Thank you so much for the early read; I enjoyed unraveling the mystery along with the main character. It felt like a fresh take on a story we see play out all too often in the headlines. The pacing was excellent and the characters well developed!

Such a Bad Influence's premise and marketing immediately caught my eye - I love a good thriller, and approaching a mystery through the lense of influencer culture was an intriguing hook. That being said, I'm sorry to say I wouldn't recommend this book. The entire novel felt incredibly heavy handed with its commentary on social media, to the point that I felt like I was reading a thesis or a think piece rather than a thriller. Although it had clever and creepy moments, to me, the mystery itself never reached a crescendo, and it petered out a bit disappointingly. In my mind, the best element of the novel was the relationship between the two sisters, and how well that was portrayed - but even that got distorted by the eleventh hour. Great concept, great cover, but the execution left a little to be desired. Thank you to Quirk Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

OLIVIA MUENTER’s thriller debut, SUCH A BAD INFLUENCE, takes a hard look at influencer culture, when one of its darlings, Evie Davis, disappears while she’s in the middle of doing a livestream. It’s up to her older sister Hazel to find out what happened to her, even if that means returning to the life she ran away from.

At just eighteen years old, @evelyn is a powerful force in the lifestyle influencer world, with a slew of followers and a multimillion-dollar career. As a child, her family had a popular YouTube channel and when a video of Evie dancing with her father went viral, it launched the Davis family into a whole new world of online fame.

Hazel was 15 at the time and had zero interest in leading a public life. She’s worked hard to stay deep behind the scenes, but as theories and internet gossip around Evie’s disappearance grow, Hazel makes the reluctant return home, to find her sister and to confront her own past. And it turns out that while @evelyn may have a huge fan base, there is a dark side to fame and it seems to have come for Evie.

SABI is a slow burn of a thriller, interspersed with Reddit threads and podcast transcripts. OLIVIA MUENTER’s strong writing is infused with an authenticity and behind-the-curtain look at influencer life. And while a wholly enjoyable thriller of a story, it also raises questions about living an online life and the trappings come with it.

It’s no secret I’m a massive fan of OLIVIA MUENTER. Her podcast @badonpaperpodcast and Substack are staples in my life and I was so excited to add this thriller to my collection of things to fan over.

I've been really into books (and documentaries) about the effects of influencer culture — whether you're a creator, viewer, or both — and this is an interesting one. I don't want to give too much away, but it's interesting to read a novel about the experience and effect of being involved in this culture from a young age and what that can do to a person, whether a willing participant or not.

This was an unusual book. Several times I was questioning what the hell was going on. And then I got to the end and now I don’t know what to think.

The main thing that stood out about this was the characters. Literally all of them were terrible. The mom was an asshole and she I’m not gon lie she freaked me the hell out lmao All those boxes? Absolutely not. The podcast? Again, NO. And then there was the sister. She really tried to act all high and mighty but still did the exact same thing. Evelyn seemed like the only sane one to get tf outta there, but the ending determined that was a lie lol just like I said in my initial reaction on Goodreads, the whole family was just one big yikes.

The thriller part of this took a bit of a nose dive tho. It started good, but then it just got weird. And then once the questions started yettting answered it got weirder and then boring. The ending was good, but it was quite literally the end. And y’all know how I feel about things that end that way.

I did enjoy the social media aspect of this tho. Some mommy influencers that read this might be a little mad lol But I’m here for it. This is a side they have undoubtedly never even thought of. So maybe they might make them thing differently later on.

This was a weird little ol book. But it was so accurate that I can’t say I didn’t like it? Idk how i really feel about this lol I did wish some things were different, like a better ending, but again, that’s subjective I know. But just like I asked about the other thriller I just read the other day, CAN WE STOP ENDING BOOKS LIKE THIS?

Real rating 3.5

What a tremendous start and premise to an overall underwhelming ending! If this book had finished as strong as the first 3/4 of it, I would’ve rated it 5+ stars and shouted it from the rooftops, but the rushed ending with loose ends really left me disappointed.

will be posted on instagram and linked here soon!

Such a Bad Influence really appealed to me because the premise was SO interesting, especially in these times. I found most of the characters were fleshed out well and had a lot of depth to them. I enjoyed the flashbacks and when the newsletter and social media comments were utilized in the text, I LOVE mixed media in thrillers!

