Book Review - Truly, Madly, Like Me by Jo Watson

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Title: Truly, Madly, Like Me

Author: Jo Watson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 18th August 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

She's used to faking it. Now it's time to get real.

It all started with a faulty elevator...

When social media influencer Frankie Paulson's followers turn on her after an embarrassing public break-up with her perfect #couplegoals boyfriend, and she almost plummets to her death with two strangers in a faulty elevator, all she wants to do is hide.

A town with no internet is the ideal sanctuary, but Frankie has never done anything without sharing it on one of many apps she can't live without. After all, surely it's much more satisfying to take the perfect photograph of her breakfast than eat it?

When Fate, in the form of a new four-legged companion, plays a hand in keeping her in the town, Frankie starts to make tentative but genuine connections with the people she meets. Suddenly every rule she's been living by seems far less meaningful and she begins to wonder if her apparently #blessed life wasn't as real as she thought...

I thought I might be slightly obsessed with social media at times, or with my phone, but wow Frankie take it to a whole other level.  To say she is addicted would probably be an understatement, so when things start go wrong and she is losing followers by the thousand, she flees. 

And of all the places to flee to its a small town that is completely offline, internet is actually banned due to the waves affecting the local space station, and allows her to hide out. 

Well it would if she didn't keep reaching for a phone that doesn't work, and had any idea what to do with her time, as she literally seems to have lost the ability to live in the real world.  (If I ever get that bad, please do tell me to read this again, it would probably bring me back to reality!). 

There is without a doubt a message about the absurdity of life as influencer in here, as Frankie is essentially detoxing, and starting to get to know people in this small town. 

There is Mark who you feel is clearly hiding something, but just what I hadn't completely guessed, and there is my absolutely favourite character Harun. 

Harun enters Frankie's life with a purpose, and is determined to make things happen for her.  However it takes a while for Frankie to realise her feelings for Harun, but it really is a love that grows fast once she gives in to it. 

It's a really social town, and everyone really knows everyone, and there are always community events going on, if it wasn't for the lack of wifi, and the fact its in the middle of the desert then I'd be tempted to move to such a friendly place myself - but I fear the heat would be a problem! 

I loved seeing how Frankie starts to know herself a whole lot better than when she was with her controlling ex Kyle, and I loved how much depth and character development was present. 

This book is technically connected to You, Me, Forever and Just The Way I Am, as they each feature one of the three ladies that was in a faulty elevator, but it is completely  a standalone and you don't particularly hear of the other ladies, so if you want their stories, you had better read their books which I also was hooked on. 

Yet another truly fabulous story from Jo Watson, an author who I seem to like more and more if that is even possible with ever book she writes. 

Thank you to Headline Eternal and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.