you netgalley for my digital arc copy for an honest review
That said, the concept had a lot of potential, and there were definitely moments I enjoyed. I think this one just didn’t hit the mark for me personally, but I can see others connecting with it more.
Thank you netgalley for my digital arc copy for an honest review
October 30, 2025
Thank you PRH Audio & Berkley Pub for the gifted copy!
I typically love a locked room thriller, and this one definitely had all the right ingredients with an isolated setting, a snowstorm, and a group of influencers with secrets to hide. While parts of the story felt a little underwhelming and slower than I expected, the final act really pulled things together with some satisfying twists and a solid ending.
The influencer angle added a fun, modern touch, and I liked the way the author explored image versus reality and the toxicity of online personas. Even though I didn’t feel super connected to the characters, the tension ramped up nicely once the bodies started dropping. A good one for readers who enjoy closed circle mysteries with a social media twist!
I typically love a locked room thriller, and this one definitely had all the right ingredients with an isolated setting, a snowstorm, and a group of influencers with secrets to hide. While parts of the story felt a little underwhelming and slower than I expected, the final act really pulled things together with some satisfying twists and a solid ending.
The influencer angle added a fun, modern touch, and I liked the way the author explored image versus reality and the toxicity of online personas. Even though I didn’t feel super connected to the characters, the tension ramped up nicely once the bodies started dropping. A good one for readers who enjoy closed circle mysteries with a social media twist!
July 20, 2025
⭐️ 3.5/5
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Made You Look by Tanya Grant
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Psychological Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: November 18, 2025
📍 Catskills, NY
Remote Mountain Resort
Unexpected Snowstorm
Secrets, Lies + Scandals
Unreliable Narrator
Psychological Thriller
I'm a sucker for an unreliable narrator, and while I caught on towards the end, I still was in the dark when it came to the killer's motivations! The pacing was a uneven until the climax (around 80%), but I enjoyed the slow descent into distrust, the use of social media stories and the addition of the follower's POV to keep you on your toes, and the drama that just kept coming.
If you're looking for a slow burn psychological thriller and you love ALL the drama, Made You Look should be next on your TBR!
Thank you so much Berkeley Publishing and NetGalley for the digital review copy!
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Made You Look by Tanya Grant
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Psychological Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: November 18, 2025
📍 Catskills, NY
Remote Mountain Resort
Unexpected Snowstorm
Secrets, Lies + Scandals
Unreliable Narrator
Psychological Thriller
I'm a sucker for an unreliable narrator, and while I caught on towards the end, I still was in the dark when it came to the killer's motivations! The pacing was a uneven until the climax (around 80%), but I enjoyed the slow descent into distrust, the use of social media stories and the addition of the follower's POV to keep you on your toes, and the drama that just kept coming.
If you're looking for a slow burn psychological thriller and you love ALL the drama, Made You Look should be next on your TBR!
Thank you so much Berkeley Publishing and NetGalley for the digital review copy!
December 3, 2025
2.5/5
An influencer retreat gone wrong.
Told in alternating POVs (from Lucy, a photographer, and Caitlyn, an influencer) with social media posts interludes (from Sydney, the 'popular' girl), this story follows a group of influencers who were invited to stay at and promote a luxury resort that will be opening soon. But things take a turn for the worse when they become stranded by a snowstorm, cut off from internet and the world, have no food or electricity, and some of the influencers start dying one by one...
I'm used to having to suspend disbelief for books like this one but I couldn't look past the fact that there wasn't a single employee working at this supposedly brand new luxury resort. I don't care if it was a soft opening/if it was not open to the public yet - this is not a realistic way of conducting any kind of business. If this was operated as an airbnb-style resort (self check-in/check-out), then that's fine, but this resort has a central lodge equipped with a dining hall, lobby, and an indoor pool. Inviting people to stay at the resort without any housekeeping/janitorial staff, lifeguards, customer service staff, or the owner present to greet the influencers should have been an immediate red flag for everyone.
Also, for a popcorn thriller, I found the pacing rather slow. The first half of the book was spent establishing the characters and their influencer habits and personas which would have been fine if the characters were given more depth. Instead, the first half dragged on and on with none of the characters noticing all the red flags around them until it was too late.
I will admit that I have been enjoying reading thrillers about influencers and the lengths they're willing to go to get their likes and follows (see additional recs below).
