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Under the Influence
The Devil Wears Prada meets The Assistants in this “compulsively readable, frightening, but addictive” ( Shelf Awareness ) debut following a young woman who takes a job working for an enigmatic influencer and quickly discovers there’s an ugly side to being a #GirlBoss.
After a series of go-nowhere jobs in the New York publishing world, Harper Cruz is desperate for a salary that won’t leave her scrambling to make rent each month. So when she stumbles across a job posting from an influencer offering triple her last paycheck, she automatically submits her résumé.
Harper may not be familiar with self-help guru Charlotte Green, but her relentless optimism and charismatic can-do spirit has created a cult-like following of women across the country. When she selects Harper among thousands of other applicants in less than twenty-four hours, it’s obvious she sees something she likes. Harper decides to take a leap of faith and become the newest member of The Greenhouse.
Accepting the job means a move to Nashville, and Harper is quickly dazzled by the glamourous world Charlotte has built in Music City. The Greenhouse is more than a workplace—it’s a family—and Harper soon finds herself swept into its inner circle. At first, she loves working in such an inspirational environment, where mandatory dance parties, daily intentions, and group bonding activities make up for long hours and Charlotte’s persistent demands for loyalty. But the deeper Harper is pulled into Charlotte’s world, the more she realizes that having it all comes with a price in this “magnetic story” ( Publishers Weekly ).
After a series of go-nowhere jobs in the New York publishing world, Harper Cruz is desperate for a salary that won’t leave her scrambling to make rent each month. So when she stumbles across a job posting from an influencer offering triple her last paycheck, she automatically submits her résumé.
Harper may not be familiar with self-help guru Charlotte Green, but her relentless optimism and charismatic can-do spirit has created a cult-like following of women across the country. When she selects Harper among thousands of other applicants in less than twenty-four hours, it’s obvious she sees something she likes. Harper decides to take a leap of faith and become the newest member of The Greenhouse.
Accepting the job means a move to Nashville, and Harper is quickly dazzled by the glamourous world Charlotte has built in Music City. The Greenhouse is more than a workplace—it’s a family—and Harper soon finds herself swept into its inner circle. At first, she loves working in such an inspirational environment, where mandatory dance parties, daily intentions, and group bonding activities make up for long hours and Charlotte’s persistent demands for loyalty. But the deeper Harper is pulled into Charlotte’s world, the more she realizes that having it all comes with a price in this “magnetic story” ( Publishers Weekly ).
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2023
408 people are currently reading
44011 people want to read
About the author
Noelle Crooks
1 book172 followersA California native, Noelle Crooks’s love of books started at a young age when running to the local library with her late father. Before publishing her debut novel, Under the Influence, Noelle held roles at Sephora and Dolce Vita, and was the brand director at The Hollis Company. An education activist, Noelle is passionate about supporting youth literacy within marginalized schools. Noelle resides in New York City with her sidekick pup, Cooper.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,303 reviews
February 24, 2023
Ok, hear me out. This is an easy read and it will be of special interest to a certain group of women (but keep in mind the story is fictional). The story delves into the world of working for an influencer, showing us it’s not all pretty instagram posts and dance parties.
Specifically, the book is about a “self-help” influencer, and I found many parallels between Charlotte and an influencer I used to follow very closely. I resonated with the conflicting feelings the employees in the company had because I felt the same way - I also “drank the kool aid” and ultimately formed a parasocial relationship with the influencer who I actually knew very little about. This grift worked because I was in a vulnerable place when I “found” her. (That’s part of the pattern - they reel you in when you’re emotionally down.)
If you’re familiar with this real-life influencer (think “what makes you think I want to be relatable” outbursts and girl, “you’re made for more” messaging) who hit her peak stardom in 2019 with books, journals, in-person conferences, swag of all kinds, and a work culture that was remarkably similar to that in the book, then I think you’ll really enjoy this book. If you’ve ever gone to conferences, practiced gratitude and goal setting each morning, tuned in for a morning show, and held onto every word an influencer says, this book is for you. Frankly, there needs to be an in-person meetup so we can have a wine+whine of our own (and get some more tea on these characters).
I’d totally love a sequel or a story written from the perspective of another character!
Specifically, the book is about a “self-help” influencer, and I found many parallels between Charlotte and an influencer I used to follow very closely. I resonated with the conflicting feelings the employees in the company had because I felt the same way - I also “drank the kool aid” and ultimately formed a parasocial relationship with the influencer who I actually knew very little about. This grift worked because I was in a vulnerable place when I “found” her. (That’s part of the pattern - they reel you in when you’re emotionally down.)
If you’re familiar with this real-life influencer (think “what makes you think I want to be relatable” outbursts and girl, “you’re made for more” messaging) who hit her peak stardom in 2019 with books, journals, in-person conferences, swag of all kinds, and a work culture that was remarkably similar to that in the book, then I think you’ll really enjoy this book. If you’ve ever gone to conferences, practiced gratitude and goal setting each morning, tuned in for a morning show, and held onto every word an influencer says, this book is for you. Frankly, there needs to be an in-person meetup so we can have a wine+whine of our own (and get some more tea on these characters).
I’d totally love a sequel or a story written from the perspective of another character!
March 29, 2023
It’s 12:57am
I just finished Under The Influence, that I binge read all day.
Quite frankly I am at a loss for words.
This book is incredibly REAL.
Our current culture is developed by social media and the influencers behind those keyboards.
Who are these people? Are they only showing us the version of themselves they want us to see?
Of course.
That’s what social media is. Social media allows you to be whoever you want to be but deep down how much of that is truth ?
Think about it…
We use filters, angles and editing to only show ourselves in the light we favor.
This book has me deep in my thoughts. It wasn’t a thriller as it’s categorized. There’s no murder (I’m sure a few of these characters considered it) but there is suspense and drama!
