Felicity is struggling to keep herself and her family's blueberry farm afloat after the passing of her mother. She frequently calls her mother's phone number and leaves voicemails telling her mom how much she is struggling, never knowing that someone was on the other end, listening to every message. Alex has aged out of the foster care system and has nowhere to go. She hopes that one call to Felicity will help her get back on her feet. Alex upends Felicity's life, in the best way possible, and brings her out of her shell, while Felicity provides Alex a soft place to land. The 2 start a "revenge for hire" business in Felicity's hometown. What could go wrong?

I am always so appreciative when authors reach out to me asking if I will read their work. However, I have to be completely honest that it also scares me so much because they are entrusting me with their baby, essentially. And, this isn't usually my go to genre. But it hooked me right from the beginning with excellent writing, funny and relatable characters, and an original plot. I don't think I ever stopped smiling while reading this book and I even put off the last few pages because I genuinely did not want it to end. The references to college and professional football were a nice touch, as I enjoy both. The look into small town living was realistic and almost made you want to visit. I absolutely loved this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!

I love this book so much! It´s such a cute story and the friendship between the main characters was adorable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)
🌶️ Spice Level: 0.5/5 — intimacy is implied/mentioned, but all scenes are closed-door.
This book was such a delightful mix of female empowerment, friendship, and second chances. Felicity, the daughter of a blueberry farmer, is grieving her mother’s death and has retreated into herself, avoiding risks and unfamiliar situations. When she bails out Alex, a troubled young adult with a rebellious streak, an unlikely but beautiful friendship forms. Together, they take on petty crime, pranks, and small-town chaos, all while trying to save the blueberry farm.
The dialogue is witty, and had me smiling many times throughout the book! I loved watching Felicity and Alex become best friends, pushing each other to grow braver and stronger. Their circle widens with Wade (who once hurt Felicity but now has the chance to make things right) and his sweet dog, Juno!
The found-family in the story gave the book so much warmth.
Felicity’s growth arc is a standout. I found myself relating to her hesitation to take risks, and it was so satisfying to see her step into her confidence and find her voice. Grace Demyan delivers a heartfelt story that blends grief, humor, forgiveness, and the power of friendship. Such a Bad Influence is quirky, tender, and uplifting as well as a reminder that healing can come from the most unexpected people.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a Bad Influence by Grace Demyan is an addictive, emotional rollercoaster I couldn’t put down! I laughed, I cried, and became extremely invested in the characters.

Beyond the sweet romance and high-stakes drama, what really stood out to me was the unlikely yet beautiful friendship between Alex and Felicity. Their bond brought such warmth and balance to the story, making the darker, intense moments shine even brighter.

Grace Demyan’s writing is sharp, evocative, and brimming with emotion, pulling me in from the very first page. This book is equal parts heart, tension, and unforgettable characters—an absolute must-read! 💕📚

PUBLICATION DATE: October 21, 2025

This is a review of Such A Bad Influence by Grace Demyan, and I read it in one sitting. Readers who like small town and Gilmore Girls vibes may really enjoy this, as it combines humor, heartfelt moments, and some fun hijinks.. Even though there are lots of lighter moments, it does follow the story of a young blueberry farm owner and her former high school bully, along with a homeless teen girl as they navigate grief, loss, and the effects of parental absence. The story does well highlighting the beauty of found family. The writing is descriptive yet fun, and the balance of lighthearted moments with heavier themes made this an interesting read. Sometimes the language and thought processes seemed too mature for an 18 year old, but I was able to set that aside to enjoy the story.
Spice Rating - Closed Door. Overall, a nice book to curl up with on a rainy day.

This was such a cute book! The story was very well written and easy to read. I also loved the friendship between the main characters.

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

This book made me laugh and cry. I loved the found family aspect and Felicity's character growth throughout the book. We get to see her journey through grief after losing her mother. It is real and raw, with setbacks. Alex comes into her life at just the right time and brings some purpose back into it and helps Felicity grow from a shy pushover to a confident woman who is finally taking advantage of her life. I loved the slow development of Wade and Felicity's relationship. I liked that it wasn't insta-love, it was a really steady progression that let us see how they were right for each other.

And Alex. She had a tough exterior, but it was obvious that she was soft on the inside and grew to trust people by the end of the book, while still maintaining her surly teen attitude. She ends up sticking around through a hard time, and I knew then that she was not the same person we started with. She had grown into someone who could trust others and lean on them for support.

