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Everyone Wants to Know
A ripped-from-the-tabloids, “achingly wrought” ( BookPage , starred review) young adult drama by critically acclaimed author Kelly Loy Gilbert about a girl’s famous-for-being-famous family fracturing from within as their dirty laundry gets exposed.
The Lo family sticks together. That’s what Honor has been told her whole life while growing up in the glare of the public eye on Lo and Behold , the reality show about her, her four siblings, and their parents.
Their show may be off the air, but the Lo family members still live in the spotlight as influencers churning out podcasts, bestselling books, and brand partnerships. So when Honor’s father announces that he’s moving out of their northern California home to rent an apartment in Brooklyn, Honor’s personal upset becomes the internet’s trending B-list celebrity trainwreck—threatening the aspirational image the Los’ brand (and livelihood) depends on.
After one of her best friends leaks their private conversation to a gossip site, bruised and betrayed Honor pours all her energy into reuniting her family. With her parents 3,000 miles apart, her siblings torn into factions, and all of them under claustrophobic public scrutiny, this is easier said than done. Just when Honor feels at her lowest, a guarded yet vulnerable boy named Caden comes into her life and makes her want something beyond the tight Lo inner circle for the first time. But is it fair to open her heart to someone new when the people she loves are teetering on the edge of ruin?
As increasingly terrible secrets come to light about the people Honor thought she knew best in the world, she’s forced to choose between loyalty to her family and fighting for the life she wants.
The Lo family sticks together. That’s what Honor has been told her whole life while growing up in the glare of the public eye on Lo and Behold , the reality show about her, her four siblings, and their parents.
Their show may be off the air, but the Lo family members still live in the spotlight as influencers churning out podcasts, bestselling books, and brand partnerships. So when Honor’s father announces that he’s moving out of their northern California home to rent an apartment in Brooklyn, Honor’s personal upset becomes the internet’s trending B-list celebrity trainwreck—threatening the aspirational image the Los’ brand (and livelihood) depends on.
After one of her best friends leaks their private conversation to a gossip site, bruised and betrayed Honor pours all her energy into reuniting her family. With her parents 3,000 miles apart, her siblings torn into factions, and all of them under claustrophobic public scrutiny, this is easier said than done. Just when Honor feels at her lowest, a guarded yet vulnerable boy named Caden comes into her life and makes her want something beyond the tight Lo inner circle for the first time. But is it fair to open her heart to someone new when the people she loves are teetering on the edge of ruin?
As increasingly terrible secrets come to light about the people Honor thought she knew best in the world, she’s forced to choose between loyalty to her family and fighting for the life she wants.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published June 13, 2023
About the author
Kelly Loy Gilbert
5 books428 followersKelly Loy Gilbert is the author of CONVICTION and PICTURE US IN THE LIGHT (Disney-Hyperion, spring 2018). She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
August 13, 2023
Kelly Loy Gilbert has officially cemented herself as one of my favorite authors of all time with this book. This is my third book from her, and I am continually impressed by how brilliant of a writer she is. Each of her novels is so nuanced and complex that a brief summary cannot possibly capture the essence of what she writes. Though all of Gilbert’s books stand on their own, this one has her signature complicated characters and dynamics, cutting prose, and insightful portrayal (and questioning) of humanity.
Like the rest of Gilbert’s novels, this is best read without knowing much—because even knowing the general premise won’t prepare you for what actually unfolds. It is hard to discuss the genius of certain parts without spoiling, but I’ll try my best. Everyone Wants to Know stars an incredibly messed up, toxic celebrity family. The children have lived under the spotlight for years as a result of being featured in their parents’ reality show in their youth, and they all handle the fame in different ways, whether it’s disapproving it and the parents, or becoming influencers themselves.
The book tackles the effects of living under the public eye: the difficult balance of forming your own identity when constantly surveilled and at the mercy of others’ perceptions of you, the inescapable fear of appearing in an unfavorable light to the public, the strain it puts on anything from simple interactions to close relationships. Honor in particular finds herself obsessed with reading what random internet users say about her and her family, unable to trust people outside of her family, and attaching her sense of self to being a Lo rather than her own person.
Though the family is quite terrible, they, like anyone else, undeniably deserve privacy and basic human treatment. Living so publicly has a spider web of consequences, and the Los’ relationship has inevitably become fragile and destructive. Many of them are overly concerned about their image, to the point of neglecting each other, their own feelings, or any sense of rationality. Their family values and actual love and care for each other are tangled up with the happy, loving family facade they need to maintain. However much they try to extricate themselves from each other, they will always be a family—because they love each other, because they’re expected to.
And while the messed up Lo family dynamic stole the show for me, I was also quite invested in Honor’s romantic relationship with Caden. It starts off as two broken people seeking physical pleasure and transforms into something much sweeter as they work on being more open. Their relationship, along with Honor’s newfound friendship with a group of girls, help her to exist at least a little bit beyond her family. It was gratifying to watch her take steps in the right direction to relearn certain behaviors and attempt to fix her mindset and mistakes.
I’m impressed by how a lot of my small gripes with the book are likely just the result of intentional choices Gilbert made. I didn’t love how dialogue-heavy this book was (especially knowing how beautifully Gilbert can write internal musings). But you could argue that the lack of internal narration is meant to show Honor’s lack of personhood and fixation on others around her, or how her thoughts don’t matter as much as what happens outside of her/to her. Honor does not go through as much growth as I would have liked to see, especially since she starts out selfish. But the family is not meant to be able to grow so much, because they are tragically trapped in a toxic cycle. I wish the ending could have included more details about what happened, but the point is that we (the audience, the public, the outsiders) could never know.
If you’re looking for a book to thoroughly enjoy, as in characters to love and root for without hesitation, be warned. While there are funny quips here and there and you can surely be entertained by the drama of it all, most of the characters are unlikeable, and many of the things they do will shock you from their pure insensitivity and illogic. They are self-aware of certain aspects of their privilege or hypocritical actions and completely ignorant to others. But it is enjoyable in the sense that you can’t help but feel awe at the wildness of the story and the way Gilbert expertly weaves it. The reading experience itself is unforgettable: the book is compulsively readable because everything spirals and you just have to know how much messier it will become.
If you pick this up (and I hope you do), prepare to be shocked—not only by what happens, but also the thoughtfulness behind everything. This is one of those books that you feel compelled to dissect further and further, and it sticks with you like a slightly too sweet aftertaste you can’t swallow away.
—★—
:: content warnings :: toxic family & romantic relationship, gaslighting, cancer, alcohol addiction, depiction of anxiety attacks
Like the rest of Gilbert’s novels, this is best read without knowing much—because even knowing the general premise won’t prepare you for what actually unfolds. It is hard to discuss the genius of certain parts without spoiling, but I’ll try my best. Everyone Wants to Know stars an incredibly messed up, toxic celebrity family. The children have lived under the spotlight for years as a result of being featured in their parents’ reality show in their youth, and they all handle the fame in different ways, whether it’s disapproving it and the parents, or becoming influencers themselves.
“I would say that—in the history of the universe and the future of the universe there are so many billions of people, and the fact that you encounter any single person in a lifetime feels kind of against all odds, so you might as well make the most of it.”
The book tackles the effects of living under the public eye: the difficult balance of forming your own identity when constantly surveilled and at the mercy of others’ perceptions of you, the inescapable fear of appearing in an unfavorable light to the public, the strain it puts on anything from simple interactions to close relationships. Honor in particular finds herself obsessed with reading what random internet users say about her and her family, unable to trust people outside of her family, and attaching her sense of self to being a Lo rather than her own person.
Though the family is quite terrible, they, like anyone else, undeniably deserve privacy and basic human treatment. Living so publicly has a spider web of consequences, and the Los’ relationship has inevitably become fragile and destructive. Many of them are overly concerned about their image, to the point of neglecting each other, their own feelings, or any sense of rationality. Their family values and actual love and care for each other are tangled up with the happy, loving family facade they need to maintain. However much they try to extricate themselves from each other, they will always be a family—because they love each other, because they’re expected to.
