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Former.ly: The Rise and Fall of a Social Network
When Dan Roberts starts his new job at Former.ly, he has no idea what he's getting into. The site deals in death - its users share their innermost thoughts, which are stored privately until they die. Then, their posts are shared with the world, often with unexpected consequences.
But something strange is going on, and the site's two erratic founders share a dark secret. A secret that people are willing to kill for.
But something strange is going on, and the site's two erratic founders share a dark secret. A secret that people are willing to kill for.
198 pages, Paperback
Published June 11, 2016
About the author
Dane Cobain
22 books322 followersDane Cobain (High Wycombe, UK) is a published author, freelance writer and (occasional) poet and musician with a passion for language and learning. When he’s not working on his next release, he can be found reading and reviewing books while trying not to be distracted by Wikipedia.
His releases include No Rest for the Wicked (supernatural thriller), Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home (poetry) Former.ly (literary fiction), Social Paranoia (non-fiction), Come On Up to the House (horror), Subject Verb Object (anthology), Driven (crime/detective), The Tower Hill Terror (crime/detective), Meat (horror), Scarlet Sins (short stories), The Lexicologist’s Handbook (non-fiction) and The Leipfold Files (crime/detective).
His short stories have also been anthologised in Local Haunts (ed. R. Saint Clare), We’re Not Home (ed. Cam Wolfe), Served Cold (ed. R. Saint Clare and Steve Donoghue) and Eccentric Circles (ed. Cynthia Brackett-Vincent).
Cobain’s love of words grew from an early age, whether he was rewriting the lyrics to pop songs or teaching his elder siblings – maths and computer science students at university – how to execute commands in MS-DOS, all before he hit double digits. He started writing at fourteen, and progressed from lyrics and music to journals, short stories and poetry before writing the first draft of an early novel whilst in lectures. He studied creative writing at London’s Roehampton University, earning a 2:1 bachelor’s degree before starting a career as a social media marketer.
It was this career in marketing, combined with his love for reading and writing, which led to the creation of SocialBookshelves.com, his book blog, which was featured on multiple “best book blog” lists and has since been merged with DaneCobain.com. Through SocialBookshelves.com, he met Jesse James Freeman, the former VP of Community Management at Booktrope Publishing. Cobain’s debut novella, a supernatural thriller called No Rest for the Wicked, was released by Booktrope’s Forsaken imprint on June 11th 2015.
His second release, a collection of poetry called Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home, was released by Booktrope Editions in March 2016. Cobain performed his poetry at stand up nights, slams and open mic nights, memorised all 101 poems in the book.
Cobain’s third book, a literary fiction novel called Former.ly, was released on June 11th 2016. It follows the story of the rise and fall of a social networking site for the dead. Users sign up to the site, create a profile that they populate with updates that only they can see, and then when they die, their profile goes live to the public. But there’s something sinister about the site – something that people are willing to kill for.
Former.ly was followed by a non-fiction book called Social Paranoia: How Consumers and Brands Can Stay Safe in a Connected World, which was released in August 2016. The year was rounded off with Come On Up to the House, a horror novella and screenplay, in November.
In 2017, Cobain quit his marketing job to focus on full-time self-employment as an author and freelance writer. He also released Subject Verb Object: An Anthology of New Writing, which features 18 pieces from different authors and which was collected by Cobain and edited by Dane Cobain and Pam Elise Harris. That was followed in 2018 by Driven, a crime/detective novel.
In the following months, Driven was picked up for re-release by Encircle Publications, with its sequel, The Tower Hill Terror, released in 2020. In the same year, he independently released Meat, a horror novel set on a factory farm.
2021 saw the release of short story collection Scarlet Sins and non-fiction book The Lexicologist’s Handbook. The third book in the Leipfold series, The Leipfold Files, was released in 2022.
Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Goodreads, Twitter, LinkedIn and TikTok to stay up-to-date and to hear more about new releases as and when they happen.
His releases include No Rest for the Wicked (supernatural thriller), Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home (poetry) Former.ly (literary fiction), Social Paranoia (non-fiction), Come On Up to the House (horror), Subject Verb Object (anthology), Driven (crime/detective), The Tower Hill Terror (crime/detective), Meat (horror), Scarlet Sins (short stories), The Lexicologist’s Handbook (non-fiction) and The Leipfold Files (crime/detective).
His short stories have also been anthologised in Local Haunts (ed. R. Saint Clare), We’re Not Home (ed. Cam Wolfe), Served Cold (ed. R. Saint Clare and Steve Donoghue) and Eccentric Circles (ed. Cynthia Brackett-Vincent).
Cobain’s love of words grew from an early age, whether he was rewriting the lyrics to pop songs or teaching his elder siblings – maths and computer science students at university – how to execute commands in MS-DOS, all before he hit double digits. He started writing at fourteen, and progressed from lyrics and music to journals, short stories and poetry before writing the first draft of an early novel whilst in lectures. He studied creative writing at London’s Roehampton University, earning a 2:1 bachelor’s degree before starting a career as a social media marketer.
It was this career in marketing, combined with his love for reading and writing, which led to the creation of SocialBookshelves.com, his book blog, which was featured on multiple “best book blog” lists and has since been merged with DaneCobain.com. Through SocialBookshelves.com, he met Jesse James Freeman, the former VP of Community Management at Booktrope Publishing. Cobain’s debut novella, a supernatural thriller called No Rest for the Wicked, was released by Booktrope’s Forsaken imprint on June 11th 2015.
His second release, a collection of poetry called Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home, was released by Booktrope Editions in March 2016. Cobain performed his poetry at stand up nights, slams and open mic nights, memorised all 101 poems in the book.
Cobain’s third book, a literary fiction novel called Former.ly, was released on June 11th 2016. It follows the story of the rise and fall of a social networking site for the dead. Users sign up to the site, create a profile that they populate with updates that only they can see, and then when they die, their profile goes live to the public. But there’s something sinister about the site – something that people are willing to kill for.
Former.ly was followed by a non-fiction book called Social Paranoia: How Consumers and Brands Can Stay Safe in a Connected World, which was released in August 2016. The year was rounded off with Come On Up to the House, a horror novella and screenplay, in November.
In 2017, Cobain quit his marketing job to focus on full-time self-employment as an author and freelance writer. He also released Subject Verb Object: An Anthology of New Writing, which features 18 pieces from different authors and which was collected by Cobain and edited by Dane Cobain and Pam Elise Harris. That was followed in 2018 by Driven, a crime/detective novel.
In the following months, Driven was picked up for re-release by Encircle Publications, with its sequel, The Tower Hill Terror, released in 2020. In the same year, he independently released Meat, a horror novel set on a factory farm.
2021 saw the release of short story collection Scarlet Sins and non-fiction book The Lexicologist’s Handbook. The third book in the Leipfold series, The Leipfold Files, was released in 2022.
Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Goodreads, Twitter, LinkedIn and TikTok to stay up-to-date and to hear more about new releases as and when they happen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 30, 2023
3.5⭐
No offense to the author, but I would have never picked this book up on my own. I'm glad he reached out to me though because I found the concept intriguing.
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, start up company, tech mystery, murder
Dan is our main narrator as he works alongside Flick, Kerry, Abhi, and with founders John & Peter. Former.ly is an online memorial site that's created while you are still alive. You essentially keep a journal and upon your death your page goes life for all of your mourners to read.
I thought the author did a great job of executing a behind the scenes look at what it takes to create and maintain a website ~ programming, coding, marketing, etc. I was pooped just reading about the hours they put into their jobs. They do everything together ~ work, eat, drink and even live in the same house. That's a lot of togetherness.
