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Following You
An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
A fear-induced split-second decision goes terribly wrong, altering the fate of three strangers.
It's New Year's Eve. Shae Wilmont, the adored celebrity host of IShop—a popular shopping site—is ready to reclaim her life. Her stalker has been caught. But en route to a party, a harrowing encounter lands her in the wrong place at the wrong time. She panics. And trusts her gut. It's a devastating mistake.
Only one person knows where she ends up. It's where no one can find her.
Shae's stunned fans quickly galvanize to track her down. Yet the charismatic Shae they know, who delivers digital intimacy to viewers who'll buy anything she sells, off camera is an enigma—private and strangely insecure—unable to let anyone get close. When startling personal secrets are exposed during the investigation, the paradox of Shae begins to unravel.
In this dark psychological suspense, the lives of three strangers collide irreversibly. Honey, a displaced Southern girl with a painful past, is fiercely protective of her friends at the expense of her own safety, derailing her new life in California. Creepy Lawrence, a Detective Bureau fast-tracker with a penchant for latex gloves and a perverse obsession with Shae. And Shae, with millions of fake friends but hardly a real one. All three are hiding something, but only two of them are lying.
This suspenseful page-turner bares our assumptions of strangers. Who we believe without judgment and who we judge without believing. A story about privilege, family, identity, the need for belonging and the destruction caused by secrets.
How can you trust your instincts when they turn out to be wrong?
A fear-induced split-second decision goes terribly wrong, altering the fate of three strangers.
It's New Year's Eve. Shae Wilmont, the adored celebrity host of IShop—a popular shopping site—is ready to reclaim her life. Her stalker has been caught. But en route to a party, a harrowing encounter lands her in the wrong place at the wrong time. She panics. And trusts her gut. It's a devastating mistake.
Only one person knows where she ends up. It's where no one can find her.
Shae's stunned fans quickly galvanize to track her down. Yet the charismatic Shae they know, who delivers digital intimacy to viewers who'll buy anything she sells, off camera is an enigma—private and strangely insecure—unable to let anyone get close. When startling personal secrets are exposed during the investigation, the paradox of Shae begins to unravel.
In this dark psychological suspense, the lives of three strangers collide irreversibly. Honey, a displaced Southern girl with a painful past, is fiercely protective of her friends at the expense of her own safety, derailing her new life in California. Creepy Lawrence, a Detective Bureau fast-tracker with a penchant for latex gloves and a perverse obsession with Shae. And Shae, with millions of fake friends but hardly a real one. All three are hiding something, but only two of them are lying.
This suspenseful page-turner bares our assumptions of strangers. Who we believe without judgment and who we judge without believing. A story about privilege, family, identity, the need for belonging and the destruction caused by secrets.
How can you trust your instincts when they turn out to be wrong?
234 pages, ebook
First published February 2, 2021
676 people are currently reading
3413 people want to read
About the author
Eva Lesko Natiello
2 books633 followersEva Lesko Natiello is the award-winning author of The Memory Box, a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling psychological thriller about a woman who Googles herself and discovers the shocking details of a past she doesn't remember. The lives of three strangers collide in her her next psychological suspense, FOLLOWING YOU, about a popular TV host who goes missing en route to a New Year's Eve Party after a panicked decision lands her in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Eva lives and writes in suburban NJ, which provided the setting for the fictional town in her debut novel. She is particularly fascinated by misconceptions and how destructive even the most benign misunderstanding can be. When not writing suspense novels, she enjoys writing humorous musings about life’s ironies which can be found on her blog: writing from the intersection of oops, yikes and awe at evaleskonatiello.com.
Ms. Natiello is a native of Yonkers, New York and a graduate of UAlbany with a degree in psychology. Her professional experience includes cosmetics industry Public Relations and Communications executive.
According to Ms. Natiello, “The sign of a good day is when the creative process in some form—be it writing, painting, or singing—has pried its way into the mundane.”
Eva is always grateful to readers who take the time to write reviews and for choosing THE MEMORY BOX and FOLLOWING YOU for book club discussions. She's always thrilled to receive book club photos from readers and loves to post them on her website, so keep 'em coming!
Never miss news about upcoming books, events and the latest happenings by signing up for Eva's newsletter at https://evaleskonatiello.com!
Follow Eva on social:
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eva-l...
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Amazon: https://amzn.to/3j9fmRC
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evaleskon...
Eva lives and writes in suburban NJ, which provided the setting for the fictional town in her debut novel. She is particularly fascinated by misconceptions and how destructive even the most benign misunderstanding can be. When not writing suspense novels, she enjoys writing humorous musings about life’s ironies which can be found on her blog: writing from the intersection of oops, yikes and awe at evaleskonatiello.com.
Ms. Natiello is a native of Yonkers, New York and a graduate of UAlbany with a degree in psychology. Her professional experience includes cosmetics industry Public Relations and Communications executive.
According to Ms. Natiello, “The sign of a good day is when the creative process in some form—be it writing, painting, or singing—has pried its way into the mundane.”
Eva is always grateful to readers who take the time to write reviews and for choosing THE MEMORY BOX and FOLLOWING YOU for book club discussions. She's always thrilled to receive book club photos from readers and loves to post them on her website, so keep 'em coming!
Never miss news about upcoming books, events and the latest happenings by signing up for Eva's newsletter at https://evaleskonatiello.com!
Follow Eva on social:
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eva-l...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvaNatiello
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evanatiello/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvaNatiello
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3j9fmRC
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evaleskon...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
March 9, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
3,5 ⭐️
When I first read the synopsis of “Following you” I expected your typical stalker story, but was I wrong! This turned out to be quite different from the way it first started. One of the themes of the novel is that nothing and no one are what they seem, and this book is a clear example of that!
The beginning was quite creepy and the presentation of the three main characters was pretty interesting. We have Shae, a famous host of the Ishop channel, receiving disturbing letters from a fan; Lawrence, a weird guy seemingly obsessed with her; and Honey, a young woman trying to find her way in the world after a recent loss. When their lives collide everything you thought you knew about them will be blown to pieces!
I wasn’t sure at first when the story took such a different direction from the initial premise. I had set my mind to read a classic stalker story so the twist felt a bit discombobulating. Honey made a complete 180 in just a matter of chapters. Which one was the real one, the one we first met in the diner or the second one? She was a catalogue of bad decisions and I don’t think some of them were justified enough.
Halfway through there was another twist I didn’t see coming and that had the potential to change the course of the story again, but at the end I don’t think we got all the explanations the twist deserved.
It was clear from the start that there wouldn’t be no happy ending for some of them, question was who would be the one suffering the consequences. I was glad with the one that ended up doing it but there could have been a bit more tension in those last chapters.
Surprising turns and bizarre and wacky characters, and while I enjoyed it for the most part I’m still wondering if I would have liked it better had it been the story I had first imagined in my head. All in all it intrigued me enough to make me wanna read “The memory box”, the author’s debut.
Thank you to NetGalley, Fine Line Publishing and Eva Lesko Natiello for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
3,5 ⭐️
When I first read the synopsis of “Following you” I expected your typical stalker story, but was I wrong! This turned out to be quite different from the way it first started. One of the themes of the novel is that nothing and no one are what they seem, and this book is a clear example of that!
The beginning was quite creepy and the presentation of the three main characters was pretty interesting. We have Shae, a famous host of the Ishop channel, receiving disturbing letters from a fan; Lawrence, a weird guy seemingly obsessed with her; and Honey, a young woman trying to find her way in the world after a recent loss. When their lives collide everything you thought you knew about them will be blown to pieces!
I wasn’t sure at first when the story took such a different direction from the initial premise. I had set my mind to read a classic stalker story so the twist felt a bit discombobulating. Honey made a complete 180 in just a matter of chapters. Which one was the real one, the one we first met in the diner or the second one? She was a catalogue of bad decisions and I don’t think some of them were justified enough.
Halfway through there was another twist I didn’t see coming and that had the potential to change the course of the story again, but at the end I don’t think we got all the explanations the twist deserved.
