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Thanks For Watching
This irreverent psychological thriller shows the humor and dark side of the life of an influencer - think And Then There Were None but with sponsored livestreams.
Michelle Monroe’s fifteen minutes are almost up.
After ten years online, she is a master at her trade: scamming her fans. But her once-bright internet stardom is blinking into oblivion. The brand deals are drying up, the views are plummeting, and even her haters no longer care enough to snark.
When she spots an ornate, scarlet envelope sitting outside her high-rise condo, she realizes her luck is about to change. It’s an invite to an exclusive brand trip for the new energy drink company, Excelsior. The answer is easy: Yes. Even if she has to tolerate hours with the peers that surpassed her.
The worst she expects is a blow-out fight or two (filmed, of course, from multiple angles). But no one anticipates joining a different kind of Mile-High Club: witnessing the death of their frenemy at 30,000 feet. Still, the most tragic news of all is that there’s no internet on the island, no turndown service, and only each other and their shared grudges for entertainment.
As the backstabbing turns literal, and more influencers die in awful, strange ways, the dwindling group can no longer deny the obvious: someone gathered them there to die.
Michelle Monroe’s fifteen minutes are almost up.
After ten years online, she is a master at her trade: scamming her fans. But her once-bright internet stardom is blinking into oblivion. The brand deals are drying up, the views are plummeting, and even her haters no longer care enough to snark.
When she spots an ornate, scarlet envelope sitting outside her high-rise condo, she realizes her luck is about to change. It’s an invite to an exclusive brand trip for the new energy drink company, Excelsior. The answer is easy: Yes. Even if she has to tolerate hours with the peers that surpassed her.
The worst she expects is a blow-out fight or two (filmed, of course, from multiple angles). But no one anticipates joining a different kind of Mile-High Club: witnessing the death of their frenemy at 30,000 feet. Still, the most tragic news of all is that there’s no internet on the island, no turndown service, and only each other and their shared grudges for entertainment.
As the backstabbing turns literal, and more influencers die in awful, strange ways, the dwindling group can no longer deny the obvious: someone gathered them there to die.
344 pages, Hardcover
Published May 12, 2026
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Want to Read
August 5, 2025AHHHHH I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU, KATE!! I cannot WAIT to read!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
And Then There Were None but for influencers. 10 current or former influencers take a brand deal trip to an isolated island villa with no signal, no Internet access, and no way off. And then they start to die- one by one.
I'll start off non-spoilery.
This was a nice easy read that I'd expect to find in airport bookstore or to read on the beach.
The pacing was decent and the characters were individual enough for it not to be confusing. I did find them a bit shallow and 2 dimensional; almost caricatures of influencers.
I like the idea and the execution isn't bad, but i did find the motivations behind the killings somewhat basic and not worth killing over (maybe one or two were, but most weren't)
It was very strange to me to find out 47% through the book that 2 of the characters who had died already were Asian. At no point is this mentioned prior, so my image of the characters were set in stone at this point.
The narrative did become melodramatic at points, especially when a body was found, and none of the characters had a lick of common sense
There's a a mention of Diddy owning an island nearby? Like is this the celebrity you want to name drop?
There are some lines in the book that felt really out of place and like they were written for tumblr such as
"Despite the microaggression..."
"In that moment, it was clear Nick had forgotten that East Asians weren’t the only Asians even though he’d traveled all over the world with her."
Neither of these were necessary and felt like buzzwords.
Now for spoilers
And Then There Were None but for influencers. 10 current or former influencers take a brand deal trip to an isolated island villa with no signal, no Internet access, and no way off. And then they start to die- one by one.
I'll start off non-spoilery.
This was a nice easy read that I'd expect to find in airport bookstore or to read on the beach.
The pacing was decent and the characters were individual enough for it not to be confusing. I did find them a bit shallow and 2 dimensional; almost caricatures of influencers.
I like the idea and the execution isn't bad, but i did find the motivations behind the killings somewhat basic and not worth killing over (maybe one or two were, but most weren't)
It was very strange to me to find out 47% through the book that 2 of the characters who had died already were Asian. At no point is this mentioned prior, so my image of the characters were set in stone at this point.
The narrative did become melodramatic at points, especially when a body was found, and none of the characters had a lick of common sense
There's a a mention of Diddy owning an island nearby? Like is this the celebrity you want to name drop?
There are some lines in the book that felt really out of place and like they were written for tumblr such as
"Despite the microaggression..."
"In that moment, it was clear Nick had forgotten that East Asians weren’t the only Asians even though he’d traveled all over the world with her."
