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Click
Stranger. Friend. Enemy.
Which version do you believe?
A taut, page-turning psychological thriller from a brilliant new voice. The perfect read for fans of HE SAID/SHE SAID and GOOD ME BAD ME.
When socially awkward Eva arrives at university, she’s ready to leave the past behind. But old behaviours creep in and she finds herself ostracized, spending more and more time alone, living vicariously through social media.
She develops an unhealthy fixation with her glamorous and beguiling classmate Marina – whose sparkly façade hides a thousand lies – and follows her obsessively. When Marina is found dead, and Eva is to found to have been impersonating her online, people have a lot of questions to ask.
And Eva’s reliability – and innocence – is cast into dark shadow…
Which version do you believe?
A taut, page-turning psychological thriller from a brilliant new voice. The perfect read for fans of HE SAID/SHE SAID and GOOD ME BAD ME.
When socially awkward Eva arrives at university, she’s ready to leave the past behind. But old behaviours creep in and she finds herself ostracized, spending more and more time alone, living vicariously through social media.
She develops an unhealthy fixation with her glamorous and beguiling classmate Marina – whose sparkly façade hides a thousand lies – and follows her obsessively. When Marina is found dead, and Eva is to found to have been impersonating her online, people have a lot of questions to ask.
And Eva’s reliability – and innocence – is cast into dark shadow…
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 18, 2019
Click by L Smyth shows the scary side of the online world, in particular social media. Do you really know who you are talking to? This was a quick read but I did find at times the story was a bit drawn out. I had an idea of what the secret was fairly early on - not exactly but I was in the right area. I enjoyed this book but I expected a but more from the story.
Eva is starting university and wants a fresh start. She is desperate for real friends and a new life. But this is harder than it sounds for her and soon finds herself online stalking her classmates. She feels herself drawn to Marina in particular. She becomes obsessed with her and is determined to become friends with her. But Marina is not all that she seems online and their friendship only lasts a few months. But she will spend the rest of her life suffering from it.
Thanks to Harper Impulse and Killer Reads and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Eva is starting university and wants a fresh start. She is desperate for real friends and a new life. But this is harder than it sounds for her and soon finds herself online stalking her classmates. She feels herself drawn to Marina in particular. She becomes obsessed with her and is determined to become friends with her. But Marina is not all that she seems online and their friendship only lasts a few months. But she will spend the rest of her life suffering from it.
Thanks to Harper Impulse and Killer Reads and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
April 18, 2019
Interesting character study and cautionary tale about a freshman in college who is looking to find happiness in all the wrong people and places.
The story centers around Eva, an eighteen year old who comes from a very small town and has been home schooled most of her life and is hoping to find new friends, new ideas and a new approach to her life that she felt was missing while she was growing up. Eva spends too much time looking at other people's lives on social media instead of actually living her own life. Finally, she sees a student's picture that seems to be everything that Eva is not, and she looks all over campus hoping to run into this girl whose name is Marina and maybe strike up a friendship. The story delves into a three month complex relationship which includes many secrets, lies, drugs, love, hate and many misunderstandings. The book unfolds like a simmering volcano waiting to erupt.
I was hoping for a thrilling story,, unfortunately this books was a very long, slow burn. The book was well-written but it really dragged for me almost the entire time. Maybe, if the book was listed as a drama or fiction, I would not have been so disappointed as I was expecting a suspenseful mystery or exciting thriller. I do feel the book touched on important issues in a teenager's life that parents should be aware of since older children are very clever at keeping secrets and not wanting to expose their real selves to parents and other family members. I want to thank Netgally and there publishers Harper Collins Publishers and Killer Reads for the opportunity to read this book! I have rated this book 3 Slow Burning 🌟🌟🌟 stars!!
The story centers around Eva, an eighteen year old who comes from a very small town and has been home schooled most of her life and is hoping to find new friends, new ideas and a new approach to her life that she felt was missing while she was growing up. Eva spends too much time looking at other people's lives on social media instead of actually living her own life. Finally, she sees a student's picture that seems to be everything that Eva is not, and she looks all over campus hoping to run into this girl whose name is Marina and maybe strike up a friendship. The story delves into a three month complex relationship which includes many secrets, lies, drugs, love, hate and many misunderstandings. The book unfolds like a simmering volcano waiting to erupt.
