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The Influencer
She is worshipped by millions. But she has a secret…
Adored by her legions of followers, social media megastar Skye is an inspiration. Once homeless, she is now fantastically wealthy, enormously powerful. A ‘like’ from Skye can literally change your life.
So when she suggests partnering with Nathan’s charity for the homeless, he thinks it’s a match made in heaven. With Skye’s backing, who knows what he can achieve? And no-one is more excited than Nathan’s teenage daughters, both massive fans of the star.
But Skye’s influence comes at a price. Yes, funds are pouring into Nathan’s charity, but she is a smothering presence, seemingly determined to insert herself into every nook and cranny of his family life.
Nathan’s daughters are thrilled to have so much up close and personal contact with a superstar. But he worries about Skye’s growing influence on them… And is it just a coincidence that ever since she’s been around, his personal life is disintegrating?
As things spiral out of control, Nathan begins to wonder what Skye really wants from him and his daughters. The answer is more terrifying than he could ever imagine…
The Influencer – the stunning psychological thriller from Miranda Rijks, author of The Visitors, The Arrangement, and Roses are Red.
Adored by her legions of followers, social media megastar Skye is an inspiration. Once homeless, she is now fantastically wealthy, enormously powerful. A ‘like’ from Skye can literally change your life.
So when she suggests partnering with Nathan’s charity for the homeless, he thinks it’s a match made in heaven. With Skye’s backing, who knows what he can achieve? And no-one is more excited than Nathan’s teenage daughters, both massive fans of the star.
But Skye’s influence comes at a price. Yes, funds are pouring into Nathan’s charity, but she is a smothering presence, seemingly determined to insert herself into every nook and cranny of his family life.
Nathan’s daughters are thrilled to have so much up close and personal contact with a superstar. But he worries about Skye’s growing influence on them… And is it just a coincidence that ever since she’s been around, his personal life is disintegrating?
As things spiral out of control, Nathan begins to wonder what Skye really wants from him and his daughters. The answer is more terrifying than he could ever imagine…
The Influencer – the stunning psychological thriller from Miranda Rijks, author of The Visitors, The Arrangement, and Roses are Red.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2021
1363 people are currently reading
806 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Rijks
42 books875 followersMiranda Rijks is the author of 26 psychological thrillers, many of which have been Amazon bestsellers. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband and black Labrador.
Her fast-paced, twisty thrillers are inspired by scary things that have happened to her or places she has visited.
Miranda turned to writing after recovering from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She's so grateful that she's now a full-time author and living the dream!
Visit www.mirandarijks.com to get her FREE novella, The Cheat, and the chance to name characters in her books.
Her fast-paced, twisty thrillers are inspired by scary things that have happened to her or places she has visited.
Miranda turned to writing after recovering from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She's so grateful that she's now a full-time author and living the dream!
Visit www.mirandarijks.com to get her FREE novella, The Cheat, and the chance to name characters in her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
September 17, 2021
Liked it. Tasted like black coffee.
Morally gray characters especially the homeless-to-the-influencer.
A plot based on what it takes to become a powerful social media influencer and what it's like behind the glamourous happy perfect smiles and updates.
The writing is engaging and the characters are there to make you dislike them more the more you read about them. And there, the fun starts for such stories.
The first half is a bit slow but we all need it for the crazy turn towards the second half.
The plot gets pretty unpredictable and get ready for some shady news towards the end. That ending sounds like another story is coming up!
The suspense of Skye was kept well till the last few chapters which I appreciate.
Oh, and the mind games.
Be ready for it.
Morally gray characters especially the homeless-to-the-influencer.
A plot based on what it takes to become a powerful social media influencer and what it's like behind the glamourous happy perfect smiles and updates.
The writing is engaging and the characters are there to make you dislike them more the more you read about them. And there, the fun starts for such stories.
The first half is a bit slow but we all need it for the crazy turn towards the second half.
The plot gets pretty unpredictable and get ready for some shady news towards the end. That ending sounds like another story is coming up!
The suspense of Skye was kept well till the last few chapters which I appreciate.
Oh, and the mind games.
Be ready for it.
June 9, 2021
This was another enjoyable thriller. It was fast paced and kept my interest throughout, even the parts that began to bug me. I wavered between giving it 3 stars and 4, the first 50% or so is a 4 I was into where everything was going but the second half and conclusion was a 3.
I guessed the twist but that wasn’t the issue for me. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say the whole story rides on the fact that Nathan is a wishy washy squish. I literally kept saying, “Dude…Duuuuude…DUDE!?” But, seriously, despite that it was a fun read and if you want to yell, “Duuuuuuude?!” while reading a fun and frustrating thriller I’d recommend it. I read it in a day, it really did keep me locked in despite my issues with it.
I guessed the twist but that wasn’t the issue for me. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say the whole story rides on the fact that Nathan is a wishy washy squish. I literally kept saying, “Dude…Duuuuude…DUDE!?” But, seriously, despite that it was a fun read and if you want to yell, “Duuuuuuude?!” while reading a fun and frustrating thriller I’d recommend it. I read it in a day, it really did keep me locked in despite my issues with it.