I loved the whole entourage of characters. Eva, our cute little cookie baking mama, Poppy, the reliable and incredible best friend we all wish we had, Bella, Adam, Oliver, Cynthia, and of course, Harper.
This book hit close to home and had me thinking about my own experiences. I have recently left a job I used to love after 16 years. What was once inspiring quickly turned exhausting, stressful and under appreciated.
If this book didn’t push me right into the direction I need to be then I might just be a lost cause (kidding)
I feel inspired, hopeful and enlightened .
I wrote down and highlighted so many inspirational phrases I found within these pages.
I hope to read this book again closer to its big release and see how the book resonates with me then . I hope to still feel just as inspired but also be able to look back and see how far I have come myself .
Noelle Crooks, I adore you and I can not wait to see what you come up with next
5 stars!
Teaser :
After a series of go-nowhere jobs in the New York publishing world, Harper Cruz is broke, lonely, and desperate for a salary that won’t leave her scrambling to make rent each month. So when she stumbles across a job posting from an influencer offering triple her last paycheck, she automatically submits her résumé.
Harper may not be familiar with self-help guru Charlotte Green, but her relentless optimism and charismatic can-do spirit has created a cult-like following of women across the country. When she selects Harper among thousands of other applicants in less than twenty-four hours, it’s obvious she sees something she likes. Despite the pressure to accept the offer just as quickly as she’s been given it, Harper decides to take a leap of faith and become the newest member of The Greenhouse.
Accepting the job means a move to Nashville, and Harper is quickly dazzled by the glamourous world Charlotte has built in Music City. The Greenhouse is more than a workplace—it’s a family—and Harper soon finds herself swept into its inner circle. At first, she loves working in such an inspirational environment, where mandatory dance parties, daily intentions, and group bonding activities make up for long hours and Charlotte’s persistent demands for loyalty. But the deeper Harper is pulled into Charlotte’s world, the more she realizes that having it all and being it all comes with a price.
I just finished Under The Influence, that I binge read all day.
Quite frankly I am at a loss for words.
This book is incredibly REAL.
Our current culture is developed by social media and the influencers behind those keyboards.
Who are these people? Are they only showing us the version of themselves they want us to see?
Of course.
That’s what social media is. Social media allows you to be whoever you want to be but deep down how much of that is truth ?
Think about it…
We use filters, angles and editing to only show ourselves in the light we favor.
This book has me deep in my thoughts. It wasn’t a thriller as it’s categorized. There’s no murder (I’m sure a few of these characters considered it) but there is suspense and drama!
I loved the whole entourage of characters. Eva, our cute little cookie baking mama, Poppy, the reliable and incredible best friend we all wish we had, Bella, Adam, Oliver, Cynthia, and of course, Harper.
This book hit close to home and had me thinking about my own experiences. I have recently left a job I used to love after 16 years. What was once inspiring quickly turned exhausting, stressful and under appreciated.
If this book didn’t push me right into the direction I need to be then I might just be a lost cause (kidding)
I feel inspired, hopeful and enlightened .
I wrote down and highlighted so many inspirational phrases I found within these pages.
I hope to read this book again closer to its big release and see how the book resonates with me then . I hope to still feel just as inspired but also be able to look back and see how far I have come myself .
Noelle Crooks, I adore you and I can not wait to see what you come up with next
5 stars!
Teaser :
After a series of go-nowhere jobs in the New York publishing world, Harper Cruz is broke, lonely, and desperate for a salary that won’t leave her scrambling to make rent each month. So when she stumbles across a job posting from an influencer offering triple her last paycheck, she automatically submits her résumé.
Harper may not be familiar with self-help guru Charlotte Green, but her relentless optimism and charismatic can-do spirit has created a cult-like following of women across the country. When she selects Harper among thousands of other applicants in less than twenty-four hours, it’s obvious she sees something she likes. Despite the pressure to accept the offer just as quickly as she’s been given it, Harper decides to take a leap of faith and become the newest member of The Greenhouse.
Accepting the job means a move to Nashville, and Harper is quickly dazzled by the glamourous world Charlotte has built in Music City. The Greenhouse is more than a workplace—it’s a family—and Harper soon finds herself swept into its inner circle. At first, she loves working in such an inspirational environment, where mandatory dance parties, daily intentions, and group bonding activities make up for long hours and Charlotte’s persistent demands for loyalty. But the deeper Harper is pulled into Charlotte’s world, the more she realizes that having it all and being it all comes with a price.
February 27, 2023
three words: UGH. WHY. MEH.
harper’s roommate applies on her behalf for work for social media influencer charlotte. when harper is hired, she moves to nashville and uproots her entire life to build this “boss babes” brand. charlotte is not everything she seems, and hides a vicious nature within her.
this novel was so unbearably boring. there are so many loose ends by the end of it, that you truly don’t care what happens to harper or her coworker bella. this is a very surface level exploration into the world of influencers exploiting their employees and fabricating their lives. harper is a severely underdeveloped character who magically grows a backbone at the very end. the question is, why did harper agree to work for charlotte in the first place? why did she continue to work for her when charlotte’s true nature came out? and why should i care?
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
harper’s roommate applies on her behalf for work for social media influencer charlotte. when harper is hired, she moves to nashville and uproots her entire life to build this “boss babes” brand. charlotte is not everything she seems, and hides a vicious nature within her.
this novel was so unbearably boring. there are so many loose ends by the end of it, that you truly don’t care what happens to harper or her coworker bella. this is a very surface level exploration into the world of influencers exploiting their employees and fabricating their lives. harper is a severely underdeveloped character who magically grows a backbone at the very end. the question is, why did harper agree to work for charlotte in the first place? why did she continue to work for her when charlotte’s true nature came out? and why should i care?
