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Unfollow Me
You can't stop watching her. Violet Young is a hugely popular journalist-turned-mummy-influencer, with three children, a successful husband and a million subscribers on YouTube who tune in daily to watch her everyday life unfold. Until the day she's no longer there. But one day she disappears from the online world - her entire social media presence deleted overnight, with no explanation. Has she simply decided that baring her life to all online is no longer a good idea, or has something more sinister happened to Violet? But do you really know who Violet is? Her fans are obsessed with finding out the truth, but their search quickly reveals a web of lies, betrayal, and shocking consequences...
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2019
215 people are currently reading
5265 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Duckworth
7 books265 followersCharlotte Duckworth is the USA Today bestselling author of The Rival, Unfollow Me, The Perfect Father, The Sanctuary and The Wrong Mother.
Connie, her sixth psychological suspense, will be published by Quercus in January 2026.
She started her career working as an interiors and lifestyle journalist, writing for a wide range of consumer magazines and websites.
She also writes contemporary bookclub fiction under the pen name Charlotte Rixon. The One That Got Away was published in the UK & the US in 2023. Translation rights sold to Brazil, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Israel, Serbia and Russia. The film rights have been optioned by a major US producer.
Charlotte lives in Surrey, UK, with her partner and their daughter.
Connie, her sixth psychological suspense, will be published by Quercus in January 2026.
She started her career working as an interiors and lifestyle journalist, writing for a wide range of consumer magazines and websites.
She also writes contemporary bookclub fiction under the pen name Charlotte Rixon. The One That Got Away was published in the UK & the US in 2023. Translation rights sold to Brazil, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Israel, Serbia and Russia. The film rights have been optioned by a major US producer.
Charlotte lives in Surrey, UK, with her partner and their daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 646 reviews
January 22, 2021
Surprise, surprise, something juicy, tasty, deliciously witty, fresh from the oven deserves 4 stars and it’s time to be a generous grader because it’s a quite fantastic, entertaining, twisty page-turner about voluntarily letting your life play out in front of the prying, curious and controlling eyes book.
This book definitely passes all the tests with flying rainbow colors.
Great writing- CHECK
Intriguing characters- CHECK
Fast and unputdownable pacing-CHECK
Satisfying conclusion- CHECK
The plot: Violet Young is a vlogger, an influencer, starts her videos telling her experiences about postpartum depression and lately she started sharing her happy life including her beautiful house, amazing kids and handsome, rich, handsome husband ( too good to be true right, better than watch any kind of Real Housewives series) with her growing numbers of followers. Buy one night, she deletes all of her social media accounts and disappears out of nowhere, leaves her curious stalkers without proper explanation.
The book starts with a troller/stalker/ psychologically damaged admirer’s letter with those haunted words: “I know everything about you, Violet…”
As soon as I grab the book, flipping those pages faster than light speed (yes, I updated my brain settings and choose the fast reading option because the book was so intriguing and as I see two different women’s POVS, I really wanted to know what were their connection with Violet and family!), I realized both of characters in this book already lost their marbles. Every one of them shows stalker-ish, obsessive compulsive tendencies, suffering from anger-management problems which worked soooo finneee with me. Much craziness always increases my appetite.
SOOOO WHAT HAPPENED TO VIOLET BLAKE? I thought it could be like Laura Palmer case and they can hire a detective as charismatic as agent Cooper. But sorry friends, this book is not a crime thriller. It’s all about illusions, lies and perversions that social media accounts created in normal people’s lives and make them volunteered slaves of BIG BROTHER in exchange of some sponsors’ not necessarily lifesaver products.
Let’s move our lunatic three amigos/characters…
Lily, 27, single mother, introvert, showing symptoms of depression and alcoholism, feels lost after she cannot connect with Violet’s virtual world. She loses her own identity by emphasizing too much with virtual realities costs her not having a proper friendship or relationship with a man. Now she resumes her life consisted of too many lies. We should be sorry for her, right! Hmmm think it again!
And Yvonne, 40, married with a younger trainer, successful photographer, trying so hard to get pregnant and she finally succeeds. So we should be happy for her, right! Hmmm think it again!
And Henry, Violet’s handsome, devoted husband looks also exhausted and lost after his wife’s disappearance from social media. He had some kind of anger issues and last time the neighbors had seen his wife, an ambulance had been spotted in front of their house. Did he hurt his wife? Why his sister-in-law take care of the children? Why does he visit hospital? And finally what the hell happened to Violet?
I loved 3 different (crazy characters’) POVS and their final connection, all those revelations and of course somewhat twisty conclusion at Violet’s part. (Violet should be careful about who will she work with!!!!)
Pacing, writing, cumulation of crazy characters, surprises enjoyed me so much. I didn’t want to slap any of the characters because they were really damaged and broken ones who couldn’t achieve to leave their pasts behind.
Special thanks part coming right now! Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books to share this ARC COPY in exchange my honest review and of course, too many thanks to Charlotte Duckworth to create this amazing story and give some much thrillers and enjoyment.
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This book definitely passes all the tests with flying rainbow colors.
Great writing- CHECK
Intriguing characters- CHECK
Fast and unputdownable pacing-CHECK
Satisfying conclusion- CHECK
The plot: Violet Young is a vlogger, an influencer, starts her videos telling her experiences about postpartum depression and lately she started sharing her happy life including her beautiful house, amazing kids and handsome, rich, handsome husband ( too good to be true right, better than watch any kind of Real Housewives series) with her growing numbers of followers. Buy one night, she deletes all of her social media accounts and disappears out of nowhere, leaves her curious stalkers without proper explanation.
The book starts with a troller/stalker/ psychologically damaged admirer’s letter with those haunted words: “I know everything about you, Violet…”
As soon as I grab the book, flipping those pages faster than light speed (yes, I updated my brain settings and choose the fast reading option because the book was so intriguing and as I see two different women’s POVS, I really wanted to know what were their connection with Violet and family!), I realized both of characters in this book already lost their marbles. Every one of them shows stalker-ish, obsessive compulsive tendencies, suffering from anger-management problems which worked soooo finneee with me. Much craziness always increases my appetite.
SOOOO WHAT HAPPENED TO VIOLET BLAKE? I thought it could be like Laura Palmer case and they can hire a detective as charismatic as agent Cooper. But sorry friends, this book is not a crime thriller. It’s all about illusions, lies and perversions that social media accounts created in normal people’s lives and make them volunteered slaves of BIG BROTHER in exchange of some sponsors’ not necessarily lifesaver products.
Let’s move our lunatic three amigos/characters…
Lily, 27, single mother, introvert, showing symptoms of depression and alcoholism, feels lost after she cannot connect with Violet’s virtual world. She loses her own identity by emphasizing too much with virtual realities costs her not having a proper friendship or relationship with a man. Now she resumes her life consisted of too many lies. We should be sorry for her, right! Hmmm think it again!
And Yvonne, 40, married with a younger trainer, successful photographer, trying so hard to get pregnant and she finally succeeds. So we should be happy for her, right! Hmmm think it again!
And Henry, Violet’s handsome, devoted husband looks also exhausted and lost after his wife’s disappearance from social media. He had some kind of anger issues and last time the neighbors had seen his wife, an ambulance had been spotted in front of their house. Did he hurt his wife? Why his sister-in-law take care of the children? Why does he visit hospital? And finally what the hell happened to Violet?
I loved 3 different (crazy characters’) POVS and their final connection, all those revelations and of course somewhat twisty conclusion at Violet’s part. (Violet should be careful about who will she work with!!!!)
Pacing, writing, cumulation of crazy characters, surprises enjoyed me so much. I didn’t want to slap any of the characters because they were really damaged and broken ones who couldn’t achieve to leave their pasts behind.
Special thanks part coming right now! Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books to share this ARC COPY in exchange my honest review and of course, too many thanks to Charlotte Duckworth to create this amazing story and give some much thrillers and enjoyment.
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March 27, 2020
3.75*
You may be ready to power off your online presence! But maybe your followers aren’t ready or willing to let you go?
