What do you think?
Rate this book
Bad Influence
Sharing an apartment with your ex-fiancé’s older brother can’t be a bad decision…right?
Caroline Sinclair is ready to marry the man chosen by her parents. That is up until she walks in on him with another woman. Angry and disappointed that everyone is forcing her to forget what she saw, she makes a drastic decision to leave the West Coast in the middle of the night. Her only option? The New York apartment gifted to her by her ex-fiancé’s grandmother.
What she doesn’t know is that the apartment already has an occupant.
Killian York is living in New York, making a name for himself as a painter and tattoo artist, away from his family’s control. He’s happy with the peaceful and drama-free life he’s made for himself, even if he’s been struggling to create lately. Everything changes however, when he walks into his apartment one night and finds his brother’s fiancée there. His first thought? Kick Caroline out.
But things have never been that simple between them.
With every glance and quiet moment spent together, the line between friendship and something more starts to blur and neither is ready for what happens when it disappears.
Caroline Sinclair is ready to marry the man chosen by her parents. That is up until she walks in on him with another woman. Angry and disappointed that everyone is forcing her to forget what she saw, she makes a drastic decision to leave the West Coast in the middle of the night. Her only option? The New York apartment gifted to her by her ex-fiancé’s grandmother.
What she doesn’t know is that the apartment already has an occupant.
Killian York is living in New York, making a name for himself as a painter and tattoo artist, away from his family’s control. He’s happy with the peaceful and drama-free life he’s made for himself, even if he’s been struggling to create lately. Everything changes however, when he walks into his apartment one night and finds his brother’s fiancée there. His first thought? Kick Caroline out.
But things have never been that simple between them.
With every glance and quiet moment spent together, the line between friendship and something more starts to blur and neither is ready for what happens when it disappears.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
June 3, 2026
3.75🌟, 2.5🌶️
If you’re in the mood for a story that is equal parts messy, chaotic, and sweet, you have to pick this up.
I’m completely obsessed with Caroline and Killian. Watching her finally walk away from her toxic family to find herself was empowering, and Killian was the perfect grumpy, antisocial artist to anchor her. Their forced proximity brought all that long-standing tension to the surface, and I loved watching them learn to lean on each other.
The book is a beautifully chaotic mess that thrives on bad timing and questionable decisions, which only made it more addictive. While the pacing felt a bit fast at times and I craved a little more emotional depth, the intensity of their connection kept me hooked. It isn't a perfect read, but it feels so alive and impulsive that you can't help but root for them to make it work.
Overall, this was a heartfelt escape. Even with a few minor hiccups, the way these two broken people found healing in each other was deeply rewarding. It’s the perfect balance of high-stakes drama and genuine intimacy for a quick weekend read.
It was a swoon-worthy journey and I’m so glad I picked it up.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Ava Hill & Love Notes PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
If you’re in the mood for a story that is equal parts messy, chaotic, and sweet, you have to pick this up.
I’m completely obsessed with Caroline and Killian. Watching her finally walk away from her toxic family to find herself was empowering, and Killian was the perfect grumpy, antisocial artist to anchor her. Their forced proximity brought all that long-standing tension to the surface, and I loved watching them learn to lean on each other.
The book is a beautifully chaotic mess that thrives on bad timing and questionable decisions, which only made it more addictive. While the pacing felt a bit fast at times and I craved a little more emotional depth, the intensity of their connection kept me hooked. It isn't a perfect read, but it feels so alive and impulsive that you can't help but root for them to make it work.
Overall, this was a heartfelt escape. Even with a few minor hiccups, the way these two broken people found healing in each other was deeply rewarding. It’s the perfect balance of high-stakes drama and genuine intimacy for a quick weekend read.
It was a swoon-worthy journey and I’m so glad I picked it up.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Ava Hill & Love Notes PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
May 20, 2026
Bad Influence was one of those books that immediately pulls you in because you can tell nobody involved is about to make a good decision and sometimes you just need a book like that.
The entire book runs on tension, bad timing, jealousy, and two people who absolutely know they should stay away from each other but keep ending up right back in the same mess. Every interaction feels emotionally charged in some way, and even when they’re fighting, it still somehow feels flirty.
The MMC spends most of the book pretending he’s unaffected while very obviously spiraling anytime the FMC is involved, which honestly made half the book entertaining. Meanwhile, the FMC gives the same energy right back instead of just folding immediately, so the dynamic never really feels one-sided.
This definitely leans more messy and emotionally chaotic than deep or overly emotional, but that’s kind of why it works. The pacing keeps moving, the chemistry stays strong, and every time you think they might finally get it together, they somehow make things worse instead.
Also:
the communication? terrible
the jealousy? unnecessary
the decision-making? genuinely concerning
And yet I still flew through it.
This was dramatic, chaotic, and ridiculously bingeable in the exact way books like this are supposed to be. I dont read books like this often, but every now and then I get the itch, and this was the perfect scratch.
The entire book runs on tension, bad timing, jealousy, and two people who absolutely know they should stay away from each other but keep ending up right back in the same mess. Every interaction feels emotionally charged in some way, and even when they’re fighting, it still somehow feels flirty.
The MMC spends most of the book pretending he’s unaffected while very obviously spiraling anytime the FMC is involved, which honestly made half the book entertaining. Meanwhile, the FMC gives the same energy right back instead of just folding immediately, so the dynamic never really feels one-sided.
This definitely leans more messy and emotionally chaotic than deep or overly emotional, but that’s kind of why it works. The pacing keeps moving, the chemistry stays strong, and every time you think they might finally get it together, they somehow make things worse instead.
Also:
the communication? terrible
the jealousy? unnecessary
the decision-making? genuinely concerning
And yet I still flew through it.
This was dramatic, chaotic, and ridiculously bingeable in the exact way books like this are supposed to be. I dont read books like this often, but every now and then I get the itch, and this was the perfect scratch.
May 11, 2026
Beautiful beautiful! I love this book so much! It’s forbidden romance with a very filthy mouth + almost morally gray MMC. Our FMC is a sunshine who was controlled by her family but decided to run. She ended up sharing an apartment with our mmc who was her ex fiancé’s brother. I loved that so much.
This was written well with focus on family expectations and how you should chase your own happiness. The pressure on the family was so much, I was stunned genuinely stunned but I got over it.
Thank you to Love PR for this book, one of my favorite ARCs.
This was written well with focus on family expectations and how you should chase your own happiness. The pressure on the family was so much, I was stunned genuinely stunned but I got over it.
Thank you to Love PR for this book, one of my favorite ARCs.
May 23, 2026
4.25⭐️ | 3🌶
This one pleasantly surprised me. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Caroline and Killian, oh the yearning. I loved it! Thank you to love notes pr for the arc
This one pleasantly surprised me. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Caroline and Killian, oh the yearning. I loved it! Thank you to love notes pr for the arc
May 21, 2026
Another book that had me falling in love before I even opened it. This cover completely stopped me in my tracks, and I am so happy it did.
Ava Hill truly knows how to create deliciously down bad men, and Killian was no exception.
Killian is an artist and tattoo artist living in New York after leaving behind his wealthy and toxic family to build a peaceful life for himself. But that peace comes crashing down when his brother's fiancée suddenly ends up in his apartment... which also happens to be hers.
Caroline is smart, kind, and has spent so much of her life trying to fit into the version her family wanted her to be that she slowly lost pieces of herself along the way. Catching her fiancé cheating on her becomes the push she needs to finally choose herself and figure out what kind of life she actually wants.
Watching these two broken people slowly find comfort, healing, and light in each other was everything. The tension, the chemistry, the emotional vulnerability... my favorite.
If you love grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, obsessed men, and stories about finding yourself again, this one is absolutely worth the read.
"I always thought you must have been mine in some past life and in this one, I'm forced to bring you to be life in paint while I watch the real life version of you be with someone else."
"I want you to watch us. Watch yourself fall apart for me.
Watch me tell you that I belong to you and no one else."
