I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this novel but what I got was a stunning and chilling account of the levels of vitriol that exists daily on certain aspects of social media, in the gutter press and in an often sensationalist TV documentary.

The novel consisted of interviews with friends, family and those who gained from tormenting Mellie, newspaper reports and mostly vicious tweets. It made it quick to read initially but as the novel progressed and Mellie’s situation deteriorated I found it more difficult to read.

Throughout the entire novel I wasn’t sure what to believe or even know if there were any of the characters I liked. I did however, have a lot of sympathy for Mellie, and it was obvious that she was damaged mentally when her modelling career took off. Forever in the public eye, under attack from those who envied what she had, including from her own father and sister, both damaged themselves.

As I said earlier, I found it more difficult to read as I read further. But I also found it increasingly difficult to put down. It is a long time since I have felt this way. I read the final 25% in one sitting, even though I felt often on edge as Mellie’s desperation increased.

My feelings regarding most of them changed when I’d finished the book. The twitter trolls and media were the only ones I still loathed. The others, I could start to see how they were affected by the impact of the publicity on Mellie’s life.

I found this a brilliant, original and emotionally challenging novel, I’m sure I will be thinking about it for days to come

Melanie Lange, daughter of Sir Peter Lange owner of Lange Hotels, was thrust into the spotlight at the age of 15 and her life from then on wasn't her own, hounded by the press and constantly talked about on social media. Now in her 30s, a successful businesswoman and mum to two little boys she adores. When she disappears after losing custody of her children the rumour mill goes into overdrive. Has she went to a private clinic to recover from a breakdown like her dad says or has she been kidnapped like her best friend Mell and her ex-husband Finn are saying.

The story is told in transcripts, interviews, diary entries, tweets and the narration of a documentary, a mixed media style, which makes it quick to read and keeps it interesting.

Stories of different times and encounters of Melanie's life are recounted by her dad, Mell and Finn so it's hard to know the truth until you start reading Melanie's secret diary.

It's a topical read indicative of how social media can affect people and certainly gives you something to think about.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC.

Melanie Lange, former model, head of an internationally renowned beauty product company, has disappeared. Why? That is the mystery; but actually it isn’t a mystery, because we know the answer to that question almost immediately. So perhaps the mystery is “where is she?” But that isn’t a mystery either, because we also know the answer to that (although for the first few weeks her friends and the public at large are in the dark). So this is not a mystery story. Nor is it a thriller. There is certainly criminal activity, but the only indictable offence is that she is being held against her will, i.e. kidnapped! Although the police seem to be uninvolved until the very end. Melanie’s father, Sir Peter Lange, is head of a worldwide hotel chain, but I don’t believe he has the power to subvert the legal process. The question really is what type of story is this?
The answer is that this is a polemic against the power of the media to make and break any person who appears in the public eye. Melanie is relentlessly stalked by the paparazzi, the tabloids, and social media trolls, from her first appearance as a model at age fifteen, to the night before her disappearance. Her character and her travails reflect those of a number of real people, notably Britney Spears, Kate Moss, Charlotte Dawson, Paris Hilton, and Princess Diana. However, the assaults on Melanie seem egregious to me, and the controlling actions of her father exceed any examples of which I am aware. The ending is unsatisfactory, and disappointing for the reader. I’m sure there are readers who will enjoy this book, since it is well written and uses the epistolatory style to deploy a range of perspectives, but it didn’t work for me.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Melanie (Mellie) Lange has disappeared. A former model discovered at a young age, thirtysomething Mellie has been on the front covers of the British media for years & her fans are obsessed with hearing all about her life, but now, her father, Sir Peter Lange, says she is a danger to herself and has been admitted to a private mental health clinic. Her best friend & ex-husband do not believe Sir Peter, & when they receive short videos & texts from Mellie from a phone smuggled into the 'clinic', their worst fears seem to be realised - it seems that Mellie has been kidnapped by her own father. Sir Peter maintains that she is merely recuperating following a breakdown after the end of her marriage to Finn & the media frenzy. Who is telling the truth?

I found it difficult to get into this at first. I think it was the way it was written in interview transcripts, online blogs, diary entries, etc - it's a different way to tell the narrative but I think it can put the reader at arm's length from the characters. I did find that this dissipated the more I read & as the plot progressed, by halfway through, I pretty much had to know what really happened. The reader hears from most of the prominent characters, Mellie (younger daughter of hotel chain owner, who is spotted at a hotel launch party & propelled into modelling & subsequent fame), Sir Peter (aforementioned hotel owner who gives his viewpoint via interviews for a book), Nell (Mellie's best friend & former model), Finn (Mellie's ex-husband & father of her two children). The only person we don't hear from directly until the very end is Mellie's older sister, Zara. In fact Zara is pretty much a blank as far as her character goes which is a shame as I would have liked to heard more from her view of things.

