Follow Me Back by A. V. Geiger
Release Date: June 6, 2017 (tomorrow!!)
In the words of Eric Thorn,
Whoa
Whoa
Whoa
Whoa
Whoa
Tessa Hart’s world feels very small. Confined to her bedroom with agoraphobia, her one escape is the online fandom for pop sensation Eric Thorn. When he tweets to his fans, it’s like his speaking directly to her…
Eric Thorn is frightened by his obsessive fans. They take their devotion way too far. It doesn’t help that his PR team keeps posting to encourage their fantasies.
When a fellow pop star is murdered at the hands of a fan, Eric knows he has to do something to shatter his online image fast—like take down one of his top Twitter followers. But Eric’s plan to troll @TessaHeartsEric unexpectedly evolves into an online relationship deeper than either could have imagined. And when the two arrange to meet IRL, what should have made for the world’s best episode of Catfish takes a deadly turn…
Told through tweets, direct messages, and police transcripts.
Was I expecting to really enjoy this? No, not really, but this book made me sit down for a three to four straight hours and just read and read and read until I was done with it. And then I wanted to read some more. I’m not entirely sure what happened, but I’m going to try and talk about it in a somewhat articulate manner here.
First off, A. V. Geiger has a wonderful writing style. I liked how she included texts, DMs, and regular ole writing inside this novel. It made it so much cooler to see all the different things. Also, she has a very authentic voice. It felt like I knew these characters and were these characters. Truthfully, when I see the words Wattpad author, I get scared. I used to be on Wattpad and have read some of the books that do come from Wattpad authors, and I have not liked ¾ of them. However, I’m not surprised this book was a Wattpad sensation, because Geiger has a talent. I’ll definitely be picking up books again from her in the future.
Also, there was nothing dull about this book. I thought for sure at some point there would be a lull or I could find a good breaking point and be done with it for a minute, but there was never time to breathe properly. I had to find out what was going on; I had to know what was going to happen. The pacing was wonderfully done, and I COULDN’T STOP READING. This was the first book in a long time that made me go, screw the self-appointed time I was supposed to go to sleep; I NEED TO READ.
The characters were fantastic as well. I loved their characterization, and they felt supremely realistic to me. I can’t really comment on the authenticity of Tessa’s agoraphobia, but it felt really realistic to me. AND THE GUY DIDN’T SAVE THE DAY. As many of us know, in a lot of mental illness story, once the heroine meets the cute boy, her mental illness seems to disappear. That is not at all what happened with Tessa, and I thought that was so many A++++’s.
I also really connected and enjoyed Tessa. I understand her fangirlness, but I could see where Eric could hate it as well. You really don’t think about what it is like to be on the receiving end of it, and I loved how his own struggles were portrayed as well. I believe Geiger had to have done a lot of research, and her representations and characterization came off wonderfully done. I’m just so impressed.
The only small issue I had with this book came at the end. The ending was insanity – in a good way. Trust me, every single review will be going WHOA. But my issue came at about…maybe like 90%? Like after most of the action happened and there was this one part where I totally thought that the author was going with, could see the signs, but it never happened. It felt…it just felt off.
(FOR THOSE THAT HAVE READ IT, HERE IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT: DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T WANT SPOILERS IN THE PARATHESES: So, what I’m talking about is the point where Tessa and Eric finally meet. Like, was it just me or did it seem like Eric’s personality shifted? Like, he began a bit stalkery, a bit obsessive? He seemed a bit abrasive, especially when Tessa was like, um, no, I don’t like this. I thought, OMG, this is the insane plot twist. But then they end up togetherish? I think this might be where the second book is going with it, and I really hope so because OMG, that would be amazing and perhaps explain about that crazy, crazy ending. But the ending really messed with my mind and I got a bit mad that it left this hole unresolved here and a bit rushed.)
END OF MY SPOILER THING.
Overall, this story was SUCH a delight. I totally didn’t expect that it was going to make me sit four three hours and devour it whole. I can’t wait for the second book, and I super can’t wait to see what Geiger has up next on her sleeve. She has a talent, and these characters and story were deliciously complex. Five crowns for sure, and a Tiana rating (sadly because of that ending)!
