ŷ

Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus)'s Reviews > Idol

Idol by Louise O'Neill
Rate this book
Clear rating

by
93944772
's review

it was amazing
bookshelves: favorites

I write this review with a pounding heart, this book has managed to deliver so much tension and power. I could not stop reading it!

Idol follows Samantha Miller, a woman whose career has gone from success to success. However, when her old best friend gets back in touch, highlighting she has a different memory of an event, Samantha’s world comes tumbling down.

I never reread a blurb before I start reading a book, which worked amazingly with this read because it added an extra twist early on. From that moment I was completely hooked. I absolutely devoured this book and did not want to put it down. By the end I had chills coursing through me. Louise deals with some very difficult topics, and yet I was completely swept up in this incredibly harrowing read. It highlights how the life people put online can be so far from reality.

Throughout the majority of this book I didn’t like a single character. But it actually worked really well to keep me engaged and wanting more. By the end there were two characters that really stole my affections, one of which managed to bring a huge smile to my face as they showed their true cunning and strength. This is a book that is going to stay with me for a long time. I wish I could erase it from my memory and read it all again from the start.

I would recommend this to any fans of thrillers but please be aware that there are triggers. I want to thank Netgalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam Press and Louise O’Neill for sending me a copy of this book so I can give my personal thoughts.
229 likes · flag

Sign into ŷ to see if any of your friends have read Idol.
Sign In »

Reading Progress

August 22, 2022 – Started Reading
August 22, 2022 – Shelved
August 28, 2022 – Finished Reading
September 28, 2022 – Shelved as: favorites

Comments Showing 1-50 of 108 (108 new)


message 1: by Catherine (new)

Catherine (alternativelytitledbooks) - in a book slump :( Ooh this sounds exciting! So happy to see 5 stars from you Ellie, loved your review!! 💞


Melissa (Always Behind) Well that's certainly a sign of a good book if you want to read it again with a fresh mind! I will have to look for it. Great review!


Marialyce Quite the endorsement. Ellie! Now I am forces (:)) to add!


message 4: by Holly (new)

Holly  B (slower pace!) Loving the cover and your fab review Ellie!


message 5: by Tina (new)

Tina Wow, this is a very intriguing review! To have characters you didn't like and then by the end you are caring for some of them is a great feat. It really is a testament to the author's writing and story! What a great review Ellie dear 💖


Miya (severe pain struggles, slower at the moment) Fantastic review Ellie! So glad this was good! 💜


message 7: by Pang (new) - added it

Pang Life is Hectic again, Wait for me!! Interesting thiller book, Ellie! :D Great review 😜, I already added this to my TBR! ;)


message 8: by Cara (new)

Cara Great review, Ellie💓!!!! So glad you enjoyed this book so much!!!!


message 9: by Jayme (new)

Jayme Hope your heart has stopped pounding! Terrific review! ❤️


message 10: by Rosh (new)

Rosh That's an amazing endorsement for the book, Ellie! 😍 So glad you loved it. Going in blind does help tremendously for this genre.


message 11: by NZLisaM (new)

NZLisaM I must read this. Two of her books have been hits for me. Intriguing review, Ellie. 💙


message 12: by Britta (new)

Britta Fantastic review, Ellie! Sounds like a great read. Glad you enjoyed the book.


message 13: by Maria C (new)

Maria C Now, I am intrigued


Meredith (Trying to catch up!) Fantastic review, Ellie! You make me want to read this!


message 15: by Kay (new)

Kay Sounds really good Ellie, terrific review!💓


message 16: by Rowan (new)

Rowan Fantastic review, Ellie! I love it when a book has such a profound impact. I hope your pounding heart has since calmed down Haha


message 17: by [deleted user] (new)

Splendid review, Ellie! Rarely does a book have that kind of impact and it's such a treat when we discover one. Nice!


message 18: by Srivalli (new)

Srivalli Rekha Brilliant review, Ellie. So glad that this worked for you. Not rereading blurb has it's advantages, right? ;)


message 19: by Jasmine (new)

Jasmine Excellent review, Ellie! I’m glad the characters grew on you and that not reading the blurb worked! I’ll have to check this out!


message 20: by Nika (new)

Nika Wonderful review, Ellie! I'm so glad you enjoyed this one so much!
Finding a book that goes to favorites is always great :)


message 21: by Sheyla � (new)

Sheyla ✎ Excellent review, Ellie.


message 22: by Canadian Jen (new)

Canadian Jen Terrific review, Ellie. Sometimes it can be difficult to connect with a story when you don't like any characters but glad you did end up liking a couple


message 23: by Federico (new)

Federico DN Sounds incredibly captivating. Happy you grew to like the characters in the end <3. Great review Ellie!


