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You Will Never Be Me
Win a free print copy of this book!
11 days and 03:24:05
24 copies available
U.S. only
When cracks start forming in an influencer’s curated life, she finds out that jealousy is just as viral as a video in this riveting suspense novel by bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto.
Influencer Meredith Lee didn't teach Aspen Palmer how to blossom on social media just to be ditched as soon as Aspen became big. So can anyone really blame Mer for doing a little stalking? Nothing serious, more like Stalking Lite.
Then Mer gets lucky; she finds one of Aspen's kids' iPads and swipes it. Now she has access to the family calendar and Aspen's social media accounts. Would anyone else be able to resist tweaking things a little here and there, showing up in Aspen's place for meetings with potential sponsors? Mer's only taking back what she deserves—what should have been hers.
Meanwhile, Aspen doesn't understand why her perfectly filtered life is falling apart. Sponsors are dropping her, fellow influencers are ghosting her, and even her own husband seems to find her repulsive. If she doesn't find out who's behind everything, she might just lose it all. But what everyone seems to forget is that Aspen didn't become one of TikTok's biggest momfluencers by being naive.
When Meredith suddenly goes missing, Aspen's world is upended and mysterious threats begin to arrive—but she won’t let anything get in the way of her perfect life again.
Influencer Meredith Lee didn't teach Aspen Palmer how to blossom on social media just to be ditched as soon as Aspen became big. So can anyone really blame Mer for doing a little stalking? Nothing serious, more like Stalking Lite.
Then Mer gets lucky; she finds one of Aspen's kids' iPads and swipes it. Now she has access to the family calendar and Aspen's social media accounts. Would anyone else be able to resist tweaking things a little here and there, showing up in Aspen's place for meetings with potential sponsors? Mer's only taking back what she deserves—what should have been hers.
Meanwhile, Aspen doesn't understand why her perfectly filtered life is falling apart. Sponsors are dropping her, fellow influencers are ghosting her, and even her own husband seems to find her repulsive. If she doesn't find out who's behind everything, she might just lose it all. But what everyone seems to forget is that Aspen didn't become one of TikTok's biggest momfluencers by being naive.
When Meredith suddenly goes missing, Aspen's world is upended and mysterious threats begin to arrive—but she won’t let anything get in the way of her perfect life again.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 20, 2024
About the author
Jesse Q. Sutanto
16 books5,434 followersJesse Q Sutanto grew up shuttling back and forth between Jakarta and Singapore and sees both cities as her homes. She has a Masters degree from Oxford University, though she has yet to figure out a way of saying that without sounding obnoxious. She is currently living back in Jakarta on the same street as her parents and about seven hundred meddlesome aunties. When she's not tearing out her hair over her latest WIP, she spends her time baking and playing FPS games. Oh, and also being a mom to her two kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
June 9, 2024
Meredith has perfected her brand and is a rising influencer. She extends a helping hand to her new bestie Aspen, to show her the ropes and increase her following.
But what happens when the fledgling student surpasses the teacher?
Now, with over a million followers on her Instagram and TikTok accounts. Aspen is a powerhouse of her own and no longer in need of Meredith’s help.
Can Meredith accept this shift of balance? Survey says… the gloves are coming off!
This was a fun thriller with extremely unlikeable characters (that I thoroughly enjoyed!) I found myself questioning the authenticity of every popular influencer on line. I know… shocking! Right!?😱
This author is wildly popular in both the rom-com and thriller genres. This was the first I’ve picked up, (not sure why I waited so long.) But I’ll definitely be checking out her other books!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley
But what happens when the fledgling student surpasses the teacher?
Now, with over a million followers on her Instagram and TikTok accounts. Aspen is a powerhouse of her own and no longer in need of Meredith’s help.
Can Meredith accept this shift of balance? Survey says… the gloves are coming off!
This was a fun thriller with extremely unlikeable characters (that I thoroughly enjoyed!) I found myself questioning the authenticity of every popular influencer on line. I know… shocking! Right!?😱
This author is wildly popular in both the rom-com and thriller genres. This was the first I’ve picked up, (not sure why I waited so long.) But I’ll definitely be checking out her other books!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley
June 1, 2024
Whoa!! So much juicy drama!! I stayed up way too late reading this one because it was twisty and fun, and I could not make myself put it down. You Will Never Be Me follows two "momfluencers", Aspen and Meredith. They were best friends and then once Aspen got more popular than Meredith, they had a big drama-filled falling out. The two of them go to crazy lengths they go to stay relevant and grow their followings. Buckle up for a dark and twisty ride as this one unravels! The characters are very unlikeable, they are spiteful and selfish, but were well developed and perfect for this book. 4.5 solid stars for this one. This is my 4th book from Jesse Sutanto, I really like her writing and she is becoming one of my must-read authors! Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
Thank you, Berkley, and NetGalley, for an ARC in return for my honest review.
Thank you, Berkley, and NetGalley, for an ARC in return for my honest review.
May 22, 2024
Influencers, frenemies, and a toxic marriage combine to create an original unputdownable thriller! I loved every unpredictable moment of this tale of influencer obsession and friendship gone wrong. “I'm stalking my best friend. There's no use denying it.” Faking for “the gram” or being “Insta” friendly was a deadly driving force that made this book unique and addictive. I enjoyed getting a glimpse inside the world of creating internet content at any cost for the euphoria of a like and sponsorship. This is the first book I have read by this author but definitely won't be the last. Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my copy.
July 8, 2024
When rising influencer Meredith takes dowdy outcast Aspen under her wing, she doesn’t expect Aspen’s online popularity to eclipse hers. Eight years later, Aspen has millions of followers as one of the industry’s top momfluencers while Meredith’s star is fading. After an explosive fight, the two former best friends part ways…until Meredith begins stalking Aspen and sabotaging her life.