"You're the brightest light in any room. A spark which shines blindingly bright and seeing you shine is one of the greatest pleasures of my life. You don't have to be anyone other than yourself."
"My beautiful chaos."
Ava Hill truly knows how to create deliciously down bad men, and Killian was no exception.
Killian is an artist and tattoo artist living in New York after leaving behind his wealthy and toxic family to build a peaceful life for himself. But that peace comes crashing down when his brother's fiancée suddenly ends up in his apartment... which also happens to be hers.
Caroline is smart, kind, and has spent so much of her life trying to fit into the version her family wanted her to be that she slowly lost pieces of herself along the way. Catching her fiancé cheating on her becomes the push she needs to finally choose herself and figure out what kind of life she actually wants.
Watching these two broken people slowly find comfort, healing, and light in each other was everything. The tension, the chemistry, the emotional vulnerability... my favorite.
If you love grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, obsessed men, and stories about finding yourself again, this one is absolutely worth the read.
"I always thought you must have been mine in some past life and in this one, I'm forced to bring you to be life in paint while I watch the real life version of you be with someone else."
"I want you to watch us. Watch yourself fall apart for me.
Watch me tell you that I belong to you and no one else."
"You're the brightest light in any room. A spark which shines blindingly bright and seeing you shine is one of the greatest pleasures of my life. You don't have to be anyone other than yourself."
"My beautiful chaos."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2026
Bad Influence by Ava Hill
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
First of all I want to thank Love Notes PR for giving me an ARC to this book.
Bad Influence follows Caroline, a people-pleaser who bends over backwards to make everyone happy but herself. After catching her boyfriend cheating, she elegantly proceeds to stab him in the ass, which is, honestly, my favorite part of the book.
My second favorite would be this line: “She is temptation incarnate, a goddess of seduction and beauty. I’m a mere mortal who has to fight for my life.”
Anyway, Fortunately for Caroline, she has somewhere to run when she finally decides she’s had enough, unfortunately, that place is occupied by her ex-fiancé’s brother, who has been head over heels in love with her all along.
Their relationship was tender in its own right. Killian was patient with her, kind when she needed affirmation, and steady when she needed a shoulder to lean on. But beyond my two favorite moments, what I loved most was his ability to seize his chance.
The moment he found out she was single, it was like a switch flipped and he was more than willing to make up for lost time.
This would have been a four-star read for me, except it took days to get into. Once I did, the chemistry was there and it was genuinely fun. Overall, I’ll happily recommend it to anyone looking for something light and spicy. I’ll also recommend this if you want to read a book about a heroine who finds herself as well as good dick in the process.
Tropes:
Ex-fiancé’s brother | Grumpy × Sunshine | Second chance | He falls first and harder.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
First of all I want to thank Love Notes PR for giving me an ARC to this book.
Bad Influence follows Caroline, a people-pleaser who bends over backwards to make everyone happy but herself. After catching her boyfriend cheating, she elegantly proceeds to stab him in the ass, which is, honestly, my favorite part of the book.
My second favorite would be this line: “She is temptation incarnate, a goddess of seduction and beauty. I’m a mere mortal who has to fight for my life.”
Anyway, Fortunately for Caroline, she has somewhere to run when she finally decides she’s had enough, unfortunately, that place is occupied by her ex-fiancé’s brother, who has been head over heels in love with her all along.
Their relationship was tender in its own right. Killian was patient with her, kind when she needed affirmation, and steady when she needed a shoulder to lean on. But beyond my two favorite moments, what I loved most was his ability to seize his chance.
The moment he found out she was single, it was like a switch flipped and he was more than willing to make up for lost time.
This would have been a four-star read for me, except it took days to get into. Once I did, the chemistry was there and it was genuinely fun. Overall, I’ll happily recommend it to anyone looking for something light and spicy. I’ll also recommend this if you want to read a book about a heroine who finds herself as well as good dick in the process.
Tropes:
Ex-fiancé’s brother | Grumpy × Sunshine | Second chance | He falls first and harder.
May 18, 2026
ARC REVIEW
“Use your words butterfly”
•
Bad Influence is a romance standalone book, here you’ll find:
✨Grumpy x sunshine
🎨Forced proximity
👩⚖️Ex-fiancés brother
🧡Lawyer x artist
I was really curious about this book because the tropes sounded exactly like something I would love, and while I did enjoy parts of it, unfortunately it didn’t fully live up to my expectations.
I actually liked the beginning a lot and I was really invested at first, but at some point something started to feel a little off. The pacing became kind of confusing, especially with the timeline, and the second half of the book felt really rushed compared to the start.
I think my biggest issue was that I couldn’t fully connect with the characters. I didn’t dislike them, but they felt a bit surface level to me and I never truly managed to empathize with them or get emotionally attached the way I wanted to. I kept waiting for something deeper that never fully came.
The romance had potential and there were definitely some cute moments and good tension, but overall I feel like everything happened too quickly for me to really feel the emotional impact of it.
It wasn’t a bad read at all and I still enjoyed some parts of it, it just didn’t hit as hard as I hoped it would.
“Use your words butterfly”
•
Bad Influence is a romance standalone book, here you’ll find:
✨Grumpy x sunshine
🎨Forced proximity
👩⚖️Ex-fiancés brother
🧡Lawyer x artist
I was really curious about this book because the tropes sounded exactly like something I would love, and while I did enjoy parts of it, unfortunately it didn’t fully live up to my expectations.
I actually liked the beginning a lot and I was really invested at first, but at some point something started to feel a little off. The pacing became kind of confusing, especially with the timeline, and the second half of the book felt really rushed compared to the start.
I think my biggest issue was that I couldn’t fully connect with the characters. I didn’t dislike them, but they felt a bit surface level to me and I never truly managed to empathize with them or get emotionally attached the way I wanted to. I kept waiting for something deeper that never fully came.
The romance had potential and there were definitely some cute moments and good tension, but overall I feel like everything happened too quickly for me to really feel the emotional impact of it.
It wasn’t a bad read at all and I still enjoyed some parts of it, it just didn’t hit as hard as I hoped it would.
May 20, 2026
There was so much going on at the beginning of the story that by the end, I felt kind of disconnected from it. It seemed like the plot got lost somewhere along the way and the book turned more into a smut fest than an actual story. I really thought certain characters would have bigger roles and create more drama, but that never happened. Instead, everything wrapped up too easily with a happily-ever-after ending.
I understand the focus was the spicy romance, but it just felt inconsistent at times. Had there been more fluidity in the storyline, I think I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more. The romance and spice were entertaining, but overall, I felt the plot itself lacked consistency and focus. It was good for the smut, but not for the storyline.
Tropes:
✨ Dual POV
🏡 Forced Proximity
👀 Ex’s Older Brother
☀️🖤 Grumpy x Sunshine
⚖️🎨 Lawyer x Artist
💋 Spicy Romance
💞 Happily Ever After
I wanted to thank Love Notes PR for this Arc
I understand the focus was the spicy romance, but it just felt inconsistent at times. Had there been more fluidity in the storyline, I think I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more. The romance and spice were entertaining, but overall, I felt the plot itself lacked consistency and focus. It was good for the smut, but not for the storyline.
Tropes:
✨ Dual POV
🏡 Forced Proximity
👀 Ex’s Older Brother
☀️🖤 Grumpy x Sunshine
⚖️🎨 Lawyer x Artist
💋 Spicy Romance
💞 Happily Ever After
I wanted to thank Love Notes PR for this Arc
May 20, 2026
4.5* - Rounded up to 5...
I loved watching Caroline come into her own as we go through this book... I loved how Killian gave her the space she needed to come to her own as well. How he supported her, and took himself out of his comfort zone to give her the space she needed to grow, and to find herself, her likes, her wants, her passions. I also loved how Caroline recognised what Killian was doing, and didn't push him too far, or take his sacrifices for granted. And also how she supported and encouraged him, and helped him broaden his art and find his future in his artistic expressions as well.
A beautifully written story that I enjoyed from start to finish. And the side characters really added so much to the story as well...
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved watching Caroline come into her own as we go through this book... I loved how Killian gave her the space she needed to come to her own as well. How he supported her, and took himself out of his comfort zone to give her the space she needed to grow, and to find herself, her likes, her wants, her passions. I also loved how Caroline recognised what Killian was doing, and didn't push him too far, or take his sacrifices for granted. And also how she supported and encouraged him, and helped him broaden his art and find his future in his artistic expressions as well.
A beautifully written story that I enjoyed from start to finish. And the side characters really added so much to the story as well...
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 4, 2026
I really enjoyed the writing so much that I wanted to keep going but Killian's possessiveness (or protectiveness) was really making him a little disturbing. Caroline goes to NYC to get away from her cheating now ex-fiancé and ends up staying at his brother's house when she thought it was hers (we LOVE the grandma here, she knows her stuff). They live together and, to me, that's where Killian (the brother) is the most clueless but also icky, possessive man. It takes him almost 40% through the book to realize she isn't going to marry his brother. He also treats her like a child instead of an adult and like someone who needs to stay with him constantly or she will be in danger. I loved seeing Caroline get to know and understand herself as she moved through life somewhat on her own. Killian was just not it for me.
May 20, 2026
I received an ARC of Bad Influence by Ava Hill.
I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting. I was drawn right in from the beginning of this book. While the love story between Caroline and Killian really kept me invested this was a great story about a strong FMC discovering herself and her worth when she finally picks herself over what’s expected of her. Killian is really instrumental is ensuring Caroline has a safe space to land and his love for her enables her to love herself. Overall a really enjoyable read.
I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting. I was drawn right in from the beginning of this book. While the love story between Caroline and Killian really kept me invested this was a great story about a strong FMC discovering herself and her worth when she finally picks herself over what’s expected of her. Killian is really instrumental is ensuring Caroline has a safe space to land and his love for her enables her to love herself. Overall a really enjoyable read.
May 20, 2026
Advanced readers copy review
3.75/5
✨ Ex's Older Brother
✨ Forced Proximity / Roommates
✨ Opposites Attract
My Thoughts:
I really wanted to completely obsess over this one because the forced proximity and the "ex's older brother" setup is one of my absolute favorites. Killian was a fantastic MMC—moody, artistic, and fiercely independent. However, I just couldn't fully connect with or back the FMC, Caroline, which dragged the rating down a bit for me. Still a solid, atmospheric romance with great tension!
3.75/5
✨ Ex's Older Brother
✨ Forced Proximity / Roommates
✨ Opposites Attract
My Thoughts:
I really wanted to completely obsess over this one because the forced proximity and the "ex's older brother" setup is one of my absolute favorites. Killian was a fantastic MMC—moody, artistic, and fiercely independent. However, I just couldn't fully connect with or back the FMC, Caroline, which dragged the rating down a bit for me. Still a solid, atmospheric romance with great tension!
May 20, 2026
I so wanted to love this book but it just wasn't quite as good as I hoped but it wasn't bad either.
I loved the grumpy x sunshine and forced proximity aspects.
A lot of the book was really good and flowed nicely but there were just some parts that I could have done without.
Overall it was a nice, quick read that others should definitely try!
Thank you Love Notes PR for the opportunity to be part of the ARC team!
I loved the grumpy x sunshine and forced proximity aspects.
A lot of the book was really good and flowed nicely but there were just some parts that I could have done without.
Overall it was a nice, quick read that others should definitely try!
Thank you Love Notes PR for the opportunity to be part of the ARC team!
June 3, 2026
ARC REVIEW
The book begins with Caroline, who stabs her fiance in his ass because he's cheating on her. When I read that I knew that this book was going to be freaking awesome.
Caroline is a rich girl that never made any decision for herself. Her family even decided for her who she should marry and actually chose his side when he cheated on her. So I get why she ran away to New York. She finally decided to live for herself and not for someone else just to make them happy.
Killian is the older brother of Caroline's ex-fiance. He ran away from the entitled life he was living 10 years ago and is now a (tattoo) artist. He is the biggest introvert and keeps his circle of friends small, but he does really care about them.
Killian always had a crush on Caroline and she also really liked Killian. And now they are living in the same apartment because Killians grandma gave them both the keys to the place. So as you may predict the tension is really high and really hot.
Fun side note: The spice is written so freaking good and the dirty talk holy shit every time I thought that it couldn't get better, it got so much better.
My favorite quote:
You're the most beautiful part of my life and I've always been told I can't have you because I'm not good enough.
My rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️
The book begins with Caroline, who stabs her fiance in his ass because he's cheating on her. When I read that I knew that this book was going to be freaking awesome.
Caroline is a rich girl that never made any decision for herself. Her family even decided for her who she should marry and actually chose his side when he cheated on her. So I get why she ran away to New York. She finally decided to live for herself and not for someone else just to make them happy.
Killian is the older brother of Caroline's ex-fiance. He ran away from the entitled life he was living 10 years ago and is now a (tattoo) artist. He is the biggest introvert and keeps his circle of friends small, but he does really care about them.
Killian always had a crush on Caroline and she also really liked Killian. And now they are living in the same apartment because Killians grandma gave them both the keys to the place. So as you may predict the tension is really high and really hot.
Fun side note: The spice is written so freaking good and the dirty talk holy shit every time I thought that it couldn't get better, it got so much better.
My favorite quote:
You're the most beautiful part of my life and I've always been told I can't have you because I'm not good enough.
My rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2026
I think what initially drew me into this book was definitely the plot but unfortunately for me, this book did not hit. The way it was written was doing a lot of telling instead of showing. I wish more of the character was shown through their actions. Since they weren’t, the characters come off as very face value and not complex.
I think another thing was that the book had a couple grammatical errors and awkward phrasing which honestly took me out of the scene
I think another thing was that the book had a couple grammatical errors and awkward phrasing which honestly took me out of the scene
June 16, 2026
Thank you to LoveNotes PR for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Overall, this was a fun, easy read with some spice. This quick read will help you if you’re looking for something entertaining to pull you out of a reading slump. The story was a little chaotic at times, but that added to the excitement and kept the plot moving.
I would have liked to have read flashbacks to Caroline and Killian’s relationship early on in the book. Since so much of the story relies on their history, I think seeing more of how their feelings developed would have helped me connect with their relationship on a deeper level. I also felt like the ending felt abrupt.
Even so, I enjoyed following their journey and found this to be easy to get swept up in!
Overall, this was a fun, easy read with some spice. This quick read will help you if you’re looking for something entertaining to pull you out of a reading slump. The story was a little chaotic at times, but that added to the excitement and kept the plot moving.
I would have liked to have read flashbacks to Caroline and Killian’s relationship early on in the book. Since so much of the story relies on their history, I think seeing more of how their feelings developed would have helped me connect with their relationship on a deeper level. I also felt like the ending felt abrupt.
Even so, I enjoyed following their journey and found this to be easy to get swept up in!
hard-dnf-s
May 17, 2026Thank you to LoveNotes PR for the opportunity to read this as an arc.
DNFing on May 17th, 187 pages in (55%)
Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to love this, I felt like the main characters had no chemistry and that the MMC treated the FMC like a child who didn't know what she wanted.
DNFing on May 17th, 187 pages in (55%)
Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to love this, I felt like the main characters had no chemistry and that the MMC treated the FMC like a child who didn't know what she wanted.
May 20, 2026
I got this as a arc review however views are my own!
I enjoyed this its like a big hug as your reading...we have each other's first loves, families who decide your future a medaling grandmother mixed together comes to Caroline who runs from her cheating fiance, killian who walked away from his family and made a name for himself grumpy to anyone except his butterfly 🦋
I enjoyed this its like a big hug as your reading...we have each other's first loves, families who decide your future a medaling grandmother mixed together comes to Caroline who runs from her cheating fiance, killian who walked away from his family and made a name for himself grumpy to anyone except his butterfly 🦋
June 17, 2026
fucking amazing.
all i want now is to live in nyc and have a hot tattoo artist be my tour guide
all i want now is to live in nyc and have a hot tattoo artist be my tour guide
June 17, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
June 3, 2026
If you are looking for a romance where characters make flawless, mature life choices... look away. But if you want a high-tension, deliciously messy story that you can absolutely fly through, Bad Influence is a fantastic ride.
The "ex-fiancé's older brother" meets "forced proximity" setup delivered exactly the kind of angst and forbidden energy I was craving. Killian is the ultimate moody, protective artist, and his dynamic with Caroline keeps the pages turning.
My only real critique is that the second half felt a bit rushed, which made it harder to fully lock into the emotional depth of their connection. That being used, the chemistry was undeniable and it completely scratched the itch for a dramatic, fast-paced contemporary romance.
A solid, highly addictive read!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book as an arc.
The "ex-fiancé's older brother" meets "forced proximity" setup delivered exactly the kind of angst and forbidden energy I was craving. Killian is the ultimate moody, protective artist, and his dynamic with Caroline keeps the pages turning.
My only real critique is that the second half felt a bit rushed, which made it harder to fully lock into the emotional depth of their connection. That being used, the chemistry was undeniable and it completely scratched the itch for a dramatic, fast-paced contemporary romance.
A solid, highly addictive read!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book as an arc.
May 23, 2026
5 🌟 3.5 🌶
Thank you LoveNotesPR and author, Ava Hill. Absolutely loved this book in the end. Was a few hiccups throughout, but nothing major. Leaving one brother for another, but it makes so much sense. Especially with them having known each other since they were young. Caroline and Killian really mean well together, evwn when he treats her like she doesn’t know what she's doing/where she's going. Theres a mention of a character at the office and how mysterious she is but nothing after a couple interactions. Hoping maybe there's a book about her eventually. Caroline's family can kick rocks and disappear for all I care.
Thank you LoveNotesPR and author, Ava Hill. Absolutely loved this book in the end. Was a few hiccups throughout, but nothing major. Leaving one brother for another, but it makes so much sense. Especially with them having known each other since they were young. Caroline and Killian really mean well together, evwn when he treats her like she doesn’t know what she's doing/where she's going. Theres a mention of a character at the office and how mysterious she is but nothing after a couple interactions. Hoping maybe there's a book about her eventually. Caroline's family can kick rocks and disappear for all I care.
May 26, 2026
ARC received from LoveNotes PR in exchange for honest review.
⚡BLURB⚡
Sharing an apartment with your ex-fiancé’s older brother can’t be a bad decision…right?
Caroline Sinclair is ready to marry the man chosen by her parents. That is up until she walks in on him with another woman. Angry and disappointed that everyone is forcing her to forget what she saw, she makes a drastic decision to leave the West Coast in the middle of the night. Her only option? The New York apartment gifted to her by her ex-fiancé’s grandmother.
What she doesn’t know is that the apartment already has an occupant.
Killian York is living in New York, making a name for himself as a painter and tattoo artist, away from his family’s control. He’s happy with the peaceful and drama-free life he’s made for himself, even if he’s been struggling to create lately. Everything changes however, when he walks into his apartment one night and finds his brother’s fiancée there. His first thought? Kick Caroline out.
But things have never been that simple between them.
With every glance and quiet moment spent together, the line between friendship and something more starts to blur and neither is ready for what happens when it disappears.
⚡REVIEW⚡
This gentle romance opens with potentially the greatest response to being cheated on ever - (I don't condone violence but having been cheated on, I totally understand it!). But it leaves Caroline in a position where she cannot go through with the wedding to Beckett, despite all the insistences of their respective parents. Gerry, who is Beckett's grandmother, but cares more for Caroline, gives her a key to an apartment in New York. What she doesn't tell her is that Killian, Beckett's estranged brother, is already living there.
Caroline and Killian have a complicated history, and she has no idea he's never gotten over her turning down his offer to leave with him five years previously. Having broken away from his toxic family, he has turned his back on law and is tattooing as a day job . But he is also an artist of notable talent, who is struggling to create, putting his upcoming exhibition in jeopardy. When Caroline and her chaos arrive back in his orbit, it becomes the ultimate grumpy x sunshine scenario. Caroline is innocence personified, a pink and fluffy, lavender matcha drinking lawyer, sheltered from the real world by a family who never expected she would break free of their cage. Killian keeps himself to himself, is a man of few words, never smiles and doesn't do chaos. As she begins to adjust to life in New York, getting a job and making friends with his friends, her perception of Killian is changing, and changing quickly, despite her not talking about the fact she has left his brother. For Killian, it's always been Caroline, and the longer she stays, the more his heart opens to her. When they finally give in to their desires, they both know there is no going back.
I was pleasantly surprised to see there was no third act breakup (I'm not a fan of those usually!) as it felt like it was almost inevitable, with Caroline's anxiety surrounding their families and a need to draw a line under things. Instead there is a beautiful moment (I won't spoil it!) that leaves you thoroughly satisfied that the last obstacle in their relationship is resolved. (Although a punch in the face would have been good entertainment!)
The main issue I had with this book came from the content about tattoos. Killian does not tattoo his own designs - something incredibly unusual for a tattoo artist. He has a celebrity client list (hello, Lavinia and Romeo from Rebound!), which usually comes from being a talented designer as well as being good at the execution of the ink work, so I felt like this was a bit of a plot hole. I get that it was written as such to highlight the character's belief in the unreliability of humanity - but it just jarred with my understanding of tattooing. I also felt that her execution of the first tattoo she'd ever done would have been far more authentic if it had been dreadful - she'd never even held a tattoo gun at the point he gets her to tattoo him. These were small things overall, but they just stood out to me.
The spice level was perfect for the characters. There is a lot of focus on him taking care of her, which reflects the lack of attention she received from his brother, and his adoration of her from afar for so many years.
Bad Influence is an enjoyable grumpy x sunshine second chance romance with an engineered meet-again-cute (thanks Gerry!) that sees Caroline spread her wings after years of being caged by the pressures of family arrangements and expectations, whilst Killian allows some chaos into his life, with the most incredible consequences.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book!
⚡BLURB⚡
Sharing an apartment with your ex-fiancé’s older brother can’t be a bad decision…right?
Caroline Sinclair is ready to marry the man chosen by her parents. That is up until she walks in on him with another woman. Angry and disappointed that everyone is forcing her to forget what she saw, she makes a drastic decision to leave the West Coast in the middle of the night. Her only option? The New York apartment gifted to her by her ex-fiancé’s grandmother.
What she doesn’t know is that the apartment already has an occupant.
Killian York is living in New York, making a name for himself as a painter and tattoo artist, away from his family’s control. He’s happy with the peaceful and drama-free life he’s made for himself, even if he’s been struggling to create lately. Everything changes however, when he walks into his apartment one night and finds his brother’s fiancée there. His first thought? Kick Caroline out.
But things have never been that simple between them.
With every glance and quiet moment spent together, the line between friendship and something more starts to blur and neither is ready for what happens when it disappears.
⚡REVIEW⚡
This gentle romance opens with potentially the greatest response to being cheated on ever - (I don't condone violence but having been cheated on, I totally understand it!). But it leaves Caroline in a position where she cannot go through with the wedding to Beckett, despite all the insistences of their respective parents. Gerry, who is Beckett's grandmother, but cares more for Caroline, gives her a key to an apartment in New York. What she doesn't tell her is that Killian, Beckett's estranged brother, is already living there.
Caroline and Killian have a complicated history, and she has no idea he's never gotten over her turning down his offer to leave with him five years previously. Having broken away from his toxic family, he has turned his back on law and is tattooing as a day job . But he is also an artist of notable talent, who is struggling to create, putting his upcoming exhibition in jeopardy. When Caroline and her chaos arrive back in his orbit, it becomes the ultimate grumpy x sunshine scenario. Caroline is innocence personified, a pink and fluffy, lavender matcha drinking lawyer, sheltered from the real world by a family who never expected she would break free of their cage. Killian keeps himself to himself, is a man of few words, never smiles and doesn't do chaos. As she begins to adjust to life in New York, getting a job and making friends with his friends, her perception of Killian is changing, and changing quickly, despite her not talking about the fact she has left his brother. For Killian, it's always been Caroline, and the longer she stays, the more his heart opens to her. When they finally give in to their desires, they both know there is no going back.
