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This Trauma Is Sponsored
200 pages, Paperback
Published December 16, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 8, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and West 44 books for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
I liked the concept of This Trauma Is Sponsored, but the execution didn’t fully work for me. The idea of exploring the effects of family vlogging was interesting, and the little sister’s perspective was the strongest part of the book. Her discomfort with constantly being filmed and put on display felt very real and was the aspect that resonated with me the most.
Unfortunately, the book was too short to really dig into the issues it was trying to explore. I finished it in about 30 minutes. The impact of vlogging culture, privacy, and long-term consequences were touched on, but not developed enough to feel meaningful or informative.
There was also some content that made me uncomfortable as a reader. While this may not be an issue for many readers, those who are sensitive to certain content may want to be aware before picking it up.
Overall, this felt like a book with a strong premise that didn’t quite have enough space to fully explore its themes. I’d recommend it to readers who are curious about the effects of vlogging culture, but readers looking for a deeper or more informational look at the topic may be left wanting more.
I liked the concept of This Trauma Is Sponsored, but the execution didn’t fully work for me. The idea of exploring the effects of family vlogging was interesting, and the little sister’s perspective was the strongest part of the book. Her discomfort with constantly being filmed and put on display felt very real and was the aspect that resonated with me the most.
Unfortunately, the book was too short to really dig into the issues it was trying to explore. I finished it in about 30 minutes. The impact of vlogging culture, privacy, and long-term consequences were touched on, but not developed enough to feel meaningful or informative.
There was also some content that made me uncomfortable as a reader. While this may not be an issue for many readers, those who are sensitive to certain content may want to be aware before picking it up.
Overall, this felt like a book with a strong premise that didn’t quite have enough space to fully explore its themes. I’d recommend it to readers who are curious about the effects of vlogging culture, but readers looking for a deeper or more informational look at the topic may be left wanting more.
November 19, 2025
*arc review*
I enjoyed this so much. The story is very similar to actual things that happen in real life. I enjoyed elements of life that still need to be brought to light included. I hope to read more by this author.
I enjoyed this so much. The story is very similar to actual things that happen in real life. I enjoyed elements of life that still need to be brought to light included. I hope to read more by this author.
October 14, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Rosen Publishing Group, West 44 Books, and Anna Lindwasser for the opportunity to read This Trauma is Sponsored in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is a HiLo written in a poetic verse style following Rosalie, whose family gets their money through VidTube sponsorships. Their entire family life is posted online for all to see, but especially fifteen-year-old Rosalie and her five-year-old sister. With over one million followers, it must be a fanciful life! But the catch is, it's all acting! The parents are utilizing their own children to live out the acting dreams they were never able to accomplish, and they use sponsorships and scripts for their daughters to gain views. God forbid they would ever have to take on real full-time jobs to support their families, or that their daughters might have to attend public school. 🙄
Eventually, fake-dating, lying on camera about likes or dislikes, and being homeschooled just so the parents don't miss out on filming opportunities gets to be a bit too much for Rosalie and her sister, even dangerous with how much of their information is posted online. Not to mention the negative impact such attentions and the amount of tasks being asked of them taking its toll on their mental health.
When Rosalie meets Stella, a girl with fibromyalgia who joins her same homeschool program, she realizes there is so much more to care about beyond the acting and VidTube world of followers.
This novel explores the obsessiveness that gaining followers and posting content can take over families. It shows how fun it can be, but also explores the dangers of stalkers, as well as the mental health ramifications that such a lifestyle may offer for teens and children. While the novel explores family dynamics in a social-media controlled world, it also explores real and fake friendships, sibling relationships and roles, and what it means to be oneself and love someone. The LGBTQ aspect is a nice touch, though seemed a bit fast, but what else can you do in such a short novel with so many important ideas going on?
This is a great and easy novel for teen readers that explores some serious issues about one's online entity and the physical and mental dangers therein. A great novel with lessons about social media, family, friendship, and romance.
