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One Click
When Lauren takes a photo of a stranger on a beach and shares it online, she has no idea what will come of that single click. Her daughters are surprised that she posted a photo without consent, but it’s only when she starts to get anonymous messages about the woman on the beach that she deletes the photo. It’s too little too late, and the messages escalate, prompting Lauren to confess to the woman. The woman has her own dark story, one that might explain the messages, but Lauren isn’t convinced. Then her ex-husband begins to harass her, telling her she shares too much online and brought this on herself. She’s also dealing with other problems. A difficult client at work starts to show up in places he shouldn’t be. Her younger daughter is behaving out of character and Lauren can’t work out what’s wrong. And the cracks are literally beginning to show in her old South Dublin house, mirroring the cracks in her carefully curated life. Meanwhile, the messages from the internet troll become more personal and more vindictive. Her friends feel she should stand up to her stalker, but Lauren isn’t so sure. And then she makes one small mistake that brings everything tumbling down.
354 pages, ebook
First published May 1, 2018
595 people are currently reading
3668 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 246 reviews
March 18, 2019
ONE CLICK
That’s all it took to alter the paths of two lives.
While on vacation in Italy, Lauren takes a photo for her blog, of a woman relaxing on the beach...the kind of photo you might see on an advertisement for a resort. So, without giving it much thought, and without gaining consent, she posts it online...and it goes viral.
Having recently split with her husband, Lauren is feeling a bit lonely and vulnerable, so she enjoys the attention, this photo is bringing, until she gets some anonymous messages from someone, who wants to know who the woman is.
As the messages become more threatening, Lauren feels that she must warn the woman on the beach.
She learns that her name is Cleo, and she has a dark past of her own. Yet, oddly, she does not seem too disturbed, and the two women strike up a friendship as they work together to try and figure out who the internet troll could be.
Cleo, is convinced that she knows who it is, but when the troll begins to focus more on Lauren, than on Cleo, Lauren becomes unsure that Cleo is right.
Although you must suspend disbelief about how the paths have these various characters cross, the author does weave a clever tale where any number of characters could be a plausible internet troll. There are possibilities from their jobs, their neighborhoods, and their personal lives.
Each woman has a clear, distinct voice, and their narratives alternate, as several scenarios play out.
I have read quite a few books, over the past several months, regarding the dangers of what you post on “social media” and this was the best of them by far.
Yet, somehow despite a US release date, of May 2018, it didn’t really seem to be on the radar of many of my Goodreads friends.
If suspenseful books, with an emphasis on “social media” interest you, I recommend adding it to your TBR list!!
A SOLID ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read, for one you might’ve missed too!!
That’s all it took to alter the paths of two lives.
While on vacation in Italy, Lauren takes a photo for her blog, of a woman relaxing on the beach...the kind of photo you might see on an advertisement for a resort. So, without giving it much thought, and without gaining consent, she posts it online...and it goes viral.
Having recently split with her husband, Lauren is feeling a bit lonely and vulnerable, so she enjoys the attention, this photo is bringing, until she gets some anonymous messages from someone, who wants to know who the woman is.
As the messages become more threatening, Lauren feels that she must warn the woman on the beach.
She learns that her name is Cleo, and she has a dark past of her own. Yet, oddly, she does not seem too disturbed, and the two women strike up a friendship as they work together to try and figure out who the internet troll could be.
Cleo, is convinced that she knows who it is, but when the troll begins to focus more on Lauren, than on Cleo, Lauren becomes unsure that Cleo is right.
Although you must suspend disbelief about how the paths have these various characters cross, the author does weave a clever tale where any number of characters could be a plausible internet troll. There are possibilities from their jobs, their neighborhoods, and their personal lives.
Each woman has a clear, distinct voice, and their narratives alternate, as several scenarios play out.
I have read quite a few books, over the past several months, regarding the dangers of what you post on “social media” and this was the best of them by far.
Yet, somehow despite a US release date, of May 2018, it didn’t really seem to be on the radar of many of my Goodreads friends.
If suspenseful books, with an emphasis on “social media” interest you, I recommend adding it to your TBR list!!
A SOLID ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read, for one you might’ve missed too!!
July 24, 2023
That’s all it takes for a life to go sideways - one click, a photo, one click, post it, one click, implosion.
Lauren posts a picture of a stranger on a beach and thinks nothing of it until she gets an anonymous message demanding to know who the woman is. She decides to confess what she has done to the stranger, learns her name is Cleo who seems unconcerned. However, Cleo and Lauren’s lives collide in ways neither could have foreseen.
This is a cracking read that keeps you glued throughout. It makes such good points about internet trolls and the dangers social media can present but does so via a clever plot. Yes it does require disbelief suspenders at times but it matters not as the fast paced storyline keeps me reading on. It’s tense, suspenseful, unpredictable and compelling.
A Kindle Unlimited read.
Lauren posts a picture of a stranger on a beach and thinks nothing of it until she gets an anonymous message demanding to know who the woman is. She decides to confess what she has done to the stranger, learns her name is Cleo who seems unconcerned. However, Cleo and Lauren’s lives collide in ways neither could have foreseen.
This is a cracking read that keeps you glued throughout. It makes such good points about internet trolls and the dangers social media can present but does so via a clever plot. Yes it does require disbelief suspenders at times but it matters not as the fast paced storyline keeps me reading on. It’s tense, suspenseful, unpredictable and compelling.
A Kindle Unlimited read.
September 30, 2025
3.5 really enjoy Andrea Mara's writing and this was a solid read but it took me a while to get through as I wasn't reaching for it. The language around influencing and social media was outdated too (written 7 years ago) so this was a little jarring but not a dealbreaker
March 19, 2019
Popular lifestyle blogger Lauren thinks nothing of posting a picture online of a stranger running on the beach. She never expected the photo to go viral, and definitely never expected the menacing messages she'd start receiving from an anonymous account, asking who the woman in the picture is. As the messages grow more frequent and more threatening, no matter how many times she blocks the sender, she realizes she needs to talk to the woman and tell her about what's happening.