April 25, 2021
TW: Rape, drugs, violence, murder
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book: Adored by her legions of followers, social media megastar Skye is an inspiration. Once homeless, she is now fantastically wealthy, enormously powerful. A ‘like’ from Skye can literally change your life.
So when she suggests partnering with Nathan’s charity for the homeless, he thinks it’s a match made in heaven. With Skye’s backing, who knows what he can achieve? And no-one is more excited than Nathan’s teenage daughters, both massive fans of the star.
But Skye’s influence comes at a price. Yes, funds are pouring into Nathan’s charity, but she is a smothering presence, seemingly determined to insert herself into every nook and cranny of his family life.
Release Date: April 25th, 2021
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 🌎🌎🌎 3.0
What I Liked:
1. The story flowed and I didn’t feel like the book took me a long time to finish.
What I Didn't Like:
1. At times the writing seemed childish.
2. The ending just wasn’t good.
3. That EVERYONE knew her EVERYWHERE she went.
Overall Thoughts: We all see them; the influencers on social media but how much is really true about that life or them?
I enjoyed the book a lot and was eager to see where the story was going to go. There were parts where I think the author got confused. One such part is where Tiffany asks Skye how she made money and Skye replies with she had a cardboard sign with “I’m hungry, please help”, but Tiffany should know that since that’s how they met. Around the 60% mark is where the story kind of took a nose dive for me. I was loving the book up until that point. It got on my nerves that everywhere Skye went they knew her. It didn’t matter or who or age they all knew her.Jim the homeless guy knew her too. There’s a scene where she’s leaving the hospital with Nathan and there are the news people there interviewing her. It just gets to be too much. The author made out like she was a movie star status. Another thing that got on my nerves was that Nathan just refused to defend himself and stick up for what was right for me and respect Marie. He thinks he is drugged and raped but he keeps being pleasant to Skye and even inviting her in after his fiancée has left him and Skye shows up uninvited with pizza. I think not! He continues to ask this woman that is completely unhinged to remove things from her social media or say things aren’t true, to which she replies continually that she can’t. So why not just make a social media account and release your own video saying the relationship isn’t real and that you’ve decided to part ways with her because of differences. It just annoyed me that he continued to be used and not defend himself. She even kidnaps his kids and he brushes it off with no legal action because he is worried about his charity. The ending was just not good. It was so random and missing something. It felt rushed considering the build up for the big boat race.
Final Thoughts: I’ll read other books from the author because the writing made the story flow. This book was just okay for me.
I received this advanced copy for my honest opinion. Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator.
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*****SPOILERS*****
About the book: Adored by her legions of followers, social media megastar Skye is an inspiration. Once homeless, she is now fantastically wealthy, enormously powerful. A ‘like’ from Skye can literally change your life.
So when she suggests partnering with Nathan’s charity for the homeless, he thinks it’s a match made in heaven. With Skye’s backing, who knows what he can achieve? And no-one is more excited than Nathan’s teenage daughters, both massive fans of the star.
But Skye’s influence comes at a price. Yes, funds are pouring into Nathan’s charity, but she is a smothering presence, seemingly determined to insert herself into every nook and cranny of his family life.
Release Date: April 25th, 2021
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 🌎🌎🌎 3.0
What I Liked:
1. The story flowed and I didn’t feel like the book took me a long time to finish.
What I Didn't Like:
1. At times the writing seemed childish.
2. The ending just wasn’t good.
3. That EVERYONE knew her EVERYWHERE she went.
Overall Thoughts: We all see them; the influencers on social media but how much is really true about that life or them?
I enjoyed the book a lot and was eager to see where the story was going to go. There were parts where I think the author got confused. One such part is where Tiffany asks Skye how she made money and Skye replies with she had a cardboard sign with “I’m hungry, please help”, but Tiffany should know that since that’s how they met. Around the 60% mark is where the story kind of took a nose dive for me. I was loving the book up until that point. It got on my nerves that everywhere Skye went they knew her. It didn’t matter or who or age they all knew her.Jim the homeless guy knew her too. There’s a scene where she’s leaving the hospital with Nathan and there are the news people there interviewing her. It just gets to be too much. The author made out like she was a movie star status. Another thing that got on my nerves was that Nathan just refused to defend himself and stick up for what was right for me and respect Marie. He thinks he is drugged and raped but he keeps being pleasant to Skye and even inviting her in after his fiancée has left him and Skye shows up uninvited with pizza. I think not! He continues to ask this woman that is completely unhinged to remove things from her social media or say things aren’t true, to which she replies continually that she can’t. So why not just make a social media account and release your own video saying the relationship isn’t real and that you’ve decided to part ways with her because of differences. It just annoyed me that he continued to be used and not defend himself. She even kidnaps his kids and he brushes it off with no legal action because he is worried about his charity. The ending was just not good. It was so random and missing something. It felt rushed considering the build up for the big boat race.
Final Thoughts: I’ll read other books from the author because the writing made the story flow. This book was just okay for me.
I received this advanced copy for my honest opinion. Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator.
