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The Bright Side of Going Dark
From the bestselling author of The Overdue Life of Amy Byler comes a fresh, funny, and thoughtful story about going off the grid in order to truly live.
As one of the most popular influencers on social media, Mia Bell has lived her life online for years. With her celebrity dog and gorgeous fiancé, she is planning the ultimate virtual wedding—expensive, elaborate, and entirely paid for by sponsors. But off-camera, her world is far from picture perfect. After being jilted by her fiancé and faking her nuptials to please her sponsors, Mia finally has had enough. She heaves her phone off a cliff, ready to live—and maybe find love—offline for a change.
Mia’s sudden absence doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by techie loner Paige Miller, who hacks Mia’s account and begins impersonating the internet celebrity. Paige has her reasons. Her half sister, Jessica, idolizes Mia and desperately needs something to believe in. If taking over Mia’s online persona is Paige’s only means of connecting to her sister, so be it.
Creating a like-worthy life is more fun than Paige expected. But when she grows too bold and is caught in the act, a fiasco ensues that could forever change Mia, Paige, and the people who love them. Because somewhere amid the chaos is an invaluable lesson—one that only real life can teach.
341 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2020
3607 people are currently reading
11709 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Harms
11 books1,584 followersUSA Today, Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestseller Kelly Harms is the author of The Bright Side of Going Dark, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler, The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane and The Matchmakers of Minnow Bay. She worked with bestselling authors, Edgar, RITA, and Agatha award winners, and Indie Next List Picks in her time as an editor at a division of HarperCollins and later as an agent at the Jane Rotrosen Agency. She now lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her beloved family.
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July 19, 2020
Do you want to take over the place of someone’s life? But think again because nothing is for free and nothing as it seems! You may also take over the burdens of someone that you have no idea how to handle it!
This book is remarkable, powerful, riveting and incredibly written women’s fiction. It’s about living, breathing and being asocial people who buried their faces into their phones and losing the connection with the real life. It is also about dysfunctional, estranged family relations, making changes in your life to reach out your second chances, making peace with your depression and choosing different path in your life to catch your own happiness.
Mia Bell’s life looks too good to be true.
Popularity around social media arena with her influencer gig: CHECK!
A handsome, dreamy fiancée: CHECK!
A cute, adorable dog: CHECK AGAIN! It seems like lucky bitch live her dream. But what a minute!
Why is she calling her wedding off and shutting down her social media accounts. Is she out of her mind? How many people want to be her! Does she have any idea? And yes, she just moves with her mother. Yes, there must be something really really wrong with her!
But don’t worry a geeky techie is about to hack her account and replaces her place. Her name is Paige Miller and she is reluctant imposter. She only wants to connect with her sister and does this as a prank. But at the end nobody laughs at her!
This book starts like a regular chic lit, light, fluffy, swoony reading but it’s not even close. It’s dealing with feminism empowerment, clinic depression and so many heavy stuffs but author’s witty, emotional and relaxing words give you enough positive energy and you easily go and become witness of the emotional turmoil of the characters because she enlighten us our vision to see the brightest sides at the darkest places and help us keep enjoying yourself and smiling the progression of the story.
Overall: It’s entertaining, smart with great sense of humour and tear jerking, poignant, lovely book I truly enjoyed to read.
Kelly Harms’ previous works are at my MOUNT TBR forever and this book encouraged me to read them ASAP.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for sharing this promising ARC in exchange my honest review.
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This book is remarkable, powerful, riveting and incredibly written women’s fiction. It’s about living, breathing and being asocial people who buried their faces into their phones and losing the connection with the real life. It is also about dysfunctional, estranged family relations, making changes in your life to reach out your second chances, making peace with your depression and choosing different path in your life to catch your own happiness.
Mia Bell’s life looks too good to be true.
Popularity around social media arena with her influencer gig: CHECK!
A handsome, dreamy fiancée: CHECK!
A cute, adorable dog: CHECK AGAIN! It seems like lucky bitch live her dream. But what a minute!
Why is she calling her wedding off and shutting down her social media accounts. Is she out of her mind? How many people want to be her! Does she have any idea? And yes, she just moves with her mother. Yes, there must be something really really wrong with her!
But don’t worry a geeky techie is about to hack her account and replaces her place. Her name is Paige Miller and she is reluctant imposter. She only wants to connect with her sister and does this as a prank. But at the end nobody laughs at her!
This book starts like a regular chic lit, light, fluffy, swoony reading but it’s not even close. It’s dealing with feminism empowerment, clinic depression and so many heavy stuffs but author’s witty, emotional and relaxing words give you enough positive energy and you easily go and become witness of the emotional turmoil of the characters because she enlighten us our vision to see the brightest sides at the darkest places and help us keep enjoying yourself and smiling the progression of the story.
Overall: It’s entertaining, smart with great sense of humour and tear jerking, poignant, lovely book I truly enjoyed to read.
Kelly Harms’ previous works are at my MOUNT TBR forever and this book encouraged me to read them ASAP.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for sharing this promising ARC in exchange my honest review.
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December 10, 2020
After having previously read Kelly Harms’ book The Overdue Life of Amy Byler, which was mostly light-hearted, humorous, escapist fun, I was really surprised by the deeper issues tackled in this one. It still has humor and levity, but it revolves around some weighty issues like suicidality, mental health, the dark side of internet fame and tech addiction, grief - both family and pet-related, and dysfunctional parent-child relationships.
I know you’re probably thinking: Wow, what a downer! All I can say is if you read through to the end, it’s actually quite good-hearted, touching and relevant. It has flavors of rom-com and family drama, using social media and family dynamics as the primary focal points. It also gives good food for thought on the benefits of a more unplugged, or at least balanced life.
Our first narrator, Mia Bell is a yoga instructor/internet influencer on a website called Pictey (think Instagram), where under the username @Mia&Mike (Mike being her beloved English bulldog), she’s built a large business and fan base, who hang on her every carefully cultivated post, filled with all the positivity and adventure the weary masses could want. On the surface, her life is the perfect dream. Our second narrator is Paige Miller, an anxiety-prone and emotionally unfiltered employee in the Safety & Standards department of Pictey, whose job it is to police the comments and posts on Pictey to make sure nothing inappropriate or dangerous slips through. Her life is rather the opposite of Mia’s, giving little thought to appearance and social opportunities, and her honesty can often come off as rather tactless.