When Cleo learns that her picture has gone viral and that an internet troll is asking who she is, she's initially not worried. She has a feeling it's tied to someone in her past - someone who lives across the world, and poses no real threat. She tells Lauren not to worry about it, but the women exchange contact information and plan to keep in touch. As time goes by and as the messages become increasingly personal, and mention details about Lauren's life that no one should know, they begin to think there might be something more at play.
The book is told in alternating perspectives between Lauren and Cleo, both with separate storylines that weave together in dangerous ways. Both women will soon come to learn that one click can change everything...
When I read the description for One Click, I was really excited to read it! Not only do I love books about stalking, but I was also intrigued by the social media element! The book started off holding my attention, and kept me engaged the entire time. I really liked that each woman had their own storyline that drove the story forward in very interesting ways. We learn about Cleo's dark past, and about Lauren's current client who gives her the creeps. Are either of these things related to the messages Lauren is getting?
I had a lot of theories about what was happening and who was behind the messages, and while I had some pieces of the puzzle figured out, there were still things that left me surprised. In general, the book does require the reader to suspend disbelief a little bit, but if you don't mind that, and are interested in psychological thrillers, or suspense novels with an aspect of social media, you'll enjoy this book! I think if you were a fan of Britney King's The Social Affair, you'll love this one! It's been a minute since I rated a book 5 stars, but this one got 5 big stars from me, and I absolutely can't wait to see what else Mara writes in the future!
When Cleo learns that her picture has gone viral and that an internet troll is asking who she is, she's initially not worried. She has a feeling it's tied to someone in her past - someone who lives across the world, and poses no real threat. She tells Lauren not to worry about it, but the women exchange contact information and plan to keep in touch. As time goes by and as the messages become increasingly personal, and mention details about Lauren's life that no one should know, they begin to think there might be something more at play.
The book is told in alternating perspectives between Lauren and Cleo, both with separate storylines that weave together in dangerous ways. Both women will soon come to learn that one click can change everything...
When I read the description for One Click, I was really excited to read it! Not only do I love books about stalking, but I was also intrigued by the social media element! The book started off holding my attention, and kept me engaged the entire time. I really liked that each woman had their own storyline that drove the story forward in very interesting ways. We learn about Cleo's dark past, and about Lauren's current client who gives her the creeps. Are either of these things related to the messages Lauren is getting?
I had a lot of theories about what was happening and who was behind the messages, and while I had some pieces of the puzzle figured out, there were still things that left me surprised. In general, the book does require the reader to suspend disbelief a little bit, but if you don't mind that, and are interested in psychological thrillers, or suspense novels with an aspect of social media, you'll enjoy this book! I think if you were a fan of Britney King's The Social Affair, you'll love this one! It's been a minute since I rated a book 5 stars, but this one got 5 big stars from me, and I absolutely can't wait to see what else Mara writes in the future!
May 5, 2018
I'm going to make a prediction that a lot of people will be one-clicking this book over the summer. And they'll be very glad they did.
It's an absorbing page turner with unpredictable characters and a storyline that kept me speculating.
It's an absorbing page turner with unpredictable characters and a storyline that kept me speculating.
October 23, 2025
I've read most everything Andrea Mara's written and typically love her work, but this book proved disappointing.
I was into the story initially, especially the parts from Cleo's POV, but Lauren, the main narrator, bugged me from the beginning and became more irritating as the plot progressed. Lauren, a counseling psychologist, was a doormat and dumb as a bag of rocks.
The whole thing with her husband, who cheated on her with a neighbor but with whom she was all buddy-buddy still, was weird as hell. The woman had no common sense and no self-respect. She couldn't parent her kids for shite either.
Annoyingly, it was never explained why the cyber stalker targeted Lauren to such a degree. They wanted information about Cleo, whose photo Lauren posted, but had no beef with Lauren, so why spend all that time and energy waging a bullying campaign?
The narrative was disjointed with multiple red herrings and numerous, irrelevant details about Lauren's bratty younger daughter, her adulterous husband and his new sidepiece, the kindly next-door neighbor, Lauren's online friends, her awful boss, the creepy patient (no therapist would put up with that level of harassment, come on).
Cleo's life in NYC was the most interesting part but actually had nothing to do with anything.
Never mind the ridiculous twist and sloppy ending.
I was into the story initially, especially the parts from Cleo's POV, but Lauren, the main narrator, bugged me from the beginning and became more irritating as the plot progressed. Lauren, a counseling psychologist, was a doormat and dumb as a bag of rocks.
The whole thing with her husband, who cheated on her with a neighbor but with whom she was all buddy-buddy still, was weird as hell. The woman had no common sense and no self-respect. She couldn't parent her kids for shite either.
Annoyingly, it was never explained why the cyber stalker targeted Lauren to such a degree. They wanted information about Cleo, whose photo Lauren posted, but had no beef with Lauren, so why spend all that time and energy waging a bullying campaign?
The narrative was disjointed with multiple red herrings and numerous, irrelevant details about Lauren's bratty younger daughter, her adulterous husband and his new sidepiece, the kindly next-door neighbor, Lauren's online friends, her awful boss, the creepy patient (no therapist would put up with that level of harassment, come on).
Cleo's life in NYC was the most interesting part but actually had nothing to do with anything.
Never mind the ridiculous twist and sloppy ending.
October 4, 2018
I was so looking forward to reading this. The amount of five star reviews is staggering, leading me to believe that this book wasn't to be missed. I'm in the minority I'm afraid. I thought it was a long, dragged out and boring story. All the 'Twittering' drove me insane. The 'Twist' when it came was just so unrealistic - even that didn't give it a boost. All in all a disappointment
May 10, 2018
Rating 4.5*
‘One photo couldn’t hurt, could it?’
One Click is the second novel from Irish writer and blogger Andrea Mara. A psychological thriller, One Click is described as a ‘disturbing tale of cyber-stalking and trolling, blogging and social media, but it’s also about real life – a marriage break-up, trouble with children and work, and some good old-fashioned murder.’
Just published by Poolbeg Press, One Click is a novel for our time, a novel that will certainly make you stop and rethink your social media habits and patterns.