I did find that this dragged at times and I found myself trying not to skim parts. I definitely predicted a lot of aspects, except I did NOT see the very end coming at all!! I was so shocked, like jaw on the floor

Overall I think this book has a really interesting take and insight into the world of influencers, especially family vloggers and parents who might not have the best intentions at heart when it comes to their kids growing up on social media.

Another aspect that makes this premise so interesting is that the author is an influencer herself.

Thank you to Quirk Books for my copy of this!

This one fell flat for me. I did not care about the characters and only got a little more interested when they really delved into the mother daughter relationship part. But overall, I slogged through this.

When Hazel's sister Evie disappears, everyone is sure something bad happened to her. Evie is a social media influencer and not posting is not like her. As Hazel answers questions for the police, she starts to unmask the more nefarious side of social media.

This was definitely more of a commentary on social media rather than a straight up thriller/murder mystery! I still really enjoyed it minus the ending (except the very very end, which I think did redeem a little). I thought it was pretty fast paced and it definitely read like a more traditional thriller, even without a clear murder/crime.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Such a Bad Influence" by Olivia Muenter is a captivating exploration of modern relationships and self-discovery. Muenter's engaging writing style hooks readers from the start, making it hard to put the book down. She masterfully blends humour and heartache into a seamless narrative.

The protagonist, Harper, is refreshingly relatable. Her journey through friendship, love, and personal growth is portrayed with authenticity, making her a character readers can easily root for. Muenter captures Harper's internal struggles and triumphs, creating a deeply resonant character.

One of the book's standout features is Muenter's sharp wit. The clever, often laugh-out-loud dialogue serves as a perfect counterbalance to the more serious themes in the book. This balance adds charm and relatability to the story, making it a versatile and engaging read.

The supporting characters are equally well-developed, each contributing uniquely to Harper's growth. The dynamics between characters are realistic and engaging, reflecting the complexities of real-life relationships.

Muenter also offers insightful commentary on social media's impact on self-esteem and identity. She thoughtfully and provocatively critiques the pressures of maintaining a perfect online persona.

Overall, "Such a Bad Influence" is a beautifully written, thought-provoking novel that will leave readers reflecting on their own relationships and growth. Olivia Muenter has crafted an entertaining and meaningful story, making it a must-read.

Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter is about an influencer who goes missing during a Livestream. I thought it was clever, thrilling, and well-written.

Hazel Davis is drifting: she’s stalled in her career, living in a city she hates, and less successful than her younger sister, @evelyn, a mega-popular lifestyle influencer. Evie came of age online, having gone viral at five years old for a heart-tugging daddy-daughter dance. Ten years older and spotlight-averse, Hazel managed to dodge the family YouTube channel — so although she can barely afford her apartment, at least she made her own way.

Evie is eighteen now, with a multimillion-dollar career and unlimited opportunities, but Hazel is still protective of her little sister and skeptical of the way everyone seems to want a piece of her: Evie’s followers, her YouTuber boyfriend and influencer frenemies, and their opportunistic mother. So when Evie disappears one day — during an unsettling live stream that cuts out midsentence — Hazel is horrified to have her worst instincts proven right.

As theories about Evie’s disappearance tear through the internet, inspiring hashtags, Reddit threads, podcast episodes, and scorn, Hazel throws herself into the darkest parts of her sister’s world to untangle the threads of truth. After all, Hazel knows Evie better than anyone else . . . doesn’t she?

I dig influencer culture. When I say that, I mean that I love the nitty-gritty, back-alley nonsense that goes on behind the scenes. This influencer hocks skin care supplements while also getting chemical peels. That influencer boasts about their transparency and self-love while editing every image they post. This one cheated on his girlfriend. That one threw a party with cocaine. I love it all.

Because I really enjoy the drama of that subgroup, I was extremely excited to start Such a Bad Influence. Murder mysteries surrounding influencers are definitely coming to the forefront of fiction (I've read three, including this, in the last year alone) and I am so here for that trend. Keep 'em coming.

Unfortunately, the availability of the media means that there is a lot of competition with these stories. I found Such a Bad Influence to be just okay. I thought it had really good bones, but the actual execution lacked for me in places - especially the ending.