When cell-phone addict Mia is dumped by her douchey fiance, Tucker, right before their heavily sponsored, scheduled live Pictey wedding for her fans, she retreats to her mother’s house in Colorado, and with her mom’s encouragement, throws her phone off a cliff in an effort to “go dark” for a little bit and live life in the now. Making that a little easier is her mother’s handsome neighbor, Dewey, a widowed dad of a young daughter, who she befriends. In a separate turn of events, Paige errantly dismisses a suicidal user comment on Mia’s feed as just another attention-seeker, only to find out that user, who actually did attempt suicide, was her half-sister Jessica, a devoted @Mia&Mike fan. Ordered by her supervisor to take a mental health break, Paige also goes to Colorado to be with her recovering sister. What follows is the complicated mess that happens when Paige hacks Mia’s account without her knowledge and begins ghost posting on her feed. Needless to say, chaos ensues that brings their worlds together in very unexpected ways. A number of things are a bit far-fetched, but the story - particularly the ending - was rewarding and the overall message was a positive one.
Despite the seriousness of the themes, Harms handles the issues sensitively, and her concern for mental health - especially among social media users seems evidenced in how the events play out. The facts on suicide, as stated by Paige, are important, though they felt a little forced into the story. They would have made more sense in an author’s note.
**As a warning, there is a mention of a prior act of animal cruelty and an unrelated gut-wrenching, but tender scene involving the humane loss of a pet, so I feel I should mention that - especially to any dog lovers out there.**
★★★★
I know you’re probably thinking: Wow, what a downer! All I can say is if you read through to the end, it’s actually quite good-hearted, touching and relevant. It has flavors of rom-com and family drama, using social media and family dynamics as the primary focal points. It also gives good food for thought on the benefits of a more unplugged, or at least balanced life.
Our first narrator, Mia Bell is a yoga instructor/internet influencer on a website called Pictey (think Instagram), where under the username @Mia&Mike (Mike being her beloved English bulldog), she’s built a large business and fan base, who hang on her every carefully cultivated post, filled with all the positivity and adventure the weary masses could want. On the surface, her life is the perfect dream. Our second narrator is Paige Miller, an anxiety-prone and emotionally unfiltered employee in the Safety & Standards department of Pictey, whose job it is to police the comments and posts on Pictey to make sure nothing inappropriate or dangerous slips through. Her life is rather the opposite of Mia’s, giving little thought to appearance and social opportunities, and her honesty can often come off as rather tactless.
When cell-phone addict Mia is dumped by her douchey fiance, Tucker, right before their heavily sponsored, scheduled live Pictey wedding for her fans, she retreats to her mother’s house in Colorado, and with her mom’s encouragement, throws her phone off a cliff in an effort to “go dark” for a little bit and live life in the now. Making that a little easier is her mother’s handsome neighbor, Dewey, a widowed dad of a young daughter, who she befriends. In a separate turn of events, Paige errantly dismisses a suicidal user comment on Mia’s feed as just another attention-seeker, only to find out that user, who actually did attempt suicide, was her half-sister Jessica, a devoted @Mia&Mike fan. Ordered by her supervisor to take a mental health break, Paige also goes to Colorado to be with her recovering sister. What follows is the complicated mess that happens when Paige hacks Mia’s account without her knowledge and begins ghost posting on her feed. Needless to say, chaos ensues that brings their worlds together in very unexpected ways. A number of things are a bit far-fetched, but the story - particularly the ending - was rewarding and the overall message was a positive one.
Despite the seriousness of the themes, Harms handles the issues sensitively, and her concern for mental health - especially among social media users seems evidenced in how the events play out. The facts on suicide, as stated by Paige, are important, though they felt a little forced into the story. They would have made more sense in an author’s note.
**As a warning, there is a mention of a prior act of animal cruelty and an unrelated gut-wrenching, but tender scene involving the humane loss of a pet, so I feel I should mention that - especially to any dog lovers out there.**
★★★★
January 17, 2020
Kelly Harms is a sneaky good writer. Her stories are full of winks and wit and whimsy, but don’t think for a moment they are light or, worse, lite. Because the moment you let down your guard (“Wheee—what fun!”) she clobbers you with a wrecking ball of reality, the stuff that hurts deep down.
Her latest, The Bright Side of Going Dark, appears to be about the dilemma that social media poses for most of us: we shouldn’t like it as much as we do, and we don’t, not really, except all the time, apparently. The intertwined storylines of Mia, Paige, and Jessica address this dilemma in a fresh, nuanced way, and it did get me thinking. But this novel is about so much more than moral quandary of screen time. It’s about grief and loss and anxiety. It’s about mothers and daughters—more anxiety—and about second and third chances.
Running through those themes, cinching them together with a red hot needle is one idea: the awkwardness of emotional pain. How much should it hurt? How much will I let it? How long until it’s wallowing? Who needs to know about it? Who needs to be shielded? Everyone—even me?
Awkward, right? And quintessentially human. Like laughter, and this touching, engaging story.
Her latest, The Bright Side of Going Dark, appears to be about the dilemma that social media poses for most of us: we shouldn’t like it as much as we do, and we don’t, not really, except all the time, apparently. The intertwined storylines of Mia, Paige, and Jessica address this dilemma in a fresh, nuanced way, and it did get me thinking. But this novel is about so much more than moral quandary of screen time. It’s about grief and loss and anxiety. It’s about mothers and daughters—more anxiety—and about second and third chances.
Running through those themes, cinching them together with a red hot needle is one idea: the awkwardness of emotional pain. How much should it hurt? How much will I let it? How long until it’s wallowing? Who needs to know about it? Who needs to be shielded? Everyone—even me?
Awkward, right? And quintessentially human. Like laughter, and this touching, engaging story.
January 5, 2021
Mia Bell started posting pictures of her beloved dog Mike hanging out while she did yoga because she loved her dog and she loved yoga. Growing a following helped her yoga business and, as an influencer, became the way she made her living—which meant living a life in which every moment was something to be photographed, shared, and commented on. After Mike died, she was busy planning her dream wedding, paid for by various sponsors. When her photographer fiancé calls off the wedding at the last minute, Mia pretends on the app that the magical event took place before telling her followers she needs some time off for her honeymoon—and then chucks her phone off a mountain.
Meanwhile, Paige, who is a successful programmer for Pictey, the app that Mia uses, struggles with severe anxiety attacks. When Paige sees that her sister is crying out for help on Mia’s feed and that Mia has taken a break, she uses her tech skills to hack into Mia’s account and start posting as if she were Mia.
This novel is a lot about mental health and, of course, using social media not as a crutch of a fake community but to keep in touch with people you actually care about in real life. I enjoyed reading a fun book about serious issues like dealing with depression and loss.
