What do you think?
Rate this book
The Haters
The bestselling author of The Party and The Drowning Woman returns with a twisted tale of fame, obsession, and the dark recesses of social media.
Camryn Lane is living her dream. After years of struggle and rejection, her first novel has finally been published. Her editor is happy; her teenage daughter is proud; and her boyfriend and friends are all excited for her. She’s on top of the world—until she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender.
Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn swallows the sick feeling in her stomach and resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that soon, Camryn’s book is flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her?
As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows? The troll’s actions are escalating, and when the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her—and finally learn why she's being targeted.
Camryn Lane is living her dream. After years of struggle and rejection, her first novel has finally been published. Her editor is happy; her teenage daughter is proud; and her boyfriend and friends are all excited for her. She’s on top of the world—until she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender.
Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn swallows the sick feeling in her stomach and resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that soon, Camryn’s book is flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her?
As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows? The troll’s actions are escalating, and when the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her—and finally learn why she's being targeted.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2024
About the author
Robyn Harding
17 books4,192 followersRobyn Harding is the bestselling author of several books and has written and executive produced an independent film. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her family and two cute but deadly rescue chihuahuas.
To learn more about Robyn's books visit: http://www.robynharding.com. Or follow her on Instagram: @rhardingwriter
or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobynH...
To learn more about Robyn's books visit: http://www.robynharding.com. Or follow her on Instagram: @rhardingwriter
or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobynH...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews
July 2, 2024
The New York Times Book Review has just branded debut author Camryn Lane as a “brave new voice in Fiction”and labeled her novel “Burnt Orchid”, as “chilling, heart wrenching and painfully authentic” (excerpts from the book are included, making this a book within a book)
And, just as Ms. Lane is about to do her first reading, while celebrating with friends and family, an email pings to the author account that her Publisher encouraged her to set up. It feels fortuitous, so she opens it as she is about to step on stage…
BIG MISTAKE
It’s an email from a reader named Ingrid Wandry, accusing her of exploiting the high school students that she counsels in her “day job”-even though the teens in her book are homeless and living on the streets.
After all, aren’t writers always told to “write what you know”?
SOON after-she notices a very articulate and convincing ONE STAR REVIEW on the popular book site- READEM.
The disgruntled reader is ANGRY, and she is getting a lot of attention for her review, which suggests that readers BOYCOTT the book. It appears to be Ingrid again-and soon the TROLL is making the attacks personal.
The site is flooded with one star reviews and the books average rating is steadily declining.
Camryn is rattled by the accusations she finds on the site, but her PR team counsels her to NOT engage.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE
As the attacks escalate from online harassment to threats in her personal life, she becomes reckless as she attempts to save her career, and discover the true identity of her accuser.
She doesn’t know who she can trust.
And, this distrust is now jeopardizing her relationships with her daughter, partner, and long time friends.
But, is the troll a random reader-or is it someone she knows? And, why has she been targeted?
Books about “One Star Reviews” are having a moment but this just may be the BEST one that I have read because the characters are well developed and the relationships felt authentic.
I felt Camryn’s anguish as she watched her “life long” dream of becoming an author, coming to end just as it was getting started-helpless to control her own narrative.
The denouement is CLEVER as it ties in Camryn’s book “Burnt Orchid” to her present day struggles, and as it alludes to the kind of book she might write next, if she can salvage her career.
Now, if I were a reviewer on READEM, “Burnt Orchid” would have only earned 3 stars ⭐️ from me-It was ALL TELL, and NO SHOW, and I didn’t find it engaging.
But, Robyn Harding is getting 4.5 stars ⭐️ rounded up for “The Haters”. I was entertained from the first page through the last.
Available NOW!!
A buddy read with Mary Beth! Did she love it or hate it? Be sure to watch for her review!
Thank You to Grand Central Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
And, just as Ms. Lane is about to do her first reading, while celebrating with friends and family, an email pings to the author account that her Publisher encouraged her to set up. It feels fortuitous, so she opens it as she is about to step on stage…
BIG MISTAKE
It’s an email from a reader named Ingrid Wandry, accusing her of exploiting the high school students that she counsels in her “day job”-even though the teens in her book are homeless and living on the streets.
After all, aren’t writers always told to “write what you know”?
SOON after-she notices a very articulate and convincing ONE STAR REVIEW on the popular book site- READEM.
The disgruntled reader is ANGRY, and she is getting a lot of attention for her review, which suggests that readers BOYCOTT the book. It appears to be Ingrid again-and soon the TROLL is making the attacks personal.
The site is flooded with one star reviews and the books average rating is steadily declining.
Camryn is rattled by the accusations she finds on the site, but her PR team counsels her to NOT engage.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE
As the attacks escalate from online harassment to threats in her personal life, she becomes reckless as she attempts to save her career, and discover the true identity of her accuser.
She doesn’t know who she can trust.
And, this distrust is now jeopardizing her relationships with her daughter, partner, and long time friends.
But, is the troll a random reader-or is it someone she knows? And, why has she been targeted?
Books about “One Star Reviews” are having a moment but this just may be the BEST one that I have read because the characters are well developed and the relationships felt authentic.
I felt Camryn’s anguish as she watched her “life long” dream of becoming an author, coming to end just as it was getting started-helpless to control her own narrative.
The denouement is CLEVER as it ties in Camryn’s book “Burnt Orchid” to her present day struggles, and as it alludes to the kind of book she might write next, if she can salvage her career.
Now, if I were a reviewer on READEM, “Burnt Orchid” would have only earned 3 stars ⭐️ from me-It was ALL TELL, and NO SHOW, and I didn’t find it engaging.
But, Robyn Harding is getting 4.5 stars ⭐️ rounded up for “The Haters”. I was entertained from the first page through the last.
Available NOW!!
A buddy read with Mary Beth! Did she love it or hate it? Be sure to watch for her review!
