Selfie

by Allayne L. Webster

Dene Walker picked me to be her best friend. She had the whole of Tonsley High’s year eight to choose from—and she chose me. Me!

Tully can’t believe her luck. Dene is famous. Everyone loves her. She has thousands of followers online and hundreds of sponsorship deals. Being best friends with Dene Walker is a dream come true.

Tully is soon hardly aware that her long-time bestie, Kira, exists, as she shapes her own interests and cares to be the person worthy of Dene’s attention. And she’s not prepared for the heartache and confusion when Dene’s friendship is not all she imagined it to be.

Selfie is an engaging and very real exploration of social media and the trickiness of separating what’s real from the glossiness of the online world. It’s a tender story about friendship and staying true to yourself.

Genres: Young Adult, Friendship, Family, Contemporary

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2023

About the author

Allayne is an author of Junior Fiction, Middle Grade and Young Adult literature. She’s the recipient of multiple arts grants, a Premier’s Reading Challenge Ambassador, and a former literary festival board member.
Paper Planes (Scholastic) was a 2016 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable/shortlisted for the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature. A Cardboard Palace (MidnightSun) was a 2018 CBCA Notable and published in Sweden. Our Little Secret (Scholastic) was listed for the Golden Inkys and has recently been republished by Ligature Press. The Centre of My Everything (PenguinRandomHouse) was listed in the 2019 Davitt Awards (crime) and shortlisted in the 2020 Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature. Sensitive (UQP) is published in Russia and was shortlisted in the 2020 Australian Speech Pathology Awards and is a 2023 IBBY Outstanding Book for Young People with Disabilities.
That Thing I Did (Wakefield Press), a YA comedy, was released in March 2022 to rave reviews, and Selfie (YA, Text Publishing) will be released 4th April 2023. When not writing, Allayne plays guitar and paints.

Reviews

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: bullying, parental abandonment, parent with cancer, car accident (in the past), toxic friendship

3.5 stars

I sped through this in almost no time at all, and I did like the way it dealt with teens and social media and parasocial relationships. I also liked the fact that it's written for a younger teen audience, as 13-14 year olds are often overlooked in the YA sphere.

That being said, this dealt with some serious topics - especially the situation with Tully's mother - but dealt with them so quickly that it didn't feel like they were done to any satisfaction. A lot of the issues felt like they were used as an excuse for the characters to behave the way they do without having any character development involved as they work through their issues.

So yeah. It was a fast read. But it wasn't what I was hoping it would be.

[Ms Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tully has a lot going on in her life despite trying to cope by pushing it down or to the side. She gets swept up in the allure of popularity but comes to realise its not what it’s cracked up to be. Her insecurities abound when the ‘story’ doesn’t turn out how she thought it might. All the while, she’s responding with jealousy and obsessiveness, while dealing with a lack of self-belief/confidence/worth, and what seems to be an underlying issue of abandonment. This is a fantastic read for middle grade and early YA readers about the toll of living in a false reality and of upholding a facade - both of which can come with being obsessed with the social media square.

11-14 Years

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic and topical.

[Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Representation: N/A
Trigger warnings: Car crash, hospitalisation of a mother due to cancer, death of people in the past, implied divorce

Selfie by Allayne L. Webster needed improvements.

It starts with Tully who befriends Dene until the friendship falls apart. While they drift back together, their relationship is never the same again.

While the characters have some development, likability and relatability value, they lack meaningful depth when more would have helped. For example, Dene and Tully are unlikable because they argued with other characters and only stopped at the end. Also, both use social media but Dene is wealthy because she can afford to attend parties while Tully received more attention because of Dene. However, that is not enough.

There is little action to find or discuss in Selfie because it is character-driven. Yet, the pacing is slow, even at less than 260 pages. Webster could have used this pacing better if the characters were more well-written.

While Selfie was intriguing, it lost its originality, appeal and intrigue because there are other books that discuss themes such as social media and friendships. Even though the plot flows logically, this novel is still unenjoyable.

Score: Four out of ten.