Lorraine Shine “Harrowing� is exactly the word I was looking for to describe this book, thank you! I literally could not put it down, it is so nuanced and made me feel so uncomfortable but that is due to Louise O� Neill helping us to consider that there are two sides to everything and we all see things through a different lens.


message 25: by Ron (new)

Ron Love when a book delivers the tension. I can't remember ever reading a book though without liking a character until the last parts. That's unique. Glad you liked so much and great review.


message 26: by Luna (new)

Luna phenomenal review Ellie. You drew me in that's for sure :)


message 27: by Lucy (new)

Lucy Brilliant review Ellie! I’m glad you enjoyed this so much !!


message 28: by Chantel (new)

Chantel Super review, Ellie! It seems the concept of a different version of the truth & our beliefs would be so interesting in this medium! So glad it was everything & more for you xxx


message 29: by Heidi (new)

Heidi Great review!!


Maureen Great review Ellie, enjoyed this one too! 💙


message 31: by Kimber (last edited Oct 01, 2022 08:11AM) (new)

Kimber Silver What a thrilling review, Ellie! I'm glad you loved this one! I could feel your excitement jumping off the screen. :-)


Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile Excellent review, Ellie!🧡


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) Catherine wrote: "Ooh this sounds exciting! So happy to see 5 stars from you Ellie, loved your review!! 💞"

Thank you so much Catherine, I absolutely loved this one! 🧡


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) Melissa (LifeFullyBooked) wrote: "Well that's certainly a sign of a good book if you want to read it again with a fresh mind! I will have to look for it. Great review!"

I absolutely agree Melissa, it is always a good sign! Thank you so much! 🧡


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) Marialyce (absltmom, yaya) wrote: "Quite the endorsement. Ellie! Now I am forces (:)) to add!"

I absolutely think it is worth a read Marialyce! 🧡


message 36: by Nilguen (new)

Nilguen Stellar review, Ellie 🌼


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) Holly wrote: "Loving the cover and your fab review Ellie!"

Thank you so much Holly, isn't the cover amazing! 🧡


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) Tina wrote: "Wow, this is a very intriguing review! To have characters you didn't like and then by the end you are caring for some of them is a great feat. It really is a testament to the author's writing and s..."

Thank you so much lovely Tina! It really was such an impressive thing to do, I was so surprised when I started feeling for them! 🧡


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) Miya (struggling with pain, doing my best) wrote: "Fantastic review Ellie! So glad this was good! 💜"

Thank you so much Miya, it was such a good read! 🧡


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) Pang wrote: "Interesting thiller book, Ellie! :D Great review 😜, I already added this to my TBR! ;)"

Thank you so much Pang, I really hope you enjoy it if you read it! 🧡


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) Cara wrote: "Great review, Ellie💓!!!! So glad you enjoyed this book so much!!!!"

Thank you so much Cara, it was such a great read! 🧡


message 42: by Kat (new)

Kat Enticing review, Ellie! Adding this one. It sounds so good, if I can get past the unlikable characters! 💗


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) Jayme wrote: "Hope your heart has stopped pounding! Terrific review! ❤️"

Thank you so much Jayme, it just about has! 🧡


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) Rosh wrote: "That's an amazing endorsement for the book, Ellie! 😍 So glad you loved it. Going in blind does help tremendously for this genre."

Thank you so much Rosh, I absolutely agree, it really helps to improve enjoyment! 🧡


monica ✨ romantasyreader Great review Ellie!


message 46: by Kaceey (new)

Kaceey Fantastic review Ellie! I avoid the blurbs too! They always give away too much!💖


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) NZLisaM wrote: "I must read this. Two of her books have been hits for me. Intriguing review, Ellie. 💙"

Thank you so much Lisa, I really hope you enjoy this one if you read it, I will have to check out her other books! 🧡


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) Britta wrote: "Fantastic review, Ellie! Sounds like a great read. Glad you enjoyed the book."

Thank you so much Britta, it was such a good read! 🧡


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) Maria wrote: "Now, I am intrigued"

I definitely recommend it Maria! 🧡


Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) Meredith (Slowly Catching Up) wrote: "Fantastic review, Ellie! You make me want to read this!"

Thank you so much Meredith, it was such a good read! 🧡


« previous 1 3
back to top