As a blogger I am online alot. There are times everyday when I stop and think about what I am doing and why? Social Media and my blog have opened up a whole new world to me where I have met authors online and in real-life, and I have made some amazing online friendships with fellow bloggers across the globe. I have developed great working relationships with publishers and tour organisers and I have had the honour of receiving and reviewing some incredible books….but….and there is a but…..Do I spend too much time online? Are other areas in my life affected by it? Have I unwittingly revealed too much personal information? These are all questions in my head after reading Andrea Mara’s latest novel One Click.
Lauren is on holidays in Italy with her two young daughters. She works as a psychologist but her hobby is a photography blog. It’s something for herself and it’s something she is very proud of. Her marriage has just broken up and this time away with her girls is to regroup and get some much needed time out away from the stresses of her busy life in Dublin.
In complete innocence, Lauren takes a snap of a young woman lying on a beach. For Lauren, this image symbolises life pre-children, so she uploads it without a second thought with the caption #howiwishispentmytwenties The picture unexpectedly goes viral and for Lauren she gets caught up in the initial buzz. The online interaction is very exciting and as a blogger, Lauren is thrilled with the reaction. But soon this feeling changes to dread, when Lauren is faced with a very sinister message from a stranger wanting to know who is the woman in the image.
Lauren has been on the butt end of a troll in the past, at a time when her husband constantly referred to her online obsession, leaving Lauren upset but still determined to continue with her blog. She has made numerous friends online, a community of like-minded people who have been there for her when she needed company and a chat. This time though the threat is more real. As Lauren returns to Ireland, she tries to dismiss it as nothing but an ominous feeling descends over Lauren when she begins to receive messages with personal information that no troll should know.
Lauren decides it’s time to contact the woman in the image and soon discovers that this woman has a rather mysterious past leading her to all sorts of conclusions and raising more alarm bells.
Meanwhile work is challenging for Lauren with a very menacing client, an individual whose presence Lauren finds incredibly unnerving. Her boss is questioning her commitment to the job and her daughter seems to be upset about something leading to some very unusual behaviour.
With the continued threatening online presence and the challenges in her personal life, Lauren feels like her life is literally falling apart.
Is it her fault? Is this a consequence of her online behaviour? Are her daughters being influenced by her constant need to have her phone on hand? Was her husband correct in his observations? Who is this troll and why are they fixated on Lauren?
Lauren only ever joined the Twitter community to be part of a wider conversation and following on from the break-up of her marriage, her Twitter friends helped her through the lonely evenings spent on her own. Looking at it with a wider lens, does this opening of our homes/lives to the online world make us a target for these trolls, who can make the internet a very scary and unsafe place indeed?
One Click is a very contemporary novel, a very thought-provoking look at the impact of social media on all our lives and the impact that one innocent tweet or post can have. Cyber-stalking is an unfortunate and very frightening side-effect of having an online presence and to be honest I think we all need to be little more aware of what we post, and even more importantly of what our children are posting.
One Click is an unsettling and disturbing novel, but it is also a cautionary tale for all. It is a fast-paced, page-turner that you will not put down. It is an eye-opening read, reflecting on what can go so very wrong online today in a society that is switched on ALL the time.
Menacing. Ominous. Scary.
‘One photo couldn’t hurt, could it?’
One Click is the second novel from Irish writer and blogger Andrea Mara. A psychological thriller, One Click is described as a ‘disturbing tale of cyber-stalking and trolling, blogging and social media, but it’s also about real life – a marriage break-up, trouble with children and work, and some good old-fashioned murder.’
Just published by Poolbeg Press, One Click is a novel for our time, a novel that will certainly make you stop and rethink your social media habits and patterns.
As a blogger I am online alot. There are times everyday when I stop and think about what I am doing and why? Social Media and my blog have opened up a whole new world to me where I have met authors online and in real-life, and I have made some amazing online friendships with fellow bloggers across the globe. I have developed great working relationships with publishers and tour organisers and I have had the honour of receiving and reviewing some incredible books….but….and there is a but…..Do I spend too much time online? Are other areas in my life affected by it? Have I unwittingly revealed too much personal information? These are all questions in my head after reading Andrea Mara’s latest novel One Click.
Lauren is on holidays in Italy with her two young daughters. She works as a psychologist but her hobby is a photography blog. It’s something for herself and it’s something she is very proud of. Her marriage has just broken up and this time away with her girls is to regroup and get some much needed time out away from the stresses of her busy life in Dublin.
In complete innocence, Lauren takes a snap of a young woman lying on a beach. For Lauren, this image symbolises life pre-children, so she uploads it without a second thought with the caption #howiwishispentmytwenties The picture unexpectedly goes viral and for Lauren she gets caught up in the initial buzz. The online interaction is very exciting and as a blogger, Lauren is thrilled with the reaction. But soon this feeling changes to dread, when Lauren is faced with a very sinister message from a stranger wanting to know who is the woman in the image.
Lauren has been on the butt end of a troll in the past, at a time when her husband constantly referred to her online obsession, leaving Lauren upset but still determined to continue with her blog. She has made numerous friends online, a community of like-minded people who have been there for her when she needed company and a chat. This time though the threat is more real. As Lauren returns to Ireland, she tries to dismiss it as nothing but an ominous feeling descends over Lauren when she begins to receive messages with personal information that no troll should know.
Lauren decides it’s time to contact the woman in the image and soon discovers that this woman has a rather mysterious past leading her to all sorts of conclusions and raising more alarm bells.
Meanwhile work is challenging for Lauren with a very menacing client, an individual whose presence Lauren finds incredibly unnerving. Her boss is questioning her commitment to the job and her daughter seems to be upset about something leading to some very unusual behaviour.
With the continued threatening online presence and the challenges in her personal life, Lauren feels like her life is literally falling apart.
Is it her fault? Is this a consequence of her online behaviour? Are her daughters being influenced by her constant need to have her phone on hand? Was her husband correct in his observations? Who is this troll and why are they fixated on Lauren?
Lauren only ever joined the Twitter community to be part of a wider conversation and following on from the break-up of her marriage, her Twitter friends helped her through the lonely evenings spent on her own. Looking at it with a wider lens, does this opening of our homes/lives to the online world make us a target for these trolls, who can make the internet a very scary and unsafe place indeed?