Thank You to Grand Central Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
June 25, 2024
This was SO GOOD! I love Robyn Harding’s writing style so much, I couldn’t help but fly through this in just a few sittings. Such a “just one more chapter” kind of book, I didn’t want to put it down. Also, I just about drove myself crazy trying to figure out what was going on, much like our MC, I couldn’t trust ANYBODY. 😂TRUST ME you are not gonna want to miss out on this super binge-able and twisty thriller!!
July 13, 2024
3.5⭐️
Forty-four-year-old Camryn Lane has just published her debut novel “ Burnt Orchid” – a commendable achievement after years of unsuccessful attempts, all the while navigating her personal life and responsibilities and her career as a high school counselor. But her joy is short-lived after she receives a caustic email from an unknown sender which is soon followed by a harshly worded one-start review on a popular book review site, which is just the beginning of a disturbing chain of events – a deluge of negative reviews, online trolling and harassment. As the situation escalates, her personal relationships begin to suffer, aspersions are cast on her professional ethics and integrity and she soon realizes that she stands to lose everything she worked so hard to achieve. The narrative follows Camryn as she searches for the person targeting her.
This was my first Robyn Harding novel and I was excited to read it. I loved the premise of the The Haters and thought it was well-crafted. The suspenseful mystery with plenty of twists and surprises made for an engaging read. The narrative is presented in short chapters from Camryn’s first person POV with segments from Camryn’s book interspersed throughout the novel. The author’s depiction of how online trolling and bullying affect the mental health of those who are targeted was realistic and relevant. I could sympathize with Camryn’s plight, but given her age and maturity, I was surprised by some of the choices she made. The final reveal was surprising and though I didn’t find the motive entirely convincing, I’m always happy when my theories are proved wrong and I did like how the author chose to end the novel.
I liked the idea of chapters from Camryn’s book interspersed throughout the narrative but also felt that this messed with the pacing of the primary plot and rendered the novel a tad too long. The chapters from Burnt Orchid were intense, but I failed to see the purpose of including so many chapters into the text of the narrative and found one particular aspect in this regard at the end more than a bit contrived. I'm not a fan of adult fiction (in this genre) wherein teenage drama outweighs other aspects of the story. This is a personal preference, but it detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book. However, I did appreciate the sensitive themes that the author has addressed.
I listened to the audiobook expertly narrated by Megan Tusing and Jess Nahikian, who did a commendable job of breathing life into the story.
It does feel weird giving a (relatively) lower rating to a book that so many of my GR friends have enjoyed, but I assure you I'm not a "hater." I didn’t dislike this one in its entirety, but also didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d expected!
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Forty-four-year-old Camryn Lane has just published her debut novel “ Burnt Orchid” – a commendable achievement after years of unsuccessful attempts, all the while navigating her personal life and responsibilities and her career as a high school counselor. But her joy is short-lived after she receives a caustic email from an unknown sender which is soon followed by a harshly worded one-start review on a popular book review site, which is just the beginning of a disturbing chain of events – a deluge of negative reviews, online trolling and harassment. As the situation escalates, her personal relationships begin to suffer, aspersions are cast on her professional ethics and integrity and she soon realizes that she stands to lose everything she worked so hard to achieve. The narrative follows Camryn as she searches for the person targeting her.
This was my first Robyn Harding novel and I was excited to read it. I loved the premise of the The Haters and thought it was well-crafted. The suspenseful mystery with plenty of twists and surprises made for an engaging read. The narrative is presented in short chapters from Camryn’s first person POV with segments from Camryn’s book interspersed throughout the novel. The author’s depiction of how online trolling and bullying affect the mental health of those who are targeted was realistic and relevant. I could sympathize with Camryn’s plight, but given her age and maturity, I was surprised by some of the choices she made. The final reveal was surprising and though I didn’t find the motive entirely convincing, I’m always happy when my theories are proved wrong and I did like how the author chose to end the novel.
I liked the idea of chapters from Camryn’s book interspersed throughout the narrative but also felt that this messed with the pacing of the primary plot and rendered the novel a tad too long. The chapters from Burnt Orchid were intense, but I failed to see the purpose of including so many chapters into the text of the narrative and found one particular aspect in this regard at the end more than a bit contrived. I'm not a fan of adult fiction (in this genre) wherein teenage drama outweighs other aspects of the story. This is a personal preference, but it detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book. However, I did appreciate the sensitive themes that the author has addressed.
I listened to the audiobook expertly narrated by Megan Tusing and Jess Nahikian, who did a commendable job of breathing life into the story.
It does feel weird giving a (relatively) lower rating to a book that so many of my GR friends have enjoyed, but I assure you I'm not a "hater." I didn’t dislike this one in its entirety, but also didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d expected!
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
July 3, 2024
Reading this book is a rare treat—it's not often you can't guess who the villain is! The plot hits close to home for readers and especially writers. Imagine dealing with a bad review, a stalker, and the chaos of social media. I absolutely loved it. It's fast-paced and gripping from start to finish!
July 26, 2024
Camryn Lane is living her dream. After years of struggle and rejection, her first novel has finally been published. Her editor is happy; her teenage daughter is proud; and her boyfriend and friends are all excited for her. She’s on top of the world—until she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender.
Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn swallows the sick feeling in her stomach and resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that soon, Camryn’s book is flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her?
As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows? The troll’s actions are escalating, and when the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her—and finally learn why she's being targeted.
Propulsive and all-encompassing, The Haters easily pulled me into Cameron’s dark world. With plenty of gasp-worthy scenes and constantly ratcheting suspense, I simply flew through the pages from beginning to end. That’s not to say that this psychological thriller was what I expected. No, it was far more poignant and unsettling than anything I’ve yet read by Harding. Especially given the serious pulled-from-the-headlines topics and themes.
