When we meet Delilah, she has just moved to LA and is kind of a social baby. People kind of know who she is (thanks to a video that went viral of her saving a dog from a burning house), but she’s so clueless about what she even needs to do to take her fifteen minutes of fame and translate it into a life as a top social media personality.

Still, she’s working on it. And two of the most famous influencers, Fiona and Jasmine, have taken her under their wing. She has potential sponsors coming out of the woodwork who want to work with her and she finds herself invited to all the top parties (even though no one even really wants to be there except the fans). But when she falls in love-on accident- with another influencer’s boyfriend, she is very close to getting shut down before she even gets going.

The first part of the book was entertaining enough, introducing this vapid, superficial world where image is the only thing that matters. But after a while, I was craving something. I needed something to happen. And then it did – literally 60% of the way through the book. Which seemed strange to me.

Then from there it just kind of went. And in the end, it felt like a Scooby Doo/afterschool special type of ending. But as I’ve mentioned earlier in this post, I am no way the intended audience for this book. And I can totally see it turning into something more. A CW show? A made for TV movie? We will see.

Buckingham and Shepard have created some colorful characters that remind me a lot of the real-life (or were they?) shenanigans on Laguna Beach. Teens and young adults with more fame than they know what to do with, and no talent to back it up. But that kind of makes them genius, doesn’t it?

Special thanks to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review. I think one is best left to the age-appropriate YA readers. This one is out January 5, 2021. Pick up a copy for the teen reader in your life. They will eat it up!

When I heard about a new Sara Shepard book, I immediately wanted to read it. I love gossipy thrillers like Pretty Little Liars and The Elizas. In Influence, written with coauthor Lilia Buckingham, the girls are all Instagram models, which I thought would add a fun social media twist to a dramatic, backstabby story. I follow a lot of themed Instagram accounts: book cover flatlays, of course, but also quarantine baking fails, art history memes, found object jewelry, etc., and I thought it would be fun to see the Instagram lifestyle.

The narration changes between different characters, but since they're all kinda generic and vacuous influencers, it's hard to keep track of who is speaking. The girls angst a lot about the difficulties of being a brand, but I didn't really see what their brands are or what made any of their IG accounts different from each other. At parties, less famous influencers tried to take photos with more famous ones, while the most famous influencers were sad about going publicity parties all the time. I found myself skimming, and I never skim in a Sara Shepard novel! Gotta catch all the details and try to guess the twists!

Mostly, this didn't work for me because there was nothing aspirational about these influencers. They weren't passionate about makeup or photography or community or really anything. The girls were famous for being famous, and even the secretly-tortured side didn't work because there was nothing particularly bad about being Instagram famous. Give me Collette Bing any day!

One of the influencers is a former tween star (Oh! I did enjoy the descriptions of a thinly-veiled Disney Channel!), famous for wearing cute rainbows, who longs to wear black leather and Louboutins. A real teen might well try this identity experimentation, but such a heavy 180° feels overdone in fiction.  Same thing with the Puppy Girl burning building rescue, Delilah not seeing or recognizing Jack, Delilah never getting recognized in public until she wants to prove that she's insta-famous, etc. There's no one event that goes too far, just a series of too-perfect coincidences that start to strain credulity and also start to get boring.

Finally, I wasn't sure if this book was supposed to be for kids. The murder(s), secret pregnancy, and evil frenemy actions more made this feel like YA, but the story also ties off with a heavy-handed Be Yourself! message, in an afterschool-special kind of way. Maybe this is the new Goosebumps, middle-grades fiction, with a body count.

I have read quite a few of the PLL books and really enjoyed so I was excited to see another book by Shepard. I may not be the target demographic, since I don't follow Youtube celebrities which this story focuses on but I just could not get into it. The relationships weren't given enough time to feel real, I had a hard time believing characters feelings for each other when they had known each other for a few days. Closer to the end it did pick up but I almost DNF this. Might be better for a younger target demographic.

The first 50% of Influence, was very slow in my opinion. There were moments when I felt bored with the story and wondered whether anything was going to happen to grab my attention. Unfortunately, it took a character death to make me think I was going to love Influence.

I kept going back and forth on my feelings about some of the characters. I loved Jasmine from beginning to end. But Delilah and Fiona made some decisions that made me go back and forth on whether I liked them or not. I loved the representation each of the characters gave us. Delilah being diabetic meant so much to me considering I have type 2 and I feel like I rarely see any representation for diabetes in young adult novels.

All the plot twists had me surprised. I could not predict a single one even if I tried. And this is a huge compliment coming from me because usually, I can predict the solution to any of the problems and in a mystery/thriller that makes me dislike the book.

Overall, I enjoyed Influence and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it in the end.

What a fun read! I would've loved a book like this growing up but this was still a great read as adult..

Influence
by Sara Shepard; Lilia Buckingham
Pub Date: 05 Jan 2021
Read courtesy of http://netgalley.com

Glad I stuck with it! Went from an almost DNF to 3 stars to 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐. Might have been my disinterest, disdain, or dread of the effect social media has on this generation of teens that initially had me turned off, but as the plot developed, there was a real story behind all of the 'influencing' going on. [Get your cringe ready for an "in my day" story... when I was a teen, we were only worried if our business got out there if the teacher intercepted a note we passed in class or a parent picked up the extension of the phone while we were on the line.]

I read the beginning trying to deny or dismiss the reality that so many teens hope they'll be the next Internet sensation and monetize their notoriety. I didn't just want to be reading about the wannabes and cliques. By persisting, I was gifted with a well-crafted story that highlighted the not-so-glamorous side of teen Internet fame as well as the public perks. I'm sure Sara Shepard's fandom will be hooked on Influence as much as they are on Pretty Little Liars. Even readers unfamiliar with the Pretty Little Liars series (insert blush and finger-pointing here) will become engrossed as the author deftly crafted false leads as to whom the murderer could have been. I liked flip-flopping my choice of criminal as the story progressed.

There's something for everyone in the book: physical and mental illnesses, friendships and back-stabbing, romances and break-ups, straight and gay, good home lives and dysfunctional families, and race-fluid characters. parties and murder. This will be a great addition to my HS library.

I haven't read a Sara Shepard book since I binged Pretty Little Liars years ago, but this was another fun take on high school girls and all the drama that can be involved. This has been the first book I've read from an influencer's perspective, which is a relatively new concept. This was fun and dramatic!

Ten years ago we had an influx of books about the destructive nature of fame centered on reality tv. Now that is being supplanted by explorations of Influencer culture. I like the primary approach of this novel. We have a cast of characters whose relationships with fame span the spectrum from the child star transitioning her career to an adult role to the wide-eyed innocent. Having each girl addressing a different aspect of the realities of fame is clever and easily absorbed.

I was very interested in this book because so many of the people that fill up our students news feeds are influencers. I immediately thought this book would catch their eye. It was a little slow in the beginning but picked up after a few twists and turns. I think this book did a great job showing the darker side of social media and what it is like behind the scenes for some influencers. The drama mixed with mystery left me wanting more and the author did a great job at not giving the ending away. Overall I would recommend for any library that has YA.

Influence was a great mixture between writings of Shepard and Buckingham. It gave me the Pretty Little Liars feel that I expected from Sara Shepard but with a nice twist. I love this story. I don't think I have read anything along the lines of influencers, so it was kind of nice, especially since I am in that world even though I focus on books. Alot of people don't see all the behind the scenes drama or issues that some influencers experience. Character development was great and I am all about the drama!

Influence is about social media and people getting famous for nothing. It's the world kids live in these days. Add in lots of drama and a little murder and you've got a fast-paced story that is sure to be a hit. This would be a great choice for Teen Book Club. It has lots of talking points and wraps up neatly with a good message. An interesting note: the author, Lilia Buckingham, was only 12 when she wrote this book!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from Netgallery and all I can say is wow. If you love mysteries and the inside world of influencers then this book is for you. I have always loved the works of Sara Shepard and knew I had to get this ASAP.

Thank you to Net Galley and Delacorte Press for the ARC!

Influence is a book by mega author Sara Shepard and 16 year old real influencer, Lilia Buckingham. This book is similar to Shepard's other works in that it is told through multiple perspectives. There is Delilah an up and coming influencer that just moved to LA, Fiona Jacobs an influencer that suffers from OCD, Jasmine Walters-Diaz, a child star desperate to break free, and Scarlet Leigh, the influencer with the perfect life, that may not be so perfect behind the scenes.

The book follows Delilah as she befriends the other influencers, attends events, and quickly becomes embroiled in drama. Being that it is a Shepard book, of course someone ends up dead and we don't know whodunit. This was a quick read and the glimpse into the rigors of being an influencer was interesting. It is important for teens to see that social media fame isn't always as beautiful as it looks.

just want to take this time to say-wow! Lilia is an amazing writer! I’m so glad Sara gave her the opportunity to share her story! I was instantly hooked! I loved this book so much! So many scandals and juicy secrets! A twisty-page turner that’ll keep you guessing until the end. 5/5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)
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A group of young girls, all in the spotlight in the influencer game; a world where their every move is watched, analyzed and judged; gossip, secrets and lies are revealed and reality exposed.