[Text Publishing]

The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Selfie

‘Social media, teenage fame, and a girl trying to work out where she fits. Loved it.’
Nova Weetman

‘Webster takes her readers on an authentic teenage journey in Selfie…Young adults can learn a lot about miscommunications, as well as what is truly important in a friendship, from this contemporary story that understands the importance placed upon an online presence in today’s world.’
Anneliese Gates, Books+Publishing

‘The very modern dilemmas of social media, along with the more timeless trials of adolescent friendship, are at the heart of the latest young adult novel by South Australian author Allayne L. Webster.’
West Australian

‘Children’s author Allayne Webster’s new book is for younger YA readers, but Selfie tackles a subject many older readers (and probably some adults) could learn from…Written in a relatable teenage voice, Selfie explores the difficulties of navigating the perceived glossy world of social media, teenage friendships and the importance of staying true to yourself.’
Kylie Northover

‘This tale is ideal for tweens and young teens just starting to explore the online world for themselves.’
Readings

‘A book of complex relationships all beautifully explored by author Allayne L. Webster. She shows a genuine understanding of the way social media influences the lives of young people…A wonderful read.’
ReadPlus

‘The voice of Tully is relatable and would definitely resonate with many young people who struggle with social media and its pitfalls…Very easy to read.’
GLAM Adelaide (5 stars)

‘Allayne Webster has created an authentic teenage narrator’s voice and convincingly depicted the range and intensity of her feelings…Very well written and engaging, Selfie is highly recommended for young adults.’
Magpies

‘Well-written and interesting, Webster has done a superb job of subtly presenting the pretentious side of social media and the crafty way it steals reality from those easily influenced.’
Kids’ Book Review

‘Authentic teenage voice…An engaging and absorbing read, layered with the complexities of family relationships, friendships and the struggles teens face in today’s online world.’
StoryLinks

‘Allayne Webster is a charismatic, kinetic writer whose novels crackle with intelligence, humour and warmth. She’s an expert at smuggling moral messages into vibrant, funny narratives that speak authentically to teen readers…I loved this novel, and would recommend it for readers of any age.’
InDaily

‘A story of positivity and encouragement…A meaningful text and should be part of every young person’s experience in this age.’
NZ Booklovers

‘Teens will instantly connect with this book.’
Carolyn Hull, ReadPlus

‘An honest portrayal of the pitfalls of being a teenager and living on social media…A timely reminder that having ‘likes’ online doesn’t reflect true friendship. #must read.’
GenWest

‘Perfect for readers in Year 6 and 7, Selfie follows Tully as she is swept up in the world of Instagram influencing through the arrival of new girl Dene. There is much that will appeal to upper-middle readers and the discussion around toxic relationships and the ethics of influencing through children is a valuable one.’
CBCA VIC

‘Allayne Webster’s Selfie dives deep into the complexity of teen friendships with nuance, humour, and heart. Achingly relatable and an all-around delight.’
Becky Albertalli

‘I loved everything about this book and read it in two sittings…[Webster’s] gift is the authenticity within her writing to represent the target audience…Teens and adults alike will be able to relate…’
Melissa Wray, Buzz Words

[Sarah Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

We follow teenager Tully when she is picked to be the new girl Dene’s BFF. But Dene isn’t just anyone… oh no she’s insta famous Dene, made popular
by her mother, with thousands of followers and sponsors.

As readers we
follow their friendship and how they both try to navigate high school life
and everything else that comes with it in the age of social media.

Selfie promotes such a positive message, to not only teens but to everyone - that social media is not the be all end all and what you see online isn’t always
‘real life.’

Tully is a great MC because as a reader she makes you feel so many
emotions with her – sadness, anxiety, hope and love. You know she’s not a
bad person she’s just a teenager completely sucked into the online world. Whereas with Dene you definitely feel sad for her- she’s essentially a
product created by her mother and her entire life is a job. Awful.

Webster is a genius at interweaving and disguising serious themes like
jealousy, dishonestly, love, friendship and validation in the day to day
characters teenage life in 2023. The teen vocab and subtle quirks are spot on!

Essentially Tully and Dene are just teenage girls, they make mistakes, they
own it, learn from it and move on. I really like this resilience in characters- particularly in texts aimed at a YA audience.

Allayne, you are such a cool author and this really shows in your
characters. I love both Tully and Dene- who they are, what they do and
who they eventually become.

