The Influencers

by Anna-Marie McLemore

A social media influencer's empire is burned to the ground—literally. The top suspects? The five daughters who made her famous.

"Mother May I" Iverson has spent the past twenty years building a massively successful influencer empire with endearing videos featuring her five mixed-race daughters. But the girls are all grown up now, and the ramifications of having their entire childhoods commodified start to spill over into public view, especially in light of the pivotal Who killed May’s newlywed husband and then torched her mansion to cover it up?

April is a businesswoman feuding with her mother over IP; twins June and July are influencers themselves, threatening to overtake May’s spotlight; January is a theater tech who steers clear of her mother and the limelight; and the youngest…well, March has somehow completely disappeared. As the days pass post-murder, everyone has an opinion—the sisters, May, a mysterious "friend of the family," and the collective voice of the online audience watching the family’s every move—with suspicion flying every direction.

A campy and escapist exploration of race, gender, sexuality, and class, The Influencers is an evisceration of influencer culture and how alienating traditional expectations can be, ripe for the current moment when the first generation of children made famous by their parents are, now, all grown up—and looking for retribution.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Contemporary, Adult, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

448 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2025

About the author

Anna-Marie McLemore (they/them) is the author of William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist The Weight of Feathers; Wild Beauty; Blanca & Roja, one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Novels of All Time; Indie Next List title Dark and Deepest Red; Lakelore, an NECBA Windows & Mirrors title; and National Book Award longlist selections When the Moon Was Ours, which was also a Stonewall Honor Book; The Mirror Season; and Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix. Their latest release is Venom & Vow, co-authored with Elliott McLemore, and Flawless Girls will be released by from Feiwel & Friends in May 2028. Their adult debut, The Influencers, is forthcoming from Dial Press.

Reviews

[emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

what could be more horrifying.

this is a book about how mommy influencers are evil (an opinion i shared going in) in a way that will turn their daughters into traumatized girlbosses (sure).

as i waited for a couple hundred pages to get into this, i realized the problem: everything about it was over the top.

our mommy's username is mother may i, so she's called may. her children are named april, june, july, january, and march. her husband's name is august. this is liberally sprinkled with brand names that feel like pinterest search results for "rich people stuff."

it makes some interesting choices (the perspective is that of the audience watching; there's a solid twist or two) but its characters, story, style, and...everything else were so out there i couldn't ever settle in.

bottom line: ridiculous to the point of annoying.

(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A family drama/mystery with a strong social commentary, The Influencers had me intrigued from the very first page. After all, the structure of the multiple POVs was original to be sure. With collective perspectives from the family’s followers as well as individual POVs from January, April, May, June, and July, there were plenty of opinions to pull me into the story and give me a wide-angle view. The best piece of the puzzle for me, though, was the complex family dynamic that was reminiscent of the Kardashians in all of their want-to-be-famous glory. True-to-life and uncomfortably real, the satirical plot shined a light on social media and our obsession with other people’s lives, which felt all too poignant in today’s world.

Unfortunately, though, there were some downsides to this 400+ page novel as well. With an incredibly slow start, unlikeable characters who were hard to root for, and a social commentary that overrode the mystery for much of the novel, it wasn’t quite the whodunnit I was expecting. Despite all of that, however, the drama was addictive in the same way that I seem to keep watching just one more episode of reality TV. All said and done, while I enjoyed watching this dysfunctional family from all sides, it did leave me wanting just the tiniest bit. Perhaps some editing could have helped narrow the story into either a drama or a mystery as this novel missed the mark on being both. Rating of 3 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

“Mother May I” Iverson has spent the past twenty-five years building a massively successful influencer empire with endearing videos featuring her five mixed-race daughters. But the girls are all grown up now, and the ramifications of having their entire childhoods commodified start to spill over into public view, especially in light of the pivotal question: Who killed May’s newlywed husband and then torched her mansion to cover it up?

April is a businesswoman feuding with her mother over intellectual property; twins June and July are influencers themselves, threatening to overtake May’s spotlight; January is a theater tech who steers clear of her mother and the limelight; and the youngest…well, March has somehow completely disappeared. As the days pass post-murder, everyone has an opinion—the sisters, May, a mysterious “friend of the family,” and the collective voice of the online audience watching the family’s every move—with suspicion flying every direction.

Thank you to Anna-Marie McLemore and The Dial Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: April 15, 2025

Content warning: emotional abuse, racism, sexism, toxic relationship, mention of: murder, house fire

[Ricarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many of Anna-Marie McLemore's books over the last years – this is actually my ninth book by them, wow – and their new releases always have my attention. They are the author of lyrical, magical YA trans stories for me, and I was very excited to see how this translates to an adult fiction book. The book follows a rich influencer family consisting of the super famous Mother May I and four of her daughters after the murder of May's second husband August. I saw The Influencers tagged as mystery / thriller on Goodreads, but it's really not. It's more of a rich people drama where there is also a crime, so don't go in with the wrong expectations. While there is the question of what really happened to August and who killed him, this book is less about solving the mystery than about painting a family picture. First, there's May Iverson: former mommy blogger turned lifestyle influencer, now rich and internet famous and thinking that firing the staff of her mansion makes her a minimalist. May has five daughters from her first marriage – January, March, April, June and July (don't get me started on these names) – and she pretty much got famous through making their childhood public. All the daughters are adults now, and some followed into their mother's footsteps while others feel exploited by her. Everyone gets their own POV in the book, so a lot of different perspectives are presented. None of the daughters liked their stepfather much and many had problems with their mother, but who actually had the motive for the committed crime? It isn't much of a thrilling read, but I liked the way how the story unraveled with each new chapter. There's also this interesting collective POV of the family's followers that shows how the Iversons are perceived on social media. It's an observing perspective that doesn't necessarily show the truth, only constructing a picture from online content. These chapters were very well done in my opinion. It's where McLemore's lyrical writing shines the most and a lot of commentary on current issues regarding social media is offered. I'm talking about carefully constructed online personas and fakeness, about parasocial relationships, about privacy and publicity, especially when it comes to children. It's not a deep or analytical exploration of these themes, but I liked how they were interwoven with the narrative and how they were part of the everyday life of the characters. It was a good read, but some minor things also bothered me. There were five siblings and all had different personalities, but their respective chapters didn't really have a unique voice, so I was sometimes mixing them up. And if you name twin sisters June and July there's a 100% chance that I can't remember who's who, I'm sorry. I also think that the book could have wrapped up a little faster or be shorter in general. But these negative things don't weigh down my overall positive opinion too much and I'm glad that I enjoyed Anna-Marie McLemore's adult debut. Every time I read a book by this author I kinda want to re-read my old favs by them and The Influencers was no exception. I don't think that fans of the author have anything to worry about with this new release and I hope that many new readers will find them through the new genre.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House / Dial Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published April 15, 2025.

3.4 stars for this semi-take off on the Kardashians…if any of them had a soul.

Mom/influencer May Iverson has big problems. Her new husband August (nee Augustus) has been killed in their home and she and her daughters that she brought up in the spotlight are the prime suspects. April runs a successful business, twins June and July are influencers themselves, January works in stagecraft for a theatre and March…well, March left home as soon as she could and hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Now May’s hard fought for empire is at risk and who killed August? The collective view of the audience chimes in throughout.

This book isn’t about the Kardashians, obviously, but if you look at it is an indictment of Kris Jenner, the momager (autocorrect made this “monster.” Perfect.” I don’t think you would be wrong. A bunch of confused, miserable, unhappy people here, all because of social media and the desire to be seen. I have the desire not to be seen. By anyone. Really ever. In fact, I might take to my bed right now.

April: “I don’t want to do what you do. I don’t want to be you. I don’t want to be anything like you.”

“…in the process of becoming Mother, May I, May Iverson had turned each of her children into more consumable versions of themselves.”

“How little she had known her children.”

[Jillian B · Rating 4 out of 5]

May Iverson was one of the OG mommy bloggers, and her now-grown daughters were among the first to grow up in the spotlight. Each has coped—or failed to—in their own way. April has hustled to build her own success, publicizing her successful textiles line while keeping her personal life private. June and July have leaned into the influencer life. January lives a low-key life as a theatre technician, while March has cut contact with her family and disappeared. When May’s supplement-shilling second husband is found dead and their mega-mansion set ablaze, each of the girls is a suspect. They all had the means and the motive—but did one of them actually take the ultimate revenge?

This was a fun read. It felt a bit like Pretty Little Liars for adults, in that each of the glamorous characters was hiding a secret. I do think that it was longer than it ultimately needed to be, and the story dragged on a bit in the third act. But overall, this was a fun read full of twists, turns and red herrings, and it skewered influences culture in a delightful and satisfying way.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to an eARC of this book!

[littlefox · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and The Dial Press for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Expected Publication: April 15th, 2025

I reallyyy wanted to like this book but it unfortunately fell flat for me. The idea is very interesting, especially considering the rise of influencers and child exploitation on social media, but the execution didn’t work.

I liked the character descriptions at first, they really brought the characters to life, but it started to go downhill with the AMOUNT of descriptions. May and her children were described at the beginning… and then multiple times again throughout the book with the same repetitive details. And despite the amount of descriptions, the characters were very one-dimensional because all we learned about them was the most basic parts of their personalities.