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2023
I almost DNF this one because it started getting predictable, but I persevered and honestly it was fiiine.
Think rich people behaving badly plus a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in the daily life of a"professional influencer" who is a Brand.
All the characters, (except Bella-shes too good) are kinda annoying and unlikable, but that's the name of the game I suppose.
Overall, if you like popcorn reads +influencers being bitchy then this is a good book for you
Think rich people behaving badly plus a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in the daily life of a"professional influencer" who is a Brand.
All the characters, (except Bella-shes too good) are kinda annoying and unlikable, but that's the name of the game I suppose.
Overall, if you like popcorn reads +influencers being bitchy then this is a good book for you
May 4, 2024
atrocious
basically no plot
how is this even rated high which sub genre would enjoy this im confused
mediocre writing cliche but badly planned plot line
I can’t that was painful to get through and the last sentence made it even worse
more pained I didn’t just put it down after the first page the high ratings gave me some hope but this is just bad Wattpad
basically no plot
how is this even rated high which sub genre would enjoy this im confused
mediocre writing cliche but badly planned plot line
I can’t that was painful to get through and the last sentence made it even worse
more pained I didn’t just put it down after the first page the high ratings gave me some hope but this is just bad Wattpad
August 16, 2024
Fast paced and fun! This is a great book to take with you out and about! I loved that the chapters were shorter and easily digestible. I am interested in seeing upcoming books by the author.
July 25, 2023
Harper Cruz is a young aspiring writer who has seen her fair share of dead end publishing jobs in New York City. She comes across an ad for a job posting to work directly for a famous self-help mom-fluencer who she has never really paid much attention to before, but because the salary is 3x more than what she is currently making, she takes a chance and applies.
Harper instantly gets the job and is whisked away to Nashville to work for Charlotte Green and become a member of “The Greenhouse.” Though Charlotte’s movement is all about inspiring and uplifting others, Harper quickly learns that this may mean compromising her core values, her personal life, and her alliances in order to make it in Charlotte’s good graces.
I can’t believe how much I enjoyed this book. At first, it was reading very parody-like, and I wasn’t too sure about it. What I mean by that is, things were happening too quickly to be realistically believable – like she got the job overnight with no interview, just a text saying she was in, yet it was mentioned that 1500 people applied lol. However, I appreciate that the author did not waste any time, and after only ~30 pages, I was hooked. Some parts were still a little too animated for me though, and there was a bit of predictability in the plot, but maybe that was done to prove a point at how silly we can become when we get sucked into these influencer crazes.
I loved all the supporting characters, from Harper’s colleagues – especially Bella, to her best friend Poppy from NYC, to her extended family. Reading Harper slowly go from treating it as just another job to making it her life was fascinating and the author did a great job making the reader empathize with her reasons for getting so enveloped into The Greenhouse lifestyle. When everyone around her had big things going on in their personal lives and she did not, her job was something she could be proud of, even if it was at the cost of her morality.
Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Canada for my ARC! If you enjoyed the movie The Devil Wears Prada, this book is for you; it really gave me Andy x Miranda vibes. I’ll definitely be looking out for anything else Noelle Crooks writes next.
Harper instantly gets the job and is whisked away to Nashville to work for Charlotte Green and become a member of “The Greenhouse.” Though Charlotte’s movement is all about inspiring and uplifting others, Harper quickly learns that this may mean compromising her core values, her personal life, and her alliances in order to make it in Charlotte’s good graces.
I can’t believe how much I enjoyed this book. At first, it was reading very parody-like, and I wasn’t too sure about it. What I mean by that is, things were happening too quickly to be realistically believable – like she got the job overnight with no interview, just a text saying she was in, yet it was mentioned that 1500 people applied lol. However, I appreciate that the author did not waste any time, and after only ~30 pages, I was hooked. Some parts were still a little too animated for me though, and there was a bit of predictability in the plot, but maybe that was done to prove a point at how silly we can become when we get sucked into these influencer crazes.
I loved all the supporting characters, from Harper’s colleagues – especially Bella, to her best friend Poppy from NYC, to her extended family. Reading Harper slowly go from treating it as just another job to making it her life was fascinating and the author did a great job making the reader empathize with her reasons for getting so enveloped into The Greenhouse lifestyle. When everyone around her had big things going on in their personal lives and she did not, her job was something she could be proud of, even if it was at the cost of her morality.
Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Canada for my ARC! If you enjoyed the movie The Devil Wears Prada, this book is for you; it really gave me Andy x Miranda vibes. I’ll definitely be looking out for anything else Noelle Crooks writes next.
September 10, 2024
I'm decidedly undecided about Under the Influence by Noelle Crooks. While the initial premise of working for an enigmatic influencer seemed like something I'd be interested in, the book didn't deliver on depicting the job's 'dark' side as the synopsis claimed. To be frank, this book is as dark as a sunny day.
The writing itself was good, but there was no story and no consequence or stakes to the plot. As I read this on my Kindle and saw that only 20% of the book was left, I had to take a second for it to sink in: less than a quarter of the book was left, and nothing had happened. That's what it felt like, at least. Aside from her offensive Halloween costume, racist comments, and plagiarism, I kept expecting Charlotte to do something dark or for some violent secret from her past to resurface - but there was nothing. The whole plot was a very surface-level depiction of the world of influencers and I felt like it could have been fleshed out much more. Harper's character also wasn't fleshed out and her character arc made no sense. She just magically grew a spine and stood up to Charlotte after worshiping her for half a year? It didn't make any sense, and I could say the same about the book in general.
