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Tell Your Friends
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26A former child star and an envious fan collide in this cat-and-mouse psychological thriller about obsession, self-invention, and the dark side of internet fame.
University was meant to be Crystal’s way out. Growing up, there was nothing in her life that couldn’t be turned into content for her mother’s popular (and profitable) family vlog channel, At Home with the Shaws—including the tragic death of her older sister when they were kids. When she arrives on campus, her mother demands she keep filming her every experience for her subscribers—but Crystal has just one story in mind, one that will blow them all away.
At Home with the Shaws is Crystal’s prison, but it is Alyssa’s escape. An aspiring journalist from a deeply troubled family, she jumps at the chance to help Crystal with an exciting project. When she realizes her new friend’s goal is to expose her family and put an end to the channel, Alyssa becomes desperate to find a way to stop the Shaws’ carefully curated image from shattering.
As the two girls discover unsettling truths about themselves and each other, and shocking new information about the Shaws comes to light, Crystal realizes what’s really at stake. If she doesn’t figure out whom she can trust, her freedom will cost her much more than just her fame.
University was meant to be Crystal’s way out. Growing up, there was nothing in her life that couldn’t be turned into content for her mother’s popular (and profitable) family vlog channel, At Home with the Shaws—including the tragic death of her older sister when they were kids. When she arrives on campus, her mother demands she keep filming her every experience for her subscribers—but Crystal has just one story in mind, one that will blow them all away.
At Home with the Shaws is Crystal’s prison, but it is Alyssa’s escape. An aspiring journalist from a deeply troubled family, she jumps at the chance to help Crystal with an exciting project. When she realizes her new friend’s goal is to expose her family and put an end to the channel, Alyssa becomes desperate to find a way to stop the Shaws’ carefully curated image from shattering.
As the two girls discover unsettling truths about themselves and each other, and shocking new information about the Shaws comes to light, Crystal realizes what’s really at stake. If she doesn’t figure out whom she can trust, her freedom will cost her much more than just her fame.
272 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 18, 2026
About the author
Lauren Wilson
2 books127 followersLauren Wilson has a BA (Hons) degree in Journalism and an MA in Creative Writing. She lives in North East England with her fiancé and their snuggly spaniels. Her acclaimed debut novel, The Goldens, was selected as a Waterstones Book of the Month in July 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 18, 2026
Tell Your Friends by Lauren Wilson. Thanks to @pineandcedar for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Crystal is excited to begin university and be independent from her family, the famous family from the family blog, At Home with the Shaws. Her mother wants her to document her time at university, but Crystal has a completely different narrative in mind. When she befriends fellow journalist student, Alyssa Hayes, she’s unaware of Alyssa’s obsession with her family.
After loving The Goldens, this was one of my highly anticipated reads of 2026 and it did not disappoint! While on the shorter side, and a fast paced read, it doesn’t feel rushed and it leaves you missing nothing. The story flies by and a lot is placed into the pages. There’s a sense of dread throughout and then a lot of action at the end. It sheds light on the dangers and addictions of family influencer blogs as well.
Read if you like:
-Influencer stories
-Families not what they seem
-Social media tropes
Tell Your Friends comes out 6/2.
Crystal is excited to begin university and be independent from her family, the famous family from the family blog, At Home with the Shaws. Her mother wants her to document her time at university, but Crystal has a completely different narrative in mind. When she befriends fellow journalist student, Alyssa Hayes, she’s unaware of Alyssa’s obsession with her family.
After loving The Goldens, this was one of my highly anticipated reads of 2026 and it did not disappoint! While on the shorter side, and a fast paced read, it doesn’t feel rushed and it leaves you missing nothing. The story flies by and a lot is placed into the pages. There’s a sense of dread throughout and then a lot of action at the end. It sheds light on the dangers and addictions of family influencer blogs as well.
Read if you like:
-Influencer stories
-Families not what they seem
-Social media tropes
Tell Your Friends comes out 6/2.
May 2, 2026
I love a good influencer drama thriller story and this delivered. A super fast read, one sitting for me! I thought the characters were unique and I enjoyed their POVs. It kept me hooked! Definitely recommend if the story appeals to you.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
May 3, 2026
The Goldens was one of my favourite reads of 2025 and Tell Your Friends has solidified Lauren Wilson as an auto-buy author for me! Much like her debut, I devoured most of this in a single day! NO ONE writes toxic female friendship like Lauren Wilson! This is a must-read for anyone with an internet presence.