The “mystery” is the main part of the plot and yet the least developed. We follow the lives of the Iversons after the murder of a character that we don’t know nor do we particularly care about, and neither do they. The book focuses more on the children’s feelings towards growing up in the spotlight than the actual murder. I do think it’s interesting to read from the POVs of people who grew up with their entire lives plastered on social media (especially with the upcoming Piper Rockelle documentary and her continuing to be exploited by her mother), I just wish it had been executed differently.

[Angie Miale · Rating 2 out of 5]

May Iverson is an influencer with 4 daughters who are a part of her empire. She is very successful and rich until her home is burned and her new husband murdered. The top suspects are the family themselves. They are Kardashian-esque in their branding and personal empires, there are increasingly more and more ways to make money and build their brands.

This book was not my favorite, I found the characters to be one dimensional and the pacing I found to be slow. I love the idea for the book and the characters having month names, especially March. The set up and first couple of chapters were intriguing but with a lack of descriptions or believable dialogue the book started to drag. It doesn’t help that the victim is someone we don’t know or care about at all. A twist at the end that fell a bit flat.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for the ARC. Opinions are my own. Book to be published April 15, 2025.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will always read a book about an influencer, there is something endlessly interesting to me about the world’s obsession with social media influencers. The murder mystery wasn’t the most interesting part to me, it was the dynamics between the family. I can’t imagine growing up with the whole world watching my every move, it honestly sounds miserable and I liked that this looked at the dark side of social media. If you have a fascination with family vloggers like I do try this! Brit Pressley is one of the very best and she shines so bright here.

[thevinedbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an interesting vibe for me. I was obsessed with the cover when I saw it, and I frankly find our society’s obsession with influencers fascinating. I also thought this Mystery novel is being released at a super relevant time, with many kids who grew up in the fishbowl of social media now releasing tell-alls.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I did struggle with the pacing and the abrupt changes between POVs, especially when it pivoted between the sisters’ POVs and the fans. At times, I enjoyed reading about the fans opinions on Mother May I and her daughters, but other times, it didn’t feel necessary to me. I really wanted more time with the family overall.

I struggled with how to rate this story but really enjoyed the ending and the twists and turns that occurred, so I ended up giving it four stars. I think you will really enjoy this book if like:

Twists and Turns
“Who Dun it” Vibes
Complex Family Dynamics
LGBTQIA+ Representation
Multiple POVs

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[✧*̥˚Rachel*̥˚✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

~Contemporary, Mystery, Adult, and more!~

The Influencers by Anna-Marie McLemore follows the Iversons; social media influencers who grew up under the spotlight and in front of the camera. The five Iverson sisters have spent over twenty years being filmed for their mothers channel, 'Mother May I.' The once small channel became an empire with their lives plastered everywhere: from online videos to social media campaigns, the girls have done it all. So when their step-father ends up dead, and their mother's house ends up torched, they turn into lead suspects. The sisters have changed since the early years of Mother May I. April, the oldest, is now a successful businesswoman whose life isn't in the spotlight. The twins June and July have their successful channel called 'The Summer Girls,' which is projected to become bigger than their moms. January is living her own life away from social media as a theater tech. The youngest, March, hasn't been seen in 2 years. The girls have changed, but their mother hasn't. As the murder case goes on, resentment and secrets start to bubble over, and tension gets high. But that doesn't mean one of the girls really committed murder, right?

4.5|I enjoyed this book, but I had a hard time rating it. I think a terrific job was done showing the parasocial relationship between fans and influencers. This topic of child exploitation is so current, with countless stories coming out each year. The negatives of growing up this way were perfectly shown and described throughout this book. The pressure they felt to constantly perform and the want to just be kids was so compelling in this story. The building of resentment they felt for their entire lives being shown, especially personal moments being capitalized on, was strong—a fantastic job capturing this side of content creation, especially when pertaining to children. For the story itself, I enjoyed the number of twists throughout the book. The use of different perspectives was genius and allowed me to see both sides of the story. The characters themselves had good and bad points. At times, I empathized with them, while at others, I got frustrated with their decisions. The balance made the characters feel realistic, especially given their odd circumstances. I enjoyed the description of their world. The constant cameras, unrealistic expectations, and their hectic life greatly affected how I viewed the characters.

My biggest complaint in this book is about the pacing. It felt too slow at certain points especially in the beginning when I wasn't too invested in the characters or the story yet. As for the murder mystery aspect, it was a tad predictable. I won't judge too harshly, mainly because I read many murder mysteries and because this book focuses more on the influencer aspect, not the murder. I enjoyed learning about the sister's relationships with each other. I also loved the different perspectives we got to see; it showed how each Iverson viewed their upbringing. I will say my favorite perspective was May herself. Seeing how she justified her actions and viewed her children was interesting. The ending was a great wrap-up and showed how bittersweet it was for the Iversons to finally live their life how they wanted. The only thing I would have liked added to the end was an explanation of what happens to their neighbors' land.