Meanwhile, Paige, who is a successful programmer for Pictey, the app that Mia uses, struggles with severe anxiety attacks. When Paige sees that her sister is crying out for help on Mia’s feed and that Mia has taken a break, she uses her tech skills to hack into Mia’s account and start posting as if she were Mia.
This novel is a lot about mental health and, of course, using social media not as a crutch of a fake community but to keep in touch with people you actually care about in real life. I enjoyed reading a fun book about serious issues like dealing with depression and loss.
April 30, 2021
Mia is a successful influencer on social media. Paige works at a social media start up. Mia likes being out there, and constantly communicating with her followers. Paige likes privacy and staying away from people. Being so different from each other, you'd think their paths would never cross ... but they do.
Mia and Paige will each experience a crisis, and this story takes us through their experiences. I was expecting a cheerful and light-hearted story, so I was surprised by the heavy themes addressed. Regardless, I enjoyed this story and thought it had a great message.
Mia and Paige will each experience a crisis, and this story takes us through their experiences. I was expecting a cheerful and light-hearted story, so I was surprised by the heavy themes addressed. Regardless, I enjoyed this story and thought it had a great message.
February 20, 2020
God, this book is so boring.
I'm not connecting with any characters at all and it's taking forever for the plot to take off.
Nothing is happening.
I just dont care about Paige and Mia.
They sound the same in their POV's and some of the scenarios that they're in seem a little unrealistic.
I'm not connecting with any characters at all and it's taking forever for the plot to take off.
Nothing is happening.
I just dont care about Paige and Mia.
They sound the same in their POV's and some of the scenarios that they're in seem a little unrealistic.
April 22, 2020
An intriguing and amusing book of our dependence on our phones and the realities of social media.
SUMMARY
Mia Bell is one of the most popular influencers on social media. She is planning the ultimate virtual wedding entirely paid for by her sponsors. But off-camera, her world is no so perfect.
She has beenjilted by her handsome fiancé and fakes her nuptials to please her sponsors. Mia finally has had enough. She heaves her phone off a cliff, ready to live offline for a change.
Paige Miller, is a high-paid computer nerd, who hacks Mia’s account and begins impersonating the internet celebrity. Paige has her reasons. Her half sister, Jessica, idolizes Mia and desperately needs something to believe in. If taking over Mia’s online persona is Paige’s only means of connecting to her sister, so be it.
Paige has more fun creating posts for Mia account than she expected. But when she forgets who she is supposed to be online she is caught in the act. A fiasco ensues that could forever change Mia, Paige, and the people who love them. But somewhere amid the chaos is a real life lesson.
REVIEW
What would it be like to get rid of your cell phone? Can you even imagine yourself heaving it off a cliff? THE BRIGHT SIDE OF GOING DARK is a clever and intriguing story that makes you give a lot of thought to that little device you hold so dear! It’s an amusing, fast and easy read, perfect for a day in the mountains or at the beach...if you can just put the phone down for a few hours! And by the way...you may not want to tKe it with you when you go on that mountain hike!
The tight writing alternates between Paige and Mia perspectives and moves swift. Both characters are unique and well-developed and will have you invested in the story. At times you will want to to throttle one or the other of them, and at times you’ll be cheering them on. One of my favorite parts of the book was Paige’s renewed relationship and her dedication to help her half-sister, Jessica.
Do you ever think your life should be just as perfect as what you see on Instagram or Facebook? THE BRIGHT SIDE OF GOING DARK’s reveals a reality of social media, It also touches on depression, attempted suicide and recovery, but finishes with personal growth and maybe even a little romance.
Author Kelly Harms also wrote bestselling book The Overdue Life of Amy Byler (2019). She lives in Madison Wisconsin and has been working in the publishing business for two decades.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Lake Union
Published May 12, 2020
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
#netgalley #lakeunion #kellyharms #thebrightsideofgoingdark #bluestockingreviews #readitloveit
SUMMARY
Mia Bell is one of the most popular influencers on social media. She is planning the ultimate virtual wedding entirely paid for by her sponsors. But off-camera, her world is no so perfect.
She has beenjilted by her handsome fiancé and fakes her nuptials to please her sponsors. Mia finally has had enough. She heaves her phone off a cliff, ready to live offline for a change.
Paige Miller, is a high-paid computer nerd, who hacks Mia’s account and begins impersonating the internet celebrity. Paige has her reasons. Her half sister, Jessica, idolizes Mia and desperately needs something to believe in. If taking over Mia’s online persona is Paige’s only means of connecting to her sister, so be it.
Paige has more fun creating posts for Mia account than she expected. But when she forgets who she is supposed to be online she is caught in the act. A fiasco ensues that could forever change Mia, Paige, and the people who love them. But somewhere amid the chaos is a real life lesson.
REVIEW
What would it be like to get rid of your cell phone? Can you even imagine yourself heaving it off a cliff? THE BRIGHT SIDE OF GOING DARK is a clever and intriguing story that makes you give a lot of thought to that little device you hold so dear! It’s an amusing, fast and easy read, perfect for a day in the mountains or at the beach...if you can just put the phone down for a few hours! And by the way...you may not want to tKe it with you when you go on that mountain hike!
The tight writing alternates between Paige and Mia perspectives and moves swift. Both characters are unique and well-developed and will have you invested in the story. At times you will want to to throttle one or the other of them, and at times you’ll be cheering them on. One of my favorite parts of the book was Paige’s renewed relationship and her dedication to help her half-sister, Jessica.
Do you ever think your life should be just as perfect as what you see on Instagram or Facebook? THE BRIGHT SIDE OF GOING DARK’s reveals a reality of social media, It also touches on depression, attempted suicide and recovery, but finishes with personal growth and maybe even a little romance.
Author Kelly Harms also wrote bestselling book The Overdue Life of Amy Byler (2019). She lives in Madison Wisconsin and has been working in the publishing business for two decades.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Lake Union
Published May 12, 2020
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
#netgalley #lakeunion #kellyharms #thebrightsideofgoingdark #bluestockingreviews #readitloveit
February 26, 2020
Even casual users knows how absurd and unrealistic social media can be—yet we keep logging on day after day (and believing what we see!). Kelly Harms takes this dichotomy to new heights in a clever and unputdownable story of two women whose so-called online lives collide IRL. I laughed, I cried, I came away from the experience with a newfound appreciation for life—which is to say THE BRIGHT SIDE OF GOING DARK is everything I’d hope for in a Kelly Harms novel, and more. I loved every page.
September 26, 2022
I picked this book up solely because I enjoyed The Overdue Life of Amy Byler so much, but I really struggled through the first half as it was all about internet influencers and tech hackers, things I have little understanding or interest in.
By the second half of the story, our dual narrators, Mia and Paige, were finding out how to live life away from their internet addictions, lifestyles and big incomes. Add in Jessica, Paige's half sister who attempts suicide, while being a follower of Mia online, who dismissed her call out for help.
So some real people with real issues emerge, add in a few rescue dogs and you have a more interesting and fun book. It was flawed and took a long time to become coherent to me, but pretty good in the end.
3.5 rounded up, I like rescue dogs.
By the second half of the story, our dual narrators, Mia and Paige, were finding out how to live life away from their internet addictions, lifestyles and big incomes. Add in Jessica, Paige's half sister who attempts suicide, while being a follower of Mia online, who dismissed her call out for help.
So some real people with real issues emerge, add in a few rescue dogs and you have a more interesting and fun book. It was flawed and took a long time to become coherent to me, but pretty good in the end.
3.5 rounded up, I like rescue dogs.
September 8, 2021
I really liked The Overdue Life of Amy Byler. I mean . . . . .
And snatched up two more of Kelly Harms’ books in short order. I’m so bummed to say I didn’t enjoy either one of them. I blamed The Seven Day Switch on my affinity for the body swap trope and maybe being a little hard to please, but this one was just a flop. I knew right away Mia would most likely not be my cup of tea because legume eating yogi influencers are most definitely not my jam, but I figured with a dual narrative maybe Paige and I could be pals. But sadly it was not meant to be. The plot here was thin at best. I really didn’t buy into Mia’s redemption arc and Paige’s personality switch from a buttoned up, by the book standards and quality enforcer to someone who was clearly supposed to be on the spectrum somewhere threw me for a loop. The depiction of her character was more than a little off-putting when it came to engaging in activity that she had to know could get her fired – and quite possibly could have her facing civil charges, if not criminal.
Sooooooooo, it’s a swing and a miss for me. Maybe this author was meant to be a one hit wonder for me?
And snatched up two more of Kelly Harms’ books in short order. I’m so bummed to say I didn’t enjoy either one of them. I blamed The Seven Day Switch on my affinity for the body swap trope and maybe being a little hard to please, but this one was just a flop. I knew right away Mia would most likely not be my cup of tea because legume eating yogi influencers are most definitely not my jam, but I figured with a dual narrative maybe Paige and I could be pals. But sadly it was not meant to be. The plot here was thin at best. I really didn’t buy into Mia’s redemption arc and Paige’s personality switch from a buttoned up, by the book standards and quality enforcer to someone who was clearly supposed to be on the spectrum somewhere threw me for a loop. The depiction of her character was more than a little off-putting when it came to engaging in activity that she had to know could get her fired – and quite possibly could have her facing civil charges, if not criminal.
Sooooooooo, it’s a swing and a miss for me. Maybe this author was meant to be a one hit wonder for me?
May 19, 2020
READ THIS BOOK! The Bright Side of Going Dark shines in its refreshing look at how we can get stuck in a life we don't recognize when we refuse to process our emotions.
4.5 Stars!
Kelly Harms, you've done it again! What a moving and refreshing story about grief, mental health, and self-image. All told through the lens of an influencer as well as someone more behind the scenes. (What is it truly like to be the person who posts 30 times a day, or to be the one to scroll endlessly?) The dichotomy between the two women is striking and complicated, but there are overlaps of what kind of life they want to lead, and how they each feel stuck in the routine they've created for themselves as an escape from facing and processing their emotions.
Harms crafts such an authentic story around these heavy issues, while also sprinkling in some hope, joy, love, and finding your unique place in the world. There's such a beautiful balance of hope and grief, real and fake. It will make you want to hug your people and animals tighter...and more often.
The only criticism I have would be that the first third of the book is a bit of a slower read. But I can't even rate it lower, because I don't see how taking anything out would improve it. It's just the slow build of who these people really are, before the main action starts.
This story is unflinchingly honest, and balances the weighty topics with silver linings and hints of redemption. There's a bit of romance, a heap of pets, and a whole lot of heart! This novel shines!
4.5 Stars!
Kelly Harms, you've done it again! What a moving and refreshing story about grief, mental health, and self-image. All told through the lens of an influencer as well as someone more behind the scenes. (What is it truly like to be the person who posts 30 times a day, or to be the one to scroll endlessly?) The dichotomy between the two women is striking and complicated, but there are overlaps of what kind of life they want to lead, and how they each feel stuck in the routine they've created for themselves as an escape from facing and processing their emotions.
Harms crafts such an authentic story around these heavy issues, while also sprinkling in some hope, joy, love, and finding your unique place in the world. There's such a beautiful balance of hope and grief, real and fake. It will make you want to hug your people and animals tighter...and more often.
The only criticism I have would be that the first third of the book is a bit of a slower read. But I can't even rate it lower, because I don't see how taking anything out would improve it. It's just the slow build of who these people really are, before the main action starts.
This story is unflinchingly honest, and balances the weighty topics with silver linings and hints of redemption. There's a bit of romance, a heap of pets, and a whole lot of heart! This novel shines!
June 9, 2020
Won via goodreads giveaways, all my opinions are my own:)
----
A bit unrealistic in a few ways but a fun read overall. :)
I never really warmed up to Paige till most of the way through. Mia interested me enough to keep going (loved her mom!). Her bond with Mike was really touching and .
The romance I meh on *shrugs* but as characters themselves, I did like Dewey and Azalea.
The latter parts after had me reading as fast I could and cursing myself when I read too fast and had to go back and re-read:)
The ending was happy and a bit strange but it had me smiling too despite it, so.. all good? Haha but I did like it surprisingly.
It was a mixed bag for me but it was just what I needed right now and I'm grateful to this author for it :) *Hats off to you*
It did make me think about how big social media and our phones are for all/most/some of us. When have we not had at least one mini scare if we can't find our phone or we forgot it somewhere?
We use our phones for so much these days (and they can do so much more) and technology seems to be evolving so fast that we can barely keep up sometimes.
What would it be like to go without our phones for *insert amount of time*? Life would be slower definitely but would it also be better sometimes just to de-plug for awhile?
3.75 stars
----
A bit unrealistic in a few ways but a fun read overall. :)
I never really warmed up to Paige till most of the way through. Mia interested me enough to keep going (loved her mom!). Her bond with Mike was really touching and .
The romance I meh on *shrugs* but as characters themselves, I did like Dewey and Azalea.
The latter parts after had me reading as fast I could and cursing myself when I read too fast and had to go back and re-read:)
The ending was happy and a bit strange but it had me smiling too despite it, so.. all good? Haha but I did like it surprisingly.
It was a mixed bag for me but it was just what I needed right now and I'm grateful to this author for it :) *Hats off to you*
It did make me think about how big social media and our phones are for all/most/some of us. When have we not had at least one mini scare if we can't find our phone or we forgot it somewhere?
We use our phones for so much these days (and they can do so much more) and technology seems to be evolving so fast that we can barely keep up sometimes.
What would it be like to go without our phones for *insert amount of time*? Life would be slower definitely but would it also be better sometimes just to de-plug for awhile?
3.75 stars
July 5, 2020
I had to force myself to finish this book.
I found Mia and Paige very unlikable and found myself not being interested to see how their stories ended. Neither character had any redeeming qualities and the story felt far fetched towards the ending.
It took 3/4 of the book until anything ‘exciting’ happened and even then was a let down.
I found Mia and Paige very unlikable and found myself not being interested to see how their stories ended. Neither character had any redeeming qualities and the story felt far fetched towards the ending.
It took 3/4 of the book until anything ‘exciting’ happened and even then was a let down.
July 28, 2020
The Bright Side of Going Dark
by Kelly Harms
This book was fun and I enjoyed this read a lot! The life of a social media influencer looks like it's all picture perfect until you take it over and oops ummm it isn't that great after all. Kelly Harms wrote a very good women's fiction I enjoyed reading about that had a powerful message, speaks to us in the social media world, what is real and fake, and the connection that we lose in the real life.
The story is about social media influencer, Mia Bell who has a handsome fiancee and just as popular cute dog. one day she gets sick of it all and shuts down her social media and cancels her wedding. Enter techie extraordinaire Paige Miller our imposter who is taking over to connect with her sister who idolizes Mia Bell.
This is a well written book that you will fall in love with. The characters were amazing and relatable. Harms did an amazing job addressing deep issues about family, acceptance, and the role of social media in our lives. The book was fun to read, had funny moments and still very poignant and touching.
I recommend this book for a great read I enjoyed.
by Kelly Harms
This book was fun and I enjoyed this read a lot! The life of a social media influencer looks like it's all picture perfect until you take it over and oops ummm it isn't that great after all. Kelly Harms wrote a very good women's fiction I enjoyed reading about that had a powerful message, speaks to us in the social media world, what is real and fake, and the connection that we lose in the real life.
The story is about social media influencer, Mia Bell who has a handsome fiancee and just as popular cute dog. one day she gets sick of it all and shuts down her social media and cancels her wedding. Enter techie extraordinaire Paige Miller our imposter who is taking over to connect with her sister who idolizes Mia Bell.
This is a well written book that you will fall in love with. The characters were amazing and relatable. Harms did an amazing job addressing deep issues about family, acceptance, and the role of social media in our lives. The book was fun to read, had funny moments and still very poignant and touching.
I recommend this book for a great read I enjoyed.
January 16, 2020
I absolutely adored the Overdue Life of Amy Byler so I was extremely excited to receive an ARC of this book.
It definitely hasn’t disappointed. This is filled with more extremely loveable characters. It has been utterly impossible to put down.
I have finished this book in just two hours and I have really enjoyed it. This definitely might be my new favourite by this author.
I have found that it has been hard to track the characters on occasions. But overall this is a completely enjoyable book.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It definitely hasn’t disappointed. This is filled with more extremely loveable characters. It has been utterly impossible to put down.
I have finished this book in just two hours and I have really enjoyed it. This definitely might be my new favourite by this author.
I have found that it has been hard to track the characters on occasions. But overall this is a completely enjoyable book.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 12, 2020
The Bright Side of Going Dark is a thought-provoking, profound, and poignant story about social media, mental health, and making true connections with people. There is an abundance of wisdom in this emotionally-driven book. Mia, Paige, and the rest of the characters in this book are so vividly portrayed. There is a great line in this book, and it sums up the characters, and even people in real life, so well; “We’re all just good people accidentally on purpose hurting ourselves.” That line rings so true to me. The pandemic has taught me to appreciate the small things, the things we take for granted; and it’s also something that this book reminds us to do.
January 21, 2020
My first book by Kelly Harms but definitely not the last! I loved it!!
June 26, 2020
3.75 stars rounded up
The grass isn't always greener on the other side and Paige Miller quickly learned that when she took over Mia's Pictey account. We all know that people rarely post about their struggles, so to all Mia's followers it seems she has a picture perfect life, but looks can be deceiving. This was an eye opening look into how social media can effect people and made me really think about how beneficial a break from Instagram/Facebook could be.
What I enjoyed about this book:
1. I really enjoyed how honest and relatable the characters were. Even though they were so different, I was equally invested in both of their stories.
2. This book has such a important message that most people could benefit from. I grew up in a time when social media didn't exist and as I see my daughter grow up under different circumstances I worry. She doesn't have an account, but I've already seen how quickly tweens can become addicted to it and how they tend to base their self worth on other people's opinions. I think it's good to remind people to stop and enjoy the people around you.
3. I liked how this book focused on mental health issues. I myself come from a family that struggles with mental illness so I've always been quite aware of how it can disrupt a family. TW: suicide
Even though this book covers a few really deep topics, it was really witty at times and had a touch of romance as well. I definitely recommend you pick up this novel that is sure to leave you pondering your time spent on social media.
Thank you Netgalley for my gifted copy.
The grass isn't always greener on the other side and Paige Miller quickly learned that when she took over Mia's Pictey account. We all know that people rarely post about their struggles, so to all Mia's followers it seems she has a picture perfect life, but looks can be deceiving. This was an eye opening look into how social media can effect people and made me really think about how beneficial a break from Instagram/Facebook could be.
What I enjoyed about this book:
1. I really enjoyed how honest and relatable the characters were. Even though they were so different, I was equally invested in both of their stories.
2. This book has such a important message that most people could benefit from. I grew up in a time when social media didn't exist and as I see my daughter grow up under different circumstances I worry. She doesn't have an account, but I've already seen how quickly tweens can become addicted to it and how they tend to base their self worth on other people's opinions. I think it's good to remind people to stop and enjoy the people around you.
3. I liked how this book focused on mental health issues. I myself come from a family that struggles with mental illness so I've always been quite aware of how it can disrupt a family. TW: suicide
Even though this book covers a few really deep topics, it was really witty at times and had a touch of romance as well. I definitely recommend you pick up this novel that is sure to leave you pondering your time spent on social media.
Thank you Netgalley for my gifted copy.
February 15, 2020
Mia Bell is a top online influencer with her celebrity dog and handsome finance. But then her wedding falls apart at the last minute and she heads to her mothers to take a break and she stays offline. Cue Paige Miller, a techie, who notices Mia's absence and hacks her account as a way of connecting with her own sister and the fun really begins.
This was such a fun and relevant story and I loved it because of the influencer/online issues. That said, it was so much more than that, involving second chances, family relationships and while it was fun, it was really quite touching.
This was such a fun and relevant story and I loved it because of the influencer/online issues. That said, it was so much more than that, involving second chances, family relationships and while it was fun, it was really quite touching.
January 18, 2020
I had previously read The Overdue Life of Amy Byler (and enjoyed it), so I was excited when I got the opportunity to read the advance copy of another book from the same author.
The Bright Side of Going Dark is told in alternating viewpoints by Mia and Paige. Mia is a social media influencer whose entire life is driven by her phone and online presence. Everything from her workouts to her food choices to her wedding planning is done with a mind to building her brand and gaining sponsorships. As one of the top accounts on her platform, all is going great for Mia until her wedding falls apart at the last minute, threatening her livelihood. Initially, she tries to keep up the appearance (online anyway) that nothing is amiss in order to maintain her image and not jeopardize the obligations she has to the vendors that sponsored everything from her dress to her cake and flowers to the venue in exchange for the online attention a social media star like Mia would bring. Eventually though, Mia heads for her mother's home to regroup and try to figure out how to move forward. Mia tells her followers that she's taking a short break from social media, and then a series of events leads to her ultimately tossing the phone (and all ties to the technology and online presence that define her) off the side of a Colorado mountain. From there, Mia begins to see what life might be like if she were to actually get out and live it.
At the same time, we get the story of Paige, an IT worker tasked with reviewing flagged content from the social media platform that Mia utilizes. Just as she is signing off for the day, a flag comes in on a comment from one of Mia's followers - a suicidal girl who happens to be Paige's more or less estranged younger sister. It isn't until the next morning though that Paige learns of the comment's author, and her sister Jessica's thwarted suicide attempt (thanks to another worker who reviewed the comment and called for help). Paige and Jessica haven't had much of a relationship since Jessica was a preschooler, but Paige is forced to take a couple weeks away from work, and she decides to drive to Colorado to see her sister. When Mia's account goes "dark", Paige uses her IT skills to hack the account and starts posting as Mia as a way of keeping Jessica (who thinks Mia hired Paige to post on her behalf) happy. It works well until Paige accidentally "butt posts" an entry that was never meant to be seen, and her path finally crosses with Mia's. The fallout forces both Paige and Mia to confront their issues and decide what kind of life they really want for themselves going forward.
I found this book to be similar to the other I read from this author in that it was a light, fun, heartwarming read that broached on some thought provoking topics without being heavy. In that regard, no, it doesn't give some serious topics (like mental health and depression) the seriousness they might deserve, but it still serves to draw attention and hopefully spark some conversations. It also got me really thinking about how (and how much) I utilize social media and technology in general, and if there might not be a healthier balance where they are concerned. The book was predictable and the characters were more "character" than real life people, but none of that stops the book from being an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
Thank you to Net Galley for the advance digital copy of this book for me to review.
The Bright Side of Going Dark is told in alternating viewpoints by Mia and Paige. Mia is a social media influencer whose entire life is driven by her phone and online presence. Everything from her workouts to her food choices to her wedding planning is done with a mind to building her brand and gaining sponsorships. As one of the top accounts on her platform, all is going great for Mia until her wedding falls apart at the last minute, threatening her livelihood. Initially, she tries to keep up the appearance (online anyway) that nothing is amiss in order to maintain her image and not jeopardize the obligations she has to the vendors that sponsored everything from her dress to her cake and flowers to the venue in exchange for the online attention a social media star like Mia would bring. Eventually though, Mia heads for her mother's home to regroup and try to figure out how to move forward. Mia tells her followers that she's taking a short break from social media, and then a series of events leads to her ultimately tossing the phone (and all ties to the technology and online presence that define her) off the side of a Colorado mountain. From there, Mia begins to see what life might be like if she were to actually get out and live it.
At the same time, we get the story of Paige, an IT worker tasked with reviewing flagged content from the social media platform that Mia utilizes. Just as she is signing off for the day, a flag comes in on a comment from one of Mia's followers - a suicidal girl who happens to be Paige's more or less estranged younger sister. It isn't until the next morning though that Paige learns of the comment's author, and her sister Jessica's thwarted suicide attempt (thanks to another worker who reviewed the comment and called for help). Paige and Jessica haven't had much of a relationship since Jessica was a preschooler, but Paige is forced to take a couple weeks away from work, and she decides to drive to Colorado to see her sister. When Mia's account goes "dark", Paige uses her IT skills to hack the account and starts posting as Mia as a way of keeping Jessica (who thinks Mia hired Paige to post on her behalf) happy. It works well until Paige accidentally "butt posts" an entry that was never meant to be seen, and her path finally crosses with Mia's. The fallout forces both Paige and Mia to confront their issues and decide what kind of life they really want for themselves going forward.
I found this book to be similar to the other I read from this author in that it was a light, fun, heartwarming read that broached on some thought provoking topics without being heavy. In that regard, no, it doesn't give some serious topics (like mental health and depression) the seriousness they might deserve, but it still serves to draw attention and hopefully spark some conversations. It also got me really thinking about how (and how much) I utilize social media and technology in general, and if there might not be a healthier balance where they are concerned. The book was predictable and the characters were more "character" than real life people, but none of that stops the book from being an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
Thank you to Net Galley for the advance digital copy of this book for me to review.
to-be-review
May 18, 2020I won a kindle edition of this book from a goodreads giveaway, and I will post a honest review as soon as I read it.
June 9, 2020
2.5 meh
did-not-finish
November 13, 2023It's me, not you (the book)!
June 19, 2020
The audio version of this was such a treat for me! And the message about the dark side and addictive nature of social media as well as the possible harm done by social media influencers was so spot on - I want everyone to read this.
January 2, 2021
Naj se bralna sezona 2021 začne
Opis knjigi ne dela usluge saj je veliko več od 'ifluencerka vrže telefon z gore' in 'Paige ji vdre v profil'. Branje sem pričela z rahlim odporom, ampak ko sem ugotovila da je knjiga veliko več od lahkotnega branja, sem jo pa 'požrla'.
Knjiga predstavi temno plat družbenih omrežij in nas preko Mie (in njene mame), opomni na tisto, kar je v življenju res pomembno. Ne sliši se kaj preveč obetavno, a avtorica v zgodbo vplete res veliko drugih pomembnih tem ter celo zgodovino likov. To mi je bilo res všeč, saj sem jih lahko lažje razumela in se nasploh potopila v knjigo.
Na začetku me je najbolj pritegnila Paige, ker a) ima res zanimivo službo ter b) ne maram knjig o influencerjih. A moram ti priznati, da mi je Mia hitro zlezla pod kožo. Avtorica Kelly se je vživela v njen lik in dobro opisala počasne spremembe, ki so na trenutke prav smešne. Ampak resno, si predstavljaš, da bi bil popolnoma odklopljen? Popolnoma. Vključno s šolo in službo.
Na drugi strani pa imamo Paige in Jessico, ki sta gonilna sila druge zgodbe v knjigi. Najprej naj povem, da ne, nisem pričakovala, da se bo knjiga v določeni meri posvetila tej in podobnim temam. Ampak ravno to me je prepričalo, da sem knjigo ocenila s 4, ker je drugačna in ima močno sporočilo.
KAJ MI JE BILO PRI KNJIGI VŠEČ
- mame (ja, seveda imajo napake ampak Miina je res nekaj posebnega)
- Mike
- spoznamo zgodovino likov
- kampiranje <3
Knjigo priporočam.
* brala sem jo v sklopu bralne skupine Klub dobrih knjig
Opis knjigi ne dela usluge saj je veliko več od 'ifluencerka vrže telefon z gore' in 'Paige ji vdre v profil'. Branje sem pričela z rahlim odporom, ampak ko sem ugotovila da je knjiga veliko več od lahkotnega branja, sem jo pa 'požrla'.
Knjiga predstavi temno plat družbenih omrežij in nas preko Mie (in njene mame), opomni na tisto, kar je v življenju res pomembno. Ne sliši se kaj preveč obetavno, a avtorica v zgodbo vplete res veliko drugih pomembnih tem ter celo zgodovino likov. To mi je bilo res všeč, saj sem jih lahko lažje razumela in se nasploh potopila v knjigo.
Na začetku me je najbolj pritegnila Paige, ker a) ima res zanimivo službo ter b) ne maram knjig o influencerjih. A moram ti priznati, da mi je Mia hitro zlezla pod kožo. Avtorica Kelly se je vživela v njen lik in dobro opisala počasne spremembe, ki so na trenutke prav smešne. Ampak resno, si predstavljaš, da bi bil popolnoma odklopljen? Popolnoma. Vključno s šolo in službo.
Na drugi strani pa imamo Paige in Jessico, ki sta gonilna sila druge zgodbe v knjigi. Najprej naj povem, da ne, nisem pričakovala, da se bo knjiga v določeni meri posvetila tej in podobnim temam. Ampak ravno to me je prepričalo, da sem knjigo ocenila s 4, ker je drugačna in ima močno sporočilo.
KAJ MI JE BILO PRI KNJIGI VŠEČ
- mame (ja, seveda imajo napake ampak Miina je res nekaj posebnega)
- Mike
- spoznamo zgodovino likov
- kampiranje <3
Knjigo priporočam.
* brala sem jo v sklopu bralne skupine Klub dobrih knjig
July 9, 2020
I loved this book! First off, I really don't think the description does it enough justice. It is not a foo-foo book with a silly premise. It is very nuanced, poignant & covers some relevant & important topics, such as mental health, social media addiction, & struggling with loss of a loved one. (content warnings: suicide attempt, loss of a sibling & pet: & I feel these subjects were covered realistically & respectfully)
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The main characters, Mia, Paige & Jessica, are all flawed in some way, but looking to become better versions of themselves. This thought-provoking story has humor, too, & some wonderful side characters (I adored Mia's mom!) There is very little bad language & no steamy sex scenes, so this would be suitable for teens & up since the subject matter benefits most age groups.
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"The Bright Side of Going Dark" is smart, complex, poignant, & relatable, & I would love to see this brought to life on Hulu or Netflix. I have 'The Overdue Life of Amy Byler' so I will be reading that soon & buying Kelly Harm's other books as well!
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The main characters, Mia, Paige & Jessica, are all flawed in some way, but looking to become better versions of themselves. This thought-provoking story has humor, too, & some wonderful side characters (I adored Mia's mom!) There is very little bad language & no steamy sex scenes, so this would be suitable for teens & up since the subject matter benefits most age groups.
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"The Bright Side of Going Dark" is smart, complex, poignant, & relatable, & I would love to see this brought to life on Hulu or Netflix. I have 'The Overdue Life of Amy Byler' so I will be reading that soon & buying Kelly Harm's other books as well!
July 2, 2020
This was a bit disappointing tbh. It has high ratings and the story sounds like it would be interesting:
Social media influencer takes a break from the digital world and rediscovers the real world.
Middle aged woman struggles with mental health issues and helping her teenage sister recover from a suicide attempt while pretending to be above referenced social media influencer because she hacks into her account.
The premise had promise and some of the characters were engaging, unfortunately the whole story fell flat. It felt like mass paperback drivel with no between them lives clever message or meaning. Just straight up: you can’t run away from your problems. Like, yeah, we know.
Frankly, this whole story is pretty basic. And while I liked the middle aged character at times, that may have been attributed more to the narrator for her than the writing. I absolutely hated the influencers character. Her inner monologuing made me cringe. I felt absolutely nothing for her at any point in the book. I honestly couldn’t even care about the dog she was constantly mourning and I love dogs. But it all felt very much like a fake dog and a fake person with no real depth.
I have to say there were a few elements of this book that I found somewhat cringey but nothing more than the influencer struggling to adjust to life without a cell phone for five days. It was pathetic. At one point she didn’t know how to answer a call on the landline. I just can’t with that. No one is that dumb. Ten year olds on tic tok could navigate reality better than this character.
In short it gets one star for just being a book and one star for addressing mental health and body shaming in a non-exploitative or shameful way, so kudos to the author for that.
Who should read this book:
Anyone who thinks James Patterson is one of the greatest authors of all time. People who are over 40, live in a bubble and enjoy Chardonnay all day.
In short, not for me, bubbly and dull. Didn’t tackle issues in depth or make me care about the characters. Felt very bland and formulaic.