Neither of these were necessary and felt like buzzwords.
Now for spoilers
Want to Read
August 20, 2025I cannot wait to read Thanks For Watching. I went ahead and submitted a suggestion to my library and I am going to preorder both the Hard copy and Nook copy this weekend.
Review of advance copy received from Author
(I received an advance reader's copy of this audiobook through bookfunnel via Kate's YouTube video link).
This book unfortunately didn't work for me in any aspect.
Ultimately, nothing about this book held my interest and the ending held no impact on me because there wasn't enough throughout the story to intrigue me into the motives. The influencers didn't really care that they were dying off and were able to easily move on, so I didn't really care that they were dying off and was easily able to move on. I just finished reading this today - a third attempt in 2 weeks - but I can already feel the story leaving me as there was nothing to hold on to.
2 stars, though, because I did enjoy the ending (the last 4 chapters). I wish the motives had been something we could have pieced together ourselves, but I respect the reasons and liked it.
- - -
The writing threw me off immediately with descriptions of little details going too far in depth. Descriptions of the settings, the character's actions/expressions/etc were fine and wanted, but the opening chapter felt bogged down by brand names.
And that felt to be the start of the hollowness of the characters. While I was able to differentiate one character from the other - a positive - I was not able to invest interest in any of the characters. They all only cared about one thing: the viewership they woud get from this and what they could buy after. But i didnt even really understand why this energy drink brand would be so monumental for them. We got a quick run down of what makes each character an influencer and flawed in their personalities, but other than that, the characters didn't really have backgrounds or ambitions that I could care about (most of them were missing personal lives), that could endear me to them or engage me in the story. They lacked character arcs. I didn't see any of them going anywhere after this story or really being anywhere before the storey. They felt like they existed solely for this narrative and had nothing else going on. I wish this had been told from the perspective of one main character instead of an ensemble so we could at least get more interiority from one character, but everyone was shallow and surface level.
In terms of plot and "thrilling elements," that also felt lacking. I think because the only stipulation they had when going to this island was that they had to enjoy themselves, they didn't really have a direction. The story felt aimless and there wasn't enough depth in the character's reactions to the deaths to make up for that. There wasn't even an implication as to why these deaths were happening. I think if their invitations had given them something to accomplish when they got to the island so they were actually doing something, or if they had been more dedicated to escaping the island or figuring out why they were being killed off, then I would have been more interested. There was no sense of urgency, despite their short lived concern for a shortage of supplies. I understand that footage is their top priority, and it could be at the forefront of their minds, but I need them to be scared of something, suspicious of each other to the point of fear of being stuck there with each other or more concerned about finding the killer. Something other than drinking and personal life drama that we aren't connected to the characters enough to care about.
This book unfortunately didn't work for me in any aspect.
Ultimately, nothing about this book held my interest and the ending held no impact on me because there wasn't enough throughout the story to intrigue me into the motives. The influencers didn't really care that they were dying off and were able to easily move on, so I didn't really care that they were dying off and was easily able to move on. I just finished reading this today - a third attempt in 2 weeks - but I can already feel the story leaving me as there was nothing to hold on to.
2 stars, though, because I did enjoy the ending (the last 4 chapters). I wish the motives had been something we could have pieced together ourselves, but I respect the reasons and liked it.
- - -
The writing threw me off immediately with descriptions of little details going too far in depth. Descriptions of the settings, the character's actions/expressions/etc were fine and wanted, but the opening chapter felt bogged down by brand names.
And that felt to be the start of the hollowness of the characters. While I was able to differentiate one character from the other - a positive - I was not able to invest interest in any of the characters. They all only cared about one thing: the viewership they woud get from this and what they could buy after. But i didnt even really understand why this energy drink brand would be so monumental for them. We got a quick run down of what makes each character an influencer and flawed in their personalities, but other than that, the characters didn't really have backgrounds or ambitions that I could care about (most of them were missing personal lives), that could endear me to them or engage me in the story. They lacked character arcs. I didn't see any of them going anywhere after this story or really being anywhere before the storey. They felt like they existed solely for this narrative and had nothing else going on. I wish this had been told from the perspective of one main character instead of an ensemble so we could at least get more interiority from one character, but everyone was shallow and surface level.
In terms of plot and "thrilling elements," that also felt lacking. I think because the only stipulation they had when going to this island was that they had to enjoy themselves, they didn't really have a direction. The story felt aimless and there wasn't enough depth in the character's reactions to the deaths to make up for that. There wasn't even an implication as to why these deaths were happening. I think if their invitations had given them something to accomplish when they got to the island so they were actually doing something, or if they had been more dedicated to escaping the island or figuring out why they were being killed off, then I would have been more interested. There was no sense of urgency, despite their short lived concern for a shortage of supplies. I understand that footage is their top priority, and it could be at the forefront of their minds, but I need them to be scared of something, suspicious of each other to the point of fear of being stuck there with each other or more concerned about finding the killer. Something other than drinking and personal life drama that we aren't connected to the characters enough to care about.
May 16, 2026
I am going to preface this review by saying that I did enjoy the book. It was entertaining, but not exactly what I was expecting. I've read through quite a few of the other reviews on here, and I do agree with some things.
The writing was choppy at the beginning, but it seemed to get better as we went further into the book. The ending was definitely stronger than the beginning. I hated how many different points of view we had. There were too many; it should have been two, maybe four max. Because it was really hard to get into these characters. I also feel like this book might have benefited from some flashback chapters. They were all pretty awful people, which is fine, but like another reviewer pointed out, it would have been better to focus on their personas and then start having cracks appear as the story moved along. Flashbacks would have helped flesh the characters out more.
Also, I had no idea what the majority of these characters looked like for a while. Michelle and Sanjeev, yes, their descriptions told me enough information to picture them clearly, eventually anyway, but Ivy and Ian, no. Ivy's description made me think pale white goth girl, only for it to be later revealed that both she and Ian were Asian. I don't even remember Ian getting a description. Lauren had red hair; Sarah and Olivia were both blonde. Ro had dark hair, and Cody had muscles. Dylan and Nick? No clue. I know some people don't care if the characters are described or not, but I am not one of them.
The pacing wasn't bad. The plot was decent. It did keep me reading because I wanted to know who the killer was, and no, I did not guess correctly who did it. I think if the book had received a bit more polish before being published, it could have easily been 4/5 star read. I really wanted this to be a 5 star read because I've been watching Kate's YouTube channel for years now, and I plan to still read whatever she publishes next.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
i received this book as an arc from the publisher. any spoilers will be hidden.
i'm going into this with a little bit of bias, because i've been watching kate on youtube since 2020 and she's been a huge inspiration for me and my writing for years. i was really excited for this book to be my first ever ARC copy of anything.
it was alright in some aspects. i liked how vibrant the setting was described as and i liked when the suspense would build and have me pausing anything else i was doing (walking, usually) to read what was going to happen next. but the ending really felt like a dip.
i was expecting more when it came to the deaths in this book. maybe it's the way kate has been marketing it i was hoping for shocking moments
the motive's weren't all that much (except for one or two people), and the characters were all so unlikeable and stereotypical (and i feel mean for saying that some of them were stupid, but i just wish there was more depth to everyone and i wanted at least someone to be interesting.
really though, i had a good time reading this. i was nervous when i saw how long it was originally, but i would've gotten done with it quicker if i had read it as a physical book rather than an e-book (i just don't like e-books). i do want to read this again sometime to see if there are any clues throughout that lead up to the ending.
one more thing,
i'm going into this with a little bit of bias, because i've been watching kate on youtube since 2020 and she's been a huge inspiration for me and my writing for years. i was really excited for this book to be my first ever ARC copy of anything.
it was alright in some aspects. i liked how vibrant the setting was described as and i liked when the suspense would build and have me pausing anything else i was doing (walking, usually) to read what was going to happen next. but the ending really felt like a dip.
i was expecting more when it came to the deaths in this book. maybe it's the way kate has been marketing it i was hoping for shocking moments
the motive's weren't all that much (except for one or two people), and the characters were all so unlikeable and stereotypical (and i feel mean for saying that some of them were stupid, but i just wish there was more depth to everyone and i wanted at least someone to be interesting.
really though, i had a good time reading this. i was nervous when i saw how long it was originally, but i would've gotten done with it quicker if i had read it as a physical book rather than an e-book (i just don't like e-books). i do want to read this again sometime to see if there are any clues throughout that lead up to the ending.
one more thing,
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an ARC of this book by the publisher.
I have been a fan of Kate Cavanaugh’s YouTube channel for many years now and have been so excited for the day when I finally got to read a book by her and she did not disappoint with this debut novel.
As a lover of all things mystery and thriller Thanks for Watching definitely gave me all of the twists and turns that I look forward to reading in a book. I am a sucker for morally ambiguous characters in my books but there was nothing ambiguous about how these influencers maneuvered within their lives. They were not only deeply flawed, seemingly to their core, but they also appear to be vastly apathetic throughout the entirety of the brand trip that is supposed to be their second chance.