Overall, this was a great book that dealt with the current issue of child influencers and the lifelong effect it has on them. This book could have been an easy 5-star for me if the pacing was easier initially. While some parts of this book were quite light-hearted, I got a melancholy undertone. That was primarily due to my understanding of this happening in reality so often. This book was enjoyable; the story itself was unique and unlike anything I had ever read before. I am definitely interested in reading more by this author!

*I received this book through Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley as an eARC reader. This will not in any way affect my thoughts or opinions on the book*

Expected publication is April 15, 2025

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'The Influencers' by Anna-Marie McLemore - expected release date 04/15/2025

This book sounded interesting - kinda Kardashian-esque, but it was extremely slow paced, and the characters were flat and boring. I also hated all their names, so much. I don't like to DNF my books but I didn't want to waste any more time on this one. I made it 25% in, and all it did was continuously explain why the killer couldn't be any of the Iversons. Move on, geez. Something about the writing really bothered me too, the sentences seemed choppy - they didn't flow well. Not my cup of tea...

[Stellar Nebula · Rating 1 out of 5]

“The Influencers” за авторством Анны-Мари МакЛемор была одним из моих самых ожидаемых релизов года. А как иначе? Тема семейного блогинга и его последствий меня давно интересует. Тем более, что последние года два на западе диалог вокруг этой темы сильно поменял вектор после печально известного дела Руби Фрэнки. Дошло до того, что некоторые штаты начали принимать законопроекты схожие с законом Кугана, согласно которому процент от заработка блога откладывается в трастовый фонд для ребенка. Получить доступ к этим деньгам можно лишь после достижения 18-летнего возраста. Общественность наконец начала приходить к тому, что проводить часы перед камерой - это работа, которая должна оплачиваться.

Блог посвященный детям это не то, что может быть долгосрочным заработком, банально потому что дети вырастают. По этой причине меня и зацепил “The Influencers”. Книга повествует об известной маме-блогерше Мэй Иверсон, или Мать Мэй И (игра слов: Mother May I можно перевести так же как “мама, могу ли я”). Она была одной из первых, кто обогатился на контенте вокруг родительства. Ныне у нее не самые лучшие времена в финансовом плане, так как все ее пять дочерей уже выросли. Как можно снимать ролики про то, как за пять минут из фольги сделать костюм инопланетянина на Хэллоуин, если костюм надеть уже некому? Пока Мэй всеми силами пытается отстоять хоть крупицу релевантности в интернете, ее дочери одна за другой отдаляются от нее. Однако, желание Мэй по итогу исполняется, как только ее дом сгорел в результате пожара, целью которого было сокрытие убийства ее мужа Августа. Главными подозреваемыми являются пять дочерей Мэй - Эйприл, близнецы Джун и Джулай, Дженьюэри и уже год как пропавшая без вести Марч.

У каждой из сестер есть главы от их лица, вкупе с главами от лица матери и таким образом у нас шесть фокальных персонажей. И сразу становится очевидно, что МакЛемор банально не знает, что с ними делать. У Эйприл синдром старшей сестры, который автор ленится вписать в ее образ мышления, а так же обида на отца, который после развода не боролся за опеку над дочерьми. Учитывая, что у сестер Иверсон один отец можно было смело отдать эту линию кому-то другому. Линии младших сестер Дженьюэри и Марч абсолютно не влияют на детективный сюжет, более того Марч нужна была для отдельного плот твиста. При желании из них можно было слепить одного персонажа (или вовсе убрать обеих) и ничего не потерять. Мигом становится ясно, что интереснее всего МакЛемор было писать про близняшек. Джун - копия Мэй и ее любимица, в то время Джулай затюканное в результате материнского мониторинга существо, цель которого “заставить звезду Джун сиять ярче”. В самом начале автор пытался вплести в их отношения расовый аспект. Сестры Иверсон наполовину латино как и сам автор. Джун является самой светлой из сестер, а Джулай наоборот - самой темненькой. И этот факт разумеется влиял на отношение спонсоров и аудитории. Это в итоге ни во что не вылилось, что немного обидно, если честно. Вообще, сестры крайне мало контактируют друг с другом на протяжении книги, что крайне жирный минус для истории про семейные отношения. В плане отношений сестер с Мэй все еще хуже.

