Treadmill

by Katherine Powell

Kennedy Abrams is everything anyone would ever want to be at Clemson smart, funny, gorgeous, and friends with everyone. Rebecca Eaves is quieter, less social, and just trying to scrape by with her 16 credit hours and working 38 hours a week at the local grocery store. Together, the two make Drew a social media influencer using Kennedy as her face and Rebecca as her manager. As far as Drew's followers are concerned, Kennedy Abrams and Rebecca Eaves don't exist.

But fame and the need to keep their true identities secret start to take their toll, and what started as a fun experiment turns into something dangerous--something that both girls are willing to risk their lives and freedom for. After a fateful night hundreds of miles from their home, both girls realize they have a lot more riding on this secret account than they realized...and their account may be the key to exposing the terrible things they've done.

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2025

About the author

Katherine Powell was born and raised in Bel Air, Maryland. She has a B.A. in Political Science from Brigham Young University, with a concentration in Political Strategy and a minor in Creative Writing. She began pursuing a juris doctorate at Penn State Dickinson Law School in 2023. Katherine has been writing since she was seven years old and has won multiple awards for her work. Her multimedia novel DEAR SYDNEY has been read over three million times in 50 countries and was the recipient of a 2016 Watty Award. Her drama-mystery novel TREADMILL was shortlisted for a 2021 Watty Award, and its sequel, THE TERRIBLE TRIAL OF KENNEDY ABRAMS, won a 2022 Watty Award. When she isn’t writing or studying, Katherine can usually be found reading, listening to Taylor Swift, or rewatching a sitcom.

Reviews

[Martha M Beltran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start off by saying thank you so much to Katherine, I’m so thankful that I was able to ARC read this book!!

☆ ☆ ☆ .5
At first I wasn’t sure why the book went from third and first person but, as I continued reading , it was clear and I loved it! I think everyone at least once in their life has wanted to fit in, to be accepted or have the approval of someone else. Rebecca is such a relatable character for that reason, showing how easily we can be swept away and forget who we are and what we stand for. As for Kennedy She was definitely that IT girl; kind, beautiful, social but as the story progresses we see how she’s not the best person (to put it nicely lol). The build up was a bit slow but well worth the wait. I thought I had it figured out but I was proved wrong.

[Kaitlyn Pruitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Katherine for this ARC! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The book did start off slow and that is always pretty rough for me but it was an overall really good book! This book definitely keeps you on your toes! When you get in to the book it was so hard to put down! If you think you know what’s going to happen you don’t!! All of the twists and then we’re just so amazing and I can not wait for book 2!!

[Chloe Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was a part of the ARC read for the book but all opinions are my own.

Wow 🤯
I went in this, not sure what to expect because I’ve been reading nothing but romance lately and let me tell you; this was exactly what I needed. The story goes from third person to first person but at first you have no idea why it is set up that way and the further you get into the book it slowly starts to become more clear.
Let’s talk about Kennedy because she is truly awful; I remember wanting to have friends like her and had a few friends that were similar (though not quite the same, you’ll see why) and they always had a way of drawing you in even though they weren’t the greatest of friends. I feel for Rebecca and can see why she also did things she did, because she just wanted Kennedy’s approval. Truly a great book; the beginning does start a bit slow but doesn’t stay that way for very long and has me devouring it within a day. There’s so many twists and turns and honestly everything unravels perfectly, though I never would have guessed the unraveling.

[Chapter Chirp (Jessica)]

ARC Review-
“Treadmill” follows small-town girl Rebecca Eaves as she begins her Sophomore year at Clemson University. Rebecca obsesses over social media especially fellow classmate and Junior, Kennedy Abram’s and her profile, whom Rebecca deems “flawless”. When a treadmill accident at the gym introduces the two girls to one another, it becomes the catalyst to a downward spiral of epic proportions. This was a captivating story that warns to the power of social media and the thrill of wanting to be someone other than yourself. I found main characters Rebecca and Kennedy’s personalities to depict what it is to be a girl of this age group, in the technologically-obsessed world that we live in today with direct precision. The narrative showcases the amount of pressure that some feel revolving around the world of social media and some of the negative impacts that it can have on impressionable young people and some adults alike. In this way, the story had relatability and realistic qualities. Author, Katherine Powell has an innate knack for writing, and her suspenseful thriller if definitely worth a read.

[Naida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hang on!

The story throws you a little bit at the beginning, but it’s for a good reason, so definitely hang in there. Switching tenses also makes much more sense as you read along. The build up is just that and when the facts are revealed you’re like WHAAATTT!? There’s some foreshadowing if you’re paying attention but the twist was solid.