The thing about family is that you’re twined so tightly that any wound can never be only skin deep; it will always go all the way through you, to pierce you to the bone.
And while the messed up Lo family dynamic stole the show for me, I was also quite invested in Honor’s romantic relationship with Caden. It starts off as two broken people seeking physical pleasure and transforms into something much sweeter as they work on being more open. Their relationship, along with Honor’s newfound friendship with a group of girls, help her to exist at least a little bit beyond her family. It was gratifying to watch her take steps in the right direction to relearn certain behaviors and attempt to fix her mindset and mistakes.
I’m impressed by how a lot of my small gripes with the book are likely just the result of intentional choices Gilbert made. I didn’t love how dialogue-heavy this book was (especially knowing how beautifully Gilbert can write internal musings). But you could argue that the lack of internal narration is meant to show Honor’s lack of personhood and fixation on others around her, or how her thoughts don’t matter as much as what happens outside of her/to her. Honor does not go through as much growth as I would have liked to see, especially since she starts out selfish. But the family is not meant to be able to grow so much, because they are tragically trapped in a toxic cycle. I wish the ending could have included more details about what happened, but the point is that we (the audience, the public, the outsiders) could never know.
This is what people never realize about anyone famous, that any vulnerability is almost never real; you’re always picking out the parts you’re fine offering other people. No one actually knows us at all.
If you’re looking for a book to thoroughly enjoy, as in characters to love and root for without hesitation, be warned. While there are funny quips here and there and you can surely be entertained by the drama of it all, most of the characters are unlikeable, and many of the things they do will shock you from their pure insensitivity and illogic. They are self-aware of certain aspects of their privilege or hypocritical actions and completely ignorant to others. But it is enjoyable in the sense that you can’t help but feel awe at the wildness of the story and the way Gilbert expertly weaves it. The reading experience itself is unforgettable: the book is compulsively readable because everything spirals and you just have to know how much messier it will become.
If you pick this up (and I hope you do), prepare to be shocked—not only by what happens, but also the thoughtfulness behind everything. This is one of those books that you feel compelled to dissect further and further, and it sticks with you like a slightly too sweet aftertaste you can’t swallow away.
—★—
:: content warnings :: toxic family & romantic relationship, gaslighting, cancer, alcohol addiction, depiction of anxiety attacks
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinions in any way.
All quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may differ in final copy.
July 18, 2023
Ugh, I wanted to love this book because Kelly Loy Gilbert’s
Picture Us in the Light
and
When We Were Infinite
are two of my favorite novels ever, not just of the young-adult genre. I liked elements of Everyone Wants to Know, which follows Honor Lo, one of five siblings of a famous influencer family. The book begins right when Honor’s father announces that he’s moving out of their California home to rent an apartment in Brooklyn, which starts a social media cascade about their once-seemingly-perfect family. Then, one of Honor’s best friends leaks their private conversation to a gossip site. More drama ensues soon after leading Honor to spiral, all while doing her best to reunite her family that keeps feeling more and more fractured.
Starting with what I liked: I think Gilbert did a great job of writing about an influencer family in a way that felt believable. Around the 40-50% mark, I did feel interested in the plot and motivated to find out what would happen next. I also feel like Gilbert portrayed anxiety super well; she has a talent for rendering mental illness in a believable and thoughtful way, as she did in When We Were Infinite. I also enjoyed how both Honor and her mother grew by the end of the book after what felt like a potentially catastrophic lack of growth for most of the novel. Gilbert includes interesting themes related to boundary-setting within families as well as the role of social media in promoting unauthenticity/attention-seeking.
My main dissatisfaction with this novel is that I just didn’t find much to emotionally attach to. I unfortunately didn’t find the plot that engaging until about the 40% mark. Even then, I struggled to develop a connection to Honor or other characters. I think Gilbert has an amazing talent for creating complex plotlines that are emotionally raw and resonant; however, with this novel I felt like there was almost too much going on and not enough focus on a specific set of characters’ relationships. For example, I still remember with When We Were Infinite, Gilbert’s powerful rendering of Beth’s relationship with her friend group, with Jason specifically, and with her family members, and how she captured so much nuance and heart in each of those relationships. However, in this novel I didn’t feel that same spark or magic with Honor and any of the characters around her, even though I did appreciate Honor’s trajectory by the end of the book.
Overall, an okay read that I wish I could have written more positively about. Still rooting for Kelly Loy Gilbert and I’m interested in reading whatever she writes next!
Starting with what I liked: I think Gilbert did a great job of writing about an influencer family in a way that felt believable. Around the 40-50% mark, I did feel interested in the plot and motivated to find out what would happen next. I also feel like Gilbert portrayed anxiety super well; she has a talent for rendering mental illness in a believable and thoughtful way, as she did in When We Were Infinite. I also enjoyed how both Honor and her mother grew by the end of the book after what felt like a potentially catastrophic lack of growth for most of the novel. Gilbert includes interesting themes related to boundary-setting within families as well as the role of social media in promoting unauthenticity/attention-seeking.
My main dissatisfaction with this novel is that I just didn’t find much to emotionally attach to. I unfortunately didn’t find the plot that engaging until about the 40% mark. Even then, I struggled to develop a connection to Honor or other characters. I think Gilbert has an amazing talent for creating complex plotlines that are emotionally raw and resonant; however, with this novel I felt like there was almost too much going on and not enough focus on a specific set of characters’ relationships. For example, I still remember with When We Were Infinite, Gilbert’s powerful rendering of Beth’s relationship with her friend group, with Jason specifically, and with her family members, and how she captured so much nuance and heart in each of those relationships. However, in this novel I didn’t feel that same spark or magic with Honor and any of the characters around her, even though I did appreciate Honor’s trajectory by the end of the book.
Overall, an okay read that I wish I could have written more positively about. Still rooting for Kelly Loy Gilbert and I’m interested in reading whatever she writes next!
July 27, 2023
The main character is so annoying and self centered and I know that’s kinda the point but like….get over yourself??? This book was so frustrating. Just rolling my eyes the whole time. The romance also didn’t make sense
June 7, 2023
everyone in this book needs SO MUCH therapy 🥲
September 25, 2023
Spoilers ahead?
This book is about one big, fat nothing. It follows reality star siblings, whose parents decide to split because dad is basically having a middle age crisis, and then one of the sisters gets cancer.
And that’s the whole book. Just them adapting to the situation and being toxic.
It was SO BORING.
An entire book made out of page fillers.
There was a plot twist at the end that I didn’t see coming (and thought it was amazing), but not enough to earn this book an extra star.
This book is about one big, fat nothing. It follows reality star siblings, whose parents decide to split because dad is basically having a middle age crisis, and then one of the sisters gets cancer.
And that’s the whole book. Just them adapting to the situation and being toxic.
It was SO BORING.
An entire book made out of page fillers.
There was a plot twist at the end that I didn’t see coming (and thought it was amazing), but not enough to earn this book an extra star.
Want to Read
April 11, 2023kelly loy gilbert will never fail to leave me speechless!!!! idk what to rate this but there's no doubt that this story will be staying in my head for a while
June 19, 2023
Everyone Wants To Know by Kelly Loy Gilbert
10h 48m narrated by Rachanee Lumayno, 384 pages
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Romance
Featuring: Reality Stars, Influencers, Broken Home Trope, Biracial Chinese American Family, California, New York, Texas, Mainstream Media, Social Media, Casual Sex - Off-Camera and On-Camera Low Details, Family Drama, "Mixed-Race Trauma", Online Privacy, Public Relations, High School, Long Chapters, Anxiety, Ruminating, Travel, More Issues Than Vogue
Rating as a movie: R for sexual content
My rating: ⭐️⭐️½
My thoughts: 📱42% 4:31:18 Ch. 9 - I knew it! I picked this book out on a whim, and I was hesitant to start. Now, I'm mostly glad I did.