I didn't hate the book enough to DNF it, but at the same time, after reading the final page, I felt like I'd wasted my time.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of Under the Influence to review. All thoughts are my own and are not influenced by any third party. #UnderTheInfluence #NoelleCrooks #Netgalley
The writing itself was good, but there was no story and no consequence or stakes to the plot. As I read this on my Kindle and saw that only 20% of the book was left, I had to take a second for it to sink in: less than a quarter of the book was left, and nothing had happened. That's what it felt like, at least. Aside from her offensive Halloween costume, racist comments, and plagiarism, I kept expecting Charlotte to do something dark or for some violent secret from her past to resurface - but there was nothing. The whole plot was a very surface-level depiction of the world of influencers and I felt like it could have been fleshed out much more. Harper's character also wasn't fleshed out and her character arc made no sense. She just magically grew a spine and stood up to Charlotte after worshiping her for half a year? It didn't make any sense, and I could say the same about the book in general.
I didn't hate the book enough to DNF it, but at the same time, after reading the final page, I felt like I'd wasted my time.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of Under the Influence to review. All thoughts are my own and are not influenced by any third party. #UnderTheInfluence #NoelleCrooks #Netgalley
June 29, 2023
Thanks to Gallery Books for this ARC!
A fast-paced, drama-filled book about the life behind a self-help influencer and what it really takes for them to get all of their content online. This is perfect if you’re obsessed with cults or scandals, or love to hate very popular “hey girl!”-type influencers. I basically felt like I was seeing a behind-the-scenes of Rachel Hollis’s life.
A fast-paced, drama-filled book about the life behind a self-help influencer and what it really takes for them to get all of their content online. This is perfect if you’re obsessed with cults or scandals, or love to hate very popular “hey girl!”-type influencers. I basically felt like I was seeing a behind-the-scenes of Rachel Hollis’s life.
November 19, 2023
Harper is struggling to make it as a successful writer in NYC and recently lost her job at a publishing house. When a new opportunity comes up to work as a “Visionary Support Strategist” for Charlotte Green, a self-help, female empowering influencer, Harper accepts the offer and moves to Nashville, though she has no idea what she’s in for.
Harper moves into “The Greenhouse” quickly trying to learn her role, get to know her colleagues, and meet Charlotte’s expectations, which change abruptly. As she becomes engrained in the culture — daily affirmations, dance parties and unrealistic demands from Charlotte — she realizes everything isn’t as it seems.
Under the Influence emphasizes the frequent reality of influencers, working diligently to project and protect an image, though their daily life often indicates otherwise. This was definitely a predictable story with The Devil Wears Prada vibes, yet even with its predictability, I found it to be an easy, entertaining read — 3.5 stars
Harper moves into “The Greenhouse” quickly trying to learn her role, get to know her colleagues, and meet Charlotte’s expectations, which change abruptly. As she becomes engrained in the culture — daily affirmations, dance parties and unrealistic demands from Charlotte — she realizes everything isn’t as it seems.
Under the Influence emphasizes the frequent reality of influencers, working diligently to project and protect an image, though their daily life often indicates otherwise. This was definitely a predictable story with The Devil Wears Prada vibes, yet even with its predictability, I found it to be an easy, entertaining read — 3.5 stars
May 31, 2024
Audiobook Rating: 3/5
Under the Influence by Noelle Crooks is filled with drama and I loved every single minute of it. The book's premise with Harper working for a self-help guru was fun and different, and Crooks brings the reader into the (apparently) cut-throat world of influencing. I was mixed on my feelings for the characters, and while I liked some aspects of Harper's personality, there were other parts, especially after she's brought into The Greenhouse fold, which were rather dreadful. I will chalk this up to being 'under the influence' though, and she ultimately grew as a person in a great way.
The audiobook was a mixed bag for me, and though I loved certain elements of Midori Francis's narration, her pacing was all over the place. Thankfully, this didn't take away my love for the book itself, and I thought her pitch and tone, and the way she put that little laugh in her words, was perfect for Harper. And I loved that Crooks chose to read her acknowledgments! So rare in an audiobook, and it was awesome being able to hear her voice. Under the Influence brings new meaning to the term rich people problems, and if you are a fan of the rich people behaving badly trope you will love this drama-filled storyline. I saw that Crooks doesn't have another book coming out yet, but I desperately hope this won't be the last I see of her writing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Under the Influence by Noelle Crooks is filled with drama and I loved every single minute of it. The book's premise with Harper working for a self-help guru was fun and different, and Crooks brings the reader into the (apparently) cut-throat world of influencing. I was mixed on my feelings for the characters, and while I liked some aspects of Harper's personality, there were other parts, especially after she's brought into The Greenhouse fold, which were rather dreadful. I will chalk this up to being 'under the influence' though, and she ultimately grew as a person in a great way.
The audiobook was a mixed bag for me, and though I loved certain elements of Midori Francis's narration, her pacing was all over the place. Thankfully, this didn't take away my love for the book itself, and I thought her pitch and tone, and the way she put that little laugh in her words, was perfect for Harper. And I loved that Crooks chose to read her acknowledgments! So rare in an audiobook, and it was awesome being able to hear her voice. Under the Influence brings new meaning to the term rich people problems, and if you are a fan of the rich people behaving badly trope you will love this drama-filled storyline. I saw that Crooks doesn't have another book coming out yet, but I desperately hope this won't be the last I see of her writing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 29, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. The cover and title drew me in immediately. I kept thinking about how clever the title was.
I felt the entire time that I was reading it that Charlotte was based on Rachel Hollis (not at all Gwyneth Paltrow as a few reviews mentioned). Upon researching the author I found that she did work for The Hollis Company. I am very curious how autobiographical this novel is. Some of my favorite parts were about Charlotte’s husband, they were truly laugh out loud funny. The “Mister Class” concept made me scream laugh. (Edit: I just looked at Rachel Hollis’ website and started laughing my ass off again, the author nails Rachel’s obnoxious writing style.)