I really liked this story and can’t wait to see what happens next. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and this whole time I’m thinking “girl, get a lawyer!!” but here we are 😅

A lot of themes in this story, but the book sums them up beautifully towards the end so I won’t reveal them here. Personally for me, the moral of the story: If it seems too good to be true… it probably is. (That includes people 😬)

Definitely give this one a chance!

[Artemisthepinkreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artemis had the chance to read Treadmill by award winning author @kathpowellbooks Katherine Powell. OMG, where to start? You remember how Jenny tried so hard to become part of Selena and Blair? Rebecca, like Jenny, %100 good girl, meets Kennedy, whose life Rebecca would love to have. Strange enough, they become friends, but at what cost?

Treadmill mixes chick lit style with thriller cleverly, and the rhythm never stops. Summer is approaching, Instagram accounts are blooming and Treadmill will be a summer hit on beaches.

This novel was received in electronic format for free and this review is written voluntarily.

Kitap tarafıma ücretsiz iletilmiştir, yorum gönüllü şekilde girilmiştir.

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 ☆

Thank you to Katherine Powell for the eARC!

I found the beginning a bit slow to build into the influencer plot. Once the plot picked up, it really ramped up and I couldn’t have predicted that everything would unravel out like it did.

[Megan Spurgeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaw…meet floor. I wish I could leave it at that but what kind of review would that be? Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. I typically tend to judge books by their cover, but when I saw this one something told me to do it, to sign up for the arc. Shew am I glad that I did! The beginning was a tad bit slow but once it got into it I was LOCKED in. I was waking up early to read it and reading a page or two on breaks at work. I could have never predicted how this was going to end. Rebecca and Kennedy are such relatable characters. If you’re not one, you’re likely the other, and if you’re not one of them you’re probably Celeste or Lyla (the bffs living on the sideline) growing up I was DEFINITELY a Rebecca.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS. BOOK. It starts out a little bit slow, but once it picks up, it really PICKS UP. I really enjoyed this thriller and I was so excited to pick it up every night. I really wanted more by the end, and to my delight there will be a sequel!!

[Claire Connelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A-maz-ing. Such a page turner. After I picked it up, I have trouble putting it down. The pacing was perfect and I loved the way it built over time. Definitely a must read for 2025!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ARC from the author...thank you so much!

This was such a fun read! I wasn’t expecting so many twists and turns, but I was absolutely here for it! The beginning started off a bit slow—we definitely needed the backstory for Kennedy and Rebecca—but I do think it could’ve moved a little faster to get to the juicy parts. And once it got there? Oh, it got there. The good stuff was really good!

I really enjoyed Katherine’s writing style. The “journal-style” narration at the start of each chapter was such a cool touch, and I loved how it transitioned into the gritty details of the story. It made the experience feel intimate and immersive.

Rebecca is every college girl. I related to her so much—just wanting to be accepted, to be popular, to be noticed. She was naive and gullible, and her judgment was clouded the moment Kennedy gave her a shred of attention. Unfortunately, that’s such a relatable and realistic scenario.

As for Kennedy… she is the definition of a mean girl. Beautiful, rich, and manipulative, she knows how to use people to get what she wants. She thinks she’s unstoppable—until she’s not.

The twist really hits hard. It shows how someone like Rebecca, who genuinely cares about others, can still want to give the benefit of the doubt to someone who treated her horribly. But I was so proud of Rebecca for finally standing her ground. She wasn’t going to let anyone walk all over her anymore.

I need the sequel. I need to know what happens next. I’ll be first in line when it drops!

[heidi marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thank you to Katherine for choosing me to be part of the ARC team.


I am so used to fast paced Suspence/thrillers so the slow pacing of this book really had me wondering if I would be able to finish it. But I am glad I did cause when it hit half way and it started picking up it was hard to put down.
I admit though I was confused on how quick it would go from 3rd person to first but figuring it out really have you saying “ ohhh that’s why” which draws you in more.
the plot and story line to me was very interesting as I’m sure we all admired these insta influencers. We all think to ourselves what it would be like to live that life, to be able to look like that. We all eventually wanted what someone else has either its a hair style, body type, friendships or just life itself so i did relate to Rebecca quite a bit. I do feel though I was left with more questions than answers. “ how did she get the scar” “ what happened to Becca and Kennedy” and so much more but One thing for sure what I leaned about reading “TREADMILL” is how nothing and no one is ever picture perfect.

All opinions are my own

[Deja price · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book pulled me in right away! Treadmill follows Kennedy Abrams, the girl everyone wants to be, and Rebecca Eaves, who's just trying to survive college and a crazy work schedule. Together, they create"Drew Parley," a fake social media influencer-with Kennedy as the face and Rebecca as the brains behind it all. As far as the internet knows, Drew is real, and Kennedy and Rebecca don't exist.