From the first death I was thrown for a loop in the best way and the events that followed in the book definitely kept me on my toes straight through to the end where the killer was finally revealed. I did not see that one coming, and I definitely didn’t expect to find myself actually cheering on the culprit. The fact that the motive wasn’t revealed until nearly the end was such a great move and just put a bow on everything for me. If ever there were a group of people that did not deserve your sympathy, it would be this one.
I’m not used to reading a book with quite such a wide array of characters in it and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep track of who was who but to be able to do so and not have me lose sight of each character within the book and keep me engaged throughout is a testament to Kate Cavanaugh’s extraordinary writing abilities. Thanks for Watching is such a wonderful modern-day twist on ‘And Then There Were None’ and I loved it! This is absolutely a five-star read for me.
I have been a fan of Kate Cavanaugh’s YouTube channel for many years now and have been so excited for the day when I finally got to read a book by her and she did not disappoint with this debut novel.
As a lover of all things mystery and thriller Thanks for Watching definitely gave me all of the twists and turns that I look forward to reading in a book. I am a sucker for morally ambiguous characters in my books but there was nothing ambiguous about how these influencers maneuvered within their lives. They were not only deeply flawed, seemingly to their core, but they also appear to be vastly apathetic throughout the entirety of the brand trip that is supposed to be their second chance.
From the first death I was thrown for a loop in the best way and the events that followed in the book definitely kept me on my toes straight through to the end where the killer was finally revealed. I did not see that one coming, and I definitely didn’t expect to find myself actually cheering on the culprit. The fact that the motive wasn’t revealed until nearly the end was such a great move and just put a bow on everything for me. If ever there were a group of people that did not deserve your sympathy, it would be this one.
I’m not used to reading a book with quite such a wide array of characters in it and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep track of who was who but to be able to do so and not have me lose sight of each character within the book and keep me engaged throughout is a testament to Kate Cavanaugh’s extraordinary writing abilities. Thanks for Watching is such a wonderful modern-day twist on ‘And Then There Were None’ and I loved it! This is absolutely a five-star read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4 stars
this is a book that i have been WAITING for and i'm so happy that i finally got the chance to read it. i've been a fan of kate cavanaugh since i was FIFTEEN years old so it honestly feels a little surreal to finally get the chance to read a book of hers, and to have the privilege of doing that early is very awesome.
this book was very interesting and honestly, it did not end the way that i thought it was going to, which is definitely a plus. kate does a great job at making characters that are so easy to dislike and the one character i did like was one who survived so AYY. i think that she did a great job of setting up this book so that you weren't rooting for any of them, because i know that i wasn't!
i really enjoyed this book but the only thing that held me back from a five star is the fact that i wasn't yearning to pick up this book like i have for books in the past and honestly, that's no fault of kate's.
i do also believe that this book would be a better physical read than an audiobook read. i recieved both advanced copy's and i felt that there were some transitions in the audiobook that were rather jarring and that was do to the length of the chapters being less than a chapter so i just felt like i was getting whiplash jumping through povs. it just felt clunky, but i do feel that the physical/ebook version of this book would curb that feeling.
overall, i thought that this was an excellent debut from kate cavanaugh and i'm very happy to finally be able to support her books after being a fan for so long. i will definitely read her books in the future!!
thank you to inimitable books for the e-arc!
this is a book that i have been WAITING for and i'm so happy that i finally got the chance to read it. i've been a fan of kate cavanaugh since i was FIFTEEN years old so it honestly feels a little surreal to finally get the chance to read a book of hers, and to have the privilege of doing that early is very awesome.
this book was very interesting and honestly, it did not end the way that i thought it was going to, which is definitely a plus. kate does a great job at making characters that are so easy to dislike and the one character i did like was one who survived so AYY. i think that she did a great job of setting up this book so that you weren't rooting for any of them, because i know that i wasn't!
i really enjoyed this book but the only thing that held me back from a five star is the fact that i wasn't yearning to pick up this book like i have for books in the past and honestly, that's no fault of kate's.
i do also believe that this book would be a better physical read than an audiobook read. i recieved both advanced copy's and i felt that there were some transitions in the audiobook that were rather jarring and that was do to the length of the chapters being less than a chapter so i just felt like i was getting whiplash jumping through povs. it just felt clunky, but i do feel that the physical/ebook version of this book would curb that feeling.
overall, i thought that this was an excellent debut from kate cavanaugh and i'm very happy to finally be able to support her books after being a fan for so long. i will definitely read her books in the future!!
thank you to inimitable books for the e-arc!
