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The Influence
Fadi dreams of leaving his corporate job in Dubai to manage his wife Laura's influencer career, but their plans never seem to take off. Surrounded by friends who have achieved the success they crave, Fadi and Laura struggle with mounting frustration and insecurity.
Set against the perfumed backdrop of Beirut's upper class - its Lagree studios and Faqra chalets, its influencer wives and full-time manager husbands - The Influence begins as a razor-sharp social satire of ambition and envy. But when a sudden tragedy hits the group, and Fadi begins blacking out, waking up in his car at 3 a.m. with half a tank of gas gone and a stranger's earring on the passenger seat, the comedy starts to curdle into something far a psychological thriller where suspicion, paranoia and gossip reign, and where a Cartier watch can outlast a human life.
The Influence is Rabih Salloum's second novel. The kind of book that makes you laugh until you realize it's laughing at you.
Set against the perfumed backdrop of Beirut's upper class - its Lagree studios and Faqra chalets, its influencer wives and full-time manager husbands - The Influence begins as a razor-sharp social satire of ambition and envy. But when a sudden tragedy hits the group, and Fadi begins blacking out, waking up in his car at 3 a.m. with half a tank of gas gone and a stranger's earring on the passenger seat, the comedy starts to curdle into something far a psychological thriller where suspicion, paranoia and gossip reign, and where a Cartier watch can outlast a human life.
The Influence is Rabih Salloum's second novel. The kind of book that makes you laugh until you realize it's laughing at you.
272 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2026
About the author
Rabih Salloum
2 books3 followersRabih Salloum is a writer and musician from Jounieh, Lebanon. His work has been published in New York Magazine, Contributor, L'Orient-Le-Jour, The Outpost, The Decadent Review, and Bespoke among others. Salloum also teaches philosophy at the American University of Beirut. His career in music includes acts like Grave Jones, the Wanton Bishops and Slutterhouse. He currently is the author of two novels: Sand Bodies and The Influence.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 16, 2026
I was intrigued when I spotted this book in a bookstore, and while it wasn’t quite my cup of tea, I can’t deny that it’s an easy, compelling page-turner. finished it in a day.
My main issue was that the writing felt more YA than I expected, especially given that the characters are in their 30s. I also wished for more depth in the characters and their conversations. The story’s focus on appearance, status, and influencer culture makes the emphasis on clothes and brand names understandable, but I found the repeated descriptions a little excessive (how many times do we need to be told that the main character was drinking San Pellegrino at home?) Some of the recurring details and plot devices (like the main character being told by others they saw him somewhere he doesn't recall going to) also began to feel repetitive, and the ending left me somewhat puzzled about what the author was ultimately trying to achieve.
That said, the book definitely has that “just one more chapter” quality. I just wish the plot had felt more substantial and the characters more fully developed.
My main issue was that the writing felt more YA than I expected, especially given that the characters are in their 30s. I also wished for more depth in the characters and their conversations. The story’s focus on appearance, status, and influencer culture makes the emphasis on clothes and brand names understandable, but I found the repeated descriptions a little excessive (how many times do we need to be told that the main character was drinking San Pellegrino at home?) Some of the recurring details and plot devices (like the main character being told by others they saw him somewhere he doesn't recall going to) also began to feel repetitive, and the ending left me somewhat puzzled about what the author was ultimately trying to achieve.
That said, the book definitely has that “just one more chapter” quality. I just wish the plot had felt more substantial and the characters more fully developed.
August 16, 2026
Couldn't put this novel down. It's such a perfect picture of Beirut nouveau riche circles I grew up close to, but also extremely relatable to any young couples trying to navigate the fake, influencer world without losing their minds across the globe. The twists were unexpected and rewarding, and every chapter had an insightful, often deep cut into the ills and mundaneness of modern life. It's atmospheric in its descriptions, but never overindulges, always just the right amount. It leaves you a lot of space for filling things in yourself, then blindsides you ever so subtlety.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews