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Bad Influence
In this contemporary YA novel, high school student Charlotte Goh is an aspiring Asian American fashion influencer desperately trying to lift her family out of hardship, only to find it may come at a cost higher than any Chanel bag.
Seventeen-year-old Charlotte Goh is juggling two very different personas: the dutiful Korean daughter, and the hustling NYC fashion influencer. Her best friend Steven scoffs at her ambition, but she secretly hopes that her posts will help financially support her struggling family. Then one night, after posting about a racist experience she had at an influencer event, Charlotte finds herself going viral and garnering the fame she’s always craved. And as much as she doesn’t want her newfound popularity to change her, she can’t help but be swept away by the exciting perks: chic new friends, the attention of one of Hollywood’s hottest heartthrobs, and a slew of companies clamoring to sponsor her.
But as she falls deeper into the influencer world, she finds that she may have to sacrifice more than she bargained for—including her unexpected new feelings for Steven. Will Charlotte be able to stay true to herself, or will she lose the things that are most important to her?
Seventeen-year-old Charlotte Goh is juggling two very different personas: the dutiful Korean daughter, and the hustling NYC fashion influencer. Her best friend Steven scoffs at her ambition, but she secretly hopes that her posts will help financially support her struggling family. Then one night, after posting about a racist experience she had at an influencer event, Charlotte finds herself going viral and garnering the fame she’s always craved. And as much as she doesn’t want her newfound popularity to change her, she can’t help but be swept away by the exciting perks: chic new friends, the attention of one of Hollywood’s hottest heartthrobs, and a slew of companies clamoring to sponsor her.
But as she falls deeper into the influencer world, she finds that she may have to sacrifice more than she bargained for—including her unexpected new feelings for Steven. Will Charlotte be able to stay true to herself, or will she lose the things that are most important to her?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2025
19 people are currently reading
4556 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
September 1, 2025
thanks to netgalley and author/publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review!
❀° ┄───╮
honest review
╰───┄ °❀
✨✨✨ - 2.5 rounded to 3
𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵:
💣 violence: 3/10 (racial bullying)
🌶️ spice: 5.5/10 (kissing, touching, removal of clothing, no closed/open door)
🤬 language: 7/10 (*ssh*le, *ss, sh*t[ty], f**k)
➕ other content: 4/10 (underage drinking, divorce due to cheating, lying to parents consistently)
👩🏼 age rating: 15+
𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼:
↠ (best) friends to lovers
↠ influencer/social media
↠ fashion
↠ eldest child
**spoilers ahead!**
𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼:
charlotte:
↠ okay just putting it out there, she is so… URGH 😒
↠ the fact that she was lying to her parents for over 2 years is insane!! 1.) how did she get away with it (she’s not chill at all) and 2.) how did she get away with it bc no way her parents were that oblivious
↠ she’s SO DUMB 💀 like she makes the worst decisions ever and only thinks of herself and what will benefit her $$wise and the social media stuff, her choices made me so mad *eye twitch*
also alan was not an awful guy, he just pushed his limits with the romance stuff (like bro back off, RED FLAG) and he kissed the crook of her neck like ewwww 🤢
↠ she says that her mom is “a classic bulldozer. she insists that we’re all fine, that you can get through anything in life with grit and that therapy is a concept for white people. who needs therapy when you have God?”
sooo erm, that’s not how it works babe… also her family must be Christian/Catholic/religious, but clearly she doesn’t believe in that stuff since she swears throughout the book which made me disappointed, like I knew it wasn’t a religious book but that would have been a nice addition 😕
↠ when jojo was like “sharty, I miss you”?! 😭 I was like AS YOU SHOULD bc charlotte is so self-centered its ridiculous
↠ OMGOSH AT THE END, SHE HAD AN INSIGHTFUL THOUGHT AND I’M A PROUD MOM 🥹🤭
steven:
↠ ngl, both charlotte and him were lwk kinda bland like other than his dad cheating on his mom and the fact he had a job (behind everyone’s back) was the only interesting thing abt him
↠ but also he was cuteee like the romance?! wish we had his pov bc that would be so interesting to hear/read his point of view 😏
↠ he’s so good with kids!! like him and jojo were so cute and I wish they had more interactions bc I could learn a thing or two from him 😄
↠ every time he entered the scene I knew it was going to either be a fight or a make-out scene which did make it more interesting for me
audrey:
↠ she is genuinely such a sweet person and a great side character 🥰
↠ I almost wish that claire would write a book abt her because we only got a little of her backstory and I’m more interested in her than I was charlotte
↠ tbh, she should not have given charlotte those second & third & fourth chances but she’s so nice we all knew she would 🫤
↠ I think we would be friends if we met irl 🤭
her parents:
↠ okay so her mom is like the cliché asian mom (not trying to be offensive) where she’s like “you must get good grades, good college, everything is fine as long as you’re eating” etc., but she also tries so hard but charlotte CANNOT seem to grasp that and just focus on the fact that jojo is getting a better childhood than her 🙄
↠ her poor dad, like he’s trying his best to manage his depression and knee injury and her mom just keeps getting on him to “do better” & “be a better dad/parent/spouse”, like can’t you see he’s trying?? 😢
↠ they both should have seen what charlotte was doing, like she wasn’t subtle at all and also why weren’t they tracking her debit/credid card bc she just went and bought that $400 dress and they didn’t know 🤨
𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:
↠ idk it was just a weird book in general like I get she wanted it to be like all influencer-y and how she was sneaking behind her parents back, but then it kinda got off-track…
↠ I didn’t really like how charlotte spoke to her mom, like when she told her mom that she (her mom) would probably not care if charlotte drowned when it was clear that she would actually care, like ik it was part of the whole selfish/oblivious thing charlotte had going on but she didn’t exactly get reprimanded for saying that stuff which isn’t what we should be teaching teens
↠ again, I WANT STEVEN’S POV, even if she wrote like a novella, I would take that (hint hint claire!!)
𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓵 𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼:
**the copy I received was not finalized but these were some of the mistakes I caught**
↠ many missed quotation marks or ones added when no one was talking
↠ a random repetition of half a sentence (ex. “she walked towards the she walked towards the store to buy milk”)
↠ a few sentences quite literally did not make sense so idek what to put down for what they should have said
↠ the whole book wasn’t indented but I’m sure the actual copies are so nbd
𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷:
this was not really the book for me and I would def not read it again, but I also get where the author was coming from and the themes she wanted the readers to get out of it, like the asian mom & eldest child interactions as well as the poor influencer and not everyone is how they seem.
all in all, this was not the worst book I’ve ever read but also not the best, but if you like asian-american influencer books with a splash of romance, this is your book!
thanks for reading my review! 🫶🏼💜
❀° ┄───╮
pre-read
╰───┄ °❀
friends-to-lovers?! YES PLEASE!! 💖
❀° ┄───╮
honest review
╰───┄ °❀
✨✨✨ - 2.5 rounded to 3
𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵:
💣 violence: 3/10 (racial bullying)
🌶️ spice: 5.5/10 (kissing, touching, removal of clothing, no closed/open door)
🤬 language: 7/10 (*ssh*le, *ss, sh*t[ty], f**k)
➕ other content: 4/10 (underage drinking, divorce due to cheating, lying to parents consistently)
👩🏼 age rating: 15+
𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼:
↠ (best) friends to lovers
↠ influencer/social media
↠ fashion
↠ eldest child
**spoilers ahead!**
𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼:
charlotte:
↠ okay just putting it out there, she is so… URGH 😒
↠ the fact that she was lying to her parents for over 2 years is insane!! 1.) how did she get away with it (she’s not chill at all) and 2.) how did she get away with it bc no way her parents were that oblivious
↠ she’s SO DUMB 💀 like she makes the worst decisions ever and only thinks of herself and what will benefit her $$wise and the social media stuff, her choices made me so mad *eye twitch*
also alan was not an awful guy, he just pushed his limits with the romance stuff (like bro back off, RED FLAG) and he kissed the crook of her neck like ewwww 🤢
↠ she says that her mom is “a classic bulldozer. she insists that we’re all fine, that you can get through anything in life with grit and that therapy is a concept for white people. who needs therapy when you have God?”