Review of advance copy
4.75
Cover 5; characters 4; Plot 5; Pace 5; Intrigue 5; Logic 4; worldbuilding 4; Writing 5; Enjoyment 5
As always I must start off with saying that Kate is one of my best friends and I was given an audio arc of this book to read and rate pre-release. So take my review as you will.
The last quarter of this book left me cackling and cheering for a murderer. The influencers in this novel are problematic on a whole other level and I was living for seeing them being offed, one by one.
There were definitely moments in this book where you felt tense. You were just waiting for the shoe to drop and the bad thing to happen. And honestly, the more you learn about these people, the more you want the bad thing to happen. I really liked where things ended up. We do learn who did what and why and I fully support it.
The only issue I had throughout the novel was always knowing who was who with our large cast of characters. We're looking at 11 people from the jump and while in a lot of books with a big cast they're all very different people, this specific group had a LOT in common. They were all a bit selfish and/or narcissistic, they were *influencers* who were for sure bad behaving. They were all keeping secrets about bad things they had done in the past. But that was kind of the point. The only way for us to be okay with them all dying, they had to be annoying and deemed bad in our opinion and they all definitely fit the bill.
Anywho, if you like a classic murder mystery, especially ones with twists from modern day first world problems, I highly recommend this one!
Cover 5; characters 4; Plot 5; Pace 5; Intrigue 5; Logic 4; worldbuilding 4; Writing 5; Enjoyment 5
As always I must start off with saying that Kate is one of my best friends and I was given an audio arc of this book to read and rate pre-release. So take my review as you will.
The last quarter of this book left me cackling and cheering for a murderer. The influencers in this novel are problematic on a whole other level and I was living for seeing them being offed, one by one.
There were definitely moments in this book where you felt tense. You were just waiting for the shoe to drop and the bad thing to happen. And honestly, the more you learn about these people, the more you want the bad thing to happen. I really liked where things ended up. We do learn who did what and why and I fully support it.
The only issue I had throughout the novel was always knowing who was who with our large cast of characters. We're looking at 11 people from the jump and while in a lot of books with a big cast they're all very different people, this specific group had a LOT in common. They were all a bit selfish and/or narcissistic, they were *influencers* who were for sure bad behaving. They were all keeping secrets about bad things they had done in the past. But that was kind of the point. The only way for us to be okay with them all dying, they had to be annoying and deemed bad in our opinion and they all definitely fit the bill.
Anywho, if you like a classic murder mystery, especially ones with twists from modern day first world problems, I highly recommend this one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I want to start off by saying I've been following Kate for years on YouTube, but I tried my best not to let that cloud my judgement of the book. I got an early copy due to the release date pushback.
There were some parts I enjoyed and I often found the book difficult to put down, even if I wasn't always enjoying what was happening on the page. I liked somebody dying on the plane, I also enjoyed the pilot's early death to limit escape, and I liked the reveal that it was two people working together, which I never considered.The book did get me there. I suspected both Michelle and Dylan at times, but was successfully convinced to look away from them. I'm sure it's enjoyable on a second read to watch where Michelle and Dylan are and aren't at the same time.
The characters weren't as well fleshed out as I would have liked. It made them difficult to differentiate, and I think the slew of POVs limited how deeply we could go with any one character. I understand they were meant to be unlikable, but they were hard to connect with. I know some influencers are awful, but they're all interesting, engaging, and charismatic, which I didn't see come through.
This debut shows a lot of potential. The story itself felt pretty strong; the writing felt more YA to me. This book could have thrived with more words, which would allow for more character development.
There were some parts I enjoyed and I often found the book difficult to put down, even if I wasn't always enjoying what was happening on the page. I liked somebody dying on the plane, I also enjoyed the pilot's early death to limit escape, and I liked the reveal that it was two people working together, which I never considered.The book did get me there. I suspected both Michelle and Dylan at times, but was successfully convinced to look away from them. I'm sure it's enjoyable on a second read to watch where Michelle and Dylan are and aren't at the same time.
The characters weren't as well fleshed out as I would have liked. It made them difficult to differentiate, and I think the slew of POVs limited how deeply we could go with any one character. I understand they were meant to be unlikable, but they were hard to connect with. I know some influencers are awful, but they're all interesting, engaging, and charismatic, which I didn't see come through.
This debut shows a lot of potential. The story itself felt pretty strong; the writing felt more YA to me. This book could have thrived with more words, which would allow for more character development.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I enjoyed the readability of this book, even though the characters for the most part were not people I would want to know in real life.