This books strengths lie in its characters and slow burn. The story follows Hazel, whose famous influencer little sister, Evie, has gone mysteriously missing - no posts, no texts, nothing. Hazel, who grew up in a family obsessed with fame and the internet, has become somewhat of a technophobe in her adult life and doesn't understand her sister's obsession with the online world. That said, Hazel loves her sister dearly and is determined to find her. In a rush, she flies back to the place she once called home to help with the search.

Hazel herself is a bit of a curmudgeon. Despite definitely being no older than 30, she despises the internet-famous and looks down on her sister's choice of career. She's suspicious of their mother (who thrust Hazel and Evie into the spotlight so many years ago) and of Evie's famous boyfriend. Though she isn't intensely likeable, you absolutely do root for Hazel and want things to go her way. Some of her grumpiness really rubs off, and I found myself really feeling the same way about characters as she did: "You know what, her mom really was a neglectful bitch!?" Evie, despite not being present for most of the story, also feels alive and whole, which is really by virtue of Hazel's relationship with her. Hazel loves Evie, and so do we.

The second strength is really up to taste. This book is a big time slow burn. Clues come together slowly, and the story is really more about Hazel's investigation than any big twists. In this book, I think it's pulled off well. The dread and feeling of being set adrift in the unknown is strong. What Hazel knows, we know, and Hazel doesn't know much.

The thing about slow burns, though, is that you need a good payoff for them to be worth your time. For me, that payoff fell a bit flat. The big reveal at the end of the book feels a bit out of nowhere and while I see some clues as we walked along, jumping between Hazel's present and the memories of her past, I would have liked a bit more of a gradual intensification than the major shift that comes at the end. To me, the reveal was both too sudden and not significant enough to give me the "wow factor" that a final twist usually does.

My final rating puts this book pretty firmly between 3 and 4 stars. There was a lot to like and I think that almost 80% of it was well-written and captivating. The ending, though, severely impacted the rating for me. If you enjoy stories about influencers, this one definitely dives into that world. This is a much more intellectually intense thriller, though, and the payoff is a but more subdued than other books.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC of this book.

This was such a fun twisty story about the cult of social media and family drama!

I really enjoyed this thriller and you will too if you like stories about:

👯‍♀️ Sisters and sisterly secrets and drama
🤳🏻 Influencer issues
👩‍👦 Mommy dearest/ mom as manager
📳 Growing up as an Internet famous kid.

I was going to read this book regardless, because I really enjoy Olivia Muenter in terms of podcasting and general content. So BOY was I delighted to find that I also adored this book. This is a plot-driven, well-paced thriller with the sorts of twists and turns that feel reminiscent of the first wave of thrillers, when it felt like there were still things that had not been done before.

We meet Hazel Davis as she's in a bit of a ho-hum era of her life, she's financially stuggling, her work life isn't exactly thriving, and she's always grown up in the shadow of her younger sister, who became a youtube star and influencer from the early days of that even being a thing - although admittedly, Hazel never wanted that for herself and remains very critical (rightfully) of the cost of this fame, especially at a young age.

Muenter does a phenomenal job of highlighting so many legitimate risks of forcing children to grow up with an audience of strangers, even calling out the notion that some kids may love growing up in a camera - how can they even make a fully informed decision about what they're ok with when they have no idea about the enormity of the internet or the malicious intentions of some "followers" who are only watching along for disturbing reasons? And can parents really willfully turn a blind eye to all this when they 1) should know better and 2) should have the best interests of their children at heart, more than anyone else?

It was as much a fascinating look at influencer culture as it was a satisfying rich thriller that hit all the right notes. I'm excited to see what Muenter tackles next!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Olivia Muenter, and Quirk Books for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I first have to commend Muenter greatly for writing such an intense thriller over child influencers/family vloggers. As far as I know, this hasn't been done yet, or if it has, I doubt it could come as accurately as Such a Bad Influence. The truly terrifying part of this book is how realistic this read and how I could easily see this being a true case rather than a fictional story. In a world where we are starting to see the first child influencers come of age and how several "mommy bloggers/vloggers" are starting to come under both legal and online fire, I have a feeling that this book isn't too far off from the horrifying truth of some of these situations. I commend Muenter for writing about this exploitation, and I truly was on the edge of my seat for most of the book because again, this felt like something I would be watching unfold on TikTok. The book mostly worked for me until towards the end, where I personally feel that it became just too muddled. I did not personally really get or understand either of the "twists" related to Evie and didn't feel like they added much to the story. <spoiler>The whole inclusion of ReBrand was confusing, and I didn't feel like there was adequate time to explain what it was or the role it played. I also was baffled by the ending and didn't like how it ended on a cliffhanger.</spoiler> I'm glad I gave this read a chance if only for the social commentary, and I recommend if you are intrigued overall by the world of child influencers.

Engaging and fun, this debut kept me turning pages and I loved the ending. However, at times the prose was a bit wordy and repetitive. Perhaps it was just the writer's style but having so much conversation based on the meta-elements of social media and privacy felt a little unbelievable (though still fun).

Edgy, Cutting…
Smart, edgy and cutting suspense with a pacy plot populated with a cast of well drawn and credible characters and an often disturbing narrative laced with dark humour and numerous twists. A thought provoking read heavy on present culture and obsessions and making good use of mixed media to highlight same. Timely and relevant.

That ending??? Such A Bad Influence delivers on its promise: it will keep you thinking and examining and wondering, about everything. I loved the examination that this book offered of our relationships within the context of social media fame. I loved the media inserts from Reddit, podcasts transcripts, and more - it made perfect sense with the context of the story and the cheeky Reddit names and details almost felt like Easter eggs that furthered the story. I also really loved the double meaning in the title 😏 Great debut from Olivia Muenter - looking forward to what’s next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk books for the ARC - Such A Bad Influence is out now!

“Such A Bad Influence”, is a mixed media novel that follows the disappearance of an 18y/o social media influencer. Having spent her entire life on YouTube, insta, TikTok, etc., Evie seems to have a perfect life. No different than in the real world, she is offered brand deals, free merch, a cult-like following, and a steady income. With her mom as her manager, who is also an influencer”, they work together to make the most of it.

Hazel, Evie’s older sister by 10 years, wants nothing to do with the spotlight. Seemingly the odd man out, Hazel makes every attempt to encourage her sister to back away from the spotlight- which she does, suddenly and without a trace. With Evie gone, Hazel, her mom, the police and her boyfriend all worry about her fate. Did she leave voluntarily? Could this have been a stalker? Did someone hurt her?

While the book didn’t build suspense that kept me turning pages, I did find myself more and more engrossed as I got towards the end. The last 60 pages kept me awake way past my bedtime, whereas the build up to that was more mystery than thriller. The author does an amazing job of introducing new suspects in a natural way and bringing all loose ends together in the end. It was easy to read and provided a real life perspective into the superficial ways of being a social media influencer, with every moment controlled by someone or something else. The problems discussed in this story aren’t make believe for our entertainment- there’s a lot of scary truth to it as well. Overall, this book was expertly written, followed through with the story in such a believable way, and brings awareness to the addiction we have to our phones and the criticism we share of others.

Thank you NetGalley and Quirk Books for this digital ARC!

‘Such a Bad Influence’, depicts the mysterious disappearance of Evie Davis who is one of America’s biggest influencers. I loved this book because dark new adult fiction is one of my favorite genres.
For me, this one did not disappoint, not only is it full of twists and weird turns but I loved the unreliable narration of Evie’s sister Hazel. I did find that the storyline did ebb and flow and indulged in Hazel’s mixed emotions and complicated relationship with her sister and mother, but once I had finished I actually liked how the pacing read overall. I did not foresee the truth behind the mystery of Evie Davis and really enjoyed the way Muenter had planned out for all the truths to unravel.
I think this is a must read for summer and feels of its time but also stands alone as a really great thriller that openly focuses on the duality of social media but also the huge dangers physically but also on our mental health. Truthfully I didn’t really like any of the characters in ‘Bad Influence’ and I think it’s because Muenter does such an amazing job and unpacking all of the layers for the female characters especially. As much as it is a social media focused mystery it is also an intriguing domestic thriller because the dynamics between the three central women are always shifting.
Cannot wait to see what’s next for this author!