When people tied to the company start turning up dead, Dan starts to worry something sinister is going on and begins his own investigation. Will he find out who is behind the mysterious deaths or will he be next?
I loved Dan's reasoning to stay in a relationship ~ "the rent's cheaper when you split it with someone else." 😂
Overall, a quick read that kept me engaged and interested in how it would conclude.
*Thanks to Dane Cobain for sending me a digital copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
No offense to the author, but I would have never picked this book up on my own. I'm glad he reached out to me though because I found the concept intriguing.
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, start up company, tech mystery, murder
Dan is our main narrator as he works alongside Flick, Kerry, Abhi, and with founders John & Peter. Former.ly is an online memorial site that's created while you are still alive. You essentially keep a journal and upon your death your page goes life for all of your mourners to read.
I thought the author did a great job of executing a behind the scenes look at what it takes to create and maintain a website ~ programming, coding, marketing, etc. I was pooped just reading about the hours they put into their jobs. They do everything together ~ work, eat, drink and even live in the same house. That's a lot of togetherness.
When people tied to the company start turning up dead, Dan starts to worry something sinister is going on and begins his own investigation. Will he find out who is behind the mysterious deaths or will he be next?
I loved Dan's reasoning to stay in a relationship ~ "the rent's cheaper when you split it with someone else." 😂
Overall, a quick read that kept me engaged and interested in how it would conclude.
*Thanks to Dane Cobain for sending me a digital copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
January 8, 2023
*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**3.5 stars**
Former.ly: The Rise and Fall of a Social Network by Dane Cobain. (2016).
**Thank you to the author for getting in contact and sending me a free copy of this novel, I am very appreciative**
When Dan starts his new job at Former.ly, he had no idea what he's getting into. The site deals in death - users share their innermost thoughts which are stored privately until they die. Then once they die, their posts are shared with the world, often with unexpected consequences. But something strange is going on, and the site's two erratic founders share a dark secret. A secret that people are willing to kill for.
I thought this was a cool concept for a book and found it quite intriguing. It's worth noting that the storyline is about the back end of the site, i.e. the staff such as owners and developers, not so much about the users of the site and its effects on society. When Dan joins the company it is a start-up so relatively new and with a small amount of staff - over the course of the book the company rapidly expands as the site becomes more popular and we see the stress this puts on Dan who is a developer, particularly as the owners are very secretive and only share bits of information as they see fit. It's a tension filled read as it's clear there's something not quite right going on.
Overall: I found this to be a quick and easy read and those that enjoy modern thrillers may appreciate this story.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**3.5 stars**
Former.ly: The Rise and Fall of a Social Network by Dane Cobain. (2016).
**Thank you to the author for getting in contact and sending me a free copy of this novel, I am very appreciative**
When Dan starts his new job at Former.ly, he had no idea what he's getting into. The site deals in death - users share their innermost thoughts which are stored privately until they die. Then once they die, their posts are shared with the world, often with unexpected consequences. But something strange is going on, and the site's two erratic founders share a dark secret. A secret that people are willing to kill for.
I thought this was a cool concept for a book and found it quite intriguing. It's worth noting that the storyline is about the back end of the site, i.e. the staff such as owners and developers, not so much about the users of the site and its effects on society. When Dan joins the company it is a start-up so relatively new and with a small amount of staff - over the course of the book the company rapidly expands as the site becomes more popular and we see the stress this puts on Dan who is a developer, particularly as the owners are very secretive and only share bits of information as they see fit. It's a tension filled read as it's clear there's something not quite right going on.
Overall: I found this to be a quick and easy read and those that enjoy modern thrillers may appreciate this story.
May 23, 2019
Excellent read with many unexpected twists. Sort of a low-key Michael Crichton vibe to it, with slight thriller elements and an interesting behind-the-scenes look at a startup social network that felt authentic and would possibly even make for a successful real-life app. Definite recommend.
March 20, 2023
Imagine going for a job interview at a company that is just starting out, promising to be the next big thing in social media. However, this platform caters for the dead, with this premise that the user base will just continue to grow. Strange, huh? Well, that’s exactly what Dan thought when he accepted the position, literally doing a deal with the devil in the process.
I thought this an intriguing story that had me really curious about how the plot would develop. Sometimes I found the story to be quite slow and I think the writer would have benefitted from doubling up on the suspense to make this more of a page turner. At other times, I thought the plot to be a little far-fetched and yearned for something that was a bit easier to understand. Whilst Cobain doesn’t go overboard on the programming jargon, I did feel out of depth occasionally because I could not completely follow the characters conversations. On the other hand, if programming and computing is your speciality, you might find holes in Cobain’s plot, so approach with caution.
There are a lot of unanswered questions surrounding Dan’s bosses. Personally, I thought he should have asked more questions sooner and not accepted how much the founders kept everything so secret. It eventually triggers Dan’s inquisitive nature but I thought this part of the plot was too convenient in getting the story to the conclusion. The move to America was the breaking point to me and I was aghast at how readily Dan was immersing himself in the company without a thought to the consequences.
I don’t think it helped that I really did not warm to Dan, nor his girlfriend either. I thought them to be incredibly self-centred without giving even a passing thought to others. I was surprised at how long their relationship did last; in my opinion, it was dead in the water much earlier in the story.
As far as plots go, I enjoyed seeing the rise of this unusual platform that acts as a secret journal for users, being published for the world to see on their death. It was an imaginative concept and I was fascinated to see how Former.ly grew in popularity over the story. The wild parties but lengthy work days seemed very believable and I could not help but wonder if this is a type of social media we will come to see exist in the real world. With the increasing media attention and the tragedy of several deaths, Former.ly becomes a infamous company and I think with more suspense and apparent threats to Dan’s own life, this could have been an even better read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this an intriguing story that had me really curious about how the plot would develop. Sometimes I found the story to be quite slow and I think the writer would have benefitted from doubling up on the suspense to make this more of a page turner. At other times, I thought the plot to be a little far-fetched and yearned for something that was a bit easier to understand. Whilst Cobain doesn’t go overboard on the programming jargon, I did feel out of depth occasionally because I could not completely follow the characters conversations. On the other hand, if programming and computing is your speciality, you might find holes in Cobain’s plot, so approach with caution.
There are a lot of unanswered questions surrounding Dan’s bosses. Personally, I thought he should have asked more questions sooner and not accepted how much the founders kept everything so secret. It eventually triggers Dan’s inquisitive nature but I thought this part of the plot was too convenient in getting the story to the conclusion. The move to America was the breaking point to me and I was aghast at how readily Dan was immersing himself in the company without a thought to the consequences.
I don’t think it helped that I really did not warm to Dan, nor his girlfriend either. I thought them to be incredibly self-centred without giving even a passing thought to others. I was surprised at how long their relationship did last; in my opinion, it was dead in the water much earlier in the story.
As far as plots go, I enjoyed seeing the rise of this unusual platform that acts as a secret journal for users, being published for the world to see on their death. It was an imaginative concept and I was fascinated to see how Former.ly grew in popularity over the story. The wild parties but lengthy work days seemed very believable and I could not help but wonder if this is a type of social media we will come to see exist in the real world. With the increasing media attention and the tragedy of several deaths, Former.ly becomes a infamous company and I think with more suspense and apparent threats to Dan’s own life, this could have been an even better read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2021
I read this as part of the Indie Readalong on YouTube/Booktube. It is a techno-thriller, murder mystery, and kept my attention throughout. It is well edited. I think the author had a fascinating premise for this novel. The story is told in first person from the point of view of a web developer hired for an internet social media startup called Former.ly ... a site that allows people to create a memorial page that won't go public until after they die. Scenes of the office and attitudes rang true. I reviewed this in a Booktube video. Overall, an enjoyable book that I'm glad I spent the money to purchase.
