Bad Influence

⭐️ 1/5

It is very rare that I give a book one star, but unfortunately, I cannot justify giving this book anything higher. I have never read a main character more self-centered and conceited than Charlotte. This book should not be marketed to young adults as a coming of age novel. Charlotte was rude, unkind, entitled, and straight up disrespectful to her friends and family for the entirety of this book. She also complained relentlessly. I would be embarrassed to behave the way she did.

I did finish this book because I was excited to read about a culture I was previously unfamiliar with, but I can say that was the only positive point of this book. I will not be posting this review on social media or Goodreads, as I do not believe in leaving one-star reviews on books that I was gifted.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a fun and cute coming of age novel!! I generally don't read a lot of YA solely because the immaturity is rife in this kind of book. The case was the same here but I think it kind of worked? I love the idea of a secret influencer with a look into how cruel the industry can be, it was interesting to follow Charlotte's growth through the whole story with her relationships, school, and "job." 3.5 stars

"Bad Influence" by Claire Ahn is a Young Adult novel that tackles the timely subject of social media and its impact on teenagers, particularly in the context of influencer culture and family expectations. The story follows Charlotte Goh, a high school student navigating the pressures of being a dutiful Korean daughter and a secretly ambitious fashion influencer trying to help her family financially. While it has some areas that could be improved, it remains a worthwhile read for its exploration of identity, family, and the complex world of social media, particularly for its target audience of young adults.

DNF REVIEW • When I saw this was Read Now on NetGalley, I couldn’t resist sending it to my Kindle! I barely read any contemporary YA anymore, but the cute cover caught my eye. And I’m always intrigued by books involving influencers! I liked BAD INFLUENCE’s premise and what it was trying to communicate about social media. Unfortunately, I wasn’t connecting with the writing style and lost interest in finishing it. The heroine frustrated me a bit, too, but I’m not target demographic for the book age-wise so I can’t fault it for that aspect. While this thought-provoking read didn’t ultimately work for me, I think the right reader will find much to love about its timely topic, the heroine’s growth, and the family at its heart.

In this fun and interesting new YA novel with hints of romance, readers follow aspiring Asian American teenage influencer Charlotte Goh, who struggles with codeswitching between her roles as a dutiful Korean daughter and a NYC fashion influencer. Lacking support from her best friend Steven, Charlotte hopes that her posts and videos will help her support her family, and going viral about a racist experience at an event gives her the fame and money she desires. Swept away by the perks of influencer celebrityhood, Charlotte soon realizes that this job will take more away from her than she had expected, and she must choose what she values most while she still can. The characters are definitely the stars of the book, and their relationships with each other add a lot of depth and dimension to the story. The evolution of Charlotte’s relationships with Steven and her family as she gains fame is particularly interesting and highlights the drawbacks of her position. The emotional notes and storyline are particularly well done and pull readers into the story and the characters in some great ways, and YA readers and adults alike will really enjoy this brilliant and thoughtful new book from Claire Ahn.

DNF @ 41%

I was looking forward to this one since the concept of a fashion influencer is so much fun, but I'm underwhelmed so far. While I do enjoy the influencer elements and Charlotte's determination to use her career as a way to support her family, I'm really struggling with the pacing. It feels like things happen so suddenly, but at the same time, like nothing is really going on. The story isn't flowing for me, and I find some of the dialogue a bit cringe. This one isn't for me, but I'm sure there are many who will enjoy it more than I did.

DNF @ 41%

I was looking forward to this one since the concept of a fashion influencer is so much fun, but I'm underwhelmed so far. While I do enjoy the influencer elements and Charlotte's determination to use her career as a way to support her family, I'm really struggling with the pacing. It feels like things happen so suddenly, but at the same time, like nothing is really going on. The story isn't flowing for me, and I find some of the dialogue a bit cringe. This one isn't for me, but I'm sure there are many who will enjoy it more than I did.

Bad Influence is a light, fast-paced YA read that offers a glimpse into the world of teen influencers. While the story doesn't dive deeply into character development, the writing is engaging and flows effortlessly. The book provides an entertaining behind-the-scenes look at social media culture, a perspective that feels relevant in this day and age when everyone wants to be an influecer. High school readers, in particular, are likely to connect with the themes of identity, online image, and peer pressure.

This is my first nook from Claire Ahn and this book was entertaining and quick read. What drew me to the story was that the main character is Korean American and I want to continue to support authors who highlight diverse characters..

Charlotte had her ups and downs- juggling her two personas (her influencer lifestyle and her traditional korean family lifestyle. At points in the story I could relate to Charlotte when it came to her family and struggles. I could also relate to the pressure of her parents wanting her to prioritize school.

What I was interested in was the influencer lifestyle - and seeing things unfold for Charlotte and that even though it may seem glamorous- it’s not all what it’s meant to be.

Some points were- I felt that Charlotte’s character would be someone older- not someone that is 17 years old.

Overall it was a quick read- there were definitely parts that I could relate to the story but what kept me intrigued what seeing the ups and downs of the influencer fame.

