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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have to admit, Follow Me Back has been the biggest surprise of the year. I was interested in the plot and expected to like, but how much I liked it was a pleasant surprise.
Follow Me Back is a page-turner and is written so well. It reads like a fan fiction which makes sense as this is how the story started, but also fits the atmosphere of the story. With the interview fragments and social media aspect, I'm not sure this would have read well any other way. And, of course, Geiger is a talented writer and knows how to appeal to to demographic would be reading this.
The story depends so much on you liking the characters, though, and in the beginning I was skeptical. Everything about Eric - especially in the very begging and at the end - felt like a caricature. The way he angered and spoke in the beginning felt unreal and everything about what he said in his last conversation with Tessa in the car felt cheesy and forced. The middle was fine and at about 35% I completely fell in love with Tessa and Eric, but it took me a bit to get there. Once I did, I couldn't stop. I needed to know what happened to these two.
Though the narrative itself wasn't heavy with suspense, the interview fragments definitely added that aspect. Without them, it would have been completely void of the "edge of my seat" feeling I expect from a story like this. Which is disappointing because I expected more of that, but got enough of it in those moments to satisfy me. I'll admit the twist and apex of of all the suspense wasn't a complete surprise, though I did like it.
My two complaints are this - in the beginning, I had a hard time deciding if Geiger was making commentary on celebrity/social media/fandom culture, making fun of it, or simply writing about what she knew. It took me away from the story momentarily until I could get past it.
Second, is the end. I loved it because I know there's going to be a second book and it's clear that there's more going on than what meets the eye. However, it was jarring. Perhaps that's what we're supposed to feel, this odd moment of "What the hell!?" after Tessa and Eric have a moment, but I wish we had been slightly more prepared for it simply because it almost doesn't fit the feel of the rest of the story.
If a reader is not interested in fandom culture, social media, or fan fiction this story won't be for them. But honestly, I plan on recommending this to many people because if a person does enjoy those things this story is easy to love. The characters are easy to love and the story left me desperate to get my hands on book 2.
I have to admit, Follow Me Back has been the biggest surprise of the year. I was interested in the plot and expected to like, but how much I liked it was a pleasant surprise.
Follow Me Back is a page-turner and is written so well. It reads like a fan fiction which makes sense as this is how the story started, but also fits the atmosphere of the story. With the interview fragments and social media aspect, I'm not sure this would have read well any other way. And, of course, Geiger is a talented writer and knows how to appeal to to demographic would be reading this.
The story depends so much on you liking the characters, though, and in the beginning I was skeptical. Everything about Eric - especially in the very begging and at the end - felt like a caricature. The way he angered and spoke in the beginning felt unreal and everything about what he said in his last conversation with Tessa in the car felt cheesy and forced. The middle was fine and at about 35% I completely fell in love with Tessa and Eric, but it took me a bit to get there. Once I did, I couldn't stop. I needed to know what happened to these two.
Though the narrative itself wasn't heavy with suspense, the interview fragments definitely added that aspect. Without them, it would have been completely void of the "edge of my seat" feeling I expect from a story like this. Which is disappointing because I expected more of that, but got enough of it in those moments to satisfy me. I'll admit the twist and apex of of all the suspense wasn't a complete surprise, though I did like it.
My two complaints are this - in the beginning, I had a hard time deciding if Geiger was making commentary on celebrity/social media/fandom culture, making fun of it, or simply writing about what she knew. It took me away from the story momentarily until I could get past it.
Second, is the end. I loved it because I know there's going to be a second book and it's clear that there's more going on than what meets the eye. However, it was jarring. Perhaps that's what we're supposed to feel, this odd moment of "What the hell!?" after Tessa and Eric have a moment, but I wish we had been slightly more prepared for it simply because it almost doesn't fit the feel of the rest of the story.
If a reader is not interested in fandom culture, social media, or fan fiction this story won't be for them. But honestly, I plan on recommending this to many people because if a person does enjoy those things this story is easy to love. The characters are easy to love and the story left me desperate to get my hands on book 2.
Not reinventing the wheel, but a very easy read (or listen, in my case) that keeps things entertaining throughout - in fact the style probably lends itself well more to the audiobook format. I didn't love the ending and don't have much interest in the second book.
the prompt of this was like it was written for me. i adore reading books that deal with fan culture(without demonizing it, yes this is a thriller, but it doesn't view fans as negative purely for being in a fandom or as mindless followers). the tension in this is really high throughout, making it very fast paced and fun to read(or listen to as i did). the way it was done here was different and refreshing imo, and i really enjoyed the reading experience
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Romance/Slight YA Thriller
Recommended Age: 16+ (stalking, death, obsessed fans, mental illness)
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinons are my own.