I think this book did a really good job examining both toxic positivity and the grind/girl boss culture. It sucks that people waste their money on the manufactured, aspirational bullshit that these “creators” put out. As if all you have to do is gratitude your way into happiness. I find it extremely predatory. The book also did a great job showing how quickly you can get sucked into a certain kind of work environment. And how everything we see on social media is such a fabrication of real life.
I rated it down because I thought the romance plot line was a bit boring and the ending was a little cheesy for me.
I will definitely be checking out anything this author puts out in the future.
I received this arc free from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I felt the entire time that I was reading it that Charlotte was based on Rachel Hollis (not at all Gwyneth Paltrow as a few reviews mentioned). Upon researching the author I found that she did work for The Hollis Company. I am very curious how autobiographical this novel is. Some of my favorite parts were about Charlotte’s husband, they were truly laugh out loud funny. The “Mister Class” concept made me scream laugh. (Edit: I just looked at Rachel Hollis’ website and started laughing my ass off again, the author nails Rachel’s obnoxious writing style.)
I think this book did a really good job examining both toxic positivity and the grind/girl boss culture. It sucks that people waste their money on the manufactured, aspirational bullshit that these “creators” put out. As if all you have to do is gratitude your way into happiness. I find it extremely predatory. The book also did a great job showing how quickly you can get sucked into a certain kind of work environment. And how everything we see on social media is such a fabrication of real life.
I rated it down because I thought the romance plot line was a bit boring and the ending was a little cheesy for me.
I will definitely be checking out anything this author puts out in the future.
I received this arc free from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2023
Basically no plot and middle school level writing. I don’t even know why I bothered finishing it.
August 24, 2023
The more i got into the story about this “blonde influencer” and her whole curated life; using her kids and her husband for her brand, running her company and selling her products like an MLM, the lies, the narcissistic behaviour, the plagiarising, the divorce, … i thought this sounds exactly like Rachel Hollis 🧐… i rarely read Acknowledgements but i found this particular author intriguing… and OMG GUESS WHAT?? She used to be brand director at The HOLLIS Company!!!!!!!! Is this book all the inside dirt on Rachel Hollis?!?!? Noelle Crooks are you my new bestie????
August 9, 2023
This was a FANTASTIC, unputdownable debut about a NYC writer who moves to Nashville to work for a high-profile self-help Influencer who discovers her latest job isn't all inspirational hashtags in an uplifting workplace environment. Perfect for fans of literary cult thrillers and books like The devil wears Prada or Such a fun age by Kiley Reid. This was also excellent on audio narrated by Midori Francis. I enjoyed this one so much and can't wait to read whatever this author writes next!!
March 13, 2023
Great story! So perfectly plotted.
Harper is looking for the something - a career, a fulfilling life, a purpose? She falls under the Charlotte Green spell easily and joins the team without much debate. The only problem is that as she begins working for the millionaire influencer, she experiences more and more questionable behavior. Is Charlotte real? Or a Charlatan ?
Noelle Crooks has created the perfect influencer story! Charlotte Green is believable in both behavior and her "message." Our heroine Harper is equally believable in her family situation. I loved this story and at times fell under the influence of Charlotte's branding. If you love hot topics in contemporary culture, the struggles of young women and the unveiling of cults then Under the Influence is for you!
#Gallery #undertheinfluence #noellecrooks
Harper is looking for the something - a career, a fulfilling life, a purpose? She falls under the Charlotte Green spell easily and joins the team without much debate. The only problem is that as she begins working for the millionaire influencer, she experiences more and more questionable behavior. Is Charlotte real? Or a Charlatan ?
Noelle Crooks has created the perfect influencer story! Charlotte Green is believable in both behavior and her "message." Our heroine Harper is equally believable in her family situation. I loved this story and at times fell under the influence of Charlotte's branding. If you love hot topics in contemporary culture, the struggles of young women and the unveiling of cults then Under the Influence is for you!
#Gallery #undertheinfluence #noellecrooks
July 9, 2023
I received an Advanced Readers Edition of this book from the publisher through a GoodReads giveaway. I BLEW through this book. Could not put it down. It tells a story that is so important in the day and age of influencers and ‘hustle culture.’ I think it’s a great read, especially for 20 something girlies like me that can struggle with the influencer culture that seems to be taking over social media. Not to mention the cover is sooooo cute!! Highly recommend :)
April 20, 2023
Such a fabulous takedown of celebrity influencers like Rachel Hollis. The details were pitch perfect and I loved it!
September 24, 2023
Um ok so this might be an unpopular opinion but I kind of wished I’d skipped this one
It’s a fantastic cover and the premise had potential but a combo of extremely meh writing and an unthrilling plot made me finish this book thinking “lol whut.”
Y’all even the audio couldn’t save it. The narrator’s voice sounds so young which added to the main character’s immaturity (with some of the worst accents ever).
UNDER THE INFLUENCE is about a “very promising writer” leaving New York for Nashville to work for a “powerhouse” (drink every time that word is used) influencer who might not be all that she seems. The author of this book used to work for Rachel Hollis of the “Girl, Wash Your Face” empire. I’m tempted to believe this girl wrote down her experience and called it fiction so she can spill all the dirty deets to get back at her former employer. (not to spoil, but the way this book ends REALLY convinced me of this.)
I think it might be easiest to list all the things I found off about this book:
- the main character is 27 & is asked if she has kids like an unrealistic amount of times
- Rachel Hollis isn’t really like an “influencer” I feel like we think of these days. I think of people who actually provide curated content and actual value, not self-proclaimed self-help gurus (maybe it should have been set 10 years back and I would have been less annoyed)
- the author does a lot of telling not showing — one of my biggest writing pet peeves.
