Idol: The must-read, addictive and compulsive book club thriller 2022

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The commentary on the cult of the influencer guru could have been interesting if it was handled better. Although I accept that not all protagonists are perfect - they are, in fact, better when they have some flaws and complexities to their personality - with Samantha I was repulsed by her.

The supporting cast of characters were an important part of the story and it is clear that this is that start of a series, I was most disappointed that I couldn’t download the second instalment straight away. Once Lisa gets in touch with Sam's manager, Sam is on a mission to try and put out this fire before it truly starts to take hold. Idol's damaged but successful protagonist, Samantha Miller, has made her fortune telling young girls how to live better on the internet. Idol isn’t quite as harrowing, although it does very much touch on issues of consent and rape it is less graphic, and instead focuses the story from the point of view of the accused.Louise contributes regularly to Irish TV and radio, and has a weekly column in the Irish Sunday Times.

I didn’t fall in love with any of them, but they were compelling to read and held my attention well.There were some great moments in this when we see how Sam's following is mostly white young women (but that's not her fault) and she receives criticism from BIPOC influencers in the same sphere for her cultural appropriation when it comes to the type of practices she preaches which seem to be a mixture of different faiths and organisations. But then – years since they last spoke – Lisa gets in touch to say that she doesn’t remember it that way at all.