This book was GREAT! There is a twist at about the halfway mark that pushed it into instant five-star territory for me. The characters are catty in a fun way, which made the book feel a bit like talking to that deliciously gossipy friend who’s a bit of a bad influence. This book was infused with wit without drifting into satire territory. And the ending was flawless! I definitely recommend this for your next creepy read.
This book was GREAT! There is a twist at about the halfway mark that pushed it into instant five-star territory for me. The characters are catty in a fun way, which made the book feel a bit like talking to that deliciously gossipy friend who’s a bit of a bad influence. This book was infused with wit without drifting into satire territory. And the ending was flawless! I definitely recommend this for your next creepy read.
May 15, 2024
2024 API Month
To all the people out there that hate on my one and two star reviews, and constantly tell me not to read genres I don't like, 1. Fuck you, and 2. This book, and others like it, are reasons why I continue to try genres I don't like.
I notoriously hate domestic thrillers. I hate every character in this book, and yet, loved it fiercely. I was two hours out from finishing last night, thought I'd stop at one, and then I couldn't stop.
Meredith and Aspen are momfluencers in LA. Gag me. I live in LA, and this is the worst kind of influencer, of which there are many. I will keep my green juice. You keep your Live, Laugh, Love sign. No, I don't think your décor is cute. Yes, I'm a hater.
So I've wanted to give Jesse's books another try. I didn't like Dial A for Aunties, because while I don't love cozy mysteries, some work for me. What will never work for me is second chance romance, which was the other category.
I know thrillers are inundated with twists, and I won't say I'm entirely surprised at the way this one turned out, but I loved it all the same. Maybe this won't be new if you only read thrillers. But the touch of Asian Americanness made it all the more palatable to me, as it is usually a very upper middle class white genre.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
To all the people out there that hate on my one and two star reviews, and constantly tell me not to read genres I don't like, 1. Fuck you, and 2. This book, and others like it, are reasons why I continue to try genres I don't like.
I notoriously hate domestic thrillers. I hate every character in this book, and yet, loved it fiercely. I was two hours out from finishing last night, thought I'd stop at one, and then I couldn't stop.
Meredith and Aspen are momfluencers in LA. Gag me. I live in LA, and this is the worst kind of influencer, of which there are many. I will keep my green juice. You keep your Live, Laugh, Love sign. No, I don't think your décor is cute. Yes, I'm a hater.
So I've wanted to give Jesse's books another try. I didn't like Dial A for Aunties, because while I don't love cozy mysteries, some work for me. What will never work for me is second chance romance, which was the other category.
I know thrillers are inundated with twists, and I won't say I'm entirely surprised at the way this one turned out, but I loved it all the same. Maybe this won't be new if you only read thrillers. But the touch of Asian Americanness made it all the more palatable to me, as it is usually a very upper middle class white genre.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
May 5, 2024
Many thanks to NetGalley for offering me the chance to read the latest Jesse Q. Sutanto. I've read one of the author's previous books and was about to start the series when this one showed up, so I opted for it instead. Mostly focused on two uber popular influencers, the book shows their rise and fall, their friendship and difficulties, and what others thought of them. But don't think it's so straightforward. I'm humming along, knowing it's a mystery, when bang, someone is killed. Sudden whodunnit, tho we know who it is... more about how to catch them, and what the real creativity of an Instagrammer and TikToker is really all about. Good story, lots to ponder... mostly disliked the characters, but you're meant to. Some people are just terrible! Liked that it was about Asian-American women, so it added a nuance we don't see often enough.
April 2, 2024
Synopsis:
Influencer Meredith was ditched by her mentee Aspen as soon as Aspen blew up. So when Meredith does some light stalking, it’s hard to feel bad for her. When she steals Aspen’s ipad and then her ideas, things get interesting.
Aspen is struggling. Her seemingly picture-perfect life is falling apart around her. She’s late to appointments, her daughters are rebelling, and even her husband is finding her hard to deal with.
When Meredith goes missing, Aspen’s world is upended, and she starts getting threats. But she won’t let anything, or anyone, get in the way of her life.
Thoughts:
I love books about influencers. There is just something about them that makes me want to grab the popcorn and a blanket and cozy up for a great read.
I loved getting this story from dual POV. Books done this way are usually more enjoyable for me, and that was the case with this one. In this case it was prior best friends, and I don’t think I’ve ever read one done this way before. Usually, I get dual POV in romance books, not necessarily thrillers, so it was refreshing.
I really loved to hate both Aspen and Meredith. Aspen decided to take the filtered approach to everything, and hey it worked, until it didn’t, and she hit a wall. Meredith struggled with ideas because she was so tired from being a single mom, but just when I thought I could sympathize with her, I learned something shocking and NOPE that went out the window – ha.
It wasn’t surprising that there were some generalized stereotypes thrown in throughout the pages. I know that they exist for a reason, but I think there were some good points as well. People want relatable but not unattainable, so it has to fit that niche when we post online. It’s a tricky balance and I know that I’ve struggled with it myself.
Seriously this book would make a good movie because it had so much drama and was a lot of fun!
Thank you to:
Thank you to Berkley Pub @BerkleyPub and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
Influencer Meredith was ditched by her mentee Aspen as soon as Aspen blew up. So when Meredith does some light stalking, it’s hard to feel bad for her. When she steals Aspen’s ipad and then her ideas, things get interesting.
Aspen is struggling. Her seemingly picture-perfect life is falling apart around her. She’s late to appointments, her daughters are rebelling, and even her husband is finding her hard to deal with.
When Meredith goes missing, Aspen’s world is upended, and she starts getting threats. But she won’t let anything, or anyone, get in the way of her life.
Thoughts:
I love books about influencers. There is just something about them that makes me want to grab the popcorn and a blanket and cozy up for a great read.