Violet has it all. An adoring husband and three beautiful little girls. She shares every last detail of her life and that of her family’s online. And apparently it’s intriguing enough that she’s gained over a million followers on her YouTube channel. So what happens when she suddenly vanishes? Or more accurately, her on-line presence disappears! YouTube....Instagram...Facebook, all gone! It’s as if her entire online life has been shut down.
For her devoted followers nothing could be worse! How can they get through their own lives without tuning into hers!
Told from multiple perspectives. Each character with their own bizarre agenda hoping to find out what happened to Violet!
I’ve read a number of social media thrillers lately. And they continue to scare me to no end! Strikingly realistic. A friendly piece of advice…careful what you share because there just might be someone out there following just a bit too closely!
A buddy read with Susanne!📚
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Charlotte Duckworth for an ARC to read and review
You may be ready to power off your online presence! But maybe your followers aren’t ready or willing to let you go?
Violet has it all. An adoring husband and three beautiful little girls. She shares every last detail of her life and that of her family’s online. And apparently it’s intriguing enough that she’s gained over a million followers on her YouTube channel. So what happens when she suddenly vanishes? Or more accurately, her on-line presence disappears! YouTube....Instagram...Facebook, all gone! It’s as if her entire online life has been shut down.
For her devoted followers nothing could be worse! How can they get through their own lives without tuning into hers!
Told from multiple perspectives. Each character with their own bizarre agenda hoping to find out what happened to Violet!
I’ve read a number of social media thrillers lately. And they continue to scare me to no end! Strikingly realistic. A friendly piece of advice…careful what you share because there just might be someone out there following just a bit too closely!
A buddy read with Susanne!📚
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Charlotte Duckworth for an ARC to read and review
January 27, 2020
3.5
I think this is the third book about the dangers of social media I've read in the past few months.
I really enjoyed the beginning and the mysterious disappearance of a hugely successful mommy/wifey vlogger. Her followers were caught off guard and devastated to find all her accounts and posts deleted without explanation. They had no way to feed their obsession with her and her family.
I'd describe this one as a light psychological thriller with potential. The story line became somewhat repetitive and had me wanting more plot around the 25% mark.
It is entertaining and I wanted to finish it to see how it would wrap up, but was hoping for a bit more.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. OUT March 2020
I think this is the third book about the dangers of social media I've read in the past few months.
I really enjoyed the beginning and the mysterious disappearance of a hugely successful mommy/wifey vlogger. Her followers were caught off guard and devastated to find all her accounts and posts deleted without explanation. They had no way to feed their obsession with her and her family.
I'd describe this one as a light psychological thriller with potential. The story line became somewhat repetitive and had me wanting more plot around the 25% mark.
It is entertaining and I wanted to finish it to see how it would wrap up, but was hoping for a bit more.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. OUT March 2020
May 23, 2019
Charlotte Duckworth you are now two for two in entertaining the heck out of me with your well thought out stories and for that I thank you!!! *MWAH*
Violet Young is a Youtube sensation or rather "influencer" with her hugely popular mommy vlog, Violet is Blue, which was started as a way to help other mothers that suffer with postpartum depression. While she does have many fans she also has an equal number of haters that spew vitriol via their keyboard muscles each and every day. It appears that one of her followers has even been harassing her via email and this follower seems to know an awful lot about her.
"It's what you want, after all, isn't it? Without an audience, without people like me watching, then what are you? No one asked you to put yourself on the internet. No one asked you to leave breadcrumb trails of your life across the World Wide Web, just waiting for a hungry bird like me to gobble up. I know everything about you, Violet."
Lily is a young widow with a 3 year old son. She has been suffering with depression ever since her tragic loss and is Violet Young's #1 fan. She misses the days before child, before her loss, when she had something to hope for. With no friends to be had she fanatically watches Violet via Youtube, Instagram, Twitter etc. Lily feels that Violet truly understands what it is she is going through.
Yvonne is a 40 year old woman with a younger husband, Simon, and they desperately want to have children. Unfortunately it appears that Simon suffers from male factor infertility. Yvonne takes comfort in Violet is Blue and other "mommy" websites and chat rooms.
Then the unthinkable happens: Violet shuts down all of her social media without so much as a warning leaving her admirers and enemies wondering what happened to the social media darling. Speculation ensues and rumors spread mostly about Henry, Violets husband, is he really as perfect as she's made him out to be?
The story is told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of Lily, Yvonne, and Henry after Violet has gone missing. We listen as all three tell their stories and eventually how they connect and I was glued to the pages for it. My need to know was so great that I finished this in nearly one sitting. 4 *Just one more page* Stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Violet Young is a Youtube sensation or rather "influencer" with her hugely popular mommy vlog, Violet is Blue, which was started as a way to help other mothers that suffer with postpartum depression. While she does have many fans she also has an equal number of haters that spew vitriol via their keyboard muscles each and every day. It appears that one of her followers has even been harassing her via email and this follower seems to know an awful lot about her.
"It's what you want, after all, isn't it? Without an audience, without people like me watching, then what are you? No one asked you to put yourself on the internet. No one asked you to leave breadcrumb trails of your life across the World Wide Web, just waiting for a hungry bird like me to gobble up. I know everything about you, Violet."
Lily is a young widow with a 3 year old son. She has been suffering with depression ever since her tragic loss and is Violet Young's #1 fan. She misses the days before child, before her loss, when she had something to hope for. With no friends to be had she fanatically watches Violet via Youtube, Instagram, Twitter etc. Lily feels that Violet truly understands what it is she is going through.
Yvonne is a 40 year old woman with a younger husband, Simon, and they desperately want to have children. Unfortunately it appears that Simon suffers from male factor infertility. Yvonne takes comfort in Violet is Blue and other "mommy" websites and chat rooms.
Then the unthinkable happens: Violet shuts down all of her social media without so much as a warning leaving her admirers and enemies wondering what happened to the social media darling. Speculation ensues and rumors spread mostly about Henry, Violets husband, is he really as perfect as she's made him out to be?
The story is told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of Lily, Yvonne, and Henry after Violet has gone missing. We listen as all three tell their stories and eventually how they connect and I was glued to the pages for it. My need to know was so great that I finished this in nearly one sitting. 4 *Just one more page* Stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 5, 2020
What has happened to vlogger Violet Blake? Why has she shut down all her social media? Her fans speculate wildly and are desperate for the truth. This addictive and fast paced thriller had me hooked from start to finish. The story is told from multiple perspectives: Yvonne, who is married to Simon and is desperate to be a mum; Lily, a single mum to Archie, permanently broke, frequently drunk as she’s so unhappy with her life; Henry, who is married to Violet and finally from Violet herself.
This book has so many themes but one of the main things which I found so thought provoking is the well observed and pertinent commentary on social media and people’s obsession with it and addiction to it, which can be unhealthy. Here we have the cult of the social celebrity who gives hope to some, entertainment to others but can also promote envy and jealousy. Lily, for example, is not living her own life, she’s not taking proper care of Archie as she is living her life vicariously through her obsession with Violet’s life. However, what is real and what is fantasy? Add jealousy, rage, deception, guilt, lies, sadness with a dash of humour and throw in a few shocks as the revelations and truth emerges and I think you have a recipe for a bestseller! Talk about messed up lives! Whilst the characters are not likeable (except for Archie, the innocent in all the shenanigans) I did not want to stop reading about them! As for the GoMamas website, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry!
Overall, a brilliant, exciting, twisty read which I loved! I’ll definitely want to read more by Charlotte Duckworth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the ARC.
This book has so many themes but one of the main things which I found so thought provoking is the well observed and pertinent commentary on social media and people’s obsession with it and addiction to it, which can be unhealthy. Here we have the cult of the social celebrity who gives hope to some, entertainment to others but can also promote envy and jealousy. Lily, for example, is not living her own life, she’s not taking proper care of Archie as she is living her life vicariously through her obsession with Violet’s life. However, what is real and what is fantasy? Add jealousy, rage, deception, guilt, lies, sadness with a dash of humour and throw in a few shocks as the revelations and truth emerges and I think you have a recipe for a bestseller! Talk about messed up lives! Whilst the characters are not likeable (except for Archie, the innocent in all the shenanigans) I did not want to stop reading about them! As for the GoMamas website, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry!