Казалось бы, в книге почти 500 страниц, чем же там все забито, если важные аспекты взаимоотношений в семье автор не раскрывает? А вот чем: помимо шести фокальных персонажей есть главы от некоего таинственного “Мы”. “Мы” - это те, кто смотрел Иверсонов, те, кто их хейтил, те, кто фанател по ним и потом захейтил, те, кто смотрел только ради Джун и Джулай и т.д. Фокус в том, чтобы показать парасоциальные отношения между разной аудиторией и семейством Иверсонов. И эти главы дико отдают душком “Девственниц-Самоубийц” Джеффри Евгенидиса. “Девственницы-Самоубийцы” тоже написаны от коллективного лица парней, которые были влюблены в сестер Лисбон. Вот только у Евгенидиса подобное решение имеет нарративный смысл, в то время как в “The Influencers” - цель тупо пофлексить пестрым языком. В “Девственницах-Самоубийцах” нет глав от лица сестер Лисбон, дневниковых записей или чего-то подобного. Все, что есть у читателя - это коллективный пересказ группы уже мужчин, которые толком с ними не общались и после их гибели додумали себе всякое, что возможно и вовсе не имело ничего общего с реальностью.

Вообще вся книга МакЛемор написана крайне по-графомански высокопарно, но именно на этих главах мне хотелось кричать. Как-будто слушаешь тягомотный трехчасовой подкаст, где ведущих вечно мотает из темы в тему. Если цель действительно была в том, чтобы показать отрешенность аудитории, которая может строить теории и часами обсуждать звезд на всяких реддитах и холиварках, но все-равно никогда не узнать полной правды, то зачем тогда нам вообще главы от лица сестер и матери а.к.а. объективная правда, которая всегда подтверждает теории (так было с твистом про Марч)? В итоге истории про сломанную семью не получается, ведь эмоциональный фокал только главах от “Мы”, но и парасоциальных отношений тоже не выходит, потому что элемента додумывания нет. В результате создается впечатление, что Анна-Мари МакЛемор заинтересовалась темой семейного блоггинга и ей очень хотелось написать об этом. Автор составил список каких-то тезисов и потом написал книгу вокруг него. Посему не особо важно кто поджег дом, кто убил мужа Мэй, убили ли его вообще, и что будет с Иверсонами в итоге после всего произошедшего. Это не художественное произведение, с тем же успехом можно было бы посмотреть тематическое видео-эссе. Это хотя бы времени заняло меньше.

Мой Телеграм Канал

[FionalovesReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I genuinely enjoyed this book. The writing is clear and easy to follow, and even though it took me a while to finish, the pacing still felt fast and engaging. While there aren’t any major twists and a few reveals are predictable, it didn’t take away from the overall experience.

Although the story fits within the mystery genre, that wasn’t what stood out to me the most. What really captured my attention was how the book explores the dangers and aftereffects of family content creation, especially the way some parent influencers share every detail of their lives and their children’s private moments online. That theme felt timely, relevant, and honestly more gripping than the whodunnit aspect.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a book that makes me reevaluate my online life and parasocial relationships 😀

full review to come on release day!

Thank you to The Dial Press for the gifted ARC!

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Influencers by Anna‑Marie McLemore

The Influencers is a contemporary literary mystery about the Iverson family, once beloved on social media under matriarch “Mother May I,” whose glittering influencer empire begins to unravel when May’s husband is found dead and their mansion is set ablaze, thrusting her five grown children, each shaped in different ways by a childhood lived online into the spotlight as prime suspects while the world watches, judges, and narrates every move.

Right away I felt tugged between amusement and discomfort as the narrative plunged into the world of family‑branded content and parasocial obsession, where every smile, every slight, and every resentment becomes content ripe for clicks. McLemore uses an ingenious chorus of perspectives, including an almost Greek chorus of online followers to show how families can be commodified and then consumed, and how legacies of fame can bleed into identity, hurt, and fractured relationships. May’s daughters, each named after months and each carrying their own ambivalence about the life they were compelled into, feel both larger‑than‑life and heartbreakingly ordinary beneath the veneers of glamour and spectacle.

While the murder mystery itself doesn’t always deliver the suspense I craved, the real magnetism of this story lies in its vivid critique of influencer culture and its emotional weight, especially in how it probes class, gender, race, and the cost of childhoods lived in public view; in particular the character arcs, including one sibling’s journey toward self‑definition away from the spotlight, left me thinking long after the last chapter.

The pacing can feel uneven at times and the ensemble of voices sometimes makes it hard to settle into a single emotional current, but those structural quirks also echo the chaotic feedback loop of social media itself, making the novel feel thematically alive and richly reflective of our moment.

Rating: 4 out of 5.
I came away both entertained and thoughtfully provoked, carried by its sharp social insight and vivid characters even if the mystery element wasn’t the strongest thread; this is a timely, smart, and emotionally resonant read that lingers in the mind like a headline you can’t quite stop turning over.