I was pleasantly surprised to see there was no third act breakup (I'm not a fan of those usually!) as it felt like it was almost inevitable, with Caroline's anxiety surrounding their families and a need to draw a line under things. Instead there is a beautiful moment (I won't spoil it!) that leaves you thoroughly satisfied that the last obstacle in their relationship is resolved. (Although a punch in the face would have been good entertainment!)
The main issue I had with this book came from the content about tattoos. Killian does not tattoo his own designs - something incredibly unusual for a tattoo artist. He has a celebrity client list (hello, Lavinia and Romeo from Rebound!), which usually comes from being a talented designer as well as being good at the execution of the ink work, so I felt like this was a bit of a plot hole. I get that it was written as such to highlight the character's belief in the unreliability of humanity - but it just jarred with my understanding of tattooing. I also felt that her execution of the first tattoo she'd ever done would have been far more authentic if it had been dreadful - she'd never even held a tattoo gun at the point he gets her to tattoo him. These were small things overall, but they just stood out to me.
The spice level was perfect for the characters. There is a lot of focus on him taking care of her, which reflects the lack of attention she received from his brother, and his adoration of her from afar for so many years.
Bad Influence is an enjoyable grumpy x sunshine second chance romance with an engineered meet-again-cute (thanks Gerry!) that sees Caroline spread her wings after years of being caged by the pressures of family arrangements and expectations, whilst Killian allows some chaos into his life, with the most incredible consequences.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book!
May 12, 2026
ARC COPY REVIEW
My thoughts:
“ I never thought i’d find enjoyment in being arrested for stabbing a man in the ass”
Bad Influence, by Ava Hill would not be the typical book i picked up at the bookstore. I received an ARC for this book after reading the blurb and being hooked! The story filled me with compassion, sass, bravery and confidence for when times get tough, get tougher. The story becomes quite full circle in my opinion, starting with a cheating bastard of a brother to ending up happily in love with another. Learning to stick up for herself and watching Caroline learn and explore her world for herself was something i became quite excited to sit along with for the ride.
The pacing and writing style in this book was pretty nice, though not the most complex or deepest book ive read, sometimes a fluffy little romance that speaks to the soul is all you need, and i think in that category this delivered as that.
“Maybe some things arent meant to be forgotten, maybe theyre meant to be to be relived and reimagined in ways we never thought possible”
I LOVE LOVE LOVE a dual POV romance. It just tickles that part in my brain that needs to know everything all at once. Getting a clear picture from both sides of the story, and reading the characters opionions and thoughts really made me feel more connected and with them. I feel like we need more stories with childhood friends to lovers, yearning and grumpy x sunshine tropes. Now im only just discovering them but i think they might be my new favourite. Just the preface of years of unending tourtous secret moments and undying love flutters my little heart rapidly.
And their cute banter??! Like stop! She became confident, and more herself progressivly though the book. The more time away from the people who caged her in a glass bottle, really let her grow her own wings and learn who she truly was all along.
For someone that is a mood reader and a relativly slow one at that, i read this book in a day. I think that definitely says something.
“He tattooed the date of when he first heard me laugh onto his body”
"Caroline, I've never met someone more beautiful than you. You don't have to believe me if you don't want to. That's not going to change my truth. Whoever made you believe otherwise doesn't know what beauty is."
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Genre: Romance, Second Chance, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Grumpy x Sunshine, Ex’s Older Brother, Found Family ⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅
I love romance books, when nothing else is right in the world i know a rance book will always hit. This is the first ARC I’ve received so i was a little wcared, but lets just say miss Ava Hill did not disappoint. We had all the layers of romance, and the big fall out? Barely anything and thats something i really love to see. Personally my book ick is the falling out, when come on, you guys have had enough troubles lets just talk it out. I guess being in the late twenties and early thirties these characters are more developed individuals, which i admire to become. Who know what they want and know how to actually have a conversation. It was so refreshing.
The book was probably a 3/5 spice rating for me personally. It definitely wasnt your closed door romance but it wasnt too wild. Just the perfect amount for this story. I think to me, the more important intimacy traits were the eye contact, the listening, the understanding, the small things. Holding hands, laughing together, growing together and lets not all forget that tattoo scene!!
Overall °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
please read this book. i promise, you’ll fall as much in love as i did. I feel like i was highlighting something every two seconds, that has to mean the book is worth a read!
I feel like Caroline and Killian were just made for each other, in any other universe i feel like they would have found each other. This book gave me all the butterflies 🦋 and a killer appetite for more books by Ava Hill
“ There are different mediums of art," I say. "Obviously, you see the beauty in a lot of everyday things that people might miss. I looked for color. You looked for a life in color. That's the difference."
My thoughts:
“ I never thought i’d find enjoyment in being arrested for stabbing a man in the ass”
Bad Influence, by Ava Hill would not be the typical book i picked up at the bookstore. I received an ARC for this book after reading the blurb and being hooked! The story filled me with compassion, sass, bravery and confidence for when times get tough, get tougher. The story becomes quite full circle in my opinion, starting with a cheating bastard of a brother to ending up happily in love with another. Learning to stick up for herself and watching Caroline learn and explore her world for herself was something i became quite excited to sit along with for the ride.
The pacing and writing style in this book was pretty nice, though not the most complex or deepest book ive read, sometimes a fluffy little romance that speaks to the soul is all you need, and i think in that category this delivered as that.
“Maybe some things arent meant to be forgotten, maybe theyre meant to be to be relived and reimagined in ways we never thought possible”
I LOVE LOVE LOVE a dual POV romance. It just tickles that part in my brain that needs to know everything all at once. Getting a clear picture from both sides of the story, and reading the characters opionions and thoughts really made me feel more connected and with them. I feel like we need more stories with childhood friends to lovers, yearning and grumpy x sunshine tropes. Now im only just discovering them but i think they might be my new favourite. Just the preface of years of unending tourtous secret moments and undying love flutters my little heart rapidly.
And their cute banter??! Like stop! She became confident, and more herself progressivly though the book. The more time away from the people who caged her in a glass bottle, really let her grow her own wings and learn who she truly was all along.
For someone that is a mood reader and a relativly slow one at that, i read this book in a day. I think that definitely says something.
“He tattooed the date of when he first heard me laugh onto his body”
"Caroline, I've never met someone more beautiful than you. You don't have to believe me if you don't want to. That's not going to change my truth. Whoever made you believe otherwise doesn't know what beauty is."
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Genre: Romance, Second Chance, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Grumpy x Sunshine, Ex’s Older Brother, Found Family ⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅
I love romance books, when nothing else is right in the world i know a rance book will always hit. This is the first ARC I’ve received so i was a little wcared, but lets just say miss Ava Hill did not disappoint. We had all the layers of romance, and the big fall out? Barely anything and thats something i really love to see. Personally my book ick is the falling out, when come on, you guys have had enough troubles lets just talk it out. I guess being in the late twenties and early thirties these characters are more developed individuals, which i admire to become. Who know what they want and know how to actually have a conversation. It was so refreshing.
The book was probably a 3/5 spice rating for me personally. It definitely wasnt your closed door romance but it wasnt too wild. Just the perfect amount for this story. I think to me, the more important intimacy traits were the eye contact, the listening, the understanding, the small things. Holding hands, laughing together, growing together and lets not all forget that tattoo scene!!
Overall °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
please read this book. i promise, you’ll fall as much in love as i did. I feel like i was highlighting something every two seconds, that has to mean the book is worth a read!
