Do you spend too much time on social media?

That is the question at the heart of this book. I downloaded the audiobook on a whim and am so happy that I did! When social media influencer Mia is dumped at the alter (or rather before the alter) she goes home and finds a life without a cell phone. During this time, Paige happens to hack her social media account and posting for her. Each getting a taste of the other's life...

This really had me pause and think and I appreciate it. The writing was easy, interested, and I felt invested. I would definitely recommend it to others! ( )

Mia is an influencer on Pictey. She has about 500k followers and basically gets paid to post. She has so many sponsors that she was able to get her wedding paid for. That is until her fiance decides that he doesn't want to get married.... The day before they were supposed to walk down the aisle. Mia panics, how is she going to pay these sponsors back, how will she explain it to her followers. So she lies, not just to her followers, but to herself as well. Meanwhile, there is Paige. Paige works at Pictey. She is one of many who monitor flagged posts and decides if the post or comment need to be deleted. She sees the worst of the worst, all day every day. One day at the end of her shift a comment on one of Mia's posts comes thru, but since she is done for the day, she logs off because that is what she is required to do. It is the next day when Paige comes to work that she finds out that the commenter was her sister Jessica and she has tried to commit suicide. From there the story evolves and the reader is left thinking about their own social media presence, their own phone addiction. Kelly Harms has a way to take a serious topic and make you laugh, make you cry, and just make you think! Take a chance and read this book! You won't be disappointed!! ( )

4⭐
Mia is an influencer on Pictey. She has about 500k followers and basically gets paid to post. She has so many sponsors that she was able to get her wedding paid for. That is until her fiance decides that he doesn't want to get married.... The day before they were supposed to walk down the aisle. Mia panics, how is she going to pay these sponsors back, how will she explain it to her followers. So she lies, not just to her followers, but to herself as well. Meanwhile, there is Paige. Paige works at Pictey. She is one of many who monitor flagged posts and decides if the post or comment need to be deleted. She sees the worst of the worst, all day every day. One day at the end of her shift a comment on one of Mia's posts comes thru, but since she is done for the day, she logs off because that is what she is required to do. It is the next day when Paige comes to work that she finds out that the commenter was her sister Jessica and she has tried to commit suicide. From there the story evolves and the reader is left thinking about their own social media presence, their own phone addiction. Kelly Harms has a way to take a serious topic and make you laugh, make you cry, and just make you think! Take a chance and read this book! You won't be disappointed!! ⭐
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Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. ( )

Mia has an on line business as an influencer. She is constantly posting and recommending people, places and things. She has a wedding coming up and she must give all the sponsors their due. Well, when her wedding falls apart she heads back home…then she throws her phone off a mountain. She has sudden relief and then the panic ensues.

Kelly Harms has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She always has a character I can relate to. This one is Paige! Paige is an smart introvert, well until she does something stupid. This is why Kelly Harms has wonderful books…her characters are so real and do real things…like hack someone’s account. Oops..did Paige really do something that stupid?? Yep, yep she did.

This is a heart warming read about, well, life. Family and friends and the daily struggle to survive have a huge impact on this story. Plus, unplugging from your phone. What a challenge! Oh…and I cried during one section of this book. That is what rolled it over to a 5 star read for me. I very seldom cry during a book…this one did it! Do not miss this one! It is wonderful!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. ( )

The Bright Side of Going Dark

An intriguing and amusing book of our dependence on our phones and the realities of social media.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
Mia Bell is one of the most popular influencers on social media. She is planning the ultimate virtual wedding entirely paid for by her sponsors. But off-camera, her world is no so perfect.

She has beenjilted by her handsome fiancé and fakes her nuptials to please her sponsors. Mia finally has had enough. She heaves her phone off a cliff, ready to live offline for a change.

Paige Miller, is a high-paid computer nerd, who hacks Mia’s account and begins impersonating the internet celebrity. Paige has her reasons. Her half sister, Jessica, idolizes Mia and desperately needs something to believe in. If taking over Mia’s online persona is Paige’s only means of connecting to her sister, so be it.

Paige has more fun creating posts for Mia account than she expected. But when she forgets who she is supposed to be online she is caught in the act. A fiasco ensues that could forever change Mia, Paige, and the people who love them. But somewhere amid the chaos is a real life lesson.

REVIEW
What would it be like to get rid of your cell phone? Can you even imagine yourself heaving it off a cliff? THE BRIGHT SIDE OF GOING DARK is a clever and intriguing story that makes you give a lot of thought to that little device you hold so dear! It’s an amusing, fast and easy read, perfect for a day in the mountains or at the beach...if you can just put the phone down for a few hours! And by the way...you may not want to tKe it with you when you go on that mountain hike!

The tight writing alternates between Paige and Mia perspectives and moves swift. Both characters are unique and well-developed and will have you invested in the story. At times you will want to to throttle one or the other of them, and at times you’ll be cheering them on. One of my favorite parts of the book was Paige’s renewed relationship and her dedication to help her half-sister, Jessica.

Do you ever think your life should be just as perfect as what you see on Instagram or Facebook? THE BRIGHT SIDE OF GOING DARK’s reveals a reality of social media, It also touches on depression, attempted suicide and recovery, but finishes with personal growth and maybe even a little romance.

Author Kelly Harms also wrote bestselling book The Overdue Life of Amy Byler (2019). She lives in Madison Wisconsin and has been working in the publishing business for two decades.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Lake Union
Published May 12, 2020
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

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