I was hoping for a thrilling story,, unfortunately this books was a very long, slow burn. The book was well-written but it really dragged for me almost the entire time. Maybe, if the book was listed as a drama or fiction, I would not have been so disappointed as I was expecting a suspenseful mystery or exciting thriller. I do feel the book touched on important issues in a teenager's life that parents should be aware of since older children are very clever at keeping secrets and not wanting to expose their real selves to parents and other family members. I want to thank Netgally and there publishers Harper Collins Publishers and Killer Reads for the opportunity to read this book! I have rated this book 3 Slow Burning 🌟🌟🌟 stars!!
March 23, 2019
For some reason I always seem to be drawn to thrillers involving the internet or social media; I think it's the ambiguity of it all and the fact that it's a playground where many weirdos congregate, so when I discovered Click it appeared to be right up my street. Unfortunately, it failed to live up to expectations due to poor execution. If I'm brutally honest I found it extremely boring as it's far too long and drawn out; maybe tightening up of the text would've made a difference. The author did, however, create an ominous, creepy atmosphere at certain points throughout, which I did appreciate.
The story highlights the potential for crazies to cause issues for people on the internet, and our main character, Eva, shows how cyberstalking, obsession and manipulation is rife due to the protection anonymity brings. The cast are all intensely unlikeable, so if you need likeable characters to enjoy a book this may not be a good fit. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators then this is worth checking out, but I can't say I had fun reading it.
Many thanks to Killer Reads for an ARC.
The story highlights the potential for crazies to cause issues for people on the internet, and our main character, Eva, shows how cyberstalking, obsession and manipulation is rife due to the protection anonymity brings. The cast are all intensely unlikeable, so if you need likeable characters to enjoy a book this may not be a good fit. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators then this is worth checking out, but I can't say I had fun reading it.
Many thanks to Killer Reads for an ARC.
October 22, 2020
Marina dies - suicide or murder? After her death, a fake account is made of her, talking to a man on a dating site. Eva isn't convinced of her own mind - could she have hurt her friend? Wow - what a book!
I really, really enjoyed this book! It didn't seem like it took long to read at all, the story flowed so well and was so twisty and intriguing!
Eva is a typical kinda annoying character. She gets annoyed when other people only think about themselves and yet it becomes quite clear through the book that she is the same.
Marina seems troubled, even through a book it was obvious. I loved how a big twist of a story came from what happened with Marina. I didn't see it coming. The ending was left quite open too, in a way that the reader has to make their own mind up with the evidence they've been given. It really made the story stand out to others I've read.
I really, really enjoyed this book! It didn't seem like it took long to read at all, the story flowed so well and was so twisty and intriguing!
Eva is a typical kinda annoying character. She gets annoyed when other people only think about themselves and yet it becomes quite clear through the book that she is the same.
Marina seems troubled, even through a book it was obvious. I loved how a big twist of a story came from what happened with Marina. I didn't see it coming. The ending was left quite open too, in a way that the reader has to make their own mind up with the evidence they've been given. It really made the story stand out to others I've read.
November 11, 2019
*thank you to Netgalley, L. Smyth, Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
2 stars
This was barely just OK. I kept drifting while reading it and I wanted to like it. It had a pretty good sypnosis so it had potential. Unfortunately it wasn't for me. It got a bit boring at times.
2 stars
This was barely just OK. I kept drifting while reading it and I wanted to like it. It had a pretty good sypnosis so it had potential. Unfortunately it wasn't for me. It got a bit boring at times.
March 27, 2019
#netGalley
#Click
This book sounded so good!
We've all been warned to be careful online, not to get too close to a stranger because we have no idea what they are really like.
Eva was, weird, creepy and scary.
Her obsession with Marina was chilling.
I guessed part of the big reveal at the end but I enjoyed the book quite a bit.
A solid creepy thriller, creepier because it could really happen!
thanks to Netgalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
back cover--
Stranger. Friend. Enemy.
Which version do you believe?
A taut, page-turning psychological thriller from a brilliant new voice. The perfect read for fans of HE SAID/SHE SAID and GOOD ME BAD ME.
When socially awkward Eva arrives at university, she’s ready to leave the past behind. But old behaviours creep in and she finds herself ostracized, spending more and more time alone, living vicariously through social media.
She develops an unhealthy fixation with her glamorous and beguiling classmate Marina – whose sparkly façade hides a thousand lies – and follows her obsessively. When Marina is found dead, and Eva is to found to have been impersonating her online, people have a lot of questions to ask.
And Eva’s reliability – and innocence – is cast into dark shadow… (less)
#Click
This book sounded so good!
We've all been warned to be careful online, not to get too close to a stranger because we have no idea what they are really like.
Eva was, weird, creepy and scary.
Her obsession with Marina was chilling.
I guessed part of the big reveal at the end but I enjoyed the book quite a bit.
A solid creepy thriller, creepier because it could really happen!
thanks to Netgalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
back cover--
Stranger. Friend. Enemy.
Which version do you believe?
A taut, page-turning psychological thriller from a brilliant new voice. The perfect read for fans of HE SAID/SHE SAID and GOOD ME BAD ME.
When socially awkward Eva arrives at university, she’s ready to leave the past behind. But old behaviours creep in and she finds herself ostracized, spending more and more time alone, living vicariously through social media.
She develops an unhealthy fixation with her glamorous and beguiling classmate Marina – whose sparkly façade hides a thousand lies – and follows her obsessively. When Marina is found dead, and Eva is to found to have been impersonating her online, people have a lot of questions to ask.
And Eva’s reliability – and innocence – is cast into dark shadow… (less)
September 22, 2019
The story was a little confusing and sometimes I found it hard to keep things straight and to want to keep going. As I got towards the end of the book, I felt that the pace picked up and I wanted to finish the story. I didn't feel invested in what happened to the characters as I read the story as I would in a story that had made me care about them. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book via NetGalley.
July 10, 2019
Two and a half star rating.
Eva, a loner who has been homeschooled is now a student at university, something she didn’t seem prepared for. She latches on to another student, Marina and also cyberstalks people she knows. Eva is strange and Marina a cold fish. This book, for me, never really got going sadly so I didn’t engage with anyone in it. Thought from the blurb that it would be a thriller, but it wasn’t - disappointing. I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Eva, a loner who has been homeschooled is now a student at university, something she didn’t seem prepared for. She latches on to another student, Marina and also cyberstalks people she knows. Eva is strange and Marina a cold fish. This book, for me, never really got going sadly so I didn’t engage with anyone in it. Thought from the blurb that it would be a thriller, but it wasn’t - disappointing. I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2019
A very quick read and interesting overall but unfortunately it lacked a lot for me regarding unveiling the layers of a thriller or suspense with more substance.
This book brings awareness of the social media interaction and how this changes our life in better but mostly in a bad way as obsessive behaviour can be found early in persons affected by it.
Enjoyable at times, good writing and interesting overall but lacks in mystery for me.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy.
This book brings awareness of the social media interaction and how this changes our life in better but mostly in a bad way as obsessive behaviour can be found early in persons affected by it.
Enjoyable at times, good writing and interesting overall but lacks in mystery for me.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy.
March 25, 2019
Oh social media! You can hide lots even as you show a lot. Eva is a young and immature woman who arrives at university really unprepared for so much. She becomes obsessed with Marina, who seems to have it all- or does she? How these two tangle together and then blow apart makes for a quick entertaining read. There's an unreliable narrator, a twist or two, and well done characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
March 14, 2019
I got this as a arc e book from net galley for my i pad. I enjoyed reading it. It had a good story to it. It is my first book read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.
October 22, 2019
Click - L Smyth
When Eva starts University she doesn’t expect to become completely and utterly addicted and obsessed with another university student. Sadly for Eva that’s just the type of personality she has and it was clearly going to happen as she stalked everyone on social media before even starting her courses. Marina is everything she wants to be an more and when Eva feels Marina is rejecting her friendship thinks start to get peculiar and Eva gets herself into a whole she can’t get out of.
I found the chapters incredibly long and didn’t build much suspense. It was an enjoyable story plot but it lacked that extra detail to have me on the edge of my seat.
When Eva starts University she doesn’t expect to become completely and utterly addicted and obsessed with another university student. Sadly for Eva that’s just the type of personality she has and it was clearly going to happen as she stalked everyone on social media before even starting her courses. Marina is everything she wants to be an more and when Eva feels Marina is rejecting her friendship thinks start to get peculiar and Eva gets herself into a whole she can’t get out of.
I found the chapters incredibly long and didn’t build much suspense. It was an enjoyable story plot but it lacked that extra detail to have me on the edge of my seat.