June 18, 2016
A good read, some spots where a little drawn out for me but overall I enjoyed the book. What people will do for fame, fortune, and the little dark secrets that come with it. A few twist and turns on the who, and why especially at the end :)
April 26, 2017
Humble beginnings for tech start - up Former.ly, with founder, John Mayer, giving an informal job interview to our protagonist, Dan.
You can't say any of the characters are Orthodox. Certainly not Former.ly, which, soon after Dan joins, moves to an office and expands into a much bigger business.
The initial characters (Flick, Kerry, Abhi, John, Paul) are not too out of place they take over the opening chapters, and stop us from getting to know Dan, and his likable girlfriend, Sarah.
Shit does get serious, as a journo ends up dead, and so too do, gradually, staff members of Former.ly.
As the business gets even bigger, the founders are needing more money, investors, and become ruthless.
The book reminds me of a Hitchcock movie, with introductions dispensed with, and the story becoming darker.
Former.ly moves offices to California, and Dan is being run into the ground, and has little time for anything, other than work.
Cobain knows how to use a cliff hanger, and the hours flew by as I reached the end of Former.ly in one sitting.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
You can't say any of the characters are Orthodox. Certainly not Former.ly, which, soon after Dan joins, moves to an office and expands into a much bigger business.
The initial characters (Flick, Kerry, Abhi, John, Paul) are not too out of place they take over the opening chapters, and stop us from getting to know Dan, and his likable girlfriend, Sarah.
Shit does get serious, as a journo ends up dead, and so too do, gradually, staff members of Former.ly.
As the business gets even bigger, the founders are needing more money, investors, and become ruthless.
The book reminds me of a Hitchcock movie, with introductions dispensed with, and the story becoming darker.
Former.ly moves offices to California, and Dan is being run into the ground, and has little time for anything, other than work.
Cobain knows how to use a cliff hanger, and the hours flew by as I reached the end of Former.ly in one sitting.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
April 1, 2018
I managed to read three indie books in March two were excellent – one wasnt. I did give Dane Cobain's Former.ly a five star rating because I thought it was fantastic. My favorite thing about this book is the Former.ly concept itself. Former.ly is a social media site where all the profiles are private – until the user dies. At that point their profile becomes public on the site. Family and friends who have lost their loved ones can see what their deceased have left behind. Thoughts and feelings goals and secrets are all revealed.
Former.ly is something of a tech thriller/mystery. It centers around Dan Roberts as he is getting a job at the obscure startup Former.ly. Dan can already tell from his interview that the startup is going to be unorthodox and secretive. Dan is reluctant and not quite sure if he even wants the job but he decides to go for it and accepts it. He joins a handful of employees that inform him that Former.ly will take over his life, just as it has theirs. There is Dan, Flick the pretty Public Relations girl, Kerry the media guy/company camera man, and there is Abhi who is Dan's fellow coder for the startup. Lastly there are the two mysterious founders John and Peter. John is basically an angry control freak who often gets into a rage, or everyone's nightmare boss. Peter is more clearheaded but no less of a control freak. Peter is just less hands-on because he is often traveling on behalf of the company.
The other employees are used to this and it becomes obvious to Dan that the founders are keeping secrets about the company there are things that they wont even tell the employees. After a few months John and Peter become less suspicious of Dan and they seem pleased with his work on the website. At Former.ly there tends to be a lot of pressure and browbeating but very little encouragement. Even despite the long hours that they employees work.
At home, Dan begins having problems with his long time girlfriend Sarah. She is upset that she works so much and never has any time for her. This causes problems for them and they grow apart until they just cant relate to each other anymore. They both know that their relationship is doomed but neither wants to address it or admit it. They keep on having frequent arguments and breakups until their relationship deteriorates entirely. Until there is nothing to do but break up.
Former.ly has a party because they decide to go public. There is a press release and one of the journalists who was in attendance at the party mysteriously dies the same night.
Around this time the founders decide that they want to move the company to America. Their new headquarters are in California and they want the employees to pack up and go. They go out for a night of celebration. Everyone is quite happy but Abhi who confides in Dan that he wont be moving to America. Abhi has a family that he wont or cant move and he wont leave behind, he even has a baby on the way. Dan keeps it to himself because he knows the founders would be furious. The night dissolves in a drunken haze. The next day they get word that Abhi is dead, he was found in a river. Its all quite suspicious and no one knows what to make of it. The police suspect the founders and employees but they dont have anything to go on. The employees start to suspect that the death wasnt just an accident as well. They also, havent got much to go on.
They all go ahead and move to California where the founders have a huge compound as the new Former.ly headquarters. They hire more employees and interns as the demand for Former.ly requires. The company becomes very popular among the public and everyone wants to join Former.ly. In California things become even more intense and more questions arise about what the founders are keeping secret from everyone. Kerry decided to leave the company and John and Peter are not happy about it. Soon after he dies of a heart attack. Its all quite suspicious. Soon after Flick leaves the company too on a sour note.
Dan goes undercover to try to find out what is really going on. He makes an accomplice but as soon as his accomplice says he has all the information Dan needs he disappears. Dan's got to figure out the company secrets and figure out what hes going to do about it and figure out how to save himself from being implicated as well. You really have to ask yourself if anyone will be able to come out clean in the end – or even alive...
This book was original, it was intense, the characters were real and believable. Dane Cobain's writing was seamless in a way that is rare. I usually have small issues with indie writers things like grammar, plot jumps without explanation, continuity problems and sometimes sheer nonsense that should be edited out of a final copy of a book. I found that Former.ly was free of all of these issues as well as many issues that popular authors still have, such as issues with pace or descriptions. Former.ly was a great book and my favorite part was trying to figure out how it was all going to end. I will admit – I was way off the mark. This book had an ending that was both satisfying and realistic. I would recommend this book to anyone but especially those who want to read an exciting tech thriller.
Former.ly is something of a tech thriller/mystery. It centers around Dan Roberts as he is getting a job at the obscure startup Former.ly. Dan can already tell from his interview that the startup is going to be unorthodox and secretive. Dan is reluctant and not quite sure if he even wants the job but he decides to go for it and accepts it. He joins a handful of employees that inform him that Former.ly will take over his life, just as it has theirs. There is Dan, Flick the pretty Public Relations girl, Kerry the media guy/company camera man, and there is Abhi who is Dan's fellow coder for the startup. Lastly there are the two mysterious founders John and Peter. John is basically an angry control freak who often gets into a rage, or everyone's nightmare boss. Peter is more clearheaded but no less of a control freak. Peter is just less hands-on because he is often traveling on behalf of the company.
The other employees are used to this and it becomes obvious to Dan that the founders are keeping secrets about the company there are things that they wont even tell the employees. After a few months John and Peter become less suspicious of Dan and they seem pleased with his work on the website. At Former.ly there tends to be a lot of pressure and browbeating but very little encouragement. Even despite the long hours that they employees work.
At home, Dan begins having problems with his long time girlfriend Sarah. She is upset that she works so much and never has any time for her. This causes problems for them and they grow apart until they just cant relate to each other anymore. They both know that their relationship is doomed but neither wants to address it or admit it. They keep on having frequent arguments and breakups until their relationship deteriorates entirely. Until there is nothing to do but break up.