[Shereadbookblog · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Mother May I” Iverson has created a very lucrative social influencer realm, often on the backs of and to the detriment of her daughters, January, March, April, June, and July. When her second husband, August, is found murdered and part of her mansion burned, her audience (and the police) carefully follow the family to try to discover the culprit. Soon the family’s true dysfunction becomes fodder for all.

This book is a great idea. Written from different POVS, including May’s audience, it is very contemporary with some clever actions and Iines…a good satire with harsh truths about our social media driven world. However, it just went on too long. The story dragged. It could have been so much more entertaining if it just hadn’t been so bogged down in length.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHouseBooks for the DRC.

[Nicholas Perez]

Anna-Marie McLemore's Adult debut!

[Alexi Gallante · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time in 3+ months that I’ve read a book that I couldn’t put down. I thought it was going to be a typical murder mystery, but this book reads more like a character study of an influencer mom and her (now adult) children that she exploited for content. My favorite part is the collective POV of the “internet sleuths” who speculate on the murder and act like they have ownership over the Iverson family. The way it’s written is very unique.

A lot of this story felt unbelievable, and I wish it had gone deeper at times, but I still loved it regardless!

[Sam]

DNF at 32%. This book couldn’t decide what it wanted to be, and at a third of the way through it really should’ve.

There are two stories here: first, the mystery surrounding the murder of a wealthy social media influencer and the investigation into the lives of those who have the means and motive. Second, the lives of young adults who were part of family vlogs as children and how that impacted their growth as individuals. Both of them would’ve been captivating to read, but they just don’t tie together well, at least not here.

The best parts of this were the interludes with the fans, their clowning (to borrow a term from the Swiftie community) to investigate the murder themselves and feeding into parasocial relationships.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, since it seems like something normally up my alley, but I just could not get invested or give a single fuck about any of these people.

Thank you to NetGalley, Anna-Marie McLemore, and The Dial Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really really REALLYYYY wanted to love this. I could see so much potential in it, but it just didn't hit the mark for me.

I found this book to be so lackluster, dragging and a bit all over the place. I found it kind of hard to follow what was going on and to discern what was relevant information. A lot of the content of this book felt like filler to me at times.

This book has such an amazing premise that so much can be done with! The dangers of child influencers and the power given to influencers in general...and that leading to murder?! Such a fun murder mystery concept.

Weirdly, I think this would make such a good tv show! I kind of really want this to be a tv show. I really think it would work so well in that format.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Publication Day!

May Iverson is a social media influencer known for her channel "Mother May I". When her house is burned to the ground and her husband, August, found dead, her five daughters are the prime suspects. As the investigation into August's death continues, videos start to surface showing a different side of the Mother May I channel. With more videos being posted on social media, the Mother May I empire is put at risk and followers all have an opinion on what daughter is the killer.

Told through the POV of May, each of the daughters and the followers of Mother May I, The Influencers is not much of a mystery/thriller but focuses on the darker side of influencer channels.
Each daughter seemed to have motive for wanting August gone and the Mother May I channel to be removed. The followers POV was unique as they were an unreliable narrator, and their information seemed to change as each video was posted. My only complaint would be the structuring of some of the chapters. The different POVs abruptly changed in the middle of the chapter, and I had to go back occasionally. Overall, this was an enjoyable read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House- Dial Press for the opportunity to review The Influencers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Influencers.

Brace yourself, here's another novel featuring the trials and tribulations that come with being social media influencers.

I liked the cover and the premise made it sound like this was a murder mystery involving sibling influencers.

But it's not.

This was another novel falsely advertised as a thriller but it's not suspense or dramatic or thrilling.

Instead, the narrative focuses on each daughter named after a month, and the privilege, superficiality, and shallowness of influencers.

There's plenty of descriptions of each Iverson, but you never really know each of them individually.

I didn't dislike anyone; I just didn't connect with anyone.

There's a disconnect to the writing, not helped by the sections of the followers of May Iverson, the mother influencer extraordinaire. I felt these sections more distracting than helpful.

The narrative is slow-paced and nothing interesting happens; there's name dropping and descriptions of how May Iverson built her brand and used her childrens' identities to become rich and famous.

The writing style and tone lacks empathy and warmth, maybe because we're talking about social media and the people who power our obsession with influencers.

There's no mystery here, nothing to unravel, no clues to follow.

It's just a long-winded narrative about the Iverson family, who might or might not be capable of murder, how their mom ruined their lives by airing their private lives to the public.

There's nothing here I haven't read elsewhere with similar themes and topics.

I'm SOO DONE with these types of narratives.

[rachel x]

"A social media influencer's empire is burned to the ground—literally. The top suspects? The five daughters who made her famous"

mclemore's adult debut!