March 29, 2019
A good read, but cannot say that it had me gripped. The story had a few twists, which always keeps me turning the pages. I am very wary of using social media and having read this book, only reaffirms my thoughts. A well written book and one that i would suggest my eldest granddaughter reads. It is worth a read.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review.
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June 28, 2020Gripping thriller which brings psychological subtlety to the blare and glare of social media
This is a fantastic read. Genuinely stands on it’s own within the thriller genre, but more impressively it manages to shed new light and explore new psychological aspects of the well-trodden world of social media/internet addiction. It’s also, for anyone who went to a Uni like Northam, a refreshing and often quite funny satire on university life.
I started to read Click soon after finishing the highly-addictive and enjoyable TV-series, You. For context, You explores how dangerous social media can be in allowing anybody and everybody with half a tech-brain to know everything and anything about you, your family, your cat etc. You is fun, shocking, occasionally thought-provoking, and often verging on absurd trash. I loved it and it was my favourite internet/social-media focussed show, book, or film - until I started reading Click.
Click is interested in the psychological impact of internet addiction and Smyth writes about the journey we have all taken down the social media rabbit hole with subtlety and refreshing candour. She doesn’t gloss up or overly explain why we do what we do, but is more interested in what it does to our bodies and minds as we do it: the dirtiness of looking at someones photos from five years ago, the adrenaline rush of scrolling further and further into their timeline, and the sheer panic and horror of feeling like you have been publicly outed for something. Internet addiction is often vilified as the hobby of the sociopathic creep or the potentially dangerous geek, but most of us have in some way experienced a period of addiction to some form of technology in our lives and thats kinda normal. Without wanting to give too much away, it would easy to lose interest and empathy for Eva, the narrator, but Smyth’s ability to article the nuances of Eva’s inner-thoughts and feelings as she clicks makes her one of the most compelling characters.
My only nitpick would be that the last forty pages of the book come at you thick and fast with plot turns and jumps, and I would have loved to have seen that part of the book be expanded three-fold.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who feels like their upbringing and development as a person has been affected in any way by social media and the internet. I felt enormous nostalgia for the clicking and flicking of social media binges, desperately trying to uncover more and more about some random person you said hello to earlier that day. The book triggered a great deal of dread and eurghhhh in me as well. The moment when you wake up and discover 25 notifications on your social media App when you normally average 3, and it’s because of one comment you made or one thing you did or one photo you posted or one human error you mad
This is a fantastic read. Genuinely stands on it’s own within the thriller genre, but more impressively it manages to shed new light and explore new psychological aspects of the well-trodden world of social media/internet addiction. It’s also, for anyone who went to a Uni like Northam, a refreshing and often quite funny satire on university life.
I started to read Click soon after finishing the highly-addictive and enjoyable TV-series, You. For context, You explores how dangerous social media can be in allowing anybody and everybody with half a tech-brain to know everything and anything about you, your family, your cat etc. You is fun, shocking, occasionally thought-provoking, and often verging on absurd trash. I loved it and it was my favourite internet/social-media focussed show, book, or film - until I started reading Click.
Click is interested in the psychological impact of internet addiction and Smyth writes about the journey we have all taken down the social media rabbit hole with subtlety and refreshing candour. She doesn’t gloss up or overly explain why we do what we do, but is more interested in what it does to our bodies and minds as we do it: the dirtiness of looking at someones photos from five years ago, the adrenaline rush of scrolling further and further into their timeline, and the sheer panic and horror of feeling like you have been publicly outed for something. Internet addiction is often vilified as the hobby of the sociopathic creep or the potentially dangerous geek, but most of us have in some way experienced a period of addiction to some form of technology in our lives and thats kinda normal. Without wanting to give too much away, it would easy to lose interest and empathy for Eva, the narrator, but Smyth’s ability to article the nuances of Eva’s inner-thoughts and feelings as she clicks makes her one of the most compelling characters.
My only nitpick would be that the last forty pages of the book come at you thick and fast with plot turns and jumps, and I would have loved to have seen that part of the book be expanded three-fold.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who feels like their upbringing and development as a person has been affected in any way by social media and the internet. I felt enormous nostalgia for the clicking and flicking of social media binges, desperately trying to uncover more and more about some random person you said hello to earlier that day. The book triggered a great deal of dread and eurghhhh in me as well. The moment when you wake up and discover 25 notifications on your social media App when you normally average 3, and it’s because of one comment you made or one thing you did or one photo you posted or one human error you mad
August 28, 2019
This novel should be classed more as a psychological drama rather than a thriller though it did contain mystery and enough secrets, lies and subterfuge to qualify as suspense.