Reluctant child star Crystal hopes university is her chance to escape her controlling vlogger family. Sick of her mother's demands, Crystal is secretly planning to expose her parents and destroy their social media empire. She befriends fellow journalism student Alyssa, who seems kind and supportive. But Alyssa has her own secrets, and she'll do anything to get what she wants…
This was sharp, insightful, and unsettling - it’s a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time. I was hooked from the shocking first page! What an opening! I thought I knew where this story was going - I did not! This was such a thought-provoking read, and will open a lot of discussion around child influencers and family vlogs. I was so angry for Crystal right from the start - her parents really treated her as a commodity and were uninterested in anything but her earning potential. Alyssa was so well-written, with scattered clues hinting that she was troubled and maybe even dangerous, and a slow burn build to reveal her motives and machinations. I was totally gripped and couldn’t put this down! It really made me think about the idea of what you see on the Internet and how much is real versus an image that is being curated. What I found really clever was the snippets throughout the book of certain events contrasting between the picture perfect vlogs and Crystal’s actual memories. I also loved how the family home was constructed as a metaphor for their online presence. Lauren Wilson is so genius at weaving in details and clues! It was a perfect read for a long weekend!
I highly recommend Tell Your Friends to fans of books like The Escape Game, Yesteryear, and The Favourites! A huge thank you to the publisher for sending me an advance copy.
Reluctant child star Crystal hopes university is her chance to escape her controlling vlogger family. Sick of her mother's demands, Crystal is secretly planning to expose her parents and destroy their social media empire. She befriends fellow journalism student Alyssa, who seems kind and supportive. But Alyssa has her own secrets, and she'll do anything to get what she wants…
This was sharp, insightful, and unsettling - it’s a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time. I was hooked from the shocking first page! What an opening! I thought I knew where this story was going - I did not! This was such a thought-provoking read, and will open a lot of discussion around child influencers and family vlogs. I was so angry for Crystal right from the start - her parents really treated her as a commodity and were uninterested in anything but her earning potential. Alyssa was so well-written, with scattered clues hinting that she was troubled and maybe even dangerous, and a slow burn build to reveal her motives and machinations. I was totally gripped and couldn’t put this down! It really made me think about the idea of what you see on the Internet and how much is real versus an image that is being curated. What I found really clever was the snippets throughout the book of certain events contrasting between the picture perfect vlogs and Crystal’s actual memories. I also loved how the family home was constructed as a metaphor for their online presence. Lauren Wilson is so genius at weaving in details and clues! It was a perfect read for a long weekend!
I highly recommend Tell Your Friends to fans of books like The Escape Game, Yesteryear, and The Favourites! A huge thank you to the publisher for sending me an advance copy.
May 13, 2026
I absolutely adored the journey this book took me on. I was initially drawn in by the story of a child from a family vlogging empire heading off to college. Finally getting the chance to discover herself outside of the carefully curated image her family built online. What completely caught me off guard, though, was the twist in the last half of the book. I genuinely did not see it coming at all. Just when I thought I understood where the story was headed, it completely pulled the rug out from under me in the best way possible. It added so much depth and tension to the story and made me fly through the final chapters. The emotional impact of that reveal stayed with me long after I finished the book.
Thank you for the advance readers copy!
#TellYourFriends #NetGalley
Thank you for the advance readers copy!
#TellYourFriends #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Flatiron Books and Pine & Cedar Books for this physical ARC...this is my honest review.
📖 Tell Your Friends 📖
Author: Lauren Wilson
Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Publisher: Flatiron Books | Pine & Cedar Books
MY RATING: 4.25/5⭐
(Rounded Down To 4⭐)
Tell Your Friends, the upcoming psychological thriller from Lauren Wilson, provides a glimpse into the potentially unhinged consequences of the influencer culture and vlogging. It was a wildly captivating cat-and-mouse thriller that had me hooked as I waited to see what craziness was coming on the next page!
Told in the dual POVs of Crystal, the young adult daughter of a famous influencer family, and Alyssa, who is secretly obsessed with Crystal's influencer family's vlog. Crystal is just beginning University in London, and she's looking forward to getting out from under the brand-obsessed and watchful persona of her mom, the online matriarch of the family's vlog. Alyssa has a tendency to emulate new friends in a way that is borderline obsessive & creepy, and she immediately befriends Crystal at University - pretending she's never heard of Crystal's very famous family. As their friendship continues, Alyssa becomes more and more obsessed with Crystal's family, while Crystal wants to do everything possible to distance herself from them. Alyssa doesn't think Crystal even deserves her family anymore -- and she starts to wonder if maybe SHE would be a better fit in their family instead.
This was a fast-paced read, with the dual POVs of the female main characters really playing well into the cat-and-mouse vibes of this thriller. This is such a timely thriller, with its look into the potential toxicity and unintended outcomes of influencer culture and sharing everything about your lives on social media.
If you're a fan of influencer thrillers, unhinged main characters, crazy obsessions, and cat-and-mouse plotlines -- you will absolutely love Tell Your Friends. Be sure you grab a copy when it comes out on June 2nd! (And it's available to request on Netgalley NOW!)