Overall, a brilliant, exciting, twisty read which I loved! I’ll definitely want to read more by Charlotte Duckworth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the ARC.
March 11, 2020
A million subscribers tune in to watch the YouTube channel :
VIOLET IS BLUE
Violet, a Mummy influencer with three children, who has battled Post Partum depression and come out on the other side, now offers a daily glimpse into her life and words of encouragement to all of her fans...
Her followers count on seeing her every day.
But one day:
VIOLET IS GONE
Did the woman trolling her, finally force her to delete ALL of her accounts overnight? Or has something far more sinister happened to Violet?
Two of her most devoted followers, Lily and Yvonne are keen to find out, and the story mostly unfolds through their alternating perspectives.
This is an enjoyable, though not particularly dark tale of oversharing on social media, and I was drawn in as soon as I gazed at that GORGEOUS new cover, right till the last page when all was revealed.
I was a bit of an outlier when I read the author’s debut novel, “The Rival” which was just an okay read for me, but found this book, her sophomore effort, to be quite a bit more entertaining!
If you enjoy the FUN thrillers, like I do, you can pick this one up TODAY!!
Thank You to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Charlotte Duckworth for the digital ARC I received in exchange for a candid review!
VIOLET IS BLUE
Violet, a Mummy influencer with three children, who has battled Post Partum depression and come out on the other side, now offers a daily glimpse into her life and words of encouragement to all of her fans...
Her followers count on seeing her every day.
But one day:
VIOLET IS GONE
Did the woman trolling her, finally force her to delete ALL of her accounts overnight? Or has something far more sinister happened to Violet?
Two of her most devoted followers, Lily and Yvonne are keen to find out, and the story mostly unfolds through their alternating perspectives.
This is an enjoyable, though not particularly dark tale of oversharing on social media, and I was drawn in as soon as I gazed at that GORGEOUS new cover, right till the last page when all was revealed.
I was a bit of an outlier when I read the author’s debut novel, “The Rival” which was just an okay read for me, but found this book, her sophomore effort, to be quite a bit more entertaining!
If you enjoy the FUN thrillers, like I do, you can pick this one up TODAY!!
Thank You to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Charlotte Duckworth for the digital ARC I received in exchange for a candid review!
November 26, 2019
4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What is it about nut case characters that I love so much!?
I’m loving this social media trend that is going on right now in books. It’s incredibly eye opening since we all tend to take it all for granted most of the time.
Popular mommy vlogger Violet suddenly disappears from social media and her obsessive stalkers (or followers as they like to call themselves) go into a panicked frenzy trying to figure out what happened to her. The story is told in 3 POV’s - Lily, Yvonne (two of Violet’s followers who are totally CUCKOO) and Henry, Violet’s husband - who just sends out totally shady vibes from the start.
Unfollow me is super well written and fast paced. Lots of scandalous activities going on, which always makes for a fun reading experience!
I’m definitely looking forward to more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Charlotte Duckworth for my advanced copy to read and review.
What is it about nut case characters that I love so much!?
I’m loving this social media trend that is going on right now in books. It’s incredibly eye opening since we all tend to take it all for granted most of the time.
Popular mommy vlogger Violet suddenly disappears from social media and her obsessive stalkers (or followers as they like to call themselves) go into a panicked frenzy trying to figure out what happened to her. The story is told in 3 POV’s - Lily, Yvonne (two of Violet’s followers who are totally CUCKOO) and Henry, Violet’s husband - who just sends out totally shady vibes from the start.
Unfollow me is super well written and fast paced. Lots of scandalous activities going on, which always makes for a fun reading experience!
I’m definitely looking forward to more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Charlotte Duckworth for my advanced copy to read and review.
February 19, 2020
When Violet Young, a hugely popular mummy vlogger and influencer goes off line it sets a buzz amongst her followers. Why has she shut done all her social media accounts? What's happened? Is something wrong with her, her three adorable children or Henry, her perfect magazine publisher husband? What are her addicted fans going to do now they can no longer get their daily fix of Violet?
The mystery unfurls from the point of view of two of Violet's followers. Lily, who has an unhealthy obsession with Violet's online persona, and Yvonne who is harbouring her own secret about Violet's family. This is a deliciously fun and twisty psychological thriller which playfully highlights the dangers of believing all you read on social media.
With thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for a digital copy to read.
The mystery unfurls from the point of view of two of Violet's followers. Lily, who has an unhealthy obsession with Violet's online persona, and Yvonne who is harbouring her own secret about Violet's family. This is a deliciously fun and twisty psychological thriller which playfully highlights the dangers of believing all you read on social media.
With thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for a digital copy to read.
March 23, 2020
EXCERPT: GoMamas
Topics >Mummy Vloggers>Violet is Blue>Violet's Whereabouts
Horsesforcourses
So guys, a friend of a friend knows Violet's next door neighbour. Apparently on Saturday evening she heard Violet and Henry screaming at each other. Like properly screaming, through the walls. It was so bad it woke up this woman's newborn. Then - and this is the best/worst bit - an ambulance arrived. She couldn't see who it was for and she didn't want to go outside and stare like a horrible rubbernecker. But still! WTAF has happened?
Sadandalone
Oh my god!!!!
Bluevelvet
I'm really upset to hear this. I thought they were rock solid.
Horsesforcourses
Do you remember earlier in the year though? All that business with Mandy? Maybe something did happen, she lost her temper and...
Neverforget
Who knows what goes on behind closed doors...?
Bluevelvet
Did your friend find out any more, Horses?
Horsesforcourses
Yes, she said she hasn't seen Violet since. But, weirder still, there's been some other woman there, coming and going with shopping and stuff. Letting herself in with a key. It's not the cleaner. She's never seen her before, doesn't know her name. It's just SO weird now, Violet's been missing for four days and there's been nothing. Not even a statement from her management.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: I loved the beginning of this book. It had the potential to be an exciting read. Instead it became repetitive and a little boring in places. I didn't feel anything for any of the characters - but then that may have something to do with the fact that I don't understand people who choose to live their lives on social media.
The story is told from three points of view: Henry, husband of Violet; Lily, solo mum, avid but sometimes jealous fan of Violet; and Yvonne, struggling with infertility issues.
Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike this book, I just found it an average read. It has all the ingredients for a better than average read: the disappearance of a 'public' figure; three unreliable narrators; manipulative characters; infidelity; secrets and lies. But it never quite all came together for me. The ending felt contrived and left me feeling shortchanged.
On the positive side, this is a quick and easy read.
😏🙄🤔
'Holding on to anger is like drinking poison.'
#UnfollowMe #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Charlotte Duckworth has spent the past fifteen years working as an interiors and lifestyle journalist, writing for a wide range of consumer magazines and websites. She lives in Surrey with her partner and their young daughter.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Unfollow Me by Charlotte Duckworth for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Topics >Mummy Vloggers>Violet is Blue>Violet's Whereabouts
Horsesforcourses
So guys, a friend of a friend knows Violet's next door neighbour. Apparently on Saturday evening she heard Violet and Henry screaming at each other. Like properly screaming, through the walls. It was so bad it woke up this woman's newborn. Then - and this is the best/worst bit - an ambulance arrived. She couldn't see who it was for and she didn't want to go outside and stare like a horrible rubbernecker. But still! WTAF has happened?
Sadandalone
Oh my god!!!!
Bluevelvet
I'm really upset to hear this. I thought they were rock solid.
Horsesforcourses
Do you remember earlier in the year though? All that business with Mandy? Maybe something did happen, she lost her temper and...
Neverforget
Who knows what goes on behind closed doors...?
Bluevelvet
Did your friend find out any more, Horses?