sooo erm, that’s not how it works babe… also her family must be Christian/Catholic/religious, but clearly she doesn’t believe in that stuff since she swears throughout the book which made me disappointed, like I knew it wasn’t a religious book but that would have been a nice addition 😕
↠ when jojo was like “sharty, I miss you”?! 😭 I was like AS YOU SHOULD bc charlotte is so self-centered its ridiculous
↠ OMGOSH AT THE END, SHE HAD AN INSIGHTFUL THOUGHT AND I’M A PROUD MOM 🥹🤭
steven:
↠ ngl, both charlotte and him were lwk kinda bland like other than his dad cheating on his mom and the fact he had a job (behind everyone’s back) was the only interesting thing abt him
↠ but also he was cuteee like the romance?! wish we had his pov bc that would be so interesting to hear/read his point of view 😏
↠ he’s so good with kids!! like him and jojo were so cute and I wish they had more interactions bc I could learn a thing or two from him 😄
↠ every time he entered the scene I knew it was going to either be a fight or a make-out scene which did make it more interesting for me
audrey:
↠ she is genuinely such a sweet person and a great side character 🥰
↠ I almost wish that claire would write a book abt her because we only got a little of her backstory and I’m more interested in her than I was charlotte
↠ tbh, she should not have given charlotte those second & third & fourth chances but she’s so nice we all knew she would 🫤
↠ I think we would be friends if we met irl 🤭
her parents:
↠ okay so her mom is like the cliché asian mom (not trying to be offensive) where she’s like “you must get good grades, good college, everything is fine as long as you’re eating” etc., but she also tries so hard but charlotte CANNOT seem to grasp that and just focus on the fact that jojo is getting a better childhood than her 🙄
↠ her poor dad, like he’s trying his best to manage his depression and knee injury and her mom just keeps getting on him to “do better” & “be a better dad/parent/spouse”, like can’t you see he’s trying?? 😢
↠ they both should have seen what charlotte was doing, like she wasn’t subtle at all and also why weren’t they tracking her debit/credid card bc she just went and bought that $400 dress and they didn’t know 🤨
𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:
↠ idk it was just a weird book in general like I get she wanted it to be like all influencer-y and how she was sneaking behind her parents back, but then it kinda got off-track…
↠ I didn’t really like how charlotte spoke to her mom, like when she told her mom that she (her mom) would probably not care if charlotte drowned when it was clear that she would actually care, like ik it was part of the whole selfish/oblivious thing charlotte had going on but she didn’t exactly get reprimanded for saying that stuff which isn’t what we should be teaching teens
↠ again, I WANT STEVEN’S POV, even if she wrote like a novella, I would take that (hint hint claire!!)
𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓵 𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼:
**the copy I received was not finalized but these were some of the mistakes I caught**
↠ many missed quotation marks or ones added when no one was talking
↠ a random repetition of half a sentence (ex. “she walked towards the she walked towards the store to buy milk”)
↠ a few sentences quite literally did not make sense so idek what to put down for what they should have said
↠ the whole book wasn’t indented but I’m sure the actual copies are so nbd
𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷:
this was not really the book for me and I would def not read it again, but I also get where the author was coming from and the themes she wanted the readers to get out of it, like the asian mom & eldest child interactions as well as the poor influencer and not everyone is how they seem.
all in all, this was not the worst book I’ve ever read but also not the best, but if you like asian-american influencer books with a splash of romance, this is your book!
thanks for reading my review! 🫶🏼💜
❀° ┄───╮
pre-read
╰───┄ °❀
friends-to-lovers?! YES PLEASE!! 💖
March 19, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the premise and the relationship between the two main characters, but the rest didn’t really work for me. The writing was often choppy and the pacing was off and too. I also didn’t care for the FMC or her mother. Charlotte wasn’t convincing when she said she didn’t really like what she did and only did it for her family. Likewise, the mother’s reconciliation wasn’t believable. I liked Steven a lot and wish there was more of him in the book.
I loved the premise and the relationship between the two main characters, but the rest didn’t really work for me. The writing was often choppy and the pacing was off and too. I also didn’t care for the FMC or her mother. Charlotte wasn’t convincing when she said she didn’t really like what she did and only did it for her family. Likewise, the mother’s reconciliation wasn’t believable. I liked Steven a lot and wish there was more of him in the book.
April 23, 2025
Thank you @prhaudio @penguinteen for the books! #PRHAudioPartner #penguinteenpartner
Release date: April 29, 2022
Charlotte Goh is a dutiful Korean daughter by day, NYC fashion influencer by night. When a viral post brings her sudden fame, she’s swept into a world of glam perks and unexpected romance. But staying true to herself—and to Steven—might cost her more than she ever imagined.
Every element about this book is fabulous. She’s a fashionista. Warm Korean family. Travel. Tension between her and her mom. Best friends to lovers. It had all the ingredients to be a story I was charmed by, but it was just... missing the actual charm. I wanted the trendiness of Kitty Song Covey (Xo, Kitty + To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) with the sparkle and angst of PREQUEL Carrie Bradshaw (The Carrie Diaries). It had the ingredients to get us there but failed somewhere in the execution.
If you can get past the flat descriptions and Charlotte’s annoying tone, this story does have great messages! Social media is not worth sacrificing values, the intimacy of friendship is sweeter than popularity, and sometimes parents are just as much in the wrong as their kid.
I primarily read via audio, and the narrator represented the character well!
Perfect for you if you like:
Korean American families
Fashion influencer + social media
Friends to lovers subplot
Similar to:
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han (if Xo, Kitty was a book, that’d be the closest)
The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
The Do-Over by Lynn Painter
⛔️fade to black language but nothing happens
⚠️explicit language, racial bullying, underage drinking, previous divorce of friend’s parents (cheating father)
Release date: April 29, 2022
Charlotte Goh is a dutiful Korean daughter by day, NYC fashion influencer by night. When a viral post brings her sudden fame, she’s swept into a world of glam perks and unexpected romance. But staying true to herself—and to Steven—might cost her more than she ever imagined.
Every element about this book is fabulous. She’s a fashionista. Warm Korean family. Travel. Tension between her and her mom. Best friends to lovers. It had all the ingredients to be a story I was charmed by, but it was just... missing the actual charm. I wanted the trendiness of Kitty Song Covey (Xo, Kitty + To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) with the sparkle and angst of PREQUEL Carrie Bradshaw (The Carrie Diaries). It had the ingredients to get us there but failed somewhere in the execution.
If you can get past the flat descriptions and Charlotte’s annoying tone, this story does have great messages! Social media is not worth sacrificing values, the intimacy of friendship is sweeter than popularity, and sometimes parents are just as much in the wrong as their kid.
