The Haters by Robyn Harding

A special thank you to Grand Central Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Camryn Lane is living her dream. After years of struggle and rejection, her first novel has finally been published. Her editor is happy; her teenage daughter is proud; and her boyfriend and friends are all excited for her. She’s on top of the world—until she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender. 

Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn swallows the sick feeling in her stomach and resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that soon, Camryn’s book is flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her?

As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows? The troll’s actions are escalating, and when the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her—and finally learn why she's being targeted.

Set in Vancouver, this psychological thriller is a dark tale of obsession that's served with a side of revenge. 

Told in first person from Camryn's perspective, The Haters is rife with cancel culture, negative reviews, and doxing. Harding cleverly employs mise en abyme (a novel within a novel) with the inclusion of chapters from Camryn's book Burnt Orchid. This ratchets up the tension—making the attacks more personal—Camryn's fear is palpable and consuming.  

Completely binge-worthy, The Haters is a cautionary tale about the perils of fame and the pitfalls of social media. A must read! 

ROBYN HARDING is the author of thirteen novels including The Swap, The Party, Her Pretty Face, The Arrangement, and The Drowning Woman. She has also written and executive produced an independent film.

Harding lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her family and two cute but deadly rescue chihuahuas. 

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Q & A with Robyn Harding*

GWR: How did you start writing/become a writer?

RH: I’ve been writing for so long I can barely remember how it all started! I published my first novel in 2004, and I submitted it the old-fashioned way: sending snail mail partial manuscripts to agents and publishers. I signed with my agent in 2003 and I’ve been with him ever since.     

GWR: What comes first for you, the overall idea or the characters?

RH: I always start with a premise, just a kernel of an idea that I can turn into a tense complicated mystery. Next, I decide on the characters, the people I want to drag through the muck. After that I build out the world they inhabit.

  

GWR: How long did it take you to write The Haters, and how many drafts were there before publication?

RH: I was on a tight timeline for this novel and wrote it in under six months. I don’t recommend it! Luckily, the first draft was in decent shape, so my editorial notes were not significant. I did a second draft and then there were just a few minor tweaks after that.

GWR: What was the spark of the novel?

RH: Sadly, it was online hate I’ve received in the past, specifically one really abusive email. I had to remove the “contact me” link from my website after that. It was so upsetting! I tweeted about it and so many writers chimed in about experiencing similar attacks. I knew there was a story there.

GWR: The Haters is a bit of a departure for you in that it takes place in your native Vancouver. Why was it important for you to set the novel here?

RH: I’ve been trying to set a novel here for years! My former editor didn’t think a Canadian setting would be relatable to US readers, but my current editor is okay with it (and I’m pretty sure American readers can handle it). I love my city and it was nice to give some local flavour to the story.   

GWR: Character development or plot—what do you have more fun with?

RH: Equally fun! I love creating a twisty plot, but I also love diving into the psychology and backstory of my characters.

GWR: What draws you to darker themes? 

RH: I’m not sure what’s wrong with me but I love to read, write, and watch murder. I think it’s because we have the luxury of feeling safe in our homes, and in our country, so many of us are looking for an adrenaline rush.

GWR: What do you hope readers will take away from The Haters?

RH: I always write to entertain, but if there’s a message here, it’s that people in the public space have feelings. Everyone has a right to express their opinions in various forums, but messaging or tagging an author, artist, actor, or other public figure with a negative review of their work is hurtful. 

GWR: If your book was a beverage, what would it be? 

RH: A dark and stormy. (I don’t even know what that tastes like, but the name is perfect.)

GWR: What are you working on now?

RH: I’m working on a new novel about a couple trying to repair their marriage in a remote house high in the hills above Spain’s Costa Brava. I’m having so much fun writing it and I feel transported back there (I visited in 2022). It’ll be on sale spring 2026!

*A version of this post was published on STYLE Canada.