[Bella ♡ ✧.* · Rating 2 out of 5]

the writing of this is pleasant to read, but i really had a hard time engaging with it. it's incredibly long for its topic, and the glimpses of different perspectives were not unique from one another in any particular way. i know it's really superficial and kinda dumb to make this comment as well, but their names being 'may', 'august', and with their daughters being april, january, etc... yeah, that's just... i can't read that without feeling lost. they all are virtually the same person because of the blur of the perspectives all holding the same tone and voice. i cared about the mystery but, again, it was a really long book that dragged things out to the point i no longer cared.

[Joy-Marie Karahkwiio 🍉 Canadian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m going to give vague spoilers but still spoilers nonetheless. One of the Iverson sisters is missing and midway through the book a character guesses what had happened to her. When they explain their theory it becomes to obvious that that’s what had happened to her. If the author left this explanation out then the plot twist in this book would’ve actually been shocking. Giving away plot twists made this book boring and predictable. I really had to force my way through the first quarter of the story. There’s so many sisters that I was getting confused. Only as the story went on and their different personalities shown through was I able to differentiate them. Even then some of the sisters being in the story felt kind of pointless? Or maybe they just weren’t important enough to help the story move along? I’m not sure. It just felt a little bit messy.

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anna-Marie McLemore's adult debut, The Influencers, arrives at a cultural moment when the first generation of children raised on social media are finally old enough to tell their own stories. What emerges is a sophisticated mystery thriller that uses the genre's conventions to deliver a devastating critique of how digital capitalism commodifies childhood and family relationships.

The Premise: Where Instagram Meets Agatha Christie

When August Ingraham, husband of mega-influencer "Mother May I" Iverson, is found dead at the bottom of a marble staircase in their burnt mansion, suspicion immediately falls on May's five mixed-race daughters. April, the eldest, is locked in intellectual property battles with her mother. Twins June and July run their own successful "Summer Girls" brand while threatening to eclipse May's influence. January works in theater tech, deliberately staying in the shadows. And March? March has mysteriously vanished entirely, leaving behind only questions and a carefully constructed absence.

McLemore structures the narrative as a day-by-day countdown following the murder, alternating between the perspectives of the Iverson daughters and a Greek chorus of online followers who dissect every detail with the obsessive dedication of true crime enthusiasts. This innovative narrative device transforms readers into participants in the very phenomenon the book critiques—we become the watchers watching the watchers.

Character Development: Complex Women in an Exploitative System

The genius of The Influencers lies in how McLemore refuses to paint any character as purely victim or villain. May Iverson emerges as a complex figure who genuinely believes she's given her children everything while simultaneously exploiting their childhoods for content. Her daughters are equally nuanced—damaged by their upbringing yet complicit in perpetuating the systems that harmed them.

June embodies the performative excess of influencer culture, someone who "posed more than she lived" yet isn't afraid to show ugly moments. July, initially presented as the gentler twin, harbors a capacity for calculated manipulation that rivals her mother's. April's infertility struggles and business acumen create a character caught between wanting to escape the family brand and being unable to imagine life outside it.

The most compelling character development belongs to January and the absent March, whose story reveals itself gradually through flashbacks and implications. McLemore's handling of March's transition from the youngest Iverson daughter to Marc Iniesta demonstrates exceptional sensitivity, showing how gender identity intersects with exploitation in ways that feel both specific and universal.

Writing Style: Polished Prose with Sharp Social Commentary

McLemore's prose sparkles with the same performative sheen as the influencer content it dissects, creating an unsettling mirror effect. Descriptions of luxury goods and lifestyle content are rendered with enough authentic detail to feel aspirational, even as the narrative reveals their toxicity. The author's background in young adult fiction serves them well here—they understand how to make complex social dynamics accessible without oversimplifying them.

The multiple narrators technique works brilliantly, particularly the collective "we" voices representing different online communities. These sections capture the authentic rhythm of social media discourse while revealing how audiences become complicit in the exploitation they consume. McLemore nails the way online speculation can become its own form of violence, transforming real people into characters in a story their audience feels entitled to write.

Mystery Elements: Satisfying Resolution with Thematic Depth

As a mystery, The Influencers functions on multiple levels. The surface plot—who killed August Ingraham—provides genuine suspense and red herrings that keep pages turning. But the deeper mystery involves unraveling the psychological violence embedded in influencer culture itself. The revelation that the mansion's expensive liquor was used as accelerant for the fire becomes a perfect metaphor for how luxury conceals destruction.

The resolution, when it comes, feels both surprising and inevitable. July's role in the events leading to August's death emerges through carefully planted clues that reward attentive readers while maintaining the story's emotional authenticity. More importantly, the ending refuses easy closure—the legal resolution doesn't heal the fundamental damage done to this family.

