Chiara is selected for a mom-fluencer retreat at a ranch—a much-needed break from her twin boys and daily responsibilities. However, instead of the relaxing getaway she hoped for, she’s met with cold shoulders from the other moms. Through flashbacks, we see how her twin sister, Adrienne, was always her pillar of support. But after Adrienne got married and had children of her own, their once-close relationship began to fray.

Then, the story jumps forward a year. Adrienne is now battling alcoholism and drug addiction, reeling from the devastating disappearance of Chiara, who went missing during that influencer retreat. Chiara’s husband didn’t report her disappearance until two days later—something Adrienne can’t forgive him for. She relentlessly pressures the lead investigator, Bautista, to keep the case open, though her persistence often crosses boundaries.

Now, the influencer event is happening again—this time during Halloween. Determined to find answers, Adrienne takes matters into her own hands, infiltrating the retreat undercover.

With Follow Me already set for a movie adaptation by MGM even before its release, I expected a gripping thriller. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype.

First, the writing itself felt disjointed—too much information thrown in at once, abrupt shifts, and random hashtags interrupting the flow. I don’t claim to be an influencer, but inserting hashtags like #Momfluencer or #DIYProjects mid-sentence? #NotGood.

The first three chapters focus on Chiara’s selection for the event and her bond with Adrienne. Then comes a time jump. I initially missed the chapter heading indicating this and was confused when Adrienne’s POV suddenly took over—wondering why the strong, optimistic twin had become a mess. I had to go back and realize, oh, there’s been a time skip.

Adrienne’s transformation didn’t quite sit right with me. Before Chiara’s disappearance, Adrienne was always the responsible one, cleaning up her sister’s messes. But suddenly, after Chiara is gone, Adrienne spirals into addiction and recklessness. Yes, grief changes people, but her downward spiral felt rushed—like she turned into a completely different person overnight.

The mystery surrounding Chiara’s disappearance barely progresses until the final chapters. Then, suddenly, the story takes a sharp turn—from being bogged down by hashtags to a chaotic bloodbath. One moment, it’s #MomLife, and the next, characters are dropping like flies. The abrupt shift in tone was jarring.

This book wasn’t for me. I debated whether to write a negative review, but I kept reading, hoping it would improve. It didn’t. And well, since I did spend time on it, I might as well share my thoughts.

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I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.

The Book Decoder