*** #27 of my 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book set at a luxury resort ***
**I received a free physical copy of the book from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
________________________________
If you like the following books, then you might enjoy Made You Look or vice-versa (these are all thrillers with influencer characters that I enjoyed more than Made You Look):
An influencer retreat gone wrong.
Told in alternating POVs (from Lucy, a photographer, and Caitlyn, an influencer) with social media posts interludes (from Sydney, the 'popular' girl), this story follows a group of influencers who were invited to stay at and promote a luxury resort that will be opening soon. But things take a turn for the worse when they become stranded by a snowstorm, cut off from internet and the world, have no food or electricity, and some of the influencers start dying one by one...
I'm used to having to suspend disbelief for books like this one but I couldn't look past the fact that there wasn't a single employee working at this supposedly brand new luxury resort. I don't care if it was a soft opening/if it was not open to the public yet - this is not a realistic way of conducting any kind of business. If this was operated as an airbnb-style resort (self check-in/check-out), then that's fine, but this resort has a central lodge equipped with a dining hall, lobby, and an indoor pool. Inviting people to stay at the resort without any housekeeping/janitorial staff, lifeguards, customer service staff, or the owner present to greet the influencers should have been an immediate red flag for everyone.
Also, for a popcorn thriller, I found the pacing rather slow. The first half of the book was spent establishing the characters and their influencer habits and personas which would have been fine if the characters were given more depth. Instead, the first half dragged on and on with none of the characters noticing all the red flags around them until it was too late.
I will admit that I have been enjoying reading thrillers about influencers and the lengths they're willing to go to get their likes and follows (see additional recs below).
*** #27 of my 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book set at a luxury resort ***
**I received a free physical copy of the book from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
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If you like the following books, then you might enjoy Made You Look or vice-versa (these are all thrillers with influencer characters that I enjoyed more than Made You Look):
December 7, 2025
it was a pretty damn disappointing book, such a damn disappointment.
November 18, 2025
Lucy has just broken up with her boyfriend and a weekend getaway to a retreat in the Catskills is just the thing she needs. She'll be going with her best friend Sydney who is a big time influencer. Sydney will actually be promoting the retreat and Lucy will be taking the photographs. But it's not just the two of them going. They'll be joined by Caitlyn, another influencer, Sydney's boyfriend Jeff, their stylist Nash, and their manager Brent. Lucy and Caitlyn are both trying to get out from under Sydney. Lucy no longer has a desire to be Sydney's full time photographer and Caitlyn just can't seem to get out of Sydney's shadow. When a snowstorm hits, knocking out the Wi-Fi and trapping everyone in place, tensions start to rise. Secrets are revealed and lies uncovered. Then someone is murdered, throwing things into complete chaos. Is one of them the murderer or is there someone else there?
When I read the synopsis of this book, I was excited to read it. It ended up being okay. It was told from the POVs of Lucy and Caitlyn. There was lots of drama, and it was twisty, but unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into this one. It started out slow and didn't fully grab me. The characters were a bit irritating and a little too unhinged. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy unhinged characters, but in this book, I just couldn't deal with them. However, I did love the setting of the isolated retreat in the Catskills during a snowstorm. This was definitely an atmospheric read. And the last quarter of the book was pretty exciting. But don't let my opinion persuade you. You could end up loving this one.
When I read the synopsis of this book, I was excited to read it. It ended up being okay. It was told from the POVs of Lucy and Caitlyn. There was lots of drama, and it was twisty, but unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into this one. It started out slow and didn't fully grab me. The characters were a bit irritating and a little too unhinged. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy unhinged characters, but in this book, I just couldn't deal with them. However, I did love the setting of the isolated retreat in the Catskills during a snowstorm. This was definitely an atmospheric read. And the last quarter of the book was pretty exciting. But don't let my opinion persuade you. You could end up loving this one.
November 3, 2025
REALLY dissatisfied with this book. Not only did the two POVs have such a similar voice while progressing through the book, but there wasn’t a single character you could possibly like. This was insanely predictable from the start and it was borderline problematic throughout.
