My thoughts

Narrative and Plot

Followers is one of my top favorites of 2020 so far. The story is set in two timelines. One in the 2015s and the other 2050s. Between then and now, the one major difference is the Internet and the way we use it.

With its futuristic and Black Mirror-ish plot the Followers get your attention right from the start. Each chapter is like a beautifully woven web which piques your curiosity. As the story progresses the connection between the past and the future becomes strong.

Characters and Conflicts

The story is told mostly by Marlo and Orla. As the story progresses in both timelines, you see who they are and how their worlds collide. One of the remarkable things about the book is that none of the characters are black and white. Every single one of them has flaws. These flawed characters make the narrative more believable and relatable.

The conflict of the book is one of the most relevant and pressing in the current times. This is the era of influencers and the book explores how far you can go to get your fix of fame. And how the system can channel into its own benefit, if things go bleak. It is on that focal point a reader can connect with this story.

Marlo and Orla are both not perfect women and neither is Flos. But they’re not completely superfluous. There is something real going on when it comes to the relationship between these three. Orla and Flos’s friendship is a twisted tale that takes the reader on a real trip. Marlo on the other hand is a woman who finds herself by looking into her past. The characters stay true to their flaws till the end and yet the story wraps itself up with a satisfying conclusion.

Conclusion

Overall, Followers is a must read if you’re interested in the futuristic dystopian Black Mirror-ish world. The book also sheds light on our dependence to our “devices” and to the extend it dictates our life, choices and thoughts. In a world of likes, views and trends, Followers definitely has an important place.