Blog
December 12, 2021
Skye, an influencer on social media who has risen from a very impoverished background to the status of megastar with millions of followers, wants to partner with Nathan Edwards' charity which he formed in remembrance of his deceased wife. Nathan's two teenage daughters are over the moon but his fiancee Marie isn't so easily taken in. But Skye's intentions have more to do with Nathan himself than his charity.
Being barely able to navigate Facebook and Goodreads, I was enthralled by this behind-the-scenes look at the power such influencers wield. I've seen people spend hours watching some of these influencers do the most mundane things! I really liked this book and found myself going back to it every chance I got. The story was excellent and the writing was first rate. The main characters were realistically portrayed. I developed an intense dislike for Skye - she was very sly and manipulative - and I thought Nathan was a sweetheart. He tried so hard to escape Skye's clutches and still remain a nice guy, I was really rooting for him. This is the first Miranda Rijks book that I've read but I'll definitely be looking into more of her works. I'm pretty excited to see most of them are free with my Kindle Unlimited membership. Highly recommended.
I have to admit that I don't really like this cover and it wouldn't have enticed me to read this book if I hadn't read the description.
Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel.
Being barely able to navigate Facebook and Goodreads, I was enthralled by this behind-the-scenes look at the power such influencers wield. I've seen people spend hours watching some of these influencers do the most mundane things! I really liked this book and found myself going back to it every chance I got. The story was excellent and the writing was first rate. The main characters were realistically portrayed. I developed an intense dislike for Skye - she was very sly and manipulative - and I thought Nathan was a sweetheart. He tried so hard to escape Skye's clutches and still remain a nice guy, I was really rooting for him. This is the first Miranda Rijks book that I've read but I'll definitely be looking into more of her works. I'm pretty excited to see most of them are free with my Kindle Unlimited membership. Highly recommended.
I have to admit that I don't really like this cover and it wouldn't have enticed me to read this book if I hadn't read the description.
Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel.
April 30, 2021
I really enjoy Miranda Rijks novels, she has a way of writing addictive psychological thrillers that are page turners. This is another one that got me and was rapidly turning the pages to find out what was going to happen. Very good characters, addictive plot and well paced make this an excellent read.
Widower Nathan is bringing up his two daughters following the tragic death of his wife Sacha and has started Sacha’s Sanctuary, a charity for the homeless in her memory. Everything is looking good for the charity when social media influencer Skye shows an interest. Skye makes it clear that she wants to support Sacha’s Sanctuary but her involvement in Nathan’s family life is a bit full on. Nathan is not happy with Skye’s attention for his family but is aware that her help supporting the charity would be invaluable. Nathan’s daughters love the attention Skye is giving them but it is causing a lot of problems for him.
The book is well written and certainly addictive, not the most likeable characters but are very enjoyable to read. Another addictive winner for me.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Inkubator for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Widower Nathan is bringing up his two daughters following the tragic death of his wife Sacha and has started Sacha’s Sanctuary, a charity for the homeless in her memory. Everything is looking good for the charity when social media influencer Skye shows an interest. Skye makes it clear that she wants to support Sacha’s Sanctuary but her involvement in Nathan’s family life is a bit full on. Nathan is not happy with Skye’s attention for his family but is aware that her help supporting the charity would be invaluable. Nathan’s daughters love the attention Skye is giving them but it is causing a lot of problems for him.
The book is well written and certainly addictive, not the most likeable characters but are very enjoyable to read. Another addictive winner for me.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Inkubator for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2022
I liked the idea of this story more than the execution. I enjoy books which deal with the various aspects of social media and how unscrupulous people can use this media for harm. This book starts out with a homeless girl named Sky. She has aged out of foster care in England and ends up taking some money and hanging around the streets of a wealthy town. She is 'found' by Tiffany, a rich girl in high school who doesn't have any friends. To me, Tiffany and Sky seemed like exactly the same person. Sky talks her way into Tiffany's expensive home and plans to take what she can get from this family.
The next part is set in the present and it is about a man named Nathan who runs a charity for the homeless. Nathan is a widower with two young teen daughters and a fiancee named Marie who was a former au pair for the family. One day he is contacted by Skye who is a famous influencer and wants to help out his charity. Nathan's daughters are overjoyed to be meeting Skye. This is where I had a problem. I recently read that influencers with a million followers can make an average of $180,000 per year which is great money. But we are supposed to believe Skye makes millions of dollars and every person in England, even homeless people recognize her on sight. That doesn't make sense especially since there are many people who do not follow people on Instagram or follow YouTube videos. Then we are supposed to believe Skye is the idol of these teen girls even though she is not a pop star or model and mostly promotes things like frying pans and granola. Why would these teen girls adore an average person advertising cookware?
Nathan agrees to let her in on his charity but regrets it when she wants more than that-she wants to marry him and be stepmother to his daughters. We are never given any real indication on why/how she picked out Nathan and Nathan seems way too passive. I would think his charity would have legal people who look over contracts but Nathan just signs whatever comes his way. The book goes back and forth between Sky as a teenager and the influencer Skye and I guessed the main twist pretty quickly. There is another twist at the very end that just seemed over the top. I liked the general style of writing and the message about worshipping people who are just advertising stuff, but there were a lot of plot holes.