It was clear from the start that there wouldn’t be no happy ending for some of them, question was who would be the one suffering the consequences. I was glad with the one that ended up doing it but there could have been a bit more tension in those last chapters.
Surprising turns and bizarre and wacky characters, and while I enjoyed it for the most part I’m still wondering if I would have liked it better had it been the story I had first imagined in my head. All in all it intrigued me enough to make me wanna read “The memory box”, the author’s debut.
Thank you to NetGalley, Fine Line Publishing and Eva Lesko Natiello for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
June 21, 2021If you are like me and you weren't able to score an ARC of Natiello's latest then you're in luck:
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IT'S FREE ON AMAZON TODAY!!! 🎉
February 1, 2021
Winner winner, chicken dinner!
Natiello does it again! I have been anxiously awaiting another thriller from this author since feverishly finishing The Memory Box. No Sophomore slump for this author! I am so glad that I was able to get my hands on this before the very soon approaching publishing date!
Shae is the host of IShop, a fictionalized QVC, and seems to have it all. She is beautiful, popular and has everything that money can buy.
Lawrence is Shae’s most adoring fan and not afraid to let her know.
Honey is a struggling college student helping to care for Momma while she is dying of cancer.
When these three characters’ lives intersect, the reader is taken on a wild ride and forced to question society’s preconceived notions of identity.
“I swear, if I knew you a hundred years, I still wouldn’t know everything about you.”
Before reading this book, I glanced at the author’s note, where she states the meaning behind one of the themes. I’m not sure if I recommend doing this or not. It doesn’t give anything away, but it did force me to read the book through different eyes. In hindsight, it might have been nice to read this simply as an entertaining thriller. Either way, this book is thoroughly enjoyable. It is creepy, twisty, entertaining, and insightful. Most of all, Natiello’s characters are superbly flawed. I especially enjoyed Shae and Lawrence’s chapters. While it does have a soap opera vibe, it deals with real issues and makes the characters actions and decisions more meaningful. At first, I felt that it didn’t really work, but the more that I process it, I think that it really does! While there are a few coincidences and inconsistencies (Honey won’t take Shae hospital, yet she goes there herself and both women are looking for Jim), I appreciate the author’s many clever attempts to surprise the reader throughout. This is a very unique and thought provoking read that should not be missed! I can’t wait to see what Natiello comes up with next!
4/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Fine Line Publishing for the ARC of Following You in exchange for an honest review.
Natiello does it again! I have been anxiously awaiting another thriller from this author since feverishly finishing The Memory Box. No Sophomore slump for this author! I am so glad that I was able to get my hands on this before the very soon approaching publishing date!
Shae is the host of IShop, a fictionalized QVC, and seems to have it all. She is beautiful, popular and has everything that money can buy.
Lawrence is Shae’s most adoring fan and not afraid to let her know.
Honey is a struggling college student helping to care for Momma while she is dying of cancer.
When these three characters’ lives intersect, the reader is taken on a wild ride and forced to question society’s preconceived notions of identity.
“I swear, if I knew you a hundred years, I still wouldn’t know everything about you.”
Before reading this book, I glanced at the author’s note, where she states the meaning behind one of the themes. I’m not sure if I recommend doing this or not. It doesn’t give anything away, but it did force me to read the book through different eyes. In hindsight, it might have been nice to read this simply as an entertaining thriller. Either way, this book is thoroughly enjoyable. It is creepy, twisty, entertaining, and insightful. Most of all, Natiello’s characters are superbly flawed. I especially enjoyed Shae and Lawrence’s chapters. While it does have a soap opera vibe, it deals with real issues and makes the characters actions and decisions more meaningful. At first, I felt that it didn’t really work, but the more that I process it, I think that it really does! While there are a few coincidences and inconsistencies (Honey won’t take Shae hospital, yet she goes there herself and both women are looking for Jim), I appreciate the author’s many clever attempts to surprise the reader throughout. This is a very unique and thought provoking read that should not be missed! I can’t wait to see what Natiello comes up with next!
4/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Fine Line Publishing for the ARC of Following You in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2021
Following You is a clever and deceiving psychological thriller that will have you turning pages well into the night to discover what happens. It is not the book that I was expecting, in a good way. Nothing is what it seems, and nobody is who they seem in this twisted tale.
I am not going to say much about the plot because it is one that you need to go into blind. It is told from multiple points of view:
First there is Shae, the beautiful and very popular host on IShop. On her way to a new years eve party she makes a decision that she will regret.
Then we have the creepy Lawrence, Shae's biggest fan. He is obsessed with her and desperate to find her
And lastly there is Honey, a money strapped waitress caring for her dying mother.
But how do they connect? Well you need to read Following Me to find out.
A big thanks to the author, Eva Lesko for sending me a copy of this book to read.
I am not going to say much about the plot because it is one that you need to go into blind. It is told from multiple points of view:
First there is Shae, the beautiful and very popular host on IShop. On her way to a new years eve party she makes a decision that she will regret.
Then we have the creepy Lawrence, Shae's biggest fan. He is obsessed with her and desperate to find her
And lastly there is Honey, a money strapped waitress caring for her dying mother.
But how do they connect? Well you need to read Following Me to find out.
A big thanks to the author, Eva Lesko for sending me a copy of this book to read.
June 24, 2021
Following You started off so promising. The beginning introduces us to our three dynamic characters. They were well written, interesting, and each had a unique voice. Shae the famous TV host, Honey the reckless teen, and Lawrence the creepy stalker cop. Let's talk about Lawrence for a second:
"Soon, he’d smell Shae in the flesh. Wedge his nose into her armpit—moist and hairy, he hoped."
CREEPY. But this is exactly how the author intended him to be. But after a while, he became difficult to read as his creepiness amplified. It got to a point where his character didn't feel authentic anymore. Don't even get me started on his relationship with Rita...
After the introductions, the story sputtered into absurdity and never recovered. The "event" happened that brought these characters together and then the story flatlined. Nothing happened after that. Nothing. The ending left many loose ends and unanswered questions.
There was nothing driving the plot forward. Instead we're treated to copious amounts of dialogue. SO. MUCH. DIALOGUE. Pages and pages of it. It was on-the-nose most of the time and so much of it was unauthentic and repetitive, especially with Honey. All telling, no showing.
There is a dog, Mooch. Poor Mooch was on the cusp of violence but I'm here to relieve your anxiety, dear reader. No harm comes to Mooch. However, his inclusion is anything but heart-warming. He served one villainous purpose and is treated poorly the rest of the way.
With some re-writes, this could've been an engrossing story. Or maybe I'm just not the right audience. Many others enjoyed this more than I did so definitely check out some of the more positive reviews!
"Soon, he’d smell Shae in the flesh. Wedge his nose into her armpit—moist and hairy, he hoped."
CREEPY. But this is exactly how the author intended him to be. But after a while, he became difficult to read as his creepiness amplified. It got to a point where his character didn't feel authentic anymore. Don't even get me started on his relationship with Rita...
After the introductions, the story sputtered into absurdity and never recovered. The "event" happened that brought these characters together and then the story flatlined. Nothing happened after that. Nothing. The ending left many loose ends and unanswered questions.
There was nothing driving the plot forward. Instead we're treated to copious amounts of dialogue. SO. MUCH. DIALOGUE. Pages and pages of it. It was on-the-nose most of the time and so much of it was unauthentic and repetitive, especially with Honey. All telling, no showing.
There is a dog, Mooch. Poor Mooch was on the cusp of violence but I'm here to relieve your anxiety, dear reader. No harm comes to Mooch. However, his inclusion is anything but heart-warming. He served one villainous purpose and is treated poorly the rest of the way.
With some re-writes, this could've been an engrossing story. Or maybe I'm just not the right audience. Many others enjoyed this more than I did so definitely check out some of the more positive reviews!
February 7, 2021
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Following you is a book told from three characters points of view in real time. Meet Lawrence, Shae and Honey - three very different people from three very different walks of life but all with secrets to keep. This book is a great reminder of 'how well do you really know someone?'.
Lawrence is a borderline stalker of the famous Shae who creeped me out so much. He's a paper pusher with very high views on himself and starts the book off with a creepy stomach churning introduction.
