
Member Reviews

I know I've really enjoyed a book when I feel a little sad when I finish it as I don't know if my next read will be nearly as good. This novel's about a mother who achieves huge social media success through her blogging about family life and the repercussions this has on her life and those around her. It's written from three different perspectives, which I feel has been done exceptionally well by Lloyd as she captures so well the different characters and their different tones. I found the novel compelling, unputdownable and never dull as it somehow manages to be lots of things: humorous, witty, earnest, chilling and creepy. Highly recommended.

Just finished this book and at times I found it hard to put down.
Emmy is a successful instamum (a blogger who shares her family life online), married to Dan an author who’s not entirely happy with his children being shared all over. However it pays well and so he keeps quiet.
Told in alternative chapters you start by being made aware something bad has happened and as the story unfolds we find out what.
It becomes clear all is not as it seems and someone is watching and planning revenge.
The story slowly builds pace leading you in several directions as we discover who they are and why they want to hurt Emmy and her family. There were times I thought one thing and then was led away from that as another clue led me another way.
The story is cleverly written to keep you hooked.
this is the first book I have read by this author and I will be keeping an eye out for more

People Like Her is the debut novel from Ellery Lloyd. Emmy Jackson lives her life on social media as ‘the_mamabare’. She’s an honest instamum who tells it like it really is even though her husband Dan is sick of seeing their kids on the internet. However it appears that not all Emmy’s followers are what they seem and she has an obsessed stalker.
This book is written from Emmy’s, Dan’s and the stalkers view points. I though it worked really well and the whole plot line flowed at a nice pace with enough information being given with each chapter to lead you intriguingly onto the next. This author is certainly one to watch. Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and the author for the chance to review.

Blogging can be very dangerous for some people who take it all in.
Lots of suspense to keep you reading.
Emma is a serious blogger lying about her life as a mother giving advice to thousands of other mothers, some bad advice given with bad results, resulting in a relative stalking her family, with lots of twists keeping you in suspense.
Looks into the life of a serious blogger and everything they have to do to keep the fans and how they can be easily influenced by social media and the sad way people can be easily taken in, a true fact in this day and age unfortunately.
a good written book with a unexpected ending worth the read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in return for my honest review

I LOVED this book. I have a new born baby & this book kept me gripped when she was napping. It is SO good. Excellent twists really good characters & a fast moving plot. It would make a really good Netflix series too Can't wait for more from this writer.

What a fantastic read.
I'm sure most of us have portayed ourselves differently on social media. That selfie that took twenty takes or the perfect meal that tasted horrible.
I'm sure most of us have stalked someone in one way or another, perhaps to see what an ex is up to or to view their new girlfriend.
Emily takes things further she's a professional influencer so every post has to be perfect. Every detail planned. But putting your life online opens yourself up to strangers who think they know you.
This book illustrated the dark side of social media, the hard work involved in being perfect.
The pace was excellent and the prose flowed to a shattering climax. I really couldnt put it down.

Wow for my first read of 2021
I love Instagram and I am also a mum so it really hit home about the dangers of social media and your children.
It was cleverly wrote and such a page Turner
I read it in one night.
Now I need the sequel writing pretty please. This has surely got to be a must book for the new year

Let's kick off 2021 with a book that's very much 'of its time'.
'People Like Her' explores the world of social media influencers - especially the so-called 'Instamums' who play out their lives in the constant glare of Instagram. Emmy is an ex-fashionista whose desire to blog about her love of shoes (this girl has hidden shallows) evolved into projecting a finely-crafted image of a hassled but empathetic mother or Mamabear. Her husband Dan has a successful first novel behind him, but is struggling with the difficult second novel.
I have never been on Instagram. I've never even looked at it. I have zero desire to let something so irritating and manipulative into my life. I'm sick of so-called social media celebrities and 'influencers'. 20 years ago, young people wanted to be famous by going on TV talent shows or Big Brother. Now they think they can change the world through 'influencing' and 'collaborating'. Everybody seems to be looking for the next free meal, spa stay or boxes of branded goodies.
Emmy and Dan are not likeable characters. Actually, nobody in this book is likeable or even slightly sympathetic. It takes talent to not let even a tiny crack of 'niceness' into a whole book's worth of characters.
At points, I almost - but not quite - felt sorry for Emmy for the mess of her own making that she was drowning in. The constant need to check for messages, respond to them - even the nasty ones, perhaps especially the nasty ones - the sense that once you've sold your soul to the public and the sponsors, you're going to pay sooner or later. Cheap success has its price and this seemingly perfect couple get to find out just how dangerous it is to put your life 'out there' for the world to judge and respond.
As a cautionary tale for our times, 'People Like Her' hits the zeitgeist and I hope it may make a few people stop and think about why they're buying into the influencer 'thing' and assess whether anything is real any more.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this page-turning quick read. Nothing too complex but rather thought-provoking.

