book cover of What Happens Online
 

What Happens Online

(2025)
A novel by

 
 
Existor is the most popular guy in school. Fred is the loser with no friends. And nobody knows they're the same person.

Online, Fred goes by Existor@stmarks. His alter ego is the best gamer around - constantly on a winning streak, with tonnes of followers, and the confidence to go with it.

But offline, Fred's life is miserable. His dad's always working, his mum's struggling, and at school, everyone looks straight through him. Until Existor's notoriety spreads to his school, and Fred sees an opportunity: everyone listens to what Existor has to say, so why not use that?

Soon, Fred is coming up with outlandish rumours about his classmates, and everyone's lapping it up. His bullies are shunned, and people are finally taking notice of him. But it's a slippery slope and Fred struggles to keep track of all the stuff he's posted as his lies start to wreak unexpected havoc.

Fred will have to answer for his crimes against reality, but will he ever find someone to like him for who he really is?

A hilarious new teen comedy about figuring out who you are online and offline from YOTO Carnegie-shortlisted Nathanael Lessore, award-winning author of STEADY FOR THIS and KING OF NOTHING.

PRAISE FOR STEADY FOR THIS:

"Crammed with
outrageously hilarious wordplay, Lessore's exuberant debut for 12+ is a southeast London celebration of teen awkwardness, creativity and silly joy." - Guardian

"Funny, original and heart-warming." - The Times

"An engaging, positive and heart-warming read." - BookTrust

PRAISE FOR KING OF NOTHING:
"
Rib-achingly funny, poignant, thoughtful and sly, Lessore's second novel confirms him as a uniquely talented writer." - Guardian

"Confirms [Nathanael Lessore] as
a major new name in writing for younger teenagers . . . an immensely readable book." - The Observer

"This teen comedy really is
very funny, while also being meaningful and heartwarming." - iPaper


Genre: Young Adult Fiction



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