If you read the blurb, you might think that this is going to be about the dangers of social media and the Internet. That's not really true as I'd say that the story here is more about obsession and a character in an environment that created mental instability. Eva leaves her rural home for Northam, a tiny elite university, after being homeschooled and finds campus life to be most unsettling to her sanity. Unfortunately for Eva, she becomes addicted to checking her Facebook account and latches on to a girl named Marina Bede. She stalks Marina and eventually manages to meet and befriend her while simultaneously experiences both love and hate of the girl. Caught up in a whirlwind of on and off again friendship with Marina, Eva loses her grip and becomes somewhat lost. This is obviously a toxic relationship that can't help but end badly. NO SPOILERS.
I have some mixed reaction to this book. At times it felt very slow and tedious and at others, I became caught up in the revelations and quite anxious about what was happening. My main issue is that, even now after finishing over a couple of hours, I am still not sure that I totally understand what was real and what was all in Eva's mind. The book touches on the topics of voyeurism and up-skirting as well as on the stress experienced by the young away from home at university. Yes, it does talk about the permanence of words, photos, images, etc. on social media platforms and the craziness of being a trend when complete strangers dissect and analyze your life, pronouncing judgment. Definitely a scary world out there and caution is a must. Overall I enjoyed this book but the writing style and shifting narrative made it much more confusing than a straightforward movement would have been. I never really identified with Eva nor did I understand her but she definitely had my sympathy as she sure had a lot of issues and seemed a hot mess throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.
If you read the blurb, you might think that this is going to be about the dangers of social media and the Internet. That's not really true as I'd say that the story here is more about obsession and a character in an environment that created mental instability. Eva leaves her rural home for Northam, a tiny elite university, after being homeschooled and finds campus life to be most unsettling to her sanity. Unfortunately for Eva, she becomes addicted to checking her Facebook account and latches on to a girl named Marina Bede. She stalks Marina and eventually manages to meet and befriend her while simultaneously experiences both love and hate of the girl. Caught up in a whirlwind of on and off again friendship with Marina, Eva loses her grip and becomes somewhat lost. This is obviously a toxic relationship that can't help but end badly. NO SPOILERS.
I have some mixed reaction to this book. At times it felt very slow and tedious and at others, I became caught up in the revelations and quite anxious about what was happening. My main issue is that, even now after finishing over a couple of hours, I am still not sure that I totally understand what was real and what was all in Eva's mind. The book touches on the topics of voyeurism and up-skirting as well as on the stress experienced by the young away from home at university. Yes, it does talk about the permanence of words, photos, images, etc. on social media platforms and the craziness of being a trend when complete strangers dissect and analyze your life, pronouncing judgment. Definitely a scary world out there and caution is a must. Overall I enjoyed this book but the writing style and shifting narrative made it much more confusing than a straightforward movement would have been. I never really identified with Eva nor did I understand her but she definitely had my sympathy as she sure had a lot of issues and seemed a hot mess throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.
June 3, 2019
This book opens your eyes to the terrifying world of social media and online presence. It is easy to forget that everything you put online stays there forever, accessible by many more than you realise.
Eva is a new university student, struggling to make friends on her course. She is a little strange and people are turned off by her and her attitudes. Until she makes friends with Marina, someone even more weird than herself. She soon starts to hang out with Marina and her friends and becomes obsessive over their relationship. During Christmas break, Eva doesn't hear much from Marina and decides to embark on her own extra curricular activity - internet dating. She creates a profile bu decides to use Marina's image instead of her own. Soon things get out of hand and she decides to delete the profile, worried about what might happen when Marina finds out. But she never will. Because Marina died before the profile was even created. Eva is suddenly thrust into a world she never thought possible, where people believe the worst in her by pretending to be a dead girl and even thinking she perhaps had something to do with Marina's death.
This book was labelled as a psychological thriller, which I understand, however I felt like the term thriller is used quite loosely. For me there is no big reveal and very few twists and turns. Instead this is a social commentary on internet usage and goes on to show that no one is safe from what happens online.