One Click is a very contemporary novel, a very thought-provoking look at the impact of social media on all our lives and the impact that one innocent tweet or post can have. Cyber-stalking is an unfortunate and very frightening side-effect of having an online presence and to be honest I think we all need to be little more aware of what we post, and even more importantly of what our children are posting.
One Click is an unsettling and disturbing novel, but it is also a cautionary tale for all. It is a fast-paced, page-turner that you will not put down. It is an eye-opening read, reflecting on what can go so very wrong online today in a society that is switched on ALL the time.
Menacing. Ominous. Scary.
August 23, 2023
rounded up from 2.5. i found the main character lauren insufferable and then her relationship with her daughters just awful - you’re meant to be a therapist??? but you can’t see your daughter is struggling???
good twists and turns but most things were inconsequential
good twists and turns but most things were inconsequential
May 1, 2018
ONE CLICK by Andrea Mara has quickly jumped into my top spot for the best books of 2018 and is a disturbing psychological thriller that cannot be missed!
Lauren's life has become very complicated since her husband left her for the neighbour down the road and raising two teenagers has its own unique problems as well. Throw in a creepy client at the clinic where she works and a holiday is definitely needed. Relaxing in Italy with her girls, Lauren soaks up the atmosphere and takes pictures for her personal photography blog. But when one picture of a stranger on the beach brings a troll into her life, it is another hassle that Lauren doesn't need. But this isn't just any troll, this is someone who knows her every move and as things take a serious turn, Lauren will find out just how invasive social media can be, and just how easily one click of a camera can bring your whole world tumbling down ...
Creepy, tense, and uncomfortable, ONE CLICK by Andrea Mara is everything you want in a psychological thriller and more. I devoured this novel in one sitting and I'm already eagerly awaiting Andrea Mara's next book. The characters are relatable, flawed, and very normal and in a world that is more and more social media obsessed, this element of the story really worked excellently for me and it will make you reassess what you share publicly from now on.
ONE CLICK by Andrea Mara is a multi-layered and compelling thriller that will haunt you from start to finish and keep you guessing every second along the way. Andrea Mara has quickly become one of my favourite authors in this genre and I cannot wait for her next book. ONE CLICK is a truly excellent story and as I said before it is topping the charts of best thriller of the year for me!
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
Lauren's life has become very complicated since her husband left her for the neighbour down the road and raising two teenagers has its own unique problems as well. Throw in a creepy client at the clinic where she works and a holiday is definitely needed. Relaxing in Italy with her girls, Lauren soaks up the atmosphere and takes pictures for her personal photography blog. But when one picture of a stranger on the beach brings a troll into her life, it is another hassle that Lauren doesn't need. But this isn't just any troll, this is someone who knows her every move and as things take a serious turn, Lauren will find out just how invasive social media can be, and just how easily one click of a camera can bring your whole world tumbling down ...
Creepy, tense, and uncomfortable, ONE CLICK by Andrea Mara is everything you want in a psychological thriller and more. I devoured this novel in one sitting and I'm already eagerly awaiting Andrea Mara's next book. The characters are relatable, flawed, and very normal and in a world that is more and more social media obsessed, this element of the story really worked excellently for me and it will make you reassess what you share publicly from now on.
ONE CLICK by Andrea Mara is a multi-layered and compelling thriller that will haunt you from start to finish and keep you guessing every second along the way. Andrea Mara has quickly become one of my favourite authors in this genre and I cannot wait for her next book. ONE CLICK is a truly excellent story and as I said before it is topping the charts of best thriller of the year for me!
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
October 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Gripping and Twisty Domestic Thriller
One Click by Andrea Mara is a fast-paced, cleverly constructed thriller that kept me hooked from the very first chapter. The premise a mother posting a photo online that spirals into something sinister feels scarily relevant in today’s digital world. Mara does a great job exploring the dangers of social media and how quickly privacy can unravel with just one click.
The story is filled with tension, and the multiple perspectives add layers of mystery that kept me guessing. I particularly enjoyed how Mara balances the emotional depth of the characters with the suspenseful plot. The pacing is brisk, and the short chapters make it hard to stop reading.
That said, there were a few moments where the twists felt a bit over the top or the coincidences slightly too convenient, which is why I’m giving it four instead of five stars. Still, it’s a thoroughly engaging, modern thriller that will make you think twice before sharing online. A smart, addictive read.
One Click by Andrea Mara is a fast-paced, cleverly constructed thriller that kept me hooked from the very first chapter. The premise a mother posting a photo online that spirals into something sinister feels scarily relevant in today’s digital world. Mara does a great job exploring the dangers of social media and how quickly privacy can unravel with just one click.
The story is filled with tension, and the multiple perspectives add layers of mystery that kept me guessing. I particularly enjoyed how Mara balances the emotional depth of the characters with the suspenseful plot. The pacing is brisk, and the short chapters make it hard to stop reading.
That said, there were a few moments where the twists felt a bit over the top or the coincidences slightly too convenient, which is why I’m giving it four instead of five stars. Still, it’s a thoroughly engaging, modern thriller that will make you think twice before sharing online. A smart, addictive read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2018
What a gripping read - I couldn't tear myself away. I love stories about bad decisions that have unexpected consequences and this is certainly one of those books. Lauren is very easy to sympathise with and there are several people with the potential to be the stalker so it kept me guessing right up to the brilliant end!
July 6, 2018
I left Andrea Mara's début The Other Side of the Wall sitting far too long on my TBR pile and given how brilliant it was there was no way I was going to make the same mistake twice. As soon as I had finished the book I was reading when her second book One Click popped through my letterbox I was all over this book and didn't leave it out of my hands until I had read every word of another fantastic and outstanding book. Everything else got pushed to one side and no one was to disturb me as I was all consumed in the story of Lauren and how one snapshot taken in all innocence can lead to the most devastating, chilling and disturbing of consequences. Yes, although I couldn't wait to read this book, there was a very small amount of trepidation. Simply because there is always that worry in the back of your head having loved a début so much, you wonder can the author do the same again? Can she have you rapidly turning the pages, hooked as to the stalker was? Will she leave you chilled to the bone by some of the actions ? Will you be attempting to guess the culprit and then be thrown so many red herrings that you just don’t have a clue as to what could really be going?
