A big issue with the book was that, even though some claim look legitimate and really not surprising for any French people (Macron being helped by a few powerful people was no surprise, he came out of nowhere and had suddenly more press coverage than any other candidate), it was also making a lot of heavy, and sometimes weird, accusation about some people, one of them being X. Niel, with nothing to back them up.
It also didn't help that the author was writing in a way that really looked like he was settling some scores with people instead of actually doing a journalistic investigation (he seemed to especially bare some hatred toward X. Niel). It helped even less that he started beef with anyone criticizing his book, especially respected journalist and news outlet.
- control the #1 French newspaper, "Le Monde" (extremely poplar on the Web, too), is buying up other media (Nice-Matin, most recently), is/was also influential in opposition media (e.g Mediapart)
- his spouse is the first daughter of Bernard Arnault, the 3rd richest man in the world, and together they form the most powerful couple in the country