Let’s start with Lucy, who brought up surviving cancer and the treatment. I thought this was going to be super well thought out and the heart of our storyline. No, instead it was used as a plot line to her being in debt to Sydney as she took care of her and weaponized her treatment for views. Now I’m not saying that isn’t what can possibly happen in the real world, but when you only have a 300 page thriller, I shouldn’t hear about this in every single chapter. My parents both went through cancer and it just felt incredibly insensitive to bring up Sydney taking advantage of that.
Caitlyn, who was so clearly jealous and in love with Sydney since day one, had her queerness WEAPONIZED as the reasoning behind the murder and the plot. Her being jealous of Sydney’s success and not being chosen over Sydney’s chauvinistic boyfriend made me SO IRRITATED.
Brent and Jeff were borderline offensive with the constant “slapping of asses” and how they handled Nash’s death and the comments they made afterwards.
Nash — how TRULY insane to make him seem like the stereotypical MUA. Give us NOTHING about him and then the second he tells us about his mistreatment online, you kill him? Directly after he helps a woman who has just recovered from CANCER find herself pretty again??? It’s not the fact that he died but it was done in SUCH an offensive way. That was so incredibly insensitive and made me so irritated.
Lastly, we have Sydney, who was the only normal character for a thriller about an influencer. If you wanted to tell the story about her and her success, it should have been told from her POV the entire time.
Overall this was HORRENDOUS and I’d never recommend it.
Let’s start with Lucy, who brought up surviving cancer and the treatment. I thought this was going to be super well thought out and the heart of our storyline. No, instead it was used as a plot line to her being in debt to Sydney as she took care of her and weaponized her treatment for views. Now I’m not saying that isn’t what can possibly happen in the real world, but when you only have a 300 page thriller, I shouldn’t hear about this in every single chapter. My parents both went through cancer and it just felt incredibly insensitive to bring up Sydney taking advantage of that.
Caitlyn, who was so clearly jealous and in love with Sydney since day one, had her queerness WEAPONIZED as the reasoning behind the murder and the plot. Her being jealous of Sydney’s success and not being chosen over Sydney’s chauvinistic boyfriend made me SO IRRITATED.
Brent and Jeff were borderline offensive with the constant “slapping of asses” and how they handled Nash’s death and the comments they made afterwards.
Nash — how TRULY insane to make him seem like the stereotypical MUA. Give us NOTHING about him and then the second he tells us about his mistreatment online, you kill him? Directly after he helps a woman who has just recovered from CANCER find herself pretty again??? It’s not the fact that he died but it was done in SUCH an offensive way. That was so incredibly insensitive and made me so irritated.
Lastly, we have Sydney, who was the only normal character for a thriller about an influencer. If you wanted to tell the story about her and her success, it should have been told from her POV the entire time.
Overall this was HORRENDOUS and I’d never recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2025
I wasn’t a fan of this 😭 I could not picture the characters at all and kept getting them all confused. I know the influencer thing is real, obviously but none of this felt realistic at all? Like going to an unopened resort with zero staff, realizing there was no food and no phone service and still expecting it to be a great weekend getaway?? I feel like no towels for the pool was the first red flag 😂 They should’ve ditched out way earlier… and no way a golf cart was cruising off in snow that hadn’t been shoveled or plowed?? Also Lucy’s storyline with Nick..? Unnecessary and anticlimactic 😅 idk just not for me I’m sorryyyy. But thank u netgalley for the arc
November 26, 2025
Damn.
I've been looking for that "everybody's trapped on a mountain with no way out and no way to communicate and then shit goes sideways and bodies start piling up" story for a while now. This sounded like it had promise.
And initially, I had hope! The opening of this book was FANTASTIC. Gripping, had me sat. The prologue - a view through the lens of social media as a viewer was gripping, left me wanting to know what was going on - how the person "on screen" had gotten to the place they were in.
Okay, brilliant. Let's figure this shit out.
In the first, oh, 25% of this book, the dynamics between the 6 people stranded at this mountain resort are quite complex. There's tension and jealousy, envy and desire all wrapped up in every perspective. The differences between what the camera sees and how curated the influencers' videos are and their real life dynamics was engaging to read about and I think Grant does describe this dichotomy very well.
As much as influencer lifestyles don't appeal to someone like me - who has barely the faintest digital footprint, it feels realistic and not far off from real life dramas we've read about or heard about in the past. The way the collaborators present one face to their associates while thinking something entirely different behind their backs lets us in on the fact that there's stuff going on here that we don't have all the information on right away. Grant did a good job of complicating the crap out of the relationships these people have to one another, and making each of them stand out at the same time.