Well Andrea Mara delivered on all these questions and even more. One Click is another astounding book that proves The Other Side of the Wall was no one hit wonder and it deserved every ounce of praise heaped upon it. Because the same can be said for this book, and no I can't choose between the two as to which was better and that's saying something for me as usually I rapidly form very strong opinions with regard to books and can easily separate one from another as to my preference. Not here, both of the authors books so far have been incredible and given crime/thrillers wouldn't be my go to genre of choice, Andrea Mara has certainly done an awful lot to persuade me that I shouldn't push this genre to the kerb in favour of always staying in my comfort zone when it comes to my reading choices.
One Small Click leads to so many unwanted and disastrous consequences. One photo couldn't hurt could it? If only psychologist Lauren, away on holiday in Italy with her two girls had not clicked and taken that photo on the beach. A lone woman sitting on the sand with her face upturned to the sun. It was a study of a woman having a moment in time. The woman looked so happy and chilled that Lauren had the photo taken and uploaded before she knew what she was doing? Consent didn't come into it at all. The photo with the description how I wish I spent my twenties attracts lots of attention mostly good but then things start to take a strange, sinister and dangerous turn. Lauren starts to receive menacing notifications wanting to know who the woman is. These comments come thick and fast and are unrelenting.
Lauren is being hounded and all because she took a photo but once something is out out there online it is there forever even if you delete it. Having warned her daughters always to be careful, Lauren now regrets she didn't take her own advice. Andrea Mara has cleverly highlighted the affects of social media today., how we all use it on a daily basis and yes to some degree we all have an addiction. But social media can bring joy, laughter and friendship but this book focuses on the more seedier side and what happens when things go wrong and one can't get out of the hole they are sliding ever deeper into.
I loved how there was no messing around setting up the story. We were straight into the action and it was full of mystery and intrigue. I desperately wanted to know who the stalker was and what was their motivation? What made them so desperate to know who the woman in the photo was? Why were they so obsessed with her? Would this even have happened if Lauren hadn't gotten carried away with herself and taken the photo when she shouldn't have? Do we even think about things like this when we ourselves are out in public? Well, I sure do now after reading this book. This book could have all been about identifying said woman of the photo but I thought it was clever that Lauren is able to find her before she returns home to Dublin and American Cleo Holloway was able to share her story with Lauren.
Lauren soon realises she misjudged the happiness and contentment that radiated from the picture. So there must have been another strand to the story as it couldn't have ended so soon. Identifying the woman was not the focus of this book it was more why she was being targeted and what happens to Lauren as a result. We are taken back to delve deeper into Cleo's story and it makes for a dark and twisted tale. Possession, compulsion, lies, secrets and a cloying sense of suffocation abound. So many twists and turns that I would never have thought possible given this all started with someone taking a random picture. It was all so cleverly woven together and I loved how we were presented with both Lauren and Cleo's perspectives.
But when Lauren returns home the messages continue to come and she doesn't know how to handle them. She is separated from husband Dave and feels she has no-one to confide in bar Cleo about what is going on. What really unnerved me was that the stalker, for that is what they become, literally knew every move that Lauren and the girls made. Everything really got under your skin and to say I was worried for Lauren was an understatement. Internet trolling seemed like something that you just read about or see on the television and you never think it will happen to you but now Lauren realises this is not the case. But this story proves the ordinary, run of the mill normal person can be affected too.
Lauren feels overwhelmed and guilty too, in the fact that she brought everything on herself and now the repercussions are more far reaching than she ever imagined possible. Lauren feels lost, vulnerable, foolish and perhaps most crucially powerless. Her life is being taken out of her hands but you can't control what other people do. You can't manage their motivations and intentions but you can work to put a stop to this and Lauren won't rest until she has the answers. She no longer wants to hear the sound of a notification coming in, then checking to see what malice and hatred is being poured forth.
The temptation to take a sneak peek to the end of the book was very very strong for me. Normally, this idea wouldn't even enter my head, it's like some form of betrayal by skipping parts and then going back and reading, I would openly criticise people who do this with every book. I consider it a book sin so to speak but I just had this overwhelming sense of desperation wanting to know who it was and why they did everything that unfolded throughout the story. That's testament to the phenomenal writing from Andrea Mara that just better and better with each turn of the page. Suffice to say I held myself in check and resisted and waited until I reached the dramatic climax and reveal and boy was I glad I did. I will say whilst reading this book I did feel guilty and ashamed because I had this awful sneaking suspicion as to who the stalker actually was. I kept thinking my feeling couldn't be correct that surely the author would not do such a thing but it was the way certain sentences were interwoven amongst different scenarios that made me feel this way. I gave this book to a friend to read and afterwards she said oh I thought it was so and so and I was like yes I thought the exact same. But either we were reading into this totally wrong or the author wrote it in such a way to have us thinking this person could be behind all the madness. Thankfully, I was barking up the totally wrong alley.
All kinds of situations, reasons and every character were rushing through my head the faster I read in order to reach the end. Andrea Mara had me second guessing at every word and statement that came out of characters mouths. I was certainly reading way more into things than I should have. But suffice to say there was no way I was going to bed until I knew what the definitive outcome was. For the last 50 pages the words passed by in a blur as we raced to the epic conclusion and we were granted that mind blowing twist that this genre definitely has to have.
Andrea Mara has done herself proud with One Click and has shown what a talented author she is. Clearly she loves writing and loves providing her readers with an exhilarating tale that is thrilling, tense and powerful with a plot and characters you won't forget in a hurry. Don't even think about leaving this book on the bookshelves, it is astonishing and mind blowing. Now if we could only have another book from Andrea before the year is out I would be one very very happy reader.
Well Andrea Mara delivered on all these questions and even more. One Click is another astounding book that proves The Other Side of the Wall was no one hit wonder and it deserved every ounce of praise heaped upon it. Because the same can be said for this book, and no I can't choose between the two as to which was better and that's saying something for me as usually I rapidly form very strong opinions with regard to books and can easily separate one from another as to my preference. Not here, both of the authors books so far have been incredible and given crime/thrillers wouldn't be my go to genre of choice, Andrea Mara has certainly done an awful lot to persuade me that I shouldn't push this genre to the kerb in favour of always staying in my comfort zone when it comes to my reading choices.