I feel like Caroline and Killian were just made for each other, in any other universe i feel like they would have found each other. This book gave me all the butterflies 🦋 and a killer appetite for more books by Ava Hill
“ There are different mediums of art," I say. "Obviously, you see the beauty in a lot of everyday things that people might miss. I looked for color. You looked for a life in color. That's the difference."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Caroline thought her future was already planned out for her 💍✨ — marry Beckett, follow the rules, keep both wealthy families happy, and never question the life everyone else chose for her. But the second she catches her fiancé cheating 🤡💔 and realizes both families expect her to quietly tolerate it, something inside her finally snaps.
With nowhere else to turn, Caroline escapes to the New York apartment Beckett’s grandmother once gifted her 🗝️🏙️… only to discover Killian is already living there.
And not just any Killian 😭🔥 — the same man she’s loved in silence for years. The same man who disappeared from the family five years ago and cut everyone off, including her. Their reunion is awkward, emotional, chaotic, and honestly so entertaining because the tension between them never disappeared for a second 👀
What I loved most about this story was how deeply it explored control, family expectations, and learning who you are outside of what others want from you. Caroline slowly starts realizing that her parents never truly saw her as a person with feelings — only someone who fit perfectly into the image they created for her. Watching her finally break free from that mindset was incredibly satisfying 🙌✨
Meanwhile, Killian completely stole my heart 🖤 He’s distant, grumpy, protective, and clearly carrying years of hurt from walking away from his family. But despite trying to keep his walls up, he naturally falls back into taking care of Caroline and helping her see her own worth again. Their relationship felt so genuine because they weren’t just falling in love — they were healing parts of themselves together 🥹
Their chemistry was EVERYTHING 😭 Caroline constantly challenging Killian’s moody attitude and dragging him out of his comfort zone had me smiling nonstop. And Killian showing her what it means to actually live for herself instead of constantly seeking approval? Absolutely loved that journey for her 💕
Also… both sets of parents were genuinely unbearable 🚩 The fact they expected Caroline to overlook Beckett’s cheating and simply pretend nothing happened was infuriating. Thank God for Granny because she was honestly the MVP of this entire story 👑 She saw exactly how toxic everything was and quietly pushed Caroline toward the freedom she desperately needed.
And that confrontation toward the end?? ICONIC 👏 Caroline finally standing up for herself after spending her whole life being controlled was such a powerful moment. I was cheering for her the entire time.
This book had romance, tension, emotional healing, forced proximity, family drama, and so many soft moments between Caroline and Killian 🏡💫 Their happy ending felt fully deserved, and I honestly didn’t want the story to end 💖
With nowhere else to turn, Caroline escapes to the New York apartment Beckett’s grandmother once gifted her 🗝️🏙️… only to discover Killian is already living there.
And not just any Killian 😭🔥 — the same man she’s loved in silence for years. The same man who disappeared from the family five years ago and cut everyone off, including her. Their reunion is awkward, emotional, chaotic, and honestly so entertaining because the tension between them never disappeared for a second 👀
What I loved most about this story was how deeply it explored control, family expectations, and learning who you are outside of what others want from you. Caroline slowly starts realizing that her parents never truly saw her as a person with feelings — only someone who fit perfectly into the image they created for her. Watching her finally break free from that mindset was incredibly satisfying 🙌✨
Meanwhile, Killian completely stole my heart 🖤 He’s distant, grumpy, protective, and clearly carrying years of hurt from walking away from his family. But despite trying to keep his walls up, he naturally falls back into taking care of Caroline and helping her see her own worth again. Their relationship felt so genuine because they weren’t just falling in love — they were healing parts of themselves together 🥹
Their chemistry was EVERYTHING 😭 Caroline constantly challenging Killian’s moody attitude and dragging him out of his comfort zone had me smiling nonstop. And Killian showing her what it means to actually live for herself instead of constantly seeking approval? Absolutely loved that journey for her 💕
Also… both sets of parents were genuinely unbearable 🚩 The fact they expected Caroline to overlook Beckett’s cheating and simply pretend nothing happened was infuriating. Thank God for Granny because she was honestly the MVP of this entire story 👑 She saw exactly how toxic everything was and quietly pushed Caroline toward the freedom she desperately needed.
And that confrontation toward the end?? ICONIC 👏 Caroline finally standing up for herself after spending her whole life being controlled was such a powerful moment. I was cheering for her the entire time.
This book had romance, tension, emotional healing, forced proximity, family drama, and so many soft moments between Caroline and Killian 🏡💫 Their happy ending felt fully deserved, and I honestly didn’t want the story to end 💖
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Sometimes the things that scare you the most lead to the biggest rewards. Sometimes being from an old money family can come with so many restrictions and obligations that staying is stifling. Leaving and choosing yourself and your own happiness can be a blessing even though it can be scary. Both our main characters did this for very different reasons.
Killian was the oldest York son but he didn't like the rules and restrictions. His art was his escape from the pressures of his family obligations. It calmed him and made the expectations easier but when forced to give it up he rebelled. He still graduated from law school but chose to leave the family business and his family to follow his own path. He was quite successful as an artist, both with the paint brush and canvas, and as a tattoo artist. He left California and never went back.
Caroline has never felt seen in her family. She has tried to be the perfect daughter and do everything expected of her but its exhausting. It also is never enough for them. Along came her arranged fiancé, chosen by her parents to strengthen the partnership between the two families. If they had their way, they would have him control Caroline like they do including her assets. He expects her to be the quiet, demure wallflower socialite wife. Their expectations do not align with what she really wants and after an unforgivable incident she finally choses herself. She leaves everything behind and follows her heart with some guidance from his Grandmother.
When Killian and Caroline are forced together, their old friendship starts to evolve. They both wanted the other for years but Caroline was too afraid to follow Killian when he asked. Killian was afraid that staying would have destroyed him so he forced himself to leave without Caroline. Knowing all the facts would they have made the same decisions back them or will they move forward to a brighter future. Both Killian and Caroline are happier since they left California and together their careers seem to be flourishing as well. Caroline can finally put her law degree to real use and Killian has found new inspiration for his artwork.
I loved Killian and Caroline's story and how they have overcome their toxic parents. They might not gave a lot of friends but those they have are family. The meddling ladies including Gerry are hilarious. I enjoyed reading this book but there were a few places that lost me. I did love how the writer brought previously introduced characters from her hockey books into the story as well.
Thank you Ava Hill and LoveNotesPR for the ARC and the opportunity to review!
Killian was the oldest York son but he didn't like the rules and restrictions. His art was his escape from the pressures of his family obligations. It calmed him and made the expectations easier but when forced to give it up he rebelled. He still graduated from law school but chose to leave the family business and his family to follow his own path. He was quite successful as an artist, both with the paint brush and canvas, and as a tattoo artist. He left California and never went back.
Caroline has never felt seen in her family. She has tried to be the perfect daughter and do everything expected of her but its exhausting. It also is never enough for them. Along came her arranged fiancé, chosen by her parents to strengthen the partnership between the two families. If they had their way, they would have him control Caroline like they do including her assets. He expects her to be the quiet, demure wallflower socialite wife. Their expectations do not align with what she really wants and after an unforgivable incident she finally choses herself. She leaves everything behind and follows her heart with some guidance from his Grandmother.
When Killian and Caroline are forced together, their old friendship starts to evolve. They both wanted the other for years but Caroline was too afraid to follow Killian when he asked. Killian was afraid that staying would have destroyed him so he forced himself to leave without Caroline. Knowing all the facts would they have made the same decisions back them or will they move forward to a brighter future. Both Killian and Caroline are happier since they left California and together their careers seem to be flourishing as well. Caroline can finally put her law degree to real use and Killian has found new inspiration for his artwork.
I loved Killian and Caroline's story and how they have overcome their toxic parents. They might not gave a lot of friends but those they have are family. The meddling ladies including Gerry are hilarious. I enjoyed reading this book but there were a few places that lost me. I did love how the writer brought previously introduced characters from her hockey books into the story as well.
Thank you Ava Hill and LoveNotesPR for the ARC and the opportunity to review!
