Is it too early to declare Megan Angelo’s debut one of the best novels of 2020? Maybe. Even so, it’s probably one of the funniest and most hopeful dystopian stories you’ll come across this year ... Even if you aren’t a fan of science fiction or reality TV, Followers delivers a shrewd look at human relationships, habits and obsessions. Of all the doomsday scenarios out there, perhaps it won’t be too bad if this one comes true after all.
Angelo cleverly weaves together two seeming unrelated timelines which meet one another in the thrilling conclusion of this contemporary, sci-fi masterpiece giving readers the ‘everything coming together’ moment leading to a satisfying, emotional conclusion ... a believable and terrifying pathway showing how our current obsession with social media, sharing, and celebrities may continue to grow and evolve over time leading to a dark and damming end. Angelo invites us to question many contemporary issues around social media, privacy, and fame as well as forcing the us to take a good hard look at our own internet usage, friendships, careers, values and choices ... Angelo writes with sensitivity and humour as well as relatable characters and dilemmas, particularly for the young female reader just starting out life as an adult and finding it more than a little daunting. The writing is so creative and seamless, I actually had a hard time believing that Followers is Megan Angelo’s debut novel! It feels like she has been storytelling for years ... Thought provoking, challenging, emotional, and funny, Angelo has written a spectacular debut novel you will not be able to put down.
The shrewd and surprisingly moving result is a darkly prophetic novel that takes an incisive look at women, fame and the future of social media stardom ... Angelo sharpens the tension by adding a satiric bite that provides a constant reminder that Internet and reality television fame are tricky balancing acts ... Although fast-paced, Followers will make rich discussion material for book clubs, raising hard questions about the price of celebrity, the ethics of technology use and how much of today's entertainment contains subtle commercials. At the same time, its core sings with emotion. Angelo's high-concept plot hangs gracefully on the framework provided by the interesting chemistry between her characters ... An excavation of a complex female friendship as well as a deep dive into the direction social media is pulling the U.S., Angelo's first outing is sharp, perceptive and ultimately hopeful.
...an insider's peek ... Followers is an engaging confection wrapped around a thoughtful critique of how we live our lives online, and how we value others based on their curated personas ... it is Angelo’s acute awareness of our dependence on other people’s likes that is most prescient.
... a sharp, timely satire that is by turns funny and terrifying ... Angelo cleverly skewers contemporary celebrity and social media culture ... is about more than just the dangers of chasing likes and giving up our most intimate details to companies like Facebook. This isn’t just an episode of Black Mirror in book form. It’s also about female friendship, motherhood and identity.
... [an] intelligent page-turner ... The throwaway suspense plot involves a paternity secret that links the characters in the two time frames. But the fun of Followers is the way it carries today’s social media bread-and-circus to possible extremes.
... dark, witty, and astute ... a satire in which scraps of optimism drift down the streets of Manhattan like torn and trampled flyers ... an acid dissection of social media–based stardom ... Is there a moral to this story? Probably not. And that’s the realest thing about it.
As a journalist, Angelo has immersed herself in issues of popular culture, including women and social media, both of which are at the heart of this clever futuristic tale ... [an] incisive dystopian novel.
Angelo masterfully intertwines the lives of Orla, Floss, and Marlow while reflecting a painfully accurate picture of our current fame-driven, tech-obsessed society and its possible destruction. Her writing is crisp and the familiarity of the characters is refreshing. Angelo also weaves in a perspective on contemporary political decisions and the effect they could have on us all in the not-so-distant future. This is an intricate and brave story of friendship, ambition, and love and the lengths people will go to protect it all.
Both the 2015 and 2051 plots revolve around a mysterious event called the Spill, which feels somewhat less original and interesting than the buildup to its reveal. However, the joy of the details continues all the way to a denouement in Atlantis (formerly Atlantic City), where the relationships we have begun to suspect between the characters of the two plotlines are untangled and confirmed ... Endless clever details and suspenseful plotting make this speculative-fiction debut an addictive treat.
In her spectacular debut, Angelo masterfully explores the dark side of social media ... skillfully builds to a terrifyingly believable climax. There are also sly references to a few current pop-culture names—including Charlotte C. Mezvinsky (aka Hillary Clinton’s granddaughter) as the mayor of New York in 2051. Angelo delivers a strong, consistently fascinating debut.