One Small Click leads to so many unwanted and disastrous consequences. One photo couldn't hurt could it? If only psychologist Lauren, away on holiday in Italy with her two girls had not clicked and taken that photo on the beach. A lone woman sitting on the sand with her face upturned to the sun. It was a study of a woman having a moment in time. The woman looked so happy and chilled that Lauren had the photo taken and uploaded before she knew what she was doing? Consent didn't come into it at all. The photo with the description how I wish I spent my twenties attracts lots of attention mostly good but then things start to take a strange, sinister and dangerous turn. Lauren starts to receive menacing notifications wanting to know who the woman is. These comments come thick and fast and are unrelenting.
Lauren is being hounded and all because she took a photo but once something is out out there online it is there forever even if you delete it. Having warned her daughters always to be careful, Lauren now regrets she didn't take her own advice. Andrea Mara has cleverly highlighted the affects of social media today., how we all use it on a daily basis and yes to some degree we all have an addiction. But social media can bring joy, laughter and friendship but this book focuses on the more seedier side and what happens when things go wrong and one can't get out of the hole they are sliding ever deeper into.
I loved how there was no messing around setting up the story. We were straight into the action and it was full of mystery and intrigue. I desperately wanted to know who the stalker was and what was their motivation? What made them so desperate to know who the woman in the photo was? Why were they so obsessed with her? Would this even have happened if Lauren hadn't gotten carried away with herself and taken the photo when she shouldn't have? Do we even think about things like this when we ourselves are out in public? Well, I sure do now after reading this book. This book could have all been about identifying said woman of the photo but I thought it was clever that Lauren is able to find her before she returns home to Dublin and American Cleo Holloway was able to share her story with Lauren.
Lauren soon realises she misjudged the happiness and contentment that radiated from the picture. So there must have been another strand to the story as it couldn't have ended so soon. Identifying the woman was not the focus of this book it was more why she was being targeted and what happens to Lauren as a result. We are taken back to delve deeper into Cleo's story and it makes for a dark and twisted tale. Possession, compulsion, lies, secrets and a cloying sense of suffocation abound. So many twists and turns that I would never have thought possible given this all started with someone taking a random picture. It was all so cleverly woven together and I loved how we were presented with both Lauren and Cleo's perspectives.
But when Lauren returns home the messages continue to come and she doesn't know how to handle them. She is separated from husband Dave and feels she has no-one to confide in bar Cleo about what is going on. What really unnerved me was that the stalker, for that is what they become, literally knew every move that Lauren and the girls made. Everything really got under your skin and to say I was worried for Lauren was an understatement. Internet trolling seemed like something that you just read about or see on the television and you never think it will happen to you but now Lauren realises this is not the case. But this story proves the ordinary, run of the mill normal person can be affected too.
Lauren feels overwhelmed and guilty too, in the fact that she brought everything on herself and now the repercussions are more far reaching than she ever imagined possible. Lauren feels lost, vulnerable, foolish and perhaps most crucially powerless. Her life is being taken out of her hands but you can't control what other people do. You can't manage their motivations and intentions but you can work to put a stop to this and Lauren won't rest until she has the answers. She no longer wants to hear the sound of a notification coming in, then checking to see what malice and hatred is being poured forth.
The temptation to take a sneak peek to the end of the book was very very strong for me. Normally, this idea wouldn't even enter my head, it's like some form of betrayal by skipping parts and then going back and reading, I would openly criticise people who do this with every book. I consider it a book sin so to speak but I just had this overwhelming sense of desperation wanting to know who it was and why they did everything that unfolded throughout the story. That's testament to the phenomenal writing from Andrea Mara that just better and better with each turn of the page. Suffice to say I held myself in check and resisted and waited until I reached the dramatic climax and reveal and boy was I glad I did. I will say whilst reading this book I did feel guilty and ashamed because I had this awful sneaking suspicion as to who the stalker actually was. I kept thinking my feeling couldn't be correct that surely the author would not do such a thing but it was the way certain sentences were interwoven amongst different scenarios that made me feel this way. I gave this book to a friend to read and afterwards she said oh I thought it was so and so and I was like yes I thought the exact same. But either we were reading into this totally wrong or the author wrote it in such a way to have us thinking this person could be behind all the madness. Thankfully, I was barking up the totally wrong alley.
All kinds of situations, reasons and every character were rushing through my head the faster I read in order to reach the end. Andrea Mara had me second guessing at every word and statement that came out of characters mouths. I was certainly reading way more into things than I should have. But suffice to say there was no way I was going to bed until I knew what the definitive outcome was. For the last 50 pages the words passed by in a blur as we raced to the epic conclusion and we were granted that mind blowing twist that this genre definitely has to have.
Andrea Mara has done herself proud with One Click and has shown what a talented author she is. Clearly she loves writing and loves providing her readers with an exhilarating tale that is thrilling, tense and powerful with a plot and characters you won't forget in a hurry. Don't even think about leaving this book on the bookshelves, it is astonishing and mind blowing. Now if we could only have another book from Andrea before the year is out I would be one very very happy reader.
July 12, 2023
This was such a good book! I’m really loving Andrea Mara’s writing style. Had me guessing the whole time & I guessed the wrong person 5 different times 😂
May 24, 2020
Another excellent Andrea Mara book! I discovered this author after I read her novel "The Sleeper Lies" and immediately ordered her other two books online (during Covid Lockdown) from Poolbeg press. I think this author is amazing, her plots are refreshing, but most importantly, I can never guess the ending!! I very enjoyable read, I would highly recommend this book as well as Mara's "The Sleeper Lies".
June 18, 2024
Enjoyed this one , had me guessing all the way to the end. Lots of twists and turns
June 7, 2025
3.5 🌟 Pacey, enjoyable read but it was missing a little something for me. Felt a bit like a Harlan Coben Netflix adaptation - all the right ingredients but something about the ending just didn't quite work for me. Really enjoyed the premise.
