Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – The Bubble Reputation by Alex Craigie #novella

Published on by dgkaye

My Sunday Book Review today is for Alex Craigie’s new release – The Bubble Reputation. Alex takes us into a story about the evils of social media when children’s author Emmie is setup by a rag newspaper by a ruthless Ursula Bloom who pushes her reporter Jessie to the limit by asking her to dig dirt on Emmie, who has a sparkling reputation that turns ugly when lies are created and images are photo-shopped. An eerie story that reminds us that we are all open game when it comes to the evils of social media and the digital world.

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Blurb:

If you want to destroy someone’s reputation, social media provides the perfect tool.

Emmie Hobson, children’s author and TV presenter, is riding high on a wave of popularity when an unscrupulous newspaper editor, desperate for a scoop, brings Emmie’s world crashing down.

Social media picks up the baton and a terrifying backlash of hate and abuse is unleashed. Threats are made and there are those, inflamed by the rhetoric, prepared to take the law into their own hands.

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My 5 Star Review:

I’ve never met a book from this author I didn’t enjoy. This book is a story about how low people will go and how easy it is to get people riled up and become haters through social media. Sad to see how far people will go to ruin a reputation for ratings and the almighty dollar.

Emmie is a kind children’s author and TV presenter with a near spotless reputation. But Ursula Bloom needs dirt on Emmie for better ratings – even though there isn’t any. Ursula, the editor of a rag tabloid pushes her reporter Jessie to get some dirt in return for a big bonus. There is no dirt so the ball gets rolling by asking the nasty co star Tiffany for some dirt, which is barely anything, but then distorted. Sadly, there seems to be no control on the evil on manufacturing lies and doctoring images, as defamation and libel run wild. Taking photos and embellishing them to look like events that never took place is the name of the game for Ursula. Then all that’s required is linking images to a BS story, and set it ablaze into social media, and one children’s author’s reputation is smeared.

Emmie’s friends shockingly join the masses of haters, because of course, it’s easier to be a sheep and go with the masses than to look for the truth. Emmie has only her husband Luke and her loving parents to stand by her side. Even Emmie’s loser, jealous sister Livvy gets in on the action. She has no ambitions, addicted to drugs, and never has money. But Emmie is too good to her until she finds out that Livvy too, helped create stories by offering personal information on her sister so she could earn some money to support her drug habit, demonstrating that money is thicker than blood.

The story grabs us as we get a good scope of exactly how easy it is to smear someone’s reputation publicly with lies. My heart went out to Emmie in this book and kept me wondering how she could stop the madness and restore her reputation. The author does a wonderful job of sewing up the story with a satisfying conclusion after squirming through Emmie’s unjustified attacks.

©DGKaye2022

109 thoughts on “Sunday Book Review – The Bubble Reputation by Alex Craigie #novella”

  2. I breezed past your review because I picked up this book last week. One of my quirks is I don’t like to read other reviews after I’ve purchased a book because I don’t want to be influenced by others. Later, I like to go back and see how my review compares to others.

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    2. Thanks, Debby. One of our Prime Ministers was villified by a sordid story put out by a couple promoting a biography on him. It was never corroborated and the couple wrote later “We couldn’t get to the bottom of that source’s allegations … So we merely reported the account that the source gave us … We don’t say whether we believe it to be true”. I am politically opposed to Cameron, but despise that someone could do that to him. It is now what he is most famous for…

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      1. The horrors of social media. I suppose in a way it isn’t that different to years gone by when people could publish what they wanted in a newspaper without having to back it up with a verifiable source, just that bit more pervasive (and fast-spreading) with the sharing culture of today.

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  6. This is definitely a book for today. I find it difficult to understand why people choose to be so heartless and cruel, without an iota of empathy or remorse. I look forward to finding out how the issue is resolved satisfactorily. Thanks for your review.

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    2. Many thanks for the comment, Norah. It’s horrific what people can get away with, and once the slur is made, it’s well nigh impossible to completely eradicate it.

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    2. And bless you for your heartwarming review of it, Sally! It brought it to people’s notice and I’m more grateful than I can actually convey. ♥♥

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  9. Great review, Debby. This is such a worrying trend in society and it sounds as if the author has done a great job bringing it into the story. I am going to check and make sure it is on my reading list. Congratulations to the author.