The storyline was pure gold for this thriller lover. A complex, deftly woven tale of metafiction that included not only Camryn’s rapidly imploding world, but also excerpts from her new eye-catching novel. Gritty and disturbing, Orchid’s path felt a step away from the other piece to the novel. At the same time, when the two finally came together it was a true work of genius. Far more elevated and thought-provoking than most thrillers that I’ve read, it will certainly keep me thinking long after closing the cover.
The very basis of the plot also grabbed me and didn’t let go. Between the often difficult teenage world of high school and the scary idea of becoming an author with all it entails, both were written with cleverness and clarity. Genuine yet also filled with foreboding, they both came to life on the page. With it was a palpable tension and baked in deep seated fear. In all honesty, it made me look at social media with fresh, clear, wide-open eyes.
As for the characters, they were mesmerizing in all of their dynamic, true-to-life glory. From the vividly drawn bully to the anxiety-ridden new author, I was drawn into their stories as my pulse shot through the roof. With it, however, came a near constant desire to shake Camryn good and hard. I can’t say much more without providing a spoiler or two, but just know that her decisions weren’t always what I would do. Still, she captured my attention as only the best personas can manage.
The one minor flaw that bothered me just a tad was the conclusion. When all was said and done, I wish there had been some more repercussions for all of those who had done wrong. Instead, the finale felt just the teeniest bit anticlimactic. Did it ruin my love for this novel? Not in the slightest. But it did irk me just the same.
Needless to say, this book will easily be living rent free in my head for quite some time. Packed full of dark truths and even darker manipulations, this binge-worthy page-turner was a slam dunk success. Already one of my auto-buy authors, Harding has now proven herself to me on a whole new level. So if you happen to have been living under a rock recently, add this book to your TBR and pre-order it now. After all, I reveled in giving a serious side-eye to each and every character until the final timely reveal. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Robyn Harding and Grand Central Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 2, 2024
Trigger warning: threatening messages, trolling, mention of: sexual assault, bullying, drug dealing, getting doxed, drug overdose
Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn swallows the sick feeling in her stomach and resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that soon, Camryn’s book is flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her?
As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows? The troll’s actions are escalating, and when the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her—and finally learn why she's being targeted.
Propulsive and all-encompassing, The Haters easily pulled me into Cameron’s dark world. With plenty of gasp-worthy scenes and constantly ratcheting suspense, I simply flew through the pages from beginning to end. That’s not to say that this psychological thriller was what I expected. No, it was far more poignant and unsettling than anything I’ve yet read by Harding. Especially given the serious pulled-from-the-headlines topics and themes.
The storyline was pure gold for this thriller lover. A complex, deftly woven tale of metafiction that included not only Camryn’s rapidly imploding world, but also excerpts from her new eye-catching novel. Gritty and disturbing, Orchid’s path felt a step away from the other piece to the novel. At the same time, when the two finally came together it was a true work of genius. Far more elevated and thought-provoking than most thrillers that I’ve read, it will certainly keep me thinking long after closing the cover.
The very basis of the plot also grabbed me and didn’t let go. Between the often difficult teenage world of high school and the scary idea of becoming an author with all it entails, both were written with cleverness and clarity. Genuine yet also filled with foreboding, they both came to life on the page. With it was a palpable tension and baked in deep seated fear. In all honesty, it made me look at social media with fresh, clear, wide-open eyes.
As for the characters, they were mesmerizing in all of their dynamic, true-to-life glory. From the vividly drawn bully to the anxiety-ridden new author, I was drawn into their stories as my pulse shot through the roof. With it, however, came a near constant desire to shake Camryn good and hard. I can’t say much more without providing a spoiler or two, but just know that her decisions weren’t always what I would do. Still, she captured my attention as only the best personas can manage.
The one minor flaw that bothered me just a tad was the conclusion. When all was said and done, I wish there had been some more repercussions for all of those who had done wrong. Instead, the finale felt just the teeniest bit anticlimactic. Did it ruin my love for this novel? Not in the slightest. But it did irk me just the same.
Needless to say, this book will easily be living rent free in my head for quite some time. Packed full of dark truths and even darker manipulations, this binge-worthy page-turner was a slam dunk success. Already one of my auto-buy authors, Harding has now proven herself to me on a whole new level. So if you happen to have been living under a rock recently, add this book to your TBR and pre-order it now. After all, I reveled in giving a serious side-eye to each and every character until the final timely reveal. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Robyn Harding and Grand Central Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 2, 2024
Trigger warning: threatening messages, trolling, mention of: sexual assault, bullying, drug dealing, getting doxed, drug overdose
July 9, 2024
Hey Robyn Harding, you can add me to your Anti-Haters club! 🙋🏻♀️ Because trust me when I say there was nothing to hate about this book- except for the fact that my anxiety was a little high and I was on the edge of my seat, because EVERYONE was a suspicious and suspected hater in this story!
Camryn Lane, a high school counselor, finally publishes her first novel. It’s a dream come true for Camryn, and all her friends and family are happy for her it seems. The public is even loving this debut novel “Burnt Orchid”, until she receives the nasty one star review. Prior to this nasty one-star review from an I.W., Camryn received a nasty email from an Ingrid Wandry, telling her that she stole her students stories and wrote a book. Camryn knows this is nonsense, but the public is going along with all the negative reviews and misinformation about Camryn Lane.
Instead of celebrating the success of her debut novel, Camryn is being harassed and stalked online. All her personal relationships are being ruined. How will she ever find this Ingrid Wandry and make this harassment stop?
After her personal life is falling apart, Camryn starts to wonder if there is anyone in her circle that she can even trust? Was her best friend happy for her that she finally became a successful author? Or her much younger boyfriend? Or even her own family members? Camryn soon starts to isolate herself, and realizes that she doesn’t have anyone to support her.