Social media influencer takes a break from the digital world and rediscovers the real world.
Middle aged woman struggles with mental health issues and helping her teenage sister recover from a suicide attempt while pretending to be above referenced social media influencer because she hacks into her account.
The premise had promise and some of the characters were engaging, unfortunately the whole story fell flat. It felt like mass paperback drivel with no between them lives clever message or meaning. Just straight up: you can’t run away from your problems. Like, yeah, we know.
Frankly, this whole story is pretty basic. And while I liked the middle aged character at times, that may have been attributed more to the narrator for her than the writing. I absolutely hated the influencers character. Her inner monologuing made me cringe. I felt absolutely nothing for her at any point in the book. I honestly couldn’t even care about the dog she was constantly mourning and I love dogs. But it all felt very much like a fake dog and a fake person with no real depth.
I have to say there were a few elements of this book that I found somewhat cringey but nothing more than the influencer struggling to adjust to life without a cell phone for five days. It was pathetic. At one point she didn’t know how to answer a call on the landline. I just can’t with that. No one is that dumb. Ten year olds on tic tok could navigate reality better than this character.
In short it gets one star for just being a book and one star for addressing mental health and body shaming in a non-exploitative or shameful way, so kudos to the author for that.
Who should read this book:
Anyone who thinks James Patterson is one of the greatest authors of all time. People who are over 40, live in a bubble and enjoy Chardonnay all day.
In short, not for me, bubbly and dull. Didn’t tackle issues in depth or make me care about the characters. Felt very bland and formulaic.
May 28, 2020
We are definitely seeing more and more books coming out with storylines associated with social media. With social media being such a powerful force in our day to day, this isn't surprising. Here we have a story about one girl's life tied to social media - it's her foremost thought from the moment she wakes up to the time she goes to bed. Her bills are paid in sponsorships and her relationship is what is making her popular enough to get paid. So what happens when things fall apart and she throws her phone off a cliff?
I feel like I'm on social media way more than I probably should be and while my screen time has actually gone down lately, I still fee the effects of it all the time. Who doesn't want to have a following but when you get it, do you know what you potentially could be giving up? How authentic can you keep being when so much starts to be expected of you?
This was a fun read in terms of dealing with all of the above. I also never knew there was a job in the tech industry to flag offensive or questionable posts. How very interesting! (I think we all know by now that nothing put on the internet is ever actually private.) I kept waiting for the take over to begin. It seemed to take quite a while to get to that point and in that, I felt my interest in the story wane from time to time. And then it seemed to quickly wrap up and a bit too neatly for me. *shrug*
Overall a cute story in the social media age that also touches on the important subject of suicide and social ideation.
I feel like I'm on social media way more than I probably should be and while my screen time has actually gone down lately, I still fee the effects of it all the time. Who doesn't want to have a following but when you get it, do you know what you potentially could be giving up? How authentic can you keep being when so much starts to be expected of you?
This was a fun read in terms of dealing with all of the above. I also never knew there was a job in the tech industry to flag offensive or questionable posts. How very interesting! (I think we all know by now that nothing put on the internet is ever actually private.) I kept waiting for the take over to begin. It seemed to take quite a while to get to that point and in that, I felt my interest in the story wane from time to time. And then it seemed to quickly wrap up and a bit too neatly for me. *shrug*
Overall a cute story in the social media age that also touches on the important subject of suicide and social ideation.
September 9, 2020
A light and easy read, certainly one that speaks to the time we live in, where people, especially young people, are obsessed with status, celebrity, appearance and social media. To dramatize this story, the book features two narrators, who at first glance seem worlds apart. Mia is the attractive social media influencer, who is famous for her ability to make everything in her life appear beautiful and inspiring, thanks to perfect lighting in the photo and a concise caption with the right words following hashtags. (Add in the brands she includes and we understand why she gets rich for doing so little.) Paige, meanwhile, is a techie who loves to work alone and all the time, basically to keep from facing the fact that her life offers little other than its high-paying job. Early in the book an event brings their lives together, along with Paige’s half-sister Jessica. For a good portion of the story, the two main characters are thrown into worlds outside of what is familiar to them, and the book offers insightful commentary about the need for acceptance in society and how a carefully curated online existence can be both tempting and addictive.
Ultimately, though, the story becomes predictable, especially when, at its climax, all of the characters incredibly end up on the same obscure street corner. From that point on, the insightful commentary moves aside and is replaced by a resolution that is straight out of a Hallmark movie: too cute, too perfect.
Still, it reads easily and at times rises far above the level of cliche.
Ultimately, though, the story becomes predictable, especially when, at its climax, all of the characters incredibly end up on the same obscure street corner. From that point on, the insightful commentary moves aside and is replaced by a resolution that is straight out of a Hallmark movie: too cute, too perfect.
Still, it reads easily and at times rises far above the level of cliche.
Read
May 9, 2020DNF
I was given this ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The premise seemed so good...
How many times can you use the word "fatty" in five lines? Apparently, ten times. Yes, I counted.
I had many issues with this book and I didn't even reach 50%.
The two main characters aren't easy to connect with, in my opinion: Mia's the influencer who deletes a comment of a "fan" who's having suicidal thoughts. Why? Well, because Mia responded to the fan (horribly, I might add) and the fan didn't reply to her in a couple of hours. Seems about right; Paige works for non-Instagram (the app where Mia is famous) and her job is to take care of what's "flagged". One part of her job that she hates? Child pornography. Yeah, it's awful, no argument there, but what really bothers Paige is that child pornography comments or posts require for more paperwork to be filled! What?
Then there's the writing. It's not good. It's all I can say.
I do want to leave here a trigger warning for suicide and depression.
I was given this ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The premise seemed so good...
How many times can you use the word "fatty" in five lines? Apparently, ten times. Yes, I counted.
I had many issues with this book and I didn't even reach 50%.
The two main characters aren't easy to connect with, in my opinion: Mia's the influencer who deletes a comment of a "fan" who's having suicidal thoughts. Why? Well, because Mia responded to the fan (horribly, I might add) and the fan didn't reply to her in a couple of hours. Seems about right; Paige works for non-Instagram (the app where Mia is famous) and her job is to take care of what's "flagged". One part of her job that she hates? Child pornography. Yeah, it's awful, no argument there, but what really bothers Paige is that child pornography comments or posts require for more paperwork to be filled! What?
Then there's the writing. It's not good. It's all I can say.
I do want to leave here a trigger warning for suicide and depression.
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