#TellYourFriends #LaurenWilson #FlatironBooks #PineandCedarBooks #thrillerreads #thrillerlover #psychologicalthriller #influencerthriller #unhingedthriller #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations
📖 Tell Your Friends 📖
Author: Lauren Wilson
Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Publisher: Flatiron Books | Pine & Cedar Books
MY RATING: 4.25/5⭐
(Rounded Down To 4⭐)
Tell Your Friends, the upcoming psychological thriller from Lauren Wilson, provides a glimpse into the potentially unhinged consequences of the influencer culture and vlogging. It was a wildly captivating cat-and-mouse thriller that had me hooked as I waited to see what craziness was coming on the next page!
Told in the dual POVs of Crystal, the young adult daughter of a famous influencer family, and Alyssa, who is secretly obsessed with Crystal's influencer family's vlog. Crystal is just beginning University in London, and she's looking forward to getting out from under the brand-obsessed and watchful persona of her mom, the online matriarch of the family's vlog. Alyssa has a tendency to emulate new friends in a way that is borderline obsessive & creepy, and she immediately befriends Crystal at University - pretending she's never heard of Crystal's very famous family. As their friendship continues, Alyssa becomes more and more obsessed with Crystal's family, while Crystal wants to do everything possible to distance herself from them. Alyssa doesn't think Crystal even deserves her family anymore -- and she starts to wonder if maybe SHE would be a better fit in their family instead.
This was a fast-paced read, with the dual POVs of the female main characters really playing well into the cat-and-mouse vibes of this thriller. This is such a timely thriller, with its look into the potential toxicity and unintended outcomes of influencer culture and sharing everything about your lives on social media.
If you're a fan of influencer thrillers, unhinged main characters, crazy obsessions, and cat-and-mouse plotlines -- you will absolutely love Tell Your Friends. Be sure you grab a copy when it comes out on June 2nd! (And it's available to request on Netgalley NOW!)
#TellYourFriends #LaurenWilson #FlatironBooks #PineandCedarBooks #thrillerreads #thrillerlover #psychologicalthriller #influencerthriller #unhingedthriller #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
this was sooo good. I had reservations at first, cuz it seemed to start slow. but I really was hooked on the build up. I do think Alyssa's plotting was almost too dragged out, though. I feel like every other chapter in her point of view ended with a sentence like "and I know just how I'd get my plan working." I would find myself thinking, ok so when is this plan coming to fruition??
when the plan started to piece together, it was all at once. I wish it had been a constant built up thing throughout the book instead of a spontaneous moment at the end. but I still liked it!
the characterization was done well, in my opinion. I liked crystal and found most of her reasoning justified. I hated Alyssa and was on the edge of my seat waiting for her plan to fail. I almost wish Alyssa was more obviously obsessed with crystal. dying her hair, copying her makeup and outfits, doing the typical past stuff she was accused of. I wanted creepy, weird stuff, like watching crystal sleep. or bottling her bathwater. or something as insane as keeping crystal's underwear or her used menstrual products. something that would make me sick to my stomach and convince me Alyssa is batshit crazy!! and I wanted crystal to start to be put off without someone pointing it out to her.
also, I feel as if there were too many background characters. I'm used to characters with names only showing up when they have a purpose. I get that the journalism society was there to give realism, but I wish only jasper and Rowan were the ones who were named. even crystal's neighbor across the hall could have been more generic, especially considering her only use was to make crystal jealous.
overall, I ate this book up. I was in a bit of a reading slump, and it pulled me right out of it, as I hoped it would. I think thrillers are great fun. this was an exciting read. I loved it!!
when the plan started to piece together, it was all at once. I wish it had been a constant built up thing throughout the book instead of a spontaneous moment at the end. but I still liked it!
the characterization was done well, in my opinion. I liked crystal and found most of her reasoning justified. I hated Alyssa and was on the edge of my seat waiting for her plan to fail. I almost wish Alyssa was more obviously obsessed with crystal. dying her hair, copying her makeup and outfits, doing the typical past stuff she was accused of. I wanted creepy, weird stuff, like watching crystal sleep. or bottling her bathwater. or something as insane as keeping crystal's underwear or her used menstrual products. something that would make me sick to my stomach and convince me Alyssa is batshit crazy!! and I wanted crystal to start to be put off without someone pointing it out to her.
also, I feel as if there were too many background characters. I'm used to characters with names only showing up when they have a purpose. I get that the journalism society was there to give realism, but I wish only jasper and Rowan were the ones who were named. even crystal's neighbor across the hall could have been more generic, especially considering her only use was to make crystal jealous.
overall, I ate this book up. I was in a bit of a reading slump, and it pulled me right out of it, as I hoped it would. I think thrillers are great fun. this was an exciting read. I loved it!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ Tell Your Friends by Lauren Wilson ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
➝ • 4.5/5 ☆ •
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
The first stretch of this book had me checking the genre like I had wandered into the wrong room. Mystery and thriller, sure, but the story takes its time getting there. The pacing is slow enough that I kept wondering if anything was going to spark at all, especially as it lays out the influencer world and all the curated, filtered nonsense that comes with it. There is a quiet commentary underneath about how much of yourself you lose when your life becomes content.