📱61% 6:38:06 twenty-one minutes into Ch. 15 - They are so annoying! I couldn't wait to get out of the car and it was a long drive. I am so sick of all the toxicity and doormat behavior.
I'm so glad this is over. It was well-written and held my attention but I didn't like anyone or anything about it. I wouldn't consider this Romance at all.
Recommend to others: Probably not. This story was toxic and whiny.
10h 48m narrated by Rachanee Lumayno, 384 pages
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Romance
Featuring: Reality Stars, Influencers, Broken Home Trope, Biracial Chinese American Family, California, New York, Texas, Mainstream Media, Social Media, Casual Sex - Off-Camera and On-Camera Low Details, Family Drama, "Mixed-Race Trauma", Online Privacy, Public Relations, High School, Long Chapters, Anxiety, Ruminating, Travel, More Issues Than Vogue
Rating as a movie: R for sexual content
My rating: ⭐️⭐️½
My thoughts: 📱42% 4:31:18 Ch. 9 - I knew it! I picked this book out on a whim, and I was hesitant to start. Now, I'm mostly glad I did.
📱61% 6:38:06 twenty-one minutes into Ch. 15 - They are so annoying! I couldn't wait to get out of the car and it was a long drive. I am so sick of all the toxicity and doormat behavior.
I'm so glad this is over. It was well-written and held my attention but I didn't like anyone or anything about it. I wouldn't consider this Romance at all.
Recommend to others: Probably not. This story was toxic and whiny.
August 19, 2023
A good book to read if you want to feel better about your own family
February 22, 2025
4.5 stars
rep: biracial (Chinese, white) protagonist and main characters; (Asian-American author)
cw: toxic relationships, gaslighting, side character's cancer diagnosis
I’ve been recommended Kelly Loy Gilbert’s books for such a long time, and I’ve really been meaning to finally picking them up. However, as soon as I read the summary for her next release, it was immediately one of my most anticipated books of this year and it did not disappoint! Full of imperfect characters and complicated love, Everyone Wants to Know follows a family falling apart in the public eye and the daughter doing everything she can to keep them together.
The Los are a famous family after having their own reality show that ended a few years ago. Now, almost all of them are influencers in a way, except for Honor and her twin brother Atticus, the two youngest of the family and the only ones who don’t keep a public profile. When their parents sit the whole family down to discuss their separation, the family is understandably devastated. To make matters worse, Honor’s two best friends leak private information to the media, and in the aftermath of everything, her mother moves her and Atticus to the city where she grew up. There, Honor meets Caden, an emotionally closed-off boy who she can’t help but be drawn to. Throughout it all, Honor tries her hardest to keep her family together until all the secrets come out and possibly destroy them all.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read such a nuanced book in YA, with such unlikable characters that you also can relate to, or at least understand why they do what they do. This book is also definitely a commentary on growing up in the public eye and the consequences of never really having privacy in your life. I’ll get more into that soon, but I wanted to highlight how much I loved the complexity and emotional weight of this book.
Toxic and codependent, the Los are a spectacularly messed-up family. Sure, they clearly love each other in their own way, but it’s so unfortunate to see how almost all of them are always concerned about how something will affect their public image first and foremost. Atticus is probably the one who cares the least about this, but even then, it’s concerning how they have to even consider this whenever something happens, especially growing up like this, like Atticus and Honor do.
just devoured this book like what a spectacularly fucked up family...such complex characters tbh I could talk for hours about each character which is a great feeling
anyways I really loved this !! again, incredibly complex characters, I loved following Honor's point-of-view, and I have so much to say that I don't even think I can touch on all of it in my review because of spoilers but whatever I'll try
read my full review on my blog
rep: biracial (Chinese, white) protagonist and main characters; (Asian-American author)
cw: toxic relationships, gaslighting, side character's cancer diagnosis
**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
I’ve been recommended Kelly Loy Gilbert’s books for such a long time, and I’ve really been meaning to finally picking them up. However, as soon as I read the summary for her next release, it was immediately one of my most anticipated books of this year and it did not disappoint! Full of imperfect characters and complicated love, Everyone Wants to Know follows a family falling apart in the public eye and the daughter doing everything she can to keep them together.
The Los are a famous family after having their own reality show that ended a few years ago. Now, almost all of them are influencers in a way, except for Honor and her twin brother Atticus, the two youngest of the family and the only ones who don’t keep a public profile. When their parents sit the whole family down to discuss their separation, the family is understandably devastated. To make matters worse, Honor’s two best friends leak private information to the media, and in the aftermath of everything, her mother moves her and Atticus to the city where she grew up. There, Honor meets Caden, an emotionally closed-off boy who she can’t help but be drawn to. Throughout it all, Honor tries her hardest to keep her family together until all the secrets come out and possibly destroy them all.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read such a nuanced book in YA, with such unlikable characters that you also can relate to, or at least understand why they do what they do. This book is also definitely a commentary on growing up in the public eye and the consequences of never really having privacy in your life. I’ll get more into that soon, but I wanted to highlight how much I loved the complexity and emotional weight of this book.
Toxic and codependent, the Los are a spectacularly messed-up family. Sure, they clearly love each other in their own way, but it’s so unfortunate to see how almost all of them are always concerned about how something will affect their public image first and foremost. Atticus is probably the one who cares the least about this, but even then, it’s concerning how they have to even consider this whenever something happens, especially growing up like this, like Atticus and Honor do.
read the rest of my review here
original review:
just devoured this book like what a spectacularly fucked up family...such complex characters tbh I could talk for hours about each character which is a great feeling
anyways I really loved this !! again, incredibly complex characters, I loved following Honor's point-of-view, and I have so much to say that I don't even think I can touch on all of it in my review because of spoilers but whatever I'll try
January 21, 2024
what the ever living fuck did i just read
May 25, 2024
*Warning, there will be mild spoilers*
There were several emotions that ran through my mind while I read this book, ranging from sympathy, dread, irritation, and emotional exhaustion. The main reason why I didn't give this book a higher rating was because Gilbert took on a lot here.
The Lo family as a unit was fascinating. As someone who isn't familiar with the familial reality TV show landscape, Gilbert vividly illustrates the effects of Lo and Behold on its cast. Being subjected to the reality TV microcosm, especially at a young age, has left Honor emotionally vulnerable. Her panic attacks and wanting to keep her family together despite its fractures didn't feel selfish to me in a bad light (as Wrangell and some reviewers noted). I saw it as a frantic desperation for stability in a life that's never felt stable. "Celebrity" as a platform has shifted so much from when I was growing up. It only made Honor's guilt more emotionally compelling to me. Gilbert did a great job with that in her second book, and elements trickled through in Everyone Wants to Know.
In exploring Lo and Behold, Gilbert also micro-analyzes the family members and their own struggles post show. I didn't feel as connected to the siblings not in the immediate family circle. They lacked the page time for me to get a sense of who they were, minus Jamison's branding work and Wrangell's emotional and physical estrangement. Melissa and Nathan, despite being at fault for a variety of things in their family, aren't painted as monsters. We see them as multifaceted, two adults so in love with their image and themselves, their brand is of utmost importance. Even Skye, the brightest light in the family, doesn't have her life together in the way her Instagram feed shows. We get defined sketches, but there isn't enough detail to ground all of them equally in the main plot. My favorite sibling was Atticus. I loved how he stuck up for his twin sister in the way twins do. That personal connection made me smile.
Honor and Caden's relationship was also rocky. I wasn't a fan of how it started (using meme lingo, it was clown behavior), and that hurt my attachment to it once it grew. They were cute together past their first scenes, and by the end of Everyone Wants to Know, I was happy they were in a good place. If Gilbert had worked with them more beyond Honor regressing to the hook ups she had in the past, I could have seen myself grown to liking their attachment over how life's screwed them over and their emotional healing.
