I’d describe this book as realistic fiction. The author has done an amazing job at creating imaginary characters and situations that depict the world and society. The characters focus on themes of growing, self-discovery and confronting personal and social problems. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

Having read and enjoyed the author's previous book, After the Silence, last year, I was really interested in reading Idol, especially as conversations surrounding the role of influencers in society and so-called "cancel culture" seem highly timely.

Idol is, in some ways, an ambitious novel: tackling lots of themes such as social media culture, the idolisation of health gurus and other influencers, consent and public image in a post-#MeToo world, cancel culture, friendship, memory and recollections and more still, it really felt as though I needed some time to digest it before I could share my thoughts on this.

Sam is a complex character, projecting a public persona while feeling completely differently inside, her self-centredness concealing profound fragility and loneliness. I found it very hard to sympathise with her, but at the same time could really appreciate the nuance in her character which I really value when reading about an unlikeable and unreliable character. It felt a bit as if this subtlety was somewhat lost as the story progressed though, with Sam becoming more and more extreme nearing the end which, even though I still liked reading about her, made her much more black-and-white than morally grey.

The author's writing here is brilliant, as always. I was completely captured by the story being told and, even though at times I was annoyed with the characters or felt like the plot was stagnating a bit, the way the book was written kept me turning the pages, eager to know more. The underlying critique of modern society, and social media/influencer culture especially, was very on point, sparking a lot of additional questions, thoughts and reflections for me.

There were a few things that didn't quite work for me though. While I appreciated the critique, at times it felt like there was almost too much going on with a multitude of themes being raised at the same time without having the time or the space to delve deep into any single one. I can see how they were all linked together, but I couldn't help but feel that this resulted in a superficial overview, ticking off a multitude of themes, but lacking deeper substance.

The story is pretty much centred around Sam herself and, even though I can see how this would fit with her selfishness and self-centredness, it was disappointing to see all the other characters coming across as rather flat. Lisa, Sam's childhood friend, in particular mostly lacked substance, becoming almost instantly forgettable. The ending was also rather underwhelming, and I was especially unimpressed by the final scene.

Overall, Idol was a pleasant and gripping read though, even though I was probably expecting more from it than it could deliver. With its twisty nature and engrossing style, it would make a great beach read!

I have read all of Louise O Neill's books to date and Idol continues in the vein of Louise's unique voice.
She writes well about dark subject matter and she builds tension and describes her characters well.
I found this an uncomfortable read, but it made me think.

This is a storyline I haven't ever come across and one that is very modern and clever. The protagonist, Sam, is a social media influencer who is accused of sexual abuse. The book highlights some important topics such as consent, and people having their own truth.

The reason I have only given it 3 stars is because, at times, I felt the pace of the book to be a little off. I appreciate that this may be deliberate to reflect Sam's chaotic behaviour. However, I thought that the revelation of the 'truths' happened far too quickly and some were only skimmed over (the ex and Becky). I would have loved for there to be more detail or more incidents in which there were two truths, especially between her mother and father.

Overall, it was a good read and I found the unravelling of the main Character Sam to be both uncomfortable, yet page-turning.

TW: ED, SA, Drug abuse

From the author of Asking For It, Louisa O’Neill’s latest novel, Idol is a gripping and twisted thriller tale that explores celebrities, heroes and our relationships with those we view as “idols”. Samantha Miller is a small-town girl who now lives in the city, having made a name for herself as a bestselling writer and “self-care guru”.

Samantha’s career is booming and her latest book, ‘Chaste’, has just been published. However, an essay she wrote about her teenage sexual awakening with her best friend at the time, Lisa, is about to change the trajectory of her life when Lisa gets in touch to say that she doesn’t remember the events that way at all. It is Sam’s word against Lisa’s, and as Samantha heads back to her home town to ‘fix’ the issue, her grip on the truth and the persona she has built for herself in this world becomes blurry and complicated.

This is a tale of friendship and relationships, the narrative of which jumps back and forth in time from the present, in which we follow Sam’s actions and her believed truth, to the past where some of the recollections of her life are beginning to unravel.

Like much of O’Neill’s writing, this novel explores a plethora of difficult issues and topics including consent and the #MeToo campaign, cancel culture, addiction, trauma, mental health including post-natal depression, and the weight of expectations. It delves into the human nature of making mistakes and asks the question of when and how people should be held accountable for their actions. The novel also touches briefly on the coronavirus pandemic, capturing the feelings of fear and hopelessness that many of us felt during this period.