Once the tension finally sharpens, everything shifts. The secrets start grinding against each other, the atmosphere turns heavier, and the story finally finds its pulse. The danger feels closer, the choices get worse, and the toxic friendship threads hit especially well where admiration, envy, and obsession blur together.
The audiobook narration elevates this section too. The emotional strain comes through clearly, and the dual POV contrast makes the unraveling feel more personal.
By the final stretch, I was fully locked in. The ending works, and the story leans into the darker tones promised in the blurb. What surprised me most was the emotional weight underneath it all, especially around grief, growing up online, and trying to rebuild yourself when your past still shapes every decision. The pacing in the beginning was a little uneven, but the second half lands hard enough to make the whole thing worth it.
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
If you like:
✔️ slow burn suspense
✔️ family secrets
✔️ dangerous, unstable friends
✔️ character driven mystery
✔️ escalating stakes
✔️ messy emotional fallout
📅 Pub Day: Jun 02 2026 🎧 📚
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own.
➝ • 4.5/5 ☆ •
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
The first stretch of this book had me checking the genre like I had wandered into the wrong room. Mystery and thriller, sure, but the story takes its time getting there. The pacing is slow enough that I kept wondering if anything was going to spark at all, especially as it lays out the influencer world and all the curated, filtered nonsense that comes with it. There is a quiet commentary underneath about how much of yourself you lose when your life becomes content.
Once the tension finally sharpens, everything shifts. The secrets start grinding against each other, the atmosphere turns heavier, and the story finally finds its pulse. The danger feels closer, the choices get worse, and the toxic friendship threads hit especially well where admiration, envy, and obsession blur together.
The audiobook narration elevates this section too. The emotional strain comes through clearly, and the dual POV contrast makes the unraveling feel more personal.
By the final stretch, I was fully locked in. The ending works, and the story leans into the darker tones promised in the blurb. What surprised me most was the emotional weight underneath it all, especially around grief, growing up online, and trying to rebuild yourself when your past still shapes every decision. The pacing in the beginning was a little uneven, but the second half lands hard enough to make the whole thing worth it.
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
If you like:
✔️ slow burn suspense
✔️ family secrets
✔️ dangerous, unstable friends
✔️ character driven mystery
✔️ escalating stakes
✔️ messy emotional fallout
📅 Pub Day: Jun 02 2026 🎧 📚
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Hello, before I write my review I want to thank Pine and Cedar books for this advanced readers copy!
Tell your friends is about Crystal Shaw who is part of a legendary family vlog channel named At Home with the Shaws. Crystal goes to university in, I believe London, and befriends other journalism students. One student she befriends is Alyssa who is kind of insane but doesn't show it at first. Alyssa is obsessed with Crystal and her family. She finds comfort by watching their vlogs since comfort is something that she had always lacked. Also Crystal is still mourning the loss of her older sister Lexie who passed away at seven. Then if I say more I'm going to spoil it so let's just get to my opinion!
I liked this book. I thought it was well written as my jaw dropped multiple times while reading. I also loved the whole campus/fall semester vibes in the beginning and middle of the book. As someone who is going to college next year it was comforting for me to read. It was a bit slow at the beginning because all the characters were kind of doing the same things. Going to lectures, going to campus, going to get coffee, going to the office, going back home, going to the Tube. A lot was happening but also nothing was happening at the same time. Around 75% of the book was slow and the rest was when it started to pick up some pace. The ending felt a little underwhelming and rushed. Overall, I was satisfied for the way it ended and the book was good. I would recommend if you're into family vlog channel scandals or if you're looking for a quick read with an easy story line to follow.
Ok that's it bye!
Tell your friends is about Crystal Shaw who is part of a legendary family vlog channel named At Home with the Shaws. Crystal goes to university in, I believe London, and befriends other journalism students. One student she befriends is Alyssa who is kind of insane but doesn't show it at first. Alyssa is obsessed with Crystal and her family. She finds comfort by watching their vlogs since comfort is something that she had always lacked. Also Crystal is still mourning the loss of her older sister Lexie who passed away at seven. Then if I say more I'm going to spoil it so let's just get to my opinion!
I liked this book. I thought it was well written as my jaw dropped multiple times while reading. I also loved the whole campus/fall semester vibes in the beginning and middle of the book. As someone who is going to college next year it was comforting for me to read. It was a bit slow at the beginning because all the characters were kind of doing the same things. Going to lectures, going to campus, going to get coffee, going to the office, going back home, going to the Tube. A lot was happening but also nothing was happening at the same time. Around 75% of the book was slow and the rest was when it started to pick up some pace. The ending felt a little underwhelming and rushed. Overall, I was satisfied for the way it ended and the book was good. I would recommend if you're into family vlog channel scandals or if you're looking for a quick read with an easy story line to follow.