I also don't think I completely trust Victoria? I feel like she and her posse didn't show up enough to justify their closeness to Honor by the end of the book. Did they have common ground? Yes. Was Honor told they were nice people? Yes. Some of the faming on that end was something I couldn't connected it. That, along with some of the Lo family hobbies, fight for page time in a way that doesn't make them shine.
Gilbert also deserves some form of props for how she constructed the subplot that takes a headlining spot in Everyone Wants to Know's second half. Its outcome was surprising, and there were some aspects I liked about it. It added another layer to the Lo family's brand hunger and showed susceptibility in wanting a way out from the Influencer Life. That said, after around 150 pages of feeling Honor's shot emotional processing revolving around her sister, it's a bait-and-switch that makes the book take an abrupt turn. The reveal also proves a theory right about the Los. That was disappointing.
Everyone Wants to Know was a complicated read for me. It did have the strengths of the previous book I read from Gilbert with its honest writing, but the story lacked compelling subplots and didn't move as cohesively as it could have. There were parts that were fairly strong. I'm still down to read more from Gilbert as her way of painting humanity is just that compelling. However, I won't be returning to her latest effort. Its emotional vulnerability is its main strength and weakness.
There were several emotions that ran through my mind while I read this book, ranging from sympathy, dread, irritation, and emotional exhaustion. The main reason why I didn't give this book a higher rating was because Gilbert took on a lot here.
The Lo family as a unit was fascinating. As someone who isn't familiar with the familial reality TV show landscape, Gilbert vividly illustrates the effects of Lo and Behold on its cast. Being subjected to the reality TV microcosm, especially at a young age, has left Honor emotionally vulnerable. Her panic attacks and wanting to keep her family together despite its fractures didn't feel selfish to me in a bad light (as Wrangell and some reviewers noted). I saw it as a frantic desperation for stability in a life that's never felt stable. "Celebrity" as a platform has shifted so much from when I was growing up. It only made Honor's guilt more emotionally compelling to me. Gilbert did a great job with that in her second book, and elements trickled through in Everyone Wants to Know.
In exploring Lo and Behold, Gilbert also micro-analyzes the family members and their own struggles post show. I didn't feel as connected to the siblings not in the immediate family circle. They lacked the page time for me to get a sense of who they were, minus Jamison's branding work and Wrangell's emotional and physical estrangement. Melissa and Nathan, despite being at fault for a variety of things in their family, aren't painted as monsters. We see them as multifaceted, two adults so in love with their image and themselves, their brand is of utmost importance. Even Skye, the brightest light in the family, doesn't have her life together in the way her Instagram feed shows. We get defined sketches, but there isn't enough detail to ground all of them equally in the main plot. My favorite sibling was Atticus. I loved how he stuck up for his twin sister in the way twins do. That personal connection made me smile.
Honor and Caden's relationship was also rocky. I wasn't a fan of how it started (using meme lingo, it was clown behavior), and that hurt my attachment to it once it grew. They were cute together past their first scenes, and by the end of Everyone Wants to Know, I was happy they were in a good place. If Gilbert had worked with them more beyond Honor regressing to the hook ups she had in the past, I could have seen myself grown to liking their attachment over how life's screwed them over and their emotional healing.
I also don't think I completely trust Victoria? I feel like she and her posse didn't show up enough to justify their closeness to Honor by the end of the book. Did they have common ground? Yes. Was Honor told they were nice people? Yes. Some of the faming on that end was something I couldn't connected it. That, along with some of the Lo family hobbies, fight for page time in a way that doesn't make them shine.
Gilbert also deserves some form of props for how she constructed the subplot that takes a headlining spot in Everyone Wants to Know's second half. Its outcome was surprising, and there were some aspects I liked about it. It added another layer to the Lo family's brand hunger and showed susceptibility in wanting a way out from the Influencer Life. That said, after around 150 pages of feeling Honor's shot emotional processing revolving around her sister, it's a bait-and-switch that makes the book take an abrupt turn. The reveal also proves a theory right about the Los. That was disappointing.
Everyone Wants to Know was a complicated read for me. It did have the strengths of the previous book I read from Gilbert with its honest writing, but the story lacked compelling subplots and didn't move as cohesively as it could have. There were parts that were fairly strong. I'm still down to read more from Gilbert as her way of painting humanity is just that compelling. However, I won't be returning to her latest effort. Its emotional vulnerability is its main strength and weakness.
June 27, 2024
Typically I like books about intense family drama, but I will admit I struggled with this one. Maybe because the toxicity of some of the characters was so high? And the betrayals just kept mounting while people insisted their behavior was okay? I’m not sure.
I really liked Honor as a character, and thought in the context of this story about a family who framed every decision with “but what will this do to our image” kinds of inquiries, her name is pretty bold and appropriate. I loved that choice.
Her relationship with her twin brother Atticus is also a bright spot in the book for me. I like the way they balance each other, tease each other, and speak truth to one another.
It took a while for her relationship with Caden to really grow on me, but when it did, I found that I really liked him. I couldn’t tell for a bit whether he was truly emotionally closed off or whether he was keeping his distance because she asked for that kind of relationship. As the story progressed, though, and I got to know him a little better, I really liked him. He’s messy but smart. Aloof, but not cold.
Some of the secrets that came out about the family I did not see coming. I did see some things coming, though. Some of the things were dealt with in a way that felt complete and emotionally satisfying, but other things are kind of left without being fully resolved. That’s pretty true to real life, so I don’t mean that as a complaint. I sometimes struggle with stories that end with emotionally messy stuff still in an emotionally messy state.
I definitely feel like the author brought me directly into the center of all the Lo family drama, and I’m impressed by her ability to do that so consistently and believably, and yet, I’m also kind of exhausted. Ha! I enjoyed the book, though, especially Honor and her relationships with Atticus and Caden.
Fans of BOYS I KNOW by Anna Gracia will find a similar exploration of tension within family relationships and tenuous forays into romantic relationships.
I really liked Honor as a character, and thought in the context of this story about a family who framed every decision with “but what will this do to our image” kinds of inquiries, her name is pretty bold and appropriate. I loved that choice.
Her relationship with her twin brother Atticus is also a bright spot in the book for me. I like the way they balance each other, tease each other, and speak truth to one another.
It took a while for her relationship with Caden to really grow on me, but when it did, I found that I really liked him. I couldn’t tell for a bit whether he was truly emotionally closed off or whether he was keeping his distance because she asked for that kind of relationship. As the story progressed, though, and I got to know him a little better, I really liked him. He’s messy but smart. Aloof, but not cold.
Some of the secrets that came out about the family I did not see coming. I did see some things coming, though. Some of the things were dealt with in a way that felt complete and emotionally satisfying, but other things are kind of left without being fully resolved. That’s pretty true to real life, so I don’t mean that as a complaint. I sometimes struggle with stories that end with emotionally messy stuff still in an emotionally messy state.
I definitely feel like the author brought me directly into the center of all the Lo family drama, and I’m impressed by her ability to do that so consistently and believably, and yet, I’m also kind of exhausted. Ha! I enjoyed the book, though, especially Honor and her relationships with Atticus and Caden.
Fans of BOYS I KNOW by Anna Gracia will find a similar exploration of tension within family relationships and tenuous forays into romantic relationships.
Want to Read
October 18, 2022NEW KELLY LOY GILBERT BOOK I HAVE REASON TO KEEP GOING
May 5, 2023
DNF - Well not quite lol. I read the first 5 chapters and the last 3 ish chapters.
I found this book pretty readable. I think I'm just not at the right time in my life to fully enjoy this book the way that the author intended.
At this point I want to read about the after effects of what happened... Except the book just ends lol.
If my one year old had slept longer I might have gone back and kept reading. But he started fussing and I just don't feel invested in the story enough to go back and pick it up again.
I found this book pretty readable. I think I'm just not at the right time in my life to fully enjoy this book the way that the author intended.
