So Over Sharing by Elissa Brent Weissman

✦ BLURB ✦

Quiet, introverted Hadley and rough-around-the-edges Willow have one big main thing in common: both their moms have gained a huge online following sharing every detail of their lives. Hadley’s mom—Phoebe of @PhoebeAndJay fame—loves to share all the terrible, down and dirty bits about raising kids while Willow’s mom Rosalind at the up-and-coming @MoonbeamsAndMarigold basks in the glow of motherhood.

If getting all her life's moments (including an almost decade old viral potty training video) shared online isn't enough, Hadley’s starting a new school in a new neighborhood and desperately trying to keep her mom’s identity a secret while Willow is struggling with a recent life-changing announcement from her mom who, it turns out, is not getting out of the influencer world anytime soon.

As the two girls build a friendship on a private Instagram page and share the pains of having a momfluencers, they come up against the same question—how long will they have to share their lives with everyone?

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✶ PRE-READING ✶

The premise hooked me straight away - mumfluencers, online identity, and teen girls trying to carve out their own space sounded both timely and emotionally rich. I was especially curious to see how it would handle privacy, consent, and friendship in the age of constant content. I've read a couple of books on this topic and find them all fascinating - and they make me very grateful I'm too old for this to be a problem!

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✶ POST-READING ✶

As I thought... the emotional core was sincere and well-drawn. Both girls felt distinct and sympathetic, and the book did a great job of showing the toll public exposure can take on kids. It also showed, as most of these books do, how quickly adults forget their childhood and how important perceptions can be to children. There's a great line when Hadley's mum tries to excuse her actions by saying that in ten years it won't matter to Hadley. Hadley replies that maybe that's true, but it matters now, and why doesn't her mother care about that? It gets right to the heart of the whole issue.

It surprised me by... being funnier and more sharply observant than I expected. There's a lot of warmth here, but also a pointed critique of social media culture that doesn't let the grown-ups off the hook. I appreciated how it stayed focused on the girls’ agency and growth. It also really captured that young teen age when all that matters is acceptance, and the stomach churning fear of whether your friends will like you today or not. Hadley's actions are completely understandable.

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✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦

Book Recommendation: Girl (in Real Life) by Tamsin Winter was one of the earliest 'child of an influencer' books and it shows in detail how heartbreaking it can be. I can still recite certain scenes from it word for word.

TV or Movie Recommendation: Eighth Grade – for its awkward, painfully honest depiction of girlhood in a social media world.

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✧ VIBE CHECK ✧

A colour palette: soft lilac, washed denim, and filter-blurred coral
A soundtrack: lo-fi indie pop with flickers of static and voice notes
A season: back-to-school September - new starts and slow revelations
A mood: cautious, honest, unexpectedly fierce
A scent: lavender hand cream and slightly burnt toast

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★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★

Page of Swords (Kid’s Tarot). The card shows a determined young girl charging forward, sword raised - a perfect fit for Hadley and Willow. Both girls are learning to think critically, ask hard questions, and push back against the systems that shape their lives. This Page has curiosity and guts, just like them.

So Over Sharing publishes on the 3rd of July, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.