May 26, 2026
ARC REVIEW
Bad Influence by Ava Hill
⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5)
Caroline and Killian’s second-chance romance starts with exactly the kind of messy setup I love: she breaks off her engagement to his younger brother, Beckett, after discovering him cheating, and accidentally flees straight into Killian’s orbit. Caroline has spent her entire life being told that Killian was the wrong brother for her, so watching all of those carefully built family expectations start to crack was immediately compelling.
I did wish we had gotten a little more depth from Caroline beyond the surface level. She’s clearly trying to figure out who she is outside of her family’s control, but at times it felt like she traded one guiding force for another. Even though she talks about wanting independence, she still leans heavily on Killian’s grandmother and then on Killian himself once she lands in New York. I kept waiting for her to really step outside the life that had already been planned for her—especially professionally. Since she’d already conveniently taken the New York bar, I thought there was room for a bigger reinvention arc that never quite materialized.
That said… Killian absolutely carried this book for me. This man is peak grumpy, emotionally repressed MMC energy. He’s shut himself off from his family and built a quiet life away from California, but he has never stopped loving Caroline, and you can feel it in every interaction between them. The pining? Excellent. The quiet heartbreak of believing she would always belong to someone else? Even better. And honestly, I loved the restraint he showed while waiting for Caroline to fully figure herself out before acting on his feelings. It made the payoff feel much more earned.
The romance itself is definitely a slow burn, but once Caroline and Killian finally stop fighting the tension that’s been simmering between them for years, the chemistry absolutely delivers. All the longing, history, and “right person, wrong time” energy explode in the best way once they finally give in.
And honestly, one of my favorite parts was getting to see Lavinia and Roman from the Boston Titans world again, happily thriving together. I will always eat up little glimpses of previous couples living their HEAs.
Overall, this one really worked for me emotionally because of Killian’s character and the years of unresolved tension, even if I wanted a little more growth from Caroline along the way.
Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for providing an ARC!
Bad Influence by Ava Hill
⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5)
Caroline and Killian’s second-chance romance starts with exactly the kind of messy setup I love: she breaks off her engagement to his younger brother, Beckett, after discovering him cheating, and accidentally flees straight into Killian’s orbit. Caroline has spent her entire life being told that Killian was the wrong brother for her, so watching all of those carefully built family expectations start to crack was immediately compelling.
I did wish we had gotten a little more depth from Caroline beyond the surface level. She’s clearly trying to figure out who she is outside of her family’s control, but at times it felt like she traded one guiding force for another. Even though she talks about wanting independence, she still leans heavily on Killian’s grandmother and then on Killian himself once she lands in New York. I kept waiting for her to really step outside the life that had already been planned for her—especially professionally. Since she’d already conveniently taken the New York bar, I thought there was room for a bigger reinvention arc that never quite materialized.
That said… Killian absolutely carried this book for me. This man is peak grumpy, emotionally repressed MMC energy. He’s shut himself off from his family and built a quiet life away from California, but he has never stopped loving Caroline, and you can feel it in every interaction between them. The pining? Excellent. The quiet heartbreak of believing she would always belong to someone else? Even better. And honestly, I loved the restraint he showed while waiting for Caroline to fully figure herself out before acting on his feelings. It made the payoff feel much more earned.
The romance itself is definitely a slow burn, but once Caroline and Killian finally stop fighting the tension that’s been simmering between them for years, the chemistry absolutely delivers. All the longing, history, and “right person, wrong time” energy explode in the best way once they finally give in.
And honestly, one of my favorite parts was getting to see Lavinia and Roman from the Boston Titans world again, happily thriving together. I will always eat up little glimpses of previous couples living their HEAs.
Overall, this one really worked for me emotionally because of Killian’s character and the years of unresolved tension, even if I wanted a little more growth from Caroline along the way.
Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for providing an ARC!
June 3, 2026
***ARC REVIEW***
Bad Influence By Ava Hill
I enjoyed this book and had a good time reading it
After finding her fiancé cheating on her, Caroline is shocked when their families expect her to pretend that nothing has happened and be the silent trophy wife she was raised to become. Angry, disappointed, and feeling dejected, Caroline runs away to New York City, to an apartment gifted to her by her fiancé’s grandmother. But shortly after arriving in the city, she finds that the apartment is already occupied by a very grumpy, very handsome, and familiar tenant, her ex-fiancé’s older brother.
Cutting off his family and moving across the country was the only way for Killian to escape his family's control. Leaving everything behind was easy, but his only regret was that he had left behind the only woman he’d ever wanted. Caroline would always belong to his brother, and when he selfishly asked her to run away with him, she turned him down. He left her in the past and never imagined that Caroline would show up in his New York apartment.
With nowhere else to go, Killian lets Caroline stay in the apartment while she figures out what her life will look like now that her family is no longer dictating her every move. And once Killian realizes that Caroline is ready to leave her family behind, he becomes determined to finally chase the woman of his dreams.
This book grabbed my attention right away, and I flew through the first several chapters. I really enjoyed the premise, the forced proximity, and both main characters on an individual level.
Caroline's journey had a lot of potential. Early on, she's presented as someone who has spent her life following the path her parents chose for her, struggling to make decisions independently. Once she arrives in New York, though, she seems to adapt fairly quickly, and I found myself wanting to see her challenged more. Watching her navigate obstacles on her own and grow into her independence would have added another layer to her character arc.
Killian was exactly the kind of grumpy MMC I love reading about, but I struggled a bit with the romance itself. While the chemistry between him and Caroline was definitely there, I wanted more development to show how their feelings evolved beyond attraction. Since they've known each other since childhood, I think a few flashbacks from Killian's perspective could have strengthened the emotional connection and made their love story feel even more believable.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and had a good time reading it. It had so many elements that I typically love, and while it didn't quite become a five-star read for me, I can absolutely see why others would connect with it.
Bad Influence By Ava Hill
I enjoyed this book and had a good time reading it
After finding her fiancé cheating on her, Caroline is shocked when their families expect her to pretend that nothing has happened and be the silent trophy wife she was raised to become. Angry, disappointed, and feeling dejected, Caroline runs away to New York City, to an apartment gifted to her by her fiancé’s grandmother. But shortly after arriving in the city, she finds that the apartment is already occupied by a very grumpy, very handsome, and familiar tenant, her ex-fiancé’s older brother.
Cutting off his family and moving across the country was the only way for Killian to escape his family's control. Leaving everything behind was easy, but his only regret was that he had left behind the only woman he’d ever wanted. Caroline would always belong to his brother, and when he selfishly asked her to run away with him, she turned him down. He left her in the past and never imagined that Caroline would show up in his New York apartment.
With nowhere else to go, Killian lets Caroline stay in the apartment while she figures out what her life will look like now that her family is no longer dictating her every move. And once Killian realizes that Caroline is ready to leave her family behind, he becomes determined to finally chase the woman of his dreams.
This book grabbed my attention right away, and I flew through the first several chapters. I really enjoyed the premise, the forced proximity, and both main characters on an individual level.
Caroline's journey had a lot of potential. Early on, she's presented as someone who has spent her life following the path her parents chose for her, struggling to make decisions independently. Once she arrives in New York, though, she seems to adapt fairly quickly, and I found myself wanting to see her challenged more. Watching her navigate obstacles on her own and grow into her independence would have added another layer to her character arc.
Killian was exactly the kind of grumpy MMC I love reading about, but I struggled a bit with the romance itself. While the chemistry between him and Caroline was definitely there, I wanted more development to show how their feelings evolved beyond attraction. Since they've known each other since childhood, I think a few flashbacks from Killian's perspective could have strengthened the emotional connection and made their love story feel even more believable.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and had a good time reading it. It had so many elements that I typically love, and while it didn't quite become a five-star read for me, I can absolutely see why others would connect with it.
June 4, 2026
3/5 stars
Bad Influence was my very first book by Ava Hill, so I went into this completely blind regarding her writing style, storytelling, and overall vibe. While it didn’t totally blow me away, it was a solid, entertaining introduction to her work, and it definitely had some standout moments!
