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Bad Influence

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‘An emotional rollercoaster of a story. Aimee writes so engagingly about heartbreak, friendship and the dangerous pursuit of Instaperfection - I was hooked as these characters' dramas unfolded’ - Sarah Turner (The Unmumsy Mum)

‘Made me laugh, made me cry, made me reflect on my own truth too. Aimee weaves compassion, honesty and wit into everything she writes. BAD INFLUENCE will pull you into its embrace, breaking and then truly warming your heart - I absolutely loved it’ - Caroline Smailes

‘Prepare for all the feels with this witty yet incredibly tender story that looks at the reality behind the Insta perfect lives we see online and asks whether the secret to true happiness is much more simple than we’ve ever realised. Hugely recommended’ - Claire Frost


‘Rich, heartwarming and hilarious with brilliantly relatable characters’ - Lynsey James

100% of pre-order royalties will go to Lincoln Hospital Chemo Ward.


Will Sarah’s determination to be the perfect Instamum mean she loses everything?

Sarah and Tom's baby daughter has died, and they're in danger of losing their way: Sarah wants another baby, and Tom is terrified of reliving the heartache. Unable to see how they can move on with their lives, in desperation Sarah reconnects with her old life online – and her obsession with the family life she longs for begins to threaten everything she's ever had or wanted.

Ellie and her daughter were happy before Paige's father, Steve, absent since her birth, comes back into their lives and sweeps them both off their feet – but is Ellie's desire for the ideal family blinding her to a darker truth? And how long will it take Steve to discover the secret that connects Ellie and Sarah to one another?

BAD INFLUENCE is about striving for perfection when you already have everything you need - and risking it all in the process, confronting issues of baby loss and emotional abuse that will be instantly recognisable to many readers.

‘Sometimes sad, often funny, always thought-provoking, this story will stay with me for a long time’ - Kerry Barrett

‘An emotional and heartwarming read, filled with warmth and characters I cared about deeply. I couldn’t put it down’ Darcie Boleyn

'A brilliant and emotional read that will wrench your heart before filling it with warmth and hope. Loved it!' - Jen Faulkner

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 10, 2022

4 people want to read

About the author

Aimee Horton

14 books28 followers
Aimee is from Lincoln, England, where she enjoys drinking gin and spending time with her family (and she won't tell you which of those she prefers doing). As a child, one of her favourite parts of the summer holidays was to devour all the books in a little book shop in Devon. She continued reading at lightning speed right up until having children. She now reads with eyes propped open by match sticks.

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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Profile Image for Kirsty.
48 reviews1 follower
February 19, 2022
Exceptional funny. You really became invested with the characters. Didn’t want it to end. And a little disappointed that it has. Would definitely read it again.

Well done Aimee for such a cleverly written book!
Profile Image for Rachel.
Author 112 books212 followers
February 10, 2022
A very beautiful and unflinching book about sisterhood, making a family in whatever way you want to/can, but more importantly, social media. Are all your house corners Instagram ready? Do you obsess over how you look on social media? A very modern take on truth, reality and filtering your own life to make it look or feel better. A great read, perfect for today's modern times. The characters are real, relatable and emotionally driven throughout the book. Grab a cuppa, put Instagram down and read for yourself. A very good read, one of my favourites for 2022!
Profile Image for Hannah Wilson .
434 reviews18 followers
June 6, 2022
This book had me feeling all of the emotions; sadness, happiness, laughter, shock, anger… Aimee packs a little bit of everything into this!

I also had rather strong reactions to a few of the characters, I absolutely loved the relationship between Ellie and Paige but Steve, oh I did not like him at all! I think I repeatedly wanted him just to go away 😂

Aimee’s inclusion of ‘insta reality’ was really eye opening and its so true that a picture can hide a thousand words. You never really know what’s going on behind closed doors.

This is a harrowing, emotional rollercoaster of a read that will stay with you as a reader for a long time. I can’t wait to read more of Aimee’s work now!
Profile Image for Samantha.
93 reviews8 followers
March 11, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the mix of linked characters of which Ellie is probably my favourite. A really relatable and 'real life' read with exactly the right mix of twists and anticipation. Food for thought when the impact of social media starts affecting the characters lives. I was definitely left wanting to know more so I sincerely hope a follow up is on its way?? Highly recommended read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews

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