Self-Help Influencer Turned Business Guru
Taking a break from romance books (for just this one single book – I swear) I had the pleasure of diving into the seedy world of social media and influencers. Noelle Crooks’ debut novel, “Under the Influence,” reminds me of one of my favorite movies, “The Devil Wears Prada.”
In this captivating story, we follow the journey of Harper, an aspiring writer who faces the daunting prospect of returning home after losing her publishing job. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she receives an intriguing offer to work as a “Visionary Strategist” for the popular self-help influencer, Charlotte Green. Harper moves to Charlotte’s headquarters in Nashville, and from the moment she arrives, she’s thrust into a world of tight-knit teams and sky-high expectations. While initially skeptical, Harper finds herself slowly drawn into the glitz and glam of the influencer lifestyle.
Blend of “The Devil Wears Prada” and GOOP
“Under the Influence” seamlessly blends the elements of “The Devil Wears Prada” with the realm of influencers ala Rachel Hollis, Gwyneth Paltrow, and the like. Although Charlotte Green is less obviously villainous compared to Miranda Priestly, there was something unsettling about the way the people who surrounded her were constantly seeking her approval. It was the epitome of “yes-man” syndrome – her employees were constantly belittled and talked down too, aside from the few moments when Charlotte would offer a crumb of praise that left them panting for more. The toxic hustle culture mindset that we know is pervasive in the influencer space really shines through here as Harper is forced to work sometimes 18-hour days. After Charlotte has an especially hard week, Harper even bakes Charlotte’s children cookies which Charlotte doesn’t say thank you for and takes the credit.
While the plot occasionally follows predictable storylines, this book is a delightful light read. Noelle Crooks skillfully delves into the unique and toxic work culture that Harper navigates, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes efforts of assistants and employees in the world of mega-influencers-turned-businesses.
Noelle Crooks worked for Rachel Hollis
It’s worth noting that Noelle Crooks herself worked for self-help guru Rachel Hollis, leaving me curious about how much of her experience influenced the book. I’ve personally followed the toxic career of Rachel Hollis for years. As someone interested in “Hollisville”, I couldn’t help but draw connections between the character of Charlotte and the “real life” character of Rach. A few of the similarities I noticed include:
-
Charlotte’s husband and his career
-
Charlotte’s fall from grace and subsequent shitstorm of posts
-
The toxic positivity mindset that Rachel has been known for for years
-
The absolute inability of Charlotte to give credit to anyone else – unless of course something was done wrong
Charlotte exudes a blend of social media influencer, GOOP, and self-help guru—a captivating mix that has become popular in real life in recent years.