Mind, I'm not saying these characters were good people or that I liked any of them. Just that, initially, they were written well. They're obnoxious, sort of shallow, and definitely annoying, to me and to each other. BUT, they're influencers. So some of it is likely to be expected.
The issue that sank this whole story for me is the pacing and the fact that stuff didn't really start getting juicy until well over halfway through.
We spend half of this book just following these people around while they take photos of themselves. I get that we had to establish the characters and their reason for being at the lodge, but HALF the book needed to be spent on that? Really?
Needless to say, by the time folks start dropping, I was READY for it.
But even while strange things are going on and people are dying for no reason, there's never really any suspense. Maybe that's because I sort of had the 'bad guy' pegged before anybody died. Maybe it's because the twisted turns didn't really feel believable or make any sense.
Or maybe it's because ALL of the important connections and revelations happened 97% of the way through the story and by that point, I really just didn't care anymore.
The end was satisfying for what it was - and all the bad guys got their just desserts. So hurrah for that, I guess.
Needless to say the buildup was done pretty well, but the payoff didn't quite land for me. I genuinely think we just spent too much time watching these people be influencers and not enough time watching them be scared and fighting for their lives.
I've been looking for that "everybody's trapped on a mountain with no way out and no way to communicate and then shit goes sideways and bodies start piling up" story for a while now. This sounded like it had promise.
And initially, I had hope! The opening of this book was FANTASTIC. Gripping, had me sat. The prologue - a view through the lens of social media as a viewer was gripping, left me wanting to know what was going on - how the person "on screen" had gotten to the place they were in.
Okay, brilliant. Let's figure this shit out.
In the first, oh, 25% of this book, the dynamics between the 6 people stranded at this mountain resort are quite complex. There's tension and jealousy, envy and desire all wrapped up in every perspective. The differences between what the camera sees and how curated the influencers' videos are and their real life dynamics was engaging to read about and I think Grant does describe this dichotomy very well.
As much as influencer lifestyles don't appeal to someone like me - who has barely the faintest digital footprint, it feels realistic and not far off from real life dramas we've read about or heard about in the past. The way the collaborators present one face to their associates while thinking something entirely different behind their backs lets us in on the fact that there's stuff going on here that we don't have all the information on right away. Grant did a good job of complicating the crap out of the relationships these people have to one another, and making each of them stand out at the same time.
Mind, I'm not saying these characters were good people or that I liked any of them. Just that, initially, they were written well. They're obnoxious, sort of shallow, and definitely annoying, to me and to each other. BUT, they're influencers. So some of it is likely to be expected.
The issue that sank this whole story for me is the pacing and the fact that stuff didn't really start getting juicy until well over halfway through.
We spend half of this book just following these people around while they take photos of themselves. I get that we had to establish the characters and their reason for being at the lodge, but HALF the book needed to be spent on that? Really?
Needless to say, by the time folks start dropping, I was READY for it.
But even while strange things are going on and people are dying for no reason, there's never really any suspense. Maybe that's because I sort of had the 'bad guy' pegged before anybody died. Maybe it's because the twisted turns didn't really feel believable or make any sense.
Or maybe it's because ALL of the important connections and revelations happened 97% of the way through the story and by that point, I really just didn't care anymore.
The end was satisfying for what it was - and all the bad guys got their just desserts. So hurrah for that, I guess.
Needless to say the buildup was done pretty well, but the payoff didn't quite land for me. I genuinely think we just spent too much time watching these people be influencers and not enough time watching them be scared and fighting for their lives.
September 6, 2025
Thank you for the free book, Berkley!
In this atmospheric thriller debut, a group of influencers travel to the Catskills for a preview weekend to share with their followers. When they arrive to the secluded property, they find that there’s no food, Wi-Fi, or staff to help. The group is on their own and when a snowstorm hits, they become desperate. When one of them turns up dead, the situation is downright grim. Will any of them make it through the weekend?