Shae is a famous shopping chanel darling with a huge following on social media but who has demons lurking in her closet.
Honey is a waitress at a greasy joint trying to rise from poverty and make something of herself as a dental hygienist and make her Momma proud.
A series of small events unfold that throw all three characters into each others lives in a twisty turney read.
Following you is a book told from three characters points of view in real time. Meet Lawrence, Shae and Honey - three very different people from three very different walks of life but all with secrets to keep. This book is a great reminder of 'how well do you really know someone?'.
Lawrence is a borderline stalker of the famous Shae who creeped me out so much. He's a paper pusher with very high views on himself and starts the book off with a creepy stomach churning introduction.
Shae is a famous shopping chanel darling with a huge following on social media but who has demons lurking in her closet.
Honey is a waitress at a greasy joint trying to rise from poverty and make something of herself as a dental hygienist and make her Momma proud.
A series of small events unfold that throw all three characters into each others lives in a twisty turney read.
February 11, 2021
Eva Lesko Natiello's newest book,
Following You
, is a fascinating thriller where nothing—and no one—are quite what they seem.
Shae Wilmont is the most popular host on IShop, a popular shopping channel. She was off the air for a while because someone was stalking her, but that seems to have been handled. Yet apparently, her stalker—or perhaps another—has returned, and everyone is on edge.
On New Year’s Eve she reluctantly agrees to go to a party thrown by colleagues. In a way she hopes it will take people’s attentions off the stalker and maybe help her reputation of being stand-offish. But she makes a foolish decision on the spur of the moment and it lands her in trouble she never imagined.
Shae's disappearance rocks her fans, particularly Lawrence, a creepy police department employee who is more than a little obsessed with her. But as with Shae, and another woman, Honey, there’s more to Lawrence than meets the eye.
There’s so much to this story that you need to let unfold for yourself. This is a book about secrets, snap judgments, regrets, and trying to find your way, only to derail yourself again and again.
I really wasn’t sure what was going to happen in Following You , and Natiello really kept me guessing. There was a good amount of tension but beyond that, this was a thought-provoking read as well. I love it when books surprise you!
I was pleased to be part of the blog tour for this book. Kate Rock Book Tours and Eva Natiello provided me a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Shae Wilmont is the most popular host on IShop, a popular shopping channel. She was off the air for a while because someone was stalking her, but that seems to have been handled. Yet apparently, her stalker—or perhaps another—has returned, and everyone is on edge.
On New Year’s Eve she reluctantly agrees to go to a party thrown by colleagues. In a way she hopes it will take people’s attentions off the stalker and maybe help her reputation of being stand-offish. But she makes a foolish decision on the spur of the moment and it lands her in trouble she never imagined.
Shae's disappearance rocks her fans, particularly Lawrence, a creepy police department employee who is more than a little obsessed with her. But as with Shae, and another woman, Honey, there’s more to Lawrence than meets the eye.
There’s so much to this story that you need to let unfold for yourself. This is a book about secrets, snap judgments, regrets, and trying to find your way, only to derail yourself again and again.
I really wasn’t sure what was going to happen in Following You , and Natiello really kept me guessing. There was a good amount of tension but beyond that, this was a thought-provoking read as well. I love it when books surprise you!
I was pleased to be part of the blog tour for this book. Kate Rock Book Tours and Eva Natiello provided me a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
July 24, 2021
Two young women .. one seems to have it all ... one seems to have nothing.
Shae --- A sort of influencer with millions of friend .. online. In real life not many at all. What she does have is a stalker .. again. Or is it the same one that's never been caught?
Honey --- A waitress saving to go to college. Has recently been taking care of her mother until she died. Now she's staying in a house that isn't hers knowing she's going to be tossed out before too long.
And then there's Lawrence ... the less said about him right now is enough.
All three are hiding something ... but only two of them are lying.
BOOK BLURB: This bares our assumptions of strangers. Who we believe without judgment and who we judge without believing. A story about privilege, family, identity, the need for belonging and the destruction caused by secrets.
How can you trust your instincts when they turn out to be wrong?
This was a real slow starter for me .... didn't particularly like the characters. The suspense is low key and I found it hard to follow. I'm disappointed ... I really wanted to like this one.
Many thanks to the author / Fine Line Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Shae --- A sort of influencer with millions of friend .. online. In real life not many at all. What she does have is a stalker .. again. Or is it the same one that's never been caught?
Honey --- A waitress saving to go to college. Has recently been taking care of her mother until she died. Now she's staying in a house that isn't hers knowing she's going to be tossed out before too long.
And then there's Lawrence ... the less said about him right now is enough.
All three are hiding something ... but only two of them are lying.
BOOK BLURB: This bares our assumptions of strangers. Who we believe without judgment and who we judge without believing. A story about privilege, family, identity, the need for belonging and the destruction caused by secrets.
How can you trust your instincts when they turn out to be wrong?
This was a real slow starter for me .... didn't particularly like the characters. The suspense is low key and I found it hard to follow. I'm disappointed ... I really wanted to like this one.
Many thanks to the author / Fine Line Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 10, 2021
I am a huge fan of The Memory Box by this author, in fact if you haven’t read that book- do yourself a favor and pick it up, you will not be disappointed! It’s a definite five star read for sure.
My feelings for Following You are a bit different. I found this story to be a bit strange, and all of the characters were unlikeable until the end. After the book wrapped up and you understood why people do the things they do, or act a certain way, things really made sense. I did enjoy this book, but I didn’t love it.
The author has a new release coming out soon, and I will be anxiously awaiting for it. Her writing is different, and I do recommend reading her books.
My feelings for Following You are a bit different. I found this story to be a bit strange, and all of the characters were unlikeable until the end. After the book wrapped up and you understood why people do the things they do, or act a certain way, things really made sense. I did enjoy this book, but I didn’t love it.
The author has a new release coming out soon, and I will be anxiously awaiting for it. Her writing is different, and I do recommend reading her books.
February 16, 2021
Hello! Today is my stop on the #katerockbooktours
✨FOLLOWING YOU✨
Author @evanatiello
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just WOW! what a thriller I just read. You think you know who’s involved but at the end your shocked with the news.
Shae Wilmont is a popular IShop presenter with a massive following and a stalker.
She goes missing on New Year’s Eve but not by whom you might think. This story ends up on a happy note.
It has a lot of twist, turns and fast-paced read.
I highly recommend it.
#followingyou #books #bookstagram
✨FOLLOWING YOU✨
Author @evanatiello
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just WOW! what a thriller I just read. You think you know who’s involved but at the end your shocked with the news.
Shae Wilmont is a popular IShop presenter with a massive following and a stalker.
She goes missing on New Year’s Eve but not by whom you might think. This story ends up on a happy note.
It has a lot of twist, turns and fast-paced read.
I highly recommend it.
#followingyou #books #bookstagram
February 5, 2021
Lawrence, a police officer in a senior position, has an obsession. That obsession is Shea Wilmot, TV hostess for IShop. He hides in closets while at work to watch her show every day, (This, even though he has taped it, as well). He buys her products and caresses his cell phone.when Shea is on TV. Also, Lawrence calls in and emails with (sort of) different e-names.
He still has a girlfriend, Rita, whom he pretends is Shea at every moment..
Shea, has realized that her stalker has returned after a 3 month hiatus. But, Shea's boss and security team for her show found a note in Shea's car. The stalker has returned. Shea is then demoted to another show and is hurt because her career is now in jeopardy.
To what extent will Lawerence go to feed his obsession?
A fine read! Recommend!
Many Thanks to Fine Line Publishing and NetGalley for a great read!
He still has a girlfriend, Rita, whom he pretends is Shea at every moment..
Shea, has realized that her stalker has returned after a 3 month hiatus. But, Shea's boss and security team for her show found a note in Shea's car. The stalker has returned. Shea is then demoted to another show and is hurt because her career is now in jeopardy.
To what extent will Lawerence go to feed his obsession?
A fine read! Recommend!
Many Thanks to Fine Line Publishing and NetGalley for a great read!
August 17, 2021
Despite using many weak, unnecessary and distracting similes that her editors should have eliminated, the author of Following You has produced an otherwise well-written novel about a celebrity stalker that in its denouement more or less delivers the surprise she promises. So if you’re looking for a moderately suspenseful story with a somewhat unexpected ending, you can ignore the remainder of my comments and just read and enjoy the book.
Unfortunately the author would have us believe that Following You is more than simply an entertaining piece of passable fiction.
As if providing a substitute for reading Schopenhauer, she superficially raises the question what qualities constitute a person’s character to make us who we really are. We all do some acting and pretending in our daily lives; people in Hollywood do it for a living. So does her character Shae, a celebrity on a television shopping network who is the target of a stalker.
Do you ever wonder if the real Tom Hanks is nothing more than an amalgam of the many diverse characters he has played over his career? Neither do I. But that’s akin to the profound question the author of Following You wants us to seriously consider about her characters and our characters and characters we meet in life.
As for the putative stalker, the opening chapter of Following You reads like a teenage boy’s sex fantasy. The book’s female author is clearly obsessed with breasts, or at least she thinks men are. Writing from the point of view of Lawrence, a male character, she uses words like décolletage to describe his fixation.
Message to the author: Sorry, but this is not a term a guy uses if he’s thinking about breasts, regardless of how titillated he is.
But never mind. No matter how much the publishers of Cosmopolitan and fashion designers and advertisers and many women themselves want us to think about their breasts, according to this author a man like Lawrence who thinks about them anyway is ipso facto a creep and a stalker-in-training.
Finally, at the end of her novel, the author presumes to school her readers with a list of Questions to help guide discussions of her book, as if we had just finished reading Proust or Dostoevsky, are incapable to think of topics on our own, and would even have the desire to talk about her novel at all. The irony is that I found her need to guide me through what she grandly considers the complexities of her novel almost as amusing as the novel itself.
Unfortunately the author would have us believe that Following You is more than simply an entertaining piece of passable fiction.
As if providing a substitute for reading Schopenhauer, she superficially raises the question what qualities constitute a person’s character to make us who we really are. We all do some acting and pretending in our daily lives; people in Hollywood do it for a living. So does her character Shae, a celebrity on a television shopping network who is the target of a stalker.
Do you ever wonder if the real Tom Hanks is nothing more than an amalgam of the many diverse characters he has played over his career? Neither do I. But that’s akin to the profound question the author of Following You wants us to seriously consider about her characters and our characters and characters we meet in life.
As for the putative stalker, the opening chapter of Following You reads like a teenage boy’s sex fantasy. The book’s female author is clearly obsessed with breasts, or at least she thinks men are. Writing from the point of view of Lawrence, a male character, she uses words like décolletage to describe his fixation.
Message to the author: Sorry, but this is not a term a guy uses if he’s thinking about breasts, regardless of how titillated he is.
But never mind. No matter how much the publishers of Cosmopolitan and fashion designers and advertisers and many women themselves want us to think about their breasts, according to this author a man like Lawrence who thinks about them anyway is ipso facto a creep and a stalker-in-training.
Finally, at the end of her novel, the author presumes to school her readers with a list of Questions to help guide discussions of her book, as if we had just finished reading Proust or Dostoevsky, are incapable to think of topics on our own, and would even have the desire to talk about her novel at all. The irony is that I found her need to guide me through what she grandly considers the complexities of her novel almost as amusing as the novel itself.
June 3, 2021
I really am not sure what I just read. I loved the Memory Box, and highly anticipated the author's next book. I was gripped in chapter 1. Excited, because Lawrence was described, so disturbing, so creepy, and he's a cop...
So that gripping first chapter, quickly turned from the stalker story to a story line of a waitress, and no other characters described in any earlier chapters. I had to re-read, because I thought they were typo's was it grandmother, was it her mother - it later is explained further in the book, but the initial chapter introducing all these new characters was very convoluted. Like this introduction of Honey and her entourage, could have been another book.
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Near 50% the double entendre "Three's Company" dialog got on my nerves. Confused Shae thinks that the hole, casket is for her - talking about death - all when it's the grandmother, and the grandmother was dead in the same room, so that was the fish smell, or was it the infection Shae had - spoiler - we never find out.
I really started skimming here, the details and the story all over the place was not entertaining. Even the chapter where Shae meets Honey, what dialog, of them both 'thinking', yelling over each other - you really didn't know what happened. Let alone the entire time Shae is at Honey's. Is it what Shae 'remembers' that Honey was mean, and somewhat kidnapped her, shot her tires out (cause if she did, when they found her car, there was no mention of this) or was it really how Honey described it.
I hated Rita, that she was this 'maid' and how Lawrence thought he could do better. By 60% you know Lawrence isn't a cop - or at least, you figure he's not, but he works at a police station.
I didn't understand if it was meant to be symbolism or what, about the butterfly zoo, Rita takes Lawrence too, let alone Shae having a butterfly tattoo.
I felt the writing was confusing, and confusing writing doesn't make it a psych thriller or a mystery - it made it frustrating.
You know that Lawrence is this picky, germaphobe (cause of the glove wearing), but wants to smell Shea's armpits & wishes they were hairy, he's good-looking, and wears his football ring. Big macho. But you find out he was the mascot (to his argument is part of the football team, and why he has a football ring), wears garters (to keep his shirt tucked in), and has no relationships, even with Rita.
Forgetting the long tedious, Shae is semi unconscious, Honey is battling having now 2 dead bodies in her basement along with inured Shae, you just didn't know where this story line is going? Some point, Shae and her friend decide to eBay a 1 of a kind Tory Burch gold autographed purse, and somehow the friend figures out that the stalker notes from 3 months originated in Shae's purse. (cause some drama about the last letter had a label missing, and the missing label is stuck in the purse) They sold the purse to the police (sting) - since by now, Shae has been missing a few days.
Honey decides to 'run away' - and the next thing you know, the story is 5 days in the future, and Shae is in the hospital, having been visited by her colleagues and estranged father, and is dreading that her secret is out, that she is the stalker, and she sent the letters - because Honey & her friend figured it out.
In comes Lawrence, Shae was waking up and swears someone was smelling her, and wakes up to see a man at her armpit. He says his name is Lamar, and shows her a bunch of people who "will get the reward", and she's going thru pictures, when another detective comes in, who's name is Lamar, and takes Lawrence outside. Big reveal that Lawrence is not a cop, but evidence clerk and stock room - and how Lamar 'brought him with' looked out after him - and in 2 pages, apparently there is a long time story of these two, that was not explained anywhere else, other than these 2 pages, where Lamar has had it with Lawrence and is firing him.
Enter Rita, since they're at a hospital, and she's a nurse, and is trying to tell the two men to quiet down, asks Lawrence if he's on a case, and then Lamar says, he's a "former clerk" and Rita just says, I guess I don't know you, and a man passes buy asking her her shift and going to ask her to dinner.
Back to Shae. No one ever finds out who 'kept' her - not sure if anyone knows what happens, because she had bone surgery - was she found with the dead bodies - not disclosed. The real detective (Lamar) does tell her that the person who called her in, just had a scholarship, and didn't take the reward - and Shae decides not to rat Honey out - that they're the same, "sisters in misery" or something like that.
That's it. You never know why Shae sent the stalker emails, you don't know what a disturbing fuck Lawrence was, and if Rita never went back to 'their' house.
So that gripping first chapter, quickly turned from the stalker story to a story line of a waitress, and no other characters described in any earlier chapters. I had to re-read, because I thought they were typo's was it grandmother, was it her mother - it later is explained further in the book, but the initial chapter introducing all these new characters was very convoluted. Like this introduction of Honey and her entourage, could have been another book.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
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Near 50% the double entendre "Three's Company" dialog got on my nerves. Confused Shae thinks that the hole, casket is for her - talking about death - all when it's the grandmother, and the grandmother was dead in the same room, so that was the fish smell, or was it the infection Shae had - spoiler - we never find out.
I really started skimming here, the details and the story all over the place was not entertaining. Even the chapter where Shae meets Honey, what dialog, of them both 'thinking', yelling over each other - you really didn't know what happened. Let alone the entire time Shae is at Honey's. Is it what Shae 'remembers' that Honey was mean, and somewhat kidnapped her, shot her tires out (cause if she did, when they found her car, there was no mention of this) or was it really how Honey described it.
I hated Rita, that she was this 'maid' and how Lawrence thought he could do better. By 60% you know Lawrence isn't a cop - or at least, you figure he's not, but he works at a police station.
I didn't understand if it was meant to be symbolism or what, about the butterfly zoo, Rita takes Lawrence too, let alone Shae having a butterfly tattoo.
I felt the writing was confusing, and confusing writing doesn't make it a psych thriller or a mystery - it made it frustrating.
You know that Lawrence is this picky, germaphobe (cause of the glove wearing), but wants to smell Shea's armpits & wishes they were hairy, he's good-looking, and wears his football ring. Big macho. But you find out he was the mascot (to his argument is part of the football team, and why he has a football ring), wears garters (to keep his shirt tucked in), and has no relationships, even with Rita.
Forgetting the long tedious, Shae is semi unconscious, Honey is battling having now 2 dead bodies in her basement along with inured Shae, you just didn't know where this story line is going? Some point, Shae and her friend decide to eBay a 1 of a kind Tory Burch gold autographed purse, and somehow the friend figures out that the stalker notes from 3 months originated in Shae's purse. (cause some drama about the last letter had a label missing, and the missing label is stuck in the purse) They sold the purse to the police (sting) - since by now, Shae has been missing a few days.
Honey decides to 'run away' - and the next thing you know, the story is 5 days in the future, and Shae is in the hospital, having been visited by her colleagues and estranged father, and is dreading that her secret is out, that she is the stalker, and she sent the letters - because Honey & her friend figured it out.
In comes Lawrence, Shae was waking up and swears someone was smelling her, and wakes up to see a man at her armpit. He says his name is Lamar, and shows her a bunch of people who "will get the reward", and she's going thru pictures, when another detective comes in, who's name is Lamar, and takes Lawrence outside. Big reveal that Lawrence is not a cop, but evidence clerk and stock room - and how Lamar 'brought him with' looked out after him - and in 2 pages, apparently there is a long time story of these two, that was not explained anywhere else, other than these 2 pages, where Lamar has had it with Lawrence and is firing him.
Enter Rita, since they're at a hospital, and she's a nurse, and is trying to tell the two men to quiet down, asks Lawrence if he's on a case, and then Lamar says, he's a "former clerk" and Rita just says, I guess I don't know you, and a man passes buy asking her her shift and going to ask her to dinner.
Back to Shae. No one ever finds out who 'kept' her - not sure if anyone knows what happens, because she had bone surgery - was she found with the dead bodies - not disclosed. The real detective (Lamar) does tell her that the person who called her in, just had a scholarship, and didn't take the reward - and Shae decides not to rat Honey out - that they're the same, "sisters in misery" or something like that.
That's it. You never know why Shae sent the stalker emails, you don't know what a disturbing fuck Lawrence was, and if Rita never went back to 'their' house.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2021
Just when you think you know someone . . .
Lawrence, Shae and Honey share their thoughts in real time, taking the reader along. As their memories surface, we learn more about how their respective pasts have shaped each of them. The narrative gradually becomes so stomach churning, it takes courage to turn the page.
Just when everything is tied into a neat little package, and you’re sure you know all there is to know about each of them, you realize some people are not who they appear to be. Then, like a magician whisking off the satin cloth with a flourish, the characters' true identities are revealed, and all the pieces of a puzzle you thought you’d solved have been rearranged.
A satisfying ending to a fascinating, harrowing tale.
Lawrence, Shae and Honey share their thoughts in real time, taking the reader along. As their memories surface, we learn more about how their respective pasts have shaped each of them. The narrative gradually becomes so stomach churning, it takes courage to turn the page.
Just when everything is tied into a neat little package, and you’re sure you know all there is to know about each of them, you realize some people are not who they appear to be. Then, like a magician whisking off the satin cloth with a flourish, the characters' true identities are revealed, and all the pieces of a puzzle you thought you’d solved have been rearranged.
A satisfying ending to a fascinating, harrowing tale.
January 29, 2021
What a sophomore slump has this one turned out to be. I can’t actually think of the word for extreme slump right now…is it collapse? The apple that rolled so far from the tree that has manages to produce a perfectly good Memory Box it may not even be in the same orchard anymore.
I expected more. I can’t possibly explain the other positive reviews on here. This was, as generously as I can put it, completely pedestrian. And less generously…a steaming pile of doodoo. The author had good intentions and good motifs and this was obviously meant to be about how you can’t really ever know a person, especially in this day and age when social media and various technology have enabled people to create and shape their own story and present themselves a certain way. But the message alone wasn’t enough to animate this scenario and the profoundly unlikeable and at times downright repugnant cast didn’t do the trick either. To continue with the animation metaphor…this was the corpse that never got that It’s alive thing going for it and all that emerged from time to time were gasses. At no time did I care about any of the story. The plot twists were tepid, at best, no real surprises, no excitement whatsoever. The writing was bland at best, the pacing dragged. The split narrative arranged all wrong. No cleverness to be found. The moralizing at the end did nothing to save it, either.
In fact, the most interesting thing about this production was that somehow it came from the same mind that birthed the Memory Box. Go figure. Overall, about as appetizing as a shopping network. Pass. Thanks Netgalley.
I expected more. I can’t possibly explain the other positive reviews on here. This was, as generously as I can put it, completely pedestrian. And less generously…a steaming pile of doodoo. The author had good intentions and good motifs and this was obviously meant to be about how you can’t really ever know a person, especially in this day and age when social media and various technology have enabled people to create and shape their own story and present themselves a certain way. But the message alone wasn’t enough to animate this scenario and the profoundly unlikeable and at times downright repugnant cast didn’t do the trick either. To continue with the animation metaphor…this was the corpse that never got that It’s alive thing going for it and all that emerged from time to time were gasses. At no time did I care about any of the story. The plot twists were tepid, at best, no real surprises, no excitement whatsoever. The writing was bland at best, the pacing dragged. The split narrative arranged all wrong. No cleverness to be found. The moralizing at the end did nothing to save it, either.
In fact, the most interesting thing about this production was that somehow it came from the same mind that birthed the Memory Box. Go figure. Overall, about as appetizing as a shopping network. Pass. Thanks Netgalley.
February 24, 2021
This book is fascinating. The thrills throughout kept me invested. This is the first time I'm reading this author and I will say that this won't be the last!
I was pleased to be part of the blog tour for this book. Kate Rock Book Tours and Eva Natiello provided me a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
I was pleased to be part of the blog tour for this book. Kate Rock Book Tours and Eva Natiello provided me a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
April 27, 2021
It's NYE, Shae Wilmont, the adored celebrity host of ISHOP (ie.QVC) is ready to reclaim her life. Her stalker was just caught. On her way to party she ends up in the wrong place and makes a bad mistake.
Shae's fans are so upset and desperate to track her dow. She’s so open and close with them. When secrets are exposed on the quest to find her, Shae unravels.
Well this was a twisty and intense read! I can honestly say I’ve never read a story where the main character was on a QVC type show. So clever!
This whole story surrounds trusting strangers, first impressions and the ability to not really portray who you really are. So many things in the story are not what they seem. I don’t want to give any spoilers but, this one is trippy. You start to think one thing and you are blindsided with the truth. All the characters are cringeworthy and swarmy in their own way. Shae is likeable even if you are unsure you can trust her. This is fast paced and interesting!
Shae's fans are so upset and desperate to track her dow. She’s so open and close with them. When secrets are exposed on the quest to find her, Shae unravels.
Well this was a twisty and intense read! I can honestly say I’ve never read a story where the main character was on a QVC type show. So clever!
This whole story surrounds trusting strangers, first impressions and the ability to not really portray who you really are. So many things in the story are not what they seem. I don’t want to give any spoilers but, this one is trippy. You start to think one thing and you are blindsided with the truth. All the characters are cringeworthy and swarmy in their own way. Shae is likeable even if you are unsure you can trust her. This is fast paced and interesting!
July 21, 2021
I feel very mean only giving a 1* review but do have my reasons. I only got 3% in and I'd read enough of this. The character we're first introduced to, Lawrence, has to be the creepiest and most farfetched character I've encountered in a long time....we're to believe this pillar of society police detective (while locked away in the station's stationery cupboard) is licking and sniffing at his phone's screen perving over a shopping channel hostess like some 12 year-old whose balls are yet to drop !! I'm afraid I find that totally unbelievable !! Actually, I would've thought this penned by a bloke, not a woman.....as it comes across as some sort of Readers' Wives deal. Sorry, but it just isn't for me in the least.
I found the spelling of Shae very off-putting as well as it is usually spelled as Shea, so each time it gave me pause and was a huge distraction....but I didn't happen upon any other errors in the pages I read which was good to see.
I have another by this author in my wishlist, so the idea of her stories definitely appeal to me, though I think I'll pass on the basis of this offering.
I found the spelling of Shae very off-putting as well as it is usually spelled as Shea, so each time it gave me pause and was a huge distraction....but I didn't happen upon any other errors in the pages I read which was good to see.
I have another by this author in my wishlist, so the idea of her stories definitely appeal to me, though I think I'll pass on the basis of this offering.
February 6, 2021
Full disclosure: I received a copy (e-book) from the author, but that in no way affects this review. Thank you, Eva Lesko Natiello. I also purchased a copy from Amazon as well with the intention of giving a copy to our local library.
Three very different people, at least superficially, are on a collision course that will test them all in this dark psychological thriller with an absolutely gorgeous cover.
First of all, there is Shae, who is a gregarious, gorgeous young woman. She is the on-air personality for IShop, a shopping channel. She can sell anything and everything with her "intoxicating" pitch. Unfortunately, she has garnered too much attention and gained a "stalker."
Second of all, there is Lawrence (Larry, Lars, and a few other social media monikers), who has a thing for Shae, and may be her biggest fan (so much so that he watches her live, taped, and buys what she is selling). He certainly believes he is and some day, some day, he will meet her.
The third person is Honey, a waitress with limited resources and a big heart for her family. Her Momma is dying, and she will whatever she can to alleviate her pain and keep her alive. When Shae and her paths cross in an unusual way, it is a mistake that may destroy them both. Still, Honey does what she can for the woman, whom Honey believes is a cop.
Minute by minute, day by day, we see these characters judge the others, presuming they know more than they do. And if they figure out the reality of the others, what will happen? Will they spill their secrets, or will they play them close to the vest? Will Lawrence meet his love Shae?
Quite a few twists, quite a few surprises along the way, and an ending that will stay with the reader long after completing the story. In fact, once finished, this reader returned to the beginning to re-read knowing the ending, but wanting to explore the story again.
Three very different people, at least superficially, are on a collision course that will test them all in this dark psychological thriller with an absolutely gorgeous cover.
First of all, there is Shae, who is a gregarious, gorgeous young woman. She is the on-air personality for IShop, a shopping channel. She can sell anything and everything with her "intoxicating" pitch. Unfortunately, she has garnered too much attention and gained a "stalker."
Second of all, there is Lawrence (Larry, Lars, and a few other social media monikers), who has a thing for Shae, and may be her biggest fan (so much so that he watches her live, taped, and buys what she is selling). He certainly believes he is and some day, some day, he will meet her.
The third person is Honey, a waitress with limited resources and a big heart for her family. Her Momma is dying, and she will whatever she can to alleviate her pain and keep her alive. When Shae and her paths cross in an unusual way, it is a mistake that may destroy them both. Still, Honey does what she can for the woman, whom Honey believes is a cop.
Minute by minute, day by day, we see these characters judge the others, presuming they know more than they do. And if they figure out the reality of the others, what will happen? Will they spill their secrets, or will they play them close to the vest? Will Lawrence meet his love Shae?
Quite a few twists, quite a few surprises along the way, and an ending that will stay with the reader long after completing the story. In fact, once finished, this reader returned to the beginning to re-read knowing the ending, but wanting to explore the story again.
February 13, 2021
I just finished Following You by @evanatielo and boy my head is spinning. Talk about having me turning the pages and in suspense.
The book starts out with alternating chapters from 3 different characters. It’s kind of confusing at the beginning what each of these characters have in common with each other, but once the story merges the tale becomes a page-turner.
here’s Shae, who is a famous host on a TV shopping channel, who most of the story revolves around, she’s being stalked and is frightened for her life. Then we have Honey, who works at a diner, has money troubles and a sick mom at home and is trying to make ends meet. And then we have Lawrence, who is obsessed with Shae, but seems to have some kind of connection with the investigation of her stalker. All of these three stories suddenly merge together to a book that kept me anxiously turning the pages to find out what the heck was going on and who the stalker was. I finished it in one sitting and like I said, I am still reeling after finishing.
This is Eva Natielo’s second novel and follow up to her successful 2014 psychological thriller The Memory Box. It was a fast read and certainly kept my attention. If you like a book that keeps you guessing, this one is for you.
Thank you to Eve Lesko Natiello, Kate Rock from Kate Rock Book Tours and Fine Line Publishing for my gifted copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion for review.
The book starts out with alternating chapters from 3 different characters. It’s kind of confusing at the beginning what each of these characters have in common with each other, but once the story merges the tale becomes a page-turner.
here’s Shae, who is a famous host on a TV shopping channel, who most of the story revolves around, she’s being stalked and is frightened for her life. Then we have Honey, who works at a diner, has money troubles and a sick mom at home and is trying to make ends meet. And then we have Lawrence, who is obsessed with Shae, but seems to have some kind of connection with the investigation of her stalker. All of these three stories suddenly merge together to a book that kept me anxiously turning the pages to find out what the heck was going on and who the stalker was. I finished it in one sitting and like I said, I am still reeling after finishing.
This is Eva Natielo’s second novel and follow up to her successful 2014 psychological thriller The Memory Box. It was a fast read and certainly kept my attention. If you like a book that keeps you guessing, this one is for you.
Thank you to Eve Lesko Natiello, Kate Rock from Kate Rock Book Tours and Fine Line Publishing for my gifted copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion for review.
January 31, 2021
Thank you Net Galley for the advance copy. Shae Wilmont is a host on shopping channel IShop. She has a stalker sending anonymous letters and gifts. It is New Years Eve and they are off to a party. Shae ends up at the wrong house at the wrong time. Lawrence works for the local police force and is a avid fan. Honey is a young waitress with a troubled life. A great thriller with great characters and a few twists along the way.
February 8, 2021
When Shae, popular celebrity who seems to want for nothing, Lawrence her top fan and Honey, a college student lives cross you are in for a wild ride.
These flawed characters jump off the page as they make real life impactful decisions. The author does a wonderful job leading in one direction and taking you towards another.
If you want to read a book that keeps you guessing, nothing is what it seems, this is it.
These flawed characters jump off the page as they make real life impactful decisions. The author does a wonderful job leading in one direction and taking you towards another.
If you want to read a book that keeps you guessing, nothing is what it seems, this is it.
February 12, 2021
Unfortunately, another mystery/thriller miss for me. I think I would have enjoyed this one a lot more if the book actually followed the course that was set in chapter one. After only a few pages, I was completely creeped out and the main character left me so unsettled that I had to set the book aside for a few days. The book went in a completely different direction and that just didn't work for me. I was rushing to get to the finish and ultimately felt unsatisfied.
This may work for readers who like books with unexpected turns, troubled characters who make terrible decisions and CREEPY men. I am talking about creepy, stalker men who will have your skin crawling!!
This may work for readers who like books with unexpected turns, troubled characters who make terrible decisions and CREEPY men. I am talking about creepy, stalker men who will have your skin crawling!!
Want to read
June 24, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/24/2021)! 🎁
September 16, 2021
Rating: 2.5/5
I received a free copy from the author herself through Netgalley. Thank you so much for this opportunity!
I will say from the start, I don’t think this was the book for me. What I expected from this especially after just a few chapters in and how things ended up playing out, was widely different. I expected a creepy stalkerish book similar to You, and I definitely got those vibes from the start. But it did not go that route, it took such an unexpected twist about halfway through.
Just from the vibes, we were given from the summary and how things initially started out at the beginning of the book, I was a little disappointed in how things played out. I expected a completely different story.
And while I was glad it wasn’t predictable, I struggled to follow the storyline at times. The timeline felt a bit all over the place constantly jumping. Plus, I did kind of miss that creepy stalkerish vibe that we got at the beginning. Which we practically lost that completely in the middle, just for it to be brought back unexpectedly in the end. But when it came back, it no longer truly fit in my opinion.
However, the story we do get was still interesting to follow. I found the pacing went well and it flowed easily, I didn’t find myself bored. Even when I struggled with the timeline, I still wanted to keep reading and figure out what the heck was going on. Although it didn’t play out as I had hoped, I still enjoyed the story to an extent. I found the characters interesting to follow, they all seemed very questionable and a bit unreliable. I was curious to see how things would end for each of them.
I think if you enjoy light thrillers that has questionable characters, then definitely consider picking this one up!
I received a free copy from the author herself through Netgalley. Thank you so much for this opportunity!
I will say from the start, I don’t think this was the book for me. What I expected from this especially after just a few chapters in and how things ended up playing out, was widely different. I expected a creepy stalkerish book similar to You, and I definitely got those vibes from the start. But it did not go that route, it took such an unexpected twist about halfway through.
Just from the vibes, we were given from the summary and how things initially started out at the beginning of the book, I was a little disappointed in how things played out. I expected a completely different story.
And while I was glad it wasn’t predictable, I struggled to follow the storyline at times. The timeline felt a bit all over the place constantly jumping. Plus, I did kind of miss that creepy stalkerish vibe that we got at the beginning. Which we practically lost that completely in the middle, just for it to be brought back unexpectedly in the end. But when it came back, it no longer truly fit in my opinion.
However, the story we do get was still interesting to follow. I found the pacing went well and it flowed easily, I didn’t find myself bored. Even when I struggled with the timeline, I still wanted to keep reading and figure out what the heck was going on. Although it didn’t play out as I had hoped, I still enjoyed the story to an extent. I found the characters interesting to follow, they all seemed very questionable and a bit unreliable. I was curious to see how things would end for each of them.
I think if you enjoy light thrillers that has questionable characters, then definitely consider picking this one up!
July 4, 2021
Het is een boek met vele verrassingen , maar ik heb ook nog diverse vragen .
Zoals, wat is er met de vriendin van Honey gebeurd? Ze zullen haar niet zomaar laten gaan. En wat voor concequenties heeft dat voor Honey? Wat gebeurd er met Lawrence?
Een aardig boek op zich, maar ik ben blij dat het een gratis download voor mijn Kindle was.
Zoals, wat is er met de vriendin van Honey gebeurd? Ze zullen haar niet zomaar laten gaan. En wat voor concequenties heeft dat voor Honey? Wat gebeurd er met Lawrence?
Een aardig boek op zich, maar ik ben blij dat het een gratis download voor mijn Kindle was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2021
Following You by Eva Lesko Natiello.
Samantha Downing calls this one, “...a raw unflinching story about obsession...guaranteed to shock.”
When three strangers’ lives intersect due to split second decisions, this book takes off on a wild ride that is difficult to put down. We have three very flawed characters that put perception and reality to the test.
Shae is the iShop (think QVC) host with most, she’s beautiful, makes great money and her fans adore her.
Then there is Lawrence, and my, my, my Lawrence is quite a mess. What Lawrence projects into the world is often times mind boggling. He is a different type of person, to say the least.
Last, there is Honey. A down on her luck girl trying to make ends meet while caring for her Mama that is dying from Cancer. Honey is also searching for a friend that she thinks is prostituting herself. Poor Honey’s boss is a jerk and Honey owes some unsavory characters quite a bit of money.
We get each characters thoughts in real time...so, I really thought I had this one all worked out. BUT in the end, when true identities are revealed, I was shocked and stunned and had to reevaluate my thoughts on this one.
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, thank you @EvaNatiello and #katerockbooktours for my digital copy of the book to review.
Samantha Downing calls this one, “...a raw unflinching story about obsession...guaranteed to shock.”
When three strangers’ lives intersect due to split second decisions, this book takes off on a wild ride that is difficult to put down. We have three very flawed characters that put perception and reality to the test.
Shae is the iShop (think QVC) host with most, she’s beautiful, makes great money and her fans adore her.
Then there is Lawrence, and my, my, my Lawrence is quite a mess. What Lawrence projects into the world is often times mind boggling. He is a different type of person, to say the least.
Last, there is Honey. A down on her luck girl trying to make ends meet while caring for her Mama that is dying from Cancer. Honey is also searching for a friend that she thinks is prostituting herself. Poor Honey’s boss is a jerk and Honey owes some unsavory characters quite a bit of money.
We get each characters thoughts in real time...so, I really thought I had this one all worked out. BUT in the end, when true identities are revealed, I was shocked and stunned and had to reevaluate my thoughts on this one.
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, thank you @EvaNatiello and #katerockbooktours for my digital copy of the book to review.
May 28, 2021
I loved Eve Lesko Natiello's first book, The Memory Box and was so excited to get a chance to read Following You. Thank you to the author, Netgalley and publisher for the e-copy.
Following You is a different take on the stalker & obsession genre that had me quickly turning the pages to find out what happened next.
Our three main players are:
Shae- a host at IShop, (fictionalized QVC) who seems to have it all, but is full of insecurities and family secrets
Lawrence - totally obsessed with Shae. Totally creepy in every way and every part of his life
Honey- a young woman struggling to make ends meat, take care of her dying mother and get the money to go back to college
How do these three people's lives come together? While, you will have to read the book to find that out! I liked how the author gave us their perspectives in real time, increasing the tension. I especially enjoyed Lawrence (TOTAL CREEP) and Shae's POVs. I struggled at times to keep track of what was happening with Honey and some of her actions were hard to understand and for me, her parts took away from the meat of the book. Total personal preference.
There are a lot of secondary characters and plotlines in this book (hello red herrings) which sometimes felt a bit chaotic. I would have loved more backstory into Shae and Lawrence (I guess i like creepy characters :) ) I could totally have read a book just about Lawrence because you KNOW there even more creepiness there.
I look forward to seeing what Natiello does next! If you like obsession stories with a side of creep, look at adding this to your TBR.
3.5
Following You is a different take on the stalker & obsession genre that had me quickly turning the pages to find out what happened next.
Our three main players are:
Shae- a host at IShop, (fictionalized QVC) who seems to have it all, but is full of insecurities and family secrets
Lawrence - totally obsessed with Shae. Totally creepy in every way and every part of his life
Honey- a young woman struggling to make ends meat, take care of her dying mother and get the money to go back to college
How do these three people's lives come together? While, you will have to read the book to find that out! I liked how the author gave us their perspectives in real time, increasing the tension. I especially enjoyed Lawrence (TOTAL CREEP) and Shae's POVs. I struggled at times to keep track of what was happening with Honey and some of her actions were hard to understand and for me, her parts took away from the meat of the book. Total personal preference.
There are a lot of secondary characters and plotlines in this book (hello red herrings) which sometimes felt a bit chaotic. I would have loved more backstory into Shae and Lawrence (I guess i like creepy characters :) ) I could totally have read a book just about Lawrence because you KNOW there even more creepiness there.
I look forward to seeing what Natiello does next! If you like obsession stories with a side of creep, look at adding this to your TBR.
3.5
January 29, 2021
Eva Lesko Natiello, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Memory Box, returns with a sizzler psychological suspense thriller, FOLLOWING YOU. From the enigmatic and stunning front cover to the gripping last page, you will be spellbound.
Intense and creepy. A smart, wickedly plotted psychological thriller brimming with dark surprises at each page turn.