I primarily read via audio, and the narrator represented the character well!
Perfect for you if you like:
Korean American families
Fashion influencer + social media
Friends to lovers subplot
Similar to:
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han (if Xo, Kitty was a book, that’d be the closest)
The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
The Do-Over by Lynn Painter
⛔️fade to black language but nothing happens
⚠️explicit language, racial bullying, underage drinking, previous divorce of friend’s parents (cheating father)
November 24, 2025
3.5 stars
A fast easy read that was very engaging and just a lot of fun. At the same time, handled deeper issues well, too. Well worth the read!
A fast easy read that was very engaging and just a lot of fun. At the same time, handled deeper issues well, too. Well worth the read!
May 4, 2025
2.75 ⭐️
Bad Influence was a quick read, and I felt pretty meh about it. There was good and bad throughout the book.
I really liked the peek into the influencer life and how much money sponsored posts can make. I also thought the effects of social media and all its negative comments on mental health was super realistic. The racism was unfortunately super relevant. And the look into more traditional Korean families and customs was great and I learned a lot. For instance, I had no idea that it was customary to give your parents your first paycheck as a way to say thank you.
What I didn’t like was basically any of the characters, with the exception of 3.5 year old ball of sunshine Jojo. Charlotte was pretty insufferable and self-centered, even though she tried to make herself seem like she was all about helping her family. Steven was the most unsupportive best friend I could imagine, Audrey acted holier-than-thou, and Alan was kind of a jerk pretending to be a nice guy. Don’t even get me started on Charlotte’s mom, who absolutely sucked.
I definitely think this book would have hit harder if it was about 20-somethings instead of 16 year olds. I understand the not-so-subtle warnings for teenagers on social media that was rolled up in the themes of the book, but I just think 16 is too young to be the focus. Their ages made every action and emotion feel extra immature. And I say this as someone who generally loves YA books and shows even though I’m in my mid-30s, because the teen angst is usually so good. This one just wasn’t quite right.
Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Viking Books for Young Readers for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Bad Influence was a quick read, and I felt pretty meh about it. There was good and bad throughout the book.
I really liked the peek into the influencer life and how much money sponsored posts can make. I also thought the effects of social media and all its negative comments on mental health was super realistic. The racism was unfortunately super relevant. And the look into more traditional Korean families and customs was great and I learned a lot. For instance, I had no idea that it was customary to give your parents your first paycheck as a way to say thank you.
What I didn’t like was basically any of the characters, with the exception of 3.5 year old ball of sunshine Jojo. Charlotte was pretty insufferable and self-centered, even though she tried to make herself seem like she was all about helping her family. Steven was the most unsupportive best friend I could imagine, Audrey acted holier-than-thou, and Alan was kind of a jerk pretending to be a nice guy. Don’t even get me started on Charlotte’s mom, who absolutely sucked.
I definitely think this book would have hit harder if it was about 20-somethings instead of 16 year olds. I understand the not-so-subtle warnings for teenagers on social media that was rolled up in the themes of the book, but I just think 16 is too young to be the focus. Their ages made every action and emotion feel extra immature. And I say this as someone who generally loves YA books and shows even though I’m in my mid-30s, because the teen angst is usually so good. This one just wasn’t quite right.
Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Viking Books for Young Readers for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 22, 2025
This is a beautiful story that really shows not only the reasons why someone would want to become an influencer, the downfalls, and how perception isn’t always reality. I think this book truly shows one person’s experience of finally being able to monetize their content. Charlotte is a teen who is dealing with a lot of personal struggles. Her mother always wants to complain about how they don’t have enough money or what her husband is not doing to provide for the family. Charlotte feels trapped always taking care of her younger sister, and while she loves her, she also doesn’t like feeling like she is her sister’s mother. Her dad is struggling after being hurt at work to try and find something he can do to help his family. Since her family prioritizes education so much Charlotte knows she really can’t get a traditional job, so when she starts to receive emails about brand deals, she feels like this is the only way she can really help her family. Even when one of the brands that reaches out none of her other fellow Asian influencers don’t feel comfortable with working with.
This story really follows Charlotte as she navigates her new found influential powers and the new world she is being exposed to. Sometimes all that glitters is not gold and I liked watching her navigate through the gold and was happy she was able to figure out what truly mattered in the end.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Young Readers and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
This story really follows Charlotte as she navigates her new found influential powers and the new world she is being exposed to. Sometimes all that glitters is not gold and I liked watching her navigate through the gold and was happy she was able to figure out what truly mattered in the end.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Young Readers and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
September 4, 2025
“Bad influence” by Claire Ahn is a book that reveals the true struggles of being an influencer. This book talks about racism and how things are not talked about enough. This is a very good topic for a book because it’s unique. Usually id see just a racism book but this one was with an influencer talking about it also. This book was not only interesting to read but it was very imaginary. Id rate this book a 4/5 just because it was good it’s not perfect. A 5 would be like I finished this book very fast.
August 19, 2025
chat i literally finished this ages ago
December 28, 2025
A great look at the addictive nature of social media.
March 23, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc!
3.75 ⭐
I really really enjoyed this book. The writing was romcom material and the story fast paced. My main issue was the main character's decisions, which I get has its purpose, but it got annoying. We should've at least gotten some more insight or inner turmoil about why she was doing all this.
3.75 ⭐
I really really enjoyed this book. The writing was romcom material and the story fast paced. My main issue was the main character's decisions, which I get has its purpose, but it got annoying. We should've at least gotten some more insight or inner turmoil about why she was doing all this.
June 23, 2025
Charlotte is a dutiful daughter but hides her influencing lifestyle from her parents who just wouldn’t understand her drive to become an influencer. Home life is shaky and online Charlotte finds her value in likes and positive comments. Circumstantially she’s put in the orbit of a girl she looks up to and is suddenly in a spotlight she’s only ever hoped for. Meanwhile, her best friend isn’t thrilled by her mild obsession with it all.
My suburban childhood does not understand life in a big city, I guess. This isn’t the first time - probably not the last - a YA novel left me surprised at the autonomy of a teen in NYC. My adult brain shudders thinking of a 16 year old out at all hours of the night alone. While this book ended well with MC Charlotte’s growth, I wished she’d had a stronger compass for her self-worth faster than is realized here. Being a girl, let alone a teen, is so tough and it breaks my heart witnessing the ease at which we can be manipulated by outside forces. I want my girls to have strong role models in real life and fictionally. Her best friend Steven was the supportive guy she needed!
Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
My suburban childhood does not understand life in a big city, I guess. This isn’t the first time - probably not the last - a YA novel left me surprised at the autonomy of a teen in NYC. My adult brain shudders thinking of a 16 year old out at all hours of the night alone. While this book ended well with MC Charlotte’s growth, I wished she’d had a stronger compass for her self-worth faster than is realized here. Being a girl, let alone a teen, is so tough and it breaks my heart witnessing the ease at which we can be manipulated by outside forces. I want my girls to have strong role models in real life and fictionally. Her best friend Steven was the supportive guy she needed!
Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
April 23, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley and Viking/Penguin Random House for the ARC of "Bad Influence" in exchange for an honest review.
Author Claire Ahn has given us something I didn't think possible......a teen influencer we can empathize with and cheer on in her quest for "likes" and followers. (It seems lately such characters only hang out in horror of murder mysteries....)
Korean-American Charlotte is by no means your standard vapid fashionista living out a click bait life on social media. Her family has fallen on hard times making ends meet, and Charlotte's secretly helping them out with money she's earned from her site's first sponsorship, (Her family has no clue about her media life, so she makes up a series of lies about where the money came from.)
Charlotte's ups and down as an influencer take her on quite an emotional ride. Decrying the anti-Asian bigotry of some of her fellow influencers gains her a growing fan base, but she suffers derision and scorn by a taking a sponsorship from a company accused of that exact misdeed. To complicate things even more, she catches the attention of a rising, devil-may-care young movie star at the very same time she realizes she's been in love with that always familiar standby, the combo lifelong friend/boy next door.
But it's none of those usual, typical and predictable YA tropes that attracted to me to this book. The beating heart of "Bad Influence" lies in Charlotte's relationship with her loving, close-knit Korean family. (including, of course, mouth-watering descriptions of Korean cooking at the dinner table.) She and her parents dote upon Jojo, her irrepressible toddler sister, with Charlotte often assuming co-parenting duties of the little girl. But she harbors a long simmering deep resentment of her mother, whom she feels never raised Charlotte with the love and care she now lavishes on Jojo.
While I realize that a lot of readers will, unlike me, find the social media stuff fascinating and compelling., along with the questionable choices Charlotte makes, it's her family dramas and their resolution that kept me glued to the book. (Sorry, but the rising amounts a character's 'likes' doesn't pump out much adrenalin for me....)
A pleasant, satisfying read, that manages enough heart to overcome the self-absorbed superficial world of influencing.
(and please check out my other reviews at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)
Author Claire Ahn has given us something I didn't think possible......a teen influencer we can empathize with and cheer on in her quest for "likes" and followers. (It seems lately such characters only hang out in horror of murder mysteries....)
Korean-American Charlotte is by no means your standard vapid fashionista living out a click bait life on social media. Her family has fallen on hard times making ends meet, and Charlotte's secretly helping them out with money she's earned from her site's first sponsorship, (Her family has no clue about her media life, so she makes up a series of lies about where the money came from.)
Charlotte's ups and down as an influencer take her on quite an emotional ride. Decrying the anti-Asian bigotry of some of her fellow influencers gains her a growing fan base, but she suffers derision and scorn by a taking a sponsorship from a company accused of that exact misdeed. To complicate things even more, she catches the attention of a rising, devil-may-care young movie star at the very same time she realizes she's been in love with that always familiar standby, the combo lifelong friend/boy next door.
But it's none of those usual, typical and predictable YA tropes that attracted to me to this book. The beating heart of "Bad Influence" lies in Charlotte's relationship with her loving, close-knit Korean family. (including, of course, mouth-watering descriptions of Korean cooking at the dinner table.) She and her parents dote upon Jojo, her irrepressible toddler sister, with Charlotte often assuming co-parenting duties of the little girl. But she harbors a long simmering deep resentment of her mother, whom she feels never raised Charlotte with the love and care she now lavishes on Jojo.
While I realize that a lot of readers will, unlike me, find the social media stuff fascinating and compelling., along with the questionable choices Charlotte makes, it's her family dramas and their resolution that kept me glued to the book. (Sorry, but the rising amounts a character's 'likes' doesn't pump out much adrenalin for me....)
A pleasant, satisfying read, that manages enough heart to overcome the self-absorbed superficial world of influencing.
(and please check out my other reviews at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)
April 16, 2025
Since young adult influencers are experiencing increasing attention on social media sites, I was looking forward to reading Claire Ahn’s latest offering.
Seventeen-year-old second-generation Korean student Charlotte Goh is paving the way as a fashion influencer to help her family financially. Firstly, her keeping them in the dark didn’t overly excite me; however, I understood her reasoning. Not only have digital platforms become a source of parental worry, but I also considered her folks’ cultural thinking and health–I truly loved her dad, hmm ... there are mum-daughter issues. Then, trying to keep up with schoolwork, child-minding her little sister, and other responsibilities seemed a lot to take on for a teen.
A fitting title for a novel that would more than likely appeal to GEN Z readers, connecting to some of the characters and more so to Charlotte, was challenging. I felt a hint of jealousy–what her new friends' lifestyles and possibilities were like compared to how her family lived was something she’d have to deal with. Ahn has candidly planted a parental and young people's learning curve by tackling subject matters such as racial bullying, cultural and moral conundrums, and a fixation on growing follower numbers that go hand in hand with excessive phone usage. A new must-watch streaming series with a different premise but concerns teenagers crossed my mind while absorbing this read.
I enjoyed reading about Korean cuisine, their mealtimes–foodies–you'll love how the mouthwatering dishes are served, and the Korean chit-chat was easy to grasp in its context. Yet, I’d have liked to have seen a more fleshed-out romance between Charlotte and her bestie, Steven; fewer truncated sentences and some paragraphs felt rushed and a tad inconsistent.
Bad Influence is indeed thought-provoking, if not without heightened emotional moments.
Many thanks to Penguin Group and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seventeen-year-old second-generation Korean student Charlotte Goh is paving the way as a fashion influencer to help her family financially. Firstly, her keeping them in the dark didn’t overly excite me; however, I understood her reasoning. Not only have digital platforms become a source of parental worry, but I also considered her folks’ cultural thinking and health–I truly loved her dad, hmm ... there are mum-daughter issues. Then, trying to keep up with schoolwork, child-minding her little sister, and other responsibilities seemed a lot to take on for a teen.
A fitting title for a novel that would more than likely appeal to GEN Z readers, connecting to some of the characters and more so to Charlotte, was challenging. I felt a hint of jealousy–what her new friends' lifestyles and possibilities were like compared to how her family lived was something she’d have to deal with. Ahn has candidly planted a parental and young people's learning curve by tackling subject matters such as racial bullying, cultural and moral conundrums, and a fixation on growing follower numbers that go hand in hand with excessive phone usage. A new must-watch streaming series with a different premise but concerns teenagers crossed my mind while absorbing this read.
I enjoyed reading about Korean cuisine, their mealtimes–foodies–you'll love how the mouthwatering dishes are served, and the Korean chit-chat was easy to grasp in its context. Yet, I’d have liked to have seen a more fleshed-out romance between Charlotte and her bestie, Steven; fewer truncated sentences and some paragraphs felt rushed and a tad inconsistent.
Bad Influence is indeed thought-provoking, if not without heightened emotional moments.
Many thanks to Penguin Group and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2025
Bad Influence by Claire Ahn is a really fun take on being a teen influencer while not actually wanting to be, but doing it out of necessity and secretly.
I really enjoyed this novel. While YA isn’t my favorite age range to dive into, this one wasn’t too bad. It was relatable in many ways and lots of kids around her age and slightly older will get something from this story.
I loved the perspective of this young girl trying to reference a period of pop culture that she had completely wrong. It really embodied her age range and not caring or truly understanding the things that came before her. In addition to that, her being the oldest child of immigrants added such a deep impact to the story due to the level of responsibility that was put onto her.
Between her focusing on making money by secretly being an influencer and trying to maintain her regular life, there was a lot for her to deal with. She couldn’t be just a regular kid and live her life as others around her, due to her familial duties.
I also really enjoyed the Korean culture and language built into the story. The fact that her parents or at least one, is living in a country completely foreign to them and having to adjust to that new lifestyle. It’s extremely difficult and just trying to survive.