I loved getting this story from dual POV. Books done this way are usually more enjoyable for me, and that was the case with this one. In this case it was prior best friends, and I don’t think I’ve ever read one done this way before. Usually, I get dual POV in romance books, not necessarily thrillers, so it was refreshing.
I really loved to hate both Aspen and Meredith. Aspen decided to take the filtered approach to everything, and hey it worked, until it didn’t, and she hit a wall. Meredith struggled with ideas because she was so tired from being a single mom, but just when I thought I could sympathize with her, I learned something shocking and NOPE that went out the window – ha.
It wasn’t surprising that there were some generalized stereotypes thrown in throughout the pages. I know that they exist for a reason, but I think there were some good points as well. People want relatable but not unattainable, so it has to fit that niche when we post online. It’s a tricky balance and I know that I’ve struggled with it myself.
Seriously this book would make a good movie because it had so much drama and was a lot of fun!
Thank you to:
Thank you to Berkley Pub @BerkleyPub and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
Want to read
March 8, 2024Okay hear me out... I know I said I was done with Jesse Q. Sutanto books, but an adult thriller? I need to give this a shot since this is so different from the Aunties series! And I was approved for the ARC, so this will definitely be my next read.
Read my reviews for Jesse Q. Sutanto's books here:
Dial A For Aunties - 2 stars
Four Aunties and a Wedding - 2 stars
The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties - 2 stars (Release date: March 26th, 2024)
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers - 2 stars
Read my reviews for Jesse Q. Sutanto's books here:
Dial A For Aunties - 2 stars
Four Aunties and a Wedding - 2 stars
The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties - 2 stars (Release date: March 26th, 2024)
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers - 2 stars
April 12, 2024
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted (free) ARC
This book got me out of a reading slump, I was completely hooked from the very first chapter.
Aspen & Meredith have been best friends for years, making their own names as influencers with Meredith acting as a mentor to Aspen. But when Aspen surpasses Meredith, it puts a wrinkle in their relationship.
Told in dual POV, this book will have you completely consumed. I was so confused about who I was rooting for here, and honestly I don’t know that I ever came to a clear conclusion on whose side I was on. I would definitely recommend reading this book!!
This book got me out of a reading slump, I was completely hooked from the very first chapter.
Aspen & Meredith have been best friends for years, making their own names as influencers with Meredith acting as a mentor to Aspen. But when Aspen surpasses Meredith, it puts a wrinkle in their relationship.
Told in dual POV, this book will have you completely consumed. I was so confused about who I was rooting for here, and honestly I don’t know that I ever came to a clear conclusion on whose side I was on. I would definitely recommend reading this book!!
June 17, 2024
Momfluencer Meredith Lee is having great success on Insta and TikTok when she takes up-and-coming Aspen Palmer under her wing. Why shouldn't she share her expertise and knowledge on how to gain followers and reap the rewards? Meredith loves having Aspen as her one true friend. Her BFF. But when Aspen's social media platforms surpass Meredith's, Aspen leaves Meredith behind. She cuts ties and Meredith becomes obsessed with all things Aspen.
Aspen seems to have it all with her beautiful husband and kids, but pretending to be perfect for her fans is not as pretty as it looks. In fact, it's ugly! When Aspen's life starts to fall apart - missing appointments with major sponsors - Aspen must figure out who is sabotaging her. Aspen would do pretty much anything to keep her empire from crumbling especially because she's the major breadwinner in her family.
When Meredith goes missing, Aspen's life is threatened but can she find a way to keep her perfect life going or will Meredith's disappearance be the end of everything?
Jesse Q. Sutanto writes another delicious read focusing on female friendships and obsession. She nails it out of the park with her knowledge of all things social media and has a knack for creating unlikeable characters that I love. A juicy, twisty, and insane story that I devoured.
Thank you Edelweiss and Berkley for the advanced review copy.
Aspen seems to have it all with her beautiful husband and kids, but pretending to be perfect for her fans is not as pretty as it looks. In fact, it's ugly! When Aspen's life starts to fall apart - missing appointments with major sponsors - Aspen must figure out who is sabotaging her. Aspen would do pretty much anything to keep her empire from crumbling especially because she's the major breadwinner in her family.
When Meredith goes missing, Aspen's life is threatened but can she find a way to keep her perfect life going or will Meredith's disappearance be the end of everything?
Jesse Q. Sutanto writes another delicious read focusing on female friendships and obsession. She nails it out of the park with her knowledge of all things social media and has a knack for creating unlikeable characters that I love. A juicy, twisty, and insane story that I devoured.
Thank you Edelweiss and Berkley for the advanced review copy.
Want to read
February 26, 2024ARC received! Thank you so much, Berkley!!
Jesse Q. Sutanto is one of my go-to authors. I try to pick-up everything she writes as its released and I have been waiting for this one. It sounds so good!
I can't wait!!
Jesse Q. Sutanto is one of my go-to authors. I try to pick-up everything she writes as its released and I have been waiting for this one. It sounds so good!
I can't wait!!
February 14, 2024
𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡. 𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞.
We all know the terms Mean Girl and frenemy, but the crackling tension and barely concealed rage going on between influencers Meredith Lee and Aspen Palmer doesn't even scratch the surface of those terms. The jealousy and hostility was tangible enough to be a third character in the story. Meredith taught Aspen how to be an influencer, but when Aspen surpassed her in followers and views with her carefully curated videos of "mom life," Meredith's bitterness reaches a boiling point as she remembers every passive-aggressive comment, every dig, every slight, and the two have a huge falling out. Screaming, name-calling, blocked numbers, done.