Is she really crazy and manipulative like everyone is painting her out to be? Or can she bring the haters down?
This book added a nice little extra touch with excerpts from Camryn’s novel “Burnt Orchid” throughout the story. This story also showed the personal effects of trauma perfectly, as it is very hard not to react to the haters out there. I highly recommend reading this book!!
(4.5 stars 🌟)
Camryn Lane, a high school counselor, finally publishes her first novel. It’s a dream come true for Camryn, and all her friends and family are happy for her it seems. The public is even loving this debut novel “Burnt Orchid”, until she receives the nasty one star review. Prior to this nasty one-star review from an I.W., Camryn received a nasty email from an Ingrid Wandry, telling her that she stole her students stories and wrote a book. Camryn knows this is nonsense, but the public is going along with all the negative reviews and misinformation about Camryn Lane.
Instead of celebrating the success of her debut novel, Camryn is being harassed and stalked online. All her personal relationships are being ruined. How will she ever find this Ingrid Wandry and make this harassment stop?
After her personal life is falling apart, Camryn starts to wonder if there is anyone in her circle that she can even trust? Was her best friend happy for her that she finally became a successful author? Or her much younger boyfriend? Or even her own family members? Camryn soon starts to isolate herself, and realizes that she doesn’t have anyone to support her.
Is she really crazy and manipulative like everyone is painting her out to be? Or can she bring the haters down?
This book added a nice little extra touch with excerpts from Camryn’s novel “Burnt Orchid” throughout the story. This story also showed the personal effects of trauma perfectly, as it is very hard not to react to the haters out there. I highly recommend reading this book!!
(4.5 stars 🌟)
July 4, 2024
My fifth novel from this author!
She is one that I can count on to keep the pages moving! This time we have a story about an author who finally gets her first novel published. Camryn Lane is on top of the world UNTIL.... Dun,dun,dun... the reviews start rolling in. 😐
I've read some pretty brutal one star reviews (IRL) and I did actually feel bad for Camryn. She decides to take steps to investigate why readers seem to be jumping on this bandwagon taking her overall rating sinking by the day.
There is plenty of juicy book drama, finger pointing and a peek at just how social media can wreak havoc and do damage to anyone (yikes), this one may keep you engaged and guessing just who was behind the social curtain!
Thanks to NG for my ARC and this one came out July 2, 2024
She is one that I can count on to keep the pages moving! This time we have a story about an author who finally gets her first novel published. Camryn Lane is on top of the world UNTIL.... Dun,dun,dun... the reviews start rolling in. 😐
I've read some pretty brutal one star reviews (IRL) and I did actually feel bad for Camryn. She decides to take steps to investigate why readers seem to be jumping on this bandwagon taking her overall rating sinking by the day.
There is plenty of juicy book drama, finger pointing and a peek at just how social media can wreak havoc and do damage to anyone (yikes), this one may keep you engaged and guessing just who was behind the social curtain!
Thanks to NG for my ARC and this one came out July 2, 2024
July 3, 2024
Stay away from The Haters, Camryn!
4.5.
It all started with an email through Camryn Lane’s author website – hateful words regarding her newly-published first novel, Burnt Orchid, and worst still, a personal attack on her character. Then, there’s the multiple one-star reviews, and while taking part in an authors panel at a book festival a stranger accuses Camryn of abusing her position as a high school counsellor to gain material for Burnt Orchid. Camryn knows that every author receives negative feedback, and that you need to have a thick skin, but Camryn just wants everyone to love her book as much as she does. All she needs to do is engage with The Haters, and they will listen to, and see, her side, right?
I kept begging Camryn to stay off the internet, and ignore The Haters, but it wouldn't have been much of a thriller if she had of listened to me, would it? The Haters sure was highly entertaining. To be honest, Camryn was a disaster. She was immature, paranoid, oblivious, obsessed, and self-centered, but this plot wouldn’t have worked with a more secure character. Her sarcastic sense of humor and absurd behaviour did crack me up through. My enjoyment of this novel came from waiting to see just how much deeper Cameron was going to dig the hole she was in, and eagerly awaiting to see who, and why, was behind everything.
Camryn was the sole first-person narrator, which kept the tension high, and like Cameron I was side-eying everyone wondering if they were trustworthy. There were also excerpts from Cameron’s novel, Burnt Orchid, and I relished the parallels between her fictional work and the situation she found herself in because of The Haters. As light and fun as I found most of the novel, the ruthless attack and sabotage by on and offline trolls of Camryn’s character and safety was not funny in the slightest, neither were the personal stories other characters shared with Camryn regarding their own experiences with disparaging remarks, harassment, stalking, death threats, and verbal abuse. The Haters definitely had a serious side, and my heart broke for these authors. My heart also broke for the students Camryn counselled who were being mercilessly bullied.
Robyn Harding has impressed me once again. Her domestic drama psychological suspense thrillers are always so unique!
4.5.
It all started with an email through Camryn Lane’s author website – hateful words regarding her newly-published first novel, Burnt Orchid, and worst still, a personal attack on her character. Then, there’s the multiple one-star reviews, and while taking part in an authors panel at a book festival a stranger accuses Camryn of abusing her position as a high school counsellor to gain material for Burnt Orchid. Camryn knows that every author receives negative feedback, and that you need to have a thick skin, but Camryn just wants everyone to love her book as much as she does. All she needs to do is engage with The Haters, and they will listen to, and see, her side, right?
I kept begging Camryn to stay off the internet, and ignore The Haters, but it wouldn't have been much of a thriller if she had of listened to me, would it? The Haters sure was highly entertaining. To be honest, Camryn was a disaster. She was immature, paranoid, oblivious, obsessed, and self-centered, but this plot wouldn’t have worked with a more secure character. Her sarcastic sense of humor and absurd behaviour did crack me up through. My enjoyment of this novel came from waiting to see just how much deeper Cameron was going to dig the hole she was in, and eagerly awaiting to see who, and why, was behind everything.