Horsesforcourses
Yes, she said she hasn't seen Violet since. But, weirder still, there's been some other woman there, coming and going with shopping and stuff. Letting herself in with a key. It's not the cleaner. She's never seen her before, doesn't know her name. It's just SO weird now, Violet's been missing for four days and there's been nothing. Not even a statement from her management.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: I loved the beginning of this book. It had the potential to be an exciting read. Instead it became repetitive and a little boring in places. I didn't feel anything for any of the characters - but then that may have something to do with the fact that I don't understand people who choose to live their lives on social media.
The story is told from three points of view: Henry, husband of Violet; Lily, solo mum, avid but sometimes jealous fan of Violet; and Yvonne, struggling with infertility issues.
Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike this book, I just found it an average read. It has all the ingredients for a better than average read: the disappearance of a 'public' figure; three unreliable narrators; manipulative characters; infidelity; secrets and lies. But it never quite all came together for me. The ending felt contrived and left me feeling shortchanged.
On the positive side, this is a quick and easy read.
😏🙄🤔
'Holding on to anger is like drinking poison.'
#UnfollowMe #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Charlotte Duckworth has spent the past fifteen years working as an interiors and lifestyle journalist, writing for a wide range of consumer magazines and websites. She lives in Surrey with her partner and their young daughter.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Unfollow Me by Charlotte Duckworth for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 20, 2024
This book was a crazy ride. Violet Young is a YouTube sensation, vlogging about mommy issues with a huge online following. One day, she deletes all her social media, and her followers go bananas. Much like Gone Girl, this one is kind of fun to read because even though every single character is crazy, the plot is interesting and you just really want to know what happened to Violet? There are several different POV characters, and as we watch the story unfold through their eyes, including quite a few stalking scenes, it really gives you a creepy feeling and the need to keep your social media a bit more private as you don’t know who is watching you and how far they would go. I liked the writing and the conclusion was interesting. 4/5 stars.
February 21, 2020
An okay book but nothing exciting. I would certainly argue with it being classified as a thriller! Okay there was a mystery but at no point was this book suspenseful or thrilling. In fact at times it was actually dull.
It was a good premise and started well although I wanted to know more about Violet up front. She disappeared quickly and only popped up as hearsay until the last few chapters. There were three unreliable and unlikeable narrators, none of whom attracted any real sympathy. Eventually their stories tied up together, Violet made a reappearance and there was a rather flat ending.
Sounds as though I really disliked it! I didn't. It was okay, readable and a way to while away a few hours. It could also start an interesting debate as to whether Violet was right in what she did or whether her family suffered as a result. Very much a modern day issue.
It was a good premise and started well although I wanted to know more about Violet up front. She disappeared quickly and only popped up as hearsay until the last few chapters. There were three unreliable and unlikeable narrators, none of whom attracted any real sympathy. Eventually their stories tied up together, Violet made a reappearance and there was a rather flat ending.
Sounds as though I really disliked it! I didn't. It was okay, readable and a way to while away a few hours. It could also start an interesting debate as to whether Violet was right in what she did or whether her family suffered as a result. Very much a modern day issue.
May 30, 2019
What happened to Violet Blake?
A successful mummy vlogger with over one millions followers vanishes from social media overnight – her YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram accounts closed without warning. Her fans are desperate to know why, and some will do anything to find out.
The synopsis for this one had me so excited, and I was right to be. Unfollow Me was entertaining and engrossing with some disturbing, characters-crossing-the-line, developments. Even though no one in the book was particularly likeable, or reliable, there were still parts of their lives I could relate to, and empathesise with – none of them were all bad. This was mostly due to Charlotte Duckworth's thoroughness at including so many small day-to-day details – things that have happened to all of us. There's a lot of domestic drama, but all of it was relevant to the mystery of why Violet suddenly disappeared from social media. Some great twists, some I saw coming, most I didn't, upped the ante, and moved the plot along.
Prominent themes were addiction and obsession, but also stalking, sociopathic lying, loss, grief, and unhealthy coping strategies, and that no matter how much you may want to start over and wipe the slate clean, your past actions inadvertently have a way of catching up with you.
Chapters alternated between two regular viewers of Violet's online life – a solo mother, and a married woman with fertility issues desperate for a baby – various threads on a forum titled GoMamas, and emails to Violet from an obsessed fan.
This was my first read by Charlotte Duckworth, but I see she's written a previous novel called, The Rival, which I will certainly be reading. Fans of domestic noir, and those who are intrigued by the psychology and behaviour of celebrity worship syndrome will devour this. The perfect read to cosy up with this winter, or for those going into summer, the ultimate beach read.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Quercus, and Charlotte Duckworth for the e-ARC.
Release Date: 1st June, 2019.
A successful mummy vlogger with over one millions followers vanishes from social media overnight – her YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram accounts closed without warning. Her fans are desperate to know why, and some will do anything to find out.
The synopsis for this one had me so excited, and I was right to be. Unfollow Me was entertaining and engrossing with some disturbing, characters-crossing-the-line, developments. Even though no one in the book was particularly likeable, or reliable, there were still parts of their lives I could relate to, and empathesise with – none of them were all bad. This was mostly due to Charlotte Duckworth's thoroughness at including so many small day-to-day details – things that have happened to all of us. There's a lot of domestic drama, but all of it was relevant to the mystery of why Violet suddenly disappeared from social media. Some great twists, some I saw coming, most I didn't, upped the ante, and moved the plot along.
Prominent themes were addiction and obsession, but also stalking, sociopathic lying, loss, grief, and unhealthy coping strategies, and that no matter how much you may want to start over and wipe the slate clean, your past actions inadvertently have a way of catching up with you.
Chapters alternated between two regular viewers of Violet's online life – a solo mother, and a married woman with fertility issues desperate for a baby – various threads on a forum titled GoMamas, and emails to Violet from an obsessed fan.
This was my first read by Charlotte Duckworth, but I see she's written a previous novel called, The Rival, which I will certainly be reading. Fans of domestic noir, and those who are intrigued by the psychology and behaviour of celebrity worship syndrome will devour this. The perfect read to cosy up with this winter, or for those going into summer, the ultimate beach read.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Quercus, and Charlotte Duckworth for the e-ARC.
Release Date: 1st June, 2019.
January 6, 2022
Violet Young is a popular mommy Vlogger on YouTube. She constantly is sharing her life and children with a million of fans. Until one day her fans log on and find all her social media gone as if she never existed. Told in the narrative of two rotating fans view (*cough* stalkers) and Violet's husband Henry, you are plunged into a mystery. Chapter by chapter, dark secrets are revealed. Uncovering the biggest mystery of all....how all three people are linked to what truly happened to Violet.
This would be a 3.7 rating if I could give it. I thought this would have been darker. So for readers out there that love a light, dark mystery/thriller, this is for you. Also, shoutout to the UK people. I enjoyed this read.
This would be a 3.7 rating if I could give it. I thought this would have been darker. So for readers out there that love a light, dark mystery/thriller, this is for you. Also, shoutout to the UK people. I enjoyed this read.
January 13, 2020
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Charlotte Duckworth is a new to me author that I think I may have discovered over on the ‘Gram. Ironic, since this is a story about an influencer. Thanks to technology, long gone are the days when . . . . .
Nope. Nowadays anyone can get a paycheck and be internet famous if they try hard enough. Violet is living proof. Her handsome husband, beautiful home and charming children have propelled her to the top of the heap when it comes to Mommy Vloggers. Lily and Yvonne don’t know each other at all, but are both faithful followers. When Violet’s social media presence goes dark, well . . . . .
I mean, who would just leave the internet? Something terrible must have happened, right?