But then the Universe hands Meredith a gift. While she's doing recon around Aspen's house,(because what's a little stalking among ex-best friends?) she finds Aspen's iPad with her calendar. Even better, she has access to her social media that's filled with complete drafts of videos and captions. It begins innocently enough, switching dates on meetings and showing up to meet with a sponsor instead of Aspen, who can't understand why her perfectly scheduled life is falling apart. Cracks are beginning to show in her family as her girls rebel against being used for likes and views, and right when she is falling apart, Meredith mysteriously goes missing. What better way to win back her followers than to film herself, raw and unedited, pleading to whomever took her "best friend" to please return her. And guess what, you guys? It works.
What happens after that was one of the most crafty, shrewd twists I've read in any thriller over the past few years. This book was a stark reminder of just how deadly jealousy can be, the need to constantly be validated, and how social media is so fake, that it often divides us rather than unites us. An absolutely stunning read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for this early copy. This book will publish August 20, 2024.
We all know the terms Mean Girl and frenemy, but the crackling tension and barely concealed rage going on between influencers Meredith Lee and Aspen Palmer doesn't even scratch the surface of those terms. The jealousy and hostility was tangible enough to be a third character in the story. Meredith taught Aspen how to be an influencer, but when Aspen surpassed her in followers and views with her carefully curated videos of "mom life," Meredith's bitterness reaches a boiling point as she remembers every passive-aggressive comment, every dig, every slight, and the two have a huge falling out. Screaming, name-calling, blocked numbers, done.
But then the Universe hands Meredith a gift. While she's doing recon around Aspen's house,(because what's a little stalking among ex-best friends?) she finds Aspen's iPad with her calendar. Even better, she has access to her social media that's filled with complete drafts of videos and captions. It begins innocently enough, switching dates on meetings and showing up to meet with a sponsor instead of Aspen, who can't understand why her perfectly scheduled life is falling apart. Cracks are beginning to show in her family as her girls rebel against being used for likes and views, and right when she is falling apart, Meredith mysteriously goes missing. What better way to win back her followers than to film herself, raw and unedited, pleading to whomever took her "best friend" to please return her. And guess what, you guys? It works.
What happens after that was one of the most crafty, shrewd twists I've read in any thriller over the past few years. This book was a stark reminder of just how deadly jealousy can be, the need to constantly be validated, and how social media is so fake, that it often divides us rather than unites us. An absolutely stunning read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for this early copy. This book will publish August 20, 2024.
February 20, 2024
Hello, Toxic Friends!
Well, if you’re in the mood for toxic friends, diverse main characters, and over-the-top-holy-crap situations, this is the book for you!
This is pure popcorn from the very first page and it does not let up.
I was absolutely appalled by these people and, friends, I did not care! I wanted to read more and more and more. It’s just so deliciously vicious.
This is a blast of a book feature the WORST people living their WORST lives and I was so here for it!
• ARC via Publisher
Well, if you’re in the mood for toxic friends, diverse main characters, and over-the-top-holy-crap situations, this is the book for you!
This is pure popcorn from the very first page and it does not let up.
I was absolutely appalled by these people and, friends, I did not care! I wanted to read more and more and more. It’s just so deliciously vicious.
This is a blast of a book feature the WORST people living their WORST lives and I was so here for it!
• ARC via Publisher
Read
November 29, 2023IMHO Sutanto writes the best domestic/psychological thrillers...couldn't wait for this to read...
June 17, 2024
****6/17/24**** I read ALL the Auntie and Vera Wang books, so was excited to get this NetGalley ARC to review. This is a 336-page friendship-gone-wrong that reveals itself as a mystery/thriller VERY ABRUPTLY at the 50% mark. It was so abrupt that I thought maybe my kindle jumped ahead somehow by mistake!? But no, just a super aggressive segue into thriller land for the second half of the book. I also felt like I missed some content related to Aspen's husband's extra-curricular activities that Aspen knew all about???
To enjoy this novel, you have to be a fairly big fan of the 'gram and the world of influencers. I'm unfortunately not (beyond my *extremely* tiny following for my book reviews and little free library content lol - @susantalksbooks if anyone cares), so I tired of reading about the constant "mom-life" curating of videos and lifestyle content, which takes up a LOT of this book. As for a thriller, it wasn't bad, as I didn't preview the book and it came as a big surprise for me as a reader.
I'm only giving this 3-stars because I found it darker than her other books that I rated 4-stars, and the plot wasn't of interest to me. YMMV.
****6/6/24**** Just downloaded new NetGalley ARC of this upcoming August 20 release! Looking forward to what early reviews indicate will be a great read.
To enjoy this novel, you have to be a fairly big fan of the 'gram and the world of influencers. I'm unfortunately not (beyond my *extremely* tiny following for my book reviews and little free library content lol - @susantalksbooks if anyone cares), so I tired of reading about the constant "mom-life" curating of videos and lifestyle content, which takes up a LOT of this book. As for a thriller, it wasn't bad, as I didn't preview the book and it came as a big surprise for me as a reader.
I'm only giving this 3-stars because I found it darker than her other books that I rated 4-stars, and the plot wasn't of interest to me. YMMV.
****6/6/24**** Just downloaded new NetGalley ARC of this upcoming August 20 release! Looking forward to what early reviews indicate will be a great read.
February 29, 2024
A book I binged in a day.
A peek into the lives of two women and their experiences as "influencers" on IG and TikTok and the demise that slowly happens. Meredith and Aspen become best friends and help one another in their online growth. As the years go on, Aspen becomes huge, with millions of followers and their relationship starts to become strained. Jealousy evolves as Aspen grows her online community and her family and Meredith begins to feel left out. Watching this complex friendship turned to stalking was fascinating.
A completely indulgent book that was a quick read, gripping, and had enough depth to keep me engaged. A friendship book that turned into a thriller and I loved it!
My biggest advice, DON'T read the GR synopsis. IMHO there is a major spoiler that you want to find for yourself!
This had a different feel from Sutanto's previous books, Dial A For Aunties and Vera Wong. Both of those had a level of humor in it. This didn't have the humor, but it still had some lightness to it. It didn't drag me down or feel dark, even though it was a serious book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the complimentary eARC.
