Such a Bad Influence

De: Olivia Muenter

Narrado por: Jesse Vilinsky, Kelli Tager, Joe Hempel, Charlotte Moore-Lambert, Mark Sanderlin, Yinka Ladeinde, Amara Jasper, Krystal Hammond, Amanda Stribling, Deanna Anthony

Shelf Awareness Pick

A razor-sharp debut thriller about what happens when one of the first child stars of the social media age grows up … and goes missing.

Hazel Davis is drifting: newly unemployed, living in a city she hates, and significantly less successful than her infamous younger sister, Evie. Evie grew up online, having gone viral at age five in a daddy-daughter dance video. She had an Instagram following in elementary school, and brand sponsorships before she had a driver’s permit. Now she’s a megapopular lifestyle influencer, with a million-dollar career at an age when few teens know what they’re going to major in.

But to Hazel, @evelyn is just Evie, her beloved little sister—and a kid who has been exploited for her entire childhood. Ten years older and spotlight-averse, Hazel has managed to dodge the family business, but she’s deeply protective of Evie and skeptical of the way everyone seems to want a piece of her: Evie’s followers, her YouTuber boyfriend, her frenemies across the influencer industry.

So when Evie disappears—in the middle of a live stream, during a brand-sponsored trip to Los Angeles—Hazel knows something is terribly wrong. Determined to find her sister, Hazel throws herself into the darkest parts of internet culture to untangle the threads of truth behind Evie’s disappearance. After all, Hazel knows Evie better than anyone else … doesn’t she?

Internet fame, the allure of parasocial relationships, and some of our deepest cultural obsessions collide in this electric thriller by a debut writer to watch.

©2024 Olivia Muenter (P)2024 Blackstone Publishing

Meh…just okay

This book was just okay. I was waiting for more to happen. I wouldn’t recommend.

Loved it! Couldn’t stop listening

I listened to this almost non-stop. Characters felt fresh and real. Lots of great twists. I haven’t seen a ton written about influencers and social media, at least not from this angle in a thriller and it felt very realistic. Loved it!

Uneventful with some interesting moments

The mystery itself was boring. However, the commentary on social media and influencers was interesting. The ending had a fun surprise.

Crazy disappointing!

I feel like this novel was totally different before someone gave the author notes. In this case I’m choosing to believe it was a partner and not an editor, or possibly the author second guessing herself? The overall tone was mysterious and creepy and I was SO there for it! Unfortunately in went the way of blue balls. Like she kept setting us up for something major to happen up until the very very end only to bring us to what I feel like has been a 12 hour (or however long this book was) cold shower. I don’t recommend.

Podcast of the Book world

Such A Bad Influence ⭐️⭐️⭐️.83
One to listen 🎧 in audible form… listens like a true crime podcast …. Some fun twists and turns along the way

Ugh too long

Actually loved the writing, the book could have been a lot shorter though. I mean most of the action happens in the last. 20 min and there are at least 3 hours of filler. I wish we actually had a reaction to the ending. Which I didn’t find surprising since I was positive it was her sister as soon as her friend told her the story.

Could NOT Put Down

This book was so good, that I wanted more. I couldn't put it down. It has so many twists & turns, it is hard to imagine that people do these things especially parents with their kids! I couldn't imagine but knew it rang true. Get the book, I can't wait for more from this author!

Couldn’t stop listening!

Incredible story that drew me in right away. Loved the different narrators especially for the “media inserts” that were part of the story! Cannot believe this is Muenster’s first book! It kept me on the edge of my seat until the last word!

Great Message but slow

Took forever to get anywhere. Kind of regret paying for it. Could have been so great but was just blah.

Perf!

Perfect modern day thriller, loved multiple readers! Will tell everyone about this book, felt like I was reading a soon to be movie.