Ok that's it bye!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
"This is what it's going to be like," I told Alyssa.
Alyssa frowned at me, her face lit up by a streak of green and then red. "What?" She asked. She hadn't heard me.
"This is what it's going to be like," I said, "when it's all over! When we've told everyone everything."
Crystal is heading off to her first semester of university. She has grown up in the public eye on a family vlog. Her parents are controlling and care far too much about the views. Crystal is still mourning the very public death of her older sister when they were little.
Alyssa is a current journalism student. Her parents have ignored her for most of her life and sent her to boarding schools growing up. She has never felt loved. She is working on finding herself, but tends to do so with mimicry of those she admires. And she admires Crystal.
When the two girls meet in classes, they quickly form an attachment. Crystal has a plan to expose the abusive aspect of family vlogging and Alyssa will do anything to stop her, while pretending to be her advocate. When Alyssa goes home with Crystal for Christmas, things continue to escalate. Secrets come out, truth is revealed, and both girls' lives implode.
This reminds me a bit of Thirteen for the coming of age style and a newer updated version of the Talented Mr Ripley. Obsession meets instability. The book is an easy and fun read. It isn't mind-blowing, but it will keep you reading to the end.
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways for the ARC of this book.
Alyssa frowned at me, her face lit up by a streak of green and then red. "What?" She asked. She hadn't heard me.
"This is what it's going to be like," I said, "when it's all over! When we've told everyone everything."
Crystal is heading off to her first semester of university. She has grown up in the public eye on a family vlog. Her parents are controlling and care far too much about the views. Crystal is still mourning the very public death of her older sister when they were little.
Alyssa is a current journalism student. Her parents have ignored her for most of her life and sent her to boarding schools growing up. She has never felt loved. She is working on finding herself, but tends to do so with mimicry of those she admires. And she admires Crystal.
When the two girls meet in classes, they quickly form an attachment. Crystal has a plan to expose the abusive aspect of family vlogging and Alyssa will do anything to stop her, while pretending to be her advocate. When Alyssa goes home with Crystal for Christmas, things continue to escalate. Secrets come out, truth is revealed, and both girls' lives implode.
This reminds me a bit of Thirteen for the coming of age style and a newer updated version of the Talented Mr Ripley. Obsession meets instability. The book is an easy and fun read. It isn't mind-blowing, but it will keep you reading to the end.
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I listened to the audiobook for Tell Your Friends by Lauren Wilson and this was such an entertaining listen for me. I’m always pulled into stories about influencer culture, toxic friendships, and people hiding who they really are online, so this one was right up my alley.
The audiobook narration by Lily Lefkow-Green honestly made the experience even better. She did an amazing job bringing both Crystal and Alyssa to life, especially Alyssa’s increasingly obsessive behavior. The tension between the two characters really came through in the audio version and kept me listening way longer than I planned to.
What I liked most about this story was how unsettling it felt without needing over-the-top twists every five minutes. The family vlog aspect felt believable and honestly a little sad at times. Crystal growing up with every part of her life turned into content made for a really interesting psychological thriller setup.
The beginning was a little slower while the story built momentum, but once everything started unraveling, I was hooked. I especially enjoyed the toxic friendship dynamics and the commentary on social media, fame, and curated online lives.
If you enjoy influencer thrillers, messy female friendships, obsession stories, and audiobooks with strong narration, this is definitely worth picking up.
The audiobook narration by Lily Lefkow-Green honestly made the experience even better. She did an amazing job bringing both Crystal and Alyssa to life, especially Alyssa’s increasingly obsessive behavior. The tension between the two characters really came through in the audio version and kept me listening way longer than I planned to.
What I liked most about this story was how unsettling it felt without needing over-the-top twists every five minutes. The family vlog aspect felt believable and honestly a little sad at times. Crystal growing up with every part of her life turned into content made for a really interesting psychological thriller setup.
The beginning was a little slower while the story built momentum, but once everything started unraveling, I was hooked. I especially enjoyed the toxic friendship dynamics and the commentary on social media, fame, and curated online lives.
If you enjoy influencer thrillers, messy female friendships, obsession stories, and audiobooks with strong narration, this is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I felt a deep connection to the main character, especially through the way her life has been marked by loss and the many things she has had to face on her own. She carries a quiet strength that shows in how she keeps moving forward, even when her past still shapes her present in painful ways. Her emotions feel honest and close to the surface, which makes her very easy to understand and empathise with.
Her history of grief gives her character real depth, influencing how she sees people and how she allows herself to trust again. Even with everything she has lost, there is still a sense that she is trying to find her place in life again, slowly and carefully. The story presents her as someone who is not defined only by sadness, but also by endurance and the effort to keep rebuilding.