August 21, 2019
This is my first book by this author and for once I paid for someone new to me as it sounded so interesting. I wasn't disappointed and I have only deducted one star as there were a few too many mistakes that her "forensic" proofreader should've spotted if I did.
The story is full of twist and turns and just as you think you've resolved it you learn you're way off-track !! There were some very funny remarks in it that made me giggle at times, mostly what Lauren was thinking, and one shocker of a passage actually made me gasp out loud ! Her first book had somehow passed me by but I'll definitely be looking out for it now on the back of this one.
I wasn't sure about Cleo but I liked Lauren. Marcus and Jonathan were pigs......she created a wide dearth of characters. I liked Grace, too, and I was pleased Lauren had Rebecca apologise for her rudeness to her as well.
I did think that she wrote about the colour of people's cheeks too often and her characters had too many headaches. This sentence left me pretty baffled as well, "Molly and Lill have changed their names to Molly-ween and LillWitchGirl for the night that's in it" ?? I just wrote 'huh ?'
Now the mistakes I happened upon....and there were none till we were 35% into this book and it was all going so smoothly....mycooking needed a space, she kept spelling dyeing as dying (another thing entirely), wrote enflame and not inflame,"the lady who who lived next door" is obviously wrong and these lines lost words, "...what happens if they allow their fingers tap out hateful messages" or "His mouth sets in petulant line." Then the biggest spelling mistake for me was writing Valuim as opposed to Valium, which she did get right at another mention.
There were missed apostrophes and fullstops and then speechmarks used where nobody was talking and also a few more peculiar phrases but I can't be bothered to type anymore out right now. These errors did let it down, though, as it would surely have been 5* from me otherwise.
The story is full of twist and turns and just as you think you've resolved it you learn you're way off-track !! There were some very funny remarks in it that made me giggle at times, mostly what Lauren was thinking, and one shocker of a passage actually made me gasp out loud ! Her first book had somehow passed me by but I'll definitely be looking out for it now on the back of this one.
I wasn't sure about Cleo but I liked Lauren. Marcus and Jonathan were pigs......she created a wide dearth of characters. I liked Grace, too, and I was pleased Lauren had Rebecca apologise for her rudeness to her as well.
I did think that she wrote about the colour of people's cheeks too often and her characters had too many headaches. This sentence left me pretty baffled as well, "Molly and Lill have changed their names to Molly-ween and LillWitchGirl for the night that's in it" ?? I just wrote 'huh ?'
Now the mistakes I happened upon....and there were none till we were 35% into this book and it was all going so smoothly....mycooking needed a space, she kept spelling dyeing as dying (another thing entirely), wrote enflame and not inflame,"the lady who who lived next door" is obviously wrong and these lines lost words, "...what happens if they allow their fingers tap out hateful messages" or "His mouth sets in petulant line." Then the biggest spelling mistake for me was writing Valuim as opposed to Valium, which she did get right at another mention.
There were missed apostrophes and fullstops and then speechmarks used where nobody was talking and also a few more peculiar phrases but I can't be bothered to type anymore out right now. These errors did let it down, though, as it would surely have been 5* from me otherwise.
May 29, 2018
"If I'd known what would happen to all of us, I would never have taken the picture."
So begins Andrea Mara's second novel. Her first - The Other Side Of The Wall - was a fast, taut thriller and this is no different.
Lauren is a therapist, and recently single Mum after her husband shacked up with the woman who lives a few doors down. A lover of photography and blogging, she takes a picture of a stranger on a beach that goes viral with the hashtag #HowIWishISpentMyTwenties. Unfortunately, as we all know, the negatives of Social Media can sometimes outweigh the positives, and that's what happens here. Lauren is contacted by someone who demands to know everything about the woman in the photograph, and they will not stop until they find her.
We go back and forth between Lauren and Cleo, the woman in the picture, and both stories were engaging. I enjoyed Cleo's story a little more, but I also liked how real Lauren was and how her use of Social Media throughout showed how it can be both useful and dangerous.
There's a lot going on in the story, but I finished it in a few sittings and thought it would be a great poolside read, or a perfect plane companion.
Recommended.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy - I would have bought it regardless, based on my enjoyment of her first book. This has no bearing on my review.
So begins Andrea Mara's second novel. Her first - The Other Side Of The Wall - was a fast, taut thriller and this is no different.
Lauren is a therapist, and recently single Mum after her husband shacked up with the woman who lives a few doors down. A lover of photography and blogging, she takes a picture of a stranger on a beach that goes viral with the hashtag #HowIWishISpentMyTwenties. Unfortunately, as we all know, the negatives of Social Media can sometimes outweigh the positives, and that's what happens here. Lauren is contacted by someone who demands to know everything about the woman in the photograph, and they will not stop until they find her.
We go back and forth between Lauren and Cleo, the woman in the picture, and both stories were engaging. I enjoyed Cleo's story a little more, but I also liked how real Lauren was and how her use of Social Media throughout showed how it can be both useful and dangerous.
There's a lot going on in the story, but I finished it in a few sittings and thought it would be a great poolside read, or a perfect plane companion.
Recommended.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy - I would have bought it regardless, based on my enjoyment of her first book. This has no bearing on my review.
January 2, 2022
This was an easy read but it didn’t grip me like her other one - The Other Side Of The Wall. I found it dragged for a long time and I was willing it to get going and at times I found I was bored especially with the character of Lauren. About 3/4 ways through it started to get going and I really wanted to find out the outcome but even that didn’t live up to my expectations. I know I’m probably on my own in my opinion on this book as it’s come highly recommended but it was a bit “meh” for me. Soz
June 24, 2018
There are certainly some very talented Irish authors about and Andrea Mara is no exception. I absolutely loved this book and it kept me guessing all the way through. Every time I thought I had figured things out the rug was pulled from under me. I shall make a point of getting hold of Andrea's previous book 'The Other Side Of The Wall'.