Basically everyone tells their viewpoint & some things don't add up, i.e. is Finn lying about not having an affair? It's left for the reader to make up their minds on that one. The book looks at the toxic role of the media & people on social media in Mellie's life, & indeed we see this in real life too. Celebrities are built up one minute to be ruthlessly torn down the next. Can you trust your friends or your family, or would they sell you out to make a quick buck? It became a little repetitive at points but after an initial slow start, it maintained my interest well. I rate this one 3.5 stars (rounded up).

TW: suicide attempts, drug use.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Random House UK/Transworld Publishers/Bantam Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

📚 The Ugly Truth by L.C. North

The Ugly Truth is all about the power of social media and the damage that trolls can do from behind a keyboard. The story primarily focuses on Melanie, who had a difficult childhood after her mum died, leaving her to grow up with only her sister Zara who she has never seen eye to eye with, and her dad whose number one priority has always been his chain of hotels.

But after Melanie is thrust into the limelight at a young age and starts modelling, her struggles start.

One day Melanie posts a video on social media announcing that she’s taking a break from social media and after that no one hears from her, not even her children or her best friend.

Until one day months later when she posts another video on social media claiming that her father has kidnapped her and has been imprisoning her all this time.

The story switches between Melanie’s journal entries and a transcript of an interview that her dad is doing with a journalist to try to get his side of the story across. It’s very different to anything I’ve read before and I liked the general story but personally didn’t love the writing style and wouldn’t rush to read a sequel if there was one.

Let me know what you thought about it if you have read this one!

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This is a very prescient novel and one that really resonates. It follows the story of Melanie who is either being held in a secure location by her father for her own safety, or he has kidnapped her and is refusing to let her go. The whole novel is told in excerpts from an unpublished memoir about him, and interviews with Mel's friends and other family members. We find out who she is and how she became famous and successful but also the difficulties she has faced and the manipulation done to her by others. It was a little slow in places and it felt repetitive in others but on the whole this was a really interesting novel looking at mental health struggles, at toxic media and social media and how what glitters isn't always gold. You can never tell what someone is going through. This felt like a fictional exploration of things that have happened to women such as Amy Winehouse, Britney Spears and Caroline Flack amongst others. It was hard hitting at times and it's a novel that really gets under your skin. I keep thinking about it and it's one that I recommend everyone should read.

An interesting and quirky read, told via mixed media style (interviews, transcripts, documentary and diary entries) detailing Mellie’s life. This holds the reader cleverly, as you never know what the truth of the matter is, listening to alternate accounts of the same events. Following the twitter battles of #SaveMelanie and #HelpPeter adds an interesting perspective. The narrative reflects on family dynamics and how their influence can change you, relationships in their many kinds and control. 

You get the picture of a young girl, who has been seriously affected by fame, hounded by journalists and seen her life spin out of control. Never quite sure who to trust. Isn’t that an essential lesson for us all? The power of social media is enormous and ‘out of control’ impacting the lives of many with online bullying / trolling.

I’m not sure any of the characters are particularly likeable, but is that because we never quite get to know the real them? Gradually you put the pieces together to see the ‘truth’ behind the headlines.

I have never read a book like this before. It is certainly different and raises interesting questions for us all to consider carefully.

Melanie Lange has disappeared. Her father, Sir Peter Lange, says she has been admitted to a private mental health clinic. Her best friend, Nell, says she’s been kidnapped and is being held against her will. An intriguing and thought provoking portrayal of fame, publicity, the media, social media and mental health told from multiple angles and points of view. Highly recommend.

The Ugly Truth is a searing commentary on the effects of constant media hounding and harassment, and the insidious nature of social media trolling.

Melanie Lange appeared to have a bright future. Scouted by a modelling agency her moment in the sun was bright. But a manipulated photo and a relentless tearing apart by the tabloids saw her career in tatters.

The story then moves back and forth between the present and all the key events that led to the situation Melanie is in.

There is too much that could be spoilt by revealing much more of the plot so instead I'll talk about the format of this novel which I found really interesting. Everything is relayed via news headlines, twitter and YouTube posts plus interview transcripts. It made for a fast paced plot with enough different mediums to capture and hold the readers attention. All the way through we hear multiple perspectives on the same events which kept me guessing.

