The Influencers - by Anna-Marie McLemore (Hardcover)

About the Book

""Mother May I" Iverson has spent the past twenty years building a massively successful influencer empire with endearing videos featuring her five mixed-race daughters. But the girls are all grown up now, and the ramifications of having their entire childhoods commodified start to spill over into public view, especially in light of the pivotal question: Who killed May's newlywed husband and then torched her mansion to cover it up? April is a businesswoman feuding with her mother over IP; twins June and July are influencers themselves, threatening to overtake May's spotlight; January is a theater tech who steers clear of her mother and the limelight; and the youngest...well, March has somehow completely disappeared. As the days pass post-murder, everyone has an opinion-the sisters, May, a mysterious "friend of the family," and the collective voice of the online audience watching the family's every move-with suspicion flying every direction. A campy and escapist exploration of race, gender, sexuality, and class, The Influencers is an evisceration of influencer culture and how alienating traditional expectations can be, ripe for the current moment when the first generation of children made famous by their parents are, now, all grown up-and looking for retribution"--

Book Synopsis

A social media influencer's empire is burned to the ground--literally. The top suspects? The five daughters who made her famous.

"A witty and razor-sharp whodunit that will leave you both satisfied and challenged . . . A gorgeous, gloriously scathing story."--Ashley Herring Blake, author of Iris Kelly Doesn't Date

What do you really know about the people you've made famous?

"Mother May I" Iverson has spent the past twenty-five years building a massively successful influencer empire with endearing videos featuring her five mixed-race daughters. But the girls are all grown up now, and the ramifications of having their entire childhoods commodified start to spill over into public view, especially in light of the pivotal question: Who killed May's newlywed husband and then torched her mansion to cover it up?

April is a businesswoman feuding with her mother over intellectual property; twins June and July are influencers themselves, threatening to overtake May's spotlight; January is a theater tech who steers clear of her mother and the limelight; and the youngest . . . well, March has somehow completely disappeared. As the days pass post-murder, everyone has an opinion--the sisters, May, a mysterious "friend of the family," and the collective voice of the online audience watching the family's every move--with suspicion flying every direction.

A campy and escapist exploration of race, gender, sexuality, and class, The Influencers is an evisceration of influencer culture and how alienating traditional expectations can be, ripe for the current moment when the first generation of children made famous by their parents are, now, all grown up--and looking for retribution.

Review Quotes

"A murder mystery crossed with a cautionary tale about family, authenticity, and social media . . . Funny, heartbreaking, wonderfully written." --Jane Pek, author of The Verifiers

"Juicy, twisty, and full of ruthless details . . . Be careful who you unfollow--they just might kill you." --Maggie Thrash, author of Rainbow Black

"The Kardashians meets Knives Out--a murder mystery with slices of a Virgin Suicides Greek chorus . . . I whipped through it!" --Frances Cha, author of If I Had Your Face

"A witty and razor-sharp whodunit that will leave you both satisfied and challenged . . . A gorgeous, gloriously scathing story." --Ashley Herring Blake, author of Iris Kelly Doesn't Date

"As sharp as it is delicious, The Influencers is a page-turning delight as well as an incisive critique of the culture of unmitigated self-display. No one is spared--including the readers--but everyone is granted their full, complex humanity." --Jessie Gaynor, author of The Glow

"Brilliantly dissects the pressures of influencer culture, privacy, and power while exploring the complex dynamics of sisterhood . . . McLemore's voice and wit shine through, making this a must-read for anyone who loves a smart, subversive take on contemporary life. Gripping, cunningly plotted, and thought-provoking, The Influencers balances escapist fun with deep social commentary." --Christina McDowell, author of The Cave Dwellers

"An intriguing and thrilling murder mystery . . . Questions abound, but the only certainty is that The Influencers will keep readers guessing through twist after twist. . . . McLemore builds a world that draws from reality in engaging and even playful ways as they explore family, social, and even parasocial relationships. The Influencers is a stunning novel that is sure to please McLemore's fans and bring new readers to their YA novels."--Shelf Awareness

"A stellar adult debut . . . McLemore writes a gimlet-eyed take on social media's infiltration of society, with a murder mystery as the novel's fulcrum. . . . A compelling read, rather like watching a train wreck. Recommend to fans of the Kardashians and novels like Kevin Wilson's The Family Fang."--Library Journal

"McLemore uses a clever, collective point of view: various social audiences narrate a significant part of the book. Each Iverson gets a chance to speak as well, providing a view of this complex story from all angles."--Booklist

About the Author

Anna-Marie McLemore (they/them) is the author of eleven novels for young adults, including William C. Morris YA Debut Award finalist The Weight of Feathers, Stonewall Honor Book When the Moon Was Ours, New York Times Editors' Choice Blanca & Roja, Lambda Literary Award finalist Lakelore, and National Book Award nominees The Mirror Season and Self-Made Boys. The Influencers is their adult debut.