Anna-Marie McLemore's (When the Moon Was Ours; Flawless Girls; Self-Made Boys) first book for adults is The Influencers, an intriguing and thrilling murder mystery.
The Iverson family members have grown up on-screen thanks to May Iverson, a "momfluencer" known as "Mother May I," and her online media empire. Daughters April, June, July, January, and March all have contentious relationships with the Mother May I brand. When May's new husband, August, is murdered and someone tries to burn down the Iverson house on the same night, the sisters are pushed together while they deal with the police investigation, the true-crime podcasters, and the millions of people waiting to see what behind-the-scenes footage of their perfectly curated family life will be revealed next. Questions abound, but the only certainty is that The Influencers will keep readers guessing through twist after twist.
McLemore's novel points a damning lens at an Internet subculture that exploits the lives of children for their parents' financial gain--while hooking readers as effectively as a tabloid story and avoiding being preachy. The characters are complex even when their appearances are fleeting. McLemore builds a world that draws from reality in engaging and even playful ways as she explores family, social, and even parasocial relationships. The Influencers is a stunning novel that is sure to please McLemore's fans and bring new readers to their YA novels. --Michelle Anya Anjirbag, freelance reviewer