What I really loved about this book is how well it shows the power of peer pressure-how someone can see straight through your insecurities and use them to push you into doing things you never thought you would. It shows how easy it is to bend your morals just to keep someone else happy. Katherine Powell also does a great job calling out social media beauty standards. The book makes you really think about how fake it can all be-and how sometimes, the influencers we admire most are just playing a role.

The drama, the secrets, the tension—it all builds up to such a good ending... but come on, I need to know what happens next! If you like books about identity, pressure, and the darker side of internet fame, definitely give this one a read.

[Raquel Rolen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up not really knowing what I was in for, but wow, it sucked me right in. At first I was like, “Why are we bouncing between third and first person?” but once it clicked, I had that lightbulb moment and loved how it all tied together.

Rebecca? Girl, I felt that. Who hasn’t wanted to fit in or get approval from the cool crowd at some point? And Kennedy… whew. She is that girl. Gorgeous, popular, seems perfect on the outside. But the deeper you go, the more you’re like, “Oh no, ma’am.” Watching Rebecca get tangled up in her mess was like watching a slow train wreck, and I could not look away.

I’m usually all about fast-paced thrillers, so the slow start had me side-eyeing this book a little. But once it picked up? Forget it, I wasn’t moving until I finished. Every time I thought I had the plot figured out, the story said “psych” and kept me guessing. I also loved how it dragged social media’s fake perfection. Nothing and no one is really picture perfect.

If you like books about messy friendships, fake internet fame, and people spiraling in real time, you’ll have a blast with this one.

[Laura Hoyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an eARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is very relatable to living in this digital age - envy over someone else’s social media life, FOMO if yours isn’t as glossy, desire to be in a world that seems so much shinier than your own. I think everyone will experience these kind of feelings as they dig into “Treadmill,” when they really get into the thick of the story.

The beginning of the book, much like the start of the main character’s gym routine and the title of the book, is a little like walking on a treadmill. I found myself wondering if we were ever going to run. I struggled at first, reading through the beginning chapters, trying to figure out where the book was headed, and if I even wanted to finish it. When the story did really begin to evolve, I admit I was in it for the long haul. The author managed to keep me running to find out what happened. I do feel a little unresolved in the endings and the resolution of the main characters, but hey, maybe there’s a potential for a sequel.

[Katie Eakins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Eaves fell off a treadmill and Kennedy Abrams was her savior. Perfect, beautiful, popular Kennedy Abrams. It seemed too good to be true, but soon enough Rebecca was the one hanging with the popular girls, the one people wanted to hear from, and then came the influencer profile. She never could have seen how those next months would go, but really, who could have?

This thriller was a Wattpadd award winner, and has two sequels, and I’m SO happy I signed up for an advanced copy! I hadn’t heard of these, I’m not big on Wattpadd, but I’ll be checking in on the sequels because I can’t wait until they are published, as well. It is exciting, relatable, and funny. It starts with her falling off a treadmill ffs. I was a little thrown that it switches back and forth between 1st and 3rd person, which I understand, but I didn’t think it was necessary. If that bothers you, maybe skip. Otherwise, there are things in here you won’t see coming, and it’ll keep you on your toes! Is the influencer you follow who you think she is? We’ll never know…

[Johanna Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it started really slowly but I liked the fact that we got narrator pov and Rebecca pov. I liked that it showed how you might think one decision or one interaction can change the course of your life but really it was all the little decisions after that one interaction that added up. There were tons of twists, I understand why it was slow to pick up, we needed it to build, it just seemed really slow. Kennedy is very mean girl- esq but both end up kind of manipulative, Rebecca so badly wants to be what she imagines Kennedy to be she can’t even appreciate any of the good things she has which is a pretty good commentary on what social media does to us. I really enjoyed it, I don’t want to give away too much, just trust me, ride it out through the show push uphill because once it gets going, it’s a fast paced ride. Thank you for letting me ARC this book.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kennedy Abrams and Rebecca Eaves couldn't be more different. Kennedy is intelligent, funny, and popular. Rebecca is quiet, less social, and barely scraping by. Together, they create a fake influencer named Drew using Kennedy's face and Rebecca as the manager.

Notoriety begins to take a toll on Rebecca and Kennedy as they try to keep their true identities hidden, and the dangers of creating a false persona creep up. One fateful night may change the course of both girls' lives...

Treadmill kept me on my toes! Kennedy is the kind of character we all love to hate. Truly, she's awful! Rebecca is relatable. She just wants to fit in and be accepted. When things take a turn in the novel, I was so sure I had it all figured out. I was wrong... Give this novel a go! You won't regret it!