Okay, so I seriously dug this book – mostly due to my morbid fascination with people’s relationships to social media. I will be the first to admit I just don’t get it. I think this is one time where my age truly shows. Obviously I have some social media, since I’m posting here. I also have a Bookstagram. But I don’t have Facebook, Twatter, Snapchat, etc. and I only post about books. I don’t post every meal I eat or my workout regimen (ha! work out. that’s funny), and I certainly don’t post my children’s images on my public pages because they didn’t sign up to be a part of my account and I never want strangers trolling them like they have trolled me. I don’t feel obligated to spend “X” hours or have “X” friends/followers or any of the like. In fact, I’m pretty likely to unfollow/defriend/block people who complain about how the internet is so demanding of their time, how they should get paid in more than free books (seriously??? free books is liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiife), or how they are so speshul, but the “algorithm” is oppressing them. #barf. I will also admit I followed a handful of “Mommy” accounts on Instagram back when I originally joined because they focused on home décor and it was Christmastime which is errrrrrrrythang to me. However, I only continue to follow one because one irritated me with her constant posts of an insufferable child who was not cute whatsoever (I’ll take my Mother of the Year Award whenever it’s ready) when I signed up to see what bargains she could find at Target, Hobby Lobby, etc., another posted all day every day about herself while her youngest child begged for her attention and she ignored him (she’ll take one of those awards too), and I’m getting ready to kick the remaining account to the curb due to general lack of content in lieu of what I would consider “home movie” footage (obviously that account is probably the most like Violet and feels she has to post constantly or risk losing her fanbase/paycheck). All that being said, while I don’t understand the obsession people get with strangers, I totally see it all the time so the premise of this book didn’t seem like too much of a stretch for me. Now, the big reveal was pretty farfetched, but C’MON - that’s exactly what it was supposed to be. Like the best sort of Lifetime Murders and Mysteries I could have asked for.
The only complaint????
The actual ending was great. I wish authors would quit while they’re ahead and stop with these unnecessary epilogues.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
Charlotte Duckworth is a new to me author that I think I may have discovered over on the ‘Gram. Ironic, since this is a story about an influencer. Thanks to technology, long gone are the days when . . . . .
Nope. Nowadays anyone can get a paycheck and be internet famous if they try hard enough. Violet is living proof. Her handsome husband, beautiful home and charming children have propelled her to the top of the heap when it comes to Mommy Vloggers. Lily and Yvonne don’t know each other at all, but are both faithful followers. When Violet’s social media presence goes dark, well . . . . .
I mean, who would just leave the internet? Something terrible must have happened, right?
Okay, so I seriously dug this book – mostly due to my morbid fascination with people’s relationships to social media. I will be the first to admit I just don’t get it. I think this is one time where my age truly shows. Obviously I have some social media, since I’m posting here. I also have a Bookstagram. But I don’t have Facebook, Twatter, Snapchat, etc. and I only post about books. I don’t post every meal I eat or my workout regimen (ha! work out. that’s funny), and I certainly don’t post my children’s images on my public pages because they didn’t sign up to be a part of my account and I never want strangers trolling them like they have trolled me. I don’t feel obligated to spend “X” hours or have “X” friends/followers or any of the like. In fact, I’m pretty likely to unfollow/defriend/block people who complain about how the internet is so demanding of their time, how they should get paid in more than free books (seriously??? free books is liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiife), or how they are so speshul, but the “algorithm” is oppressing them. #barf. I will also admit I followed a handful of “Mommy” accounts on Instagram back when I originally joined because they focused on home décor and it was Christmastime which is errrrrrrrythang to me. However, I only continue to follow one because one irritated me with her constant posts of an insufferable child who was not cute whatsoever (I’ll take my Mother of the Year Award whenever it’s ready) when I signed up to see what bargains she could find at Target, Hobby Lobby, etc., another posted all day every day about herself while her youngest child begged for her attention and she ignored him (she’ll take one of those awards too), and I’m getting ready to kick the remaining account to the curb due to general lack of content in lieu of what I would consider “home movie” footage (obviously that account is probably the most like Violet and feels she has to post constantly or risk losing her fanbase/paycheck). All that being said, while I don’t understand the obsession people get with strangers, I totally see it all the time so the premise of this book didn’t seem like too much of a stretch for me. Now, the big reveal was pretty farfetched, but C’MON - that’s exactly what it was supposed to be. Like the best sort of Lifetime Murders and Mysteries I could have asked for.
The only complaint????
The actual ending was great. I wish authors would quit while they’re ahead and stop with these unnecessary epilogues.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
March 7, 2020
"It's what you want, after all, isn't it? Without an audience, without people like me watching, then what are you? No one asked you to put yourself on the internet. No one asked you to leave breadcrumb trails of your life across the World Wide Web, just waiting for a hungry bird like me to gobble up. I know everything about you, Violet. But what do you know about me?"
3.5 stars
Violet Is Blue, a YouTube influencer focusing on postpartum depression and the pitfalls of marriage and motherhood, suddenly disappears...all her social media accounts deleted overnight, much to the dismay and shock of her followers.
Yvonne and Lily, two of Violet's most ardent fans, make it their mission to find out everything they can about the turn of events that's taken Violet from them. What unfolds is a light mystery involving very different characters, with very different goals. Secrets abound in this fun little story.
Unfollow Me is a riveting novel absolutely ripe with conflict and betrayal. Recommended for a fast, furious, and enjoyable read.
**Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
3.5 stars
Violet Is Blue, a YouTube influencer focusing on postpartum depression and the pitfalls of marriage and motherhood, suddenly disappears...all her social media accounts deleted overnight, much to the dismay and shock of her followers.
Yvonne and Lily, two of Violet's most ardent fans, make it their mission to find out everything they can about the turn of events that's taken Violet from them. What unfolds is a light mystery involving very different characters, with very different goals. Secrets abound in this fun little story.
Unfollow Me is a riveting novel absolutely ripe with conflict and betrayal. Recommended for a fast, furious, and enjoyable read.
**Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
September 24, 2020
Well, that was a bit of fun! Violet Young is a social media influencer, a mummy blogger on You Tube, Twitter, Instagram and so on and one day in December her feed suddenly ‘goes dark’. She has shut it all down without explanation. Nobody knows what has happened. Her hundreds of thousands of followers are gutted. Personally I don’t get it. Some of these fans are literally addicted to Violet.
We follow the story through a couple of these followers - Lily, a 27 year old single mother struggling on a low wage and Yvonne, 40 years and old married to a younger personal trainer and desperate to have a baby. Later on we also hear from Henry, Violet’s husband. These people are all liars, they are all hiding things and they are very unreliable narrators! I love a good unreliable narrator story and three of them is very delicious indeed! And even better, the mystery surrounding Violet’s disappearance from social media becomes more and more sinister as the story progresses. I really enjoyed this change of pace and genre. Many thanks to Netgalley, Quercus Books and Charlotte Duckworth for providing a copy. My opinions are my own.
We follow the story through a couple of these followers - Lily, a 27 year old single mother struggling on a low wage and Yvonne, 40 years and old married to a younger personal trainer and desperate to have a baby. Later on we also hear from Henry, Violet’s husband. These people are all liars, they are all hiding things and they are very unreliable narrators! I love a good unreliable narrator story and three of them is very delicious indeed! And even better, the mystery surrounding Violet’s disappearance from social media becomes more and more sinister as the story progresses. I really enjoyed this change of pace and genre. Many thanks to Netgalley, Quercus Books and Charlotte Duckworth for providing a copy. My opinions are my own.
April 5, 2020
4 Stars
Obsession over a popular Vlogger?! In the age of Social Media, it’s all the Rage. And I mean Rage!
What happens when popular Vlogger, Violet Young, disappears? When all of her channels go dark? Why Mayhem of course!
“Unfollow Me” by Charlotte Duckworth is a highly entertaining novel that had me from the get go. From, Lily, Violet’s #1 fan, to Yvonne, the woman whose obsession with Violet is more personal, I simply couldn’t stop myself from well, obsessing. (Giggle, giggle..)
This was another fabulous buddy read with Kaceey!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Charlotte Duckworth for the arc.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 4.5.20.
Obsession over a popular Vlogger?! In the age of Social Media, it’s all the Rage. And I mean Rage!
What happens when popular Vlogger, Violet Young, disappears? When all of her channels go dark? Why Mayhem of course!