Tessa Hart's world feels very small. Confined to her bedroom with agoraphobia, her one escape is the online fandom for pop sensation Eric Thorn. When he tweets to his fans, it's like he's speaking directly to her...
Eric Thorn is frightened by his obsessive fans. They take their devotion way too far. It doesn't help that his PR team keeps posting to encourage their fantasies.
When a fellow pop star is murdered at the hands of a fan, Eric knows he has to do something to shatter his online image fast―like take down one of his top Twitter followers. But Eric's plan to troll @TessaHeartsEric unexpectedly evolves into an online relationship deeper than either could have imagined. And when the two arrange to meet IRL, what should have made for the world's best episode of Catfish takes a deadly turn...
Told through tweets, direct messages, and police transcripts, this thriller for the online generation will keep you guessing right up to the shocking end. - Amazon.com
Another book I've read that's from the perspective of someone who has a mental illness I don't see regularly in YA books! Tessa has agoraphobia, which is the fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment and she also suffers from extreme anxiety. I also do not have agoraphobia but I believe that the perspective of Tessa is a very real interpretation of this illness, although if not I'd love to hear from someone who lives with the disorder. Aside from the disability rep, this book also had some diverse characters in it! Win! The characters in this book are very well developed, which is very hard to pull off in a mixed media format. The writing was also very beautiful throughout the book.
However, I did have some dislikes about this book. I really was confused by the ending. Like WHAT?? The book had a really dark odd twist to it as well and it really confused me. This book definitely ended on a cliffhanger and it needs a sequel. I also felt that the way the story was told, while beautiful, could be confusing for some readers. It takes a lot of attention to detail to get where the book is going. Lastly I thought that beginning relationship of the two characters was very odd and there were a few other moments in the book that were unbelievable as well.
Verdict: Aside from the ending this book was fantastic! A great dark romance thriller... thing... read! If you like anything with mixed media format, anything with thrillers, or anything where there are creepy people in books then this book is for you!
Genre: YA Romance/Slight YA Thriller
Recommended Age: 16+ (stalking, death, obsessed fans, mental illness)
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinons are my own.
Tessa Hart's world feels very small. Confined to her bedroom with agoraphobia, her one escape is the online fandom for pop sensation Eric Thorn. When he tweets to his fans, it's like he's speaking directly to her...
Eric Thorn is frightened by his obsessive fans. They take their devotion way too far. It doesn't help that his PR team keeps posting to encourage their fantasies.
When a fellow pop star is murdered at the hands of a fan, Eric knows he has to do something to shatter his online image fast―like take down one of his top Twitter followers. But Eric's plan to troll @TessaHeartsEric unexpectedly evolves into an online relationship deeper than either could have imagined. And when the two arrange to meet IRL, what should have made for the world's best episode of Catfish takes a deadly turn...
Told through tweets, direct messages, and police transcripts, this thriller for the online generation will keep you guessing right up to the shocking end. - Amazon.com
Another book I've read that's from the perspective of someone who has a mental illness I don't see regularly in YA books! Tessa has agoraphobia, which is the fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment and she also suffers from extreme anxiety. I also do not have agoraphobia but I believe that the perspective of Tessa is a very real interpretation of this illness, although if not I'd love to hear from someone who lives with the disorder. Aside from the disability rep, this book also had some diverse characters in it! Win! The characters in this book are very well developed, which is very hard to pull off in a mixed media format. The writing was also very beautiful throughout the book.
However, I did have some dislikes about this book. I really was confused by the ending. Like WHAT?? The book had a really dark odd twist to it as well and it really confused me. This book definitely ended on a cliffhanger and it needs a sequel. I also felt that the way the story was told, while beautiful, could be confusing for some readers. It takes a lot of attention to detail to get where the book is going. Lastly I thought that beginning relationship of the two characters was very odd and there were a few other moments in the book that were unbelievable as well.
Verdict: Aside from the ending this book was fantastic! A great dark romance thriller... thing... read! If you like anything with mixed media format, anything with thrillers, or anything where there are creepy people in books then this book is for you!
I received the advanced reader's copy by the publisher through NetGalley for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was not having any luck with some of the books I read recently. Follow Me Back was another disappointment. Maybe I've just been reading too many YA mystery/thrillers but I just found this book to be underwhelming and unbelievable.
I enjoyed parts of this book. It was sort of interesting and I liked that the book was told in a unique format, with tweets, text messages, and interrogation transcripts. However, the main characters grated on my nerves, especially Eric Thorn, who seemed like a narcissistic jerk. He had no respect for anyone, including his many fans, and I just really disliked his character. Tessa wasn't as unlikeable as Eric, but I still didn't really care what happened to her. You would think I would've related to her better, since I've had my own episodes with agoraphobia, but I really didn't find her character to be that interesting.