Certainly ‘likes’ don’t define you and I get that but I know a lot of people
don’t. I wish there was more we could do to convince them not to care
what people think. Hopefully fabulous, clever authors like Allayne Webster
will continue to write influential YA’s letting teens know it OK to just be
themselves, love who they are and that’s all the ‘likes’ they’ll ever need.

Thank-you Allayne and Text Publishing for sending me this copy to read
and review I 100% loved it from start to finish. Five stars, well done!

[Nisha-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

That kept breaking my heart for the longest time. The desperation and longing of poor Tully. But also I liked how she wasn’t stupid. She picked up on the clues but chose to explain them away and that I could totally understand.

I did realise partway through that I have totally been Dene in at least two friendships and was a lesser form of Tully in at least one. That made for a very uncomfortable read but gosh, it was so well-paced. Never lagged, never bogged under the weight of its own angst, the story rocketed along with really gratifying momentum so before I had a chance to chafe or get impatient, things were resolving in such a lovely buoyant radiant way. I positively glowed through that last section.

Allayne’s attention to characterisation and secondary relationships is something I absolutely treasure about her writing. Everyone has nuance, every character, no matter how incidental, has kindness and goodness. I love that so much. And here I particularly loved Michelle and Luke, their own relationships with Tully. It made me so glad to see how loved she was.

And the message about artistry and individual passion was absolutely perfect. Exactly my own philosophy which was so so affirming to see on the page. It’s such a valuable thing to include in a story about friendship in the age of social media. I really admire the thoughtfulness of that plotting and theme.

Of course as always, the jokes were hilarious and hilariously atrocious. I spluttered more than once. The deconstruction and repurposing of the Love Actually cards was kinda brilliant, right from Tully calling it an “old movie” which made me want to smack her in the head. Honestly, kids these days.

[James Torpy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this text in preparation for a text-discussion Professional Development session. This novel was interesting and explored the complexity of one’s relationships with one’s self and others, as well as the way in which obsession can be negatively used as a coping mechanism to avoid one’s true feelings and problems. Using a Year 8 narrator that is both sympathetic and frustrating in her choices (at times) was engaging and I think Webster’s novel delivers relevant and interesting concepts regarding identity and the value of authenticity to one’s self for her target demographic. A good read!

[Helen Farch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dene Walker is famous, she has thousands of online followers, and Tully can't believe her luck when Dene starts coming to her school, and chooses Tully to be her new best friend.

The only problem is - Tully already has a best friend, Kira. But surely Kira will understand that Tully can be friends with Dene too?

Wouldn't Kira understand that being besties with Dene is a dream come true for Tully?

Tully gets pulled into Dene's world of product endorsements and adoration from thousands of people every time she posts something online, her relationship with Kira gets forgotten.

But is Tully ready for the heartache, confusion and jealousy that being friends with Dene brings?

This is another fantastic #loveozya read from author Allayne L. Webster.

As an adult I sat there reading and internally yelling at Tully about how she treats Kira and how fake the world she is embracing with Dene is... how real life is always better than the supposed glamour of online life.

But that is easy for me to say.

That is why I think this is such a valuable book for our young readers, a read that they will totally be able to relate to and learn from.

Because, what could be more important than real friendship and staying true to yourself?

Actually, this is a lesson we could all benefit from - no matter our age.

This has been one of my most anticipated reads for 2023.... and it totally lived up to my expectations.

Highly recommended!

Thanks to Text Publishing for the review copy of this book

[C.J Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Selfie is truely about where you fit into a world of technology and bringing friendship into your life in a chaotic whirlwind of validation and popularity.

It is a book very much for young people to read, but I related to it very closely. I found it hard to be in school surrounded by middle school girls and boys discovering technology more and more, and as much as it was a fun place to show snippets of your life with the world, it could also be a dangerous one.

Friendships in real life and friendships online don’t mix well when you’re a teenager trying to discover yourself and the people you want to associate yourself with. It can be hard, and it gets harder when emotions get into stirring pot of disaster.

I found it hard to find REAL friendships in school, and to have social media come in between the people you try to get to know is like a game of chess. You need to be aware of who is around you from all sides, what their intentions are and you don’t want to get cornered if you make the wrong move.

