Cover Image: Idol

Idol

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Member Reviews

I was excited by the premise but I found the execution could have been more developed. It's really a story about two teenagers rather than an adult read. When it was set in the present tense, I just found the storyline frustrating and a little far-fetched - why would you be friends with someone who you just accused of assaulting you? While Sam was a really well-developed character, some of the others needed more developing and relevance such as Josh and Becky.

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Entertaining read about what happens when a wellness and lifestyle influencer is accused of historic sexual assault by an old friend. Although this novel deals with some pretty dark and contemporary topics, it was a fun, dramatic read that I found pretty page-turning. I was surprised when it was revealed Sam was 40 as she reads much younger in a way that didn't quite ring true. I like an unreliable, unlikeable narrator but rather than her being morally complex, I felt Sam's troubles (drug use, random sex, eating disorder, abusive relationship and rape) were a bit cliched and only scratched the surface in terms of her psychology. But I particularly enjoyed reading about the hypocrisy and manipulation of influencer culture - and the novel's end was great.

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This is my first book by Louise O'neill which I was sent by NetGalley to review.

Tbf it wasn't what I expected but, I did enjoy it.

Samantha Miller is a wellness guru at the top of her career when something from the past comes back to haunt her & undo everything she's built.

Well written with plenty of ups & downs, twists & turns. It keeps you riveted & wanting to read on.

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Initially I was drawn to this book simply because I'm doing something related to the unreality of social media with work and I was interested to see how a book would handle the subject. Then I realised it was by Louise O'Neill, who I find always does really interesting explorations of feminist subjects that don't take the easy way out. This book was no exception, and I loved that it examined the complexities of some of the issues around belief, trauma, MeToo, etc. In a strange way, I was actually rooting for Sam, so the conclusion felt quite raw - though inevitable.

I'm not sure if O'Neill was inspired by the implosion of Rachel Hollis' career, but there were definitely elements of Sam's journey that I could see echoed Rachel's white woman wellness culture and 'the video'. I didn't like any of the characters and wouldn't have wanted to be friends with them, but that doesn't matter to me when reading - I just care if they're compelling, and they were! The three key women are all handling trauma in different and unhealthy ways, and then the women around those women are clearly shown to be part of a wider societal issue. I don't want to write any spoilers so I'm probably being irritatingly vague, but I really would encourage people to read 'Idol'.

I really enjoyed 'Idol' but felt anxiety while reading it too, so be warned! At times I wanted to look away, but I had to keep reading. I'm glad to have found a book touching on the cult of influencer, trauma, assault, cancel culture, 'my truth' etc. Engaging for me throughout.

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This was an addictive unique read and I really enjoyed it. Makes you question and think about the reality behind what you see and read online. Would definitely recommend this author and be looking out for further books.

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There’s something about Louise O’Neill’s writing style that is super addictive. I read this book in one go.
The story is original and engaging and the characters are intriguing.
I was excited to read this book and it certainly didn’t disappoint. It’s a great read and one I’d recommend.

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This was a great story about a social media star who writes a story about a night she had with a friend. Years later this friend contacts her to say the night they had together she remembers very differently. It was interesting to see the aspect of ‘should we believe everything we read online’.

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This book was completely different from what the cover, title and blurb promised. I thought it was going to be much more superficial and 'glossy' about the nature of influencer/social media fame but it was actually quite dark the further you got into it. The real meat of the story is the teenage relationship between Sam and her former best friend Lisa and the fall-out from that time that both characters are carrying around mentally still.

Sam's character was really well written, messy and complex. You find your sympathies constantly pulled one way and another as more is revealed about the past. I feel like the other main characters Lisa and Josh could have been a bit more rounded out - Josh in particular was a catalyst for much of what happened but he was quite 2 dimensional. Still a good pacy read and recommended.

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Samantha Miller is a highly successful motivational speaker and author. Millions of adoring fans hang onto her every word; her social media following is booming and success is oozing from every pore. But when Samantha tells the story of her sexual awakening with Lisa, her best friend from high school, her perfect world starts to disintegrate because Lisa‘s version of events is completely different. To Samantha’, the act was consensual but Lisa argues otherwise. Who is telling the truth?

After reading this book, one question looms loud and clear: why would anyone want to be in the public eye? The sudden events that play out for Samantha and the intrusion into her private life - going back decades - is alarming. The existence of social media means that no stone is left unturned in trying to discover the details of what really happened and anyone can voice their opinion. Anonymity gives the keyboard warriors full permission to do their utmost to damage reputations.

Brilliant writing by Louise O’Neill has created an intensely dislikable character on one hand, who generates pity and sympathy from the reader on the other. Sam is desperate to cling on to the life she has created for herself and in doing so unleashes hurt and devastation all around, but is she wholly to blame?

This book completely gripped me and really made me question people’s values. It is evident that for some the thirst for fame can be all consuming and for others the need for revenge is paramount. A very uncomfortable read in places but an absolute page turner. Highly recommended.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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This novel was not what as expected. O'Neill writes with great confidence and fluidity and both the story and her telling of it are bound to find not only an audience but also the success it merits. However, it reads 'young' - an early reference to Sweet Valley High novels when the protagonist returns to her childhood home summed it up rather neatly: however 'adult' the themes may be, these are teenage relationship dynamics. Nothing wrong with that at all, just not quite the complex psychology hoped for. With that in mind, it remains a solid well constructed read - just not one for this reader.

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Took me a while to get into this one, as not normally a genre I would read. But it was worth persevering, as I ended up gripped! The main character was very believable if completely unlovable, in fact we potentially all know someone of the type. Many issues and topical references covered, but the plot twists sinuously throughout and results in an excellent and captivating read..

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I read Idol in a day, it was impossible to put down. O'Neill's gift unique blend of clarity and empathy lends itself to the exploration of exploitation of different kinds, and the messy interplay between predator and prey, hero and villain, how we see ourselves and how we are.

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A well written book but unfortunately not to my taste. I was expecting more of a thriller than a complex battle about social media and its gurus. The fault is mine for selecting a book in a genre that doesn't appeal to me.

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The story of Samantha, lifestyle guru and feminist influencer, facing the revelation of her teenage past.
This novel raises some interesting questions around authenticity, memory and culpability that feel very relevant for the current moment. I enjoyed the contrast between Sam's 90s memories and the ultra-contemporary current day (the events are set in February 2022).
As a female-friendship thriller it felt fresh with an interesting angle. An enjoyable read.

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Does everyone reinvent themselves and totally change their backstory?

I haven’t and honestly don’t understand why people do

I’d a friend I grew up with, we shared everything, I would have considered her my sister as I had none of my own. She married, started a family and completely reinvented herself. The sure way to do this was to totally cut me out of her life. This book reminds me of her so much. I know the secrets but I would never ever share

Samantha is a horrible person, I totally disliked her, however the character is very real and believable. Maybe every so called influencer should read this book and have a good think

With thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

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This is the story of Sam, a lifestyle guru with fame, fortune and millions of followers…until it all goes horribly wrong! An accusation is made against Sam by her one time closest friend which threatens to ruin her lucrative career. Sam vehemently denies it and cannot understand why her friend would betray her in this way. She sets out to clear her name but will she makes the situation worse?
It took me a little time to get into this story as it’s very difficult to sympathise with Sam initially and I found her hard to like. She has definitely had a troubled past though and it becomes clear that she’s quite a damaged individual. As the story unfolded, I found myself becoming more interested in the character of Sam and I wanted to know more about her past and why she behaved in such a self destructive way. The ending of the story did take me by surprise as I wasn’t sure how things were all going to end for Sam. A great book and quite thought provoking in lots of ways.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.

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This is my first book by Louise O’Neill therefore my only expectations came from the write up given by the publishers and the limited reviews on NetGalley by other ARC readers and reviewers and the fact that I often enjoy Irish writers.

The book blurb was interesting enough to make me want to read it: Samantha is a social media influencer, who comes from a small town and who preaches the empowerment of women, clean living, clean eating, self-love, being oneself - whilst deny herself to stay thin enough and having Botox and fillers to remain youthful!! She is a staunch advocate of the “Me too” victims who have spoken out about their own sexual abuse, having experienced abuse herself and not spoken out about it at the time. She reveals an incident of sexual exploration with her best friend in her teens. Her then friend, however, remembers the incident very differently and responds with a letter saying so. Samantha then revisits her past and her hometown, in order to sort this out and thereby lies the story. All the while, her Instagram following of 3 million starts to fall.

Although I have social media accounts, I’m not an avid user other than staying in touch with people I worked with while living abroad, (and reading and writing book reviews) and it’s fair to say I have reservations about it’s use and it’s users. I have long since felt that it’s a potentially dangerous medium. It’s already been proven that casual comments made by users whilst either under the influence of drugs or alcohol or both, or when feeling low or vulnerable can come back to haunt the writer decades down the line. Even writing an honest book or restaurant review opens one up to the ‘dark side’ of this medium, where faceless trolls make personal comments and attacks that they would never make face to face.

This book highlights how high people can rise on this platform but how tenuous that status is, and how quickly and how far they have to fall, should their ‘popularity’ be threatened, even temporarily and possibly unjustly. It also questions how readily people follow the ‘image’ projected by social media influencers without really knowing how honest these profiles are and how there are two sides to every story and how, with ease, we readily elect which one to believe.
I find myself torn when it comes to giving a star rating for this book. It’s a contemporary topic, and I believe many people, especially younger people than me, would benefit from the message content of the book. However, I didn’t like any of the characters, except Samantha’s mother, but that may have been entirely intentional by the writer.

For me, it was an interesting read but not a particularly enjoyable one. If I’m totally honest, I couldn’t wait to finish it and for me that happens when I don’t become invested in the characters. I didn’t care whether Samantha fell from grace or managed to silence the trolls and maintain her ‘celebrity’ status. There is definitely a lesson to be learned by all about the huge power of the internet and how careful people (especially youngsters) must be, in this day and age, as every post they ever make is out there for the rest of their lives! Parents today must have to address this topic with their children very early in their teenage years.

It’s three stars from me after careful consideration because at the end of the day reading, for me, is about enjoyment.

My thanks go to the writer, the publishers, and NetGalley for an advance e.reader copy of this book.

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I was almost halfway through this book before I started to enjoy it. As the story evolves, the negative and darker side of social media emerges that Sam quickly learns and along with her need to be wanted ruins her life. I’m just glad that I grew up when I did as all those embarrassing moments were soon forgotten and not out there for everyone to see. The book is well written and thought provoking.

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I really enjoyed this book. It’s Louise O’Neill at her best, tense and thrilling with details being revealed slowly to keep me engaged. I really enjoyed the commentary on influencer culture and sexual assault, especially examining women as the perpetrator of sexual assault, which is something that often isn’t discussed.

While the subject matters were dark, I genuinely enjoyed this and look forward to reading more of O’Neills work.

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Oh my! This book is unbelievable! I've never read anyone that can deliver such important messages through fiction novel like Louise O'Neill .

This book follows Sam journey when confronted with a sexual abuse allegation. Diving into the thoughts and feelings of all those affected by it.

Honestly, this novel in modern day could not capture cancel culture in a more emotional light, this novel is certainly going to become iconic.

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