I really enjoyed this take on an influencer/locked room thriller. The setting was creepy and set the stage for isolation and an eerie, unsettling feeling of being watched. The influencers were untrustworthy, unlikable, and made for good unreliable narrators. I liked the contrast of two different narrators, particularly toward the end of the book. Although the twists weren’t earth-shattering, they were still unexpected and provided a good end to the story. This book would make an excellent choice for a cozy fall or winter read to snuggle up by a fire and warm beverage. Just make sure to leave a light on!
In this atmospheric thriller debut, a group of influencers travel to the Catskills for a preview weekend to share with their followers. When they arrive to the secluded property, they find that there’s no food, Wi-Fi, or staff to help. The group is on their own and when a snowstorm hits, they become desperate. When one of them turns up dead, the situation is downright grim. Will any of them make it through the weekend?
I really enjoyed this take on an influencer/locked room thriller. The setting was creepy and set the stage for isolation and an eerie, unsettling feeling of being watched. The influencers were untrustworthy, unlikable, and made for good unreliable narrators. I liked the contrast of two different narrators, particularly toward the end of the book. Although the twists weren’t earth-shattering, they were still unexpected and provided a good end to the story. This book would make an excellent choice for a cozy fall or winter read to snuggle up by a fire and warm beverage. Just make sure to leave a light on!
November 13, 2025
The premise of MADE YOU LOOK has tremendous potential. A group of social media influencers gathered for a retreat is stranded in a remote cabin after a massive snowstorm. With limited resources and no way to communicate with the outside world, things turn terrifying when one of the group meets an untimely death. Cue the dramatic music.
The book starts out strong. The characters are introduced and we learn their backstories. There’s some interpersonal tension, conflicting objectives, and allusions to salacious secrets. Yes! The storm hits and they discover they lack the two things they most desperately want: food and (wait for it) wifi service. (Insert sarcasm here: NO WIFI!?!?! How will we post to The Gram? How will we update our stories?!? The horrors!!!!)
This is where the book lost me. I love an unreliable narrator, but this group was more unlikable than unreliable. After a strong start, the pacing became uneven and I found myself losing interest. I was glad to have the audiobook because the narrators kept me listening.
This was a fine book. It had some really strong moments, but simply lacked something in the execution. I kept waiting for an unexpected twist or a big reveal. The book delivered neither.
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and PRH Audio for the gifted copies. All opinions are my own.
The book starts out strong. The characters are introduced and we learn their backstories. There’s some interpersonal tension, conflicting objectives, and allusions to salacious secrets. Yes! The storm hits and they discover they lack the two things they most desperately want: food and (wait for it) wifi service. (Insert sarcasm here: NO WIFI!?!?! How will we post to The Gram? How will we update our stories?!? The horrors!!!!)
This is where the book lost me. I love an unreliable narrator, but this group was more unlikable than unreliable. After a strong start, the pacing became uneven and I found myself losing interest. I was glad to have the audiobook because the narrators kept me listening.
This was a fine book. It had some really strong moments, but simply lacked something in the execution. I kept waiting for an unexpected twist or a big reveal. The book delivered neither.
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and PRH Audio for the gifted copies. All opinions are my own.
October 2, 2025
2.25 ⭐
Meh!
Wasn't a big fan of this one. Was a boring plot line, with boring characters. Nothing really stuck out to me, so I don't really have much to say. 🤷🏼♀️ This nearly put me into a slump.
» Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | NetGalley for an eARC of this book! «
❗ Publication Date: November 18, 2025
Meh!
Wasn't a big fan of this one. Was a boring plot line, with boring characters. Nothing really stuck out to me, so I don't really have much to say. 🤷🏼♀️ This nearly put me into a slump.
» Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | NetGalley for an eARC of this book! «
❗ Publication Date: November 18, 2025
November 21, 2025
An interesting, though improbable series of events. I was iffy about the MC, but enjoyed the thrills and mystery around what was actually going on. I have mixed feelings about influencer based plots in general. Either they seem to go way over the top, and/or create unlikeable characters. Definitely a fair bit of that going on here.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Berkley Publishing Group for a copy!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Berkley Publishing Group for a copy!
August 21, 2025
Thank you Berkley for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
Suspenseful, great setting. Wasn’t surprised by the ending but I’m not a huge thriller reader! Still really enjoyable and I think will be great for fall reading!
Suspenseful, great setting. Wasn’t surprised by the ending but I’m not a huge thriller reader! Still really enjoyable and I think will be great for fall reading!