A peek into the lives of two women and their experiences as "influencers" on IG and TikTok and the demise that slowly happens. Meredith and Aspen become best friends and help one another in their online growth. As the years go on, Aspen becomes huge, with millions of followers and their relationship starts to become strained. Jealousy evolves as Aspen grows her online community and her family and Meredith begins to feel left out. Watching this complex friendship turned to stalking was fascinating.
A completely indulgent book that was a quick read, gripping, and had enough depth to keep me engaged. A friendship book that turned into a thriller and I loved it!
My biggest advice, DON'T read the GR synopsis. IMHO there is a major spoiler that you want to find for yourself!
This had a different feel from Sutanto's previous books, Dial A For Aunties and Vera Wong. Both of those had a level of humor in it. This didn't have the humor, but it still had some lightness to it. It didn't drag me down or feel dark, even though it was a serious book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the complimentary eARC.
February 18, 2024
If you like friendship drama then does Satanto have one for you! I have read a handful of influencer trope thrillers and man did this one really dive into the delusions of these characters. Okay, NONE of the characters are likable. Not. One. They are selfish, petty, self centered, backstabbing…you get the idea. You find yourself having to root for one of them though. Do you want jealous Meredith or fake Aspen?
When one of them goes missing and the other becomes a suspect you get pure choreographed chaos!
The ending felt a bit rushed but overall I would recommend this book to those who like friendships gone wrong.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC!
When one of them goes missing and the other becomes a suspect you get pure choreographed chaos!
The ending felt a bit rushed but overall I would recommend this book to those who like friendships gone wrong.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC!
June 12, 2024
3.5 stars- this book hooked me from the beginning. I really loved this authors other book, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, and the way she writes is so easy to read.
I don’t really know how I felt about this book. This book stressed me out a bit with the sabotage angle and the characters were unlikeable. I also felt bored yet fascinated by the behind the scenes influencer parts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t really know how I felt about this book. This book stressed me out a bit with the sabotage angle and the characters were unlikeable. I also felt bored yet fascinated by the behind the scenes influencer parts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2024
Loved the twists in this book. You Will Never Be Me follows two "momfluencers", Aspen and Meredith. They were best friends and then once Aspen got more followers and fame than Meredith they have a falling out.
These two then go through some long drawn out and staged processes to stay relevant and keep their followers happy. As the story moves there minor characters become more promising as the book goes in terms of being likeable and important. However don't expect to like any of the characters because you won't
This is my 1st book from Jesse Sutanto, I really like her writing and how she formatted this story - I am interested in reading more from her
Thank you, Berkley, and NetGalley, for an ARC in return for my honest review.
These two then go through some long drawn out and staged processes to stay relevant and keep their followers happy. As the story moves there minor characters become more promising as the book goes in terms of being likeable and important. However don't expect to like any of the characters because you won't
This is my 1st book from Jesse Sutanto, I really like her writing and how she formatted this story - I am interested in reading more from her
Thank you, Berkley, and NetGalley, for an ARC in return for my honest review.
March 19, 2024
First things first: publishing companies need to stop REVEALING SO DAMN MUCH in their blurbs. This blurb reveals half of the story for no good reason. I get that they have better information on what works, but I would be satisfied with the premise summarised as "someone is out to ruin influencer Aspen Palmer's life - but who?" This book is definitely still worth reading even knowing the whole blurb (there is more), but it seems bizarre that Sutanto chose not to reveal the information that the blurb does until later on, while the blurb is out there telling the reader exactly where it goes.
Onto the novel itself...
3.5 stars
Here's the thing: I don't watch momfluencers. I don't have kids, which might have something to do with it. Their content just isn't interesting to me. But what I do know about parent influencers is...some of the worst stuff I've heard about people on the Internet. And, look, I grew up on the Internet, so I've heard a lot of terrible things. But let me just think of a few things I've heard about momfluencers in the last few years.
Intentionally scoping out a severely disabled child from a foreign country, then "rehoming" said disabled child when the child turned out to have severe disabilities. Returning to the Internet to lie about that exact sequence of events and to continue looking for another disabled child to exploit, because more or less selling one on eBay wasn't enough. Posting content of young daughters in underwear and discussing intimate matters like periods and "The Talk" for their audience of mainly adult men. Pulling cruel "pranks" on one child to highlight how they are the unloved/unwanted one, while said child screams and sobs hysterically, and posting those videos on YouTube. Forcing a teenager to sleep on the floor instead of on a bed for months as a punishment and then getting said teenager to appear in videos to defend it because it wasn't all that bad - and going on to abuse, beat, and imprison their younger siblings.
All the work of momfluencers that have found their way into my Internet life. (And their husbands, who are at best blank-faced enablers, and, at worst, abusive leaders in the whole nightmare, but still to slip away without responsibility).
All this to say: nothing affirms the misanthropic feeling that people might be worse than you imagine like parent influencers. That's not even touching that children put in this position even by loving and well-intentioned people aren't legally entitled to a cent of the millions they can make in exchange for hours of work, lost privacy, and the creation of a permanent digital footprint before they've even entered school.
For half this book, Jesse Sutanto's new novel butted up against this problem for me. How do you satirise a profession that is both so wild and, honestly, repellant? Aspen and Meredith aren't pleasant people, but their behaviour pales in comparison to so many people in their position. As a result, the novel hits this weird middle ground of being just crazy enough to be infuriating and page-turning, but not being heightened or comic or thought-provoking or even dark enough to take me over that ledge of annoyance into enjoying myself. It's still good - it just doesn't quite live up to either the premise or Sutanto's previous novels.
Then that twist hit and alllllll that changed. Sutanto takes her foot off the gas and all hell breaks loose, and we had fun! It's pretty derivative of other novels, but it's also fun to see those tropes getting updated for an age of TikTok and general out of control influencer backlash and backlash-to-the-backlash. Read it, switch off your brain, and have fun.