October 2, 2024
We all do it. We all post things online. Pictures. Blogs. But no one imagines that that very thing can cause a nightmare like none other. It all starts with an innocent photo. On vacation in Italy, Lauren is on the beach. She takes a photo. A photo that happens to have a beautiful red haired woman reading a book. From that moment, after Lauren posts on her blog, things Lauren could never imagine, take over. Like a domino effect, that photo leads to someone who will stop at nothing to know who that woman is. And it doesn’t stop. There’s mystery after mystery. Twist after twist. I wanted to play hooky from work and just keep reading.
Prior to this, I had read Someone in the Attic, loved it and and had to find more by this author. Like, all of them. And I did find them all. This author is gifted and can write one engrossing and creepy book. You may just find yourself looking over your shoulder a time or two. I shall keep myself busy making my way through this author’s books. Both ones read are five star.
Prior to this, I had read Someone in the Attic, loved it and and had to find more by this author. Like, all of them. And I did find them all. This author is gifted and can write one engrossing and creepy book. You may just find yourself looking over your shoulder a time or two. I shall keep myself busy making my way through this author’s books. Both ones read are five star.
May 18, 2021
Sadly, this book wasn't as good as Andrea Mara's others. I've read The Sleeper Lies and The Other Side of the Wall so far. I wanted to slap her so much during this book and scream, Wake up! at her. I can't tell if this is bad storytelling or if this is the way she wanted to write her character, but she wasn't that smart.
There were a lot of different stories and not all of them pertained to each other in the end. Because of the different stories, it felt disjointed. They're supposed they build suspense and keep the reader guessing throughout the book, but in the end when they didn't pan out to anything, I felt a little let down. I was disappointed there wasn't more to the extra stories than their face value.
The "villian" in this book isn't much of a villian. She wasn't anything more than a creepy peeping tom. She doled out weak threats and creepy lines, but there didn't seem to be any real danger. All the while Lauren is freaking out and keeping it to herself like a dirty secret. If it were me, I would have threatened her with police action and challenged her motives - especially after Lauren figured
out that the villian didn't know where she actually lived. But this is another point. In the book it states that the housekeeper didn't start working for Nadine and Dave until September. But yet the book reinforces that Grace gets all her info about Lauren from the pictures and updates she posts online.
After all it's "faults", this book was good. I enjoyed reading it, but it wasn't her best work. There just seemed to be too much going on with disjointed stories and a "poor me, damsel-in-distress, you'd really like to slap, doesn't-learn-from-her-mistakes" heroine. I look forward to reading more books by Andrea Mara.
There were a lot of different stories and not all of them pertained to each other in the end. Because of the different stories, it felt disjointed. They're supposed they build suspense and keep the reader guessing throughout the book, but in the end when they didn't pan out to anything, I felt a little let down. I was disappointed there wasn't more to the extra stories than their face value.
The "villian" in this book isn't much of a villian. She wasn't anything more than a creepy peeping tom. She doled out weak threats and creepy lines, but there didn't seem to be any real danger. All the while Lauren is freaking out and keeping it to herself like a dirty secret. If it were me, I would have threatened her with police action and challenged her motives - especially after Lauren figured
out that the villian didn't know where she actually lived. But this is another point. In the book it states that the housekeeper didn't start working for Nadine and Dave until September. But yet the book reinforces that Grace gets all her info about Lauren from the pictures and updates she posts online.
After all it's "faults", this book was good. I enjoyed reading it, but it wasn't her best work. There just seemed to be too much going on with disjointed stories and a "poor me, damsel-in-distress, you'd really like to slap, doesn't-learn-from-her-mistakes" heroine. I look forward to reading more books by Andrea Mara.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2018
Clicking on anything for the next while, will make me think twice! Andrea weaves a great tense tale which mounts up in pressure for the characters and readers. I enjoyed both her books now and 'look forward' to her third! (to be scared by her third!)
March 15, 2022
Well thank you very much Andrea Mara. This is only the second of your books that I've read but exactly the same thing happened this time as last!
I started reading it yesterday afternoon. At some point I did have to sleep but then I carried on reading. Hence absolutely NO housework has been done. In fact if I hadn't been fed and watered I'd have gone without that as well.
Needless to say this should put anyone off using social media to excess or not thinking of the consequences, yet here I am sharing my meagre thoughts.
It's a good story, which at times seems simple but is far from it. Also needlessly say I guessed the end completely wrong, which is always a good sign. The heroine drove me up the wall with her constant use of various platforms when it was clear she shouldn't but that only added to the story.
Highly recommended. A great read which you will find very hard to put down.
I started reading it yesterday afternoon. At some point I did have to sleep but then I carried on reading. Hence absolutely NO housework has been done. In fact if I hadn't been fed and watered I'd have gone without that as well.
Needless to say this should put anyone off using social media to excess or not thinking of the consequences, yet here I am sharing my meagre thoughts.
It's a good story, which at times seems simple but is far from it. Also needlessly say I guessed the end completely wrong, which is always a good sign. The heroine drove me up the wall with her constant use of various platforms when it was clear she shouldn't but that only added to the story.
Highly recommended. A great read which you will find very hard to put down.
May 25, 2018
One Click is Andrea Mara's second novel and like the first, I loved it. This is a psychological thriller which sees Lauren, a mother of two teenage girls, trying to deal with disturbing messages after she posts a photograph online of a woman on a beach.
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The book is certainly a page turner and made me question again whether I put too much information online.
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Book gets five stars, this should be everyone's beach read this year!
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The book is certainly a page turner and made me question again whether I put too much information online.
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Book gets five stars, this should be everyone's beach read this year!
December 21, 2021
This started off really well but about halfway through, lost its way and soon became a chronicle of domestic events with alternating POVs.
Huh. Where was the mystery? It would have worked better if the book was shorter by about 150+ pages.
Still, a decent read and I’d like to read the author’s other books.
Huh. Where was the mystery? It would have worked better if the book was shorter by about 150+ pages.
Still, a decent read and I’d like to read the author’s other books.
September 1, 2018
Another fantastic Irish Author
A Great page turner. Read it in 24 hours. Fast paced and I didn’t guess unlike many books I’ve read.
A Great page turner. Read it in 24 hours. Fast paced and I didn’t guess unlike many books I’ve read.
February 1, 2022
Quick easy read
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