In this book, we are introduced to Sam; a social media influencer who has been accused of sexual abuse
Whilst I did enjoy reading the book, I did feel that the books pace was a little out. A lot of the revaluations were done very early on; not leaving much for the rest of the book. However, I really did enjoy the book

Samantha Miller is an influencer with over 3 million Instagram followers; her cult like following though is put under scrutiny when a former friend accuses her of sexual assault. Samantha remembers the night in question and her version of events is so wildly different from her former friend's that she returns to her hometown to persuade her to retract but whilst there more of the past comes to light. Is the truth always the truth and can we really trust our own memories?

This was a really interesting subject matter which I thought would be difficult to read and at times it was but I'm so glad that I did. The subject matter was a difficult one but the writing was so skilful that I felt I had to read to the end of the novel to find out what actually happened on that fateful night. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

Huge fan of O'Neill and this became an instant "go to TBR" book. There's nothing more I could say about her works than what I've already written for Asking for It and Only Ever Yours. Idol is heavily focused on cancel culture, the power of social media, consent, and essentially, the life of a celebrity that we can never understand. There's a reminder that idols/celebrities aren't always what they seem. What goes on when the camera goes off is something the public eye will never be aware of unless it's ugly, and sometimes the person is not all glitters and glamour as we wish to believe of them. Such is the essence of "Idol"

The story and themes weave together so effortlessly, told through alternating past and present timelines. It's not exactly fast paced, but the reader inevitably will want to find out what exactly happened between the two friends. The audience is given a glimpse of a celebrity's world beyond that of videos and articles and the lens of social media. As someone who has idols to love, this book is unflinchingly sharp and honest when it came to reminding me personally, that no one can know everything about a person - celebrity or not.

While this is indeed fiction, the characters and setting is very much representative of how a well known public figure can be placed so highly, and yet seem to be standing on a sword's edge. Well worth the read and the ending is honestly a memorable one.

Idol, Louise O'Neill's latest work takes a swipe at a certain type of social media influencer and their sheep like followers. A page turner billed as a twisty thriller, I saw the twists coming a mile off but still enjoyed the ride. The final 50 pages ramp up the action and make you squirm in places as our protagonist faces their fate. An enjoyable romp.

Gripping read about the world of social media and the cult of celebrity. The main character Samantha has become famous after an essay she wrote about a sexual assault in her past went viral and she now has millions of followers online hanging onto her every word.
But her past threatens to catch up with her when her old friend reappears and suddenly everything is being questioned to the point where you don't know what to believe. You won't want to put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A compelling, addictive read. A very well written plot. that held my interest throughout. I'm a big fan of Louise O'Neill's writing.

Idol takes an interesting look at the current instafamous, sponcon world of social media influencers. As usual O'Neill doesn't shy away from hard-hitting topics and within Idol she opens conversations about eating disorders, mental illness, sexual assault, the #metoo movement and cancel culture.

It wasn't my favourite Louise O'Neill book as it had a surface level vibe at points but still a very readable and insightful look at some less appealing aspects of our current society.

I always find Louise O’Neill’s books sharply insightful and darkly compelling and Idol is no exception. The story follows Samantha Miller, a sort of self-help guru/influencer, idolised by millions of young women. However, after she publishes an essay about a teenage tryst with her childhood best friend, her highly curated career starts to fall apart, because her friend doesn’t remember the incident in the same way Samantha does. Her friend, Lisa’s, recollection is much less pleasant and Samantha finds herself at the centre of a media storm.

Idol is at times a deeply disturbing and unsettling read. It makes the reader uncomfortable in a sense, asking difficult questions about truth, memory and perception. It also perfectly pierces the bubble of idolising a figure on social media that, in reality, you know nothing concrete about. Samantha is a character that readers will likely and rightly despise at times, however there is also a sort of undeniable dark fascination present in a way that makes it hard to look away, like observing a car crash. Idol is a book with no easy answers and Louise O’Neill is an author that is incredibly skilled at creating thorny and complex stories that will play on the mind of her readers long after they close the book. Razor-sharp, layered and intelligently written – I would highly recommend Idol.

Unflinching, clever and completely riveting.
IDOL interrogates our relationship with our heroes and explores the world of online influencers, asking how well we can ever really know those whose carefully curated profiles we follow online. And it asks us to consider how two memories of the same event can differ, and how effortlessly we choose which stories to believe.

Arrrrrhhh I hate to say it but I think I'll definitely be in the minority here in saying I could just not get on with this one. I'm not even 100% sure why but it just didn't suck me in and I found my mind wandering numerous times.

I loved the eye catching cover, I was completely drawn to the blurb and the other author reviews pulled me in but it just wasn't meant to be.

This is a novel that deals with ALOT of issues, don't get me wrong I believe that these issues need addressing, talking about and bringing to the forefront BUT having them all in one book took its toll on my brain! Toxic relationships/friendships, addiction, sexual abuse to name a few.

I didn't connect at all with the characters to the point I felt actual hate towards Samantha, what a complete b*tch she is!

I also struggled with the pacing of the storyline, it felt very 'stop start' which I found really frustrating.

As I said, I'll definitely be in the minority here and I can see why other readers will really enjoy it, it's a case of 'it's not the book, its me'.

With thanks to netgalley and Random House UK/Transworld

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A compelling, compulsive read. A great well-written plot. that held my interest throughout. Recommended.

I read Louise O’Neill’s Idol in two sittings with my heart in my mouth as we witness Samantha Miller’s life publicly unravel. The novel lives up to its thriller descriptor. Yet, weeks after finishing it, I was frustrated by how a particular aspect of the story was handled. It’s not something I have seen mentioned in any of the reviews I’ve read, but I still feel this way months later.

From the blurb, we know that Samantha Miller’s career as an influencer is going from strength to strength. Her latest book Chaste is an instant bestseller, and her follower count has hit three million. While promoting Chaste, Samantha publishes an essay about a sexual experience with her best friend, Lisa, while they were teenagers. But Lisa’s memory of that night differs from Samantha’s.

They cannot both be right, so whose version of that night is the truth? As Samantha faces increased scrutiny, she wonders whether the life and career she has built will come crashing down around her.

Idol is a compelling exploration of influencer culture, cancel culture, the Me Too movement, and trauma's effect on someone’s memory. This brings me to my main issue, the dynamic between Samantha and Lisa, both as teenagers and in the present, is complex. Yet, Louise O’Neill never fully engages with how this “she said, she said” story would be viewed or experienced through an LGBTQ+ lens. Neither character is explicitly queer. In her essay, Samantha emphasises that they are both straight.

I get it: For many people, myself included, sexuality is fluid, and the words we use to describe ourselves often change (again, I include myself here). But, for me, the whole thing felt like a plot device that while not Louise O’Neill’s intention ended up being more than a little dismissive of lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, and other m-spec women’s experiences of sexual violence.

A dark, disturbing read about an influencer.with a deep past. This novel.was not for me, though it was well written.

Samantha is a self-styled social media lifestyle guru who has built a very successful business following her personal struggles with addiction. Samantha shares details of her past with her followers in the form of an essay about her sexual experiences with her former best friend Lisa and the enduring impact this had on her life. Unfortunately Lisa does not remember the past exactly as Samantha does and it's not before long that Sam's highly public and carefully constructed life starts to crumble around her.
I hugely enjoyed this very well-written book which covers a multitude of very current topics such as cancel culture and the #metoo movement.
The character of Samantha was a complex and not always likeable one and she is a master of manipulation but as the story progresses you see the damage within her and I did find myself warming to her if not exactly 'liking' her.
Overall a good read and interesting to read about the minefield of 'truth' and perspectives and the social media 'justice' system!

Social media influencer Samantha Miller has it all, a large following, adoring fans a successful career. But when she publishes a story about her teenage years and it goes viral - her ex best friend is in contact and is questioning her side of the story.

I’m the culture that we have now of influencers and social media this book was a great hit for me and really illustrated just how much things can come tumbling down around you. With everyone knowing your business it really was a great storyline and plot. I really enjoyed all the twists and turns and really struggled to know who to believe at times. I enjoyed the dual timeline too and how it all built up into a great ending. This was my first book by this author but I’ll definitely be reading more.

This was nothing short of a wild ride.
It was well written and intense at all times, all characters added another layer of mystery and anxiety to the story and the main character was quite hard to like but I still felt sorry for her.
Very good. Would read others from this author.

Idol is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out Idol asap.

They say never judge a book by its cover and this was not the glossy glamorous book that it looks. Idol is a very dark and gripping look into consent, social media and the power and influence it can hold over us.

It’s a hard book to review, I enjoyed it and found the themes interesting but couldn’t warm to any of the characters. I kept changing my mind about Samantha which I’m sure is what the author intended. I love a dual timeline in a book and flicking between present day and past kept me intrigued.

Idol is a very thought provoking read which might not be for everyone but I thoroughly enjoyed it and now need to read Louise O’Neills backlist!

Thank you @penguinrandomhouse for the #gifted copy

Wow, a smart, page turner which is modern and reflects on very current issues with social media and influencers and the impact that these have on our lives.

It’s a book that brings up questions about how we remember the past and events. Is it accurate? My Nan always taught me that there’s three sides to every story.

Looking forward to reading others by this author in the future.

A book full of twists and turns that is very relevant in today's social media culture.
Ive just finished this book, once I started I was hooked, I just needed to keep going. I can't say I liked any of the characters but I don't think that we are meant to. All the way to the end I wasn't sure how it was going to end.
There are some trigger points so make sure you have checked these before reading.