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    2. I’m fortunately too insignificant to figure in any of this, Stevie, but I look on in dismay as I see it happening to others. Thanks for the comment!

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  17. Well, what an amazing response to your compelling review, Debby! You are such a kind and supportive person. The reading, writing, posting and responding all take precious time and greater love hath no author who devotes such time for another – especially at such a busy time of the year. You rock! ♥♥

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    1. Hi Trish. It was my pleasure to share here on my Sunday review. I’m thrilled to help spread the word here and so glad for all the interest in your book. Sharing my reviews is my way of giving back to authors, and the spotlight. I love your books. Hugs and more hugs to you. ❤ xox

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  19. I enjoy everything Trish writes too, Debby, and this book is no exception. It’s scary the way everything escalates and gets so out of control so fast. I wonder, in real life, if people ever get out of it, or just have to wait until it fades away. A wonderful review of a gripping read, my friend. Congrats to Trish!

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    1. Thanks so much Diana. Trish gives an example showing of just how fast things can spiral out of control. I imagine it’s difficult to get out of, and many don’t even have the funds to legally fight back. I often feel us authors are caught in Catch 22 where we must keep ourselves visible if we hope to sell books, but the fear of trolls and the like is never far from the back of our minds when we leave ourselves vulnerable to social media. Scary to think. Hugs xx

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  20. If you look up Piggate on Wikipedia you’ll see an allegation that has stuck with Cameron despite there being absolutely no corroboration of the story. I’m no fan of the man, but it horrifies me that this is the first thing that comes to people’s minds now. Grrr! xx

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  27. Great review, Deb s! Alex’s book is on my list. I now and then watch ‘Cold cases’ on TV, and another site to avoid (or be very wary of) is the Dating one. A US woman was lucky to get away with her life, after a ‘bogus charmer ‘lured her to his apartment, put ‘something’ in her drink and raped her after she passed out. Luckily, she was able to escape…Meeting in public seems to be the first answer! The mind boggles at the deviousness of some men, and some women…spoiling our, often innocent ,lives on this fabulous planet! Hugs xxx

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    1. Thanks Joy. Your story is quite scary, but even scarier is the fact that these things happen way too often. I think in this crazy world we’re living in, people have to be very diligent about online dating. And yes, the golden rule, not to go anywhere private until one knows more about who they’re dating. Thanks for stopping by my lovely Joy. Hugs xxx

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    2. Good point, Joy. It’s a dangerous world out there. I saw a programme recently where women were targeted on line by conmen who’d stolen the identities of good-looking, affluent seeming men, who then built up a relationship with them and then cheated them out of their money and homes. Two of the women wouldn’t accept the truth even when it was clearly presented to them. It was heartbreaking. xx

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  28. This book illustrates how inflammatory comments can mushroom out of proportion and wreak havoc on a innocent woman. I stay far away from replying to comments that smack of religious or political intolerance, on Facebook especially.

    Your review piqued my interest, and since it’s a novella, I’ll head over to Amazon now. Thanks, Debby! (And Happy Hanukkah too!) 😀

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    1. Thanks so much Marian. I’m glad my review inspired you to read. And you are correct, we must be so careful, even stating opinion, especially on fakebook. And thanks for the Hanukkah wishes too Marian. My nieces will be bringing over the latkes on Sunday 🙂 xx

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    2. I’m with you on the intolerance that abounds, Marian. There was a point a couple of years ago when it felt like it was becoming the norm and nobody paid any attention to the hatred and conspiracy theories, seeing them almost as par for the course. Many thanks for buying my novella – it is a slim volume, two hours of reading perhaps, and I hope you enjoy it. 🙂

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    2. Thanks, Ellie. Two days ago, one of the daily newspapers here printed what I can only describe as a hate piece about Meghan Markle. It made me so depressed and echoed a frightening number of things in The Bubble Reputation. However, the backlash has been so powerful the article has been taken down. It generated a record number of complaints and reassures me about the inherent good nature of most people. ♥

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