Former.ly has a party because they decide to go public. There is a press release and one of the journalists who was in attendance at the party mysteriously dies the same night.
Around this time the founders decide that they want to move the company to America. Their new headquarters are in California and they want the employees to pack up and go. They go out for a night of celebration. Everyone is quite happy but Abhi who confides in Dan that he wont be moving to America. Abhi has a family that he wont or cant move and he wont leave behind, he even has a baby on the way. Dan keeps it to himself because he knows the founders would be furious. The night dissolves in a drunken haze. The next day they get word that Abhi is dead, he was found in a river. Its all quite suspicious and no one knows what to make of it. The police suspect the founders and employees but they dont have anything to go on. The employees start to suspect that the death wasnt just an accident as well. They also, havent got much to go on.
They all go ahead and move to California where the founders have a huge compound as the new Former.ly headquarters. They hire more employees and interns as the demand for Former.ly requires. The company becomes very popular among the public and everyone wants to join Former.ly. In California things become even more intense and more questions arise about what the founders are keeping secret from everyone. Kerry decided to leave the company and John and Peter are not happy about it. Soon after he dies of a heart attack. Its all quite suspicious. Soon after Flick leaves the company too on a sour note.
Dan goes undercover to try to find out what is really going on. He makes an accomplice but as soon as his accomplice says he has all the information Dan needs he disappears. Dan's got to figure out the company secrets and figure out what hes going to do about it and figure out how to save himself from being implicated as well. You really have to ask yourself if anyone will be able to come out clean in the end – or even alive...
This book was original, it was intense, the characters were real and believable. Dane Cobain's writing was seamless in a way that is rare. I usually have small issues with indie writers things like grammar, plot jumps without explanation, continuity problems and sometimes sheer nonsense that should be edited out of a final copy of a book. I found that Former.ly was free of all of these issues as well as many issues that popular authors still have, such as issues with pace or descriptions. Former.ly was a great book and my favorite part was trying to figure out how it was all going to end. I will admit – I was way off the mark. This book had an ending that was both satisfying and realistic. I would recommend this book to anyone but especially those who want to read an exciting tech thriller.
February 28, 2023
Title: Former.ly: The Rise and Fall of a Social Network
Author: Dane Cobain
Genre: Thriller and Suspense
Format: paperback book from the author
Series: NA
Star Rating: 4 stars
A special thank you goes to Dane Cobain for giving me a copy of this book. Please know that this does not influence my rating or thoughts on the book itself.
tw: parental death, death from illness, alcohol, toxic work environment, infidelity, drugs, murder, death
Speech is never free. It is expensive.
This book was actually pretty good. I mean that in a good way. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect as I don’t read a lot of thriller/suspense books. Most of the time, the thriller/suspense books are books about crime so this one was a little different. But it was a good different. I was just so stressed the whole time while I read this book. I just had this super uneasy feeling. The vibes were wrong with the founders. I found myself constantly thinking about this book and what I would have done if I was in the main character’s position.
The first 25 percent of this book was a little slow. We had to meet Dan and the social media site was just getting started so there had to be a lot of build-up. But that’s okay! Build-up is good if we get a good payoff, which I think we did. I wasn’t super sure about Dan, the main character, as a person. He was kind of an asshole and seemed to be one of those stereotypical men in tech who act better than you. But I slowly grew to like him. I even found myself rooting for him toward the end.
The concept of the site Former.ly is actually really cool. I can see it being a major problem, though, if very important people used it. Ones that had access to top-secret stuff that the public might not want to know about. Of course, I don’t like how the founders, John and Peter, ran their company or how they treated their employees. But I think that they really had a good thing going. But of course, they go and ruin it.
Overall, I was pretty impressed with this book. It shows just how bad some workplaces can be. I mean, I would hope that workplaces aren’t as bad as this one. But the conditions that Dan and his coworkers were forced to endure were just plain bad. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into but I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the way the author wrote. I enjoyed the concept of the book. Overall, this was a pretty good book.
Author: Dane Cobain
Genre: Thriller and Suspense
Format: paperback book from the author
Series: NA
Star Rating: 4 stars
A special thank you goes to Dane Cobain for giving me a copy of this book. Please know that this does not influence my rating or thoughts on the book itself.
tw: parental death, death from illness, alcohol, toxic work environment, infidelity, drugs, murder, death
Speech is never free. It is expensive.
This book was actually pretty good. I mean that in a good way. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect as I don’t read a lot of thriller/suspense books. Most of the time, the thriller/suspense books are books about crime so this one was a little different. But it was a good different. I was just so stressed the whole time while I read this book. I just had this super uneasy feeling. The vibes were wrong with the founders. I found myself constantly thinking about this book and what I would have done if I was in the main character’s position.
The first 25 percent of this book was a little slow. We had to meet Dan and the social media site was just getting started so there had to be a lot of build-up. But that’s okay! Build-up is good if we get a good payoff, which I think we did. I wasn’t super sure about Dan, the main character, as a person. He was kind of an asshole and seemed to be one of those stereotypical men in tech who act better than you. But I slowly grew to like him. I even found myself rooting for him toward the end.
The concept of the site Former.ly is actually really cool. I can see it being a major problem, though, if very important people used it. Ones that had access to top-secret stuff that the public might not want to know about. Of course, I don’t like how the founders, John and Peter, ran their company or how they treated their employees. But I think that they really had a good thing going. But of course, they go and ruin it.
Overall, I was pretty impressed with this book. It shows just how bad some workplaces can be. I mean, I would hope that workplaces aren’t as bad as this one. But the conditions that Dan and his coworkers were forced to endure were just plain bad. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into but I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the way the author wrote. I enjoyed the concept of the book. Overall, this was a pretty good book.
March 25, 2025
“Former.ly” is a quick, easy read about the super toxic frat boy culture of a social media tech startup, and the developer who gets swept up in its meteoric rise and fall. Former.ly is a social media website that combines Livejournal with Facebook, where a user can upload their life story, their secrets and accomplishments, and the information only goes live upon their death. It’s a memorial curated by the person before they are deceased for the benefit of those they leave behind. Which is a really interesting concept on its own, but also has the perfect foundation for the kind of mystery and drama the synopsis hints at. Except the website functions mainly as set dressing to the main character, Dan, and the eccentric founders of Former.ly. Because, unfortunately, the part of the synopsis that says there are “unexpected consequences” when these profiles go live, never materialized.
This book needed more time to marinate in order to achieve its goal of being an interesting mystery/ tech thriller given that the reader is on the side of the developers, rather than the users of the site. The author’s writing style is pretty straight forward, which can work really well for the pacing of these kinds of thrillers—this book is rather short, but regardless, even longer I think the authors style would make it a quick read. If there had been more to the mystery—more build up, more clues that Dan could have followed—then the superficial character development wouldn’t have mattered because that mystery would have been enough of a hook on its own. But without that, I can’t say I liked or really connected with any of the characters. Dan was often a contradiction with, for example, how he’d claim that someone looked intimidating, immediately followed by how he wasn’t worried. He would have relationship issues, notice how sketchy the founders were being, and often his response is to just shrug those problems away and et back to work, making him exceedingly chill about everything he encounters. It cut off the tension I was looking for in a mystery, and also made Dan hard to connect with in general.