The next part is set in the present and it is about a man named Nathan who runs a charity for the homeless. Nathan is a widower with two young teen daughters and a fiancee named Marie who was a former au pair for the family. One day he is contacted by Skye who is a famous influencer and wants to help out his charity. Nathan's daughters are overjoyed to be meeting Skye. This is where I had a problem. I recently read that influencers with a million followers can make an average of $180,000 per year which is great money. But we are supposed to believe Skye makes millions of dollars and every person in England, even homeless people recognize her on sight. That doesn't make sense especially since there are many people who do not follow people on Instagram or follow YouTube videos. Then we are supposed to believe Skye is the idol of these teen girls even though she is not a pop star or model and mostly promotes things like frying pans and granola. Why would these teen girls adore an average person advertising cookware?
Nathan agrees to let her in on his charity but regrets it when she wants more than that-she wants to marry him and be stepmother to his daughters. We are never given any real indication on why/how she picked out Nathan and Nathan seems way too passive. I would think his charity would have legal people who look over contracts but Nathan just signs whatever comes his way. The book goes back and forth between Sky as a teenager and the influencer Skye and I guessed the main twist pretty quickly. There is another twist at the very end that just seemed over the top. I liked the general style of writing and the message about worshipping people who are just advertising stuff, but there were a lot of plot holes.
April 16, 2021
I am super thrilled to have found this amazing book with a plot that was wickedly intriguing. For someone like me who is still learning my way around social media, this book was also an eye-opener and not in a good way.
44-year old widower, Nathan, runs Sacha's Sanctuary, a charity for the homeless, in memory of his late wife. When social media influencer, Skye decides she wants to support his work, despite his own misgivings about her, Nathan agrees, as it would benefit the charity and help many people. Skye breezes into his life with all the subtleness of a steamroller, thereby upending his peace and causing cracks in his personal life.
Skye is a character that you would love to hate. Her single-minded determination to get what she wants is impressive on the outset; not so much when you realise she has a sinister motive. The author describes Skye perfectly - wily and manipulative like a wild cat. The story is told from Nathan's and Skye's POVs and Skye's flashbacks from ten years ago. I loved the plot twists in the book. The writing was crisp leaving not a dull moment in between. Compared to Nathan who seemed kind of wishy-washy, I loved the tenacious Skye, bad though she may be.
I would have loved to have more of Marie in the book, as she was an astute and strong character, but her storyline was cut short abruptly.
Overall,a fast-paced story with a brilliant narrative and interesting characters, this was one heart-thumping read that I greatly enjoyed.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
44-year old widower, Nathan, runs Sacha's Sanctuary, a charity for the homeless, in memory of his late wife. When social media influencer, Skye decides she wants to support his work, despite his own misgivings about her, Nathan agrees, as it would benefit the charity and help many people. Skye breezes into his life with all the subtleness of a steamroller, thereby upending his peace and causing cracks in his personal life.
Skye is a character that you would love to hate. Her single-minded determination to get what she wants is impressive on the outset; not so much when you realise she has a sinister motive. The author describes Skye perfectly - wily and manipulative like a wild cat. The story is told from Nathan's and Skye's POVs and Skye's flashbacks from ten years ago. I loved the plot twists in the book. The writing was crisp leaving not a dull moment in between. Compared to Nathan who seemed kind of wishy-washy, I loved the tenacious Skye, bad though she may be.
I would have loved to have more of Marie in the book, as she was an astute and strong character, but her storyline was cut short abruptly.
Overall,a fast-paced story with a brilliant narrative and interesting characters, this was one heart-thumping read that I greatly enjoyed.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2021
Have you met social media's superstar? Skye is an influencer ... very successful with millions of followers. Once homeless, she's come a long way from those days, she's now financially set for life with the power to make or break others.
Nathan runs a charity for the homeless, in honor of his late wife. When he is approached by Skye suggesting that they work in partnership to bring more exposure to his charity. And no one is happier or more excited than Nathan's teenage daughters, huge fans of Skye.
But not is right with this new business adventure. Skye seemingly takes over Nathan's private life .. and his daughters. She arrives unannounced ... bringing horribly expensive presents for Nathan's daughters. She's smothering him and he wants it to stop.
He is about to learn what happens when Skye is rejected .. and it's not pretty. He wants to know what she really wants and the answer is more terrifying than he could ever imagine.
The alternating chapters representing past and present by Sky and Nathan, it's a well written fast-paced compelling read. There are twists and turns that rival a roller coaster ride. The characters are solidly drawn. And all roads lead to a highly suspenseful, unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Inkubator Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Nathan runs a charity for the homeless, in honor of his late wife. When he is approached by Skye suggesting that they work in partnership to bring more exposure to his charity. And no one is happier or more excited than Nathan's teenage daughters, huge fans of Skye.