I enjoyed the book, despite the fact that i didn't like the main character. I found Eva very annoying and unlikable and I found myself frustrated with her actions and wondering how she thought she might be doing the right thing. At any point. To me it was clear she was being foolish, but she didn't seem to understand the repercussions of her actions. In fact, none of the characters are likable. Henry is despicable. Marina is awful. I just wanted to shake all of their privilege out of them and set them down to work their way up from the bottom of the ladder.
The unlikable characters didn't ruin the story, however and I felt that it was in fact believable and the ending was a great... twist, for want of a better word. To me it wasn't a twist. I felt like it was set up from near the start and it was very predictable, but I guess twist is the word to use!
Eva is a new university student, struggling to make friends on her course. She is a little strange and people are turned off by her and her attitudes. Until she makes friends with Marina, someone even more weird than herself. She soon starts to hang out with Marina and her friends and becomes obsessive over their relationship. During Christmas break, Eva doesn't hear much from Marina and decides to embark on her own extra curricular activity - internet dating. She creates a profile bu decides to use Marina's image instead of her own. Soon things get out of hand and she decides to delete the profile, worried about what might happen when Marina finds out. But she never will. Because Marina died before the profile was even created. Eva is suddenly thrust into a world she never thought possible, where people believe the worst in her by pretending to be a dead girl and even thinking she perhaps had something to do with Marina's death.
This book was labelled as a psychological thriller, which I understand, however I felt like the term thriller is used quite loosely. For me there is no big reveal and very few twists and turns. Instead this is a social commentary on internet usage and goes on to show that no one is safe from what happens online.
I enjoyed the book, despite the fact that i didn't like the main character. I found Eva very annoying and unlikable and I found myself frustrated with her actions and wondering how she thought she might be doing the right thing. At any point. To me it was clear she was being foolish, but she didn't seem to understand the repercussions of her actions. In fact, none of the characters are likable. Henry is despicable. Marina is awful. I just wanted to shake all of their privilege out of them and set them down to work their way up from the bottom of the ladder.
The unlikable characters didn't ruin the story, however and I felt that it was in fact believable and the ending was a great... twist, for want of a better word. To me it wasn't a twist. I felt like it was set up from near the start and it was very predictable, but I guess twist is the word to use!
June 13, 2019
This book was short but was difficult to get through because it was repetitive and in parts rather boring. I generally like books that are about the dangers of social media, but this book is really about a girl who has mental issues and a bunch of other people who have issues too. Eva is a new student at Northam in rural England. She has been partially homeschooled and comes across as a bit different and socially inept. She spends most of her time huddled in her room checking out social media and she comes across a blond girl named Marina who she wants to meet in person. She soon finds out Marina is in one of her seminars and the two become friends of a sort.
The problem is that we never really get to know Marina and Eva never appears to be doing homework but rather constantly searching social media for any mention of Marina. There is an intense young man named Henry who always seems to be around. Eventually Marina and Eva have a falling out and various things happen from there. Not much makes real sense and without saying too much I would just say people use fake names all the time for dating and other apps so I didn't buy some of the condemnation here. There is a twist at the end but by then things are so muddled we never know if Eva is telling the truth about anything or whether she will become better in the future. Reasonably well written but dull.
The problem is that we never really get to know Marina and Eva never appears to be doing homework but rather constantly searching social media for any mention of Marina. There is an intense young man named Henry who always seems to be around. Eventually Marina and Eva have a falling out and various things happen from there. Not much makes real sense and without saying too much I would just say people use fake names all the time for dating and other apps so I didn't buy some of the condemnation here. There is a twist at the end but by then things are so muddled we never know if Eva is telling the truth about anything or whether she will become better in the future. Reasonably well written but dull.
September 20, 2022
“I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review of this book”
Click by L. Smyth has been a book that has been on my list for such a long time and a book that I requested from NetGalley so many years ago and I just never got round to reading it, for some reason. So years after loving the idea and premise of this book, I have finally read it and can give my review of it.
Although I loved the idea and the premise of this book, it was kind of a so and so read, which explains why it has taken me so long to actually read it. What this book does do well is creating and highlighting how the internet can be a creepy idea and place to be, depending on the people on the other side. The characters are also developed really well and I was invested to get to the ending of this book. But, on saying that, it was a little drawn out to the end.
The book could’ve done with being shorter and the drawn out, slow burn that it was, ended up being more daunting than enjoyable. It didn’t turn out to be the suspenseful thriller that I had been anticipating and I did almost give up several times, but I really wanted to finish this book. I usually enjoy thrillers with an unreliable narrator, but I didn’t with this book sadly.