The twists that the end of the book had were great, but needed more of a lead up to be truly gripping, at least for me. The book is very plot focused, which is perfect if you love that in stories. For me, I prefer a bit more character driven plotlines and Dan didn’t really live up to that for me. That, coupled with wanting a bit more from the mystery, is why I’m giving this 3 stars. The concept is really intriguing, and the twists at the end are really intense, and again, if you like quick, mainly plot driven mysteries, then “Former.ly” may be right up your alley! And thanks to the author for an ecopy to review!
This book needed more time to marinate in order to achieve its goal of being an interesting mystery/ tech thriller given that the reader is on the side of the developers, rather than the users of the site. The author’s writing style is pretty straight forward, which can work really well for the pacing of these kinds of thrillers—this book is rather short, but regardless, even longer I think the authors style would make it a quick read. If there had been more to the mystery—more build up, more clues that Dan could have followed—then the superficial character development wouldn’t have mattered because that mystery would have been enough of a hook on its own. But without that, I can’t say I liked or really connected with any of the characters. Dan was often a contradiction with, for example, how he’d claim that someone looked intimidating, immediately followed by how he wasn’t worried. He would have relationship issues, notice how sketchy the founders were being, and often his response is to just shrug those problems away and et back to work, making him exceedingly chill about everything he encounters. It cut off the tension I was looking for in a mystery, and also made Dan hard to connect with in general.
The twists that the end of the book had were great, but needed more of a lead up to be truly gripping, at least for me. The book is very plot focused, which is perfect if you love that in stories. For me, I prefer a bit more character driven plotlines and Dan didn’t really live up to that for me. That, coupled with wanting a bit more from the mystery, is why I’m giving this 3 stars. The concept is really intriguing, and the twists at the end are really intense, and again, if you like quick, mainly plot driven mysteries, then “Former.ly” may be right up your alley! And thanks to the author for an ecopy to review!
August 1, 2016
Full review HERE .
★★★ 3.5 Stars
As soon as I read the premise of this book, I knew I had to read it. I'm really glad I did and I also hope by posting my review I can do my small part in helping an indie author. If you liked The Social Network I recommend you check Former.ly out :) I am going to ask Dane for an interview on the blog as well, so stay tuned :)
What I Liked: The concept was seriously so interesting to me. I'm the kind of weirdo who likes to know how oddly specific things work - and getting a peek behind the scenes of a fictional up and coming social network really filled a hole I never knew existed for me!
I can't comment on how realistic it is, but it was extremely interesting. I loved the characters - they were so well fleshed out and intriguing, even the many immoral jerks who filed the pages.
I loved how 'epic' this story felt while focusing on a relatively small group of people and a single website. It felt like a very full and fleshed out world.
I didn't notice any spelling or grammar errors which is GREAT when you're looking at independent books and should be more common to see!
What I Didn't Like: Okay, so the ending was kind of underwhelming, which is unfortunate, because the twists and turns really kept me turning pages. I just wasn't as convinced of the motives (without giving much away!) as I wanted to be.
I found a few parts of the book to be slow paced, and sometimes the writing itself felt like it needed more editing.
I kind of wished for a character I could really root for - most of the characters had massive things about them that made them unlikeable and immoral in my eyes. That said, for me to care about characters while actively disliking them is a feat for a writer, so maybe I shant consider it a negative.
Final Thoughts: I did really enjoy this book overall and I hope to read more of Dane's books. He has very unique ideas and I'm sure the execution will only improve as he grows as an author.
*** A big thank you to the author Dane Cobain for reaching out to me and giving me an ebook to review!***
Love,
★★★ 3.5 Stars
As soon as I read the premise of this book, I knew I had to read it. I'm really glad I did and I also hope by posting my review I can do my small part in helping an indie author. If you liked The Social Network I recommend you check Former.ly out :) I am going to ask Dane for an interview on the blog as well, so stay tuned :)
What I Liked: The concept was seriously so interesting to me. I'm the kind of weirdo who likes to know how oddly specific things work - and getting a peek behind the scenes of a fictional up and coming social network really filled a hole I never knew existed for me!
I can't comment on how realistic it is, but it was extremely interesting. I loved the characters - they were so well fleshed out and intriguing, even the many immoral jerks who filed the pages.
I loved how 'epic' this story felt while focusing on a relatively small group of people and a single website. It felt like a very full and fleshed out world.
I didn't notice any spelling or grammar errors which is GREAT when you're looking at independent books and should be more common to see!
What I Didn't Like: Okay, so the ending was kind of underwhelming, which is unfortunate, because the twists and turns really kept me turning pages. I just wasn't as convinced of the motives (without giving much away!) as I wanted to be.
I found a few parts of the book to be slow paced, and sometimes the writing itself felt like it needed more editing.
I kind of wished for a character I could really root for - most of the characters had massive things about them that made them unlikeable and immoral in my eyes. That said, for me to care about characters while actively disliking them is a feat for a writer, so maybe I shant consider it a negative.
Final Thoughts: I did really enjoy this book overall and I hope to read more of Dane's books. He has very unique ideas and I'm sure the execution will only improve as he grows as an author.
*** A big thank you to the author Dane Cobain for reaching out to me and giving me an ebook to review!***
Content Warnings: 18+. This book has swearing, mature content, murder, drinking, drugs, etcetera.
Love,
November 1, 2016
Former.ly by Dane Cobain is certainly a page turner as you long to figure out what the plot twist will be, and when it will happen. I found the story very easy to read, and it kept me gripped enough to keep turning the page.
Dan Roberts enters a small start-up tech company, known as Former.ly, and becomes a key part as the company expands to a global level. A social networking site dedicated to the dead, which posts any updates the person privately made on the website before they died, by making the private posts public. But some shady business happens, and Dan is caught in the middle of it.
First impressions: I really wanted to know what would happen to Dan, but I suspected the founders were part of this shady business to begin with. The ending was a bit of a plot twist, but again, I quite enjoyed seeing Dan deal with the consequences of his actions.
What I liked: I liked how Dan was an obviously flawed character, like the detectives in crime novels, in which he's a loner and purposefully doesn't have anyone to be his weakness. I liked the realistic growth of the company, and seeing how the characters progressed with this growth. I liked how the story progressed, and built the tension up gradually, whilst drawing you in with the first line. I also liked that the story jumped to the relevant plot details, rather than filling in what had happened between those times. Personally, I liked how technical it sounded, because it showed the author knew what they were writing about, but if someone wasn't in the know about computers and coding, it might not make sense in places to them.
What I disliked: I'm all for character flaws, but having the founders and his girlfriend being erratic was a bit much. Surely the girlfriend could've just been fed up with the relationship and just left, because having her do what she did really felt like it was shoe horned in, regardless of whether it gave Dan a coincidental second chance or not. I felt, in places, the explanation could've been a little better, especially towards the end. The end, in a way, felt a bit rushed, and I would've liked to have seen more of the aftermath of what happened in prison, for example.
The book itself was well written in that it was concise and built up tension, but I felt like sometimes it was too rushed or not explained well. However, I did enjoy reading it, and would recommend it to anyone who'd like a well thought out murder mystery.
My rating: 4/5
Dan Roberts enters a small start-up tech company, known as Former.ly, and becomes a key part as the company expands to a global level. A social networking site dedicated to the dead, which posts any updates the person privately made on the website before they died, by making the private posts public. But some shady business happens, and Dan is caught in the middle of it.
First impressions: I really wanted to know what would happen to Dan, but I suspected the founders were part of this shady business to begin with. The ending was a bit of a plot twist, but again, I quite enjoyed seeing Dan deal with the consequences of his actions.