The Ugly Truth is a damning indictment on the way the world has become so obsessed with celebrity and on a media so determined to feed the seemingly insatiable public interest with lurid and manipulated stories that forget about the human being behind them. A very depressing but sadly oh so true cautionary tale.

#savemelanie
#helppeter

I'm not entirely sure what to say about The Ugly Truth.
Did I enjoy it yes I did.
But for me it sounded more like a written documentary about a certain person that have had in the past a lot of social media and news about their life.
The story is based around Melanie a very successful business woman who has her own cosmetic company. Her millionaire father keeps a tight rein on whatever she is doing especially when it comes down to his two grandchildren.
But when a strange video is put out on YouTube stating that her father is keeping her hostage, he retaliates saying that she has had a breakdown and is in a private facility to help with her mental wellbeing.
A very interesting read and I'll let the other readers to come to their own conclusions.

The Ugly Truth is told through a mixture of interviews, diary entries, transcripts and Twitter feeds.
Melanie Lange, daughter of wealthy hotelier Sir Peter Lange, has been missing for several months. She found early success as a model and quickly became a source of tabloid fascination. Her father says she is getting help for anxiety and depression at a secluded facility, Melanie has smuggled out testaments that suggest she is being held against her will.
The Ugly Truth has been labelled as a thriller which it really isn’t. It explores the damage that constant media attention can do to someone who has ended up in the public eye, and the lengths a parent will go to to manage their child’s life.
It’s a very quick read, there are no chapters and you jump from one character to the next so there is always a question about who is telling the truth, particularly as Melanie’s best friend and ex-husband whip up public opinion on Twitter.
The ending is fast, shocking and rather sad. It’s a book that leaves you thinking “what if?”

Reading this book is a stark reminder of what a toxic influence social media can be. I was thinking that one element of it was a wee bit far-fetched, until I remembered Princess Latifa. That and other significant moments in this story have a horrible ring of authenticity.

Melanie Lange is a social media influencer. The daughter of Peter Lange, the owner of a successful chain of hotels, she started modelling at an early age and then progressed, through a series of very savvy decisions, into becoming a successful entrepreneur in her own right.

The Ugly Truth is the story of Mellie’s rise to fame, her success, her marriage and then her disappearance. It is told entirely through the reports of her family and friends on Twitter, via a Netflix documentary, in the tabloid press and in transcripts of interviews that Peter Lange undertakes for his ghost written autobiography. This is a book which is very easy to read and all the way along you are asked to form judgements based largely on what other people are telling you. And therein lies the rub.

Because this book is a reflection of what living your life on social media is like. Every second of every day you are invited to pass judgement. On Mellie; on her family and friendsds; on her business acumen and on her marriage and her parenting skills. This is a woman who lives her life in the full glare of a feeding frenzy of tabloids, photographers and social media commentators, topped up by people who just want to associate themselves with Melanie by shouting about her – and it doesn’t really matter that they have no knowledge and very little lives of their own.

Lauren C North has these elements of social media down to a ‘T’. It won’t be new to you, but it does so easily lay bare just how ugly this process is and how quickly and easily it is to rush to judgement.

North cleverly invites us to choose a side, but in the end it isn’t about us. It’s about a young woman who has never had the opportunity to live her life free of judgement by strangers. Of a woman whose whole life is lived in a goldfish bowl even although she has never asked for that. It is a story you have read already in the media because it is the story of Britney Spears, of Princess Diana and Princess Latifa and of others closer to home whose lives have been tragically impacted by the toxicity of an everyday interaction with social media and the press.

The Ugly Truth is very well done and with themes of coercive control and tabloid intrusion, it is one we will all recognise. It is an ugly story and it made me feel horribly sad because there’s a lot of truth in here and yet you know nothing will change the polarity of our discourse on social media and the way the press feeds on that interest in celebrity. It is, perhaps, a little too one-sided, but that’s forgivable amidst so much that feels authentic.

Verdict: An uncomfortable read, but one that whizzes you through, inviting you to think about how you would react and whose side you would be on. It ends with a fitting conclusion and one which ought to give pause for thought. Very well done and with the ring of authenticity this is a cautionary tale that should leave us all reflecting on the part we play in rushing to judgement.

Loved the concept of this book, using social media, emails etc to tell the entire story. Very well written and really topical, enjoyed it!