Onto the novel itself...
3.5 stars
Here's the thing: I don't watch momfluencers. I don't have kids, which might have something to do with it. Their content just isn't interesting to me. But what I do know about parent influencers is...some of the worst stuff I've heard about people on the Internet. And, look, I grew up on the Internet, so I've heard a lot of terrible things. But let me just think of a few things I've heard about momfluencers in the last few years.
Intentionally scoping out a severely disabled child from a foreign country, then "rehoming" said disabled child when the child turned out to have severe disabilities. Returning to the Internet to lie about that exact sequence of events and to continue looking for another disabled child to exploit, because more or less selling one on eBay wasn't enough. Posting content of young daughters in underwear and discussing intimate matters like periods and "The Talk" for their audience of mainly adult men. Pulling cruel "pranks" on one child to highlight how they are the unloved/unwanted one, while said child screams and sobs hysterically, and posting those videos on YouTube. Forcing a teenager to sleep on the floor instead of on a bed for months as a punishment and then getting said teenager to appear in videos to defend it because it wasn't all that bad - and going on to abuse, beat, and imprison their younger siblings.
All the work of momfluencers that have found their way into my Internet life. (And their husbands, who are at best blank-faced enablers, and, at worst, abusive leaders in the whole nightmare, but still to slip away without responsibility).
All this to say: nothing affirms the misanthropic feeling that people might be worse than you imagine like parent influencers. That's not even touching that children put in this position even by loving and well-intentioned people aren't legally entitled to a cent of the millions they can make in exchange for hours of work, lost privacy, and the creation of a permanent digital footprint before they've even entered school.
For half this book, Jesse Sutanto's new novel butted up against this problem for me. How do you satirise a profession that is both so wild and, honestly, repellant? Aspen and Meredith aren't pleasant people, but their behaviour pales in comparison to so many people in their position. As a result, the novel hits this weird middle ground of being just crazy enough to be infuriating and page-turning, but not being heightened or comic or thought-provoking or even dark enough to take me over that ledge of annoyance into enjoying myself. It's still good - it just doesn't quite live up to either the premise or Sutanto's previous novels.
Then that twist hit and alllllll that changed. Sutanto takes her foot off the gas and all hell breaks loose, and we had fun! It's pretty derivative of other novels, but it's also fun to see those tropes getting updated for an age of TikTok and general out of control influencer backlash and backlash-to-the-backlash. Read it, switch off your brain, and have fun.
March 13, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review this book.
I first came across this author with “Dial A for Aunties” and loved her work. Of course when a new book on NetGalley showed up, I jumped at the chance. I had high expectations.
Sadly, the author let me down. The book itself was fine. A mediocre 3-star. Entertaining enough, even though predictable.
The worst part was reading everything I did about diabetes. As a mother of a child with type 1 diabetes, I was appalled at the inaccurate references. Considering this book was published by a major publishing house, I was shocked. I took notes in all the areas where the references were incorrect. At some parts I had to cringe just to get through the book.
There is so much awareness about type 1 diabetes and the access, to knowledge about it, is infinite. I don’t know how this got past the editors. I have emailed the publisher with no response. Hopefully NetGalley will reach out.
With all that said, I give this book 1 star. It could have had a good thing going if someone bothered to do their homework.
If inaccurate medical references and mediocre drama incites you, pick this one up.
I first came across this author with “Dial A for Aunties” and loved her work. Of course when a new book on NetGalley showed up, I jumped at the chance. I had high expectations.
Sadly, the author let me down. The book itself was fine. A mediocre 3-star. Entertaining enough, even though predictable.
The worst part was reading everything I did about diabetes. As a mother of a child with type 1 diabetes, I was appalled at the inaccurate references. Considering this book was published by a major publishing house, I was shocked. I took notes in all the areas where the references were incorrect. At some parts I had to cringe just to get through the book.
There is so much awareness about type 1 diabetes and the access, to knowledge about it, is infinite. I don’t know how this got past the editors. I have emailed the publisher with no response. Hopefully NetGalley will reach out.
With all that said, I give this book 1 star. It could have had a good thing going if someone bothered to do their homework.
If inaccurate medical references and mediocre drama incites you, pick this one up.
March 2, 2024
This is a crackling and spooky thriller about social influencing and how quickly it can go wrong. Meredith taught her friend Aspen the ropes for social media, she was happy to have a convert and wanted a buddy to consult with. It wasn't long before Aspen surpassed her and left her behind. Meredith is so hurt and so jealous she takes steps that descend into stalking and madness. What happens next will leave your mouth open in shock but the truth is, we could all see it happen in real life.
If you love a good thriller, commentary on social media or just want to be a fly on the wall of a "real-life" housewives style meltdown. Read You Will Never Be Me! #youwillneverbeme #jessqsutanto #berkley
If you love a good thriller, commentary on social media or just want to be a fly on the wall of a "real-life" housewives style meltdown. Read You Will Never Be Me! #youwillneverbeme #jessqsutanto #berkley
March 4, 2024
This was such a fun and engaging thriller!! It is not often that I enjoy a book where the main characters are so unlikeable, but that is what is so special about this book, it draws you in you end up obsessed with their lives...which is ironic in and of itself as the book is trying to warn about the dangers of social media and influencing. I think that is why this book is so interesting, it touches on real life, raw issues in a very blunt way. Obviously it's dramatized for entertainment value in some aspects, but not all of them.
Readers meet Aspen and Meredith, two social media "mom-fluencers" when they first meet, Meredith has already risen to fame and takes Aspen under her wing to help her along. Fast forward many years and Aspen has now surpassed Meredith in popularity and they have had a blow up fight over jealously and popularity. When Meredith stumbles upon a chance to try and take Aspen down a few pegs, she can't resist. What follows is a stark reminder of how dangerous the world of social media can be, while also providing a fast paced, binge-worthy thriller read!!
