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malykaofhearts's review
4.0
4.5* rounded down.
The opening chapter of this book hits like a hammer. This had incredible performances from both VA's and a well-paced plot that kept me intrigued.
This was genuinely fun, I couldn't wait to get back to it and see where it would take me. The number of eye-rolls I elicited for Aaron's dialogue must be a new record. My god is he insufferable, but again very well-written and performed.
I do feel like the end was a little light handed, all things considered. I wanted more, and there was minimal confrontation between *those two* at the end. It wasn't satisfying.
I look forward to what the author does next.
The opening chapter of this book hits like a hammer. This had incredible performances from both VA's and a well-paced plot that kept me intrigued.
This was genuinely fun, I couldn't wait to get back to it and see where it would take me. The number of eye-rolls I elicited for Aaron's dialogue must be a new record. My god is he insufferable, but again very well-written and performed.
I do feel like the end was a little light handed, all things considered. I wanted more, and there was minimal confrontation between *those two* at the end. It wasn't satisfying.
I look forward to what the author does next.
libraryforspooky's review
3.0
It was interesting. I love niche books about influencers, but I didn't necessarily understand the hard on that the antongonist had for destruction.
hakimbriki's review
3.0
Influencer kept me interested right until the end. One of Adam Cesare's strongest suits as an author is building up suspense, in a style reminiscent of David Fincher's movies. Having said that, it isn't a novel without flaws. Still, I had a good time reading this. I recommend it if you enjoy YA thrillers.
Spoiler
It was very hard to suspend disbelief about a lot of plot points. For one thing, how can the antagonist, charming and charismatic though he may have been, ensnare Harmony and Paul so easily? They went from being average high school students to killers very quickly. Also, do police exist in this world? I understand that Crystal thought they wouldn't be too interested in her theories, but by the end it was pretty obvious he (+Paul and Harmony) were killers. Thirdly, and this is totally my fault, but this was too "YA" for my taste.renzoreads's review
4.0
Crystal Giordano feels like the outsider in her group of misfit friends. Even though she carpools to school with them each morning she really only feels like one of them, Gayle is truly her friend and even then she feels like Gayle is distancing herself from her. When a new student, Aaron Fortin starts at the school towards the end of their senior year the group of friends are awe struck that the cool new kid decides to sit with them, and when Crystal realizes Aaron is lying and outs his biggest secret to their whole group she starts a catastrophic chain of events. Aaron always had big plans for the students of his new high school, but with Crystal outing him as a liar his plan has become personal. In a matter of days Aaron manages to cause a major rift in the group, a rift which leaves Crystal firmly on the outside. Aaron’s actions cause Crystal to dig deeper into his past and isn’t long before she finds the secrets he has left behind. Can she expose him for who he truly is before it’s too late?
This was a pretty fast paced YA horror, full of teen angst and self doubt. This is the third book by Adam that I’ve read and he really writes teenagers well, as well as horror novels that feel like slasher movies. This was a fun read, full of lies and manipulation. Told in dual POVs - Crystal and Aaron - it was great to get an insight into each of the characters and watch the story unfold in the game they were both playing, even if it was unwittingly on one of their accounts. One I’d recommend to fans of horror, slashers, gossip girl and teen drama.
This was a pretty fast paced YA horror, full of teen angst and self doubt. This is the third book by Adam that I’ve read and he really writes teenagers well, as well as horror novels that feel like slasher movies. This was a fun read, full of lies and manipulation. Told in dual POVs - Crystal and Aaron - it was great to get an insight into each of the characters and watch the story unfold in the game they were both playing, even if it was unwittingly on one of their accounts. One I’d recommend to fans of horror, slashers, gossip girl and teen drama.
rambam's review
3.0
This is a really, really fun listen. The voice acting is great and the way it’s written makes it perfect for audio.
The characters did annoy the shit out of me though, although I’m sure that was the point at times lol
Not sure why Crystal continued to insist that these people were her friends. Aside from Gayle, who was also kind of a shitty friend, these people clearly didn’t like her.
Aaron’s POV was overwhelmingly grating. I understand he’s meant to be a culmination of multiple fictional and even real psychos, but there were times I genuinely wanted to skip chunks of his dialogue because… yes, we get it. You’re soooooo intelligent and everyone is soooo beneath you.
It’s giving JD from Heathers. In fact, I do see how a lot of this may have been inspired by Heathers.
Also a little disappointed in the end. Crystal was extremely self conscious and showed very little belief in herself and then she just… rammed a car off the road??? And Aaron got off too easily lol FUUUUUCK that guy.
The characters did annoy the shit out of me though, although I’m sure that was the point at times lol
Not sure why Crystal continued to insist that these people were her friends. Aside from Gayle, who was also kind of a shitty friend, these people clearly didn’t like her.
Aaron’s POV was overwhelmingly grating. I understand he’s meant to be a culmination of multiple fictional and even real psychos, but there were times I genuinely wanted to skip chunks of his dialogue because… yes, we get it. You’re soooooo intelligent and everyone is soooo beneath you.
It’s giving JD from Heathers. In fact, I do see how a lot of this may have been inspired by Heathers.
Also a little disappointed in the end. Crystal was extremely self conscious and showed very little belief in herself and then she just… rammed a car off the road??? And Aaron got off too easily lol FUUUUUCK that guy.
zeeohee's review
4.0
So I don’t typically read horror based on real life. I prefer my horror of the ghostie supernatural variety. But I read another book by this author and really enjoyed it and this one came highly recommended so I thought I’d give it a try.
First things first. I will never read this again. It was super disturbing to me because it’s something that could actually happen.
That being said, it was really well done. Good writing, fast paced, interesting characters, felt fleshed out enough that I got a sense of everyone but not so much that I got lost in the world.
If you like serial killer stuff then you will like this book. If you like psychological thrillers on the darker side then you will like this book.
First things first. I will never read this again. It was super disturbing to me because it’s something that could actually happen.
That being said, it was really well done. Good writing, fast paced, interesting characters, felt fleshed out enough that I got a sense of everyone but not so much that I got lost in the world.
If you like serial killer stuff then you will like this book. If you like psychological thrillers on the darker side then you will like this book.
thebstandsforbooks's review
5.0
Whew! That was intense! Influencer is a solid YA thriller full of cults, manipulation, drama, chaos.
The dual POV brought with it an edge of your seat of your seat uneasiness.
Loved the full cast and I think listening to the audiobook made this an even more enjoyable read.
The dual POV brought with it an edge of your seat of your seat uneasiness.
Loved the full cast and I think listening to the audiobook made this an even more enjoyable read.