We are often warned that social media is ruining us as a society. In a world where everything is shared, from the banal to the sensational, fairly ordinary people's lives are put on display for all the world to see, warping our perception of what life is supposed to look like. So what about the consequences? After decades of oversharing our lives, what will the America of the future be like? Such is the premise explored in Megan Angelo's debut novel Followers.
Followers alternates between 2015 and 2051, examining how social media changed societal norms over the course of 35 years. Situated in the present day is Orla, a talented writer who just can't seem to get her big break in the literary world. Instead she is a blogger with a large following, but really, all she is doing is writing fluff pieces; click bait about Internet celebrities, who will do anything to gain followers. Things begin to change for Orla, however, when she makes friends with Floss, one of the aforementioned fame-hounds. Together, the women devise a plan to launch both of their careers to soaring new heights. But what is the price of fame? And just how far will these two women go to gain more followers?
Fast forward to 2051 where Marlow is living the life of influencer dreams. A resident of Constellation, a celebrity-only city in California, Marlow lives her life 24/7 on camera, where her daily activities are streamed live for her 12 million followers to see. But despite all her fame and fortune, Marlow dreams of a life off-camera, one where every minute of her life is not broadcast out to the world for people to pick apart, comment on, and emulate. Marlow's situation takes a drastic turn when she learns that the life that she lives on camera is a complete lie; that she is not the person she thought she was. She flees Constellation in search of answers, and that is when this novel's past and present clash in unpredictable ways.
Followers is a dark and gritty novel that explores the seedy underbelly of society's obsession with social media. This book will make you feel disgusted with the world's fixation with oversharing, but will also have you contemplating the larger implications of broadcasting our lives for all to see. Not only is this novel indicative of the times, it is also compelling and filled with characters you will love to hate. As a plus, Follower's present and past come together in twisted and convoluted ways, making this a shocking and disturbing debut.
Followers is recommended to readers of the Millennial and Z generations - those who are most familiar with the concept of influencers and oversharing. Readers who also want to experience the thrills and chills of a social media epidemic will enjoy this novel, which fleshes out this concept with calamitous results.
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Rating: **** Stars (I really liked it) Reviewer: Brooke, Public Relations Librarian
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AWARDS: LibraryReads Favorites: 2020 GENRE: Dystopian Fiction; Multiple Perspectives
THEME: Technical Difficulties (Technology -- and the increasingly important role it plays in our lives -- takes center stage in these stories.)
TONE: Suspenseful; Thought-Provoking
STORYLINE: Intricately Plotted
WRITING STYLE: Compelling; Richly Detailed
LOCATION: United States
TIME PERIOD: 21st Century
SUBJECT: Ambition; Celebrities; Deception; Fame; Interpersonal Relations; Near Future; Popular Culture; Social Media; Surveillance; Technology
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