The balance between vulnerability and strength makes her feel very real, and her journey carries a quiet emotional weight that gives the whole story its power.
Her history of grief gives her character real depth, influencing how she sees people and how she allows herself to trust again. Even with everything she has lost, there is still a sense that she is trying to find her place in life again, slowly and carefully. The story presents her as someone who is not defined only by sadness, but also by endurance and the effort to keep rebuilding.
The balance between vulnerability and strength makes her feel very real, and her journey carries a quiet emotional weight that gives the whole story its power.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This review is based on an advance copy.
This book didn't really hit me the way I think the author meant it to. Wilson's prose is well written and very readable, but the book was a bit on the slow side for me. Crystal, escaping from her influencer mom, goes to university and meets Alyssa, a fellow journalism student. Crystal's adjustment to college life, and being torn between her friends and family was pretty well done, but Crystal herself remains a pretty flat, one-track character who isn't very interesting. Although I guess that IS how influencers are.
The story alternates between the POV of Crystal and Alyssa, who is the only interesting character in this story. However, her ending doesn't quite seem to fit with her character throughout the rest of the novel.
Overall, a decent book, especially for those interested in influencer culture, but nothing profound.
This book didn't really hit me the way I think the author meant it to. Wilson's prose is well written and very readable, but the book was a bit on the slow side for me. Crystal, escaping from her influencer mom, goes to university and meets Alyssa, a fellow journalism student. Crystal's adjustment to college life, and being torn between her friends and family was pretty well done, but Crystal herself remains a pretty flat, one-track character who isn't very interesting. Although I guess that IS how influencers are.
The story alternates between the POV of Crystal and Alyssa, who is the only interesting character in this story. However, her ending doesn't quite seem to fit with her character throughout the rest of the novel.
Overall, a decent book, especially for those interested in influencer culture, but nothing profound.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tell Your Friends by Lauren Wilson was such a fun, twisty ride. I’m always here for a good social media influencer thriller, and this one definitely delivered.
I really enjoyed the audiobook narration, it added so much to the tension and drama of the story. One thing I loved most was the commentary on social media and curated online personas. It was such a good reminder that things aren’t always what they seem behind the perfectly filtered posts and highlight reels.
Also, give me an unhinged FMC and I’m immediately locked in 😂 There’s just something so entertaining about a messy, chaotic main character done well.
This was my first book by Lauren Wilson, and I’m definitely interested in checking out her previous work after this one. I’d absolutely recommend this if you love thrillers with influencer culture, dark secrets, and plenty of drama.
I really enjoyed the audiobook narration, it added so much to the tension and drama of the story. One thing I loved most was the commentary on social media and curated online personas. It was such a good reminder that things aren’t always what they seem behind the perfectly filtered posts and highlight reels.
Also, give me an unhinged FMC and I’m immediately locked in 😂 There’s just something so entertaining about a messy, chaotic main character done well.
This was my first book by Lauren Wilson, and I’m definitely interested in checking out her previous work after this one. I’d absolutely recommend this if you love thrillers with influencer culture, dark secrets, and plenty of drama.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tell Your Friends is a razor-sharp psychological thriller that forced me to look at my own feed with a new lens. Lauren Wilson masterfully explores the dark underbelly of family vlogging and the "profitable" exploitation of childhood.
The dual perspective between Crystal, who views her life as a prison of content, and Alyssa, who views that same life as a necessary escape, creates a suffocating atmosphere. It’s a brilliant commentary on the facade of social media—the way we edit out the trauma or, worse, weaponize it for clicks. The "tragic death of the older sister" subplot adds a layer of grief that feels both heavy and horrifyingly commercialized.
If you’ve ever wondered what’s happening behind the ring light and the filters, this book will leave you captivated and deeply unsettled.
The dual perspective between Crystal, who views her life as a prison of content, and Alyssa, who views that same life as a necessary escape, creates a suffocating atmosphere. It’s a brilliant commentary on the facade of social media—the way we edit out the trauma or, worse, weaponize it for clicks. The "tragic death of the older sister" subplot adds a layer of grief that feels both heavy and horrifyingly commercialized.
If you’ve ever wondered what’s happening behind the ring light and the filters, this book will leave you captivated and deeply unsettled.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This has solidified Lauren Wilson as an autobuy author for me wow wow wow
Parasocial relationships meets obsessive personalities in this dual pov that keeps you on the edge of your toes. I ate the Goldens up and this was no different. I was worried about the dual pov giving too much away but it was pulled off effortlessly and I loved every second.
The vibe (because I don't think I can fully articulate how much I loved this): university, London, social media influences, family vlogging, secret pasts, journalism
Parasocial relationships meets obsessive personalities in this dual pov that keeps you on the edge of your toes. I ate the Goldens up and this was no different. I was worried about the dual pov giving too much away but it was pulled off effortlessly and I loved every second.