Finally, the touch on racism hit hard. Thanks for putting this in the forefront of the story and allowing it to be acknowledged for what it is. It’s something so prevalent in this country and people still act like it doesn’t exist. Craziness. Call that crap out! Thank you Claire!
If you love a good coming of age, teen, child of immigrants, Korean, Asian in America, racism, influencer type story, then this is definitely for you! It is great for readers 13 or 14 and up. Highly recommend checking it out.
*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of Bad Influence from Claire Ahn via NetGalley
I really enjoyed this novel. While YA isn’t my favorite age range to dive into, this one wasn’t too bad. It was relatable in many ways and lots of kids around her age and slightly older will get something from this story.
I loved the perspective of this young girl trying to reference a period of pop culture that she had completely wrong. It really embodied her age range and not caring or truly understanding the things that came before her. In addition to that, her being the oldest child of immigrants added such a deep impact to the story due to the level of responsibility that was put onto her.
Between her focusing on making money by secretly being an influencer and trying to maintain her regular life, there was a lot for her to deal with. She couldn’t be just a regular kid and live her life as others around her, due to her familial duties.
I also really enjoyed the Korean culture and language built into the story. The fact that her parents or at least one, is living in a country completely foreign to them and having to adjust to that new lifestyle. It’s extremely difficult and just trying to survive.
Finally, the touch on racism hit hard. Thanks for putting this in the forefront of the story and allowing it to be acknowledged for what it is. It’s something so prevalent in this country and people still act like it doesn’t exist. Craziness. Call that crap out! Thank you Claire!
If you love a good coming of age, teen, child of immigrants, Korean, Asian in America, racism, influencer type story, then this is definitely for you! It is great for readers 13 or 14 and up. Highly recommend checking it out.
*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of Bad Influence from Claire Ahn via NetGalley
February 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read this ARC.
📖 Synopsis:
Charlotte Goh is balancing two identities. Devoted Korean daughter and ambitious NYC fashion influencer. When her family’s financial struggles intensify, she turns to social media, hoping it will provide the security they desperately need. But navigating the influencer world isn’t easy, especially when she witnesses racism within the community and later finds herself accused of betraying it. Along the way, she’s torn between her childhood best friend, Steven, and a Hollywood heartthrob, all while trying to stay true to herself and her cultural identity.
💭 My Thoughts:
This YA contemporary novel explores identity, family expectations, and the highs and lows of social media fame. The cultural elements were thoughtfully woven into Charlotte’s journey, highlighting the challenges of being a second-generation Korean American. Then being an influencer, showing both the glamorous perks and ethical dilemmas that come with online success.
At times, the pacing felt a little slow, and certain moments could have been bridged more smoothly. However, the emotional depth, particularly Charlotte’s struggles with family obligations and self-worth, made for a compelling read. Her internal conflict, balancing personal ambition with cultural expectations, felt authentic. The romance subplot added another layer to Charlotte’s story.
Overall, Bad Influence is a thought-provoking and timely read about the cost of social media fame, the pressures of family duty, and the importance of staying true to yourself. Definitely worth picking up when it releases!
📖 Synopsis:
Charlotte Goh is balancing two identities. Devoted Korean daughter and ambitious NYC fashion influencer. When her family’s financial struggles intensify, she turns to social media, hoping it will provide the security they desperately need. But navigating the influencer world isn’t easy, especially when she witnesses racism within the community and later finds herself accused of betraying it. Along the way, she’s torn between her childhood best friend, Steven, and a Hollywood heartthrob, all while trying to stay true to herself and her cultural identity.
💭 My Thoughts:
This YA contemporary novel explores identity, family expectations, and the highs and lows of social media fame. The cultural elements were thoughtfully woven into Charlotte’s journey, highlighting the challenges of being a second-generation Korean American. Then being an influencer, showing both the glamorous perks and ethical dilemmas that come with online success.
At times, the pacing felt a little slow, and certain moments could have been bridged more smoothly. However, the emotional depth, particularly Charlotte’s struggles with family obligations and self-worth, made for a compelling read. Her internal conflict, balancing personal ambition with cultural expectations, felt authentic. The romance subplot added another layer to Charlotte’s story.
Overall, Bad Influence is a thought-provoking and timely read about the cost of social media fame, the pressures of family duty, and the importance of staying true to yourself. Definitely worth picking up when it releases!
April 18, 2025
Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
•••
Seventeen year old Charlotte Goh has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. Between studying to keep up her grades, babysitting her three year old little sister, being a confidante for her mother and worrying about her father after an accident left him injured... she’s carrying a lot for a teenager. Classic eldest daughter syndrome.
It’s also clear that they’re struggling financially, so Charlotte decides to try to help. For the last two years, she’s been hiding a secret Instagram account where she’s become a micro-influencer just waiting for her first sponsorship. When she overhears racist remarks at an influencer event and stands up for her friend, herself and their Asian community, she ends up gaining thousands of followers and going viral.
But going viral isn’t always a good thing, and I really appreciated that the author looked at both the good and bad sides of social media/being an influencer, especially at a young age. This book looked at topics surrounding ethics and values when it comes to brand deals, becoming too invested in a follower count, spiraling down the rabbit hole of negative comments, cancel culture, and most importantly, the moments you miss out on when you’re addicted to your phone. There can (and should) be healthy boundaries with social media where you can still be present for the ones you love, and I think this book had some great lessons on this topic for teens that are written in ways they’d be receptive to.
As for the things I didn’t love as much… the pacing was a little too fast and I wasn’t the biggest fan of Charlotte overall. While she’s a young woman and of course has much to learn, I thought the author could’ve given us more depth and maturity for her character since she was 17 vs. a younger teen and she’s been forced to grow up quickly.
But on the whole, I think it’s a good book for a young audience growing up in the digital age, and they’ll take away some valuable lessons at the end!
•••
Seventeen year old Charlotte Goh has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. Between studying to keep up her grades, babysitting her three year old little sister, being a confidante for her mother and worrying about her father after an accident left him injured... she’s carrying a lot for a teenager. Classic eldest daughter syndrome.
It’s also clear that they’re struggling financially, so Charlotte decides to try to help. For the last two years, she’s been hiding a secret Instagram account where she’s become a micro-influencer just waiting for her first sponsorship. When she overhears racist remarks at an influencer event and stands up for her friend, herself and their Asian community, she ends up gaining thousands of followers and going viral.
But going viral isn’t always a good thing, and I really appreciated that the author looked at both the good and bad sides of social media/being an influencer, especially at a young age. This book looked at topics surrounding ethics and values when it comes to brand deals, becoming too invested in a follower count, spiraling down the rabbit hole of negative comments, cancel culture, and most importantly, the moments you miss out on when you’re addicted to your phone. There can (and should) be healthy boundaries with social media where you can still be present for the ones you love, and I think this book had some great lessons on this topic for teens that are written in ways they’d be receptive to.
As for the things I didn’t love as much… the pacing was a little too fast and I wasn’t the biggest fan of Charlotte overall. While she’s a young woman and of course has much to learn, I thought the author could’ve given us more depth and maturity for her character since she was 17 vs. a younger teen and she’s been forced to grow up quickly.
But on the whole, I think it’s a good book for a young audience growing up in the digital age, and they’ll take away some valuable lessons at the end!
January 1, 2026
Gosh, I’m not sure about this one. I didn’t mind Claire Ahn’s writing, and I’ll be sure to read more of her work to see if it lands better, but this one wasn’t for me. It ultimately came down to the messy character development, because I loved the descriptions of Korean (and other Asian) cuisine and culture, and the plot itself was alright.