The World Wide Web, the internet, social media, it has it's pro's and con's, if your not careful it can be very addictive and can be bad for your self esteem and mental health. It can be a good place to make friends and communicate with people but it's also a place were people can be who they want to be and post what they like without fear of recriminations and without caring about the pain and hurt they are causing others. And if someone unscrupulous wants to find where you live all it takes is knowing a few sparse details, a few clicks on the keypad and that person could end up virtually standing outside your house.
Emmy is a highly successful social media influencer, queen bee of the #MamaBear brand, sharing the lives of her hubby Dan and their two children Coco and Bear in cleverly orchestrated Instagram posts.
Dan doesn't like pictures of his children being shared all over the internet but he has been suffering from serious writer's block for the last eight years plus there is only one person who wears the trousers in their house and it definitely isn't Dan.
Out in the online world someone has been searching for Emmy, someone who hates her, someone with a plan and is waiting patiently for the perfect opportunity to put it into action.
The chapters of this book were voiced from the perspectives of Emmy, Dan and the mystery character who's parts were written in italics. As well as being a story about the pro's and con's of the internet, this is the story of how our behaviour as adults can be influenced by our upbringing and our interactions with our parents when we were children. Both good and bad examples of parenting are a running theme throughout this mesmerising thriller and makes it difficult to judge the actions of some of the characters. I liked Dan, he had a wicked sense of humour and caused me to laugh out loud a number of times. I felt a lot of sympathy for poor Polly because of how badly she was treated and I was quite surprised when I ended up actually liking Irene just a tiny bit by the end of the story. The plot contained a in-depth study into the highly competitive world of influencers, the photo shoots and interviews, the constant pressure to be perfect and how quickly people can turn against you.
This is a extremely well written, debut thriller with a plot that covers a myriad of relatable subjects, the characters were well rounded and believable, it was a intense and uncomfortable read at times, thought provoking, had some unexpected twists and turns and had a spine chilling conclusion. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down, I wanted to know what was going on and why this person was targeting Emmy and her family?. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of this author's books in the future.

This is a social media-based thriller that had be GRIPPED! Focused on ‘influencer mummy’ Emmy and her family, People Like Her uncovers what can go wrong when you’re Insta-famous but totally fake about it. Some serious issues such as suicide, miscarriages, and abortion are touched upon in the book and it has a really, really tense last section with a good twist that is needed to finish off a thriller!
While I couldn’t relate to the characters and their influencer obsessed lives, and nor were they particularly likeable, it was in the absolute best way.
Thanks to Netgalley and Mantle for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I found the perspective of this book really interesting. As an over 50's person I think the young influencers don't necessarily work hard and are gifted in life. This book really opened my eyes. Elly is a renowned influencer at the top of her game. Her husband Dan has had a novel published but number two is still in the wind. Someone who followed mamabare's advice is now dead and her mother is determined to get revenge. Will she succeed??
A clever book, fast paced and keeps the interest.

I wasn't sure when I picked up Ellery Lloyd's debut that it would appeal to me as I have no interest in the world of social media influencers. However this book has received a lot of advance praise from those whose opinions I respect so I gave it a go. It is a gripping, well written and well plotted novel that I became completely immersed in. It is well paced novel, written from multiple view points and an original look inside the lives of influencers who become celebrities.
Highly recommended
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

Instamum Emmy Jackson is at the top of her game with mamabare. Followed by millions her account and opinions influence the lives of new, struggling and adoring new mums. So what if her out of work writer husband no longer agrees with the site or her own children start to suffer ? Isn't she the bread winner who's legion of fans keep a roof over everyone heads and money in the bank? But what happens when one of the fans disagrees with the advice and lifestyle that Emmy has grown accustomed to posting on line?
An interesting and sometimes uncomfortable look at how social media and influencers have taken over so much of people's lives in today's world. This will definitely make you think twice about what you post on line and just how many people can see it and perceive it.
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC copy.