Although many of the characters in this book are flawed and at times very dislikeable, the hurt and pain they feel are very relatable and their riveting, compulsive and dark story is one that pulls you into the web as you try to discern what the full truth might be.

I am a big fan of Louise O’Neill and the unflinching assessments that her books make on our society, particularly the treatment of women. The premise of Idol immediately piqued my interest with themes of influencers, sexual assault allegations and blurring of the truth. Exactly my kind of read!

Samantha Miller has built an empire of loyal female fans, who idolise her and her mantra of finding and being your true self. Her latest book is topping bestsellers lists and her career is thriving. Riding the wave of success, Samantha writes and publishes an essay describing an experience that she hasn’t talked about before -her sexual awakening with her childhood best friend Lisa. But Lisa remembers that night very differently and she isn’t happy with Samantha’s actions at all. So, what really happened?

Samantha reminded me of a kind of Gwyneth Paltrow character. She seems to hold herself on a higher plane than everyone else and purports to be ‘dedicated’ to getting her fans up there with her. I didn’t buy her at all and unfortunately, I think she is an accurate representation of many real influencers of her ilk. Samantha is the kind of woman who is a prime target for scandal and I was waiting for her truth to be unravelled.

There is some commentary on how society views women and how limited women’s choices are, if they want to be accepted. The feisty woman is still often villified and held up as ‘difficult’ for not playing ball or for simply standing up for themselves. These misogynistic views are in the comments of every social media post featuring a woman talking about injustice or discrimination.

I loved how O’Neill played with memory and the truth about how inaccurate it can be. I’m fascinated with how distorted long-term memories can become and the reasons for that and there was a lot of exploration of this in Idol. I honestly didn’t know what the truth was and I was constantly being hit by curveballs until the very end. My jaw definitely dropped several times and I was thoroughly engaged!

Idol is a unique, thrilling page-turner that kept me guessing. It features a thoroughly unlikeable, complex heroine whose behaviour continuously crosses the line but somehow, I couldn’t get enough of her. I wanted the truth and there was no way I was putting the book down until I got it!

Sam is an influencer at the top of her game who seems to have it all - the money, the glamour, the wellness empire. To promote her new book, she writes an essay about an incredible sexual experience she had with her female best friend, back when they were teenagers. It was one of the defining moments of Sam's life. But her friend doesn't remember it the same way...

This is a fascinating look at the grey boundaries around a she said/she said case. Who do we believe? Who is the perfect victim? And what's the truth? Louise O'Neill is always extremely sharp around sexual politics and she forces the reader to constantly shift their perceptions as the 'truth' shifts around them. Clever, daring and incisive, this is much more than a thriller.

I really wanted to love this, but ended up feeling quite disillusioned about the power of social media in our lives, but even though I didnt love it I did enjoy it, it was thought provoking and well written, but many trigger points that I found slightly depressing, but that may just be me not being in the right mindset, a well written interesting and thought provoking read

This book had me gripped right from the start. Highlights the power of social media! I felt the ending was a bit abrupt but still a really great read.

There are a lot of triggers in this book so would advise checking those before reading.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House UK and Louise O'Neill for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A book that covers the way social media rules the lives of so many !!

Samantha Miller is living her life on social media. She has a following of ‘her girls’ that hang on every word she says and she is a lifestyle guru to millions. But when you are at the top of your game there is only two be way you can go and Samantha Miller is about to find out how hard you can fall !!

A trial by social media is what Samantha finds herself in. Why is no one believing her ? Why is someone out to destroy her ? When you live your life on social media do you have to accept the good and the bad ?

This book is a fantastic revelation in what happens when people turn against you on social media and how you can be at the very top one minute and then at the very bottom the next. If you are a fan of social media or hate it with a passion then this book has you covered. In my opinion a great summer read and one to keep you entertained.

Thank you to Random House UK, Bantam Press and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

I reviewed this book as part of my May Wrap Up https://youtu.be/neIY-ESQ2Jk

I will also be featuring it in future videos, including my favourite books of the year so far!

This is a brilliant read for the summer! I don’t think it’s a thriller as such but it’s more of a contemporary fiction with some dark and twisty themes which I actually really enjoyed! It has I found this book quite difficult to put down and the ending didn’t disappoint. Didn’t like the main character too much but wasn’t sure I was meant to! Overall, a good book! Always love Louise O’Neill!