Bad Influence had a lot going for it—cool concept, relevant themes, and a main character who’s actually ambitious—but it just didn’t fully work for me. I wanted to root for Charlotte, but she made so many frustrating choices that I found myself more annoyed than invested. The influencer world was interesting but felt a little surface-level, like it was trying to say something deep about identity and integrity but didn’t quite get there. That said, I didn’t hate it—there were moments of real heart, especially with her family and Steven, and the exploration of racism in online spaces was important. It just felt like a book with a strong setup that didn’t quite stick the landing. Decent read, but not one I’ll be thinking about much after.

Charlotte is a dutiful daughter but hides her influencing lifestyle from her parents who just wouldn’t understand her drive to become an influencer. Home life is shaky and online Charlotte finds her value in likes and positive comments. Circumstantially she’s put in the orbit of a girl she looks up to and is suddenly in a spotlight she’s only ever hoped for. Meanwhile, her best friend isn’t thrilled by her mild obsession with it all.
My suburban childhood does not understand life in a big city, I guess. This isn’t the first time - probably not the last - a YA novel left me surprised at the autonomy of a teen in NYC. My adult brain shudders thinking of a 16 year old out at all hours of the night alone. While this book ended well with MC Charlotte’s growth, I wished she’d had a stronger compass for her self-worth faster than is realized here. Being a girl, let alone a teen, is so tough and it breaks my heart witnessing the ease at which we can be manipulated by outside forces. I want my girls to have strong role models in real life and fictionally. Her best friend Steven was the supportive guy she needed!
Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Everyone wants to not only be seen, but heard, especially in today’s social media driven world. Charlotte Goh is no different. Her family is struggling and she hopes that being an influencer could be the ticket out. But is chasing the glittering light really worth it? Charlotte is a likeable heroine that I wanted to cheer for and for her to find a way to succeed. Her struggles with quick rich influencer life and the reality of her actual home life isn’t far from the truth for many.

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC of the book to read and give my honest review.

Themes/Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Social Media Influencer, Social Media Toxicity, Racism, Family Dynamics, Oldest Child


This was in premise a cute YA book about being a social media influencer, but in reality, it was a book about a teenager feeling like they have to support their family due to complex family dynamics such as a parent being unable to work due to an injury. So it wasn't really a light and fluffy read- it was pretty deep and had themes that were complex.

Our FMC is a micro-fashion influencer that thrifts her clothes and hopes to make it big enough to support her family that is going through financial struggles. Her best friend, Steven, has divorced parents and it's a weird dynamic because he caught his dad cheating on social media. So her best friend has complex feelings about social media, and she is chasing that high of getting likes.

I enjoyed the story and how the author worked through the FMCs complex family dynamics. The little situationship that occurred was cute, and I am glad that it ended well. I am also glad that her other friendship with the influencer ended well. I would have loved to see her be more truthful about her life on social media instead of trying to fit into the mold but let's be honest, most of us have done that before.

Overall, good YA read, and would be interested in reading another book by this author.

Charlotte Goh has been sneaking behind her parents back to become a Asian-American fashion influencer in the hopes of helping her family financially. After going viral when she stands up for a well-known influencer, she gains traction in the online world. But will she let her new-found fame take control of her life?

This was an average story for me. I wasn't too intrigued by the characters or story for the first half, but I did end up enjoying it during the last little bit. I wasn't the biggest fan of Charlotte, and felt that she was so self-centered. I thought she cared more about her social media then anything around her and didn't seem to be learning any lessons surrounding it for the majority of the story. My favourite character in the book was Steven even when he was being completely unsupportive of Charlotte and her goals - but I still liked him better then the other guy Charlotte was seeing. It also bugged me when the book was confused on Charlotte's age. One chapter would say she was seventeen, but others said she was sixteen, so clearly some editing was missed.

Overall, it was okay, but nothing special for me.

Thanks to the publishers and netgalley for this eARC. This was a cute book, but admittedly it wasn't for me. I would rate it 3 stars out of 5

This story showcases the reality of becoming an influencer - amid the glitz and glamour, there are times where you would feel like everyone hates you. And in Charlotte’s case, her dreams of being an influencer also surrounds topics of having some cultural differences (she is Korean-American) and her role in the family. I’m glad that Charlotte figured out what she wanted and what truly mattered at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book. I struggle to engage with influencer plot lines, it's not always for me. This was a fun teen summer book though!

Bad Influence is a book that emphasizes the chaotic mess teenage life can be at times. With quick mood swings and big emotions, all while trying to figure out who you really are were included within the story. I felt it gave an honest look at what teens go through and what they’re exposed to and it kept me engaged to read on.

This was a quick and easy read that I had an overall good time with. Was it a life-changing read or one what I'll even remember in the future? Probably not, but it did the job of entertaining me in the moment and is one I'd generally recommend if you're looking for a mindless escape for a few hours.

I liked how the book explored some of the dark side of social media and influencers and how easy it can be to get swept up into all of the instant gratification and how no one really knows what's going on behind everyone's heavily curated feeds. The book also features a glimpse into Korean-American culture and family relationships. By the end of it, I really felt for Charlotte and how much pressure she was putting on herself to take care of her family.

There was also a cute friends to lovers relationship in this, and can I just say how sweet Steven was with JoJo?

This is a book I would recommend for the targeted audience. I really like the perk into an influencer life and I think since so many students are interested in that part as pop culture this would appeal to their interest. For me personally, the book dragged on a little bit, but I understand. I am not the targeted audience even though I do enjoy YA often. This would be a fun easy summer read to engage a young person in..