“Unfollow Me” by Charlotte Duckworth is a highly entertaining novel that had me from the get go. From, Lily, Violet’s #1 fan, to Yvonne, the woman whose obsession with Violet is more personal, I simply couldn’t stop myself from well, obsessing. (Giggle, giggle..)
This was another fabulous buddy read with Kaceey!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Charlotte Duckworth for the arc.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 4.5.20.
May 29, 2019
Last year I read The Rival by Charlotte Duckworth and was blown away. It was definitely one of my favourite books of 2018. I was sooo happy to be approved for an advanced copy of her new book Unfollow Me - and I am happy to report that it is fantastic! I was completely drawn into the world of the mummy blogger and the fans and I just wanted to keep reading, having no idea how things were going to pan out. The story was twisty, clever and very well written and I can't recommend it enough.
Unfollow me tells the story of a hugely popular and successful online influencer called Violet Young. She is married to Henry, who is also very successful and they have 3 beautiful children. On the outside they appear to have the perfect life... but can you believe everything that you see online? Seemingly out f the blue Violet disappears from the online world, with all her social media deleted without a trace. Her legions of fans are distraught and become obsessed to find out what really happened. Th story is told from multiple points of view.... as well as Violet and Henry there is also Lily, a single mum who can't get enough of Violet, and there's is also Yvonne, a women who is struggling to conceive. The story unfolds through the alternating chapters and we learn all about these characters and their deep dark secrets, as well as how their lives are connected.
A very unique and compelling read. Thank you to Quercia Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Unfollow me tells the story of a hugely popular and successful online influencer called Violet Young. She is married to Henry, who is also very successful and they have 3 beautiful children. On the outside they appear to have the perfect life... but can you believe everything that you see online? Seemingly out f the blue Violet disappears from the online world, with all her social media deleted without a trace. Her legions of fans are distraught and become obsessed to find out what really happened. Th story is told from multiple points of view.... as well as Violet and Henry there is also Lily, a single mum who can't get enough of Violet, and there's is also Yvonne, a women who is struggling to conceive. The story unfolds through the alternating chapters and we learn all about these characters and their deep dark secrets, as well as how their lives are connected.
A very unique and compelling read. Thank you to Quercia Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
September 4, 2019
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Violet Young, ‘yummy mummy vlogger’ lives a perfect life online. With her three beautiful children, a supportive husband and a huge house in London, she videos their daily lives to millions of followers. Until one day, everything stops. No social media accounts can be found, and Violet seems to have vanished completely. With reports of screaming from their family home, could the supposed perfect family be unravelling? And where is Violet?
This starts with alternating chapters between two Violet supposed ‘superfans’, Lily and Yvonne, questioning what has happened to Violet and why she would take down her social media accounts. Rumours spear amongst the mum forums over what could have happened, leading Lily to undertake her own investigation. We determine almost straight away that neither woman is a reliable narrator, twisting the truth to suit their needs, and both seem to have an uncomfortable connect to Violet they’d rather forget. The story itself is fast paced and well written with enough twists to pull me into the story straight away and keep me hooked until the end. Although the two main characters never meet, their stories weave together well to give contrasting looks into Violet’s world.
Deeply flawed and at times unlikeable, there’s a level of desperation with Yvonne that filters through her chapters that at least gives a reason behind her actions. As we see more of her backstory, although she’s never particularly likeable, at least I came understand her behaviour. Lily I struggled to understand. She’s selfish, obsessive and dangerous without even realising it. A formula that can only spell trouble. My dislike of her meant I really struggled at times to connect with her emotions and storyline, finding her too self centred for me to care.
Part way through the narrative we are also introduced to Violet’s husband Henry. Always respectable and charming on camera, he slowly begins to unravel in the wake of what happened that night. His voice is a welcome change from the two women, as he tries to explain his selfish actions away by blaming his wife, his lifestyle and his past. Still manipulative to the end. I liked that throughout, Violet remains an almost enigmatic character - mentioned by all, but rarely seen or spoken. It added to the overall atmosphere of the book.
I’m enjoying this rise in ‘techno thrillers’. They offer a new and creative look into the negative sides of the digital age, and have a lot of scope to run for a while yet. Interesting premise, flawed characters (although I could have done without Lily) and decent writing make this a good addition to the pack.
Violet Young, ‘yummy mummy vlogger’ lives a perfect life online. With her three beautiful children, a supportive husband and a huge house in London, she videos their daily lives to millions of followers. Until one day, everything stops. No social media accounts can be found, and Violet seems to have vanished completely. With reports of screaming from their family home, could the supposed perfect family be unravelling? And where is Violet?
This starts with alternating chapters between two Violet supposed ‘superfans’, Lily and Yvonne, questioning what has happened to Violet and why she would take down her social media accounts. Rumours spear amongst the mum forums over what could have happened, leading Lily to undertake her own investigation. We determine almost straight away that neither woman is a reliable narrator, twisting the truth to suit their needs, and both seem to have an uncomfortable connect to Violet they’d rather forget. The story itself is fast paced and well written with enough twists to pull me into the story straight away and keep me hooked until the end. Although the two main characters never meet, their stories weave together well to give contrasting looks into Violet’s world.
Deeply flawed and at times unlikeable, there’s a level of desperation with Yvonne that filters through her chapters that at least gives a reason behind her actions. As we see more of her backstory, although she’s never particularly likeable, at least I came understand her behaviour. Lily I struggled to understand. She’s selfish, obsessive and dangerous without even realising it. A formula that can only spell trouble. My dislike of her meant I really struggled at times to connect with her emotions and storyline, finding her too self centred for me to care.
Part way through the narrative we are also introduced to Violet’s husband Henry. Always respectable and charming on camera, he slowly begins to unravel in the wake of what happened that night. His voice is a welcome change from the two women, as he tries to explain his selfish actions away by blaming his wife, his lifestyle and his past. Still manipulative to the end. I liked that throughout, Violet remains an almost enigmatic character - mentioned by all, but rarely seen or spoken. It added to the overall atmosphere of the book.
I’m enjoying this rise in ‘techno thrillers’. They offer a new and creative look into the negative sides of the digital age, and have a lot of scope to run for a while yet. Interesting premise, flawed characters (although I could have done without Lily) and decent writing make this a good addition to the pack.
October 4, 2019
It was well worth going straight from ‘the rival’ the authors 1st book onto this book, I guess the 2nd book is always a ‘will it be as good’ etc for both author and reader
Well it is!
This book revolves around Violet, a youtube influencer and what happens when she ‘disappears’ from Social Media and how 2 intense fans, ok stalkers, for very different reasons miss her and intend to find out what has ‘gone on’
Intermingled with snippets from forums where other fans discuss where she might be you can see how fickle people are and how a few seeds of doubt turn into dislike, and we all know and have seen how this happens with famous people
The writing about social media and stalker fans is more popular than ever but this book adds extra dimensions and stories about the stalkers into the mix and it explains how they have got into this way of life, I’m not saying what as will spoil it and the fab layered stories about love, revenge, lust and lies
Told, again with aplomb and real 2019 narration, characters to love and a few to hate I soooo enjoyed this book and cant wait for Book 3
Very Addictive, Very Dark and Very Real/ Current
10/10
5 Stars
April 16, 2020
What happens when you share too much of your life on social media?
A unique and fascinating fast paced plot where the characters and their deep secrets kept me guessing as to how they were all connected. I was drawn in from the first page.
Unfollow Me tells the story of a successful mommy blogger/influencer called Violet Young. She is married to her adoring husband Henry, they have three young children and a beautiful home. Violet has over a million subscribers on YouTube.
Overnight Violet’s online presence disappears and all her social media accounts have been deleted leaving her curious fans not knowing what’s happened. An ambulance is seen outside Violets home, is she in hospital? Did Henry harm her? Where is she?
Enter the crazy stalkers who become obsessed with finding out what has happened to Violet - firstly we have a young ‘widow’ Lily who’s a single mother with slight depression and a drinking problem and then we have successful photographer Yvonne 40, married to a younger man who is a personal trainer. Yvonne has been trying to become pregnant and is desperate to have a baby.
The twists in this modern and compelling read will render you speechless.