The last chapter (before the epilogue) made me cry so much. It ended on a sad but hopeful note and truly showed the love between Felicity, Wade, and Alex.

I subtracted half a star due to having to suspend my disbelief regarding the hi-jinks of Revenge Inc. I just really don't believe they would've gotten away with any of it lol. Additionally, it felt a bit weird for Felicity to continuously refer to Alex as her best friend, when I don't feel like an 18-year-old surly girl would really want to be that close to someone 10 years her senior. I think it would've been better for Felicity to refer to Alex like a little sister instead of a best friend, I think that would've been a bit more natural.

I received this eARC from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Such a Bad Influence by Grace Demyan
Publication Date: October 21, 2025
Three and a half Stars⭐⭐⭐(Rounded up to 4 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll admit—I totally judged this book by its cover (and title) and was instantly excited to dive in, especially after the author reached out to me on social media. I was also intrigued to see it set in Ohio, though the portrayal didn’t quite feel like the Ohio I’ve lived in all my life.
What I did enjoy most was the friendship between Alex and Felicity—it felt genuine, heartfelt, and became the highlight of the story for me. With that said, the premise felt a little familiar, reminding me of the movie Love Again (starring Priyanka Chopra), where the protagonist calls her late fiancé’s number and unexpectedly connects with someone new.
Overall, this book was cute and lighthearted, though not something I’d usually gravitate toward. Still, I really admire the author’s creativity and effort—kudos to her for putting such a heartfelt story into the world!

This was such a feel good, cosy read! It was the palette cleanser I needed. I absolutely adored this book. Felicity and Alex compliment each other so well and watching their relationship develop was absolutely captivating. Both dealing with their own issues, Felicity with the grief of losing her mother and Alex being a troubled teenager, they help each other become better versions of themselves. The romance between Felicity and Wade only added to an already beautiful story.

The exploration of Felicity’s grief was so well captured, my heart ached for her. The story was so well written and paced, I would strongly encourage everyone to read this on its release date 💜

This debut novel is as sweet as a blueberry pie, and if I could, I would ask for another slice.. Following Felicity and her blueberry farm in the wake of her mother's death, we meet Alex, the teenager that ends up with Felicity's mom's old phone number. The two are an unlikely pair that need each other more than either are likely to admit. After teaming up to save the farm with a few pranks, they soon get in over their head.

With a hunky, charming next door neighbor and an adorable doggy sidekick, this story weaves in a cute romance story line without being overbearing. And even though grief and longing are present throughout, the story never feels too sad. The small town feels reminiscent of Stars Hollow, in the best way, with community events to boot. With a slew of mostly lovable and hilarious side characters, it felt like returning home. I can't wait to see what else this author has in store for us.

Thank you Grace Demyan for kindly offering to let me read this and NetGalley for the eARC.

When I first picked up Grace Demyan’s debut novel, Such a Bad Influence, I didn’t know what to expect. A novel about grief and depression, small-town squabbles, found family, and an enemies-to-lovers romance just didn't seem like my type of book. But once I got a few chapters in, I thought to myself, I don’t mind this. And once I’d covered the first third of the story, I found myself feeling refreshed. I wasn’t just enjoying the story, I was eagerly awaiting what would come next. I couldn’t predict the next turn in the plot. It was so original. And I didn’t realize how much, as a reader, I needed that. This book covered so many emotions with just enough gravity and lightheartedness that I never felt it was taking itself too seriously. All of the characters seemed real and I think you all will find yourselves cheering them on just like I was.

This is one of those books that I picked up and finished in one sitting, it just completely grabbed me! It had so many of the tropes I love: small town, found family etc. Although the plot covered some heavier subjects, it was done in such a loving, thoughtful way with so much understanding and warmth. The messages were heartwarming, the pacing was written perfectly and the characters could be the people I know personally. This is one I will definitely recommend!

Oh my goodness, this was an absolute delight. 🥹 You just jump into the story and it rolls right along. The small town blueberry farm setting is unique and perfect for the story. It is so funny, there’s great plot and character development, and it’s heartwarming. I loved the elements about foster kids and dealing with loss, it feels like it covers these topics realistically but also kindly. There are so many messy choices made 😭 but they find their way and heal together. I had lots highlighted quotes: “We’re family. Just because we both made mistakes doesn’t change that.”

And the pettiness of small towns had me laughing out loud 😆 “Elwood residents were eating up my feud with Cheryl like it was queso at Eli’s Mexican restaurant.”

Overall this contemporary fiction was such an enjoyable book! I would 💯 read anything Grace Demyan writes.

Such A Bad Influence is a book about a girl named Felicity that is trying to save her late mother’s blueberry farm. Missing her mother, she calls her old cell phone number and leaves a message to her mom, but that number is now owned by Alex (a troubled 18year old). When Felicity takes Alex in, there’s a lot to get used to with opposite personalities!

This is a cute story about finding family in people who care for you, and not letting others opinions of you, get the better of you!

After growing up in small-town Ohio, I was excited to read Such a Bad Influence by Grace Demyan, set on a blueberry farm in, you guessed it, a small town in Ohio. While the book includes a slow-burn romance with the “boy-next-door” the annoying yet hot Wade, the real relationship at the core of this book is between Felicity and Alex. Felicity has been living a confined life, trying to keep her head above water at her mother’s blueberry farm while grieving her mom and building few meaningful connections. Not only is she lonely, but her land is at risk and rambunctious kids are terrorizing her blueberries.

Enter Alex, who is mostly alone in the world, too, having aged out of foster care. They meet in an unlikely way, and Felicity and Alex help each other find connection and friendship in a heartwarming way. I think this book is a good choice for those who like heartfelt stories set in small towns, funny adventures, town gossip, and unlikely friendships and romances. Tropes include small-town romance and found family. Such a Bad Influence just might be a good pick for your next book club meeting!

I absolutely adored this book and the small town vibes. Made me emotional and the heavy topics that you covered were covered so well and through.

Such a Bad Influence was a cozy, feel-good read with so much heart. 💕 I loved the foster child rep and the way that Alex’s story showed both the hard edges and the resilience that comes from aging out of the system. Watching Felicity finally step into herself once she connected with Alex, and then seeing Alex discover what real love and care look like, made this such a satisfying read.

Any book with a dog that actually plays a big role is already a win for me, 🐾 but add in the small town vibes, fighting back against bullies, and that found family element? Perfection.

This story had humor, heartfelt moments, and just the right mix of cozy and complex. It’s one of those books that reminds you how unexpected connections can completely change your life. 🫐

Such a Bad Influence is such a sweet story of friendship and love in the face of grief.

Felicity’s character growth is written so well. At the beginning of the book it’s like she’s frozen in time after the loss of her mother and with the connection, trust, and crazy pranks, time starts ticking for her again.

I laughed and cried while reading this book. The small town feuds were hilarious and were an excellent bridge for the character growth we see in Felicity and Alex.

I also loved that Wade wasn’t your typical smooth talking MMC of romance books. He was written a lot more like a realistic man and I absolutely adore his storyline along the way. It was a nice taste of romance in a book that is focused on healing from grief, learning to accept loved, and found family.

Thank you to the Author for providing an ARC copy for my honest and unbiased review.

Felicity Lavigne had lost her mother and was in the throes of depression when out of the blue she gets a call from the number that had once belonged to her mother asking her to pick her up from the police station. Felicity couldn’t ignore it and picked up 18 year old Alex and brought her home. Alex has her own problems to cope with. With pressure to save her family’s blueberry farm and vandals ransacking her farm at night, Felicity had no choice but to enlist Alex’s help to save it. A revenge business is the last thing you’d expect from a strait-laced Felicity, but desperation can make you do a lot. With Alex, her next-door neighbor Wade, and his dog Juno, this story gets a whole lot more interesting. Wade was a popular football player who broke Felicity’s heart in high school, the people of the town thinks she’s a doormat, and the Mayor and his family think her family stole her land. What will happen? How will this all play out? Read this book to find out!

TW: Loss of loved ones, talks of alcohol, violence, and accident involving a pet.

This story had me hooked! I read this in less than 24 hrs because I couldn’t put it down. I loved the story, the characters, the small town dynamics, and the family bonds. This book explored heavy topics with great heart and understanding. Working through loss is never easy and it’s hard to get through it, but we need to trust and hope again. Love is messy and complicated and struggles are incredibly real, but we need to rise up. It’s ok if things don’t workout or end up perfect, no one is perfect and it’s ok. I loved the messages in this book and it flowed well, the pacing was perfect, and the main characters had my heart. The secondary characters were also written so well and I felt like they were my neighbors in this small town in Ohio. This is a must read!

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC, my opinions are my own.

This was a fun read! Plenty of ups and downs, flawed but lovable characters, small town Midwest charm and a unique premise fueled by the very human desire to seek revenge.