The premise of this book completely hooked me. We follow Caroline, a people-pleaser who finally snaps after catching her cheating boyfriend—and her immediate revenge against him was hands down one of my favorite parts of the book. Escaping her toxic family and her ex-fiancé, she ends up running straight into the path of his brother, Killian.
Killian and Caroline have that perfect grumpy x sunshine going for them. Killian is a tattooed, brooding artist, and Caroline is a lawyer. I loved how patient and steady Killian was with her, especially since he’s been secretly head over heels for her for years. The moment he realized she was finally single, a switch flipped! The tension between them was great, and the spice was definitely spicing—the intimacy focused heavily on him taking care of her, which was so sweet given how poorly she’d been treated in the past.
Plus, I was so pleasantly surprised that we didn't get a dreaded third-act breakup! The way they handled the final obstacles in their relationship was actually super satisfying and sweet.
However, there were just a few little things that kept this from being a 4 or 5-star read for me:
The Connection & Pacing:
It took me a few days to truly get into the story. While I liked the characters, I felt like the romance and emotional developments moved a bit too quickly at times. Because of the fast pace, I struggled to fully connect with them on a deeper, emotional level and wish we had gotten just a bit more depth to really make their bond hit home.
Character Dynamics:
While I loved how protective Killian was, there were a few moments where his behavior crossed a line for me. Sometimes it felt like he was treating Caroline a bit too much like a child who couldn't make her own decisions, rather than an independent adult, which took away from their chemistry a little bit.
A Few Minor Details:
There were a couple of tiny plot points regarding the tattooing world that felt a bit unrealistic to me—like Caroline being an absolute natural the very first time she held a tattoo gun. It didn't ruin the story by any means, but it did make me pause for a second.
Overall, if you are looking for a genuinely fun, light, and spicy read about a heroine finding her confidence along the way, I would definitely recommend giving this a try! It’s a super cute story and I’m really glad I read it. Thank you Love Notes PR for the ARC :)
Bad Influence was my very first book by Ava Hill, so I went into this completely blind regarding her writing style, storytelling, and overall vibe. While it didn’t totally blow me away, it was a solid, entertaining introduction to her work, and it definitely had some standout moments!
The premise of this book completely hooked me. We follow Caroline, a people-pleaser who finally snaps after catching her cheating boyfriend—and her immediate revenge against him was hands down one of my favorite parts of the book. Escaping her toxic family and her ex-fiancé, she ends up running straight into the path of his brother, Killian.
Killian and Caroline have that perfect grumpy x sunshine going for them. Killian is a tattooed, brooding artist, and Caroline is a lawyer. I loved how patient and steady Killian was with her, especially since he’s been secretly head over heels for her for years. The moment he realized she was finally single, a switch flipped! The tension between them was great, and the spice was definitely spicing—the intimacy focused heavily on him taking care of her, which was so sweet given how poorly she’d been treated in the past.
Plus, I was so pleasantly surprised that we didn't get a dreaded third-act breakup! The way they handled the final obstacles in their relationship was actually super satisfying and sweet.
However, there were just a few little things that kept this from being a 4 or 5-star read for me:
The Connection & Pacing:
It took me a few days to truly get into the story. While I liked the characters, I felt like the romance and emotional developments moved a bit too quickly at times. Because of the fast pace, I struggled to fully connect with them on a deeper, emotional level and wish we had gotten just a bit more depth to really make their bond hit home.
Character Dynamics:
While I loved how protective Killian was, there were a few moments where his behavior crossed a line for me. Sometimes it felt like he was treating Caroline a bit too much like a child who couldn't make her own decisions, rather than an independent adult, which took away from their chemistry a little bit.
A Few Minor Details:
There were a couple of tiny plot points regarding the tattooing world that felt a bit unrealistic to me—like Caroline being an absolute natural the very first time she held a tattoo gun. It didn't ruin the story by any means, but it did make me pause for a second.
Overall, if you are looking for a genuinely fun, light, and spicy read about a heroine finding her confidence along the way, I would definitely recommend giving this a try! It’s a super cute story and I’m really glad I read it. Thank you Love Notes PR for the ARC :)
June 5, 2026
I received an advanced reader copy of this book by lovenotes pr and I am writing an honest review voluntarily.
What initially pulled me in to read this book were the tropes—the blurb sounded exactly like something I would enjoy. It started off really good, I thought it’d be a 5-star read. But unfortunately, somewhere along the way, I found myself losing interest.
For me, the main issue was the characters. I really liked them in the beginning, but they felt very inconsistent. They couldn’t build a consistent identity, so I was left confused, wondering if they were the same characters as in the beginning of the story.
Caroline in particular felt quite inconsistent. She is portrayed as someone who is really sheltered and inexperienced with the world, which I understood given her background and lack of control over her life. However, I didn’t like how her naivety was greatly emphasized throughout the story. This also felt contradictory when you consider the fact that she completed law school, was smart enough to pass the bar exam, and worked as a lawyer. This would usually suggest she’d have some level of independence and wouldn’t constantly worry about the world. To me, it felt like she was painted in such a light just to position her as someone who needed to be “protected” by Killian. It felt like Killian being in her life suddenly fixed her—it probably wasn’t the intention, but as a reader, that is what I felt.
Speaking of Killian, I initially thought I would really enjoy his character. But I found myself liking him less as the story progressed. His brooding, possessive MMC traits sometimes felt forced, and some of his dialogue didn’t land well for me. The spice scenes and dialogue also occasionally felt uncomfortable and took me out of the story.
The overall plot itself wasn’t necessarily bad—I really liked the ex-fiancé’s older brother trope—but the pacing felt quite slow, and I kept waiting for a stronger climax or turning point, which made it harder to keep my interest. I wish the plot had been developed better, with more insight into Killian and Caroline’s past, because it was a bit confusing at times.
Finally, I think if the plot isn’t very strong, the characters need to carry the story, and vice versa. Unfortunately, neither worked for me in this book.
That said, I don’t think this is an objectively bad book at all—it just wasn’t for me due to the reasons I mentioned above, and I can definitely see other readers enjoying it!
What initially pulled me in to read this book were the tropes—the blurb sounded exactly like something I would enjoy. It started off really good, I thought it’d be a 5-star read. But unfortunately, somewhere along the way, I found myself losing interest.
For me, the main issue was the characters. I really liked them in the beginning, but they felt very inconsistent. They couldn’t build a consistent identity, so I was left confused, wondering if they were the same characters as in the beginning of the story.
Caroline in particular felt quite inconsistent. She is portrayed as someone who is really sheltered and inexperienced with the world, which I understood given her background and lack of control over her life. However, I didn’t like how her naivety was greatly emphasized throughout the story. This also felt contradictory when you consider the fact that she completed law school, was smart enough to pass the bar exam, and worked as a lawyer. This would usually suggest she’d have some level of independence and wouldn’t constantly worry about the world. To me, it felt like she was painted in such a light just to position her as someone who needed to be “protected” by Killian. It felt like Killian being in her life suddenly fixed her—it probably wasn’t the intention, but as a reader, that is what I felt.
Speaking of Killian, I initially thought I would really enjoy his character. But I found myself liking him less as the story progressed. His brooding, possessive MMC traits sometimes felt forced, and some of his dialogue didn’t land well for me. The spice scenes and dialogue also occasionally felt uncomfortable and took me out of the story.
The overall plot itself wasn’t necessarily bad—I really liked the ex-fiancé’s older brother trope—but the pacing felt quite slow, and I kept waiting for a stronger climax or turning point, which made it harder to keep my interest. I wish the plot had been developed better, with more insight into Killian and Caroline’s past, because it was a bit confusing at times.
Finally, I think if the plot isn’t very strong, the characters need to carry the story, and vice versa. Unfortunately, neither worked for me in this book.
That said, I don’t think this is an objectively bad book at all—it just wasn’t for me due to the reasons I mentioned above, and I can definitely see other readers enjoying it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews