The Haters by Robyn Harding
You don’t need to be an author to understand the sting of a bad review — whether you’re an artist, a business owner, or simply someone taking yourself out of your comfort zone, we live in a society quick to critique, oftentimes behind the anonymity of a keyboard.
And occasionally, that criticism leads to something much more nefarious.
That’s certainly the case in the latest release from internationally bestselling author Robyn Harding, who says The Haters was, sadly, inspired by a couple of personal negative experiences.
In the novel, debut author Camryn Lane is living her dream. After a long publishing journey fraught with rejection and self-doubt, her book is out in the world and her family couldn’t be prouder. Life seems to be barreling down the right track.
But when she receives a disturbing message from a reader, Camryn goes down the dark rabbit hole of self-destruction. One very bad review has led to another, and another — and soon Camryn is convinced someone is trying to ruin her. She can’t let them destroy her career.
“There’s nothing wrong with a bad review,” Harding says, acknowledging that her books have received a number of them over the span of her career. “Everyone’s entitled to not like a book. But what I don’t think is fair is purposely letting me know. Authors should be able to take constructive criticism, of course, but the book is written, and it’s not constructive at this point—there’s nothing I can do now, and it’s just hurting my feelings.”
You can’t please everyone, of course, and Harding says often the complaints are aimed at aspects beyond the author’s control — such as where the publisher wants the book set. In Harding’s case, she has received numerous messages from readers upset that her previous novels don’t take place in Canada.
“That’s my publisher’s decision,” Harding says. “I’ve been trying to set a book here for years.”
Ironically, The Haters does take place in Vancouver, Canada, where Harding lives.
“It’s a world-class city, but it does have its problems,” she says. “It has a dark underbelly. We have a lot of issues with people being unhoused, mental health, drug addiction. But on the surface, it looks so perfect—which I think is such a great metaphor for publishing. Most people don’t understand that every time a book deal ends, it’s like getting fired. It’s very tough on the psyche and the heart.”
Another reason, perhaps, those one-star reviews can sting. Harding knows not to engage — not long ago, she shut down the “contact me” portion of her website to make herself less accessible — but her character, Camryn, goes against sage industry advice. It doesn’t go so well.
“I wanted Camryn to be both sides of the coin,” Harding says. “She’s a relatable regular person. But when her dream is being attacked and her life feels like it’s falling apart, she goes to extreme lengths. I think a lot of us can relate to that.”
The Haters may come off as a bit of a cautionary tale — the price of fame, the risks of making yourself vulnerable in the public eye, what to do and what not to do when faced with criticism — but Harding says ultimately her first goal is always to entertain. With this novel, she has more than succeeded.
About Robyn Harding:
Robyn Harding is the bestselling author of several novels including The Haters, The Drowning Woman, The Perfect Family, The Arrangement, Her Pretty Face, and The Party, which was a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award for best crime novel. Her novel, The Swap, debuted at #1 on the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star Canadian bestsellers lists. She is also the screenwriter and executive producer of the independent film, The Steps. She lives in Vancouver, BC, with her family and two cute but deadly rescue chihuahuas.