Camryn was the sole first-person narrator, which kept the tension high, and like Cameron I was side-eying everyone wondering if they were trustworthy. There were also excerpts from Cameron’s novel, Burnt Orchid, and I relished the parallels between her fictional work and the situation she found herself in because of The Haters. As light and fun as I found most of the novel, the ruthless attack and sabotage by on and offline trolls of Camryn’s character and safety was not funny in the slightest, neither were the personal stories other characters shared with Camryn regarding their own experiences with disparaging remarks, harassment, stalking, death threats, and verbal abuse. The Haters definitely had a serious side, and my heart broke for these authors. My heart also broke for the students Camryn counselled who were being mercilessly bullied.
Robyn Harding has impressed me once again. Her domestic drama psychological suspense thrillers are always so unique!
July 9, 2024
I did not hate "The Haters".
I loved it!!!!!!!!
😍👍🩷💙🩵💜❤️🥰
Kudos to author Robyn Harding for penning ANOTHER high-octane, riveting, and unputdownable domestic thriller.
This dark tale of fame, obsession, family dynamics, ambition, and social media trolling sizzled and soared.
From Chapter One, I was hooked.
Characterizations were ultra-compelling, alarmingly relevant, and on-point.
The despair, angst, frustration, anger, and futility experienced by the protagonist was palpable.
I listened to the audiobook read by Megan Tusing and Jess Nahikian.
A special shoutout to Megan Tusing, the book's primary narrator, for her Oscar-worthy performance.
"The Haters" was pacy, twisty, unpredictable, suspenseful, and brilliantly narrated -- making it impossible to remove my headphones.
No hate from this devoted and loyal Robyn Harding fan.
"The Haters" gets all the stars.....and MORE!!!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
May 29, 2024
I loved this book! Flying through it at an alarmingly fast rate, this was a propelling, engaging and exciting thriller. I own some of this author’s books which I have not yet read and will rectify this asap. I can say with certainty this is the only physical book I have read lately which I read into the night and stayed up too late to devour ‘just a few more’ pages, I don’t usually do this.
A wonderful example of who and how, and a protagonist that goes against the grain ducking and weaving to try and fix her situation in a way that others would give up on or rely on others to solve. My mind was in a whirlwind trying to piece it together, and all the components thrown in the air at us made for excellent second guessing. It was chaotic, it created confusion and was relatable in a strange way.
Camryn (love the spelling) is a highly skilled debut writer. Her novel is captivating containing a beguiling main character and has begun to gain immediate traction. Alarmingly for Camryn, the book she has slaved over has been slammed by a low review setting in motion a hugely trolled situation, leading to imminent physical danger, with personal details leaked.
Personal relationships come into question, the ex-husband and his wife, her younger boyfriend, writers group friends and work colleagues. Her best friends are lovely, but there is always a cloud over them, as well.
I loved the inclusion of the instantly unlikeable student who Camryn persistently tries to help in her professional role. The psychological trauma that students go through at the hands of others, and the evil some teenagers so easily perpetrate is chilling. Then Camyrn’s ability to stay professional at school through all this was impressive, against the backdrop of her personal life falling apart so quickly.
The intricacies of teenage relationships and social hierarchies mixed in with the folly that is social media, and the dangers of this is clever and intricate. Additionally, the interspersed chapters of Camyrn’s book are a clever tool, and the last line? Priceless. Camryn is a feisty and unforgiving woman, a strong holding together a thoroughly engrossing read.
With my thanks to Better Reading magazine for my advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
A wonderful example of who and how, and a protagonist that goes against the grain ducking and weaving to try and fix her situation in a way that others would give up on or rely on others to solve. My mind was in a whirlwind trying to piece it together, and all the components thrown in the air at us made for excellent second guessing. It was chaotic, it created confusion and was relatable in a strange way.
Camryn (love the spelling) is a highly skilled debut writer. Her novel is captivating containing a beguiling main character and has begun to gain immediate traction. Alarmingly for Camryn, the book she has slaved over has been slammed by a low review setting in motion a hugely trolled situation, leading to imminent physical danger, with personal details leaked.
Personal relationships come into question, the ex-husband and his wife, her younger boyfriend, writers group friends and work colleagues. Her best friends are lovely, but there is always a cloud over them, as well.
I loved the inclusion of the instantly unlikeable student who Camryn persistently tries to help in her professional role. The psychological trauma that students go through at the hands of others, and the evil some teenagers so easily perpetrate is chilling. Then Camyrn’s ability to stay professional at school through all this was impressive, against the backdrop of her personal life falling apart so quickly.
The intricacies of teenage relationships and social hierarchies mixed in with the folly that is social media, and the dangers of this is clever and intricate. Additionally, the interspersed chapters of Camyrn’s book are a clever tool, and the last line? Priceless. Camryn is a feisty and unforgiving woman, a strong holding together a thoroughly engrossing read.
With my thanks to Better Reading magazine for my advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 5, 2024
Unbelievably good!!! I've had plenty of time on the beach🌴 to read, but no time to write a review!! I love Robyn Harding books and this one is no exception. A scary defining moment with the dark side of social media. When Camryn Lane struggles with rejections, her debut book is finally published. Burnt Orchid is sure to be a hit!!
Then....a sudden twist in fate...a one star review slams her book then many more to follow. One email comes to her for threats her book circulating is about her students she had in high school as she serves as their counselor. The train wreck escalates into real life threats. It is disturbing! I felt sorry for her as she tried to recover from online harassment. This is bullying at its worst. The final twist is awesome!!
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Then....a sudden twist in fate...a one star review slams her book then many more to follow. One email comes to her for threats her book circulating is about her students she had in high school as she serves as their counselor. The train wreck escalates into real life threats. It is disturbing! I felt sorry for her as she tried to recover from online harassment. This is bullying at its worst. The final twist is awesome!!
