Robyn Harding, the bestselling author of THE SWAP and THE DROWNING WOMAN, returns with another complex, twisted psychological thriller. THE HATERS is about what happens when hate, obsession and cancel culture combine to take down one woman at the height of her career.

After years of effort, hard work and struggle, single mom Camryn Lane can finally say that she has “made it.” Her debut novel, Burnt Orchid, has been published, and she is preparing to celebrate her first-ever book launch. The book, which follows a teenage gang leader turned politician’s wife, has received rave reviews, with the New York Times Book Review calling it “chilling, heart-wrenching and painfully authentic” and heralding Camryn as a “brave new voice in fiction.” Her publisher is thrilled, her agent is eager for her next book, and, best of all, her boyfriend, best friend and teenage daughter are all proud of her.

But then, just as Camryn is about to take the stage, an email arrives in her author account, not only calling the book “mindless garbage” but accusing her of exploiting her job as a high school counselor to pen it. Like any new author, she was advised to expect bad reviews, but this one seems strangely personal. Nevertheless, the show must go on. The launch is a hit, but unfortunately for Camryn, it also marks the last time that her book will bring her any joy.

"Reading a new book about a new book makes THE HATERS a truly immersive experience... Robyn Harding gets better with each book, and here she has struck the perfect balance of fun, riveting, timely and seriously twisted."

Camryn becomes obsessed with the sender of the vicious email: Ingrid Wandry. Her publisher advises her not to engage, and fortunately, Camryn’s day job as a counselor at Maple Heights Secondary School keeps her busy. The teenagers she works with have academic, social and behavioral issues, and one case in particular has been consuming her lately. Maple Heights has a dedicated mean girl, Fiona Carmichael, and her bullying recently has caused another girl, Abby Lester, to take a leave of absence from school. After yet another failed attempt to elicit remorse from Fiona, Camryn tells the teen to return to class, but not before Fiona responds: “You know a lot about kids and their problems,” she says. “That’s probably why your book was so real.” Her words, Camryn notes, bear a striking similarity to the nasty email she received. But that’s crazy, right?

Already on edge, Camryn makes a rookie author mistake: checking reader reviews on a popular book website. Buried beneath the four- and five-star reviews lie a slew of one-star reviews, each of them remarking on Camryn’s role as a counselor and what she may or may not have lifted straight from her vulnerable students’ lives. Camryn knows her teens are going through a lot, but they certainly aren’t gang leaders exploiting other homeless teens or corrupt politicians’ wives. So the comparisons to her book seem outlandish at first, but she can’t ignore the old adage to “write what you know.” Did she unintentionally exploit her role? And if so, can she repair the damage? A talk with her publicist assuages her fears somewhat, and Camryn is left with explicit directions to ignore the bad, revel in the good, and get to work on her next book. Which is easier said than done.

Still obsessed with Ingrid Wandry, Camryn goes to terrific lengths to find the woman behind the reviews who is wreaking havoc on her personal life and calling into question her own sanity. Her friends and loved ones, supportive of her but tired of playing second-string to her book, are fed up, and the tension that once resided solely online has started to creep into every avenue of her life. Her ex-husband and his new wife seem to know more about her daughter, Liz, and her wishes than she does; Liz refuses to confide in her; and her boyfriend, Theo, is tired of coming last in her life. Even her writing group seems annoyed, with some of them visibly jealous of her success and others critical of her decision to learn the identity of her hater.

Camryn’s hater, sensing that their words are having an effect, only ramps up the attacks, but never in a way that would warrant police intervention. The combination of personal and career stress forms a pressure cooker. As the online abuse becomes even more personal and real, Camryn’s mental state suffers, and she makes, well, reckless choices. But is this exactly what her hater wants, or can she still make them see that she is a good person? Can she even still call herself a good person after stalking her own stalker?

Harding alternates between Camryn’s life and chapters from Burnt Orchid, keeping the tension taut, the reveals gut-punching and the mystery of Camryn’s hater compelling. Reading a new book about a new book makes THE HATERS a truly immersive experience, and it is hard at times not to pause to wonder about the one-star reviews currently being written about the book in your hands…and the lengths to which any of these haters will take their criticisms. Harding does a tremendous job of highlighting the ways in which social media bullying can destabilize one’s mental state. Although Camryn makes (often jaw-droppingly) bad choices at times, Harding makes it easy to enter her thoughts and understand her actions, even if you don’t agree with them.

Occasionally in these kinds of thrillers, where one person appears to have the worst luck imaginable, it can seem as if an author is piling on. After all, who can say that they’ve had their book attacked at the same time that their daughter reveals her plans to defer college and their boyfriend decides he wants to take their relationship to the next level? Yet Harding develops each of her plot threads with gorgeous, refined control, never leaving storylines to wither or allowing one to outshine the other. The result is tantalizing, dynamic and downright chilling. Author or not, if you don’t at least consider deleting your social media (or taking those one-star reviews with a whole shaker of salt) after reading THE HATERS, you have a stronger stomach than this reviewer.

Robyn Harding gets better with each book, and here she has struck the perfect balance of fun, riveting, timely and seriously twisted.