Readers meet Aspen and Meredith, two social media "mom-fluencers" when they first meet, Meredith has already risen to fame and takes Aspen under her wing to help her along. Fast forward many years and Aspen has now surpassed Meredith in popularity and they have had a blow up fight over jealously and popularity. When Meredith stumbles upon a chance to try and take Aspen down a few pegs, she can't resist. What follows is a stark reminder of how dangerous the world of social media can be, while also providing a fast paced, binge-worthy thriller read!!
March 14, 2024
4.5 stars. I *loved* Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and enjoyed Dial A for Aunties, so was excited to read more from this author, especially a "non-cozy" thriller!
I recommend NOT reading the plot synopsis from Goodreads - it gives away something that doesn't happen at the beginning of the book and may spoil your enjoyment/suspense.
Here, we have two friends turned rivals in the social media influencer/mom-fluencer world. It was fun to get a glimpse into that world, but the two characters were not particularly likable. There may have been one or two tiny plot holes, and I'm not sure I would call the ending satisfying, but I did enjoy reading this and it definitely kept my interest. Will definitely read more from Jesse Sutanto--she can do both cozy and non-cozy thrillers!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I recommend NOT reading the plot synopsis from Goodreads - it gives away something that doesn't happen at the beginning of the book and may spoil your enjoyment/suspense.
Here, we have two friends turned rivals in the social media influencer/mom-fluencer world. It was fun to get a glimpse into that world, but the two characters were not particularly likable. There may have been one or two tiny plot holes, and I'm not sure I would call the ending satisfying, but I did enjoy reading this and it definitely kept my interest. Will definitely read more from Jesse Sutanto--she can do both cozy and non-cozy thrillers!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read
May 20, 2024DNF. This whole influencer, fake everything stuff is just not for me.
June 16, 2024
Meredith helps Aspen when she starts her career as an influencer and from there they are best friends until Aspen overtakes Meredith and they argue…
I found this a slow going novel but when it got to a twist it sped up and was much more enjoyable.
There are issues in this book, namely the unforgivable depiction of T1 diabetes and I hope the publisher looks in to this before it does go on general sale.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review which this is.
February 29, 2024
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the ARC!
Aspen is a YouTuber with a minuscule following who wants to make it big. She meets Meredith, a “big” influencer, who takes Aspen under her wing. As their friendship grows, Meredith guides Aspen on how to gain a following and a bigger social media presence — and eventually, Aspen builds a brand bigger than Meredith’s. Needless to say, jealousy is a b*tch, and things spiral from there.
Suspenseful, funny at times, thrilling, and makes you wonder whose side you’re on after all.
Aspen is a YouTuber with a minuscule following who wants to make it big. She meets Meredith, a “big” influencer, who takes Aspen under her wing. As their friendship grows, Meredith guides Aspen on how to gain a following and a bigger social media presence — and eventually, Aspen builds a brand bigger than Meredith’s. Needless to say, jealousy is a b*tch, and things spiral from there.
Suspenseful, funny at times, thrilling, and makes you wonder whose side you’re on after all.
May 1, 2024
ARC for review. To be published August 20, 2024.
Meredith Lee taught her BFF Aspen Palmer everything she knew about the subject of social media. Then Aspen surpassed her, plus they had a big fight so they aren’t even friends anymore. Now Meredith is the one looking on. Then Meredith finds one of Aspen’s kids’ iPads and gets access to all of Aspen’s information, and uses it to gain followers and to try to take down Aspen. Aspen doesn’t understand why her world is falling apart….and then things take a darker turn.
This book is by the author of VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS. Parts of this were fun, but other parts were a slog, reading about two really unlikeable characters (which can be enjoyable, but wasn’t here.)
Meredith Lee taught her BFF Aspen Palmer everything she knew about the subject of social media. Then Aspen surpassed her, plus they had a big fight so they aren’t even friends anymore. Now Meredith is the one looking on. Then Meredith finds one of Aspen’s kids’ iPads and gets access to all of Aspen’s information, and uses it to gain followers and to try to take down Aspen. Aspen doesn’t understand why her world is falling apart….and then things take a darker turn.
This book is by the author of VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS. Parts of this were fun, but other parts were a slog, reading about two really unlikeable characters (which can be enjoyable, but wasn’t here.)
March 23, 2024
I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Perhaps I should have a more organized approach to how I read my ARCs, because this book doesn’t come out until August. My strategy is just to scroll through what’s on my Kindle and pick the thing that jumps out in the moment - I rarely look at the release date until I’m actually trying to write a review. In this case, I’m dealing with some pretty bummer life stuff, so I wanted something frothy and distracting, and this fits the bill perfectly.
It’s tough to talk about this without giving too much away…which, as others have already pointed out, did not seem to be a concern for whoever wrote the blurb for this book! It’s a satirical tale of dueling momfluencers (a word that hurts my soul to type!). Meredith was once at the top of the influencer game, and took Aspen (formerly Ryleebelle, yeesh) under her wing and helped her grow her brand. But then Aspen got married, had a family, and switched her brand from lifestyle to “mom”, and basically blew up overnight. Given that they’ve always had more of a frenemy relationship, Meredith is understandably bitter about how their fortunes have shifted. She’s still trying to crack the high hundred thousands of followers, while Aspen is in the millions.
When the novel opens, the two friends have had a falling out, it’s not clear over what. We switch back and forth between their perspectives, so we can see that, while they each miss the other one, neither wants to be the first to cave and offer an apology. Things pretty much just go downhill from there.
I don’t want to spoil too much about what happens next, but suffice it to say, things get bonkers in a hurry. This is clearly meant to satirize influencers, so it’s extremely over the top, and every small revelation that a toddler could have reasoned out is treated with Maximum! Shock! Value! Eventually, things develop into a mystery, but it’s honestly more fun to watch these two bozos attempt to destroy one another.