The premise is gathering influencers together on an island under the premise they will then promote a new drink. The influencers we are introduced to are all battling demons of some sort, all having something to do with their careers as influencers.
I liked how quickly the first murder happened, while they were in the air on the way to the island.
The second island removes the pilot from being able to fly the survivors off the island. I'm not sure what prevented the pilot from reporting the first death. I don't remember that being addressed.
I'm troubled by their being two left at the end of the story. I don't see where the two survivors would be loyal enough to not eventually result in both being discovered for the crimes. I think it would have been a stronger ending if there was something that tied the two together in a stronger way or if one of them killed their partner, leaving only one survivor.
These questions weren't enough to interfere with my enjoying reading the story. It was a fun ride, a good read when you want something to enjoy and drift along on the story.
The premise is gathering influencers together on an island under the premise they will then promote a new drink. The influencers we are introduced to are all battling demons of some sort, all having something to do with their careers as influencers.
I liked how quickly the first murder happened, while they were in the air on the way to the island.
The second island removes the pilot from being able to fly the survivors off the island. I'm not sure what prevented the pilot from reporting the first death. I don't remember that being addressed.
I'm troubled by their being two left at the end of the story. I don't see where the two survivors would be loyal enough to not eventually result in both being discovered for the crimes. I think it would have been a stronger ending if there was something that tied the two together in a stronger way or if one of them killed their partner, leaving only one survivor.
These questions weren't enough to interfere with my enjoying reading the story. It was a fun ride, a good read when you want something to enjoy and drift along on the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received this arc from the publisher.
I found the plot well-paced, with each new turn leaving me doubting my guess as to who the killer may be (and yes my original guesses were so wrong haha). I thoroughly enjoyed the dip into each character's psyche, watching them slowly unravel their pristine exteriors as the circumstances unfolded throughout the story.
I particularly liked the characters of Ro and Olivia, Rowena especially (but I think that's the antisocial writer in me.) And I just wanted to protect Olivia, ugh.
Without giving away any spoilers, the deaths were unexpected, my jaw was hung open during the last 20% (ebook)... Overall a solid four stars from me, I will be reading the book again over the coming week, and I look forward to buying a physical copy upon release in April :)
I found the plot well-paced, with each new turn leaving me doubting my guess as to who the killer may be (and yes my original guesses were so wrong haha). I thoroughly enjoyed the dip into each character's psyche, watching them slowly unravel their pristine exteriors as the circumstances unfolded throughout the story.
I particularly liked the characters of Ro and Olivia, Rowena especially (but I think that's the antisocial writer in me.) And I just wanted to protect Olivia, ugh.
Without giving away any spoilers, the deaths were unexpected, my jaw was hung open during the last 20% (ebook)... Overall a solid four stars from me, I will be reading the book again over the coming week, and I look forward to buying a physical copy upon release in April :)
May 14, 2026
3.5/5
There's nothing memorable about the characters, and yet I had to finish the story. It is the whole point of the story and very divisive of the author. I can't stop reading (i.e. watching).
It's messy. It's not that deep. We turn away thinking, "That's crazy", and move on without being affected. If this were IRL, we (the audience) would watch people go through this experience without any human connection or emotion, just like how we are meant to read this book. The characters are representative of the story, which is representative of the pages of the book, which is representative of the videos we watch endlessly on the apps. Entertainment grab. It’s a fascinating cycle of fake personas, attention-seeking thrills, and how far one can go before valuing human lives as human rather than what brand they wear.
There's nothing memorable about the characters, and yet I had to finish the story. It is the whole point of the story and very divisive of the author. I can't stop reading (i.e. watching).
It's messy. It's not that deep. We turn away thinking, "That's crazy", and move on without being affected. If this were IRL, we (the audience) would watch people go through this experience without any human connection or emotion, just like how we are meant to read this book. The characters are representative of the story, which is representative of the pages of the book, which is representative of the videos we watch endlessly on the apps. Entertainment grab. It’s a fascinating cycle of fake personas, attention-seeking thrills, and how far one can go before valuing human lives as human rather than what brand they wear.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
DNF - ARC Review
Was excited for this debut, but could not connect with the writing by the choppiness (was confusing at times) and the evident hatred of influencers the author has, which was off-putting. If you like constantly bitchy characters, this could be for you. It would have been strong writing if she had made the characters appealing like influencers are to their followers, and then psychologically twist reality to expose them, which is what I was expecting. I don't know if the characters were written like sketches intentionally to make them seem empty and desperate, but they needed more flesh to them to pop off the page and make differentiating them easier. Read like a fast draft or by a writer still trying to find their voice.