Let’s meet these standout characters and the twisted lies they weave. In alternating chapters, we hear from each one, laid out perfectly with name, date, and time.
Shae Wilmont is the adored celebrity host of IShop —a popular shopping site. She is stunning, sophisticated, and glamorous. The camera loves Shae, and she can sell anything. She allures, she captivates, and she is a star. However, she has no real friends, except for her many millions of followers. Who is she really? What has she been through to get where she is today? Her past is a mystery.
Next, we meet the creepy pervert. Lawrence is a detailed guy who loves latex gloves and is obsessed (let me stress, OBSESSED) with Shae. He buys lotions and every product she sells and drools over her every show. He will not miss a second of it. He even hides out in the storage closet at work. A stalker. These scenes are laugh out loud entertaining. 🤣
"A pair of double Cs—or even young Ds—could coax the price of a new Toyota Corolla under list or fix a flat tire on the side of the freeway. An exasperated pair—with flounce and fervor—could grant entrance to a sold-out show without a ticket!" —Lawrence FOLLOWING YOU 👀
He posts on Facebook from an account "Larry." His many purchases and on-air testimonials are from "Lars." Instagram comments, are from "Lance." Not sure how he keeps up with the lies.
He sniffs and rubs all her lotions and is a complete perv. (plus more). He never leaves a fingerprint and he loves his ironed khakis. (the scene with the ironing board was hilarious).
He lives with Rita, a nurse, and cannot figure out what she is doing with this loser. She has no clue who this man really is. OMG! Eva really has developed a sicko and love how she gets into his head. I love the banter between Lawrence and Rita. Rita is also pretty funny. So is he really who he says he is?
Lastly, we meet the poor Southern gal, Honey. This girl has so many problems. She tries. I will give her that. She has had a bad childhood and cannot seem to catch a break. If there ever was a country song, she has lived it. This girl finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time everywhere she turns. Is she who she appears?
Two people are lying. Each person we meet has a secret past. Their past has shaped who they are today. There is deception, lies, and secrets. The two women may have more in common than they know.
On New Year’s Eve when Shae is following her cameraman to a party, she loses him and winds up in the wrong house. Honey is running from the cops and thinks Shae is a cop. Things go from bad to worse. Honey also has a friend who follows Shae, but no one knows where Shae is, even poor Lawrence. There is much behind Shae's outward and cool appearance.
There has been a stalker in the past. Who is the stalker, and who are these people? They are strangers, but their lives connect. How?
Diabolically twisted and entertaining.
Eva’s portrayal of Lawrence is fabulously compelling and darkly hilarious. I am a massive fan of the author from her debut, The Memory Box (read my review below), which landed on my Top Books of 2016. I was delighted when I discovered this book. If you have not read, it, I highly recommend both!
Not only is this a riveting suspenseful psychological thriller, but it also has a mysterious literary flair, I love. The butterfly symbolisms and metaphors are beautiful and lyrical.
"She told me butterflies have the best of both worlds. People like looking at them because they're beautiful, but they can disguise themselves whenever they want. They camouflage themselves to hide from predators. That stuck with me. Made me sad. She seemed jealous of a butterfly. All because it could disappear in plain sight."
—FOLLOWING YOU (e-book location 2368/67%)
An ongoing theme is "identity." I enjoyed the author's note. Who controls a person's identity? Do we control our own, or is our identity shaped by what others think of us?
A cautionary tale, especially in our world of social media today. Do we really know the person behind the screen? Do we believe what we see? In addition to the suspense, the novel goes more in-depth into each of these character’s past for a great character study. Self-identity. Their intense need to belong. Due to the secrets they keep, there is much fallout.
FOLLOWING YOU is perfect for fans of authors Kaira Rouda, Jennifer Hillier, Sally Hepworth, Wendy Walker, and Victoria Helen Stone. Set aside the time. It is unputdownable. Ideal for book clubs and further discussions. Book Club Questions included at the end of the book.
A special thank you to the author/publisher for an advanced reading copy.
#JDCMustReadBooksBLOG
My Review of The Memory Box.
Intense and creepy. A smart, wickedly plotted psychological thriller brimming with dark surprises at each page turn.
Let’s meet these standout characters and the twisted lies they weave. In alternating chapters, we hear from each one, laid out perfectly with name, date, and time.
Shae Wilmont is the adored celebrity host of IShop —a popular shopping site. She is stunning, sophisticated, and glamorous. The camera loves Shae, and she can sell anything. She allures, she captivates, and she is a star. However, she has no real friends, except for her many millions of followers. Who is she really? What has she been through to get where she is today? Her past is a mystery.
Next, we meet the creepy pervert. Lawrence is a detailed guy who loves latex gloves and is obsessed (let me stress, OBSESSED) with Shae. He buys lotions and every product she sells and drools over her every show. He will not miss a second of it. He even hides out in the storage closet at work. A stalker. These scenes are laugh out loud entertaining. 🤣
"A pair of double Cs—or even young Ds—could coax the price of a new Toyota Corolla under list or fix a flat tire on the side of the freeway. An exasperated pair—with flounce and fervor—could grant entrance to a sold-out show without a ticket!" —Lawrence FOLLOWING YOU 👀
He posts on Facebook from an account "Larry." His many purchases and on-air testimonials are from "Lars." Instagram comments, are from "Lance." Not sure how he keeps up with the lies.
He sniffs and rubs all her lotions and is a complete perv. (plus more). He never leaves a fingerprint and he loves his ironed khakis. (the scene with the ironing board was hilarious).
He lives with Rita, a nurse, and cannot figure out what she is doing with this loser. She has no clue who this man really is. OMG! Eva really has developed a sicko and love how she gets into his head. I love the banter between Lawrence and Rita. Rita is also pretty funny. So is he really who he says he is?
Lastly, we meet the poor Southern gal, Honey. This girl has so many problems. She tries. I will give her that. She has had a bad childhood and cannot seem to catch a break. If there ever was a country song, she has lived it. This girl finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time everywhere she turns. Is she who she appears?
Two people are lying. Each person we meet has a secret past. Their past has shaped who they are today. There is deception, lies, and secrets. The two women may have more in common than they know.
On New Year’s Eve when Shae is following her cameraman to a party, she loses him and winds up in the wrong house. Honey is running from the cops and thinks Shae is a cop. Things go from bad to worse. Honey also has a friend who follows Shae, but no one knows where Shae is, even poor Lawrence. There is much behind Shae's outward and cool appearance.
There has been a stalker in the past. Who is the stalker, and who are these people? They are strangers, but their lives connect. How?
Diabolically twisted and entertaining.
Eva’s portrayal of Lawrence is fabulously compelling and darkly hilarious. I am a massive fan of the author from her debut, The Memory Box (read my review below), which landed on my Top Books of 2016. I was delighted when I discovered this book. If you have not read, it, I highly recommend both!
Not only is this a riveting suspenseful psychological thriller, but it also has a mysterious literary flair, I love. The butterfly symbolisms and metaphors are beautiful and lyrical.
"She told me butterflies have the best of both worlds. People like looking at them because they're beautiful, but they can disguise themselves whenever they want. They camouflage themselves to hide from predators. That stuck with me. Made me sad. She seemed jealous of a butterfly. All because it could disappear in plain sight."
—FOLLOWING YOU (e-book location 2368/67%)
An ongoing theme is "identity." I enjoyed the author's note. Who controls a person's identity? Do we control our own, or is our identity shaped by what others think of us?
A cautionary tale, especially in our world of social media today. Do we really know the person behind the screen? Do we believe what we see? In addition to the suspense, the novel goes more in-depth into each of these character’s past for a great character study. Self-identity. Their intense need to belong. Due to the secrets they keep, there is much fallout.
FOLLOWING YOU is perfect for fans of authors Kaira Rouda, Jennifer Hillier, Sally Hepworth, Wendy Walker, and Victoria Helen Stone. Set aside the time. It is unputdownable. Ideal for book clubs and further discussions. Book Club Questions included at the end of the book.
A special thank you to the author/publisher for an advanced reading copy.
#JDCMustReadBooksBLOG
My Review of The Memory Box.
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