I wish to thank NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for an advanced copy of this book to read in return for an honest review.
A unique and fascinating fast paced plot where the characters and their deep secrets kept me guessing as to how they were all connected. I was drawn in from the first page.
Unfollow Me tells the story of a successful mommy blogger/influencer called Violet Young. She is married to her adoring husband Henry, they have three young children and a beautiful home. Violet has over a million subscribers on YouTube.
Overnight Violet’s online presence disappears and all her social media accounts have been deleted leaving her curious fans not knowing what’s happened. An ambulance is seen outside Violets home, is she in hospital? Did Henry harm her? Where is she?
Enter the crazy stalkers who become obsessed with finding out what has happened to Violet - firstly we have a young ‘widow’ Lily who’s a single mother with slight depression and a drinking problem and then we have successful photographer Yvonne 40, married to a younger man who is a personal trainer. Yvonne has been trying to become pregnant and is desperate to have a baby.
The twists in this modern and compelling read will render you speechless.
I wish to thank NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for an advanced copy of this book to read in return for an honest review.
February 13, 2020
E-ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and are not affected in any way.
DISCLAIMER! At the last Cons point my frustration is so high that it seems like I am trashing the author. It is NOT my intention, in any way! It's just my frustration showing it's worst and my inability to make myself and my opinion understood.
I know my review comes after more than one month since I finished the book, but I honestly don't know how to start it and how to explain why and what I didn't liked about this book, because I feel like I can't find my words for it. The idea of it, sounded awesome to me, hence this is why I requested this book on NetGalley. The synopsis intrigued me a lot, and mostly because it felt so relatable to our days! So I decided I wanted to read it. And my excitement started to fade after... let's just say around 10 pages into the book. Yup... Just 10 pages into it. It's a shame!
I will just let you my main big CONS about this book, without even losing more time to pick all the other small bad things.
• Misleading synopsis. I may be wrong, but while the synopsis, in big lines, tells you what this book is about, if you pay attention to it after you start to actually read the book, you will see that it was misleading you. Yes, it's about Violet. Yes, you have the perspectives from two of her so-called "biggest fans". Yes, Violet suddenly deletes all her social media accounts. But I think here it stops to lead you on the good way.
• Misleading title?! God... I swear on Jesus's thorns, I just... I mean, when you read " Unfollow me", at what you think? You think that the book is focused on a specific character, right? Violet, here, to be more specific. But! Here comes the big old "but"... BUT! Violet is barely present in the book! You don't really get to know her, or her motives or I don't know what shit you wanna know or you are supposed to know about her! She is more like a ghost.
• Unnecessary character. One of the perspectives is from a young mother who is obsessed with Violet (but hey, who isn't obsessed with her in this book, anyway?!), I don't even remember her name. And, honestly? I really, really feel like she is so God damn unnecessary in this book! She is annoying, and 9 out of 10 words that she is saying, are lies. And, again, I don't see her point in this book. Yes, she did some things that helped a little for the plot, but that's just most of what she did. Beside her unending lies. So, in conclusion, half of the book is just crap!
• The " big" reveal. Don't get me wrong, I am not a heartless human being, but like, really?! This is all you can do?! You just throw this because -SPOILER- it's about a kid and you hope that this will make it for all those 300 pages (I think) of crap and lies and boredom?! I don't even... I mean, it's pure frustration. It feels like this book needed an end and the first thing that you saw on the news you just put it there... Unnecessary and pointless...
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DISCLAIMER! At the last Cons point my frustration is so high that it seems like I am trashing the author. It is NOT my intention, in any way! It's just my frustration showing it's worst and my inability to make myself and my opinion understood.
I know my review comes after more than one month since I finished the book, but I honestly don't know how to start it and how to explain why and what I didn't liked about this book, because I feel like I can't find my words for it. The idea of it, sounded awesome to me, hence this is why I requested this book on NetGalley. The synopsis intrigued me a lot, and mostly because it felt so relatable to our days! So I decided I wanted to read it. And my excitement started to fade after... let's just say around 10 pages into the book. Yup... Just 10 pages into it. It's a shame!
I will just let you my main big CONS about this book, without even losing more time to pick all the other small bad things.
• Misleading synopsis. I may be wrong, but while the synopsis, in big lines, tells you what this book is about, if you pay attention to it after you start to actually read the book, you will see that it was misleading you. Yes, it's about Violet. Yes, you have the perspectives from two of her so-called "biggest fans". Yes, Violet suddenly deletes all her social media accounts. But I think here it stops to lead you on the good way.
• Misleading title?! God... I swear on Jesus's thorns, I just... I mean, when you read " Unfollow me", at what you think? You think that the book is focused on a specific character, right? Violet, here, to be more specific. But! Here comes the big old "but"... BUT! Violet is barely present in the book! You don't really get to know her, or her motives or I don't know what shit you wanna know or you are supposed to know about her! She is more like a ghost.
• Unnecessary character. One of the perspectives is from a young mother who is obsessed with Violet (but hey, who isn't obsessed with her in this book, anyway?!), I don't even remember her name. And, honestly? I really, really feel like she is so God damn unnecessary in this book! She is annoying, and 9 out of 10 words that she is saying, are lies. And, again, I don't see her point in this book. Yes, she did some things that helped a little for the plot, but that's just most of what she did. Beside her unending lies. So, in conclusion, half of the book is just crap!
• The " big" reveal. Don't get me wrong, I am not a heartless human being, but like, really?! This is all you can do?! You just throw this because -SPOILER- it's about a kid and you hope that this will make it for all those 300 pages (I think) of crap and lies and boredom?! I don't even... I mean, it's pure frustration. It feels like this book needed an end and the first thing that you saw on the news you just put it there... Unnecessary and pointless...
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If you want to support me, you can check my WHISHLIST
June 1, 2019
Wow! Ms Duckworth has done it again. I thoroughly enjoyed her debut novel, The Rival, and this time we get a techno-thriller (a thriller based heavily around technology/internet/social media), and boy is it beyond addictive. Main character Violet is a successful and revered vlogger and social media influencer who disappears suddenly. Her fans are naturally extremely concerned as all of her profiles on her favourite social media platforms have also been deleted without so much as a word. This is deliciously dark and twisty read which highlights the negatives of being an internet celebrity. This quickly turns into a creepy and rather disturbing tale about jealousy.
Duckworth is one of the best at completely stumping her readers by using lots of twists and turns, and wickedly clever misdirection and red herrings. I ended up backing the wrong horse and so will you. What makes this so exceptional is I was certain I knew what was going on right till the very end when Ms Duckworth effectively shouts GOTCHA! There are many thrillers where you can tell that the author is trying hard to throw you off the scent. Here, what is so special is the subtlety and nuance which means you are only aware of the misdirection retrospectively. Superb job! I now await her next book. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
Duckworth is one of the best at completely stumping her readers by using lots of twists and turns, and wickedly clever misdirection and red herrings. I ended up backing the wrong horse and so will you. What makes this so exceptional is I was certain I knew what was going on right till the very end when Ms Duckworth effectively shouts GOTCHA! There are many thrillers where you can tell that the author is trying hard to throw you off the scent. Here, what is so special is the subtlety and nuance which means you are only aware of the misdirection retrospectively. Superb job! I now await her next book. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
February 9, 2020
A very contemporary book on the pitfalls of living your life through social media.
The book is told through three characters the first is Lily, a single mum who is dependent on a 'social media influencer' called Violet. Lily is shocked when Violet suddenly shuts down all of her social media with no explanation. Lily makes it her mission despite her own precarious position with her 3 year old to find out what happened to Violet.
Yvonne is forty and desperate to fall pregnant with her younger husband Simon. But how honest is she being with everyone around her and how far will she go to get what she wants? What is her connection to Violet that she constantly feels the need to monitor her through social media?
Henry is the husband of Violet and has to endure all the speculation of his wife's welfare. Outwardly he and violet appear to have the perfect family, home and life, but how much of this is filtered to make it so,
I was truly hooked with this story and all of its twists and turns had me guessing right to the end.