What I liked: I liked how Dan was an obviously flawed character, like the detectives in crime novels, in which he's a loner and purposefully doesn't have anyone to be his weakness. I liked the realistic growth of the company, and seeing how the characters progressed with this growth. I liked how the story progressed, and built the tension up gradually, whilst drawing you in with the first line. I also liked that the story jumped to the relevant plot details, rather than filling in what had happened between those times. Personally, I liked how technical it sounded, because it showed the author knew what they were writing about, but if someone wasn't in the know about computers and coding, it might not make sense in places to them.
What I disliked: I'm all for character flaws, but having the founders and his girlfriend being erratic was a bit much. Surely the girlfriend could've just been fed up with the relationship and just left, because having her do what she did really felt like it was shoe horned in, regardless of whether it gave Dan a coincidental second chance or not. I felt, in places, the explanation could've been a little better, especially towards the end. The end, in a way, felt a bit rushed, and I would've liked to have seen more of the aftermath of what happened in prison, for example.
The book itself was well written in that it was concise and built up tension, but I felt like sometimes it was too rushed or not explained well. However, I did enjoy reading it, and would recommend it to anyone who'd like a well thought out murder mystery.
My rating: 4/5
January 29, 2023
Former.ly is a is a techno-thriller, murder mystery and a fantastic read. I love the concept of this book and it originality pulled me in. I mean who wouldn’t be intrigued by a social media platform (Former.ly) where its users share their innermost thoughts, which are stored privately until they die. Once the user dies, their posts are shared with the world, often with unexpected consequences. All the persons Thoughts, feelings and secrets are all revealed. Get me a cup I am here for the pipping hot tea and sign me up. Former.ly runs on strict confidentiality and the seat of its pants. With a brilliant cast of quirky, well-written and believable characters
Dane writing in this book is perfect for this type of thriller as the story gets darker. Like many reviewers I put on my arm chair detective hat and was sure I was going to figure out how this story was going to end. I would say I was wrong but if this book is Earth I was near Mercury.
Dane writing in this book is perfect for this type of thriller as the story gets darker. Like many reviewers I put on my arm chair detective hat and was sure I was going to figure out how this story was going to end. I would say I was wrong but if this book is Earth I was near Mercury.
May 24, 2017
Let me just say I couldn't put this down – it was fun, techie, and littered with bodies. The narrator, an ordinary guy called Dan, is looking for a job in the beginning. He lives in London with his girlfriend, and stumbles on a startup that seems like a dream job – coding for a new company that caters to the dead. Well, sort of. It actually made a lot of sense. Imagine keeping a diary especially to be published after your death – a special diary published on a special site, made especially for giving a voice to those who have gone over to the other side. Well, you get the idea. Even I was convinced. So Dan takes the job, and is immediately submerged in the small group of techies working on this social network for the dearly departed. Startups are notorious for being short-staffed, under-funded, and fueled by caffeine (and other drugs) and this one is no different. Oh, and there are the founders – Peter and John – who demand absolute secrecy about everything, and that means keeping even Dan and the other workers in the dark.
Dan is happy just to do his job (he loves coding), keep his head down, his nose clean, and try to appease his high-maintenance girlfriend, Sarah – who is less and less happy with Dan's work taking over his life. Meanwhile, a co-worker, Flick (Felicity), catches Dan's attention, but they can't seem to get past the 'just friends' stage.
Bodies start piling up soon after the two founders announce a fantastic investment in the company and decide to move to Palo Alto, in the USA. One of the company's workers decides to bail – and ends up floating in the Thames. The police are not happy with the idea of an accident. That doesn't stop the move to the US. But things are rapidly deteriorating. The two founders, not the most stable people in the world, can't seem to keep it together. They get more and more paranoid, while at the same time, more people seem to be having fatal accidents – not a bad thing for a company that caters to death, right? Well, I won't spoil it for you – you'll just have to read the book to find out what happens. It's a quick, entertaining read, perfect for murder-mystery, techie, nerdy book lovers!
Dan is happy just to do his job (he loves coding), keep his head down, his nose clean, and try to appease his high-maintenance girlfriend, Sarah – who is less and less happy with Dan's work taking over his life. Meanwhile, a co-worker, Flick (Felicity), catches Dan's attention, but they can't seem to get past the 'just friends' stage.
Bodies start piling up soon after the two founders announce a fantastic investment in the company and decide to move to Palo Alto, in the USA. One of the company's workers decides to bail – and ends up floating in the Thames. The police are not happy with the idea of an accident. That doesn't stop the move to the US. But things are rapidly deteriorating. The two founders, not the most stable people in the world, can't seem to keep it together. They get more and more paranoid, while at the same time, more people seem to be having fatal accidents – not a bad thing for a company that caters to death, right? Well, I won't spoil it for you – you'll just have to read the book to find out what happens. It's a quick, entertaining read, perfect for murder-mystery, techie, nerdy book lovers!
November 8, 2016
Former.ly is a small start-up tech company that has a social media website. Think like Facebook but it is private, only the user can see and it becomes public when he or she dies. And our leading character finds himself coding here.
Dan Roberts is the main character of Former.ly, but I could not click with the guy, which caused me many problem because I always seemed to be putting the book down to do something else. Dan is a very chill guy, maybe too chill. Nothing seemed to really faze him and it bothered me. Having girlfriend problems. Shrug. Company founders being sketchy and secretive. Shrug. Someone died for the first time. Shrug.
When Dan finally started showing more effort and emotions about the occurrences around him is when I finally got intrigued and hooked with the story. Watching him risk his safety for the truth that surrounded Former.ly kept me gripped. Watching him from going from a loner and a guy that did not really care about anything to someone who threatens the very people who are capable of stealing his life away was beautiful.
Unfortunately this took more than half the book. I personally enjoy complex characters that keep you wondering about who they are, and Dan did not give me that.
Cobain writing is simple and straightforward which makes it into a quick and easy read. While it has hints of a mystery novel it does not follow a generic mystery novel scheme. It felt more that I was reading a journal, in this case, Dan’s journal as he writes out his experience with Former.ly. Having lack of explanations on certain things made sense, even when it drove me a bit mad, but like many unreliable narrators this lackness is expected. ( Kinda like Nick was super unreliable in the Great Gatsby )
Overall, it was an interesting experience out of my fantasy genre. If you are looking for something quick/simple and set in our modern time this is a book you should give a try.
Dan Roberts is the main character of Former.ly, but I could not click with the guy, which caused me many problem because I always seemed to be putting the book down to do something else. Dan is a very chill guy, maybe too chill. Nothing seemed to really faze him and it bothered me. Having girlfriend problems. Shrug. Company founders being sketchy and secretive. Shrug. Someone died for the first time. Shrug.
When Dan finally started showing more effort and emotions about the occurrences around him is when I finally got intrigued and hooked with the story. Watching him risk his safety for the truth that surrounded Former.ly kept me gripped. Watching him from going from a loner and a guy that did not really care about anything to someone who threatens the very people who are capable of stealing his life away was beautiful.
Unfortunately this took more than half the book. I personally enjoy complex characters that keep you wondering about who they are, and Dan did not give me that.
Cobain writing is simple and straightforward which makes it into a quick and easy read. While it has hints of a mystery novel it does not follow a generic mystery novel scheme. It felt more that I was reading a journal, in this case, Dan’s journal as he writes out his experience with Former.ly. Having lack of explanations on certain things made sense, even when it drove me a bit mad, but like many unreliable narrators this lackness is expected. ( Kinda like Nick was super unreliable in the Great Gatsby )
Overall, it was an interesting experience out of my fantasy genre. If you are looking for something quick/simple and set in our modern time this is a book you should give a try.
