Day’s YA: PEOPLE TO FOLLOW

PEOPLE TO FOLLOW by Olivia Worley
9781250881380
10/31/2023
Wednesday Books
Ages 13-18

E-galley available on Edelweiss and NetGalley

When ten influencers decide to unplug and participate in a reality TV show set on a remote island, things soon get hairy. When they first arrive, they quickly realize that none of them were chosen at random–they each have a connection to each other, whether it’s former competitors, ex-friends, or something even more convoluted. Tensions only worsen when their host abandons them on the first day and the production crew never shows up. They wake up the next morning to find that one of the members of their group has been pushed off of the balcony to his death. They try to convince themselves this was an accident until they start receiving eerie messages from an unknown “Sponsor”.

They discover that the Sponsor seems to have a vendetta against each of them when they’re shown a screenshot of a computer desktop that has folders labeled with each of their names that contain their deepest, darkest secrets. One by one, each influencer will inevitably be exposed for something they never thought would come to light. The group simultaneously has to stick together and trust no one, and this uncomfortable disconnect puts everyone on edge. At every turn, there are various signs that point to any one of them being the culprit and the group is even forced to question whether there could be more than one killer. 

This true page-turner was the perfect antidote to my reading slump. It’s the kind of story I couldn’t stop thinking about, and I found myself trying to solve the murders even when I wasn’t reading. Palpable fear and danger abound throughout the story, so much so that I wouldn’t suggest reading this before bed! The character development is incredible, with each influencer having the perfect mixture of vapidity and substance. I felt like I knew all of them but also constantly questioned their trustworthiness. The setting is well-illustrated as well, and tense moments are punctuated by spectacular tropical thunderstorms. Although the influencers are the sole occupants of the island, it feels claustrophobic and suffocating. I can’t wait to see more from Worley! I would recommend this for fans of RECKLESS GIRLS by Rachel Hawkins, THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD ENDS by Jen Wilde, and WHERE ECHOES DIE by Courtney Gould. 

Happy reading!
<3 Michelle

YA Resources:
2023 Books for Teens
Day’s YA Archives
2023 Adult Books for Teens