I’ll save any spoilery comments for closer to the release date, but the one thing that bugged me (which could still change, given how far out the pub date is) was the ages of Aspen’s twin daughters. They’re meant to be six, but they read as closer to 10 or 11. One of them is sweet and loving and just wants mommy to be happy, while the other is snarky and does everything she can to ruin Aspen’s “happy family” videos (because, and I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say this: They’re all extremely staged and fake). Elea, the snarky one, read as MUCH older than six. And again, I get that it’s satire, so we’re not looking for reality here, but any time the twins were in a scene, it bugged me, because I kept thinking there’s no way a six year old would say or act that way. I see no reason why they can’t be aged up a few years. Other than that, this is pretty entertaining, as long as you don’t take it too seriously.
It’s tough to talk about this without giving too much away…which, as others have already pointed out, did not seem to be a concern for whoever wrote the blurb for this book! It’s a satirical tale of dueling momfluencers (a word that hurts my soul to type!). Meredith was once at the top of the influencer game, and took Aspen (formerly Ryleebelle, yeesh) under her wing and helped her grow her brand. But then Aspen got married, had a family, and switched her brand from lifestyle to “mom”, and basically blew up overnight. Given that they’ve always had more of a frenemy relationship, Meredith is understandably bitter about how their fortunes have shifted. She’s still trying to crack the high hundred thousands of followers, while Aspen is in the millions.
When the novel opens, the two friends have had a falling out, it’s not clear over what. We switch back and forth between their perspectives, so we can see that, while they each miss the other one, neither wants to be the first to cave and offer an apology. Things pretty much just go downhill from there.
I don’t want to spoil too much about what happens next, but suffice it to say, things get bonkers in a hurry. This is clearly meant to satirize influencers, so it’s extremely over the top, and every small revelation that a toddler could have reasoned out is treated with Maximum! Shock! Value! Eventually, things develop into a mystery, but it’s honestly more fun to watch these two bozos attempt to destroy one another.
I’ll save any spoilery comments for closer to the release date, but the one thing that bugged me (which could still change, given how far out the pub date is) was the ages of Aspen’s twin daughters. They’re meant to be six, but they read as closer to 10 or 11. One of them is sweet and loving and just wants mommy to be happy, while the other is snarky and does everything she can to ruin Aspen’s “happy family” videos (because, and I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say this: They’re all extremely staged and fake). Elea, the snarky one, read as MUCH older than six. And again, I get that it’s satire, so we’re not looking for reality here, but any time the twins were in a scene, it bugged me, because I kept thinking there’s no way a six year old would say or act that way. I see no reason why they can’t be aged up a few years. Other than that, this is pretty entertaining, as long as you don’t take it too seriously.
June 22, 2024
I think I might need a break from psychological thrillers. Or I need to stick to more age appropriate storylines. As someone in their upper 60s, I have no interest in TikTok or Instagram and am obviously not the intended audience. I don’t take pictures of my food before eating it. I don’t follow a single “influencer”. I didn’t know that momfluencer is a word. But I’ve liked Sutanto’s other books, so wanted to give this one a chance. But I think this may be a case of I’m just the wrong reader for this book.
The story alternates between Meredith and Aspen’s POV. When Meredith first met Aspen, she was happy to take her under her wing and help her grow her fan base. But she didn’t expect Aspen to become more popular, posting clips of her picture perfect life. And now jealousy has reared its ugly head.
As I’ve said before, I don’t need to like main characters, but I do need to find them interesting. Meredith at one point compares herself to Joe Goldberg, from Caroline Keppnes’ You series. Joe was beyond creepy, but he was interesting. Meredith was just whiny, once even bemoaning that she didn’t have a little girl because they’re easier to dress in cute outfits. I found it impossible to believe that she was shocked that Aspen’s Reels are fake. Really? Aspen, on the other hand, was just an ugly person. Her brand of look at my happy family was all at the expense of her family. But as the book went on, I could at least get into her survival at all costs attitude.
The book moved at a brisk pace and I was able to read the entire thing in one day. It definitely has a sort of can’t look away from the accident feel to it. At times, it felt like an adult version of high school mean girls. And here, every single woman was a mean girl.
This is another case of the blurb telling half the story. Why do publishers do this? It didn’t leave many surprises for the reader. Although there was one surprise at the end, but it was just plain unbelievable.
Again, this book is getting lots of positive reviews. I think I am just not the target audience.
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this book.
The story alternates between Meredith and Aspen’s POV. When Meredith first met Aspen, she was happy to take her under her wing and help her grow her fan base. But she didn’t expect Aspen to become more popular, posting clips of her picture perfect life. And now jealousy has reared its ugly head.
As I’ve said before, I don’t need to like main characters, but I do need to find them interesting. Meredith at one point compares herself to Joe Goldberg, from Caroline Keppnes’ You series. Joe was beyond creepy, but he was interesting. Meredith was just whiny, once even bemoaning that she didn’t have a little girl because they’re easier to dress in cute outfits. I found it impossible to believe that she was shocked that Aspen’s Reels are fake. Really? Aspen, on the other hand, was just an ugly person. Her brand of look at my happy family was all at the expense of her family. But as the book went on, I could at least get into her survival at all costs attitude.
The book moved at a brisk pace and I was able to read the entire thing in one day. It definitely has a sort of can’t look away from the accident feel to it. At times, it felt like an adult version of high school mean girls. And here, every single woman was a mean girl.
This is another case of the blurb telling half the story. Why do publishers do this? It didn’t leave many surprises for the reader. Although there was one surprise at the end, but it was just plain unbelievable.
Again, this book is getting lots of positive reviews. I think I am just not the target audience.
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this book.
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