But not is right with this new business adventure. Skye seemingly takes over Nathan's private life .. and his daughters. She arrives unannounced ... bringing horribly expensive presents for Nathan's daughters. She's smothering him and he wants it to stop.
He is about to learn what happens when Skye is rejected .. and it's not pretty. He wants to know what she really wants and the answer is more terrifying than he could ever imagine.
The alternating chapters representing past and present by Sky and Nathan, it's a well written fast-paced compelling read. There are twists and turns that rival a roller coaster ride. The characters are solidly drawn. And all roads lead to a highly suspenseful, unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Inkubator Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 13, 2021
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of My honest opinion.
Wonderful! So wicked, twisted and enjoyable. Skye is a narcissistic psychopath influencer that I adore because psychopaths can be very likable. There are some plot holes and this is not going to win a Pulitzer prize but is si good. My second book by this author and I'm going for more. The author writes such good villains that you feel Bad for them and Even rule for them too. The ending was great. Didn't like Nathan's character such a bland protagonist and I wish for a different ending for him since I didn't like him so that ending made it work for me, it gives me hope.
Wonderful! So wicked, twisted and enjoyable. Skye is a narcissistic psychopath influencer that I adore because psychopaths can be very likable. There are some plot holes and this is not going to win a Pulitzer prize but is si good. My second book by this author and I'm going for more. The author writes such good villains that you feel Bad for them and Even rule for them too. The ending was great. Didn't like Nathan's character such a bland protagonist and I wish for a different ending for him since I didn't like him so that ending made it work for me, it gives me hope.
April 19, 2021
It's a fast read showing how weird social influencers world is. I enjotyed that aspect of this book very much.
I guess the twist at around middle of the story, but it didn't stop me from enjoying it.
The writing felt clunky at times, like it was translated, and it felt like this was the author's first book (which I know it's not).
I didn't enjoy the ending because Nathan, as one of two protagonist, is an unlikable git and he did not deserve that ending at all. I suppose that's ;life though and I can't be mad about that, lol.
Overall it's not the best thriller ever written, but it's not bad and I'm far from discouraging you from reading it.
I'll for sure check author's other books.
I received this book from the Publisher in an exchange for an honest review
I guess the twist at around middle of the story, but it didn't stop me from enjoying it.
The writing felt clunky at times, like it was translated, and it felt like this was the author's first book (which I know it's not).
I didn't enjoy the ending because Nathan, as one of two protagonist, is an unlikable git and he did not deserve that ending at all. I suppose that's ;life though and I can't be mad about that, lol.
Overall it's not the best thriller ever written, but it's not bad and I'm far from discouraging you from reading it.
I'll for sure check author's other books.
I received this book from the Publisher in an exchange for an honest review
June 27, 2021
Very run of the mill thriller. Utterly uninspiring protagonist. Spotted the twist very very early on. Oh and I'm getting really bored with authors making 44 year olds so dumb. Never heard of vlogging? Doesn't understand social media? He's 44, not 84.
June 27, 2021
*thank you to Netgalley, Inkubator Books and Miranda Rijks for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
5 stars!
Wow oh wow what an amazing story! Once I started I was worried that this would be far too cringy because the whole social media stuff these days is not something I like on any level. But it turns out I was able to stomach the cringeworthy material and focus on the actual story.
I really enjoyed this from beginning to end and the back and forth storyline from present day to past. It was all so interesting and well written. My favourite scenes were teenage Skye's story in the first half of the book and I was disappointed to see that suddenly stop. But was delighted when the story made up for that further on in.
I had guessed the twist pretty early on but that didn't deminish the story at all. Or more so that I had a feeling I knew it and turns out to be correct. But there was still a lot in this that I hadn't predicted.
I would definitely recommend this.
5 stars!
Wow oh wow what an amazing story! Once I started I was worried that this would be far too cringy because the whole social media stuff these days is not something I like on any level. But it turns out I was able to stomach the cringeworthy material and focus on the actual story.
I really enjoyed this from beginning to end and the back and forth storyline from present day to past. It was all so interesting and well written. My favourite scenes were teenage Skye's story in the first half of the book and I was disappointed to see that suddenly stop. But was delighted when the story made up for that further on in.
I had guessed the twist pretty early on but that didn't deminish the story at all. Or more so that I had a feeling I knew it and turns out to be correct. But there was still a lot in this that I hadn't predicted.
I would definitely recommend this.
May 27, 2022
Humblin' Hoecakes! 😳😯🤯
Hi-chi-wa-wa! I cannot believe how much I was enthralled and entertained with this plot. From the first page I was invested completely - way more than I thought I would with this one. I was skeptical at first but boy was this one juicy, crazy, suspenseful ride I wanted to ride over and over. You think you'll know the ending to come but let me tell you does it ever throw you for a damn spin!
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Skye is a young woman who is a major influencer in the world with millions upon millions of followers. Her backstory is unique - starting from a childhood of being a foster child and then homeless for a short while before her original climb to fame. And when Skye decides to put her name to Nathan's charity, Sascha's Sanctuary, a homeless initiative in honour of his late wife, he'll soon find out that not only is she planning to endorse them, but him, his life & his family too. The reason? Unspeakable.