This novel is a HiLo written in a poetic verse style following Rosalie, whose family gets their money through VidTube sponsorships. Their entire family life is posted online for all to see, but especially fifteen-year-old Rosalie and her five-year-old sister. With over one million followers, it must be a fanciful life! But the catch is, it's all acting! The parents are utilizing their own children to live out the acting dreams they were never able to accomplish, and they use sponsorships and scripts for their daughters to gain views. God forbid they would ever have to take on real full-time jobs to support their families, or that their daughters might have to attend public school. 🙄
Eventually, fake-dating, lying on camera about likes or dislikes, and being homeschooled just so the parents don't miss out on filming opportunities gets to be a bit too much for Rosalie and her sister, even dangerous with how much of their information is posted online. Not to mention the negative impact such attentions and the amount of tasks being asked of them taking its toll on their mental health.
When Rosalie meets Stella, a girl with fibromyalgia who joins her same homeschool program, she realizes there is so much more to care about beyond the acting and VidTube world of followers.
This novel explores the obsessiveness that gaining followers and posting content can take over families. It shows how fun it can be, but also explores the dangers of stalkers, as well as the mental health ramifications that such a lifestyle may offer for teens and children. While the novel explores family dynamics in a social-media controlled world, it also explores real and fake friendships, sibling relationships and roles, and what it means to be oneself and love someone. The LGBTQ aspect is a nice touch, though seemed a bit fast, but what else can you do in such a short novel with so many important ideas going on?
This is a great and easy novel for teen readers that explores some serious issues about one's online entity and the physical and mental dangers therein. A great novel with lessons about social media, family, friendship, and romance.
October 29, 2025
I received an ARC of from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I've never read a HiLo before (in fact I had to google what it was) but it was so relaxing to read a book in this format, it truly makes a nice change to huge pages of text and I love that it makes reading more accessible for more people. Just like how this book really spotlights an important issue.
Rose is our narrator and MC, and she is strong as hell. This girl is living through actual hell with a YouTube style family vlog channel that has drained her and is doing the same to her 5 year old sister. I was first interested in this book as I have written university assignments on the topic, and Lindwasser handled the topic beautifully with care and consideration.
This Trauma is Sponsored covers a range of topics from family vlogging channels, the perrils of teenage life (with the added pressure of constant internet access), and more, including TW stalking. This book truly is a mirror to our society, the way obsession is encouraged online and just how easily accessible everything and everyone can become - too accessible to the wrong people more often than not.
It's really a thought provoking read and in light of autobiographies from former child stars of vlogging channels, its really reflective of the culture and the movement trying to push back against it. There are so many important well discussed ideas in this book that I could annotate the whole thing twice and still have more to say.
Read it, it's thought provoking, it's enlightening and as someone whose grown up with the internet - it really reflects the importance of going offline. There are so many lessons, and great for all audiences not just teens.
I've never read a HiLo before (in fact I had to google what it was) but it was so relaxing to read a book in this format, it truly makes a nice change to huge pages of text and I love that it makes reading more accessible for more people. Just like how this book really spotlights an important issue.
Rose is our narrator and MC, and she is strong as hell. This girl is living through actual hell with a YouTube style family vlog channel that has drained her and is doing the same to her 5 year old sister. I was first interested in this book as I have written university assignments on the topic, and Lindwasser handled the topic beautifully with care and consideration.
This Trauma is Sponsored covers a range of topics from family vlogging channels, the perrils of teenage life (with the added pressure of constant internet access), and more, including TW stalking. This book truly is a mirror to our society, the way obsession is encouraged online and just how easily accessible everything and everyone can become - too accessible to the wrong people more often than not.
It's really a thought provoking read and in light of autobiographies from former child stars of vlogging channels, its really reflective of the culture and the movement trying to push back against it. There are so many important well discussed ideas in this book that I could annotate the whole thing twice and still have more to say.
Read it, it's thought provoking, it's enlightening and as someone whose grown up with the internet - it really reflects the importance of going offline. There are so many lessons, and great for all audiences not just teens.
November 6, 2025
Thank you so much to West 44 Books/ Rosen Publishing and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.