- it’s basically a poorly executed Devil Wears Prada rip off plot wise
- I can’t stress enough that you will be so disappointed by the plot, which is v unsurprising. The end jumps to an epilogue where everything is tied neatly in a bow and I was like wait how did all of this happen?! Also it alludes to something that sounded actually interesting and probably would have improved the book if we didn’t just skip it lol
- I kind of thought the message was about how toxic the influencer world is but then it kind of seems like our main character (slash author too) just joins it herself 👀
It’s a fantastic cover and the premise had potential but a combo of extremely meh writing and an unthrilling plot made me finish this book thinking “lol whut.”
Y’all even the audio couldn’t save it. The narrator’s voice sounds so young which added to the main character’s immaturity (with some of the worst accents ever).
UNDER THE INFLUENCE is about a “very promising writer” leaving New York for Nashville to work for a “powerhouse” (drink every time that word is used) influencer who might not be all that she seems. The author of this book used to work for Rachel Hollis of the “Girl, Wash Your Face” empire. I’m tempted to believe this girl wrote down her experience and called it fiction so she can spill all the dirty deets to get back at her former employer. (not to spoil, but the way this book ends REALLY convinced me of this.)
I think it might be easiest to list all the things I found off about this book:
- the main character is 27 & is asked if she has kids like an unrealistic amount of times
- Rachel Hollis isn’t really like an “influencer” I feel like we think of these days. I think of people who actually provide curated content and actual value, not self-proclaimed self-help gurus (maybe it should have been set 10 years back and I would have been less annoyed)
- the author does a lot of telling not showing — one of my biggest writing pet peeves.
- it’s basically a poorly executed Devil Wears Prada rip off plot wise
- I can’t stress enough that you will be so disappointed by the plot, which is v unsurprising. The end jumps to an epilogue where everything is tied neatly in a bow and I was like wait how did all of this happen?! Also it alludes to something that sounded actually interesting and probably would have improved the book if we didn’t just skip it lol
- I kind of thought the message was about how toxic the influencer world is but then it kind of seems like our main character (slash author too) just joins it herself 👀
August 27, 2023
3.5 | I had been waiting for this book since I heard about it after a certain influencer got called out a few years ago. I thought it was a great look at influencer culture, and perfect if you want a dark office saga. Great for fans of The Devil Wears Prada (or, women who are tired of being told to wash their face…) I wish that the writing had been a little tighter, but a great summer read!
August 20, 2023
i feel like this had so much potential but then it just went off the tracks in the last part and the romance was so unnecessary (especially that last chapter). i was very excited at first, but unfortunately ended the reading experience disappointed
December 5, 2023
Wow. I cannot imagine working for someone like Charlotte…..
Harper has been jobless and living at her bestie’s place for months when she gets talked into to applying for a job that empowers women. Somehow she gets the job and moved to Nashville to work for influencer, Charlotte at The Greenhouse.
Man….Charlotte works her staff to the bones! Long hours, “voluntary” weekend team building activities, etc. She steals ideas as her own, is narcissistic and constantly needs compliments, and is so fake to her followers it isn’t even funny. It shows how some influencers will do anything to be perceived in a perfect inspiring light, even if it is far from the reality. The Greenhouse workplace definitely had a cultish feel to it. 💯. I got Devil Wears Prada vibes, and read this one really quickly. An easy, engaging read!
Harper has been jobless and living at her bestie’s place for months when she gets talked into to applying for a job that empowers women. Somehow she gets the job and moved to Nashville to work for influencer, Charlotte at The Greenhouse.
Man….Charlotte works her staff to the bones! Long hours, “voluntary” weekend team building activities, etc. She steals ideas as her own, is narcissistic and constantly needs compliments, and is so fake to her followers it isn’t even funny. It shows how some influencers will do anything to be perceived in a perfect inspiring light, even if it is far from the reality. The Greenhouse workplace definitely had a cultish feel to it. 💯. I got Devil Wears Prada vibes, and read this one really quickly. An easy, engaging read!
October 9, 2023
I recently read Valley Verified [ my review here ] and that was pitched as a take on The Devil Wears Prada meets Legally Blonde meets Silicon Valley; and this book feels very much The Devil Wears Prada meets the world of the influencer. In some ways, I'd say that this is a better book than The Devil Wears Prada, if only because the titular Devil is a meaningful character for a large portion of the book, but even in saying that the beats here feel more akin to that of the movie which is True Cinema™.
Here we follow Harper as she leaves NYC for Nashville after feeling like she's taking advantage of her best friend, Poppy leads her to apply for this position with an influencer seemingly as a joke. When the salary is too good to turn down she is whisked off to Tennessee and quickly subsumed into a company that is throwing up red flags at her at seemingly every turn. These blinders to what was very clearly a horrible working environment for seemingly no reward made it hard for me to connect with the character. At no point did I feel like I was watching a character drink the Kool-Aid, if anything she was going through the motions and others felt like she was? It was lacking...
Then there's the end of the book, where agency almost feels removed from the character. Or what little was left. There's hardly any pagetime left for what follows to feel earned. It almost feels tacked on to give the book a more hopeful ending, because it's certainly nowhere near as iconic as Anne dropping the cell phone in the fountain. Nor does it really feel like Harper is returning to the person she thought she was, a person she was in New York; it's just a woman at the end of the book at the end of a book.
It was compulsively readable though, and I did enjoy going through the motions. I would likely read another book by Crooks if it sounded like it was something up my alley the way this one did. I just hope that in the next outing the relationships between characters are just as good as this was, and that mayhaps we forgo any attempt at writing a romance because that fizzled more than it sizzled here.
Here we follow Harper as she leaves NYC for Nashville after feeling like she's taking advantage of her best friend, Poppy leads her to apply for this position with an influencer seemingly as a joke. When the salary is too good to turn down she is whisked off to Tennessee and quickly subsumed into a company that is throwing up red flags at her at seemingly every turn. These blinders to what was very clearly a horrible working environment for seemingly no reward made it hard for me to connect with the character. At no point did I feel like I was watching a character drink the Kool-Aid, if anything she was going through the motions and others felt like she was? It was lacking...
