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Idol
Idol | Louise O'Neill
19 posts | 14 read | 31 to read
'IDOL is fresh, glamorous, and surprising, taking an issue we all care about and with a deft twist, recalibrating our position. It dazzles us before revealing the darkness at its heart. Louise O'Neill is not afraid to take on a taboo but somehow always makes it utterly compelling. This is such an exciting book.' Marian Keyes 'Follow your heart and speak your truth.' For Samantha Miller's young fans - her 'girls' - she's everything they want to be. She's an oracle, telling them how to live their lives, how to be happy, how to find and honour their 'truth'. And her career is booming- she's just hit three million followers, her new book Chaste has gone straight to the top of the bestseller lists and she's appearing at sell-out events. Determined to speak her truth and bare all to her adoring fans, she's written an essay about her sexual awakening as a teenager, with her female best friend, Lisa. She's never told a soul but now she's telling the world. The essay goes viral. But then - years since they last spoke - Lisa gets in touch to say that she doesn't remember it that way at all. Her memory of that night is far darker. It's Sam's word against Lisa's - so who gets to tell the story? Whose 'truth' is really a lie? 'You put yourself on that pedestal, Samantha. You only have yourself to blame.'
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review
Michellesibs
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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Panpan

Firstly, don't be fooled by the cover or title. There's no Idol here, nor is there a glistening poolside lifestyle. All we see here is a sleepy town that's always cold.

The female lead is (probably intensionally) awful, she fluctuates between acting 40 and 4 and it's impossible to get a handle on who she is.

The second female lead is entirely wet.

They call each other mouse. Yes really.

All in all this is a rough read.

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Cupcake12
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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Mehso-so

Samantha is a world famous inspirational icon. She tells to people how to live and they listen. She promotes being ‘truthful‘.
That is until an essay she writes is shared with the world with dark consequences. Experiences and memories are all questionable. The story is told in a dual timeline, flashbacks from the 90s to the present day. The storyline is a clever idea and deals with mental health issues, eating disorders and many social issues.

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Cupcake12
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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This should be my last book in February. Starting it tonight 📚

TrishB I enjoyed this one. 2y
Cinfhen This sounds AMAZING! I see I previously stacked it so maybe it was from your review @TrishB ???!!!! 2y
TrishB @Cinfhen I think you‘ll like this one 👍🏻 2y
29 likes3 comments
review
Itchyfeetreader
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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Pickpick

Louise O‘Neill writes complex and often not particularly likeable female characters and Sam here is probably one of her best. Full of trigger warnings this had me hooked. Grounded in obsesssive teen friendship it‘s also a ringing criticism of social media wellness personalities and an exploration of cancel culture. Disturbing and powerful. I have lazed my morning away finishing (and it‘s no.3 from my started not finished pile #novelnovember

TrishB Great review 👍🏻 I thought this was a great read too. 2y
45 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
nanuska_153
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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Panpan

Sam is an influencer and a powerful voice of the #MeToo movement,until her childhood friend emails her manager to say that Sam raped her and a Reddit post makes it public.While Sam tries to get Lisa to retract we wonder which one of the two is lying.Even when I couldn't put it down,I hated it. It should come with trigger warnings: rape,suicide,eating disorders,bullying.I don't mind a dark book,but certain parts could be dangerous for some people⬇️

nanuska_153 and they should be advised before picking it up.It tries to stuff so many important themes that's impossible any of them is treated appropriately and sometimes they feel like mentions to tick the box.Also everyone is weird,not creepy-Brontë sisters gonna-exhumate-your-body-to-hug-you-weird;ordinary weird and unlikable,therefore annoying.The author changed the ending and it shows, to deliver a shocking ending she compromised the rest of the book⬇️ 2y
nanuska_153 and many things don't make sense and remain unanswered (will mention them as spoilers in case someone read it and wants to give me some clarity).To add insult to injury,the only reason why my book club read this was that they asked us for a literary festival cause the author was going to talk about it and she cancelled.The rest of the girls:one refused to read it,two stopped after a couple of chapters;three got hooked but only one really liked it 2y
nanuska_153 I understand that to keep you wondering which one has the unhealthy(er) attachment you have to do some things, but really, not victim of rape would insist in constructing a reproduction of the rapist's house even more if she was raped in it? Also, why Lisa has any issues with Sam telling about the abortion if it wasn't even her baby? Who is the lesbian, Sam, Lisa, both, none? Anyone loves Josh? 2y
35 likes3 comments
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anushareflects
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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Pickpick

So I didn‘t love this book, but I did love that it tackled a controversial topic head on - that of the conflicts of memory, identity, social media influencer culture, and sexual assault. The premise is fantastic but the book was a little bit too high-school drama which didn‘t drive home the seriousness of the topic. But it‘s worth a read. The characters are so so annoying.

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Kmglennie
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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Pickpick

Wooo boy this was an intense one! All about the dark side of spiritual wellness gurus and how all that glitters is sometimes actually toxic waste. Highly recommend.

Caroline2 I really liked this one too. 👍 2y
1 like1 comment
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Caroline2
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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Pickpick

I loved this! A lifestyle guru/influencer is built up then taken down by trial by media and ‘cancel‘ culture. I couldn‘t put it down, in a similar vein to Gone Girl it‘s hard to know who to believe and which side you‘re on….!

squirrelbrain I really liked this one too! 2y
Caroline2 @squirrelbrain It‘s so good, isn‘t it. And so different too. I kept changing my mind the whole time. “I feel sorry for her… I hate her…I feel so bad for her…she‘s awful!” 😆 very clever! 2y
Oryx This one was addictive reading 2y
MicheleinPhilly I couldn‘t put this one down either. 2y
Itchyfeetreader Oh I love this author - missed this was out. Going to be a #blameitonlitsy 2y
89 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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MicheleinPhilly
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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Pickpick

A deliciously trashy beach read that touches social media, “influencers”, bullshit wellness gurus, old catty high school rivalries, and the #MeToo movement. I inhaled it. #BrainCandy

Megabooks Ooo…stacked! 2y
52 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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TrishB
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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#kindledailydeal
A good read 👍🏻

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Bookbuyingaddict
Idol | Louise O'Neill
Pickpick

Not a bad summer read at all does remind me of a woman I worked with years ago who is now a wealthy wellness guru I sometimes look at her feeds and think what a load of nonsense & people get rich from This because people pay to be told or sold something they‘re looking for .

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Bookbuyingaddict
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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Ooohhh already loving 🥰 this : Sam millet is one of those characters you just love to hate . Perfect 👍 lazy sunny day read

TrishB Enjoyed this one 👍🏻 2y
26 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
TrishB
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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Pickpick

I have to admit for ages I was put off by the cover even though I have really liked the authors other books. It just didn‘t look like something I‘d be interested in.
Shows what I know, this was great, dark and twisty and you never really knew who was telling the truth.

Cinfhen Stacked 🎉😊 2y
Oryx I really liked this too. And it seemed like a different tack for her initially, but then the twisty darkness reveals itself. Plus just very 'readable'. Great author. 2y
MicheleinPhilly I‘ve only read one book by this author but I really enjoyed it. I think I own a couple of others but I could be wrong. 2y
See All 8 Comments
TrishB @Oryx very readable! You really have to know what‘s happening next. 2y
TrishB @MicheleinPhilly I‘ve got one still unread too. 2y
squirrelbrain Great review for a fab book! 2y
KarenUK Stacked too! 2y
CarolynM Stacked🙂 2y
109 likes10 stack adds8 comments
blurb
TrishB
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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#weeklyforecast
Currently reading Idol and it‘s engrossing.
I‘m Sorry just arrived (brought after @squirrelbrain review yesterday!)
Then may move onto Saint X.
Have a good week all 😁

squirrelbrain It‘s not often I‘ve read all of someone‘s forecast - they‘re all fab! Enjoy! 😘 2y
Megabooks Great week! 2y
TheLudicReader I look forward to hearing your thoughts about Saint X. I really enjoyed it. 2y
See All 7 Comments
Cinfhen I really liked Saint X but I did audio which was fab!! Other 2 books have peaked my interest 😁 2y
TrishB @squirrelbrain @Megabooks @TheLudicReader @Cinfhen just finished Idol and looking forward to the others. 2y
Cathythoughts I‘m excited for I‘m Sorry You Feel … after Helen‘s review too 👍🏻 2y
TrishB @Cathythoughts I‘m enjoying so far 😁 2y
83 likes7 comments
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TrishB
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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Early Sunday morning read. Hoping for an hour before anyone else gets up 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Cathythoughts Enjoy ♥️ 2y
erzascarletbookgasm Happy Sunday! 2y
squirrelbrain This was a good one! 2y
TrishB @squirrelbrain I‘m really engrossed in it! 2y
79 likes5 comments
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Oryx
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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Should be perfect train reading I hope.

TrishB Enjoy the train and your book day 😁 2y
61 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
squirrelbrain
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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Pickpick

#netgalley #arc

Publication date 5/5 (UK)

I decided to start this last night, after you mentioned it, Emma @Oryx and I couldn‘t put it down, so finished it already!

This was my first book by this author so can‘t compare it to her others, but this was certainly compelling and suspenseful; I felt almost breathless at times.

Sam is a wellness guru who posts about a teenage relationship, that the other person remembers differently. ⬇️

squirrelbrain This feels very ‘now‘, being about cancel culture and is a slightly different spin on the unreliable narrator… whose memories are right, and do we have the right to challenge others‘ memories of events. The only thing I didn‘t much like was the ending… too sudden and no conclusion to some of the threads. 3y
Oryx Awesome - I feel like I need a 'can't put it down read' soon so glad I've pre-ordered it. 3y
squirrelbrain Definitely one for the holiday pile! @Oryx 3y
See All 6 Comments
Oryx @squirrelbrain PS thanks for the package! Am trying my hardest not to open it. 😃 3y
squirrelbrain Try to be good! @Oryx 🤣 3y
KarenUK Ooh I read one of hers, and found it really well done…. Stacked! 3y
69 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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Oryx
Idol | Louise O'Neill
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An autobuy author for me - coming out in May. Kindle version is a relatively good deal for preorder at the moment.

youneverarrived Autobuy author for me too! Stacked 👍 3y
squirrelbrain I have this on #netgalley - really need to get to it soon, ideally before publication date! 3y
Oryx @squirrelbrain oh, would be interested to hear what you think of it. Not seen any reviews yet. 3y
49 likes2 stack adds3 comments