The vibe (because I don't think I can fully articulate how much I loved this): university, London, social media influences, family vlogging, secret pasts, journalism
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Just as reality tv shows are not really real a family vlog should definitely make those watching question what is going on and what a family must do to seem so perfect. As you get to know Crystal Shaw you will realize that things are definitely not as portrayed in the Shaw Family vlog, but before Crystal can ‘escape’ her family’s grasp she meets Alyssa in her first week away from home and at university. What follows is a tense story about family, friendship, greed, and definite mental illness.
March 25, 2026
Received an advance copy from Goodreads giveaway
I really enjoyed this book and am so glad I won a copy. I feel like I have been in a reading slump and this book was just what I needed
I did not see some of the twists coming, and that is refreshing.
Crystal, the main character, is the child of a family vlog. This book shows how social media can be addictive and destructive, especially to children.
Great story and good writing.
Definitely recommend
I really enjoyed this book and am so glad I won a copy. I feel like I have been in a reading slump and this book was just what I needed
I did not see some of the twists coming, and that is refreshing.
Crystal, the main character, is the child of a family vlog. This book shows how social media can be addictive and destructive, especially to children.
Great story and good writing.
Definitely recommend
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Lauren Wilson returns with her second book that's even better than the first.
The story builds at perfect pace, creeping dread as the second, unreliable narrator slowly revealing their true nature.
The twists and shocks are all perfectly paced and the amount of time I spent asking myself what the hell? as I raced through the insanity and watching Crystal grow and become herself even as her life unravels around her was amazing.
Easy five stars!
The story builds at perfect pace, creeping dread as the second, unreliable narrator slowly revealing their true nature.
The twists and shocks are all perfectly paced and the amount of time I spent asking myself what the hell? as I raced through the insanity and watching Crystal grow and become herself even as her life unravels around her was amazing.
Easy five stars!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
*Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways*
⭐️⭐️.75 stars- rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tell Your Friends by Lauren Wilson would be a great read for a YA beginning thriller reader who would enjoy the social media aspect of the story.
I am not the target audience for this book and think the previously mentioned audience would enjoy this book more
⭐️⭐️.75 stars- rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tell Your Friends by Lauren Wilson would be a great read for a YA beginning thriller reader who would enjoy the social media aspect of the story.
I am not the target audience for this book and think the previously mentioned audience would enjoy this book more
May 13, 2026
The evils of family channels, attention addiction and parasocialism wrapped into a compelling thriller!
I loved this. I loved the two POVs. I loved the narration!
I’m happy to have had this as an audio arc but I will be purchasing a physical copy to have.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!
I loved this. I loved the two POVs. I loved the narration!
I’m happy to have had this as an audio arc but I will be purchasing a physical copy to have.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!
March 16, 2026
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. For the most part, I enjoyed it. I liked the twists and overall storyline. However, the story did feel like it could have been flushed out more. There were times where the story felt rushed, especially towards the end.
Want to Read
April 18, 2026Likely better enjoyed by my college aged daughter based on the characters being in university, I cannot imagine the life of a vlogger or the plot twists and turns that went with this one, yet I found it quite enjoyable and a quick read.
May 14, 2026
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.
The story kept me very engaged and excited for more - some twists that I didn’t expect. The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall a great read!
The story kept me very engaged and excited for more - some twists that I didn’t expect. The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall a great read!
March 10, 2026
I received a copy of this from Goodreads. It took a bit to get into and then got pretty good but the ending was certainly rushed and very far fetched.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Book was so strange & oddball couldn't finish reading it
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Received an advance copy from Goodreads giveaway. I was hooked from the very first page!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 teens will really like this storyline
May 13, 2026
3.5 rounded up! Review coming soon
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Tell Your Friends📱Book Review 📖Thank you so much partner @pineandcedar_books @flatiron_books for the gifted ARC!
Tell Your Friends
by Lauren Wilson
out 6/2/26!
Crystal has always been trapped in her mother’s wildly popular family vlog, At Home with the Shaws, where even the most private and painful moments of her life, including her sister’s death, have been turned into content. Heading to university is supposed to be her escape, but her mother insists she keeps filming. Instead, Crystal sets her sights on a different plan: exposing the truth behind her family’s carefully curated image once and for all.
For Alyssa, an aspiring journalist from a troubled background, the Shaw family’s world feels like an opportunity, until she realizes Crystal’s plan could destroy everything. As the two grow closer, secrets begin to unravel, forcing them to question each other’s motives and their own truths. With everything at stake, Crystal must decide who she can trust before her fight for freedom costs her far more than she ever expected.