A powerful novel about a seemingly powerful woman, which challenges assumptions both within and outside of the narrative. It was a real page-turner too - the perfect choice for book clubs.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Press publishers for the opportunity to review this book.
When I first started reading I wasn’t too sure if it was my type of book, however OMG did it pick up pace. All the way through the book I couldn’t decide which character my sympathies should lie with.
I couldn’t put the book down and that ending!!!!
Highly recommend.

This is a perfect summer read , good escapism but with very current themes being the focus. I wouldn't describe it as a thriller like some say , more of a dark piece of contemporary fiction.
It's told in a dual timeline , set in the late 90s and present day so we get to see how the drama plays out.
Our protagonist Sam is not a likeable character but there's something about her which gets the reader invested in her life. There isn't an awful lot of plot but it's addictive at the same time and is very relatable to the current day with the rise of celebrity influencers and social media. It also makes you question who you can actually trust in the digital world , definitely a good read for a book club.!

Loved this book!!!! Super successful wellness guru Samantha receives an allegation against her from her childhood….she revisits her past and herself. An entertaining indulging gripping read, I was intrigued by the characters!

I didn't enjoy this book. I hated the characters and really couldn't care less about what happened to them. Sadly not a book for me

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 3*
Writing skill : 4*
Plot: 3*
Pace: 2*
Characters: 3*
Twist: 3*

I loved the concept of this one but it fell slightly flat for me and that was mainly down to the pace. Not alot happened and when it did, it was drip fed at a much too slow pace for me. I can absolutely see why this has got rave reviews, the author writes well and brilliantly descriptively. I guessed the twist but it was enjoyable none the less.

Thanks so much to @transworldforbooksellers for letting me read Idol! Samantha Miller is an extremely famous, completely woo-woo wellness guru just about to release her new book Chaste (the kind of book I would never ever pick up!). As part of the book's publicity, she writes a confessional about the time she hooked up with her childhood best friend Lisa. They haven't seen each other in years, and Sam is completely appalled when Lisa contacts her manager, saying that her memory of their 'hook-up' is completely different than Sam's. Who's telling the truth? And how much has Sam actually concealed from herself? 👀

I wish I could offer a succinct and incisive review of Idol – because it's an interesting book that covers interesting themes in a very self-aware and contemporary way – but really, I was just enjoying the ride. Sam is the ultimate unreliable narrator; you just can't trust anything she says or thinks or feels. I still have no idea what's true and what isn't; how much is her own self-constructed narrative and how much actually happened. There were a few things that I wanted the narrative to be more conclusive on – especially relating to Josh, Lisa's husband – but this was a really engaging and immersive read, the kind of book I was excited to pick up again.

Goodreads is full of people saying that Idol just reinforces why they hate social media, which I think is completely besides the point. Idol isn't really about influencer culture; it's about celebrity and the myth of wellness and unethical business practice and what happens when you let the concept of a 'personal brand' overtake your entire existence. I also don't think it's really a thriller: it's more subtle and exploratory than that, and doesn't offer much in the way of twists. If you're interested in unreliable narrators, unlikeable characters and the way that memories shift and corrupt over time, then I think you'd really like this. I definitely did!

So many layers to unravel - I was fascinated by this book and the world it explored.
Samantha Miller is a wellness guru, with millions of followers hanging onto her every word and proclamation. She believes in speaking your truth and not hiding from your past, and shows others how to do this in a meaningful and authentic way (predominantly young women looking for an answer to life's questions).
She writes an article about a same sex encounter that she had in her teens; she doesn't name the other woman but uses her initial L, and this sets the cat amongst the pigeons. L is Sam's old best friend Lisa, but the two haven't seen each other for years, Lisa still lives in the same town that they grew up in, and is married to Sam's old boyfriend Josh.
Lisa is horrified that she will be identified in her small community, and immediately makes a statement that it didn't happen in the way that Sam says, but that it was non-consensual. For someone with Sam's brand, this is career-breaking and she needs to find a way through, to get Lisa to remember the events in the same way that Sam does, and to retract her statement before its too late.
There are high-school enmities to deal with as well as the thought of seeing Josh again. There are also family relationship issues that Sam is not looking forward to addressing
The story is told solely from Sam's perspective but with dual timelines, going back to the past and the events that made her and Lisa's relationship so special, and the fall out now. The characters were very real and fantastically drawn, the whole idea of different memories of the same night was expertly told. I really enjoyed everything about it and would recommend it to everyone.
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read it- and extra marks for the gorgeous cover!