Click by L. Smyth has been a book that has been on my list for such a long time and a book that I requested from NetGalley so many years ago and I just never got round to reading it, for some reason. So years after loving the idea and premise of this book, I have finally read it and can give my review of it.
Although I loved the idea and the premise of this book, it was kind of a so and so read, which explains why it has taken me so long to actually read it. What this book does do well is creating and highlighting how the internet can be a creepy idea and place to be, depending on the people on the other side. The characters are also developed really well and I was invested to get to the ending of this book. But, on saying that, it was a little drawn out to the end.
The book could’ve done with being shorter and the drawn out, slow burn that it was, ended up being more daunting than enjoyable. It didn’t turn out to be the suspenseful thriller that I had been anticipating and I did almost give up several times, but I really wanted to finish this book. I usually enjoy thrillers with an unreliable narrator, but I didn’t with this book sadly.
May 6, 2019
Thank you to Harper Impulse and Killer Reads, and NetGalley, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This book shines a spotlight on the scary side of the online world, and particularly on social media. Eva is from a small town and desperately wants to reinvent herself upon starting university. However, as we all know, we take ourselves with us wherever we go, so of course Eva doesn't find it easy to get her fresh start. Instead, she starts cyberstalking her classmates, and is particularly obsessed with Marina. The two of them become best friends in real life - or do they? Marina is not all she seems, whether online or in real life. The friendship lasts only a few months, but Eva will have to deal with the repercussions for the rest of her life.
I found both of the main characters intensely unlikeable, but the book was well-written - just a bit long and drawn-out in parts. I expected a bit more from the story.
This book shines a spotlight on the scary side of the online world, and particularly on social media. Eva is from a small town and desperately wants to reinvent herself upon starting university. However, as we all know, we take ourselves with us wherever we go, so of course Eva doesn't find it easy to get her fresh start. Instead, she starts cyberstalking her classmates, and is particularly obsessed with Marina. The two of them become best friends in real life - or do they? Marina is not all she seems, whether online or in real life. The friendship lasts only a few months, but Eva will have to deal with the repercussions for the rest of her life.
I found both of the main characters intensely unlikeable, but the book was well-written - just a bit long and drawn-out in parts. I expected a bit more from the story.
November 20, 2019
Click is a very interesting, slow burner of a read about the scarier side of the online world and social media. How we can sometimes be tempted to seek validation from others online which is totally damaging and unnecessary. I really like this Catfish theme because the internet is a playground for nutters and weirdos. We read about Eva who spends a crazy amount of time looking at the lives of others rather than live herself. Eva is socially immature as she has been homeschooled and has not interacted with others in what I would call a normal environment. I really enjoyed the way the author creates suspense and unease in this book. Another great choice for book clubs as it provokes a lot of conversation and discussion about what we share online and to who, if our online persona is a true reflection of yourself and of course if all this sharing is necessary at all.
March 16, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins and Killer Reads for the eARC.
This book made me realize how smart I was closing my Facebook account! For some reason I find social media depressing and CLICK definitely resonated with me on that subject.
This is a well-written, suspenseful read, but I disliked the protagonist, Eva. She obviously has mental problems and a low self-esteem. Her obsession with Marina is pathetic, especially because Marina is an opinionated, cold girl who considers herself superior to the rest of humanity. Their 'friendship' only comprises three months, but the repercussions last a lifetime for Eva.
In my opinion most readers will find this book exciting, but I'm in two minds about it, thus only giving it 3 stars.
This book made me realize how smart I was closing my Facebook account! For some reason I find social media depressing and CLICK definitely resonated with me on that subject.
This is a well-written, suspenseful read, but I disliked the protagonist, Eva. She obviously has mental problems and a low self-esteem. Her obsession with Marina is pathetic, especially because Marina is an opinionated, cold girl who considers herself superior to the rest of humanity. Their 'friendship' only comprises three months, but the repercussions last a lifetime for Eva.
In my opinion most readers will find this book exciting, but I'm in two minds about it, thus only giving it 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2019
A punchy read which you can’t put down
I raced through this book on a Sunday afternoon - it is a well crafted plot, with plenty of twists. I found it refreshing (particularly in this genre !) that not only are the two central characters female, but they are fully developed characters and rather unlikeable! This made for a far more interesting read than the usual cliches. The author’s ability to create distinct images in your mind is outstanding- and there is comforting familiarity is some of her descriptions of social interactions.
