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Social media. Two words that sometimes make us cringe. We might embrace it. We might try to ignore it. We might change the settings on our phones to black and white so we’re less tempted to look at it. But, no matter how we view social media, it’s here to stay. At least until something worse comes along.
And the enduring presence of social media means writers of all kinds have to deal with it. A writer can’t write a realistic story set in the 1970s and pretend that cars and phones don’t exist. In the same way writers who are writing about our present world have to reckon with social media. And, in some cases, social media becomes central to the story. Here are five books that do an amazing job of incorporating social media into their storylines.
Featured image: @bluelily52 via Twenty20
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The Voter File
David Pepper
Okay, we have an election coming up, so try not to think about all the mischief that can occur if someone hacks into the voting rolls and starts manipulating the results. Or… you could read Pepper’s timely thriller and learn how such a thing could happen and the consequences for all of us. This book is well-researched with great characters and a compelling plot. And it will keep you up at night, in more ways than one.
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A Burning
Megha Majumdar
Can one social media post cause an innocent woman to be put in prison for an unspeakable crime? In this book, which is thrilling and timely, the answer is yes. But the book is about so much more than social media. It’s about class, power, and the interconnectedness of contemporary life. A beautifully written debut.
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Eliza Starts a Rumor
Jane L. Rosen
What happens when one little rumor appears on an online message board? Apparently quite a bit. While this book is a lot of fun on the surface as it pokes at our social media habits, it also delves into deeper issues. Agoraphobia, friendships lost and found, and the enduring power of community. This book is timely and also might be the perfect summer escape.
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After On
Rob Reid
What happens if a social network takes over everything? Well, it’s not quite our world, but this book gives us a glimpse of what our future could look like when a social network called Phluttr has access to all your messages, secrets, and deepest desires. Not only is this book smart and well-researched it’s also a perfectly pitched satire that captures so much about our current moment—while taking a frightening glimpse into the future.
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Featured Book
The Request
David Bell
Okay, I know a lot about this book. But haven’t we all wondered about the disconnect between the lives people portray on social media and the ones they really live? My protagonist, Ryan Francis, has an ocean-sized gap between the two. Everything is perfect on the surface… but he’s covering up some dark secrets from his past. And barely keeping it together. Until his old friend Blake shows up, and everything in Ryan’s life crashes. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the perfect Instagram filters and well-chosen hashtags, this is the summer read for you. Enjoy!
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