Out Of Touch by Elle Grand – Review

ONE POST TURNED HER INTO AN INFLUENCER…AND A LIAR

Chloé Warner knows the grass isn’t always greener—especially online, where it’s often just fake.

When her idol, the glamorous influencer Birdie Bay, moves in across the street, Chloé can’t resist getting close. One “accidental” encounter later, the illusion shatters—Chloé catches Birdie in a compromising moment and, unable to resist, exposes her secret on social media under a new alias: FauxEver.

The post goes viral. Chloé tastes her first rush of fame. But as she dives deeper into Birdie’s glittering world, the line between envy and admiration blurs. Against all odds, a bond forms between them—one that could almost be called friendship—were it not for Birdie’s unawareness that Chloé is the one who ruined her.

Pulled into a universe of filters, influence, and lies, Chloé begins sacrificing pieces of herself to keep FauxEver alive. And when a new anonymous account threatens to expose her—and with it, her hard-won success—she must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect the life and attention she’s come to crave.

Purchase Link: Out Of Touch

This was a gripping, unsettling, and compulsively readable novel that explores the darker underbelly of social media, influencer culture, and the cost of dishonesty. The tension builds steadily, pulling you deeper into a web of secrecy, poor choices, and moral gray areas. This book is best suited for readers who enjoy flawed characters, high emotional stakes, and stories that feel like watching a reality show unravel in real time.

Why I Picked This Book

I read Out of Touch after the author reached out to me on Bookstagram and asked if I would consider reading and reviewing it. There was something fitting, and a little ironic, about being approached through social media to read a novel centered on influencers, online personas, and digital validation. The premise immediately intrigued me, especially given my interest in stories that explore the consequences of curated identities.

Reading Experience

This book hooked me almost immediately and did not let go until the very end. The pacing felt intentional and suspenseful rather than rushed. While not a traditional slow burn, the secrecy and tension developed gradually, creating an almost breathless anticipation of when everything would inevitably fall apart.

I appreciated how the story fully embraced modern technology instead of ignoring it. Text messages, phones, and digital interactions were woven directly into the narrative, allowing the reader to see conversations unfold rather than being told about them secondhand. This added a layer of realism that felt essential for a story so deeply rooted in social media culture.

Story Structure

The structure was straightforward and effective. The plot unfolded in a clear, linear way, but the suspense came from withholding information and letting secrets simmer. The use of text messages and digital snapshots worked particularly well, reinforcing the central themes and keeping the tension high without overwhelming the narrative.

Characters

What surprised me most was how my feelings toward the characters evolved. One of the so-called “mean girl” influencers, initially presented as a fraud, became someone I felt genuine empathy for. Watching her struggle under constant scrutiny highlighted how difficult it is to live with an audience judging every move, even when stepping into that world is a personal choice.

The main character, on the other hand, left me feeling deeply conflicted. I wanted better for her. Her insecurity, longing for attention, and fear of being discarded felt painfully realistic, and I found myself wishing she would make different choices, even as I understood why she didn’t.

The boyfriend was, frankly, frustrating. While he had valid concerns, his lack of compassion and emotional support created more distance than resolution. Rather than approaching challenges as a team, his judgment only deepened the divide, reinforcing the story’s exploration of isolation and misunderstanding.

Themes and Atmosphere

The overall tone is tense, unsettling, and anxiety-inducing in the best way. There is a constant sense of waiting for exposure, wondering when lies will surface and how devastating the fallout will be. Beyond the suspense, the book raises thoughtful questions about authenticity online. Is sharing only your best moments dishonest, or is it simply human? Where is the line between privacy, safety, and deception?

The novel also asks an important ethical question: when someone is exposed publicly for dishonesty, is that truly accountability, or just another form of harm?

Final Thoughts

I would recommend Out of Touch to readers who enjoy scandal-driven stories with flawed characters, emotional tension, and a behind-the-scenes look at influencer culture. If you like books that feel like reality television in literary form, full of bad decisions and their consequences, this one is well worth your time.

Thank you, Elle Grand, for trusting me to read and review your excellent book!

Elle Grand loves stories—reading them, writing them, and hearing them from the people she cares about. She’s a self-confessed phone addict and an overthinker by Virgo nature, which means she’s always three steps ahead of the plot. Her friends call her for advice she knows they won’t take, but she listens anyway.

When she’s not deep into writing another book she’s “completely obsessed with,” Elle can be found spending time with her family or making yet another pros-and-cons list about adopting a cat.