Charlotte, a Korean American teenager, is desperate to become a big-time influencer on instagram despite being kind of a loner in her offline life. She constantly talks about how she doesn’t want to be an influencer for the clout and only “needs” it as a way of helping support her family during financial struggles. (Her dad’s out of work after a work-related injury and her mom, an irredeemably terrible person, blames him for the family’s financial ruin?) Charlotte, though, definitely does enjoy all the perks of her brushes with Internet fame, so it’s odd that she never seems to admit that even to herself. If she didn’t, she’d just try a different job? She makes it seem like influencing is literally her only option for contributing financially. She also talks about how she has *literally* one friend (Steven, a family friend who doesn’t get enough page-time)… so what makes her think she could be an influencer if she doesn’t like her peers at school?
Another characterization mess was how even though the book’s inciting incident occurs when Charlotte is a badass and calls out other influencers at an event who were being racist… she then accepts a sponsorship that she’s explicitly told not to accept by her Asian American following. It just didn’t make sense.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for this ARC.
Charlotte, a Korean American teenager, is desperate to become a big-time influencer on instagram despite being kind of a loner in her offline life. She constantly talks about how she doesn’t want to be an influencer for the clout and only “needs” it as a way of helping support her family during financial struggles. (Her dad’s out of work after a work-related injury and her mom, an irredeemably terrible person, blames him for the family’s financial ruin?) Charlotte, though, definitely does enjoy all the perks of her brushes with Internet fame, so it’s odd that she never seems to admit that even to herself. If she didn’t, she’d just try a different job? She makes it seem like influencing is literally her only option for contributing financially. She also talks about how she has *literally* one friend (Steven, a family friend who doesn’t get enough page-time)… so what makes her think she could be an influencer if she doesn’t like her peers at school?
Another characterization mess was how even though the book’s inciting incident occurs when Charlotte is a badass and calls out other influencers at an event who were being racist… she then accepts a sponsorship that she’s explicitly told not to accept by her Asian American following. It just didn’t make sense.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for this ARC.
March 18, 2025
Bad Influence is a compelling YA novel that dives into the challenges of family expectations, social media pressure, and self-discovery. Charlotte, the eldest daughter in a struggling household, is used to carrying the weight of responsibility—playing babysitter to her younger sister while also being her mother’s emotional support. As her parents’ financial troubles escalate, Charlotte turns to social media as an escape, throwing herself into the influencer world. But juggling school, family, and her growing online presence proves to be more difficult than she expected, and soon, her carefully constructed life begins to unravel.
Claire Ahn does a fantastic job capturing the reality of teen life, particularly the pressure of being the "responsible one" in a family. Charlotte’s journey is both relatable and thought-provoking, as she struggles with slipping grades, strained relationships, and the consequences of chasing online validation. The romance adds an extra layer to the story, with an engaging contrast between her childhood friend, Steven, and a fresh new love interest.
Overall, Bad Influence is a captivating and timely read, perfect for teens navigating similar struggles. With a strong emotional core and an authentic look at social media’s impact, this book is definitely worth picking up!
A big thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Claire Ahn does a fantastic job capturing the reality of teen life, particularly the pressure of being the "responsible one" in a family. Charlotte’s journey is both relatable and thought-provoking, as she struggles with slipping grades, strained relationships, and the consequences of chasing online validation. The romance adds an extra layer to the story, with an engaging contrast between her childhood friend, Steven, and a fresh new love interest.
Overall, Bad Influence is a captivating and timely read, perfect for teens navigating similar struggles. With a strong emotional core and an authentic look at social media’s impact, this book is definitely worth picking up!
A big thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for an eARC of the book to read and give my honest review.
Themes/Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Social Media Influencer, Social Media Toxicity, Racism, Family Dynamics, Oldest Child
This was in premise a cute YA book about being a social media influencer, but in reality, it was a book about a teenager feeling like they have to support their family due to complex family dynamics such as a parent being unable to work due to an injury. So it wasn't really a light and fluffy read- it was pretty deep and had themes that were complex.
Our FMC is a micro-fashion influencer that thrifts her clothes and hopes to make it big enough to support her family that is going through financial struggles. Her best friend, Steven, has divorced parents and it's a weird dynamic because he caught his dad cheating on social media. So her best friend has complex feelings about social media, and she is chasing that high of getting likes.
I enjoyed the story and how the author worked through the FMCs complex family dynamics. The little situationship that occurred was cute, and I am glad that it ended well. I am also glad that her other friendship with the influencer ended well. I would have loved to see her be more truthful about her life on social media instead of trying to fit into the mold but let's be honest, most of us have done that before.
Overall, good YA read, and would be interested in reading another book by this author.
Themes/Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Social Media Influencer, Social Media Toxicity, Racism, Family Dynamics, Oldest Child
This was in premise a cute YA book about being a social media influencer, but in reality, it was a book about a teenager feeling like they have to support their family due to complex family dynamics such as a parent being unable to work due to an injury. So it wasn't really a light and fluffy read- it was pretty deep and had themes that were complex.
Our FMC is a micro-fashion influencer that thrifts her clothes and hopes to make it big enough to support her family that is going through financial struggles. Her best friend, Steven, has divorced parents and it's a weird dynamic because he caught his dad cheating on social media. So her best friend has complex feelings about social media, and she is chasing that high of getting likes.
I enjoyed the story and how the author worked through the FMCs complex family dynamics. The little situationship that occurred was cute, and I am glad that it ended well. I am also glad that her other friendship with the influencer ended well. I would have loved to see her be more truthful about her life on social media instead of trying to fit into the mold but let's be honest, most of us have done that before.
Overall, good YA read, and would be interested in reading another book by this author.
September 3, 2025
(rounded up from 3.5 stars)
Another for my ever-growing list of "influencer books," for some reason my favorite genre. This one was leagues less icky than the others, which was refreshing! Although I did miss some of the absolute cringe that comes from characters (or real-life influencers in nonfiction) doing the most for the post. Charlotte's social media addiction and truth-fudging were relatively mild, and she's a pretty relatable character as opposed to someone really out of touch... which meant this reading experience was mild and relatable as well!
Not bad, just not... shocking, which I tend to eat up in influencer stories (thinking of Aesthetica which, as the saying goes, lives in my head rent-free). I actually thought the influencer element of this book was the weakest part, and the family story at its heart was stronger, plus the romantic element was cute. And the descriptions of food made me SO hungry.
I do think there was an imbalance of Telling vs Showing at play here, and a few times that the action didn't seem to quite keep up with itself () but overall this was cute!
Now that I've had my palate cleansed by a sweet influencer story, I need another icky one :P
Another for my ever-growing list of "influencer books," for some reason my favorite genre. This one was leagues less icky than the others, which was refreshing! Although I did miss some of the absolute cringe that comes from characters (or real-life influencers in nonfiction) doing the most for the post. Charlotte's social media addiction and truth-fudging were relatively mild, and she's a pretty relatable character as opposed to someone really out of touch... which meant this reading experience was mild and relatable as well!
Not bad, just not... shocking, which I tend to eat up in influencer stories (thinking of Aesthetica which, as the saying goes, lives in my head rent-free). I actually thought the influencer element of this book was the weakest part, and the family story at its heart was stronger, plus the romantic element was cute. And the descriptions of food made me SO hungry.