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 9, 2024
The Haters by Robyn Harding is a new thriller focused on one reviewer tanking an author's career because (s)he has a personal vendetta against the family. What we don't know is why... and as the plot unfolds, readers grow increasingly supportive of the author who truly is trying to do all the right things. Perhaps because I'm an author myself, I identify fully with the protagonist. In complete agreement that we need thick skin, but in a world where one's livelihood may depend on income from their work, there needs to be a line when a reviewer's opinion crosses line. Here, Harding depicts such a drama that pits the author against the reviewer... and while there is some error on the author's side, a much larger reason lurks behind the scenes... one that easily draws readers into a web of chaos and confusion. I really enjoyed this book. My primary constructive feedback is that when things finally come to a conclusion, the author's life is still left in ruins, and it would have been nice to have a bigger payoff for those who were wronged. Maybe I'm too much of an equality / fairness guy... that said, I'll emphasize that the writing was great, the characters were convincing, and I always enjoy this author's books.
January 19, 2024
Blimey! That was a wild ride.
THE HATERS
by Robyn Harding had me hooked (and terrified) from the opening page. No wonder, because this psychological thriller about the dangers of how we handle social media is clever, propulsive, full of truly gasp-worthy moments, and will have you thinking twice before posting anything online again. All the love—and zero hate—for this twisted, suspenseful tale.
THE HATERS
is my favourite Harding novel yet.
April 19, 2024
This book was EVERYTHING! Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing and Robyn Harding for my copy of this book! It’s about Camryn, a newly published author who is finally having her dreams come true. Everything is going great, until she gets a disturbing message from an unknown person. She tries to forget about it, but then she gets a scathing one star review on her book, and soon her book is flooded with bad reviews. Then the online trolling starts to creep in to her her personal life, and crosses the line from an angry reader to someone out to get her. Is this person someone she knows? She begins to be targeted more and more, and now she realizes that this vendetta is deeper than she first believed.
Thoughts: I loved this book! Robyn Harding is quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors. The way she writes is dynamic and interesting and leads the reader down a path of this fun thriller. This book is written for readers, and anyone who is in the bookstagram or author space will love this book. The idea of an internet troll being able to destroy someone’s life is so relevant and so truly terrifying.
There were so many interesting and suspicious characters in this book, and so many ways this story could go. I loved the chapters of Burnt Orchid in between the other chapters, and would LOVE to actually get to read that full book. The things happening to Camryn were not scary, but just creepy enough to make me feel really uneasy. The ending was what I guessed, but I didn’t know all the details and how Harding would weave everything together. I can’t recommend this enough- 5 stars!
July 6, 2024
I was so excited to get an early copy of The Haters by one of my favourite thriller writers, Robyn Harding. Thank you so much Simon and Schuster Australia, it went straight to the top of my TBR. And it was wonderful!!
Camryn Lane has just published her first book and is on top of the world. It is getting a great reception and she is about to do her launch when the online abuse begins. Soon she has more 1 star reviews than anything else and it is all she can think about. She starts to make some questionable decisions and her life starts to spiral out of control. She isn’t sure who she can trust and her relationships start to suffer. Who is doing this to her and why??
I was hooked!! a book about books and a writer, I am all in for that. I really felt for Camryn but at times I was yelling at her to stop doing what she was doing. We get parts of the book, Burnt Orchid, throughout the story. Robyn Harding always has the best twists, and this was a doozy!! Did not see it coming until it was right in my face. So clever.
Out on July 3rd, you know you want to read it.
Camryn Lane has just published her first book and is on top of the world. It is getting a great reception and she is about to do her launch when the online abuse begins. Soon she has more 1 star reviews than anything else and it is all she can think about. She starts to make some questionable decisions and her life starts to spiral out of control. She isn’t sure who she can trust and her relationships start to suffer. Who is doing this to her and why??
I was hooked!! a book about books and a writer, I am all in for that. I really felt for Camryn but at times I was yelling at her to stop doing what she was doing. We get parts of the book, Burnt Orchid, throughout the story. Robyn Harding always has the best twists, and this was a doozy!! Did not see it coming until it was right in my face. So clever.
Out on July 3rd, you know you want to read it.
July 28, 2024
Books about books, and particular meta fiction, are so intriguing to me. Add in the dark side of social media and complex familial relationships and you have yourself a really fun book. I will say I struggled to connect with the characters and felt the plot dragged a bit in the last third, however, all in all still an entertaining read.
🎧 While the audiobook is certainly well narrated, I wonder if it prevented me from connecting to the characters. I would recommend the physical book or an immersive read.
Read if you like:
• meta fiction
• books about books
• the world of social media
• family dramas
Thank you Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for the gifted copies.
🎧 While the audiobook is certainly well narrated, I wonder if it prevented me from connecting to the characters. I would recommend the physical book or an immersive read.
Read if you like:
• meta fiction
• books about books
• the world of social media
• family dramas
Thank you Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for the gifted copies.
July 17, 2024
I realize that giving a low rating to a book about an author who gets a low rating on her book and then her entire life spirals out of control is… not a great look, but I really struggled to get through this and ended up skimming the last third. I think I just disliked Camryn too much to care? Also, the book within a book was a fun idea, but Burned Orchid or whatever it was called was very much not a good book, and I found it distracting - I definitely would have given that one a one star/DNF. 😬
Anyway — Loads of other reviewers have LOVED this, and I was kind of an outlier on The Drowning Woman as well, so I think Harding may just not be for me?
* thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the NetGalley review copy. The Haters publishes July 2, 2024.
Anyway — Loads of other reviewers have LOVED this, and I was kind of an outlier on The Drowning Woman as well, so I think Harding may just not be for me?
* thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the NetGalley review copy. The Haters publishes July 2, 2024.
June 24, 2024
I've always enjoyed Robyn Harding's books and this one is no exception. The protagonist, Camryn Lane, is a debut author--her dream of having a book published has just come true and her friends are throwing a party for her on publication day. But her joy is diminished when an email sent to her author account calls her book 'mindless garbage' and accuses her of using the things she's learned as a high school counselor to write this story. Her book titled Burnt Orchid IS about young teens with problems but in Camryn's mind, it's all fiction and not based on any of her students or their problems. Later she is appalled to see 1-star reviews on a book review site called ReadMe which say similar nasty things.
'Haters are part of the deal when you put yourself in the public eye,' her friend Janine, a popular TV newscaster, informs her. But things quickly begin to spiral out of hand and Camryn decides to find the person who started it all--with disastrous results.
Meanwhile, things in her personal life aren't going well either--with her job, with her teenage daughter Liza, with her boyfriend Theo, or even with her long-time friends. Camryn begins to wonder whom she can trust. Her dream has been shattered and she's learned there is a dark side to this business she'd been entirely unaware of till now.
Interspersed with what is happening to Camryn are chapters from her book, Burnt Orchid. Camryn as a person is not always likable but you can't help but feel sorry for her. Part of the problem is she really has no one she can rely on so she charges ahead on her own and makes some serious mistakes. Likewise her daughter is mixed up in things she keeps secret and Camryn's friends are not always shown at their best, their most loyal. This all makes for very tense, page-turning reading. A good bet to take along on your summer vacation!
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
'Haters are part of the deal when you put yourself in the public eye,' her friend Janine, a popular TV newscaster, informs her. But things quickly begin to spiral out of hand and Camryn decides to find the person who started it all--with disastrous results.
Meanwhile, things in her personal life aren't going well either--with her job, with her teenage daughter Liza, with her boyfriend Theo, or even with her long-time friends. Camryn begins to wonder whom she can trust. Her dream has been shattered and she's learned there is a dark side to this business she'd been entirely unaware of till now.
Interspersed with what is happening to Camryn are chapters from her book, Burnt Orchid. Camryn as a person is not always likable but you can't help but feel sorry for her. Part of the problem is she really has no one she can rely on so she charges ahead on her own and makes some serious mistakes. Likewise her daughter is mixed up in things she keeps secret and Camryn's friends are not always shown at their best, their most loyal. This all makes for very tense, page-turning reading. A good bet to take along on your summer vacation!
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
June 29, 2024
The stress and anxiety I felt while reading this book is so real. Perhaps because I am very involved in social media, thrillers which center around social media hate trains really make me feel paranoid. It just feels so realistic.
I truly hope anyone who reads this book and also quickly jumps onto every hateful bandwagon they see online, would take a second to THINK before doing so. This story is not farfetched, this is completely believable as a real life possible situation.
This book is a great read. I highly recommend picking it up.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
I truly hope anyone who reads this book and also quickly jumps onto every hateful bandwagon they see online, would take a second to THINK before doing so. This story is not farfetched, this is completely believable as a real life possible situation.
This book is a great read. I highly recommend picking it up.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
July 5, 2024
Not good. 🫠🫠
May 21, 2024
If I ever thought of being an author, Camryn's situation in The Haters has presented a cautionary tale that has me feeling glad just to be a reviewer. Although I would never do to anyone what people were doing to Camryn. If I were to become an author, I could deal with a bad review, but not with having my life upended.
This story felt almost too realistic, considering all the ugly and hateful reviews that authors have been receiving lately. It was very suspenseful and hard to put down! I felt so stressed out for Camryn the entire time and wish I could have been there to support her (and tell her not to do stuff that would make things even worse). I also liked the parts from the book Camryn wrote, and they felt almost as real as the story itself. I was invested in what was happening for Orchid, even though she was a fictional character created by a fictional character.
Add The Haters to your TBR this July and prepare to get nothing else done!
(Trigger warnings below)
Movie casting suggestions:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
TW: Cyberbullying, stalking, the book within the novel talks about teenagers selling drugs and sex
This story felt almost too realistic, considering all the ugly and hateful reviews that authors have been receiving lately. It was very suspenseful and hard to put down! I felt so stressed out for Camryn the entire time and wish I could have been there to support her (and tell her not to do stuff that would make things even worse). I also liked the parts from the book Camryn wrote, and they felt almost as real as the story itself. I was invested in what was happening for Orchid, even though she was a fictional character created by a fictional character.
Add The Haters to your TBR this July and prepare to get nothing else done!
(Trigger warnings below)
Movie casting suggestions:
Camryn: JoAnna Garcia Swisher
Theo: Brenton Thwaites
Liza: Isabella Crovetti
Adrian: Scott Porter
Tori: Dominique Swain
Martha: Yara Martinez
Fiona: Amiah Miller
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
TW: Cyberbullying, stalking, the book within the novel talks about teenagers selling drugs and sex
June 26, 2024
3.5 rounded to 4 for GR! i liked this and it was an easy binge, but overall wanted a bit more given how good THE DROWNING WOMAN was (sorry for comparing 😩)
this is similar to THE LAST WORD by Taylor Adams if you liked that, but has the motherhood play. it actually felt like a good blend of THE LAST WORD x GONE TONIGHT by Sarah Pekkanen and i enjoyed both of those books!
i liked the ending of this and didn’t see it coming, but overall wanted more going on in the middle and another crazy twist or two halfway to keep things going strong. it was a very easy binge and i love the authors writing style. but overall wanted a bit more “thriller” here - just a personal preference since i’m not a mother and it had a lot of family/motherhood aspects!
if you’re not super into thrillers, this could be a good one to pick up - it’s not too dark or scary or intense!
thanks the GCP for the early copy - this hits bookstores soon and was an enjoyable poolside binge.
this is similar to THE LAST WORD by Taylor Adams if you liked that, but has the motherhood play. it actually felt like a good blend of THE LAST WORD x GONE TONIGHT by Sarah Pekkanen and i enjoyed both of those books!
i liked the ending of this and didn’t see it coming, but overall wanted more going on in the middle and another crazy twist or two halfway to keep things going strong. it was a very easy binge and i love the authors writing style. but overall wanted a bit more “thriller” here - just a personal preference since i’m not a mother and it had a lot of family/motherhood aspects!
if you’re not super into thrillers, this could be a good one to pick up - it’s not too dark or scary or intense!
thanks the GCP for the early copy - this hits bookstores soon and was an enjoyable poolside binge.