💭 My thoughts:
A toxic family vlog, buried secrets, and twists that hit fast and hard! This was such a binge read and so worth it. After loving The Goldens, I knew I had to pick this one up and it did not disappoint. It’s fast paced, addictive, and had me flying through the pages. The tension builds so well, and when the twists hit, they really land. I especially loved how everything came together at the end. It felt like a total whirlwind! The story keeps you guessing while pulling you deeper into the drama, and I couldn’t look away. If you love messy family dynamics, dark secrets, and page turners that keep you hooked, this is definitely one to pick up! Make sure you keep your eyes peeled because Tell Your Friends will be out June 2, 2026!
Happy reading 📖 📱💭
Tell Your Friends
by Lauren Wilson
out 6/2/26!
Crystal has always been trapped in her mother’s wildly popular family vlog, At Home with the Shaws, where even the most private and painful moments of her life, including her sister’s death, have been turned into content. Heading to university is supposed to be her escape, but her mother insists she keeps filming. Instead, Crystal sets her sights on a different plan: exposing the truth behind her family’s carefully curated image once and for all.
For Alyssa, an aspiring journalist from a troubled background, the Shaw family’s world feels like an opportunity, until she realizes Crystal’s plan could destroy everything. As the two grow closer, secrets begin to unravel, forcing them to question each other’s motives and their own truths. With everything at stake, Crystal must decide who she can trust before her fight for freedom costs her far more than she ever expected.
💭 My thoughts:
A toxic family vlog, buried secrets, and twists that hit fast and hard! This was such a binge read and so worth it. After loving The Goldens, I knew I had to pick this one up and it did not disappoint. It’s fast paced, addictive, and had me flying through the pages. The tension builds so well, and when the twists hit, they really land. I especially loved how everything came together at the end. It felt like a total whirlwind! The story keeps you guessing while pulling you deeper into the drama, and I couldn’t look away. If you love messy family dynamics, dark secrets, and page turners that keep you hooked, this is definitely one to pick up! Make sure you keep your eyes peeled because Tell Your Friends will be out June 2, 2026!
Happy reading 📖 📱💭
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Tell Your Friends📱Book Review 📖Thank you so much partner @pineandcedar_books @flatiron_books for the gifted ARC!
Tell Your Friends
by Lauren Wilson
out 6/2/26!
Crystal has always been trapped in her mother’s wildly popular family vlog, At Home with the Shaws, where even the most private and painful moments of her life, including her sister’s death, have been turned into content. Heading to university is supposed to be her escape, but her mother insists she keeps filming. Instead, Crystal sets her sights on a different plan: exposing the truth behind her family’s carefully curated image once and for all.
For Alyssa, an aspiring journalist from a troubled background, the Shaw family’s world feels like an opportunity, until she realizes Crystal’s plan could destroy everything. As the two grow closer, secrets begin to unravel, forcing them to question each other’s motives and their own truths. With everything at stake, Crystal must decide who she can trust before her fight for freedom costs her far more than she ever expected.
💭 My thoughts:
A toxic family vlog, buried secrets, and twists that hit fast and hard! This was such a binge read and so worth it. After loving The Goldens, I knew I had to pick this one up and it did not disappoint. It’s fast paced, addictive, and had me flying through the pages. The tension builds so well, and when the twists hit, they really land. I especially loved how everything came together at the end. It felt like a total whirlwind! The story keeps you guessing while pulling you deeper into the drama, and I couldn’t look away. If you love messy family dynamics, dark secrets, and page turners that keep you hooked, this is definitely one to pick up! Make sure you keep your eyes peeled because Tell Your Friends will be out June 2, 2026!
Happy reading 📖 📱💭
Tell Your Friends
by Lauren Wilson
out 6/2/26!
Crystal has always been trapped in her mother’s wildly popular family vlog, At Home with the Shaws, where even the most private and painful moments of her life, including her sister’s death, have been turned into content. Heading to university is supposed to be her escape, but her mother insists she keeps filming. Instead, Crystal sets her sights on a different plan: exposing the truth behind her family’s carefully curated image once and for all.
For Alyssa, an aspiring journalist from a troubled background, the Shaw family’s world feels like an opportunity, until she realizes Crystal’s plan could destroy everything. As the two grow closer, secrets begin to unravel, forcing them to question each other’s motives and their own truths. With everything at stake, Crystal must decide who she can trust before her fight for freedom costs her far more than she ever expected.
💭 My thoughts:
A toxic family vlog, buried secrets, and twists that hit fast and hard! This was such a binge read and so worth it. After loving The Goldens, I knew I had to pick this one up and it did not disappoint. It’s fast paced, addictive, and had me flying through the pages. The tension builds so well, and when the twists hit, they really land. I especially loved how everything came together at the end. It felt like a total whirlwind! The story keeps you guessing while pulling you deeper into the drama, and I couldn’t look away. If you love messy family dynamics, dark secrets, and page turners that keep you hooked, this is definitely one to pick up! Make sure you keep your eyes peeled because Tell Your Friends will be out June 2, 2026!
Happy reading 📖 📱💭
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