Social Commentary: Timely and Necessary

McLemore's critique of influencer culture hits particularly hard because it avoids the trap of moral superiority. The book doesn't suggest that May Iverson is uniquely monstrous; instead, it reveals how systems of digital capitalism create incentives for exploitation that feel natural and even loving to those trapped within them. The way May frames her daughters' participation as "being loved and adored" while mining their privacy for content captures the insidious nature of this exploitation.

The book's handling of racial dynamics adds another layer of complexity. The Iverson daughters' mixed-race identity becomes another element of their brand, something May weaponizes for authenticity points while divorcing her children from their actual cultural heritage. This threading of racial exploitation through family exploitation creates a more nuanced picture of how multiple systems of oppression intersect.

Strengths and Minor Weaknesses

The Influencers succeeds brilliantly as both mystery and social commentary. McLemore's prose is consistently engaging, the character development is sophisticated, and the thematic resonance feels urgent and necessary. The author's decision to structure the narrative around the online response to the murder creates a reading experience that feels genuinely contemporary.

If there's a weakness, it's that some of the social media voices can occasionally feel repetitive, and certain secondary characters don't quite achieve the depth of the main cast. Additionally, readers seeking a straightforward mystery might find the social commentary overwhelming, though this seems intentional—McLemore wants us to sit with the discomfort of recognizing ourselves in the audience.

Verdict: A Must-Read for Our Digital Age

The Influencers represents a significant achievement in contemporary fiction. McLemore has crafted a mystery that works on every level—as entertainment, as social critique, and as a meditation on how love and exploitation can become impossible to distinguish. The book feels essential reading for anyone trying to understand how digital capitalism shapes family relationships and personal identity.

This is not just a book about influencers; it's a book about all of us who participate in digital culture, whether as creators or consumers. McLemore forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about our own complicity in systems that transform human experiences into content. The result is a novel that will linger long after the final page, continuing to challenge how we think about privacy, exploitation, and the stories we tell about ourselves online.

[Jazz .☘︎ ݁˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had SUCH high hopes for this, but sadly, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I initially hoped I would.
 
A lot of the time, I was awfully lost at what was even happening. Being in confusion was a constant. Things were dragged on for far too long that I almost didn’t want to finish this. Much of this book was not necessary; it was essentially rambling.
 
Even so, I did like the premise of this storyline a lot; it shined a much-needed light on the dangers of having children grow up as influencers on social media, and the mystery surrounding it all was fascinating!
 
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. This is my honest review.

[Hannah]

This is like if The Virgin Suicides were written today instead of the 2000s and also by a far better writer. I liked it a lot.

[Sacha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

As an incoming McLemore fan, and one who has read most of their YA books and even taught a couple of them, I had a lot of excitement around this adult debut, and that was heightened by both the stellar cover and compelling premise. There are elements of McLemore's characteristic authorial charm here, but a few areas just feel off for me.

It's impossible to be a modern reader of this novel and not make constant comparisons to Kardashians for many undeniable reasons. While I expected a Kardashian-like setup, this is too on the nose. I found myself regularly thinking, "Oh, so this one is Kendall," and the like. It's hard to get as attached to characters - especially so many of them - when they are both too closely paired to real life counterparts and, in most cases, not quite interesting enough to help readers easily distinguish them. This is not a problem I've ever faced in a previous book by this author, so I was surprised and disappointed to find it here (because let's be real, some folks only write with constant "borrowing" from current events; McLemore isn't one of them).

There are some high notes here, but they made me desperately wish that the novel had been reworked to focus on them. The whole murder situation? I could not ever get to a space of caring about any part of this (a challenge in such a lengthy book). For me, the standout is Marc. I'd have LOVED a book focused on Marc from top to bottom. Give me his experiences in this environment, sibling relationships, thoughts, etc. I want all Marc all the time. When readers DO get to spend time with Marc, they also get discussions of food, culture, and relationships that are all characteristic of McLemore's writing. These are the good parts! Reading these sections made me (1) mad that the focus felt so off and (2) curious about whether earlier drafts read more like the author's other works and were somehow watered down in multiple edits.

I really enjoy this author, and my central issue with this book is that so much of it doesn't feel like theirs. I am really looking forward to many more reads from McLemore and will hope enthusiastically that they read truer to form.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and The Dial Press for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Ami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved so many things about this book! It's clever, emotional (in all the best ways), funny, satirical, timely, and wise. The murder mystery (which isn't actually the point of the novel) was interesting, but the most important part of the book was discovering the true relationship between the family members. And as any body with a kernel of wisdom knows- appearances are deceiving, especially on social media.
I highly encourage this novel- so far it's the best I've read all year.