Then there's the end of the book, where agency almost feels removed from the character. Or what little was left. There's hardly any pagetime left for what follows to feel earned. It almost feels tacked on to give the book a more hopeful ending, because it's certainly nowhere near as iconic as Anne dropping the cell phone in the fountain. Nor does it really feel like Harper is returning to the person she thought she was, a person she was in New York; it's just a woman at the end of the book at the end of a book.
It was compulsively readable though, and I did enjoy going through the motions. I would likely read another book by Crooks if it sounded like it was something up my alley the way this one did. I just hope that in the next outing the relationships between characters are just as good as this was, and that mayhaps we forgo any attempt at writing a romance because that fizzled more than it sizzled here.
May 10, 2023
This book feels like it’s drawn right out of newspapers’ headlines. Wow! Now I’m not saying I’ve actually read about this happening but the feel you get of the the adored mighty media personality rising, falling, failing, being exposed, well, just wow.
I loved this book which is written from the view point of a person who starts out skeptical and slowly drinks the KoolAid. Yes, shades of cult of personality because Harper takes a job working for a huge personality called Charlotte Green, a social influencer, who’s persona has been skilfully created by herself but also with a lot of help. This cult of personality, who built her business on a “if I can do it, you can do it” soapbox with the expert use of social media, wants Harper to leave New York and work for her. The Greenhouse is home to all the worker ants who support Charlotte and her books and her social media and help sell Green to all the women who will listen and will spend their money to be like Charlotte.
Hard to believe this was the author’s first book because it’s well-written and the characters are so very clearly defined that it all was believable. You could understand how people get swept up into believing in themselves if only they had someone to show them the way, even if they had to pay for the guidance.
I won this ARC in a FirstReads giveaway. Thank you to Gallery Books, Simon and Schuster and a really big thank you to the author Noelle Crooks.
I loved this book which is written from the view point of a person who starts out skeptical and slowly drinks the KoolAid. Yes, shades of cult of personality because Harper takes a job working for a huge personality called Charlotte Green, a social influencer, who’s persona has been skilfully created by herself but also with a lot of help. This cult of personality, who built her business on a “if I can do it, you can do it” soapbox with the expert use of social media, wants Harper to leave New York and work for her. The Greenhouse is home to all the worker ants who support Charlotte and her books and her social media and help sell Green to all the women who will listen and will spend their money to be like Charlotte.
Hard to believe this was the author’s first book because it’s well-written and the characters are so very clearly defined that it all was believable. You could understand how people get swept up into believing in themselves if only they had someone to show them the way, even if they had to pay for the guidance.
I won this ARC in a FirstReads giveaway. Thank you to Gallery Books, Simon and Schuster and a really big thank you to the author Noelle Crooks.
May 17, 2024
rtc… but overall rating: 3/5⭐️s. It was interesting to say the least.
September 1, 2024
Was this book written masterfully? No.
Were the characters fully developed? No.
Did this book cleverly explore the power imbalances between employer vs. employee and dissect the nuances of influencer culture, exploitation, and victimhood? Not at all.
Do all of the above make up my reasons for rating Under the Influence 1 star? Surprisingly, no. Barely passable writing and character development aside, I was eating up the (mostly predictable) plot because I was living for the shallow influencer drama and cultish community shenanigans (such as optional-but-not-really morning dance parties at the office and pseudo-inspirational email blasts). If anything, I also appreciated the easily digestible chapters, which allowed me to focus on the hilarity and hijinks of everything. Not all literature needs to be critical or thought-provoking, in my opinion. I was more than happy to vibe and to be entertained.
The big however boils down to a personal ick: when my culture is presented as mockable, overly simplistic, and perhaps worst of all, unreasonably regressive . I recognize that no culture is perfect. Having suffered from centuries of brutal colonization and continuing to suffer under modern-day imperialism, the Philippines is far from a utopia. Filipinos still have a lot to unlearn and much more to fight against. Nonetheless, there is no reason to depict Filipinos in such a distasteful, almost hateful, manner.
For instance, in Harper's inner dialogue on family gatherings with her Filipino relatives, she described them as abnormal:
And for reasons beyond my understanding, there's also a recurring notion in the story that Filipinos frown upon and are condescending towards gainfully employed women. Full offense but IN THIS ECONOMY??? Be so serious. While Filipino titas (aunts) can get annoyingly nosy and are the type to repeatedly ask "Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner yet?" at parties, women aren't viewed as solely procreation machines. Trust me, the last thing that a Filipino parent would ever dream for their child is perpetual unemployment. Similarly, no Filipino parent would aggressively push their child to move to a foreign city in search of love interests. And yet, this book contains the most offensively bizarre passages about Filipino values:
_
_
_
Personally, I found the Filipino representation in this book so abhorrent and offensive that I searched "Noelle Crooks author ethnicity" on Google because I had been fully convinced that the author must be a white American. Unfortunately, I was only half-correct.
All that said, the piss-poor depiction of Filipino culture totally sucked the fun and entertainment of this book. I would not recommend this to anyone.
Were the characters fully developed? No.
Did this book cleverly explore the power imbalances between employer vs. employee and dissect the nuances of influencer culture, exploitation, and victimhood? Not at all.
Do all of the above make up my reasons for rating Under the Influence 1 star? Surprisingly, no. Barely passable writing and character development aside, I was eating up the (mostly predictable) plot because I was living for the shallow influencer drama and cultish community shenanigans (such as optional-but-not-really morning dance parties at the office and pseudo-inspirational email blasts). If anything, I also appreciated the easily digestible chapters, which allowed me to focus on the hilarity and hijinks of everything. Not all literature needs to be critical or thought-provoking, in my opinion. I was more than happy to vibe and to be entertained.
The big however boils down to a personal ick: when my culture is presented as mockable, overly simplistic, and perhaps worst of all, unreasonably regressive . I recognize that no culture is perfect. Having suffered from centuries of brutal colonization and continuing to suffer under modern-day imperialism, the Philippines is far from a utopia. Filipinos still have a lot to unlearn and much more to fight against. Nonetheless, there is no reason to depict Filipinos in such a distasteful, almost hateful, manner.
For instance, in Harper's inner dialogue on family gatherings with her Filipino relatives, she described them as abnormal:
It wasn't that Harper didn't love her family, but they were just so different from her. For starters, most of her cousins were parents who brought their kids with them everywhere they went, so every occasion felt larger and noisier and longer than it needed to be. For some reason, they were unable to get together like normal families, arriving for dinner and leaving shortly after dessert.
And for reasons beyond my understanding, there's also a recurring notion in the story that Filipinos frown upon and are condescending towards gainfully employed women. Full offense but IN THIS ECONOMY??? Be so serious. While Filipino titas (aunts) can get annoyingly nosy and are the type to repeatedly ask "Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner yet?" at parties, women aren't viewed as solely procreation machines. Trust me, the last thing that a Filipino parent would ever dream for their child is perpetual unemployment. Similarly, no Filipino parent would aggressively push their child to move to a foreign city in search of love interests. And yet, this book contains the most offensively bizarre passages about Filipino values:
Her cousins felt that she had much more time than they did because she didn't have kids. But she had a career. A career that her cousins and aunties, fully immersed in the world of babies and birthday parties and extracurricular activities, thought of as a poor substitute for marriage and motherhood.
_
"Well, for one thing, she was too focused on her career," Bianca said, aggressively cutting a piece of chicken with her knife. She said career like it was a dirty word.
_
"So, Harper, I'm guessing you didn't move to Nashville for love, am I right?" she asked, her lips pursed tight.
Harper translated in her head. Because unlike heartbroken Christian, all you care about is your career.
_
Personally, I found the Filipino representation in this book so abhorrent and offensive that I searched "Noelle Crooks author ethnicity" on Google because I had been fully convinced that the author must be a white American. Unfortunately, I was only half-correct.
All that said, the piss-poor depiction of Filipino culture totally sucked the fun and entertainment of this book. I would not recommend this to anyone.
August 7, 2023
This could 1000000% be a movie!
I honestly really enjoyed this! It definitely reminded me a lot of The Devil Wears Prada and also at times gave me “The Bold Type” vibes.
-SPOILER-
Only reason why I gave 4 ⭐️ instead of 5 is because I really really wanted to know who wrote all that stuff about Charlotte at the end. Was it Tasha? It was sorta unclear.
Aside from that- this was super enjoyable and very different from what I usually read. I can honestly say I’ll remember this book forever!
I honestly really enjoyed this! It definitely reminded me a lot of The Devil Wears Prada and also at times gave me “The Bold Type” vibes.
-SPOILER-
Only reason why I gave 4 ⭐️ instead of 5 is because I really really wanted to know who wrote all that stuff about Charlotte at the end. Was it Tasha? It was sorta unclear.
Aside from that- this was super enjoyable and very different from what I usually read. I can honestly say I’ll remember this book forever!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2023
I keep finding myself drawn to stories exposing the cultish or grift-y natures of lifestyle and wellness influencer. The fact that this is the second time I've been underwhelmed by one of these stories is a little too meta for me. Under the Influence follows Harper, a desperate young publishing hopeful, who takes a job with self-help influencer Charlotte Green on a whim because the offer seems too good to be true. The longer she's in Charlotte's orbit, the more invested Harper becomes in earning her boss' approval, despite ample red flags from the start about the Greenhouse's work culture.
I found this a frustrating read, so I DNF'ed about halfway through. This book is purely plot—there is virtually no character development. Harper is a mere vessel for the plot to happen to, and her colleagues at the Greenhouse are largely caricatures. Since the characters are so thinly drawn, I didn't find myself compelled to finish this, despite the fairly dishy premise. I didn't realize until after I started reading that the author is a former assistant to Rachel Hollis, who clearly serves as the inspiration for Charlotte Green. This book might work better for people who know more than I do about Rachel Hollis and her various controversies, who might be able to catch the references that seem to be littered throughout the book. It just didn't work for me. I suppose I would've better enjoyed a nonfiction memoir expose, in the spirit of the Lularich documentary, but I understand that Crooks might not have been able to write such a book for legal reasons.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I found this a frustrating read, so I DNF'ed about halfway through. This book is purely plot—there is virtually no character development. Harper is a mere vessel for the plot to happen to, and her colleagues at the Greenhouse are largely caricatures. Since the characters are so thinly drawn, I didn't find myself compelled to finish this, despite the fairly dishy premise. I didn't realize until after I started reading that the author is a former assistant to Rachel Hollis, who clearly serves as the inspiration for Charlotte Green. This book might work better for people who know more than I do about Rachel Hollis and her various controversies, who might be able to catch the references that seem to be littered throughout the book. It just didn't work for me. I suppose I would've better enjoyed a nonfiction memoir expose, in the spirit of the Lularich documentary, but I understand that Crooks might not have been able to write such a book for legal reasons.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2023
This one unfortunately wasn’t for me so I’ll keep it short. An influencer boss that is nearly identical in personality and business acumen to Amanda Priestly. That’s been done. The narration on audio was shrill and very 16 year old Valley Girl. If I wasn’t already over the influencer trope, this one shoved me right over the cliff. In fact, it made my teeth hurt.
Pub date: August 8, 2023
Pages: 320
Read
September 24, 2023DNF @ 31% - 9/24/23
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