A great book that I can recommend. Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this digital ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
The book is told through three characters the first is Lily, a single mum who is dependent on a 'social media influencer' called Violet. Lily is shocked when Violet suddenly shuts down all of her social media with no explanation. Lily makes it her mission despite her own precarious position with her 3 year old to find out what happened to Violet.
Yvonne is forty and desperate to fall pregnant with her younger husband Simon. But how honest is she being with everyone around her and how far will she go to get what she wants? What is her connection to Violet that she constantly feels the need to monitor her through social media?
Henry is the husband of Violet and has to endure all the speculation of his wife's welfare. Outwardly he and violet appear to have the perfect family, home and life, but how much of this is filtered to make it so,
I was truly hooked with this story and all of its twists and turns had me guessing right to the end.
A great book that I can recommend. Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this digital ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
February 19, 2020
This is my second back to back thriller dealing with technology and the impact social media has on our lives.
Two books with the same foundation, but that's were the similarity ends.
The first (Follow Me) deals with an egotistical nobody who's trying to be somebody, because it makes them feel special.
Unfollow me actually deals with the subject from the audiences point of view-those who give the likes and make the user feel loved.
I'm actually glad I read these 2 back to back as it was interesting to read from both POV's.
This domestic thriller is certainly relevant and timely, but the actual mystery itself was pretty brilliant. Duckworth weaved a well crafted story line with unreliable characters to completely keep me off balance. The way she tied everything up at the end was seamless.
Highly recommend, and I look forward to reading what's next from this author!
ARC provided by NetGalley
Two books with the same foundation, but that's were the similarity ends.
The first (Follow Me) deals with an egotistical nobody who's trying to be somebody, because it makes them feel special.
Unfollow me actually deals with the subject from the audiences point of view-those who give the likes and make the user feel loved.
I'm actually glad I read these 2 back to back as it was interesting to read from both POV's.
This domestic thriller is certainly relevant and timely, but the actual mystery itself was pretty brilliant. Duckworth weaved a well crafted story line with unreliable characters to completely keep me off balance. The way she tied everything up at the end was seamless.
Highly recommend, and I look forward to reading what's next from this author!
ARC provided by NetGalley
February 28, 2020
Violet is a popular social media influencer and "mom" vlogger with over a million followers. When all of her social media accounts are suddenly deleted, fans start to question what happened. Some think Violet simply decided to quit it all, while others believe something more sinister has happened.
Told from multiple points of view - Lily, Yvonne, and Henry. Lily and Yvonne are fans that have unhealthy obsessions with Violet. Henry is Violet's husband. Everyone has secrets.
A witty psychological thriller. Unreliable narrators in a story about social media and obsession. Clever, engaging, and highly entertaining.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Told from multiple points of view - Lily, Yvonne, and Henry. Lily and Yvonne are fans that have unhealthy obsessions with Violet. Henry is Violet's husband. Everyone has secrets.
A witty psychological thriller. Unreliable narrators in a story about social media and obsession. Clever, engaging, and highly entertaining.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2020
Very well written story about disappearance of a vlogger Violet Young. Her followers decided to find out what happened to her. Fast paste, interesting with some twists and turns.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair review.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair review.
April 5, 2020
I love the growing trend of thrillers that have a social media aspect to them, so I was really excited about Unfollow Me! After YouTube star Violet deletes her channel and all of her social media accounts with no notice, her fans are concerned. Unfollow Me is primarily told through alternating points of view between Yvonne and Lily, both who have personal interests in Violet, and who both have their own secrets. Interspersed as chapters told through emails sent from a troll account to Violet, social media threads about Violet's whereabouts on a website for mothers, and from Violet's husband, Henry.
I was eagerly awaiting the reveals about so many things! It was clear that Yvonne and Lily had secrets, so I wanted to know what those were, and how they'd play into the book. I wanted to know where Violet went, and I wanted to know who was sending Violet the troll emails! All was revealed in due time, but the book definitely held my attention.
While the book is not what I'd call a traditional "thriller", but was more of a domestic suspense or mystery. That was okay with me, because there was enough happening to hold my attention.
I did feel like the ending was a little overwhelming, for lack of a better word. All of the reveals happened at once, so it felt like there was a lot going on all at the end of the book, where the rest of the book had more of a slow progression, so there was a lot for the reader to focus on, rather than having a little time to absorb each reveal.
Regardless, I rated this one 4 stars and really enjoyed the overall story and plot. This was the first book I'd read by Charlotte Duckworth, and I can't wait to see what she writes next! I'd like to thank Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for my copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
I was eagerly awaiting the reveals about so many things! It was clear that Yvonne and Lily had secrets, so I wanted to know what those were, and how they'd play into the book. I wanted to know where Violet went, and I wanted to know who was sending Violet the troll emails! All was revealed in due time, but the book definitely held my attention.
While the book is not what I'd call a traditional "thriller", but was more of a domestic suspense or mystery. That was okay with me, because there was enough happening to hold my attention.
I did feel like the ending was a little overwhelming, for lack of a better word. All of the reveals happened at once, so it felt like there was a lot going on all at the end of the book, where the rest of the book had more of a slow progression, so there was a lot for the reader to focus on, rather than having a little time to absorb each reveal.
Regardless, I rated this one 4 stars and really enjoyed the overall story and plot. This was the first book I'd read by Charlotte Duckworth, and I can't wait to see what she writes next! I'd like to thank Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for my copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
January 18, 2021
I enjoyed his book about a mommy vlogger, Violet, who seems to live an incredible, happy life where everything is seemingly perfect. The book started well, and I was intrigued by the complete blackout of a successful vlogger.
The story is told in alternating chapters by the main characters; Henry, the husband of Violet, Lilly, who is desperate and obsessed with Violet and her lifestyle and finally, Yvonne, who is struggling fertility issues. Both women are obsessed with Violet for different reasons. Both women have had a lot of pain in their pasts. To a certain degree, I understand their obsessions. Social media often fills a void for people who struggle in their own lives and it really does play on some people’s fears of not being enough, as good as someone else that they’ve compared themselves too.
The premise of the book is quite good, but there was some repetition that was a bit boring. I also figured out part of the story before it rolled out, which wasn’t all that shocking.
In the end I enjoyed the book even though I wanted more meat behind it. And I do recommend the book because there are some fun parts and it’s a nice, easy read.
The story is told in alternating chapters by the main characters; Henry, the husband of Violet, Lilly, who is desperate and obsessed with Violet and her lifestyle and finally, Yvonne, who is struggling fertility issues. Both women are obsessed with Violet for different reasons. Both women have had a lot of pain in their pasts. To a certain degree, I understand their obsessions. Social media often fills a void for people who struggle in their own lives and it really does play on some people’s fears of not being enough, as good as someone else that they’ve compared themselves too.
The premise of the book is quite good, but there was some repetition that was a bit boring. I also figured out part of the story before it rolled out, which wasn’t all that shocking.
In the end I enjoyed the book even though I wanted more meat behind it. And I do recommend the book because there are some fun parts and it’s a nice, easy read.
April 23, 2020
This was a good book, but I felt that it had potential to be even better. I enjoyed it well enough and wanted to know what happened, but then felt it was a bit underwhelming at the end. With that said, the ending was at least realistic and I do prefer a realistic ending. It just wasn't quite up to par with the buildup.
This is the first book I've read by Charlotte Duckworth and I'm interested in reading more of her work. I liked the way the story was slowly revealed as you got closer to the 'big reveal'. It allowed the reader to piece together some of what happened before you got there. I also liked the way the characters were slowly revealed and how the reader's opinions may have changed somewhat throughout the story.
Overall, a worthy read. 3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a free electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I've read by Charlotte Duckworth and I'm interested in reading more of her work. I liked the way the story was slowly revealed as you got closer to the 'big reveal'. It allowed the reader to piece together some of what happened before you got there. I also liked the way the characters were slowly revealed and how the reader's opinions may have changed somewhat throughout the story.
Overall, a worthy read. 3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a free electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
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