Rosalie has been used for her parent’s content since she was five. Nothing in her life is private and everything is scripted to how they want it. Now at fifteen she’s seeing the toll it’s taking on her little sister Gennie who’s filmed around the clock. When her privacy is breached and a crazed fan finds them, she knows she must do something to get out of the life she’s been forced into.
What an intense book, I honestly felt like I was holding my breath the whole time reading this. Like my goodness she had it so rough, the life her parents forced on her was scary, it was way too imposing, personal and intense and very invasive. The fact that her whole life would have been planned out directed to how they wanted it to be was super scary honestly, she had no self identity, no freedom and no choice.
I loved and adored Rosalie and Stella they were a literal cutest couple ever, it was so sweet how you could tell both liked each other in an instant, but that it took a long time and all their feeling to develop deeper before they even said or did anything. They were there for each other constantly and I was so happy that Rosalie found her. One bright and happy spark in her terrible and very miserable life.
This was such a dark look at what some social media families go through, not all are as intense or directed as this story depicted but a high percentage are. I think in an era where children are posting everything online as a normal thing, books like this can highlight that it’s not normal, that it’s dangerous, that it’s invasive. I’m really glad that this exists, it’s highly important that they can be aware how damaging and scary it really is to reveal everything on the internet.
Rosalie has been used for her parent’s content since she was five. Nothing in her life is private and everything is scripted to how they want it. Now at fifteen she’s seeing the toll it’s taking on her little sister Gennie who’s filmed around the clock. When her privacy is breached and a crazed fan finds them, she knows she must do something to get out of the life she’s been forced into.
What an intense book, I honestly felt like I was holding my breath the whole time reading this. Like my goodness she had it so rough, the life her parents forced on her was scary, it was way too imposing, personal and intense and very invasive. The fact that her whole life would have been planned out directed to how they wanted it to be was super scary honestly, she had no self identity, no freedom and no choice.
I loved and adored Rosalie and Stella they were a literal cutest couple ever, it was so sweet how you could tell both liked each other in an instant, but that it took a long time and all their feeling to develop deeper before they even said or did anything. They were there for each other constantly and I was so happy that Rosalie found her. One bright and happy spark in her terrible and very miserable life.
This was such a dark look at what some social media families go through, not all are as intense or directed as this story depicted but a high percentage are. I think in an era where children are posting everything online as a normal thing, books like this can highlight that it’s not normal, that it’s dangerous, that it’s invasive. I’m really glad that this exists, it’s highly important that they can be aware how damaging and scary it really is to reveal everything on the internet.
October 4, 2025
Rosalie's family is a family of mum, dad Rosalie and her younger sister, altogether, a part of a family vlogger channel, a very well know one too.
The novel shows the impact sadly probably in many vlogging families keeping up the facade of all being happy on camera just for monetisation and makes you reflect on the impact of modern social media culture being told in a verse format hits all the more deeper as it explores the impact on the family dynamic, their relationships, mental and physical side effects in trying to achieve a so called standard of perfection and the danger of strangers watching and knowing every detail of your lives, which can lead to dangerous encounters.
I was also happily surprised in the novel of a friend Rosalie makes, Stella, who raised awareness of the impact of fibromyalgia all the more relatable to a reader like me who also have the condition, yet, I've never read a novel with it mentioned. The novel also explored young people feeling stifled in revealing their sexuality too for fear of judgement a very relatable situation for many people still I imagine too.
It was a powerful novel about the highs and lows of internet fame and what you gain and lose.
The novel shows the impact sadly probably in many vlogging families keeping up the facade of all being happy on camera just for monetisation and makes you reflect on the impact of modern social media culture being told in a verse format hits all the more deeper as it explores the impact on the family dynamic, their relationships, mental and physical side effects in trying to achieve a so called standard of perfection and the danger of strangers watching and knowing every detail of your lives, which can lead to dangerous encounters.
I was also happily surprised in the novel of a friend Rosalie makes, Stella, who raised awareness of the impact of fibromyalgia all the more relatable to a reader like me who also have the condition, yet, I've never read a novel with it mentioned. The novel also explored young people feeling stifled in revealing their sexuality too for fear of judgement a very relatable situation for many people still I imagine too.
