The Obsession

Connie's mother is a famous YouTube vlogger who posts everything online about their daily life. Connie doesn't want to be famous, but admits the benefits, money, aren't bad. When her mother and sister go on a college road trip, things start happening around her. For one, there's someone whose comments on their vlog at first frighten her, but then intrigue her enough to comment. When a fellow student has a tragic fall in front of her, Connie's paranoia grows. She finds shadows following her and more. No one believes her fears, and when her best friend Rosa is hurt, Connie's fears come true. If she doesn't do something, she might be next.

What worked: Fast-paced thriller where a teen's fears of being stalked grow into paranoia when girls who look like her are attacked. Add to that the world of a vlogger, which comes with constant online scrutiny. That includes trolls and not-too-nice comments.

Connie's fears are realistic as she sees shadows following her. No one believes her. Not her mother. Not the local police. Not her friends. A former friend Gray shows up after being gone for two years with his own secrets. Connie doesn't know who to trust.

The cat-and-mouse chase is at times slow-paced, as readers observe Connie's daily life. At first, she comes across as unappreciative of the advantages of being famous, but her mother's indifference to her security is evident throughout. It's almost as if her mother prefers the spotlight over anything else.

At first, the friends appear to be supportive, but they begin to question if Connie is being too paranoid. Dustin is her best friend whom she's known since a child. Rosa is also her friend who is dating Dustin, and at times is jealous of Connie's close relationship with her boyfriend.

Although it's abrupt, the ending is still very creepy. Let's just say I was surprised. The author leaves it to our imagination, but suffice it to say it was haunting.

Twisty-turvy thriller where a YouTube vlogger's famous life takes a scary turn. It also shows the consequences of sharing too much online.