When I found this book I was so excited to finally read an author I know personally! I’ve been in contact with Allayne on and off since I was in middle school myself, and to have her guidance on both paper and through Instagram; I feel so privileged.

Thank you, Allayne. Such a great read. Would highly recommend!! 💗

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

Selfie has a lot of intriguing background information like Tully’s mum’s situation as one example. The characters are really over reactive to things so it was really funny and a bit crazy to read due to their decisions. The book is about an Insta famous girl who ‘picks’ an ‘ordinary’ girl to be her best friend and their friendship goes on a wild roller coaster ride. It kept me wanting to find out what happened next and it was interesting to see each characters reactions.

Tully is really unpredictable and is really confident when she says things, but those things are wrong just too often. She goes through a lot of hard things in the book which results in her making the wrong decisions a lot. Dene is very moody and concealing of her life secrets but underneath that, she is actually a really kind person who is uncomfortable and hurt. She also switches between different moods and ‘Dene’s’ often.

Selfie really does relate to today’s online social media world with many intense feelings/emotions resulting from it.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The synopsis of this sounded like it would be a hard hitting, coming of age story. This definitely reminded me of the days of high school friendship drama but it didn't quite pack the emotional punch that I wanted. That was because of how I felt about the characters.

Tully was in some aspects a relatable character but it was weird and uncomfortable how obsessed she became over Dene. Tully also treated Kira like absolute crap and I definitely wouldn't have been as forgiving if someone had done the same thing to me.

Overall it was a decent read with some valuable life lessons, not just for the middle grade / early YA target demographic, but for readers of all ages. It felt like those hard-hitting YA contemporaries that I used to devour, just evolved to fit in with the social media dominated world that we now live in.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Selfie was an interesting novel about relationships - with oneself and others. Year 8 Tully was a very realistic, sympathetic character, and the drama she faced as a young teen made me shudder. I would hate to repeat those years!!!

While Tully made some mistakes and was dragged into the intoxicating world of social media, she wasn't stupid. She gradually came to realise the importance of being authentic and the value of genuine friendships. I think Selfie will be a popular read for teen girls.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much!! Selfie is one of those books that completely captures your heart with its authenticity. It’s all the intense being-in-year-8 feels (the girl fights were coming back to me big time). I wanted to reach through the page and hug Tully as she tried to cope with way more than any teenager should, as well as some very relatable female friendship struggles with a social media twist. I would have devoured this at 14 (as I did at 35). This is a great one to gift to teens!

[Melissa Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book and read it in two sittings. First in the waiting room pre-surgery. Second at home post-surgery. I couldn't wait to get back to reading it! It was so easy to read and I loved all the characters Webster created. Tully has a lot going on with an absent dad, even more absent mum, trying hard step-mum and annoying but caring brother. The teenage girl friendship drama was totally relatable. Having a teenage daughter AND working in a high school, I can tell you that Webster nailed the "frienemy" interactions!

What I enjoyed most was the slow evolution of both Tully and Dene and their realisation that being popular and "liked" should not be the ultimate goal. That real friendships are hard to come by, but should be valued and appreciated when they do. And that self worth should not be judged by the number of online hearts received.

Thank you for writing such a relevant and topical book Allayne, so good!

[The_enchanted.Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young YA - Year 7-8 ish easy to read - which is perfect because this book is more about sensitive topics than anything else

Social media is everything to today’s teens and Tully needs to navigate the world of reality and fake. She also has to tackle adult issues like cancer, parental abandonment, true friendships and hard truths.

The book doesn’t delve deeply into them but sometimes the target audience doesn’t want to be lectured and doesn’t want a book read for pleasure to be berating.

[Milly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly such a randomly chill book. And you know what i liked it.

I think i needed this after such a thick and meaning-filled book where every word has like a hidden meaning. This was simple but effective and i really enjoyed it!! Even though it was kinda sad with all the social media stuff it was sorta lightweight and easy and really well written.

[Zahraa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a nice ending and can be relatable to others

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for PRC
Really realistic, relatable and interesting. One you can read in a day (& did!)

[Sophia McQuillan · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Olive Culhane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about friendship, family, finding your true self, and basically belonging. I liked it, and I didn’t. I don’t really have much to say about it. It definitely will not be on my favourites list this year. Sorry I couldn’t say much but I hope it helped!