It was a powerful novel about the highs and lows of internet fame and what you gain and lose.
December 31, 2025
Publishing date: 01.12.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to Netgalley and Rosen Publishing Group for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
This was such a heartbreaking and enraging read. I am once again grateful to have had such an offline life.
The concept of "Family vloggers" has fascinated me for years. This book really highlights the negatives and transactional aspects of such a life. How the kids become an asset more than persons. How it looks is more importain that the wellbeing of someone. As much as I was angry for them, I was also saddened that their lives looked like this.
The way this book was written was easy and quick to read, I finished it in just two days (would have been one if not for my at the time busy schedule), and I found it to be a really engaging read.
Loved the LGBTQIA+ rep here. And heavily related to the need to protect your younger siblings and ensuring they get to enjoy their childhood (as an older sister myself).
I think this is a very valuable and important read for the current times. While having an online life might seem attractive, this shows how easily it can get out of hand. Will be recommending around. Giving this 4 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Rosen Publishing Group for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
This was such a heartbreaking and enraging read. I am once again grateful to have had such an offline life.
The concept of "Family vloggers" has fascinated me for years. This book really highlights the negatives and transactional aspects of such a life. How the kids become an asset more than persons. How it looks is more importain that the wellbeing of someone. As much as I was angry for them, I was also saddened that their lives looked like this.
The way this book was written was easy and quick to read, I finished it in just two days (would have been one if not for my at the time busy schedule), and I found it to be a really engaging read.
Loved the LGBTQIA+ rep here. And heavily related to the need to protect your younger siblings and ensuring they get to enjoy their childhood (as an older sister myself).
I think this is a very valuable and important read for the current times. While having an online life might seem attractive, this shows how easily it can get out of hand. Will be recommending around. Giving this 4 stars.
May 27, 2026
First time reading something with a hi-lo concept. This book has significant depth to it, something I didn’t fully realize was possible to achieve with such accessible language.
This book made me m consider how manufactured the stuff we see online really is. It also made me think about what it’s like psychologically to live your life in a sort of lie, the ways in which facades (like the family’s online persona) can trap and control us.
Something that stood out to me was Stella’s family. In our society, we commonly think of divorce as resulting in “broken homes”, and assume it’s healthier for the kids to have parents who are together, even if they have problems with each other. In this sense, Rosalie’s family life would seem to be preferable to Stella’s, but it’s soon clear to the reader that this is not the case at all. Good parents care more about their children than appearances.
I would be interested in a part two. I am curious about how in person school will be like for Rosalie, considering all the information about her accessible online. I wonder at the ways in which she may be looked at differently, or misunderstood by others due to this situation.
This book made me m consider how manufactured the stuff we see online really is. It also made me think about what it’s like psychologically to live your life in a sort of lie, the ways in which facades (like the family’s online persona) can trap and control us.
Something that stood out to me was Stella’s family. In our society, we commonly think of divorce as resulting in “broken homes”, and assume it’s healthier for the kids to have parents who are together, even if they have problems with each other. In this sense, Rosalie’s family life would seem to be preferable to Stella’s, but it’s soon clear to the reader that this is not the case at all. Good parents care more about their children than appearances.
I would be interested in a part two. I am curious about how in person school will be like for Rosalie, considering all the information about her accessible online. I wonder at the ways in which she may be looked at differently, or misunderstood by others due to this situation.
November 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
While the topic is important and I think the various aspects of influencing are well-delivered (for this format), I have to say that I am not sure if the verse-like style really was the right medium for this. It (obviously) affects how long sentences can be, and paragraphs, and I feel like a lot of potential background or descriptions are lacking because of the constraints of the format. It also means that, while being 200 pages long, this book does not include the CONTENT of 200 pages - maybe a quarter of that. Considering that this is supposed to show the dangers and risks of forcing your children into influencing careers since their early days, as well as feature a romance, fibromyalgia and several characters' development, I think that what ultimately amounts to maybe 50 pages of text just isn't enough. It makes it easy to read, sure, but I'm not sure if I would have chosen the same trade-off, or if I would have prioritised content over brevity.