At this point I want to read about the after effects of what happened... Except the book just ends lol.
If my one year old had slept longer I might have gone back and kept reading. But he started fussing and I just don't feel invested in the story enough to go back and pick it up again.
July 27, 2023
Some jumbled thoughts:
This book was a bit of a rollercoaster for me but not in a good way. It had a lot of ups and downs in terms of pace and intensity. By the end of it I felt like I had read three different books all smooshed into one.
The summary of the book, as stated in another review and I agree, very much does not capture the premise well. I thought I’d be getting into more of a cute romance with family drama from their celebrity status on the side. A healthy mix of both. While there is a little bit of romance the story really throws all its focus on the family, and (no spoilers) the insane insane drama that comes out about them. Which is fine! I just wish the summary was written differently and made that clear.
I felt the pacing was quite strange and it took me a long time to get through because I felt I was reading the same thing over and over again.
The book is for sure made up of several unlikable characters which is inevitable telling a story with an extremely toxic family like this. I liked honor at most parts and I felt her voice was honest, well done, absolutely flawed but I could see where she was coming from in every decision she made. A lot of her narrative just felt repetitive.
I thought the ending and the repercussions of said ending were rushed and weirdly non existent for a situation as big as the one in the book. It felt too quick for it to be wrapped up.
Hard to say a lot without spoilers!!!
This book was a bit of a rollercoaster for me but not in a good way. It had a lot of ups and downs in terms of pace and intensity. By the end of it I felt like I had read three different books all smooshed into one.
The summary of the book, as stated in another review and I agree, very much does not capture the premise well. I thought I’d be getting into more of a cute romance with family drama from their celebrity status on the side. A healthy mix of both. While there is a little bit of romance the story really throws all its focus on the family, and (no spoilers) the insane insane drama that comes out about them. Which is fine! I just wish the summary was written differently and made that clear.
I felt the pacing was quite strange and it took me a long time to get through because I felt I was reading the same thing over and over again.
The book is for sure made up of several unlikable characters which is inevitable telling a story with an extremely toxic family like this. I liked honor at most parts and I felt her voice was honest, well done, absolutely flawed but I could see where she was coming from in every decision she made. A lot of her narrative just felt repetitive.
I thought the ending and the repercussions of said ending were rushed and weirdly non existent for a situation as big as the one in the book. It felt too quick for it to be wrapped up.
Hard to say a lot without spoilers!!!
May 24, 2023
could not put this down, felt queasy, would participate in online #FreeHonor campaigns!! oh my god this family. oh my god. I did wish the epilogue went a little longer or maybe I just want a sequel?!? but like aaaa
October 23, 2024
Oh my gosh, I hated this book so much I mean, legit it was so hard to read. There were some characters that literally made me want to punch them. I mean they were legit just kinda horrible people and they didn’t get better like the book ended and they still sucked and like you can have characters that are people that make mistakes and not have them just be bad people and like I feel like these characters were just bad people that were doing bad things and they didn’t have a reason to be doing those things and it was just kind of stupid. Anyway I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone.
January 2, 2025
"Should I have done that? Would it have been better? Please tell me if I did the right thing."
[Atticus] closes his eyes, some of his anger evaporating.
"Of course you did the right thing," he mutters, "The problem is that sometimes the right thing feels like shit."
4.5 rounded up!
the second I saw this book, I knew I had to pick it up because picture us in the light (also by Gilbert) is my favorite book of all time. everyone wants to know was not the type of book I expected her to write, but it absolutely did not disappoint! while it has a slightly trendier kind of storyline, having a lot to do with the world of social media and influencers in the form of the main characters, the Lo family, it still incorporates the heart-wrenching emotions and poignant descriptions of anxiety we are familiar with and love from Gilbert's other work. this was actually perfect for me because I love stories centering around the toxicity of social media and all that, so combining it with Gilbert's amazing writing style made for what was basically my ideal book.
I will start by saying that when I read a story, the characters are what I'm mainly here for. the plot is obviously important too, but above all I'm looking for characters I can connect with who stay with me well after I've closed the book. everyone wants to know definitely delivered on that front. amidst the abundance of extremely unlikeable and straight up disgusting characters who would have normally caused me to DNF by about 30%, were two characters who I adored to the point I put off finishing this book for three weeks because I knew I would miss them so much when it was over, and these were the main protagonist Honor and her twin brother Atticus.
despite some of Honor's slightly questionable decisions or actions which made me a little annoyed with her at times, she always had good intentions, and she was overall an easy character to empathize with: the only member of her family who isn't famous or nationally acclaimed somehow, who is content to keep to herself and stay out of the spotlight despite outside pressure. I loved how her entire personality was not about her anxiety or about her being quiet or reserved, but she had more to her, such as an inherent connection and reverence for her ancestors and a desire to make them proud, and also a dry sense of humor and all these moments of deep reflection I really enjoyed.
and ATTICUS. <33 my favorite character; I have to dedicate a whole paragraph to him. I love how despite being a nationally ranked volleyball player, quite popular at school, and all that, he was not just boiled down to a "jock" and he did not hold his comparative notoriety above Honor in any way, and was instead always there to back her up. he had a pretty refreshing "over it" attitude towards all the family's fame and media attention and I always looked forward to his quips and sarcastic remarks. above all, I appreciated how he was the only one to side with Honor against their toxic family every single time no matter what.
"Your name is Honor?" a second boy, also white, says. "Is that because honor is like super important to your family?"
[...] Before I have to answer, Atticus says, "Yeah, that's why my name is Atticus. White-savior narratives are also super important to our family."
he and Honor's humor bounced off each other so well, as did their personalities overall, with Atticus's optimistic and laidback attitude balancing out Honor's pessimistic and overthinking tendencies very well and keeping them both afloat; their banter as well as their more profound conversations were easily my favorite moments of the book. also, the parts where they stuck together in tough times, such as the aforementioned one, and another notable moment being when they went to visit their dad in Brooklyn, which was easily one of my top three favorite parts of the book. their bond was truly so heartwarming and much-needed amidst all the betrayal and familial venom that was happening throughout the story. it was what kept me reading even in moments where everyone was being so ridiculous that I honestly just wanted to throw the book.
now, as for the plot: if you are looking for a very action-packed and intense story, this book may lose you at the start, when not many actual events occur. I feel like there are some major events around which there is a cluster of action and drama, and then there are long periods where it's mainly about the fallout in terms of the shifting family dynamics and what the media is saying, as well as Honor processing everything and thinking about how to move forward, reflecting on her family and her role within it and the world. then the book really picks up the pace a few chapters in. I didn't mind the start at all as I thought the family drama was interesting (though also infuriating) and I enjoyed reading about Honor's thoughts, as well as having the aforementioned bond between the twins keeping me engaged, but if that doesn't interest you much, I would stay stick around for a bit and then you'll get the juicy action you're waiting for. however, if you don't feel as much of an attachment to the characters and get annoyed with too much drama and entitled behavior, this may not be the pick for you, because there is a LOT of it from beginning to end.
some small gripes with the plot: I feel like the ending was slightly rushed. I don't have an issue with what actually happened—I kind of did see that twist coming, but I think it was the logical thing to happen—but I just wish we were given more time for it to sink in or at least provided more details about the fallout in the epilogue, especially considering how much time was dedicated to such things throughout the rest of the story. also, I wish there was some closure with regards to that online hate forum that kept popping up throughout the story, where people were always commenting on whatever was going on with the Los lately. I would have been interested in seeing what some of the serial haters had to say about the events at the very end of the book.