I do think there was an imbalance of Telling vs Showing at play here, and a few times that the action didn't seem to quite keep up with itself () but overall this was cute!
Now that I've had my palate cleansed by a sweet influencer story, I need another icky one :P
July 21, 2025
Should you start a social media account and put on a show for the faceless masses because you don’t feel seen in your daily life and family. Obviously, the answer is no. But when you are a teenager, it seems like the best idea!
(More accurate rating: 3.5, rounded up)
Char just wants to help her family. She is the oldest daughter of Korean immigrants living in New York City. Her parents won’t let her get a job because she should focus on school, but how can she focus on school when she can see her family balancing on the edge of financial ruin? So she make an Instagram with the intent of getting sponsors to give money back to her parents.
Enter - influencer friends, trolls, opportunities, and a movie star who may have a crush on her.
I enjoyed this book, but there was a lot of focus on the relationship between Char and her mother that maybe felt too real to me. As the eldest daughter, Char often becomes a person her mom vents to about life, finances, and her father. She recognizes that this is not ideal, but takes on the responsibility for fixing what she can for them. It is a difficult plotline that is well developed and explored throughout the book. Kudos to the deft hand at managing to make this issue feel real and dealing with all the complex feelings that come from it.
(More accurate rating: 3.5, rounded up)
Char just wants to help her family. She is the oldest daughter of Korean immigrants living in New York City. Her parents won’t let her get a job because she should focus on school, but how can she focus on school when she can see her family balancing on the edge of financial ruin? So she make an Instagram with the intent of getting sponsors to give money back to her parents.
Enter - influencer friends, trolls, opportunities, and a movie star who may have a crush on her.
I enjoyed this book, but there was a lot of focus on the relationship between Char and her mother that maybe felt too real to me. As the eldest daughter, Char often becomes a person her mom vents to about life, finances, and her father. She recognizes that this is not ideal, but takes on the responsibility for fixing what she can for them. It is a difficult plotline that is well developed and explored throughout the book. Kudos to the deft hand at managing to make this issue feel real and dealing with all the complex feelings that come from it.
July 29, 2025
In this fun and interesting new YA novel with hints of romance, readers follow aspiring Asian American teenage influencer Charlotte Goh, who struggles with codeswitching between her roles as a dutiful Korean daughter and a NYC fashion influencer. Lacking support from her best friend Steven, Charlotte hopes that her posts and videos will help her support her family, and going viral about a racist experience at an event gives her the fame and money she desires. Swept away by the perks of influencer celebrityhood, Charlotte soon realizes that this job will take more away from her than she had expected, and she must choose what she values most while she still can. The characters are definitely the stars of the book, and their relationships with each other add a lot of depth and dimension to the story. The evolution of Charlotte’s relationships with Steven and her family as she gains fame is particularly interesting and highlights the drawbacks of her position. The emotional notes and storyline are particularly well done and pull readers into the story and the characters in some great ways, and YA readers and adults alike will really enjoy this brilliant and thoughtful new book from Claire Ahn.
Thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, and Viking Books for Young Readers for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, and Viking Books for Young Readers for the advance copy.
February 26, 2025
This was a great YA read with a lot of relatable events. I liked the way the author tied everything together and gave a little of romance as a plus! I thought it was relatable in the aspect of being the oldest daughter and parents expecting so much. For example, Charlotte was a babysitter to her little sister but was also her mother's therapist/confidant. At times, it seemed like Charlotte was the only mature person in the family. Having to deal with her parents fighting all the time because of financial issues, stressed her out and gave her the push to be a social influencer.
Charlotte thought that being able to juggle with everything would be easy, but she soon finds it is not. She finds herself lying to her parents and getting bad grades on her assignments. She puts being an influencer in the front burner and everything soon starts to fall apart.
I like the way the author introduced a new love interest for Charlotte vs. her long-time childhood friend, Steven. The way Claire Ahn connected all events and characters, made this story a good one. I would definitely purchase this book for my teenage daughter; she would absolutely love it!
This is a 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me!
Thank you to Penguin Group/Viking Books/Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Charlotte thought that being able to juggle with everything would be easy, but she soon finds it is not. She finds herself lying to her parents and getting bad grades on her assignments. She puts being an influencer in the front burner and everything soon starts to fall apart.
I like the way the author introduced a new love interest for Charlotte vs. her long-time childhood friend, Steven. The way Claire Ahn connected all events and characters, made this story a good one. I would definitely purchase this book for my teenage daughter; she would absolutely love it!
This is a 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me!
Thank you to Penguin Group/Viking Books/Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 22, 2025
I want to say thanks to NetGallery, the Penguins Young Readers Group and for to get ACR of this book.
📚: Charlotte Goh is trying to be Fashion influence to help with Her family’s financial, also trying to keep her social media world a secret from her family. Charlotte start get more followers after she talking about how she encounter racism during a fashion event. During her journey she met other influencers and celebrity. Now she how choose to stay true to herself or become a new person. Along the way, she also how choose between her childhood best friend Steve or Alan the Celebrity
💭: this my second time read her book. Her first book was “I guess I live here now” which I enjoy reading. Trying not spoiler a lot : l Iove how her first book was daddy issues, now her second book is mommy issues. Both books talking about different issues but manly issues that stay in my head was Charlotte’s relationship with her mom. And I love how when “they talk in Korean”, example; “my dad call out in Korean” and “his mom says defensively in Korean.” Idk why but enjoy that parts. And resason why I give 4.25⭐️ bc scenes will change out of nowhere like one moment she will be at school then next moment she at home. Idk bc my dyslexic or how she wrote it. It feels like I missread it but besides I will enjoy the book.
I definitely will buy this book when it comes out. Probably talking more about favorites parts of book.
Coming out : April 29, 25
📚: Charlotte Goh is trying to be Fashion influence to help with Her family’s financial, also trying to keep her social media world a secret from her family. Charlotte start get more followers after she talking about how she encounter racism during a fashion event. During her journey she met other influencers and celebrity. Now she how choose to stay true to herself or become a new person. Along the way, she also how choose between her childhood best friend Steve or Alan the Celebrity
💭: this my second time read her book. Her first book was “I guess I live here now” which I enjoy reading. Trying not spoiler a lot : l Iove how her first book was daddy issues, now her second book is mommy issues. Both books talking about different issues but manly issues that stay in my head was Charlotte’s relationship with her mom. And I love how when “they talk in Korean”, example; “my dad call out in Korean” and “his mom says defensively in Korean.” Idk why but enjoy that parts. And resason why I give 4.25⭐️ bc scenes will change out of nowhere like one moment she will be at school then next moment she at home. Idk bc my dyslexic or how she wrote it. It feels like I missread it but besides I will enjoy the book.
I definitely will buy this book when it comes out. Probably talking more about favorites parts of book.
Coming out : April 29, 25
August 26, 2025
Thank you to Penguin Random House for this advance copy. My review remains completely honest without external influence.
The concept for Bad Influence is great, utilizing one of the biggest social drivers of the generation to tell the story of clout chasing. We follow Charlotte's perspective as she finds a way to build this brand and this persona, desperately motivated to stand out but to also support her family despite some of the hard feelings she has for them. I think this subtlety of filial piety embedded in Charlotte is worth pointing out in my review, because the eldest child of immigrant families are often the ones that carries this obligation of providing care or resources until it can be shared with siblings (if they even can).