So, all in all, important content, but the execution feels lacking.
While the topic is important and I think the various aspects of influencing are well-delivered (for this format), I have to say that I am not sure if the verse-like style really was the right medium for this. It (obviously) affects how long sentences can be, and paragraphs, and I feel like a lot of potential background or descriptions are lacking because of the constraints of the format. It also means that, while being 200 pages long, this book does not include the CONTENT of 200 pages - maybe a quarter of that. Considering that this is supposed to show the dangers and risks of forcing your children into influencing careers since their early days, as well as feature a romance, fibromyalgia and several characters' development, I think that what ultimately amounts to maybe 50 pages of text just isn't enough. It makes it easy to read, sure, but I'm not sure if I would have chosen the same trade-off, or if I would have prioritised content over brevity.
So, all in all, important content, but the execution feels lacking.
October 22, 2025
~3.75 stars
This Trauma Is Sponsored follows Rosalie as she navigates life as a member of a vlogging family. Her story serves as a warning of the impact social media can have on young people in today's society, especially those in situations like Rosalie's where their parents push them to share every part of their lives online. The novel is written in verse and is very fast-paced and easy to read, however with it being so short we don't really get a deep insight into any of the characters and the romance between Rosalie and Stella is quite surface level, but as it's not the main point of the story it's not that much of an issue. I still think this would be an enjoyable read for many teens.
Thank you to Rosen Publishing Group for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley.
This Trauma Is Sponsored follows Rosalie as she navigates life as a member of a vlogging family. Her story serves as a warning of the impact social media can have on young people in today's society, especially those in situations like Rosalie's where their parents push them to share every part of their lives online. The novel is written in verse and is very fast-paced and easy to read, however with it being so short we don't really get a deep insight into any of the characters and the romance between Rosalie and Stella is quite surface level, but as it's not the main point of the story it's not that much of an issue. I still think this would be an enjoyable read for many teens.
Thank you to Rosen Publishing Group for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley.
November 7, 2025
I honestly enjoyed this book but wow is this a dark story to read through! It's a great illustration on how many social media families function and it can be damaging to not just the kids involved but the entire family as a cohesive unit. What Gennie and Rosalie go through is absolutely horrible and it's absolutely shameful that the parents would do in order to keep themselves in the limelight no matter the cost. It just comes to show how dangerous the Internet and social media can truly be.
My favorite aspect of the book format itself is writing the prose in poem form! It's honestly one of my favorite ways to read books and it sets it apart from other books of its genre. I wish my writers would do that.
I want to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to check this ARC out for myself in exchange for an honest review.
My favorite aspect of the book format itself is writing the prose in poem form! It's honestly one of my favorite ways to read books and it sets it apart from other books of its genre. I wish my writers would do that.
I want to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to check this ARC out for myself in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2026
"This Trauma Is Sponsored" is a well-crafted Hi-Lo story that is full of heart. I adored the characters (especially Stella and Diego) and found this book to be very thematically rich. Not a single scene goes wasted; every moment enhances the plot and helps us better understand Rosalie's world.
As someone with ADHD, I often get overwhelmed when reading large blocks of text. I found the format of this book very refreshing; it immediately sucked me in. Though the formatting is, from my understanding, not the author's doing but rather West 44's, Lindwasser's prose complemented it beautifully. Her writing is simple, yet so effective. She never misses a comedic nor an emotional beat.
Despite its short length, so much is explored. The story did a great job showing the impact of family vlogging on the children, who are usually unwilling participants. It also demonstrated the toxic dynamics often found in these families. The ending was perfect. Optimistic, yet realistic.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Hi-Lo literature-- or to anyone who likes a good story and is willing to try out an unconventional format.
As someone with ADHD, I often get overwhelmed when reading large blocks of text. I found the format of this book very refreshing; it immediately sucked me in. Though the formatting is, from my understanding, not the author's doing but rather West 44's, Lindwasser's prose complemented it beautifully. Her writing is simple, yet so effective. She never misses a comedic nor an emotional beat.