June 21, 2025
I was super intrigued 40% in but all of the characters started getting confusing and it seemed pretty far fetched, even tho i’m sure the influencer culture can be toxic. There was just a lot and felt unnecessary. It’s not a bad book, just wasn’t for me
November 22, 2025
Thank you @berkleypub and @prhaudio for my gifted ALC. Made You Look is out now!
Made You Look is a story about a group of influencers and their team who take a trip to a remote cabin in the Catskills in a snowy weekend. They get stranded because of the snow and there’s no food, wifi, cell service and eventually power. They don’t even have towels for the hot tub! When one of the group is found dead, they point fingers at each other.
This was just an okay book for me. It is the author’s debut novel so I think there is potential for a better second book. There were lots of stereotypes regarding influencers and it was just like many other thrillers I’ve read. However, I did listen to the audiobook and narrators @britpressley and @baileycarrvoice really made the story much more engaging. I did enjoy how the story went back and forth between best friend and photographer Lucy and wannabe influencer Caitlyn and their relationship with Sydney, the big name influencer.
Made You Look is a story about a group of influencers and their team who take a trip to a remote cabin in the Catskills in a snowy weekend. They get stranded because of the snow and there’s no food, wifi, cell service and eventually power. They don’t even have towels for the hot tub! When one of the group is found dead, they point fingers at each other.
This was just an okay book for me. It is the author’s debut novel so I think there is potential for a better second book. There were lots of stereotypes regarding influencers and it was just like many other thrillers I’ve read. However, I did listen to the audiobook and narrators @britpressley and @baileycarrvoice really made the story much more engaging. I did enjoy how the story went back and forth between best friend and photographer Lucy and wannabe influencer Caitlyn and their relationship with Sydney, the big name influencer.
November 19, 2025
A locked room mystery but make it modern with social media influencers snowed in at a remote cliffside resort. A strong start with some like to hate characters but the hinting at the backstories gets pretty bogged down by mid book and the repetitive cries of no WiFi and minimal food/snacks to make it through 3 days induced way too much eye rolling for these middle aged eyes. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an advanced copy for a honest review.
November 4, 2025
Oh I lovedddd this book!! It sucked me in immediately and I devoured it. The story moved quickly I loved the different POV throughout. It kept my attention the whole time and the mystery kept me guessing. Such a fun read!!!
August 16, 2025
Look, just because I spent my entire day reading this doesn't mean I enjoyed it, okay?
Like most mysteries, the premise of this novel sounds really cool. That's what made me want to read this. However, this story requires you to suspend so much disbelief that I couldn't possibly give it more than 2 stars. None of this story makes sense! So much of what takes place in this novel is either ridiculous, improbable, or entirely illogical. "Made You Look" Yeah okay, I guess, but only because I couldn't look away from this train wreck.
This could have been really good. I love a mysteries in closed off locations with a very small cast to keep you guessing. But the problem here is that I wasn't left guessing. Some of this was entirely predictable and the other twists just seem a bit ridiculous. For a mystery, there is a very distinct lack of suspense from the entire thing. I didn't wonder what was going on at all because it was quite obvious what it had to be, at least in part.
I thought about maybe giving it 3 stars just for the fact that it did keep me occupied for the day and I did finish it, but even the ending was so cheesy and convenient that I couldn't bring myself to bump up the rating.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
Like most mysteries, the premise of this novel sounds really cool. That's what made me want to read this. However, this story requires you to suspend so much disbelief that I couldn't possibly give it more than 2 stars. None of this story makes sense! So much of what takes place in this novel is either ridiculous, improbable, or entirely illogical. "Made You Look" Yeah okay, I guess, but only because I couldn't look away from this train wreck.
This could have been really good. I love a mysteries in closed off locations with a very small cast to keep you guessing. But the problem here is that I wasn't left guessing. Some of this was entirely predictable and the other twists just seem a bit ridiculous. For a mystery, there is a very distinct lack of suspense from the entire thing. I didn't wonder what was going on at all because it was quite obvious what it had to be, at least in part.
I thought about maybe giving it 3 stars just for the fact that it did keep me occupied for the day and I did finish it, but even the ending was so cheesy and convenient that I couldn't bring myself to bump up the rating.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
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