November 5, 2016
This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.
Dan Roberts is an underpaid freeelancer trying to survive pay-check to pay-check. After an interview that requires morning drinking and a club, he suddenly finds himself working for Former.ly, a social media network that only publishes content after the users’ deaths. When people close to him die, he wonders if there is something more sinister going on behind the scenes.
This is a nifty concept that takes advantage of social media’s continual encroachment into our lives. Why not take it one more step so it hangs around after your death? After all, you’ll be gone and not able to see the inevitable fallout! But how do you sustain money into the business when all your users die?
I actually thought that Former.ly could have worked! The more you learn about the background, the more positive you feel. At the same time, the secrets and turns that are revealed make Dan feel worse about working there. But what choice does he have?
I liked the ending, particularly the way that there were no excuses made for anyone’s behaviour and thus being able to get out of the inevitable consequences of crime. I never felt a particular attachment to any of the characters, so when they died, I was more like ‘Yep, ok, now who’s next?’
I was split between giving this novel 4 or 5 stars. It kept me reading, and I got so immersed in it that I was thinking about it all the time. At the same time, I don’t think there was quite enough depth for me to reread it.
Dan Roberts is an underpaid freeelancer trying to survive pay-check to pay-check. After an interview that requires morning drinking and a club, he suddenly finds himself working for Former.ly, a social media network that only publishes content after the users’ deaths. When people close to him die, he wonders if there is something more sinister going on behind the scenes.
This is a nifty concept that takes advantage of social media’s continual encroachment into our lives. Why not take it one more step so it hangs around after your death? After all, you’ll be gone and not able to see the inevitable fallout! But how do you sustain money into the business when all your users die?
I actually thought that Former.ly could have worked! The more you learn about the background, the more positive you feel. At the same time, the secrets and turns that are revealed make Dan feel worse about working there. But what choice does he have?
I liked the ending, particularly the way that there were no excuses made for anyone’s behaviour and thus being able to get out of the inevitable consequences of crime. I never felt a particular attachment to any of the characters, so when they died, I was more like ‘Yep, ok, now who’s next?’
I was split between giving this novel 4 or 5 stars. It kept me reading, and I got so immersed in it that I was thinking about it all the time. At the same time, I don’t think there was quite enough depth for me to reread it.
October 14, 2022
I purchased Former.ly as a paperback book from Amazon. Despite having interacted with the author on YouTube via the comments of videos, this review is my honest opinion.
Reading this book was a fantastic experience for me. I had previously read several books by this author, including: Scarlet Sins, No Rest for the Wicked, Driven, The Tower Hill Terror, Come on Up to the House, and Eyes like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home (the title of which is an actual line in this novel). Despite enjoying Dane Cobain’s writing style and characters, I didn’t realize I would get so caught up in the mystery at the center of this story. The characters had flaws, which made them feel authentic. I especially liked how the main character Dan seemed to lie to himself and put off doing what he felt he should do because he was caught up in the excitement of the tech startup company. I’m also a fan of being able to figure out the mystery for myself thanks to foreshadowing and clues sprinkled in the story by the author.
Dane Cobain calls this book literary fiction, though many reviewers seem to place it as a thriller/mystery read. With the compromised morality of the characters, I felt there was also a sense of psychological horror happening along the way.
No matter how you classify the book, I highly recommend it for fans of not only Dane Cobain’s work specifically, but also people who would like a story involving the rise of a tech startup and seeing how the stress of the work influences the minds of the people working there.
Reading this book was a fantastic experience for me. I had previously read several books by this author, including: Scarlet Sins, No Rest for the Wicked, Driven, The Tower Hill Terror, Come on Up to the House, and Eyes like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home (the title of which is an actual line in this novel). Despite enjoying Dane Cobain’s writing style and characters, I didn’t realize I would get so caught up in the mystery at the center of this story. The characters had flaws, which made them feel authentic. I especially liked how the main character Dan seemed to lie to himself and put off doing what he felt he should do because he was caught up in the excitement of the tech startup company. I’m also a fan of being able to figure out the mystery for myself thanks to foreshadowing and clues sprinkled in the story by the author.
Dane Cobain calls this book literary fiction, though many reviewers seem to place it as a thriller/mystery read. With the compromised morality of the characters, I felt there was also a sense of psychological horror happening along the way.
No matter how you classify the book, I highly recommend it for fans of not only Dane Cobain’s work specifically, but also people who would like a story involving the rise of a tech startup and seeing how the stress of the work influences the minds of the people working there.
May 5, 2017
The cutthroat world of internet startups and social networks reveals its darkest side in this thriller about e-commerce and murder. Most enjoyable are the descriptions of the slapdash, duct tape protocols of the startup office--people living at the "office," and job interviews at nightclubs.
Dan's a freelance coder with not enough business coming in. The relationship with his live-in girlfriend has hit the doldrums. Then he lands the interview with Former.ly, an up-and-coming, start-up social networking site . . . for the dead. Clients write their bios while alive, but it doesn't post until they've died. Death = money.
The company runs on high secrecy, sloppy logistics, and the skin of its teeth. Until a company party ends with a murdered journalist. The press is all over it.
The quirky staff of Former.ly feel both the stress and thrill of burgeoning success as questions and deaths propel their business . . .
I received my copy of this novel directly from the author through bookreviewdirectory.wordpress.com. I previously read and reviewed this author's Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home .
Dan's a freelance coder with not enough business coming in. The relationship with his live-in girlfriend has hit the doldrums. Then he lands the interview with Former.ly, an up-and-coming, start-up social networking site . . . for the dead. Clients write their bios while alive, but it doesn't post until they've died. Death = money.
The company runs on high secrecy, sloppy logistics, and the skin of its teeth. Until a company party ends with a murdered journalist. The press is all over it.
The quirky staff of Former.ly feel both the stress and thrill of burgeoning success as questions and deaths propel their business . . .
I received my copy of this novel directly from the author through bookreviewdirectory.wordpress.com. I previously read and reviewed this author's Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home .
July 1, 2016
Former.ly is a book about what happens behind the scenes at a new web startup. It is told in first person, from the point of view of Dan, who is hired as a developer at Former.ly. We see everything though his eyes. If he doesn’t see it, we don’t know about it until Dan hears about it.
It can be difficult to tell a story in first person, but Dane Cobain does a pretty good job of it. He lets us become immersed in the activities at Former.ly. But sometimes the action suffers, since we only see what Dan sees. Dan isn’t an action hero, he is a coder, but he is suspicious, and tries to find out what is really going on around him. He starts to wonder why people are starting to die around him, so he tries to find out, and that’s where the problems begin.
I enjoyed Former.ly. I think that Mr. Cobain has a big upside. He is an interesting guy. You should check out his website. http://danecobin.com. He writes stories, poetry, and music in addition to his longer works.
I give Former.ly 4 Stars out of 5, and a Thumbs Up! If you want to give a young British writer a leg up, you should give Former.ly a shot.
I received a Digital Review Copy from the author.
It can be difficult to tell a story in first person, but Dane Cobain does a pretty good job of it. He lets us become immersed in the activities at Former.ly. But sometimes the action suffers, since we only see what Dan sees. Dan isn’t an action hero, he is a coder, but he is suspicious, and tries to find out what is really going on around him. He starts to wonder why people are starting to die around him, so he tries to find out, and that’s where the problems begin.