with regards to the other characters, they're what stop me from giving this book a perfect 5. I know they were written to be that way, but the other members of the Lo family aside from the twins made me kind of sad because they were pretty messed-up. Nathan (the dad) was interesting, but also a terrible person; he and his pretentious, self-important dialogue and image made me so genuinely angry that I had to put the book down a couple times, which is how you know Gilbert wrote him really well. Melissa (the mom) obviously had a bit of redemption at the end, which I appreciated, but her cold and overly ambitious attitude for most of the book made it difficult for me to warm up to her. I had more sympathy for Wrangell and Jamison because of how they had to give up their childhoods to raise the twins, but I didn't care much for them either by the end of the story. Jamison was just disappointing, and I really didn't know what to make of Wrangell, he was super weird. And I couldn't stand Skye.
the characters were very well-written, though. it was clear how their issues did not just come out of nowhere, but it stemmed from all the media attention, toxicity and pressure within the family mainly thanks to the parents, being forced to grow up early, etc, which makes sense, but this did not make the things they did or said any less annoying or hurtful and disheartening to read. I appreciated the scene towards the end where the twins went on a walk and agreed not to turn out like the rest of their family when they grow up; that conversation gave me a bit of closure, but it also cemented how it really is the two of them against everyone else despite them being so young, and how much they've suffered at the hands of the people who are supposed to care for them and protect them.
as for the romance aspect of the story: the main love interest (?) Caden was pretty well-rounded and turned out to be quite different from what I originally thought. I liked how he was not just there to add unnecessary romance to the story, but he actually had an interesting perspective to provide and his own issues to work through. his relationship with Honor was a bit of a roller coaster, but I liked how he helped her grow and make some important decisions . however, I felt that his role wasn't as major as is suggested by the fact he's on the front cover of the book and prominently mentioned in the description. if you're looking for a romance story, this probably isn't the book for you.
this review is getting lengthy so I will wrap it up now, but overall, I had a great time reading this book: the characters were well-rounded and written amazingly even though most of them were not likeable, the plot was pretty interesting with lots of drama and a ton of toxicity to navigate, the writing was amazing with a great balance between dialogue and more introspective portions, and of course, there were the MVPs Honor and Atticus. if you're looking for something super action-packed or more romance-heavy, or aren't compelled by a story heavily centered around an extremely toxic family, maybe don't pick this up, but otherwise, I would say give it a shot for sure! Gilbert has worked her magic once again!
August 21, 2023
just finished to the book. idk how to feel.
my phone glitched and i just lost my whole review so i guess i just sum it up real quick.
- relationship mid
- personally i don’t think honor as annoying as everyone says she is
- the character i truly never disliked (aka wanted to slap them across the face) would prob be Atticus
- plot twist although was written well made me question how much i liked this book
- yea that it
my phone glitched and i just lost my whole review so i guess i just sum it up real quick.
- relationship mid
- personally i don’t think honor as annoying as everyone says she is
- the character i truly never disliked (aka wanted to slap them across the face) would prob be Atticus
- plot twist although was written well made me question how much i liked this book
- yea that it
Read
August 11, 2023Graded By: Scout Luna
Cover Story: Slice of Life
BFF Charm: Eventually
Swoonworthy Scale: 1
Talky Talk: Kelly Loy Gilbertrific
Bonus Factors: Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Twins
Anti-Bonus Factor: Dan Scott Award for Awful Parenting
Relationship Status: A Solid Hit
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Slice of Life
BFF Charm: Eventually
Swoonworthy Scale: 1
Talky Talk: Kelly Loy Gilbertrific
Bonus Factors: Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Twins
Anti-Bonus Factor: Dan Scott Award for Awful Parenting
Relationship Status: A Solid Hit
Read the full book report here.
August 25, 2023
This was... Boring? Yeah, this book was definitely boring. I was just reading words and couldn't connect to the characters in any way. I couldn't feel an ounce of sympathy for Skye, couldn't support Honor's issues, and I didn't even like the romance. It felt half-hearted. I DIDN'T EVEN FEEL A SINGLE THING FOR CADEN! AND I USUALLY CRUSH ON EVERY SINGLE GUY I READ ABOUT!
Oh, and more on Caden: the boy is a robot. A freaking robot. He's either saying "I'm sorry," "That sucks," or "if it makes you feel any better...". And if he's not saying those pre-programmed phrases, he's fucking Honor.
Which leads me to my next point. Honor is all about not making connections and not telling people things after her friends sell her private conversations but then she agrees to a friends-with-benefits relationship with Caden WHO COULD LITERALLY SELL THEIR PRIVATE MOMENTS FOR BIG MONEY. I mean, he could get a LOT for filming and selling a sex tape with Honor. So why didn't she consider that? OH! And then she goes on to tell him all her personal issues and keeps flip-flopping between wanting something real with him or not. And during one of her uncertain moments, Caden could lash out and sell stuff. Hello, Honor, are you even THINKING these things through all the way? Because I just figured out TWO WAYS Caden could get big bucks from you. Just saying...
And my last point: who uses "probably" at the beginning of a sentence? Probably so-and-so thinks blah. Probably this may happen to blah. Probably using "probably" is a bad idea. Not to mention the author uses it at least once every chapter. Just no.
Do not recommend this book unless you're looking for a boring af book with an unstable main character and a robotic "love interest" (that's in quotation marks because again, their relationship is nothing. It is not love or anything close to romance).
Oh, and more on Caden: the boy is a robot. A freaking robot. He's either saying "I'm sorry," "That sucks," or "if it makes you feel any better...". And if he's not saying those pre-programmed phrases, he's fucking Honor.
Which leads me to my next point. Honor is all about not making connections and not telling people things after her friends sell her private conversations but then she agrees to a friends-with-benefits relationship with Caden WHO COULD LITERALLY SELL THEIR PRIVATE MOMENTS FOR BIG MONEY. I mean, he could get a LOT for filming and selling a sex tape with Honor. So why didn't she consider that? OH! And then she goes on to tell him all her personal issues and keeps flip-flopping between wanting something real with him or not. And during one of her uncertain moments, Caden could lash out and sell stuff. Hello, Honor, are you even THINKING these things through all the way? Because I just figured out TWO WAYS Caden could get big bucks from you. Just saying...
And my last point: who uses "probably" at the beginning of a sentence? Probably so-and-so thinks blah. Probably this may happen to blah. Probably using "probably" is a bad idea. Not to mention the author uses it at least once every chapter. Just no.
Do not recommend this book unless you're looking for a boring af book with an unstable main character and a robotic "love interest" (that's in quotation marks because again, their relationship is nothing. It is not love or anything close to romance).
June 11, 2023
If you’re looking for likable characters, you’ll want to find another book. Now, I recognize that some people are fine with that and I’m happy for them. For me, though, I need at least some likable characters. I mean, I do really enjoy the messy drama of reality TV, but it was just so hard to be in Honor’s head. She’s such a people pleaser and that causes her to feel kind of spineless.
The plot is pretty much nonexistent. From the synopsis, I thought Honor was going to have some overall scheme to get her family back together, but she doesn’t. It just takes so long for anything to happen and that just means the reader is stuck in Honor’s head while she talks about how much she hates her new school. And the whole thing with Caden? No thanks. If my daughter answered the question about if a boy is kind to her with “in his way”, that would raise some major red flags for me.
Overall, I wanted to like this book. Like I said, I love that messy reality TV drama, but this didn’t really give me that. It gave a lot of teenage angst though.
Note: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The plot is pretty much nonexistent. From the synopsis, I thought Honor was going to have some overall scheme to get her family back together, but she doesn’t. It just takes so long for anything to happen and that just means the reader is stuck in Honor’s head while she talks about how much she hates her new school. And the whole thing with Caden? No thanks. If my daughter answered the question about if a boy is kind to her with “in his way”, that would raise some major red flags for me.
Overall, I wanted to like this book. Like I said, I love that messy reality TV drama, but this didn’t really give me that. It gave a lot of teenage angst though.
Note: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2024
i literally got so mad when reading this book that i think i started to cry at one point because i couldn't believe what i was reading and was super fustrated. idk how this author managed to write characters that were so toxic but with family values that hit way too close to home but holy shit did this book piss me off. i dont want to talk too much cause i'll probably write a review on this sometime in the near future but i do want to say everyone in that family sucked besides atticus and im convinced he's the only sane person and restorted my faith in humanity because damn did this book unrestore my faith in humanity.
also. everyone in this book needs so much goddamn therapy.