First time reading this author and I really enjoyed it.
I liked the way the story was told through the different forms i.e Netflix documentary, transcripts, interviews, podcasts and tweets, following Melanie Lange. The story was being told from different views from the father, the best friend, the ex husband, friends, followers and the public.
It’s fast paced and keeps you guessing the whole time you are reading. I couldn’t put it down. You just didn’t know who to believe.
The plot is great and the themes are explored in a brilliant and memorable way.
An insightful, twisty and gripping read. Definitely recommend everyone read this book.
Thanks to NetGallery and Random House Uk for an arc of The Ugly Truth in exchange for an honest review. Publishes 16th March ‘23.

📗📗BOOK REVIEW 📗📗
The Ugly Truth by LC North

Wow! That was great, a totally addictive read. I just spent the day reading this as I had to know the outcome. Written in the form of emails, social media posts, diary entries, interviews and Netflix script from multiple POV’s it was surprisingly easy to follow. I’ve read other books in a similar format and to be honest I struggled with them but no problems at all with this one. In fact I enjoyed the format a lot and thought it was brilliantly written.

Briefly, the main protagonist is Melanie ‘Mellie’ Lange, the daughter of a wealthy Sir Peter Lange businessman. At a young age Melanie is ‘spotted’ and soon becomes a top model. But her life isn’t easy. Chased by paparazzi, trolled on social media and repeatedly ‘attacked’ in newspapers Mellie’s mental health is affected and when a photograph ends her modelling career she end up working with her father and sister setting up her own cosmetics brand. But when her personal life implodes spectacularly Mellie disappears…

Her father insists she has been admitted to a private mental health unit but video messages from Mellie sent to her friend say her father is holding her against her will. Social media goes crazy and you need to decide #SaveMelanie #HelpPeter. This was a disturbing story about the devastating effects of massive media intrusion into an individuals private life, alongside the actions of a controlling father. Twists and turns as different ‘voices’ are heard and a shocking ending. An impressive contemporary fiction novel about a dysfunctional family and the dangers of social media. Loved it.

This book was fantastic. It was very unique and current based around social media. It was utterly gripping and I loved it

The Ugly Truth
This book is written in such an unusual and unique format. It’s told, not in diary entries or chapters but instead in extracts from an unpublished biography, dialogue from YouTube videos and snippets from a Netflix documentary amongst other things. Melanie is the daughter of a successful hotelier. She lived her life under the radar until her mother passed away and aged 15 she was thrust into the limelight and a life of celebrity.
Then one day - years and years later, Melanie vanishes.
Through these stories, the reader is able to piece together aspects of Melanie’s life, using them to form their own opinion of what may have happened to her. From quotes from the British press, her friends, family, colleagues and celebrity bloggers. What unfolds is an amazing and shocking insight into the damage social media and the press can have on a person and their life. A really unusual and compelling read.

I loved this book. I believe its L C Norths first thriller and I was hooked from the beginning.

We meet Mel who is currently being held by her father for her protection. Its now August and she hasn't been seen since February.

I loved the writing style of this book. Its very current and relevant how it uses social media, you tube videos and Netflix documentary transcripts to tell the story. The flow was great and I read the book so fast I didn't want to stop.

The book is told from Mel who is a big star and also from her dad Peters unpublished notes. It made me question who you can trust and whether caring about someone too much becomes controlling.

It also gave different insights to trolls online, gossip columns and the media. How nasty and bullying some people are for no real reason.

Through out the book I couldn't ever really work out who was telling the truth which I loved it made me want to keep reading until the very end.

I will be recommending this book and looking out for more from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Oh my goodness! I absolutely devoured it in one sitting. Such a great eye opener to the effects of modern day social media. I found the style of writing really refreshing and helped the book flow really well. My heart is broken for Mel. Highly recommend this book. A massive 5 stars from me.

Although I would not describe this book as a thriller it was certainly a page turner. Rather than the traditional format this story is told via messaging, twitter, emails - the modern forms of communication these days.
Melanie is the younger daughter of a millionaire but she is not spoilt - she works hard at school, she is intelligent and has the wherewithal to launch a successful business. But Mel has a wild side - much of it because she resents her father and what he wants her to do sends her in the opposite direction.
This story explores the use and abuse of sites such as twitter and how the paparazzi chase stories and stalk celebrities to earn a living, to supply papers who pitch pictures and stories which make people buy their papers.
A great deal of food for thought in this book.
Many thanks to Netgalley/L.C. North/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.