So my latest book review, and second of 2018 is It Started With A Tweet by Anna Bell.

Daisy Hobson lives her whole life online. But when her social media obsession causes her to make a catastrophic mistake at work, Daisy finds her life going into free-fall . . .
Her sister Rosie thinks she has the answer to all of Daisy’s problems – a digital detox in a remote cottage in Cumbria. Soon, too, Daisy meets a welcome distraction there in Jack, the rugged man-next-door.
But can Daisy, a London girl, ever really settle into life in a tiny, isolated village?
And, more importantly, can she survive without her phone? (Thanks Netgalley)

So at a time when social media is everything – I get my childrens school updates, keep in touch with friends, and find new recipes all via social media – this novel is really rather fitting.  Can you cope without your smartphone?

Daisy Hobson cannot cope without her smartphone.  She lives her life via social media, so when she makes one mistake, one catastrophic mistake, she is forced off-line to fulfil an enforced digital detox with her sister.  Having lost her job and potentially her career, Daisy finds herself hidden away in a remote spot in Cumbria living a life she has never dreamed about and has certainly never wanted.  Her smartphone forcibly removed, she finds herself with no internet access and no idea what is going on beyond the outskirts of the small Cumbrian village.  Instead, Daisy has to look up and pay attention to what is going on around her.  She begins to make friends in the local village, including a certain neighbour, but she also starts to see whats happening within her own family.

This novel really does provide a few home truths when it comes to our usage of smartphones, tablets and laptops.  I know not only what my family are up to, but also almost every celebrity on the planet, at any time of day or night.  The question is: do we need to know? Also, is this knowledge stopping us having conversations?  Daisy’s journey from social media queen to a remote villager really highlights these issues.  She knows next to nothing of her sisters life prior to her enforced stay with her, yet she knows all about the lives of random strangers she’s never met.

Daisy and Rosie’s story is a journey, a journey that may become ever more common as all of our realities become more virtual.  I really enjoyed following their story, as they learned to be a part of each others lives again.  It raised some concerns for me, but ultimately I enjoyed the family element, the self-discovery that Daisy is forced to follow and the added fun of a little romance! It was an entertaining, often funny read that I really enjoyed! I definitely recommend!

Sometimes you just need to sit up and look at what is actually around you, rather than just exploring the ever increasing virtual world we all find ourselves in.

Rating: 📖 📖 📖 📖

Thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for a copy of this novel in return for my honest review.