All The Lonely People
Everyone tells Kat that her online personality – confident, funny, opinionated – isn’t her true self. Kat knows otherwise. The internet is her only way to cope with a bad day, chat with friends who get all her references, make someone laugh. But when she becomes the target of an alt-right trolling campaign, she feels she has no option but to Escape, Delete, Disappear.
With her social media shut down, her website erased, her entire online identity void, Kat feels she has cut away her very core: without her virtual self, who is she?
She brought it on herself. Or so Wesley keeps telling himself as he dismantles Kat’s world. It’s different, seeing one of his victims in real life and not inside a computer screen – but he’s in too far to back out now.
As soon as Kat disappears from the online world, her physical body begins to fade and while everybody else forgets that she exists, Wesley realises he is the only one left who remembers her. Overcome by remorse for what he has done, Wesley resolves to stop her disappearing completely. It might just be the only way to save himself.
All the Lonely People is a timely story about online culture – both good and bad – that explores the experience of loneliness in a connected world, and the power of kindness and empathy over hatred.
“Gorgeous imagery incisively delineates the crushing despair of loneliness and self-doubt. Rapid cuts between perspectives sharpen the rising stakes and enhance the growing tension… And we get an excellent conclusion that provides closure, while staying true to the complexity of the characters and the themes underlying the story.”
— Nigethan Sathiyalingam The Book Bag
“All The Lonely People is a unique mixture of gritty realism and clever supernatural elements in a fast paced thriller of a storyline. As always, Owen’s characters shine with vitality and I was truly invested in the outcome of the plot. The exploration of social media and reality left me thoughtful and a little off kilter… in the best of ways.”
— Amazon Customer
“Imaginative, timely and empathetic to its young audience, it’s easy to imagine All The Lonely People as the latest huge YA movie franchise.”
— Chloe Walker, CultureFly
“All the Lonely People really blew me away and made me think…a very interesting and entertaining read.”
— Jenniely Book Blog
“All The Lonely People is an adroit, fast-paced YA page-turner that movingly explores themes of isolation, disaffection and our overwhelming need to be connected.”
— Eric Brown, The Guardian