That said, there were still parts of this book that left me feeling unintrigued and also a little frustrated. I will acknowledge that this story is intended to be read and felt in the shoes of a teenager with little adult supervision, a near-secret identity and a frontal love still in the midst of developing. For what it was intended to be, I think Ahn did a pretty good job creating this story.
The concept for Bad Influence is great, utilizing one of the biggest social drivers of the generation to tell the story of clout chasing. We follow Charlotte's perspective as she finds a way to build this brand and this persona, desperately motivated to stand out but to also support her family despite some of the hard feelings she has for them. I think this subtlety of filial piety embedded in Charlotte is worth pointing out in my review, because the eldest child of immigrant families are often the ones that carries this obligation of providing care or resources until it can be shared with siblings (if they even can).
That said, there were still parts of this book that left me feeling unintrigued and also a little frustrated. I will acknowledge that this story is intended to be read and felt in the shoes of a teenager with little adult supervision, a near-secret identity and a frontal love still in the midst of developing. For what it was intended to be, I think Ahn did a pretty good job creating this story.
February 14, 2025
Thanks to netgalley for the ARC! This is a very timely topic with influencers being a big thing, which I think will appeal to teens looking for a love story, realistic teen fiction, and something that covers social media. Charlotte and her growing popularity, struggles to stay true to herself, and figuring out her feelings for her best friend are all topics of interest. While it checked all those boxes, I can’t say it was a favorite of mine. I feel like Charlotte and Steven and any feelings kind of came out of now where, and I found some of the teen characters and their choices, especially with Steven and some of his reactions, to be rather immature for their ages. It didn’t ruin it for me as I tried to read it through the lense of a teen reader, but as someone who reads quite a bit of YA, I do think there’s some better and deeper book options out there. Overall, not a bad read that does tackle some moral and integrity issues that show lessons learned. FYI some unneeded profanity with underage drinking but nothing too crazy
June 5, 2025
How far would you go to be an influencer?
📱
Charlotte Goh is the dutiful Korean daughter who takes care of her little sister, makes good grades and spends time with her Korean best friend, Steven. But in her free time, she’s a rising social media influencer that ends up going viral when she calls out racism at an influencer party. Now her follower account is rising, allowing Charlotte to land influence deals, which would help her family with their finances. As Charlotte’s internet fame grows, she starts to wonder who she’s really doing this for.
🤳
I found our FMC to be a tad unlikable because she kept saying she wasn’t doing the socials thing for fame, just for money to help her family, but obviously that was so untrue throughout the book. I adored Steven and wanted more of him. This YA novel is perfect for fans of XO, Kitty, The Carrie Diaries and Confessions of a Shopaholic.
CW: racism, racial slurs, bullying, alcohol, divorce, parental abandonment, infidelity, gaslighting, cultural appropriation, toxic relationship
📱
Charlotte Goh is the dutiful Korean daughter who takes care of her little sister, makes good grades and spends time with her Korean best friend, Steven. But in her free time, she’s a rising social media influencer that ends up going viral when she calls out racism at an influencer party. Now her follower account is rising, allowing Charlotte to land influence deals, which would help her family with their finances. As Charlotte’s internet fame grows, she starts to wonder who she’s really doing this for.
🤳
I found our FMC to be a tad unlikable because she kept saying she wasn’t doing the socials thing for fame, just for money to help her family, but obviously that was so untrue throughout the book. I adored Steven and wanted more of him. This YA novel is perfect for fans of XO, Kitty, The Carrie Diaries and Confessions of a Shopaholic.
CW: racism, racial slurs, bullying, alcohol, divorce, parental abandonment, infidelity, gaslighting, cultural appropriation, toxic relationship
July 1, 2025
This is my first nook from Claire Ahn and this book was entertaining and quick read. What drew me to the story was that the main character is Korean American and I want to continue to support authors who highlight diverse characters..
Charlotte had her ups and downs- juggling her two personas (her influencer lifestyle and her traditional korean family lifestyle. At points in the story I could relate to Charlotte when it came to her family and struggles. I could also relate to the pressure of her parents wanting her to prioritize school.
What I was interested in was the influencer lifestyle - and seeing things unfold for Charlotte and that even though it may seem glamorous- it’s not all what it’s meant to be.
Some points were- I felt that Charlotte’s character would be someone older- not someone that is 17 years old.
Overall it was a quick read- there were definitely parts that I could relate to the story but what kept me intrigued what seeing the ups and downs of the influencer fame.
Charlotte had her ups and downs- juggling her two personas (her influencer lifestyle and her traditional korean family lifestyle. At points in the story I could relate to Charlotte when it came to her family and struggles. I could also relate to the pressure of her parents wanting her to prioritize school.
What I was interested in was the influencer lifestyle - and seeing things unfold for Charlotte and that even though it may seem glamorous- it’s not all what it’s meant to be.
Some points were- I felt that Charlotte’s character would be someone older- not someone that is 17 years old.
Overall it was a quick read- there were definitely parts that I could relate to the story but what kept me intrigued what seeing the ups and downs of the influencer fame.
April 22, 2025
Charlotte is a devoted daughter AND a fashion influencer. When she decides to share her thoughts about a recent experience involving racism on her social media page the instant fame she recieves begins to be too hard to handle.
This was a very quick read which I appreciate. I continue to forget that YA genre doesn't usually mesh with me. I LOVE flawed characters but the writing style typically feels a little adolescent for my taste. Now, I enjoyed Claire Ahn's debut novel I Guess I Live Here Now a lot and Bad Influence definitely had similar vibes but I think this one just felt a smidge too choppy and I also feel like the romantic element took a tad too long to explore.
Still, this is a though provoking book perfect for young adults since 'influencers' seems to be such a big wish these days. At times the pacing felt slow but the importance of family is very rewarding.
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC
This was a very quick read which I appreciate. I continue to forget that YA genre doesn't usually mesh with me. I LOVE flawed characters but the writing style typically feels a little adolescent for my taste. Now, I enjoyed Claire Ahn's debut novel I Guess I Live Here Now a lot and Bad Influence definitely had similar vibes but I think this one just felt a smidge too choppy and I also feel like the romantic element took a tad too long to explore.
Still, this is a though provoking book perfect for young adults since 'influencers' seems to be such a big wish these days. At times the pacing felt slow but the importance of family is very rewarding.
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC
May 1, 2025
The plot of this book was good and shows how dangerous social media can be, along with the pressures of being a different race, being the perfect child.... I think every teen should read this.
What frustrated me was the writing. I felt like it just went from one thing to another, and you aren't sure how you got there. Maybe a YA reader wouldn't notice certain things, but I thought it was interesting how she got checks without taxes taken out, how they decided to go on a trip and got a flight ASAP, how she could not return home from school until 9 PM and she never told anyone where she was, and no one cared to ask her. I do wish someone had taken more time to help edit this book to make things make sense.
And for being a YA/teen book, I feel like there should be a disclaimer about social media, drinking....
Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC.
#BadInfluence #NetGalley
What frustrated me was the writing. I felt like it just went from one thing to another, and you aren't sure how you got there. Maybe a YA reader wouldn't notice certain things, but I thought it was interesting how she got checks without taxes taken out, how they decided to go on a trip and got a flight ASAP, how she could not return home from school until 9 PM and she never told anyone where she was, and no one cared to ask her. I do wish someone had taken more time to help edit this book to make things make sense.
And for being a YA/teen book, I feel like there should be a disclaimer about social media, drinking....
Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC.
#BadInfluence #NetGalley
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