Unfollow Me

January 20, 2020
British author Duckworth (The Rival) makes her U.S. debut with a perceptive domestic thriller. To more than a million subscribers on YouTube, Violet Young has the perfect life—a devoted husband, three young children, a beautiful London home, and a thriving career as a “mummy-vlogger.” Yet Violet’s relatability comes from her admitting “struggling with parenthood, making the wrong decisions.” Many women—and a few men—start their day watching Violet’s latest post. Fans go into a tailspin when Violet abruptly deletes all her social media. Avid fans obsess over trying to find out what happened to Violet, especially photographer Yvonne Hawley and single mom Lily Peters. While Yvonne and Lily each make it their mission to investigate every aspect of Violet’s life, including stalking her family, they also deal with their own personal issues. The solid plot unfolds through the perspectives of Lily, Yvonne, and Violet’s husband—each of whom has damaging secrets they want to hide even while putting their lives in the public via social media. Readers will look forward to Duckworth’s next. Agent: Caroline Hardman, Hardman & Swainson Literary (U.K.).

December 4, 2020

"That channel does not exist" is the message plastered across the computer screens of Violet Young's followers. Violet produces a daily vlog, Violet Is Blue, to help other young mothers deal with postpartum depression. But now "Violet isn't blue anymore. Violet is gone." Even though it's true her vlog has morphed into a testament to her perfect family and is a huge moneymaker with all the sponsored ads, her followers still depend on her. Lily, a widow and a single mom of a three-year-old, follows Violet religiously--she seems like the sister Lily never had--and Yvonne tracks Violet's every move, especially as it pertains to Violet's husband, Henry. Lily and Yvonne follow her for different reasons, each with her own agenda and her own secrets. When Violet's social media channels all simultaneously disappear, they know something is very wrong. Amid speculation about Violet's situation on the GoMamas pregnancy forum, Lily and Yvonne take matters into their own hands to find out what happened. It's not stalking if you're worried, right? VERDICT Social media and a killer story intertwine in British author Duckworth's (The Rival) all-too-real portrayal of what might happen when your intimate family details are just a click away for all the world to see. Highly recommended.--K.L. Romo, Duncanville, TX

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