This book about social media influencers adds an element of suspense and whodunit, reminiscent of Pretty Little Liars. In classic Sara Shepard style, she has you questioning who to trust and who is behind all the spiteful and vindictive episodes. With a diverse set of relatable characters all under the demands and pressures of appearing to be perfect, you’ll question every one of their motives. Alternating between the point of views of three girls, you get a glimpse into their worlds, their secrets, and what they want you to see versus reality. I found myself placing blame on everyone and surprised with the conclusion. I feel like I have more questions than answers and not all the loose ends were tied up. There was so much going on, so many lies and so much deceit, that it was hard to believe that any teenager would experience all of this without their parents shutting things down. I mean, when I was their age, I had dial-up internet that took over the phone lines AND my parents put a time limit on AOL so it would automatically sign me off after a total of one hour spent on it a day. I would never have gotten away with any of this, nor would I have been able to be an influencer with only seven hours a week to be online. 🤣 Influence is very much a young adult read but the juicy drama and suspense was entertaining for any age.

Thank you @Netgalley and @DelacortePress {#partner} for gifting me with an advanced readers copy in exchange for an independent and honest review. This book was originally supposed to be published tomorrow but looks like it got pushed out until 01/05/2021. I hope nothing gets changed in the meantime or I’ll have some serious FOMO.

I was fortunate to receive a Netgalley ARC of Influence, Sara Shepard’s collaboration with Lilia Buckingham that sheds light on the inner workings of the Instagram elite. Delilah’s family has just moved to Los Angeles when her Instagram stardom hits a new level; soon, she is befriending social media stars Jasmine and Fiona, attending social media events, and kickstarting a promising influencer career. She even meets a drop-dead gorgeous guy who seems super interested in her—the only problem is he turns out to be Jack Dono, one half of the famed “Jacklet” ship adored by fans around the world, and his girlfriend Scarlet is known for her ruthless retaliation against anyone who stands in the way of her and perfection. Things quickly get complicated, and, in the tradition of Pretty Little Liars, the gossip takes a dark and deadly turn that keeps readers guessing until the end.

Beyond the juiciness of the plot twists, I found myself glued to the pages for the glance Shepherd and Buckingham offer of the less-than-glamorous aspects of social media fame. Lilia starts Influence with a letter that points out, “Our lives are perfect—or so everyone thinks,” and the novel shows that the influencer glamour comes at the expense of anxiety disorders, carefully created personas, fake friends, and a lack of freedom. While this certainly won’t change the allure of social media stars, it may give readers a small reality check about what goes on behind the scenes of their favorite accounts.

A strong purchase for school libraries, Influence is sure to appeal to aspiring social media starlets as well as fans of the CW’s Riverdale or Karen McManus’ One of Us is Lying.

This is one of the best thrillers for the social media age I've seen. Sara Shepard is amazing at writing interesting situations and characters that are complex and dynamic. This story revolves around social media so you don't have to follow a lot of influencers to understand the story, but you need to know who influencers are.
It's perfect for fans of Katharine McGee's Thousandth Floor series or Sara Shepard's other books the Pretty Little Liars series.

Sometimes I felt so old while reading this it almost felt like a culturally study. Othertimes I knew exactly what the characters were going through. Both of those emotions are a pretty tough needle to thread.

I am not really sure how to start out about this book- mostly I have mixed feelings. Sara Shepard is such a big name and has a big following with the success of Pretty Little Liars and the Perfectionists. I was a relatively big fan of Pretty Little Liars both the book series and TV series. I think that it was truly one of the first of its kind to capitalize on how easily a book series could be transferred to a TV show instead of a movie. I think that they were beyond successful with it- which in some ways made this book difficult to read.

Sara Shepard and Lilia Buckingham wrote a fictional work of what it is like to be an Instagram Influencer. So you get all of the drama and intrigue of their lives under the camera 'filter' but also add some murder and mystery to the mix. There were many times that this book lagged- when reading the Kindle version from Netgalley the murder did not even happen until nearly 75% in. This was disappointing to me because I felt like it would just become another Pretty Little Liars series that they can write a billion books in and enjoy. This was my assumption, and while I am not sure I was wrong, I don't think I was 100% right either. The end of the book does end on enough of a cliffhanger for them to continue the book series if there is enough demand (which I am sure there will be). But the book does also tie up the loose ends enough for it to be a good stand alone novel as well.

The characters that Lilia made up and the plot that Sara put together will end up being a winning combination. I know plenty of young girls and boys who will love this story. I loved the 3 main characters, and the multiple point of view narrative style. I think this will be another hit to add to both Sara Shepard's resume and one of many firsts or Lilia Buckingham.

In regards to if I will purchase this book for my school library- time will tell. This book comes out in Jan 2021 which gives me time to see how many of Sara Shepard's books are circulating and to see how many requests I get. http://kaitlynrcarpenter.weebly.com/blog/influence-by-sara-shepard-and-lilia-buckingham

Influence by Sara Shepard and Lilia Buckingham is a great addition to any high school girl's library. Or really any lover of contemporary!

I have loved every Sara Shepard book that I have read and Influence did not disappoint! Influence follows the story of a few teen social media influencers. This page turning, mystery held my attention from the very beginning. If you enjoy stories involving friendships, mystery, and intrigue you will love Influence.