I love how you get both Nathan's view point and Skye's past and present. You want to love her and hate her. This was undeniably wickedly dark and delish. I couldn't put it down. With such a unique plot, I savoured it even more. Everyone has a hidden agenda when it comes to high stakes - and this one was no exception. Splendidly appetizing!
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4 / 5 Lilies!!! 🪷
Hi-chi-wa-wa! I cannot believe how much I was enthralled and entertained with this plot. From the first page I was invested completely - way more than I thought I would with this one. I was skeptical at first but boy was this one juicy, crazy, suspenseful ride I wanted to ride over and over. You think you'll know the ending to come but let me tell you does it ever throw you for a damn spin!
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Skye is a young woman who is a major influencer in the world with millions upon millions of followers. Her backstory is unique - starting from a childhood of being a foster child and then homeless for a short while before her original climb to fame. And when Skye decides to put her name to Nathan's charity, Sascha's Sanctuary, a homeless initiative in honour of his late wife, he'll soon find out that not only is she planning to endorse them, but him, his life & his family too. The reason? Unspeakable.
I love how you get both Nathan's view point and Skye's past and present. You want to love her and hate her. This was undeniably wickedly dark and delish. I couldn't put it down. With such a unique plot, I savoured it even more. Everyone has a hidden agenda when it comes to high stakes - and this one was no exception. Splendidly appetizing!
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4 / 5 Lilies!!! 🪷
May 18, 2023
I really like Rijks’ books and have read many of them. I kinda roll my eyes at social media, so I hesitated to read this one. While not her best, it wasn’t that bad. A social media influencer with millions of followers wants to put her hooks into a man who runs a not-for-profit homeless center. While she professes to want to help out the charity, she really wants to be a home-wrecker. I guessed the main twist early on, but that was okay. What a really hated was the last chapter. She took a decently written book, and ruined it with a totally, unnecessary, irritating twist.
April 16, 2021
The Influencer by Miranda Rijks is another unputdownable read from an author who certainly knows how to craft a twisty and addictive psychological thriller. I have thoroughly enjoyed Ms Rijks's previous novels, and this latest proved to be no exception. Set aside some time for this one because once started, you will not want to put it down.
Nathan takes pride in the charity that he has launched as a tribute to his deceased wife's memory. When popular influencer Skye Walker expresses interest in attaching her name to the organization, the opportunity is too good to pass up. But as Skye begins to make her true intentions clear, Nathan feels that his life is spiralling out of control. And as Skye infiltrates both his personal and professional lives, he wonders if he and his family are safe from this mysterious woman who has suddenly appeared to disturb the status quo.
Told from the shifting viewpoints of Nathan and Skye, and alternating between Skye's past and present, this one kept me firmly on the edge of my seat.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC of this title.
Nathan takes pride in the charity that he has launched as a tribute to his deceased wife's memory. When popular influencer Skye Walker expresses interest in attaching her name to the organization, the opportunity is too good to pass up. But as Skye begins to make her true intentions clear, Nathan feels that his life is spiralling out of control. And as Skye infiltrates both his personal and professional lives, he wonders if he and his family are safe from this mysterious woman who has suddenly appeared to disturb the status quo.
Told from the shifting viewpoints of Nathan and Skye, and alternating between Skye's past and present, this one kept me firmly on the edge of my seat.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC of this title.
April 16, 2021
Skye grew up homeless and on the streets. That’s all changed since becoming a successful influencer!
Now she has the following, the money, and anything she could ever wish for.
She sets out to help charities as a way of giving back to the community, but this latest one isn’t going exactly according to her plan.
Loved the premise of this book and particularly liked how this author alternated between Now and Then through a series of flashbacks and also told through multiple points of view. While there was a twist, if you’re a mystery reader like me, you’ll see it coming, too, but it was executed very well! Overall an enjoyable read!
Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Now she has the following, the money, and anything she could ever wish for.
She sets out to help charities as a way of giving back to the community, but this latest one isn’t going exactly according to her plan.
Loved the premise of this book and particularly liked how this author alternated between Now and Then through a series of flashbacks and also told through multiple points of view. While there was a twist, if you’re a mystery reader like me, you’ll see it coming, too, but it was executed very well! Overall an enjoyable read!
Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2024
The following analysis contains coarse language that some readers might find offensive. I would strongly advise viewer discretion.
—Cat Ellington
꧁༺ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓛𝓪𝓾𝓷𝓬𝓱 "𝓟𝓪𝓭"... ༻꧂
influencer
/ˈinflo͝oənsər/
noun
• MARKETING
a person with the ability to influence potential buyers of a product or service by promoting or recommending the items on social media...
NOTE FROM CAT ELLINGTON: My review of The Influencer by Miranda Rijks will be featured from 12/09/24 - 12/23/24 at the Review Period with Cat Ellington: http://catellington.blogspot.com/p/my...
—Cat Ellington
꧁༺ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓛𝓪𝓾𝓷𝓬𝓱 "𝓟𝓪𝓭"... ༻꧂
influencer
/ˈinflo͝oənsər/
noun
• MARKETING
a person with the ability to influence potential buyers of a product or service by promoting or recommending the items on social media...