[Karidad Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't be fooled by the pretty pink cover!

Everything started with a treadmill accident.
Lies and secrets became part of their lives.
And everything ended with betrayal and blackmail.
Or did it?

The plot is packed with suspense, lies, parties and investigations. Its defined by the control social media has in their lives. We have two main female characters, Rebecca and Kennedy. Rebecca is the introverted girl trying to fit in and Kennedy the typical mean girl who gets what she wants. This story has twists and turns that you might not see coming.

The end leaves you in a cliffhanger and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series about Kennedy's trial.

Thank you Katherine Powell for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[Samantha Bosnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not even know where to start with this book, it started out a little bit slow, then bam all hell broke loose. The switch from third person to first threw me for a min, but then it was ok I got it.

Kennedy Adams is the girl everyone wants to be, popular. beautiful, funny, smart and friendly. (smirk) Rebecca Eaves is the opposite except she is pretty, but less social, just scraping by with school and a full time job. They met by chance one day at the gym when Rebecca fell (?) on a treadmill and Kennedy saved her. They became instant friends and actually created a social media influencer named Drew, had Kennedy's face and Rebecca was the manager, no one knew it was them. A fun experiment turns into a dangerous outcome for these two after a night far from home, they did terrible things. there are a lot of twists and turns that will keep you guessing.

I think a lot of women can relate to Rebecca, just wanting to fit in this world and with females to accept her for who she is, sad because sometimes what one has to do to be accepted they lose themselves in the process, 😔

[Olivia Rockle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full transparency I did receive this book as an arc and all thoughts are my own

I’m gonna start this off by saying overall this book was great. I loved the fact that Kennedy is such an unreliable character. The only thing that stopped me from rating this 5 stars is that the start was pretty slow. The ending also was a little lacking to me and I would have like it to be a little more flushed out. Otherwise I liked the writing style and thought the book was very captivating.

[Hannah Soileau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever looked at someone and thought “Man, they have everything. Their life is perfect.”? Rebecca thinks that of Kennedy and I could definitely see why. I loved the twists this book took and the message it sends that not everyone’s life is what it seems- especially on social media. Rebecca just wanted to fit in and be accepted by someone of status and Kennedy proves that you should not trust everyone. This was a fun and intriguing read that will have you thinking “um, what!?!”

⋆ Thank you Katherine for this advanced reader’s copy!

[Kayleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

ARC Review:
really enjoyed how the story explored the dangers of social media obsession and online personas. while that wasn’t the main plot, it truly stood out to me and caused me to reflect on my own relationship with social media. this book reminded me of A Simple Favor in the same way that one friend gets tangled in the web of lies and manipulation of another.
loved how the story came together and gave us a satisfying conclusion, answered all my questions!

[Alanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a bit of a different kind of book for me. I read a lot of thrillers and mysteries, but this one had characters I wasn’t too fond of. I think this may be intentional on the part of the author because it did make me curious as to where the story was going. The story was really interesting and I kept reading to find out what happened. It’s a lot of setup for the story until something happens about midway through the book. The character telling the story I find pretty selfish, even though she is also sort of a victim. I do have some empathy for her, but I also find her choices after the incident to be lacking in good moral character. I did like how the author ended the story too. It was very different and appropriate I think. Definitely a book that will keep you wanting to find out what happens.

I received this book as an ARC. My review is voluntary and my own honest opinion.

[T Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect story of the girl who always dreamed of being popular, ends up being friends with the IT girl to have it all end up spiraling downhill!

[Tiffany (areyoutellingstories) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review coming soon!

[Leah Pretty Pistolz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

WOW! When I started reading I didn't know what I was getting my self into but I didn't NOT expect this 🤯 this book started off a bit slow but that definitely changed and at first I thought this book was going to be a bit of a girly book centred around the social media, but holy was I wrong!

The best way I could explain Rebecca and Kennedy's friendship is it's like a tornado storm but that's what you get when you meet someone like Kennedy, cause misery loves company and to take people down with them. I truly loved Rebecca's character, but I'm not a fan of Kennedy.

I was an ARC reader for this book and I would like to thank Katherine Powell for giving me the opportunity to be on her ARC team!

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the first-person and third-person points of view in this book! It starts out a little slow, a shy, self-conscious girl that most of us can relate to who is drawn to the popular crowd. The influencer aspect was exciting. It gets to the point where I couldn't decide who was more toxic. It's a different kind of book, excited to read the sequel!

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! The plot was wildly entertaining and the characters are so fun! Loved how the book had a nice flow to it and was easy to follow. I finished this in a single evening, it was that good!

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING SO GOOD THE SUSPENSE!!!!! Can’t wait for the sequel.