Almond Hazel Browns whole life has been online, thanks to her influencer mother, who’s been posting about her since the day she was born, and her own influencer status growing during the 2020 lockdowns. But she’s had enough, wants out, and she has a plan…right after they get the paycheck from a huge skincare collaboration, and she can get away from it all.

I found this book fascinating, as like many others, there is a curiosity as to what it must feel like to of been one of those children who have been brought up online, in front of thousands, sometimes millions, of others. I think this book did a really good job of looking into what that must be like - the nostalgic happiness of being able to rewatch good days from your past, easily accessible on YouTube, but then also having people watching and laughing at videos of your recently divorced parents arguing, right in front of you. The money from brand deals, versus having people feel like they know who you really are, rather than them just seeing a snapshot of your life - and normally only the good parts.

This book also touches on mental health, self harm, internet drama, racism, blackmail, and deep fakes. It genuinely got quite dark at times, darker than I was expecting, but it’s also pretty realistic in regards to what some people will do, especially when hidden behind an anonymous username online. A brilliant YA, regarding a subject that I think will only grow in the upcoming years, as the real life influencer kids grow up, and begin to question just how much of themselves they really want to share online.

Thank you to netgalley and Faber books for the early copy to review.

Influential surprised me if I’m honest. I didn’t expect to enjoy it quite as much as I did. From the get-go, the writing style really suited me and it made for such a quick yet fun read. There was a lot of drama, but it was the type that leads you to say ‘just one more chapter’ and then continue to read for another hour.

I always find books about influencers so interesting. It’s a world I’m almost completely isolated from as I don’t use social media very much, so everything about it is a bit of a novelty.

This is the first one I’ve read where the influencer the book is about hates what they do. I really feel for Almond throughout the whole of the book, she didn’t get a say in whether or not she wants to be an influencer and because it’s her mom she can’t really say no. Well, she can because everyone has a choice but it’s different when it’s your parents wanting you to do something.

I honestly kept forgetting that Influential was set in the UK because it really didn’t feel British to me. The book felt very American, especially as the author kept using Americanisms for a lot of words. British people don’t tend to use ‘yard’. Not that this a huge issue though, it doesn’t really matter where it’s set.

The number of complex characters in Influential was actually very impressive. I loved Almond’s friend group because they were all very interesting in their own ways. Heather in particular was my favourite as from day one she had Almond’s back and she was such a good friend.

The diversity in this book was also very well done. Not every character was white, hetero and slim which is often what happens in most YA books. Big props to Amara Sage for creating a cast of characters that were very diverse, but didn’t feel forced.
Influential, was such an interesting read that tackled a lot of problems we currently face in a social media lead world. An area I found particularly interesting was Almond almost resenting her mother for posting her online as a child without her consent. This is something I often think about when influencers post their children online, most do so with good intentions - like Almond’s mom - but it can cause future harm.

The whole social media world and its problems were explored very well throughout and it was great to see a different side to an influencer's story.

I’d definitely recommend Influential if you are looking for a quick read that while fun at times, deals with social issues. There are a lot of content/trigger warnings for this book so I would definitely check those out before picking this up. However, a lot of them are just implied and never come to fruition. It’s always best to be sure though, stay safe!

4.5*

Influential is a hard, real look at the online phenomenon of influencers, and the effect their perfect, filtered lives have on the youngest of them. Almond Brown is 17 and has nearly 3 million followers - her mother is the queen of self care, who pays the bills with brand deals and sponsorships, and who has shared Almond with the internet from her youngest years. But Almond is tired, and she wants out. The brand deal that will set her up for years is just a few weeks away - then she can walk away from it all. If only the internet were so simple.

This book is incredibly readable and fast paced and tense at times, while also showing us Almond's developing relationships with her new friends (and boy she's interested in), as well as taking time for her complex relationship with her parents and gramma. Her love-hate relationship with her mother is especially compelling, and I thought Eve was a wonderful character despite her flaws.

I particularly enjoyed the dialogue between Almond, Joss and Heather, as I felt like I was really reading three teenagers talking to each other. The characterisation in this book is very well done!

I would heed the content warnings for this book however, as the subject matter it delves into, while incredibly important, is also extremely heavy. The things which Almond experiences in this book are unfortunately not unsurprising or uncommon, for any woman with even a meagre internet following, but it is good to see a book addressing such things with the importance they need - there are many Almond's and Imogen's out there in the world, unfortunately vulnerable to online dangers.

A very timely and relevant read that I will be encouraging all the young people I work with to pick. A reminder that the world of social media is not all that it may seem.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. This subject has always fascinated me so I was really eager to read it in a book. Great read!

This feels like such an important read. Especially currently, in the world of social media.

Influential, is a peep behind the curtain, so to speak into the real lives of social media influencers.
Written so well that you don't notice the pages turning. Covering a range of subjects such as suicide, self harm, bullying and cyber crimes.
Definitely glad this was my last read of 2022

I really didn't enjoy this book, it just was to ridiculous. The constant butterflies description in her pants irritated me, from a simple look and this is whats happening to the first boy she meets? Just literally not something I enjoyed and have read a lot better books on social influencers and Ya.

Thank you to NetGalley and Faber and Faber for the free eARC of this book!

Influential is about a young girl, Almond, who has followed in the footsteps of her mom, becoming an influencer. With millions of followers on her social media platforms, brand deals and sponsorships, she looks like she has the dream life. In reality, it is anything but, made clear right from the opening scenes of the story.

This book really took me by surprise. I knew it would cover the other, less glamourous side to being an influencer on the internet, but I did not expect how dark it would be. It touched on cyberbullying, body shaming, mental health, and the dangers of parents putting their children in the spotlight so young -- before they are fully conscious of the ramifications of this decision. It also delved into cancel culture, and how harmful it is for online audiences to form their own perceptions of anyone on the internet, without knowing a full story.

Sage did not try to sugarcoat Almond's feelings or thoughts as she struggled with online hate and a divorce between her parents. We could clearly see the toll it took, her unhealthy coping mechanisms, and the eventual spiral. The characters all had depth as well, with a few demonstrating serious growth over the course of the story.

Overall, this was a book that caught me rather off-guard with its honesty, but it was a very contemporary, relevant take on influencer culture. My final rating is a 3.75/5 because it felt slightly rushed, but otherwise, it was a strong debut!

A fascinating read and a real social commentary on the impact of social media on young people which was really horrifying at times.

This was such an engaging read! So raw & so real. Tough to read but also important because Almond's experience will be a similar story to so many people in our society. Even if the reader can't relate, anyone reading this will still be encouraged to self-reflect. I would recommend this book to everyone and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Influential by Amara Sage is giving you present-time situations. Once upon a time, it used to be “child actors.” Who we saw in the public eye making mistakes but held to a higher degree of scrutiny.
Now, as we see in Influential, it’s the influencers on social media. Sometimes their children provide a stream of opportunities to their families and are too young to consent. What happens when everyone believes the “idea of you” they see online? Not considering your choices? Being unaware of your feelings?
Almond Brown has had her Mom document her entire life. They all have benefitted from the sponsor deals and the gifts that come from being an Influencer on Social Media. Things are coming to a crossroads, where we see Almond really struggle with anxiety and mental health. Too scared to voice what she wants, not wanting to let down her own mother, things get pushed and suppressed, and nothing positive ever comes out of that.

To help with her mental health, her Mom has signed her up for this group therapy. Where she makes two new friends, which is something new for Almond. As her previous friendship has burned to the ground, from jealousy and envy. Almond is finding her space and coming out from her dark space with her new friends. Those pesky trolls won’t let go of her that easily.
The darkest side of the Internet comes at her hard. Almond gets lost in the social media space and makes some potentially life-affecting decisions. A strong warning to young adults and their parents. All she has to do is remember who she really is, who is there for her, and that she can always talk to her parents. We can all hope that the lessons Almond had to learn on Influential are a warning Amara Sage wants to make clear. Influential is a thought-provoking book. This a great book to have a conversation with other young adults who are on social media. You don’t only have to be an influencer to be affected by trolls. We see cyberbullying and the toll it takes on the mental health of our young ones.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this is a brilliant book which tackles timely topics such as deepfakes, the influencing world, and mental health.

The main character, Almond, although an influencer feels relatable and well-rounded. I truly appreciated learning more about how influencing works and the tolls it can take on a person as I don't believe this is something consumers often see.

i really enjoyed Almond's journey with excoriation as this isn't a condition widely spoken about and one that often goes unnoticed as a form of self harm. I enjoyed the little therapy sessions in between chapters and actually how most people didn't care about who she was when they were in group.

The relationships and characters were easy to get along with and the texting throughout was a wonderful way to break up the chapters.

The cover of this novel is BEAUTIFUL!

This is honestly a really good fictionnal book about the impact a parent's decision to share their child's entire life online can have. This is a situation that WILL happen (if it hasn't already) to real children and teenagers today. It gives us an idea of how it might feel like to be in the mind of one of those vlogger family children. It is incredibly sad.

[Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC]

In the past few months, YA hasn't been my favorite genre. I couldn't find a book that was both interesting and addressed some serious issues. Everything changed when I read the description of "Influential". I had a feeling that this might be the book that would make me love YA again. And I was right!


• I loved the writing style! I rarely read books in 1-2 days, but I couldn't put this one down. I had to know what else would happen to Almond and how her life would change. I think that even an interesting plot can feel exhausting if one doesn't like how it's written. Fortunately, Amara Sage seems like a very promising author, and I will definitely keep an eye on her new books in the future.

• The characters!!!! I don't think there was even one that I didn't like. Each one of them was very complex and crucial to the plot. Almond, our main girl, was relatable, and every teenager will be able to identify with her. Joss and Heather are the perfect supporters, and I feel like it's impossible not to love them ❤️ Also, Almond's parents or Imogen who sometimes didn't seem like good characters, were very interesting to read about as they kept on developing and in the end saw their mistakes.

• I also can't forget about the importance of this novel! Nowadays, everyone is immersed in social media. We all have them and use them on a daily basis. On the one hand, they are fun and make our lives easier, but on the other hand, they have made our world 100% more superficial. That's exactly what "Influential" is about. It showcases how hard it is to be a teenager in the reality of Instagram. Everything has to be perfect. No scars, no acne, no mental problems. On your feed, you are supposed to be perfect. In real life? Let's be honest, no one really cares about your life. They just want to see cute or sexy pics. Yet, Almond, who grew up with hundreds of people watching her life on the internet, just had enough!

• Also, I almost never cry while reading, but in this case, it was impossible to stop the tears from flowing. Reading the hate comments towards Almond or her discrediting herself just broke my heart. Maybe I didn't experience online hate, but I was bullied for many years of my life, so I couldn't help thinking of myself and what I felt back then.

This is a must-read for everyone! No matter the age!

[Instagram review will be posted within 2-3 weeks]

Firstly I wanna say how stunning this cover is and it perfectly captures the whole influencer vibe perfectly. Now to the book, I really liked it, everywhere you look these days you will see influencers whether it is for beuaty, games, travel or even books influencers are everywhere and we can't get enough of them, and I loved the take on it that this book gave. It was fresh, compelling and really made me think. Everyone should read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Faber and Faber for this eARC!

I don't know what I was expecting going into this, but I have to say it absolutely exceeded any expectations I could have had. The modern, 'real-life' YA story that is needed for this generation, and one that could really be a defining read of the genre!

Almond Brown is a seventeen year old 'influencer', who's career started when she was only a child, thanks to her mother's own family vlogging 'influencer' aspirations. Her life is far from private and everything she does and posts is perfectly curated by a team, with an overbearing and selfish manager, brand deals who rarely want the truth from her, and a mother whose heart is in the right place, even if her head isn't always.

This story is incredibly current with the wave of new 'influencer' celebrities over the last few years, and opens up some really important discussions about social media marking, consent of minors to being filmed, and when to stop giving the internet all of the details about your life. As a society, we are so heavily invested in social media these days, with most of our online engagement on those handful of apps that we all know and have a love/hate relationship with; this book gives us a glimpse beyond the shiny, seemingly perfect lives of those with thousands of followers and constant #ad posts.

Beyond the social commentary (with a lot of important points being raised with regards to race too, the main character being biracial), it was also a super entertaining and, at times, deeply affecting read. I didn't anticipate that I would feel so emotional as to be almost brought to tears reading this book, but here we are! The pressures of being pretty enough and happy enough and skinny enough are all too real for young women in this day and age, and the author does an amazing job of showing the true, horrifying effects of that on mental and physical health.

There are some really complex characters - from Almond, to Heather, a straight-talking, golden hearted plus size girl who refuses to fit into the mold, to Imogen, another influencer with a perky Barbie-like exterior who is crumbling beneath the pressure of a mother she is never good enough for, to Joss - the caring, gentle, funny love interest we all dream of finding in our own lives. I really found myself invested in the characters and wanting the best for them, and appreciating their growth so much.

The writing is accessible, and I found this book easy to devour within a 24 hour period. I also liked the use of other elements - text bubbles between friends, emails here and there, the graphs showing Almond's 'following' count. It wasn't all just blocks of writing, and these elements being thrown in helped to make it feel even more relatable to a teen market, I believe. But on saying that, I do think this book opens up conversations that are useful and necessary for just about everyone!

An easy, strong 4.5 stars for me. This was a breath of fresh air in the genre and, with this being what I understand is the author's debut novel, I really am excited to see more from her.

This is my first YA review and I have to say I really enjoyed reading! The theme really resonated and it was refreshing to read about a modern dilemma that many young ‘influencers’ experience nowadays in the 21st century. That is, having more ‘friends’ behind a computer screen than in real life and what this means for your confidence and the way you experience the world. A thought provoking novel. Thank you - I will recommend!

Thrilled to read and acquire this title. Full review coming due to an unexpected health issue their has been a delay. With social media being at the epicenter of everything these days I feel this will be a great book that will appeal to a large audience especially our YA section.