I enjoyed Former.ly. I think that Mr. Cobain has a big upside. He is an interesting guy. You should check out his website. http://danecobin.com. He writes stories, poetry, and music in addition to his longer works.
I give Former.ly 4 Stars out of 5, and a Thumbs Up! If you want to give a young British writer a leg up, you should give Former.ly a shot.
I received a Digital Review Copy from the author.
November 30, 2016
The start of this book was amazing, as it set up the plot well and the concept of the fictional social network was really intriguing (albeit morbid). As I got introduced to the characters, including Dan, Sarah, Flik, Peter, and John, I was excited by the tale ahead.
Sadly, the tale's centre felt drawn out and I craved a faster pace than I was given by author Dane Cobain. He wrote the start so well that I felt myself demanding more.
The ending (no spoilers) held a few twists and I would have liked for them to be explored more. I also would have loved an extra chapter at the end to explore more of the changed Dan.
I'm reading another book by the same author next and will review it too. He writes very clearly and the book is well edited so it's a smooth read that way. Overall a good book that falls just a little short of its potential.
Sadly, the tale's centre felt drawn out and I craved a faster pace than I was given by author Dane Cobain. He wrote the start so well that I felt myself demanding more.
The ending (no spoilers) held a few twists and I would have liked for them to be explored more. I also would have loved an extra chapter at the end to explore more of the changed Dan.
I'm reading another book by the same author next and will review it too. He writes very clearly and the book is well edited so it's a smooth read that way. Overall a good book that falls just a little short of its potential.
August 9, 2023
This was an interesting read. From the first few pages you pick up that something is not quite right at Former.ly. After a few chapters I was beginning to think it was Black Mirror level of mind f**k and although the cliffhanger and reveal was bats**t crazy, it levelled out to be more on par with a Law and Order episode of the week. I think it only reached "WTF!!" instead of "OMFG!!" reaction level because some of the pacing of the story was a bit off and it felt like it dragged in a few places.
It was a great read and I have already recommended it to friends. Will definitely be following the author and am keen to find out what he comes up with next. The descriptions of working in a start up tech company were spot on. I should probably re-evaluate my life. Power corrupts!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.
It was a great read and I have already recommended it to friends. Will definitely be following the author and am keen to find out what he comes up with next. The descriptions of working in a start up tech company were spot on. I should probably re-evaluate my life. Power corrupts!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.
September 1, 2016
This book introduces you to Dan Roberts. Getting a job at Former.ly seems like a good idea - at first.
With Former.ly, Dane Cobain has created a nerdy suspense story. It is a fun and quite compelling read, drawing you into the world of programmers and social network providers. Dan is a slightly naïve guy, trying to somehow do the right thing. Dane Cobain paints a clear picture of Dan’s mind while the story evolves. I was drawn into the IT environment - it is not as clichéd as you might think. Except Dan, the characters are rather one-dimensional; this does not hurt the story as it naturally is about Dan. The story has a nerdy character and a good flow.
This is a book for you if you like nerdy environments combined with suspense, or simply enjoy a quite unusual style of suspense.
With Former.ly, Dane Cobain has created a nerdy suspense story. It is a fun and quite compelling read, drawing you into the world of programmers and social network providers. Dan is a slightly naïve guy, trying to somehow do the right thing. Dane Cobain paints a clear picture of Dan’s mind while the story evolves. I was drawn into the IT environment - it is not as clichéd as you might think. Except Dan, the characters are rather one-dimensional; this does not hurt the story as it naturally is about Dan. The story has a nerdy character and a good flow.
This is a book for you if you like nerdy environments combined with suspense, or simply enjoy a quite unusual style of suspense.
September 1, 2016
Dan is in need of a job and is lucky to land a job at a new start-up social media company called Former.ly. He has no idea that this new startup will take over his life. As he works for the company people involved start mysteriously dying. He gets suspicious and starts looking into what's going on with the company. Will he be able to find the truth before anyone else gets hurt?
In an Oyster Shell - This is a dark, thought-provoking read that gives you a glimpse into what social media can look like from the inside.
Full Review - Writing Pearls
In an Oyster Shell - This is a dark, thought-provoking read that gives you a glimpse into what social media can look like from the inside.
Full Review - Writing Pearls
October 8, 2016
I really loved this story, the places described were very vividly real to me, the main characters well drawn, and the plot always twisting and turning. I genuinely believed that this social media start up could exist (and I am sure it is only time before it does, I hope Dane has protected his idea...) From the young organisations I have been involved in it all seemed authentic, and the veer to cultish behaviour (I hope that is not a plot spoiler) also very believable. The ending was a touch 'neat' for my liking, but overall a superb novel!
December 8, 2016
http://rayuela-rayuela.blogspot.ro/20...
The story was interesting and quite original in its main subject, because Former.ly is a social network for the dead. I will not unfold other details, because you will have to do that alone. The characters are interesting, but there could be an improvement in the meaning of developing all characters more. Dan Roberts is the main character, but the others are staying in his shadow. I liked Dan and the way Dane Cobain described some feelings and emotions of his or his bohemian relationship with Sarah.
The story was interesting and quite original in its main subject, because Former.ly is a social network for the dead. I will not unfold other details, because you will have to do that alone. The characters are interesting, but there could be an improvement in the meaning of developing all characters more. Dan Roberts is the main character, but the others are staying in his shadow. I liked Dan and the way Dane Cobain described some feelings and emotions of his or his bohemian relationship with Sarah.
September 2, 2017
I enjoyed this story, somewhat in the vein The Circle and Ready Player One. Where this book succeeds on its own is the way Dane Cobain weaves mystery and science fiction together. The tension is very effective in this book, and I found it to be an inviting reading experience. I would recommend this book for science fiction readers, and those looking for a bridge between general fiction and this more specific genre.
September 30, 2018
This was a good plot however it felt a little drawn out and some times I got a little bit of deja vue when the plot seemed to repeat itself.
I realise this book was written before Driven which I really enjoyed, and I think Dane's writing style has obviously progressed since this book.
However, I did have to keep reading to find out what the heck was going on. So, I did get hooked into the book.
I realise this book was written before Driven which I really enjoyed, and I think Dane's writing style has obviously progressed since this book.
However, I did have to keep reading to find out what the heck was going on. So, I did get hooked into the book.
February 17, 2019
This book follows Dan as he gets in on the ground floor of Former.ly (a website that deals with mortality and the aftermath.) As the company grows strange things begin to happen. Strange as in mysterious deaths and murder! Dan and Flick (his female friend) find themselves in a precarious position! I don't do spoilers, but I will say the end of this had plenty of twists and turns! I gave it 4.5 stars!
December 31, 2019
This book was fascinating and kept me in suspense the whole time! It also was really motivating for me, since I'm also in the process of working on a novel about a startup company with a new social technology. I wish we knew more about Dan's motivations for staying with the company, and I wish some of the scenes were drawn out for longer with more dialogue instead of ending abruptly. Overall I loved it though -- full review coming to YouTube soon!
August 6, 2016
I recevied a complimentary copy.
I took off one star because of they way the book is written, not because there is any lack in detail, but it was hard to get a whole view from one person's perspective. The author clearly can write a range of mixed emotions and kept me interested throughout the story. It is a good light suspense entwined with a unique topic, so a very good read.
I took off one star because of they way the book is written, not because there is any lack in detail, but it was hard to get a whole view from one person's perspective. The author clearly can write a range of mixed emotions and kept me interested throughout the story. It is a good light suspense entwined with a unique topic, so a very good read.
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