4/5 stars good lord this was so good but it made me so mad
also. everyone in this book needs so much goddamn therapy.
4/5 stars good lord this was so good but it made me so mad
May 30, 2023
Alright I’m just going to come right out & say it: I didn’t like this book. It wasn’t bad, but it felt very slow. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I will try reading it again later & see if my opinion of it changes.
Thank you to NetGalley & The publisher for a copy of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley & The publisher for a copy of this book.
June 11, 2024
NOTHING would ever goes wrong with Kelly Loy Gilbert! She’s officially my favorite and auto-buy author by this time! I have read all of her releases, and even though this one reads the most different from her others, I still LOVED this book so much!
Everyone Wants to Know follows the story of Lo’s family, basically an influencer family, some kind of the The Kardashians, that started to get more chaotic after the parents showing signs of divorce, and we were brought to witness the family falling apart with each person’s problems and the drama surroundings them.
Getting into this book through Honor’s POV made me feel like it was the best choice, since Honor was the one getting less spotlight throughout the family’s career in entertainment and I felt like she represented us as the reader so well, since she is the most ‘normal’ and objectively sane out of everyone in the family. I also really liked how her character was being written. She might sounds timid at times, but we understand where did she came from and why was she being all like that. AND GILBERT’S WRITING ABOUT ANXIETY IS ALWAYS SOOO ON POINT AS ALWAYSSS!!!
At the first half of the book, I was wondering what would going to happen and I thought that I would not like this book because I felt bored and I don’t know where this book will led me, but once all the Skye’s drama started, I WAS SUPER INVESTED! like I saw everything coming from miles away and I already knew how it was going to be, but Gilbert unravel everything perfectly and it was just sooo fun and thrilling to read all those messes while also dive deeper into everyone’s characters.
What I like the most out of Gilbert’s books is that she always kept everything realistic. AND THIS BOOK ENDING REALLY SEND ME. I especially love the ending because it was not a happily ever after, everyone got their lessons, type of ending. It was sooo realistic and on brand and stay ok characters kind of ending. I really love that it was just basically what actually would happen if something like that happened in real life.
Overall, this book might not be the best book Kelly Loy Gilbert has put out so far, and it can’t top Picture Us In the Light and When We were Infinite for me, but I still really enjoy it and adore it so much. 5 stars and super recommended!!✨
Everyone Wants to Know follows the story of Lo’s family, basically an influencer family, some kind of the The Kardashians, that started to get more chaotic after the parents showing signs of divorce, and we were brought to witness the family falling apart with each person’s problems and the drama surroundings them.
Getting into this book through Honor’s POV made me feel like it was the best choice, since Honor was the one getting less spotlight throughout the family’s career in entertainment and I felt like she represented us as the reader so well, since she is the most ‘normal’ and objectively sane out of everyone in the family. I also really liked how her character was being written. She might sounds timid at times, but we understand where did she came from and why was she being all like that. AND GILBERT’S WRITING ABOUT ANXIETY IS ALWAYS SOOO ON POINT AS ALWAYSSS!!!
At the first half of the book, I was wondering what would going to happen and I thought that I would not like this book because I felt bored and I don’t know where this book will led me, but once all the Skye’s drama started, I WAS SUPER INVESTED! like I saw everything coming from miles away and I already knew how it was going to be, but Gilbert unravel everything perfectly and it was just sooo fun and thrilling to read all those messes while also dive deeper into everyone’s characters.
What I like the most out of Gilbert’s books is that she always kept everything realistic. AND THIS BOOK ENDING REALLY SEND ME. I especially love the ending because it was not a happily ever after, everyone got their lessons, type of ending. It was sooo realistic and on brand and stay ok characters kind of ending. I really love that it was just basically what actually would happen if something like that happened in real life.
Overall, this book might not be the best book Kelly Loy Gilbert has put out so far, and it can’t top Picture Us In the Light and When We were Infinite for me, but I still really enjoy it and adore it so much. 5 stars and super recommended!!✨
November 4, 2023
I picked this off the new releases YA shelves at my library somewhat impulsively. It sounded interesting. The whole time I was reading, I kept waffling between three stars and four. It took me a while to get into--it's pretty slow to start--but once I did, I was hooked and could not put it down. Honor was a protagonist that was kind of hard to like and a little boring at times, but the compelling emotional writing really drew me in. I will say that the book struggles a little from being too long. Because once things really get interesting, it's done and I would have preferred more on the . I would have preferred more of Wrangell, especially Wrangell helping disentangle Honor and Atticus from their parents. Especially Overall, this was a story about messy families, about the damage narcissism can do, about anxiety, about love, and about control.
Sometimes the romance feels unnecessary or tacked on in YA novels and this one is tricky to actually figure out. It drew me in in the end, but if you're looking for a sweet romance or are hoping for a romance plotline, this one is barely a c plotline and often times, frustrating.
Also I found the whole plotline with her old friends from the school incredibly frustrating.
In the end, I went with four stars, because I was really drawn into the Los and the story and the narcissism rep was interesting to me. And the story made me emotional!
ETA: And I really loved how protective of his sisters Atticus was!! (And Wrangell, when he was around.)
Trigger warnings: narcissism, emotionally manipulative/distant parents, parental neglect, addiction, cancer, major spoiler behind cut: , anxiety
Read-Alike: Save the Date by Morgan Matson
Sometimes the romance feels unnecessary or tacked on in YA novels and this one is tricky to actually figure out. It drew me in in the end, but if you're looking for a sweet romance or are hoping for a romance plotline, this one is barely a c plotline and often times, frustrating.
Also I found the whole plotline with her old friends from the school incredibly frustrating.
In the end, I went with four stars, because I was really drawn into the Los and the story and the narcissism rep was interesting to me. And the story made me emotional!
ETA: And I really loved how protective of his sisters Atticus was!! (And Wrangell, when he was around.)
Trigger warnings: narcissism, emotionally manipulative/distant parents, parental neglect, addiction, cancer, major spoiler behind cut: , anxiety
Read-Alike: Save the Date by Morgan Matson
July 22, 2024
The Lo Family sticks together. Honor has heard this since childhood on the popular reality TV show Lo and Behold. Though the show is off the air, the Lo family now has podcasts, conferences, brand partnerships, and more. When Honor's father and mother decide to separate, Honor worries about her world collapsing. Honor takes it upon herself to be the mediator to get her family back on track, but things turn out when Skype her older sister gets sick. Honor finds not all is what it seems not only in her influencer bubble but also in those close to her.
What worked: Think YA influencers meet The Kardashians. This family is messy with all the drama behind the scenes. Kind of like a 'real' family. But unlike a 'real' family this Lo family has people around them sign NDA to keep truths behind wraps.
Fans of Reality shows will enjoy the Lo family as it navigates life after the parents separate and more. Honor struggles to make sense of her world-changing. I admit, it was hard at first to like Honor and any of her siblings. They did seem like out-of-touch celebrities, but then again, they were children when they were on a Reality TV series. I think of that one TLC show Jon and Kate Plus 8 and the huge outcry when Jon and Kate divorced.
The dialogue is punchy and carries along the story as Honor and her siblings move on. Honor's relationship with her twin Atticus is realistic. The older sister Skye's story of having cancer takes a wild twist at the end.
There are romantic elements that include the aloof Caden who has issues of his own. Some of his interactions with Honor came across as insensitive at times. I also didn't feel the chemistry between these two.
I did like seeing behind the scenes of an influencer family with all the not-so-good parts that the media is quick to hide. The toxic positivity attitude of the father is shown from the very beginning. And kudos for not sugar-coating the ending.
Influencer Family meets real-world drama with an oh my gosh reveal.