Check it out:
I’m dying to read this book I requested it on netgalley and also pre-ordered
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Ooooh, definitely a really interesting, so I hope you enjoy! 🙂
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You and my best friend have almost exactly the same reactions about this book. She couldn’t stop gushing about it either. And now after reading your review, I’m 200% convinced that I’m gonna enjoy it. Thanks! 🙂
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Oooooh, yay! I hope you have the same feelings! It totally absorbs you and the ending is totally :O Really hope you enjoy it! 🙂
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Thanks!! Fingers-crossed, I will 😀
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This book sounds sooo good, can’t wait to read it!! Great review 🙂
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Yes!! Can’t wait to see your thoughts on it, Charlotte! 🙂 Thanks so much!
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Sounds really interesting! Great review!
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Thanks so much, Shanah! It was very interesting, that’s for sure. Enough to make me actually focus on it for three hours. XD
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I really loved this book too. I was so worried because experimental formats are so tricky and they can get so overbearing so fast, but Geiger did such a good job. And my review for it also went up recently lol
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Soooooo true about the formats. Have you read Illuminae? I will admit that I got SUPER overwhelmed by that at first, but I think Geiger, as you said, did a good enough job with the formats that it worked. But oooh, I’ll have to check it out! 🙂
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I haven’t read Illuminae yet but a lot of people have recommended it to me. So I’m obviously going to pick it uo
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Yes! Once you get into the weird formatting, it totally is super interesting. I’ll be interested to see what your final thoughts are.
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Gonna have to pick it up now!!!
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I’ve been seeing this book EVERYWHERE! I really need to pick it up don’t I! Awesome review Mandy!!! Books that make you think and sit for hours on end are the best kind!
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It really was super interesting. It takes a lot for me to sit my butt down and actually get super lost and this book totally did that. But as for seeing the book everywhere…it’s like the book wants you to follow it back? See? See what I did there? Okay, I’m going to stop. Feel free to never respond to this.
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I’m responding because I appreciate and rate that pun! 😂😂 10/10!
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Why, thankies. XD I tried really hard there.
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Sounds awesome; great review!
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Thanks so much, Clara! It’s definitely an interesting read. 🙂
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Yay! So glad you liked this one too! I loved this book! And YES that ending is just like, I don’t even know. But it is insane and intense, and I NEVER saw it coming!!!
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NO. NEVER saw that coming. I knew I had heard people say that it was crazy, but I was like, eh, I really don’t know what she could do to make it insane, but SHE DID. OMG. Can’t wait to see what she does with this next one.
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RIGHT?! I never would have guessed that that is what was going to happen. Not in a million years. I was floored to learn there was going to be a sequel, but I do have so many questions, so I’m excited!
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YES. I was like, oh, maybe…nope, I had nothing. XD But yeah, when I first saw there was going to be a sequel before the book, I was like, how could there be a sequel at all? But sooooo many questions, as you said. I’m intrigued! 😀
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SAME. Cannot wait!
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Wow!! Awesome review! I’m totally going to read this one!
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Thanks so much, Birdie! It was definitely brought up some super thought-provoking things up. 😀 Definitely interested to see what you think. 😀
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I’m happy this one ended up being such a pleasant surprise 😀 Yay to not DNFing books anymore! (You kind of went from DNFing tons of books to reading 5 stars books… Daaarn girl XD )
Anyway, I’m excited to read this one. Everyone’s been praising it and I really enjoy the famous/non-famous dynamic going on. I think it’s just so interesting (like in Geekerella) to see both sides, as you mentioned. Plus, I really need to start reading genres outside my comfort zone.
Amazing, amazing review, Mandy! ❤
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Ahahahaha, ik, Sophie, I don’t know what went…right? It’s a super weird switch. Maybe all of those DNFs were building me up to the good?
But yes, definitely! I do find it fascinating as well, and Eric especially points out a whole new side to it that I hadn’t thought about before.
Thanks so much, Sophie!! ❤
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Maybe! Whatever it was, it was an awesome switch XD
Hmm I’m really intrigued now! This sounds sooo good, I’m hoping I don’t get disappointed. *fingers crossed*
And no problem ^^ ❤
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*crosses fingers for you too*
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Good one!! This actually caught my eye so maybe I should really consider it!1 🙂 😉
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Thanks so much, Matxi! It definitely was super interesting and twisty. 🙂
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