City of Likes

Author: Jenny Mollen

Publisher: NacelBooks

Release Date: June 14, 2022

I must praise Jenny Mollen for writing a book that had characters I couldn’t stand and a story line that was so real that could be hard to read for some but needs to be read by others.

Megan Chernoff has just moved from LA to New York after her husband’s work relocated them. She has been a stay-at-home mother with her two boys but now wants to get back to work as a copywriter. Shortly after arriving in New York, she meets Daphne Cole, a social media influencer who shows interest in Megan and the two quickly become close. Megan is now immersed in the influencer world and sees her life changing which draws her closer to Daphne and her circle but farther away from her family. The closer she becomes to Daphne, the more she sees the world she has been drawn into is not real and is making her lose track of what is real.

It has taken me a few days to form my thoughts for how I feel about this book. As I read it, it took me back to a time and friendship that hurt me. Daphne is a clear narcissist and the things she does to Megan and those around her pulled me deep into my memories of this friendship and how it hurt me and can still hurt when I go down memory lane. Jenny Mollen did a fantastic job of writing these characters in a way that made me really not like them. This story can be hard to read for those that find themselves obsessed with social media and spending so much time preoccupied with likes and followers that they lose track of what matters: their family. I have been trying to limit my scrolling time on social media and it makes me happier knowing I’m spending less wasted time and more intentional time with my family. The book was on my list to read right after another that dealt with how social media can make people forget their true worth because of making the likes and followers more important than those actually in their lives. There is a lot of adult language and content within the pages so I would not recommend this to younger readers. Those that enjoy dark humor and satire will enjoy this book, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.