Was excited for this debut, but could not connect with the writing by the choppiness (was confusing at times) and the evident hatred of influencers the author has, which was off-putting. If you like constantly bitchy characters, this could be for you. It would have been strong writing if she had made the characters appealing like influencers are to their followers, and then psychologically twist reality to expose them, which is what I was expecting. I don't know if the characters were written like sketches intentionally to make them seem empty and desperate, but they needed more flesh to them to pop off the page and make differentiating them easier. Read like a fast draft or by a writer still trying to find their voice.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC received from the publisher!
So I’m a longtime subscriber and huge fan of Kate, so I was excited to receive an ARC. I finished the book in a day, as I absolutely could not put in down. It was a fast paced, page turning mystery. But while the plot was engaging, I felt like I was given very little information about the characters and their past relationships. Like how did this person become an influencer? How do they know each other? The dialogue also felt weird at times and didn’t flow properly. I think it suffered from using too many Sometimes it felt like the author was being a bit too overly preachy about certain topics, and the constant talk about one character’s toxic masculinity made my eyes roll a bit. But it was an overall ok read. Solid 3.5 stars.
So I’m a longtime subscriber and huge fan of Kate, so I was excited to receive an ARC. I finished the book in a day, as I absolutely could not put in down. It was a fast paced, page turning mystery. But while the plot was engaging, I felt like I was given very little information about the characters and their past relationships. Like how did this person become an influencer? How do they know each other? The dialogue also felt weird at times and didn’t flow properly. I think it suffered from using too many Sometimes it felt like the author was being a bit too overly preachy about certain topics, and the constant talk about one character’s toxic masculinity made my eyes roll a bit. But it was an overall ok read. Solid 3.5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was given an ARC of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I've been reading mysteries all my life. This is the first time I did not figure out the whodunnit! It all made perfect sense in the end, and I could trace all the clues after I finished, so it was enormously satisfying. It moves fast, so don't be surprised if you miss something because you had to glance at your dog. LOL Kudos to the author for juggling these slightly unloveable characters and forgive yourself when you find yourself cheering when another one drops. Enough twists and turns to keep those pages turning! I loved it, and I'll be a fan for life.
Regina Duke, USA Today Bestselling Author
I've been reading mysteries all my life. This is the first time I did not figure out the whodunnit! It all made perfect sense in the end, and I could trace all the clues after I finished, so it was enormously satisfying. It moves fast, so don't be surprised if you miss something because you had to glance at your dog. LOL Kudos to the author for juggling these slightly unloveable characters and forgive yourself when you find yourself cheering when another one drops. Enough twists and turns to keep those pages turning! I loved it, and I'll be a fan for life.
Regina Duke, USA Today Bestselling Author
March 23, 2026
Kate Cavanaugh’s “Thanks for Watching” is a fun and twisty read that doesn’t take itself too seriously but is seriously entertaining. With the cast of characters, the reader is swept along an exclusive influencers-only brand trip to an island where they all start mysteriously dying one by one.
The pacing never lagged, and I appreciated the commentary on self-image, content creation, and parasocial relationships. The audiobook narration by Aure Nash was top tier and I can’t wait to re-read the story as a physical book (now that I know the ending) so I can see it all come together on paper as well.
Thank you to Inimitable Books and the author for the ALC!
The pacing never lagged, and I appreciated the commentary on self-image, content creation, and parasocial relationships. The audiobook narration by Aure Nash was top tier and I can’t wait to re-read the story as a physical book (now that I know the ending) so I can see it all come together on paper as well.
Thank you to Inimitable Books and the author for the ALC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I listened to the ARC of the audiobook. First, what a fun romp through some terrible people's lives (and deaths)! The characters were clearly defined and easy to differentiate, which is not an easy task in such a large cast. The author herself is a Youtuber, and it is easy to see how she has taken her experience of the darker side of social media and twisted it into this tale. None of the characters are likeable, which makes all their comeuppances even more delicious. Great campy, silly, darkly satirical take on influencers and what our obsession with social media says about us as a society.
March 15, 2026
Digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Locked room style murder mystery, very Agatha Christie-esque, though the characters are all influencers and none is very likable. It takes them a good long time to figure out that it must be one of them responsible for the murders! I didn’t feel any sympathy for any of them, though I’m trying to remember if I did when I read And Then There Were None. I didn’t see the ending coming, though I wonder if I would have picked up on any hints if I were to re-read it.
Locked room style murder mystery, very Agatha Christie-esque, though the characters are all influencers and none is very likable. It takes them a good long time to figure out that it must be one of them responsible for the murders! I didn’t feel any sympathy for any of them, though I’m trying to remember if I did when I read And Then There Were None. I didn’t see the ending coming, though I wonder if I would have picked up on any hints if I were to re-read it.
April 28, 2026
I got an advance listeners copy of the audiobook, but this is still my honest review.
The twist at the end I had to re-listen to. Not because it was badly done but because I just had to replay that unfolding while remembering scenes before that could have guided me in that direction. I just didn’t see it coming, and every time I assumed someone, they were the next to die.
Each character had different focus, but they all wore masks that hid varying levels of morality.
I definitely would read it again to catch any flickers that I may had missed the first go around.
The twist at the end I had to re-listen to. Not because it was badly done but because I just had to replay that unfolding while remembering scenes before that could have guided me in that direction. I just didn’t see it coming, and every time I assumed someone, they were the next to die.
Each character had different focus, but they all wore masks that hid varying levels of morality.
I definitely would read it again to catch any flickers that I may had missed the first go around.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
First, thank you to the publisher for sending me an eArc to review. Overall, I really enjoyed the story. I found the characters difficult to grasp and differentiate throughout, which is probably my biggest issue. I loved the last fourth of the book, especially the reveal. I appreciated the conversation surrounding influencer marketing and culture, especially how influencers are just as susceptible to the lure and promise of parasocial relationships themselves.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of audio ARC received from the author.
I enjoyed the book from beginning to end. It doesn't take itself (or the influencers) too seriously and has a few laugh-out-loud moments. On the negative side, I only have a few minor complaints. There is a fairly large cast, which occasionally confused me, and I dislike some of the narrator's voice choices.
Overall, a great murder mystery reminiscent of "And Then There Were None" in a modern setting with some very sketchy influencers.
I enjoyed the book from beginning to end. It doesn't take itself (or the influencers) too seriously and has a few laugh-out-loud moments. On the negative side, I only have a few minor complaints. There is a fairly large cast, which occasionally confused me, and I dislike some of the narrator's voice choices.
Overall, a great murder mystery reminiscent of "And Then There Were None" in a modern setting with some very sketchy influencers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received ALC from the publisher.
Armed with a whiteboard I did some serious sleuthing and absolutely loved this story. The audio narrator did a great job portraying the characters and their despicable personalities. If you really need likeable characters in a novel, maybe look elsewhere, but if you enjoy watching horrible people get their payback, look no further. I loved to hate all of them. The ending felt a teensy bit rushed but overall I had a great time listening.
Armed with a whiteboard I did some serious sleuthing and absolutely loved this story. The audio narrator did a great job portraying the characters and their despicable personalities. If you really need likeable characters in a novel, maybe look elsewhere, but if you enjoy watching horrible people get their payback, look no further. I loved to hate all of them. The ending felt a teensy bit rushed but overall I had a great time listening.
May 15, 2026
I wanted to give this less than two stars. But I reserve one stars for books I CAN'T finish. This one was just foolish. It is a modern-day attempt at Agatha Christie's book And then there were none. But the cast is comprised of self-absorbed influencers. Their whole strategy for staying alive is to wait patiently to let the murder problem to go away. Seriously. Oh and make content while they wait. Good ending terrible book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I got an ARC of this book through the publisher.
3.5 stars. I liked the idea of having a mystery based around online influencers! I think I would've liked a bit more background about how all the characters knew each other and I wanted to know what happened in Vale. Overall though I had a good time!
3.5 stars. I liked the idea of having a mystery based around online influencers! I think I would've liked a bit more background about how all the characters knew each other and I wanted to know what happened in Vale. Overall though I had a good time!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was everything I hoped it would be, AND MORE! A slow (but engaging) build-up and a fast-paced unravelling left me wanting more! There were lots of unexpected twists and super fun influencer/YouTuber references from the past and present. The RF reference? Chef’s kiss! This was an absolutely killer debut from Kate Cavanaugh!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a "for entertainment purposes only" style closed circle murder mystery. The characters and plot are pretty simple and shallow but it's entertaining and a quick read. Less Agatha Christie and more the movie Clue.
May 12, 2026
Listened to the audiobook while on a long drive. Can not even count how many times I gasped or had goosebumps at twists and turns. Such a great satirical take on influencer culture. And the hardcover is beautiful with extra fun designs on the inside!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A thrilling good time! I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the concept of influencers, which I've never read before. This was a great modern version of And Then There Were None!
Review of advance copy
3.75⭐'s
I really loved it by the end. I bet you on reread this could be a high 4.
I really loved it by the end. I bet you on reread this could be a high 4.
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