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A review by melbsreads
The Follower by Kate Doughty
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Trigger warnings: online harassment, animal death, death, allergy, violence, body horror, body shaming, mental health, bullying, addiction, body shaming.
Okay so this is essentially a social media take on The Watcher, and while I was kind of here for it, I also kind of wasn't. Like...they're famous because their parents flip houses. But the parents seem to have no social media of their own. They don't post videos on Youtube. They don't have a TV show. They just...let their teenage children - who have a joint Instagram account - be influencers and that's how they make money??? Like, it never feels like they're making money because of the house flipping. It's all because of the kids. So why make the house flipping part of the story?
Also it weirded me out that the story was from the perspective of the kids - albeit third person - and yet their parents were referred to as Mr and Mrs Cole any time they were on the page. Like...........there is no way these teenagers refer to their own parents as Mr Cole and Mrs Cole. So why do it on the page??
Anyway. The mystery was pretty compelling and there were definitely some truly horrifying moments that I didn't see coming. But ultimately the little things about this bugged me so much that I couldn't just sit back and enjoy the ride. Sigh.
Okay so this is essentially a social media take on The Watcher, and while I was kind of here for it, I also kind of wasn't. Like...they're famous because their parents flip houses. But the parents seem to have no social media of their own. They don't post videos on Youtube. They don't have a TV show. They just...let their teenage children - who have a joint Instagram account - be influencers and that's how they make money??? Like, it never feels like they're making money because of the house flipping. It's all because of the kids. So why make the house flipping part of the story?
Also it weirded me out that the story was from the perspective of the kids - albeit third person - and yet their parents were referred to as Mr and Mrs Cole any time they were on the page. Like...........there is no way these teenagers refer to their own parents as Mr Cole and Mrs Cole. So why do it on the page??
Anyway. The mystery was pretty compelling and there were definitely some truly horrifying moments that I didn't see coming. But ultimately the little things about this bugged me so much that I couldn't just sit back and enjoy the ride. Sigh.