Us Against the Likes follows Abby, a 19-year-old travel influencer who’s working hard to build her Instagram account—and to prove that she can make a career out of her passion.

Right from the beginning, I could feel the stakes for Abby as she struggles to keep up with content creation, engaging with her followers, managing her anxiety, and navigating a suddenly rocky relationship with her closest confidant, her sister, Lizzie. Abby wants to convince her mom that she can make a living as an influencer, that she didn’t make a mistake by quitting college… but in the process, she twists herself into knots trying to be what other people want her to be. 

I will admit, I wasn’t sure that a book about an influencer was “for” me. I don’t spend a lot of time online in that way, partially because I’m too distractible to put in the kind of work that Abby does! But as I watched her fight to make it in this space, I found myself rooting for her, but also wanting to grab her and shake some sense into her! I think for YA readers, this book has a powerful message: in a world where we’re all chronically online, it can be so easy to lose yourself…but it’s also never too late to find yourself again. 

Truly, this book has a little something for just about every contemporary YA reader: heartfelt (and occasionally difficult) family relationships, adventure vibes (seriously, I wish I could afford to travel!!!), a dash of friends-to-lovers romance, and authentic mental health rep that made me feel so seen. I’m so glad this book is in the world, and I hope you consider reading it!