NOTE FROM CAT ELLINGTON: My review of The Influencer by Miranda Rijks will be featured from 12/09/24 - 12/23/24 at the Review Period with Cat Ellington: http://catellington.blogspot.com/p/my...
did-not-finish
January 16, 2025I read a little less than half of this book and I just couldn't stand to waste another minute on it. Cardboard cutout characters who acted in a completely predictable manner, coupled with glaring errors like mixing up the characters' names - well, it absolutely boggles my mind that as of today this book has a 4.18 overall rating. The only thing I can think of is that internet influencers are popular right now so people are interested in reading about them and don't really care about the quality of the writing.
July 13, 2021
Awful
Took me forever to finish and when I finally did finish, I knew it was going to be that stupid. I don't know what the shocking twist was supposed to be ? I guess the stupid ending.
Took me forever to finish and when I finally did finish, I knew it was going to be that stupid. I don't know what the shocking twist was supposed to be ? I guess the stupid ending.
May 3, 2021
*Thank you to NetGalley, The Publisher and Miranda Rijks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...
Skye Walker (Just Skye, please) is a social media influencer, worshipped by millions. Nathan is the head of a small charity, Sacha’s Sanctuary, in memory of his late wife. His charity supports the homeless and Skye, formerly homeless, would like to support his charity at no cost to him.
Her homelessness jump started her career and how she got herself off the streets. There is an old saying that when something seems too good to be true, usually it is. While Nathan does not know who she is, his teenage daughters do and urge him to take the offer.
As Skye gets more involved with Sacha’s Sanctuary, Nathan feels she wants to be more involved in his personal life than he is comfortable with. She seems to show up wherever he is and more concernedly, where his daughters are, he realizes their business partnership really is too good to be true. When things spiral out of control and he starts to distance himself from Skye, Nathan’s world falls apart. When his beloved fiancé, Marie, leaves him, it forces him to decide if Skye’s involvement in his charity is worth the extra money she is bringing in.
Skye is a very well written character, and the author does an outstanding job of describing what goes on behind the scenes of an influencer. Skye starts out as such a likeable character, but starts to crack almost immediately. The Influencer begins when she is a teenager and homeless, having just been rescued by a wealthy teen, Tiffany, unhappy with her own home life. The character development is spot on with both Nathan and Skye.
The Influencer is told from two points of view – Nathan’s and Skye’s, and it really helps the reader with what their thoughts are. It also moves the story along at a nice pace. The reader can see exactly when the story turns and becomes dangerous. The book also flashes back to Skye’s story with Tiffany, which helps us see who Skye was before she became an influencer.
This book had all the things that make up a psychological thriller: anticipation, suspense, well-written dialogue and many gasp worthy moments. As the reader, I felt engaged with the characters and story line and was excited to find out the next twist. The very last twist at the end was very unexpected and makes me wonder if there will be another book starring that character. The Influencer is a roller coaster of emotions, but one you won’t want to get off of too quickly.
Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...
Skye Walker (Just Skye, please) is a social media influencer, worshipped by millions. Nathan is the head of a small charity, Sacha’s Sanctuary, in memory of his late wife. His charity supports the homeless and Skye, formerly homeless, would like to support his charity at no cost to him.
Her homelessness jump started her career and how she got herself off the streets. There is an old saying that when something seems too good to be true, usually it is. While Nathan does not know who she is, his teenage daughters do and urge him to take the offer.
As Skye gets more involved with Sacha’s Sanctuary, Nathan feels she wants to be more involved in his personal life than he is comfortable with. She seems to show up wherever he is and more concernedly, where his daughters are, he realizes their business partnership really is too good to be true. When things spiral out of control and he starts to distance himself from Skye, Nathan’s world falls apart. When his beloved fiancé, Marie, leaves him, it forces him to decide if Skye’s involvement in his charity is worth the extra money she is bringing in.
Skye is a very well written character, and the author does an outstanding job of describing what goes on behind the scenes of an influencer. Skye starts out as such a likeable character, but starts to crack almost immediately. The Influencer begins when she is a teenager and homeless, having just been rescued by a wealthy teen, Tiffany, unhappy with her own home life. The character development is spot on with both Nathan and Skye.
The Influencer is told from two points of view – Nathan’s and Skye’s, and it really helps the reader with what their thoughts are. It also moves the story along at a nice pace. The reader can see exactly when the story turns and becomes dangerous. The book also flashes back to Skye’s story with Tiffany, which helps us see who Skye was before she became an influencer.
This book had all the things that make up a psychological thriller: anticipation, suspense, well-written dialogue and many gasp worthy moments. As the reader, I felt engaged with the characters and story line and was excited to find out the next twist. The very last twist at the end was very unexpected and makes me wonder if there will be another book starring that character. The Influencer is a roller coaster of emotions, but one you won’t want to get off of too quickly.