I’ve read a few books that deal with influencer culture and this, like others, shows the darker aspects of having an opinion online. Emmy Jackson is social media sensation Mamabare, someone who is well known – and appreciated to a large extent – about the realities of being a parent. But someone knows that Emmy isn’t exactly telling the whole truth and plans on revealing it all… It is definitely a darker read than I expected and it is timely, a reminder that we shouldn’t place everything we have onto social media.

There has always been interest in celebrity lives. People have bought magazines to see inside famous people's homes, what they are wearing and what products they use. In days past, they usually have another job - actor, journalist, politician, royalty or just married to someone rich. Paid to wear and name drop products so others would buy them.
As the Internet grew and anyone could have a platform online, the role of influencer has arrived. They detail their lives, paid to promote products through their Instagram accounts.
Emmy is an instamum, detailing her life as an 'ordinary mum'. Her followers see her as so one to aspire to. She understands their motherhood trials and they celebrate her successes. The fact that brands pay her for promoting products helps her to earn a very nice lifestyle.
Husband, Dan, is getting concerned with the impact on family life and how Emmy's life is dictated by the perfect Instagram post.
Then throw in the followers: the fans, the trolls and how what Emmy says influences their lives.
This is not my world and I was interested in finding out more behind the scenes. The plot was a little slow at first as the scene was set but built nicely. Told alternately by Emmy and Dan and a mystery person, it covers all angles.
Despite not liking the characters, I did enjoy the story.
Would I recommend it? Definitely

The intrigue, mystique and constant keeping me guessing and little red herrings thrown in made this story so compelling and enthralling! I love how the chapters shifted from each characters perspective and over time they gradually unfolded, revealing just enough ya tiki song little details and clues to start to let you piece it all together but the ending was still quite shocking! The main character, setting and theme of the book is also so current and relevant and so relatable, it makes it much more realistic also! It also highlights the darker, sinister side of social media and does at times, make you laugh at the utter nonsense of it all. A gripping, fast paced, wonderful read... which I finished in less than a day! Couldn’t put down read!!

I love love LOVED this cleverly written thriller, and can't wait to see what's next from this author. The plot plays brilliantly on the "Instamum" trope, following the life of Emmy and her carefully plotted Insta career in which every photo of her children, every thought, and every situation is stage managed and turned into a money making opportunity. It was fascinating to realise the amount of work that goes in to building a career like this, and Emmy's story, interspersed with the story of a mysterious and sinister Other who wishes Emmy harm for a reason not clear from the outset, is perfectly plotted, and deftly managed.
The characters are well developed, and even though I really hated Emmy at times, she never sank too deep into panto villain is to be unrelatable, there was always an element of sympathy there for her (even if sometimes I had to dig a bit for it!).
An absolutely unique and original novel with a killer ending - this one will stay with me.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Great concept to explore how Instagram influencers are affecting people’s lives, but I thought this was overlong and almost missed the point it was trying to make.

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Review This was a critical and addictive book tearing apart the"reality" of Instagram influencers particularly parenting accounts and the pitfalls of ads, opportunities and putting your life & family up for all to consume. It also examines the psychological impacts this kind of consumption and addiction can create and the ugly side of fame. There's been many controversial meltdowns and scandals involving people lying, harassing or manipulating "behind the scenes" on Instagram and it's important to realise this book is very much based on fact from various examples of similar real life scandals.
I did find some of the scenes very disturbing and uncomfortable reading, there are themes you would be best researching if you are sensitive.
I hated the ending but equally found it fitting for the characters and the hook of the book, you aren't happy with it but it's completely believable.

'People Liker Her' is a great read. I loved the exploration of the toxic world of social media celebrities. It was really fascinating to see it from the perspective of the insta-mum, and her justifications, as well as her immediate loved ones and their reactions.
I did find the start a little slow, but the slow burn of the 'villain' and their backstory was so well done. The build up of the last few chapters was so exciting and I found myself racing to the end. I loved the way things seemed on the surfaced to be wrapped up neatly, but the final little twist and the way the characters reacted in the fall out was quite unnerving.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.