Hate Follow - by Erin Quinn-Kong (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

To her one million Instagram followers, influencer Whitney Golden's life looks just about perfect. But her curated existence explodes when her teenage daughter Mia sues her for invasion of privacy. The monumental case throws their relationship into a tailspin and has mother and daughter grappling with what it truly means to be in the public eye.

Influencer Whitney Golden has it all: beautiful, photogenic children; a handsome new boyfriend; a gorgeous house; and designer clothes and beauty products that arrive on her doorstep every day. After spending years building her brand as a widowed mother of four (including twins!) to over a million followers, the thirty-seven-year-old is at the peak of her career.

But it all comes to a screeching halt when Mia, her teenaged daughter, announces she's tired of the social media life. She wants nothing more to do with her mother's online brand--and demands that not just she, but her siblings and their deceased father be removed from Whitney's Instagram, blog, and just about everywhere else on the internet.

When Whitney doesn't agree, Mia does the unthinkable: She sues her mother. What started as a family spat turns into a monumental case about child privacy, individual agency, and modern parenting that shatters Mia and Whitney's relationship and wreaks havoc on both their lives. As the case ignites a media firestorm and unrelenting online bashing from a Greek chorus of internet snarkers, Whitney has to decide whether she's willing to risk everything she's built to win back her daughter.

Review Quotes

"A rich and witty story with two complicated women at its heart, Hate Follow is a beautiful debut. Quinn-Kong's story of an influencer mom sued by her resentful daughter is of the moment, but its exploration of female power and privilege is timeless." -- Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of Lovers and Liars

"You will never scroll through your social media feed again without giving some folks the side-eye after reading Hate Follow. Quinn-Kong superbly crafts a tale about the price of online influence while making us root for both a mother and daughter on opposite sides of an issue you're sure to debate with your friends. A thought-provoking, page-turner of a debut that is oh so timely!" -- Nancy Johnson, author of The Kindest Lie

"Hate Follow is a riveting, thought-provoking read about what parents owe their children in the Internet era--and indeed what privacy even means in the dopamine-fueled age of social media. Erin Quinn-Kong has given us a page-turning exploration of modern motherhood, friendship, and community beyond the filters, and a perfect book club read sure to spark passionate conversation. I am an instant and ardent fan." -- Katie Gutierrez, bestselling author of More Than You'll Ever Know

"Wildly timely, deeply relatable, Hate Follow had me rooting for every character even when it seemed impossible that they could all win." -- KJ Dell'Antonia, New York Times bestselling author of The Chicken Sisters

"If you've ever seen a picture-perfect influencer mom on Instagram and wondered what's really going on behind closed doors, you are going to love Hate Follow. I raced through this juicy, funny, insightful novel about a mom who makes a killing by oversharing her kids' lives online and the teenage daughter intent on stopping her. Erin Quinn-Kong examines all the fraught elements of this arrangement without ever casting judgment on her characters." -- J. Courtney Sullivan, New York Times bestselling author of Friends and Strangers

"An absolute binge-worthy delight! I couldn't tear myself away from Erin Quinn-Kong's razor-sharp novel, Hate Follow, which is a skewering, but also heartfelt, look behind the life of an influencer and mother....and wait for it...the daughter that is suing her for privacy invasion. Riveting, timely, meticulously-plotted and deliciously entertaining, Hate Follow is a must-read!" -- May Cobb, author of The Hunting Wives

"Erin Quinn-Kong's incisive debut pulls back the curtain on influencer culture to reveal a heartbreaking story of a mother and daughter struggling to navigate social media fame and what they owe one another. HATE FOLLOW opens up a necessary conversation about the very real consequences of our actions online." -- Bianca Marais, author of The Witches of Moonshyne Manner

"Erin Quinn-Kong has written an irresistibly juicy story, so timely it feels downright prescient. With deliciously cutting commentary, Hate Follow is an exploration of modern social media, digging into its addictiveness, the stark difference between our online personas and our true lives, and just how far we're willing to go when 'likes' are on the line. But the heart of the novel is the real empathy Quinn-Kong has for all her characters. Even when you love to hate them, you'll still be rooting for their happiness." -- Alex Kiester, author of The Truth About Ben and June

"Hate Follow is such an important and timely book. Without judgment, and with nuance and care, Erin Quinn-Kong highlights the pitfalls and repercussions of sharing so much of our lives, and our children's lives, online....You will fly through this book, and empathize with each of the fully drawn characters as they weigh the moral issue tearing their family apart." -- Amy Neff, author of The Days I Loved You Most

"Erin Quinn-Kong does a superb job weaving a riveting plot with a complex modern-day parenting topic of which we've only begun to understand the implications. You won't be able to put this book down--or stop talking about it once you're done. I loved it! Quinn-Kong is a writer to watch!" -- Lauren Parvizi, author of La Vie, According to Rose

"Hate Follow is a propulsive, thought-provoking novel that will spark a much needed conversation about children's privacy and the Internet.... The genius of this novel lies in how Quinn-Kong makes you sympathize with each of her protagonists, even though their goals are directly at odds..... Perfect for book clubs and reading groups!" -- Hadley Leggett, author of All They Ask Is Everything

"A timely, thought-provoking debut that wrestles with the cost of online oversharing. A perfect read for book clubs who will debate the characters and their choices, as well as, perhaps, consider the cost of the very same choices we have made ourselves." -- Allison Winn Scotch, bestselling author of The Rewind