May 1, 2021
It’s a great day when a néw Miranda Rijks pops up and an even better day once you start reading this tricky thriller about Skye, a perfect made-for-the-internet star who rose from homelessness to a major influencer with millions of followers. The story here is fascinating, wicked, and unpredictable just the way I like it! I’ve read all of Miranda’s books and each is better than the next. I know to expect a wild story and this is certainly a wild ride. I loved every word, page, and chapter of this riveting read.
May 16, 2021
A few weeks ago I read 'The Visitors' by this author and was underwhelmed, but I'm so glad I gave her another try and read this one.
The storyline captured my attention immediately, and Nathan was such a sympathetic character. You could really feel things starting to unravel for him and share in his frustration that everyone around him thought that Skye was wonderful.
The pacing was really good and I enjoyed the mixture of past and present in telling the story.
The only reason I wouldn't give this full marks is that I guessed the big twist very early on and there were a LOT of typos that spoiled the reading experience for me slightly.
The storyline captured my attention immediately, and Nathan was such a sympathetic character. You could really feel things starting to unravel for him and share in his frustration that everyone around him thought that Skye was wonderful.
The pacing was really good and I enjoyed the mixture of past and present in telling the story.
The only reason I wouldn't give this full marks is that I guessed the big twist very early on and there were a LOT of typos that spoiled the reading experience for me slightly.
June 4, 2021
Will there be a sequel or something?
November 15, 2021
The Influencer indeed!
A good story by Ms. Rijks.
I was not too surprised at the first twist but the second one was unnerving.
A good story by Ms. Rijks.
I was not too surprised at the first twist but the second one was unnerving.
April 25, 2021
Nathan is confused and skeptical as to why social media superstar Skye wants to help his charity for the homeless. He has no knowledge of who she is and doesn't understand why a stranger with millions dollars and viewers would want to help him. After his teenage daughters, Isla and Chloe, explain how Skye overcame being homeless to achieve her status, he begins to understand why Skye is willing to help his charity. And her name attached to his charity has money pouring in.
But somehow Skye seems to be more present in his personal life - showing up unannounced at his home, befriending his daughters who are huge fans and showering them with expensive gifts. Nathan knows something isn't right, and he has to figure out what her end game is before she ruins everything important to him.
This was enjoyable to read and I had a hard time putting it down. Told from alternate POV's with past/present scenes, there were some twists that I was able to figure out early on but I was intrigued as to Skye's motives and why Nathan was involved. The book shows how easy it is for strangers, who have a huge media following, can gain trust and have the power to manipulate and influence others. The ending was somewhat left open to a possible sequel, though it would have been nice for it to have ended with all questions answered. Overall a good read and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read this book.
But somehow Skye seems to be more present in his personal life - showing up unannounced at his home, befriending his daughters who are huge fans and showering them with expensive gifts. Nathan knows something isn't right, and he has to figure out what her end game is before she ruins everything important to him.
This was enjoyable to read and I had a hard time putting it down. Told from alternate POV's with past/present scenes, there were some twists that I was able to figure out early on but I was intrigued as to Skye's motives and why Nathan was involved. The book shows how easy it is for strangers, who have a huge media following, can gain trust and have the power to manipulate and influence others. The ending was somewhat left open to a possible sequel, though it would have been nice for it to have ended with all questions answered. Overall a good read and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read this book.
May 5, 2021
Nathan is widowed with two teenage daughter and a fiancée. He runs a local homeless charity in memory of his wife. When social media influencer Skye offers to promote the charity Nathan accepts her offer. But Skye has another reason for backing Nathan and his life starts to fall apart. Miranda Rijks at her very best.
November 24, 2021
I did enjoy this book more then I thought I would. I wouldn’t say it was the best thriller I have ever read but it did have a good plot twist but unfortunately I had already guessed it throughout the book.
Would say to people to give it a read at least. I think this is going to be like marmite either you love it or hate it
Would say to people to give it a read at least. I think this is going to be like marmite either you love it or hate it
May 1, 2021
It’s a great day when a néw Miranda Rijks pops up and an even better day once you start reading this tricky thriller about Skye, a perfect made-for-the-internet star who rose from homelessness to a major influencer with millions of followers. The story here is fascinating, wicked, and unpredictable just the way I like it! I’ve read all of Miranda’s books and each is better than the next. I know to expect a wild story and this is certainly a wild ride. I loved every word, page, and chapter of this riveting read.
May 1, 2021
Skye Walker is a sadistic manipulator that lives off influencing the world. Nathan Edwards is a widower that runs a homeless charity Sachas Sanctuary. Sky sets her sights in Edward and there is your book.
This book, The Influencer, is fast paced and a quick read. It is hard to put down but also pretty predictable. The ending though is a surprise.
Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC of this book.
This book, The Influencer, is fast paced and a quick read. It is hard to put down but also pretty predictable. The ending though is a surprise.
Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC of this book.
April 22, 2021
In this day and age of social media moguls, I thought this would be an interesting read. Skye Walker, formerly homeless, is a mega Social Media Influencer. She sets her sites on Nathan. When things don’t go her way, it becomes a fatal attraction situation. As with social media, things are not always as they appear. I felt the ending was a little rushed and corny but overall a good read.
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