This is a book for anyone looking for their next great read. I’m already looking forward to reading L Smyth’s next book.
I raced through this book on a Sunday afternoon - it is a well crafted plot, with plenty of twists. I found it refreshing (particularly in this genre !) that not only are the two central characters female, but they are fully developed characters and rather unlikeable! This made for a far more interesting read than the usual cliches. The author’s ability to create distinct images in your mind is outstanding- and there is comforting familiarity is some of her descriptions of social interactions.
This is a book for anyone looking for their next great read. I’m already looking forward to reading L Smyth’s next book.
June 16, 2023
it’s an okay read but, too full of the usual boring ‘I said’ he said’ ‘she said’ garbage for my taste. A shame too that the narrator can’t pronounce the word asterisk properly either. Also, ‘we don’t live in America’ yet they ‘dove’ in to the sea. Not bad for a contradiction is it? Having mad all the above points, it’s a book about the perils of social media and pretending to be somebody else. It’s okay but nothing eceptional. For young adults though it’ll be fine. They’ll like it and even I’m pretty much enjoying it but as far as I know, we Brits use dived not ove so be careful about contradictions next time you write a book is my advice.
June 2, 2019
I cannot believe I actually read this whole book, waiting and wanting SOMETHING to happen. I feel cheated. The premise of the book could have made itself a super good story, but this fell short. "You never really know who you're talking to online" has nothing really to do with this book. Eva really didn't do anything horrible here, but she has made the whole thing an obsession. The characters are not well developed, and I hardly felt like I knew anyone by the end. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this book.
June 14, 2019
This is a timely cautionary tale about the dark side of the cyber world.
It just shows how people could be led to misplace their trust into the wrong hands with tragic consequences.
The novel deals with such themes as manipulation, obsession, and stalking.
It's a thought provoking read but was more of a slow burner than the fast paced thriller I thought it would be.
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Thanks Netgalley, Harper Impulse and Killer Reads, and author L. Smyth for an ARC in exchange for a fair review.
It just shows how people could be led to misplace their trust into the wrong hands with tragic consequences.
The novel deals with such themes as manipulation, obsession, and stalking.
It's a thought provoking read but was more of a slow burner than the fast paced thriller I thought it would be.
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Thanks Netgalley, Harper Impulse and Killer Reads, and author L. Smyth for an ARC in exchange for a fair review.
March 20, 2019
Eva has lead a sheltered life, home schooled and a little naive. At university she meets the aloof, Marina, and an unbalanced friendship is struck but marina seems to be hiding a lot of herself. Eva becomes obsessed with her and her lies continue to build.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but I just didn’t. I don’t know what it was but this wasn’t for me. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but I just didn’t. I don’t know what it was but this wasn’t for me. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
May 14, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC... I wanted to love it as it was for people who enjoyed He Said/She said and other such books and the story was perhaps good and exciting, but the way it was told was just long and dull. I read 20% of the book and can't say the story was going anywhere or that I was on the edge of my seat waiting for they next exciting thing to happen. In short, I had no patience for this book when there are so many faster paced psychothrillers waiting to be read.
June 18, 2019
I couldn't finish this book- I was at 20% and I had no enthusiasm regarding the story.
It felt very padded out, over explained, it was 20% of filler- and i have the feeling the whole book is going in that direction.
I appreciate the chance to review- so thank you Netgalley and Killer Reads for choosing me- but this story wasn't for me.
It felt very padded out, over explained, it was 20% of filler- and i have the feeling the whole book is going in that direction.
I appreciate the chance to review- so thank you Netgalley and Killer Reads for choosing me- but this story wasn't for me.
November 14, 2020
Don’t recommend this book for those who are action lovers. This story is about lonely teenager thoughs and feelings. Description of this book was much more promising than it was actualy. I was expected this story to be more about social media harm for young people, but it’s all about loneliness and upskirting crime, which is new definition of illegal act in England.
June 3, 2019
Awful
One of the most boring books I've ever read. Forced myself to finish it because I bought it and had hoped it would improve. Nothing really happens until the last few pages and they are illogical . Waste of my time and money.
One of the most boring books I've ever read. Forced myself to finish it because I bought it and had hoped it would improve. Nothing really happens until the last few pages and they are illogical . Waste of my time and money.
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