The relationship between Tessa and Eric was unbelievable and it just annoyed me. I guess the mystery in this book was done well, but I don't know if I'll be reading the second book in the series. The ending took a weird turn, so I might have to read the next one just to see what the heck happened.
I was not having any luck with some of the books I read recently. Follow Me Back was another disappointment. Maybe I've just been reading too many YA mystery/thrillers but I just found this book to be underwhelming and unbelievable.
I enjoyed parts of this book. It was sort of interesting and I liked that the book was told in a unique format, with tweets, text messages, and interrogation transcripts. However, the main characters grated on my nerves, especially Eric Thorn, who seemed like a narcissistic jerk. He had no respect for anyone, including his many fans, and I just really disliked his character. Tessa wasn't as unlikeable as Eric, but I still didn't really care what happened to her. You would think I would've related to her better, since I've had my own episodes with agoraphobia, but I really didn't find her character to be that interesting.
The relationship between Tessa and Eric was unbelievable and it just annoyed me. I guess the mystery in this book was done well, but I don't know if I'll be reading the second book in the series. The ending took a weird turn, so I might have to read the next one just to see what the heck happened.
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
WHAT EVEN IS THIS BOOK.
I haven’t been this genuinely creeped out by a book in a while. I never really want to leave the house, but I feel like the contents of this book are a great excuse to stay home and off social media forever. I was hovering around 2 stars because the characters annoyed me, but then the Big Plot Twist and the Creepy Cliffhanger Ending came along.
I haven’t been this genuinely creeped out by a book in a while. I never really want to leave the house, but I feel like the contents of this book are a great excuse to stay home and off social media forever. I was hovering around 2 stars because the characters annoyed me, but then the Big Plot Twist and the Creepy Cliffhanger Ending came along.
Ich weiß nicht so ganz, was ich von diesem Buch halten soll.
Einerseits gefällt mir der "Crime-Aspekt" und die Auflösung beziehungsweise die Nicht-Auflösung durch das offene Ende, andererseits fande ich das Buch in allen Beziehungsaspekten mehr als fragwürdig.
Dort hat mich das Buch sehr stark an eine Wattpad-Story erinnert - die es ja auch ist oder war, bevor es überarbeitet wurde.
Außerdem finde ich es nicht gut, dass Tessas Fanfiction und Scott abgesehen vom Beginn nicht mehr erwähnt werden.
Einerseits gefällt mir der "Crime-Aspekt" und die Auflösung beziehungsweise die Nicht-Auflösung durch das offene Ende, andererseits fande ich das Buch in allen Beziehungsaspekten mehr als fragwürdig.
Dort hat mich das Buch sehr stark an eine Wattpad-Story erinnert - die es ja auch ist oder war, bevor es überarbeitet wurde.
Außerdem finde ich es nicht gut, dass Tessas Fanfiction und Scott abgesehen vom Beginn nicht mehr erwähnt werden.
I wasn't going to write anything about this because clearly it wasn't for me. But also decided against it. This book was just not good. It was very clear that it was a Wattpad story. It felt like really bad fanfiction. I had so many issues with this book. My first one was the pop star, this guy was just not a likeable guy in anyway, and the fact that he had fans baffled me. The fact that the author kind of insinuated grooming this fan was really just absurd and not sure why it was allowed to be published. Overall this was not my cup of tea and will not be finishing this duology.
This book had some good twists and a nice dream scenario kind of vibe with out feeling too perfect to be real, I didn't have many feelings in this book it was more of a "wow okay cool" kinda thing not a "help my whole life just became meaningless" so it's a good read but not an amazing read. I liked the twists, and I didn't see some of it coming, I hated the cliff hanger at the end, so if you are going to read his book I would suggest waiting until next year when book two is out so you can go straight into that. But if you want to avoid the cliff hanger but still read the book there is a nice well rounded ending if you don't read the last chapter which is a final police report. And then if you want to read the next book you can read the final chapter after you have book 2 in your hands ready to be read. Overall I enjoyed it, it was quick, simple but not a very emotional story. It was what every fangirl in existence wishes would happen to them and as a fangirl myself I appreciate that. As someone who has very mild agoraphobia (I can leave the house but I don't generally like to and avoid it at much as I possibly) i can relate to Tessa, and I felt like it was written well in that sense. Not perfect but better than most. Overall if you have the chance to read it do, but I wouldn't go searching it out
Who I would recommend it to: fan girls who enjoy a good fan fiction
I give it 3.5 roses 🌹
For more reviews visit @ www.rosebookshelf.tumblr.com x
Who I would recommend it to: fan girls who enjoy a good fan fiction
I give it 3.5 roses 🌹
For more reviews visit @ www.rosebookshelf.tumblr.com x