Original post: https://www.yabookscentral.com/everyo...
What worked: Think YA influencers meet The Kardashians. This family is messy with all the drama behind the scenes. Kind of like a 'real' family. But unlike a 'real' family this Lo family has people around them sign NDA to keep truths behind wraps.
Fans of Reality shows will enjoy the Lo family as it navigates life after the parents separate and more. Honor struggles to make sense of her world-changing. I admit, it was hard at first to like Honor and any of her siblings. They did seem like out-of-touch celebrities, but then again, they were children when they were on a Reality TV series. I think of that one TLC show Jon and Kate Plus 8 and the huge outcry when Jon and Kate divorced.
The dialogue is punchy and carries along the story as Honor and her siblings move on. Honor's relationship with her twin Atticus is realistic. The older sister Skye's story of having cancer takes a wild twist at the end.
There are romantic elements that include the aloof Caden who has issues of his own. Some of his interactions with Honor came across as insensitive at times. I also didn't feel the chemistry between these two.
I did like seeing behind the scenes of an influencer family with all the not-so-good parts that the media is quick to hide. The toxic positivity attitude of the father is shown from the very beginning. And kudos for not sugar-coating the ending.
Influencer Family meets real-world drama with an oh my gosh reveal.
Original post: https://www.yabookscentral.com/everyo...
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September 30, 2023Review copy: ARC via publisher
I’ve been a fan of Kelly Loy Gilbert’s writing ever since I picked up Picture Us in the Light and realized that it was set at Monta Vista, a school in the area that I grew up. It was the first time I felt so seen in fiction, and I ended up convincing more than a few childhood friends to read it. So given all that, you know I was very, very excited for Gilbert’s latest book, Everyone Wants to Know.
Gilbert’s latest is a razor sharp look at an all-too-relevant topic at the moment: influencer culture and particularly influencer families. If you pay any attention at all to this space, you may have seen recent discussions, articles, etc regarding children who were raised by influencer parents and didn’t consent to becoming influencer content. In Everyone Wants to Know, the influencer family is the Lo family, a family who once starred in a reality show before spawning an influencer empire. The narrator, Honor, must grapple with the fallout when her father announces that he’s leaving the family and secrets are uncovered.
People who follow influencer culture will find Everyone Wants to Know propulsive and compelling. The level of detail is incredible — it reminded me of Crazy Rich Asians. At times, I found the amount of detail and cascade of event after event somewhat overwhelming, but overall, I found that it meaningfully contributed to a gripping tale of family drama.
My favorite part was Honor’s reflections on family and cultural heritage. I loved the historical and cultural tie-in to where Honor’s parents and grandparents came from. An Asian American take on influencer family drama resonated with me.
For people who are interested in influencer culture, this is an absolute must-read and came out at just the right time in this cultural moment. I definitely recommend checking it out if it sounds intriguing to you! (And please, please read Picture Us in the Light!)
Recommendation: Get it soon!
I’ve been a fan of Kelly Loy Gilbert’s writing ever since I picked up Picture Us in the Light and realized that it was set at Monta Vista, a school in the area that I grew up. It was the first time I felt so seen in fiction, and I ended up convincing more than a few childhood friends to read it. So given all that, you know I was very, very excited for Gilbert’s latest book, Everyone Wants to Know.
Gilbert’s latest is a razor sharp look at an all-too-relevant topic at the moment: influencer culture and particularly influencer families. If you pay any attention at all to this space, you may have seen recent discussions, articles, etc regarding children who were raised by influencer parents and didn’t consent to becoming influencer content. In Everyone Wants to Know, the influencer family is the Lo family, a family who once starred in a reality show before spawning an influencer empire. The narrator, Honor, must grapple with the fallout when her father announces that he’s leaving the family and secrets are uncovered.
People who follow influencer culture will find Everyone Wants to Know propulsive and compelling. The level of detail is incredible — it reminded me of Crazy Rich Asians. At times, I found the amount of detail and cascade of event after event somewhat overwhelming, but overall, I found that it meaningfully contributed to a gripping tale of family drama.
My favorite part was Honor’s reflections on family and cultural heritage. I loved the historical and cultural tie-in to where Honor’s parents and grandparents came from. An Asian American take on influencer family drama resonated with me.
For people who are interested in influencer culture, this is an absolute must-read and came out at just the right time in this cultural moment. I definitely recommend checking it out if it sounds intriguing to you! (And please, please read Picture Us in the Light!)
Recommendation: Get it soon!
June 14, 2023
16-year-old Honor Lo is the youngest daughter of the family made famous on the reality show Lo and Behold. The show is no longer on the air but Honor’s parents and siblings continue to hold the public’s attention with their influencer status. Honor is reluctant to follow in her family’s footsteps, but when her father leaves the family to “find his authentic self”, she’s once again thrust into the spotlight.
Now Honor must navigate the online trolls looking to prove her family isn’t as wholesome as they claim while navigating a new reality of being the new student at a different high school. There she meets Caden, a boy who no one really knows and whose family has almost abandoned him. When another scandal rocks Honor’s world, the two must find a way to find a way through the controversy with all the pressures put on them by family, friends, and the Internet.
Anyone who’s read Kelly Loy Gilbert’s books (Picture Us in the Light, Conviction, When We Were Infinite) knows she is a beautiful writer who deftly explores complex issues of family and identity. Everyone Wants To Know is no exception. Here she takes on the tensions created for people trying to find the truth about themselves in a media landscape driven by self promotion. It’s an engaging, thought provoking story with a cast of characters you’ll care deeply about.
Now Honor must navigate the online trolls looking to prove her family isn’t as wholesome as they claim while navigating a new reality of being the new student at a different high school. There she meets Caden, a boy who no one really knows and whose family has almost abandoned him. When another scandal rocks Honor’s world, the two must find a way to find a way through the controversy with all the pressures put on them by family, friends, and the Internet.
Anyone who’s read Kelly Loy Gilbert’s books (Picture Us in the Light, Conviction, When We Were Infinite) knows she is a beautiful writer who deftly explores complex issues of family and identity. Everyone Wants To Know is no exception. Here she takes on the tensions created for people trying to find the truth about themselves in a media landscape driven by self promotion. It’s an engaging, thought provoking story with a cast of characters you’ll care deeply about.
August 11, 2023
imo kelly loy gilbert is thee lone YA author right now who really has a knack for bringing in real societal themes and complex non-romantic relationships without defaulting to a sort of flat instagram-political-education mode of delivery nor resorting to predictable plot set ups to get there. this one was no exception! wild ride.
i did at times wonder if it was getting a bit heavy handed but i think that the set up of the influencer family glossed over where those seams would be a bit more obvious. the back half of the book had some really great emotional payoff and we start to see the shine of the characters finally rub off.
that being said, i needed a bit more from the characters overall. throughout the book, i could see the edges of who the characters really were (which to be fair could have been an intentional choice) but i was never really convinced WHY honor was bound up in her family the way she was, on an emotional entanglement level. KLG does a good job at telling us and i know why, but it was lacking some of those anchoring emotional scenes of the good times and the worst times — partially why it was so satisfying to finally get some of that in the end.
i had a slow start with it but ended up reading 75% of the book in one sitting. super engaging and a fun read!!!
i did at times wonder if it was getting a bit heavy handed but i think that the set up of the influencer family glossed over where those seams would be a bit more obvious. the back half of the book had some really great emotional payoff and we start to see the shine of the characters finally rub off.
that being said, i needed a bit more from the characters overall. throughout the book, i could see the edges of who the characters really were (which to be fair could have been an intentional choice) but i was never really convinced WHY honor was bound up in her family the way she was, on an emotional entanglement level. KLG does a good job at telling us and i know why, but it was lacking some of those anchoring emotional scenes of the good times and the worst times — partially why it was so satisfying to finally get some of that in the end.
i had a slow start with it but ended up reading 75% of the book in one sitting. super engaging and a fun read!!!
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