Despite its short length, so much is explored. The story did a great job showing the impact of family vlogging on the children, who are usually unwilling participants. It also demonstrated the toxic dynamics often found in these families. The ending was perfect. Optimistic, yet realistic.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Hi-Lo literature-- or to anyone who likes a good story and is willing to try out an unconventional format.
November 22, 2025
Thank you netgalley for this ebook!
Rosalie and her sister live their whole life online. Their family is an influencer family, with all the awfulness that entails.
As she watched her sister suffer, and falls in love with her nee friend, in spite of the fake dating plot line her parents came up with with her best friend, Rosalie has the support to fight for the change, to protect her sister, and herself.
Written in verse, this books reminds me of Ellen Hopkins work, tackling a topical issue for the digital age. Though it was a quick read, I grew to love these girls over the 200 or so pages. It was a lovely read and I'm grateful it ended the way it did.
Rosalie and her sister live their whole life online. Their family is an influencer family, with all the awfulness that entails.
As she watched her sister suffer, and falls in love with her nee friend, in spite of the fake dating plot line her parents came up with with her best friend, Rosalie has the support to fight for the change, to protect her sister, and herself.
Written in verse, this books reminds me of Ellen Hopkins work, tackling a topical issue for the digital age. Though it was a quick read, I grew to love these girls over the 200 or so pages. It was a lovely read and I'm grateful it ended the way it did.
November 20, 2025
I think this is a really important story to have during the time of influencer families. For as short as it its, this is an impactful book. I was happily surprised to find out it was a queer story, and there were plenty of times when I wanted to slap Rosalie's mom. I think this could have benefited from being a little bit longer. While the story is complete, it could have been a little more powerful with some more content.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
October 24, 2025
THIS IS GREAT!!
Modern times have made us believe it's totally normal to see the life of others under the tag and title of "vlog" or "family vlogs" but not truly and really understanding how dangerous is to expose your private life and children's lives to the eyes of everyone. This book approached this topic in a fantastic way, it's fast paced and easy to read but it's so deep. We definitely need more books like this.
thank you for the arc
Modern times have made us believe it's totally normal to see the life of others under the tag and title of "vlog" or "family vlogs" but not truly and really understanding how dangerous is to expose your private life and children's lives to the eyes of everyone. This book approached this topic in a fantastic way, it's fast paced and easy to read but it's so deep. We definitely need more books like this.
thank you for the arc
March 27, 2026
Verse novels can be hit or miss with me, but I think it worked for this story.
December 9, 2025
This Trauma Is Sponsored by Anna Lindwasser is a raw and emotionally demanding collection that confronts trauma in its many forms — personal, political, and inherited. This is not a book designed for comfort. It challenges the reader and asks for emotional attention from the very first page.
Lindwasser’s writing is direct and often poetic, with moments that feel sharp and necessary. There are passages that land with real impact, especially when the focus turns to survival, silence, and power. The voice is unapologetic and clearly rooted in lived experience, which gives the book a sense of urgency and truth.
That said, the collection didn’t fully work for me. The emotional intensity is constant, and after a while it began to feel overwhelming rather than illuminating. Some pieces were much stronger than others, and I found myself wishing for more variation in tone or approach. At times, the repetition lessened the emotional impact instead of deepening it.
Overall, I think this book will strongly resonate with readers who appreciate emotionally raw and politically aware writing. While it wasn’t a personal favorite, I respect what Lindwasser set out to do and I’m glad I read it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Lindwasser’s writing is direct and often poetic, with moments that feel sharp and necessary. There are passages that land with real impact, especially when the focus turns to survival, silence, and power. The voice is unapologetic and clearly rooted in lived experience, which gives the book a sense of urgency and truth.
That said, the collection didn’t fully work for me. The emotional intensity is constant, and after a while it began to feel overwhelming rather than illuminating. Some pieces were much stronger than others, and I found myself wishing for more variation in tone or approach. At times, the repetition lessened the emotional impact instead of deepening it.
Overall, I think this book will strongly resonate with readers who appreciate emotionally raw and politically aware writing. While it wasn’t a personal favorite, I respect what Lindwasser set out to do and I’m glad I read it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title.
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