Idol - Louise O'Neill

Genre: Adult Fiction

Release Date: Expected 12th May 2022

Publisher: Random House UK

Samantha Miller is an idol to young girls everywhere. She has three million followers worldwide, everywhere she goes is sell-outs and autographs, and her 'girls' listen with bated breath to her every word hoping for inspiration to be more like her.

But in seconds, the foundation of everything she's ever built begins to crack. She's always shared her truths with her followers, about her struggles and addictions, but when she shares a story about her sexual awakening with her childhood friend, Lisa, she thinks she's sharing a beautiful, personal truth. But Lisa doesn't remember it that way. They haven't spoken in years, but Lisa manages to contact Sams manager to let her know that she remembers it happening quite differently and forces her to face the past.

So who is telling the truth? And who really gets to tell the story?

Idol is a compelling and timely story about the dangers of modernity, of addiction and adoration. This story will make you think about how your truth compares to the truths of others - and how somethings we can't even trust our own minds. O'Neill firmly blurs the lines between good and bad, between hero and villain - and explores the murky lands of consent, fame and victimisation with an authentic and vivid view.

This story has all the tension of a fast-paced thriller, but with real-world issues that are dangerous and terrifying in a totally different way. Each character was masterfully crafted to not necessarily be likeable - but be perfectly flawed and human in a painful way that provokes deep introspection.

We spend this story in pursuit of the truth - a truth that will hang around long after the last page is turned. Evocative, complex and thrilling - O'Neill as always captures the world in a way nobody else quite can.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review.

CW: addiction, assault, drugs, alcohol, abortion, eating disorders.

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