July 30, 2024
My 4th book by this author and she never disappoints! I felt like I was racing until the end to see how it all played out. As much as social media is in our lives, this makes you think twice about leaving a book review, or putting anything on social media! I give this all the stars for keeping me engaged the whole way through! Can’t wait to see what Robyn has next up her sleeve!
July 14, 2024
Unputdownable and Unpredictable!
Camryn Lane has finally done it! After years of struggle and rejection her first novel has finally been published. Camryn is thrilled and her family and friends are overjoyed for her. Or are they?
A disturbing message appears, from an unknown sender, bad reviews begin appearing and the online harassment seems to snowball.
Camryn vows to find whoever is behind trying to destroy her when things take a deadly turn.
A dark, twisted, excellent page-turner!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Camryn Lane has finally done it! After years of struggle and rejection her first novel has finally been published. Camryn is thrilled and her family and friends are overjoyed for her. Or are they?
A disturbing message appears, from an unknown sender, bad reviews begin appearing and the online harassment seems to snowball.
Camryn vows to find whoever is behind trying to destroy her when things take a deadly turn.
A dark, twisted, excellent page-turner!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
July 13, 2024
4.5 Stars
Cameron has just written her first novel. She's also a counselor at a high school.
The book is about young people who are down on their luck.
Students in Cameron's school get suspicious she has used their private stories to create her book.
Her book then starts to get hate, one star reviews, and she gets harassed on social media.
Cameron's life starts to fall apart because of this book she was so proud of writing.
She knows she didn't use private information and is determined to find out who is threatening her.
Great writing from Robyn Harding. Love her books.
Cameron has just written her first novel. She's also a counselor at a high school.
The book is about young people who are down on their luck.
Students in Cameron's school get suspicious she has used their private stories to create her book.
Her book then starts to get hate, one star reviews, and she gets harassed on social media.
Cameron's life starts to fall apart because of this book she was so proud of writing.
She knows she didn't use private information and is determined to find out who is threatening her.
Great writing from Robyn Harding. Love her books.
July 5, 2024
if this book has 0 haters i’m dead
July 29, 2024
I love @rhardingwriter books so much! This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, so when #bookstabookclub voted for it, I was ecstatic! I finished this one last night (or this morning depending on who you ask lol) and it was such a fun read!
Robyn knows how to write twisted, dark and complex characters which is why she’s one of my absolute favorites. This was such a bingeable read and I honestly didn’t have it figured out. The only reason this was not a 5 star read for me is because the MC kept putting herself in the worst positions and I found myself cringing with the choices she made lol if you are looking for a fun page turner this is for you!
Robyn knows how to write twisted, dark and complex characters which is why she’s one of my absolute favorites. This was such a bingeable read and I honestly didn’t have it figured out. The only reason this was not a 5 star read for me is because the MC kept putting herself in the worst positions and I found myself cringing with the choices she made lol if you are looking for a fun page turner this is for you!
May 6, 2024
Those darn book reviewers...
Meta books are always fun and Harding gives us a book within a book. School counselor Camryn Lane writes her first novel, but things quickly go wrong when she gets a bad review on a popular site (ahem), which feels incredibly personal, with ties to her personal life as a counselor. Soon her book is being bombarded with negative reviews and despite the advice from her team, Camryn wants to investigate and fight back.
What follows is a very tense story about the dangers of social media and what happens when you engage with trolls--but also how horrible people can be when they hide behind the anonymity of the Internet. Camryn's life is systematically broken apart, with online harassment, bullying, stalking, and much more. Before she knows it, they've infiltrated her relationships with her daughter, boyfriend, and friends. It would be admirable if it wasn't so terrifying. Harding does a good job of ratcheting up the tension; there are plenty of suspects, and it's a quick read trying to determine who wants to destroy Camryn.
This is a tense read, with plenty of dark and scary pieces, though it's not the type that feels like it will stick with the reader forever. There's always a sense that this sort of plot has been done before. Still, it's an enjoyable, quick thriller. 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE HATERS on July 2, 2024!
Meta books are always fun and Harding gives us a book within a book. School counselor Camryn Lane writes her first novel, but things quickly go wrong when she gets a bad review on a popular site (ahem), which feels incredibly personal, with ties to her personal life as a counselor. Soon her book is being bombarded with negative reviews and despite the advice from her team, Camryn wants to investigate and fight back.
What follows is a very tense story about the dangers of social media and what happens when you engage with trolls--but also how horrible people can be when they hide behind the anonymity of the Internet. Camryn's life is systematically broken apart, with online harassment, bullying, stalking, and much more. Before she knows it, they've infiltrated her relationships with her daughter, boyfriend, and friends. It would be admirable if it wasn't so terrifying. Harding does a good job of ratcheting up the tension; there are plenty of suspects, and it's a quick read trying to determine who wants to destroy Camryn.
This is a tense read, with plenty of dark and scary pieces, though it's not the type that feels like it will stick with the reader forever. There's always a sense that this sort of plot has been done before. Still, it's an enjoyable, quick thriller. 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE HATERS on July 2, 2024!
July 4, 2024
4.25 stars
RTC
RTC
Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews