Such a Bad Influence by Grace Demyan is a heartfelt story about unlikely connections and the healing power of found family. Demyan beautifully captures the loneliness of grief and the resilience of starting over through Felicity, whose daily calls to her late mother’s phone unexpectedly connect her to Alex, a tough but vulnerable teen in need of a lifeline. Their bond, forged through mischief and shared struggles, is both tender and gritty, making the book equal parts moving and entertaining.

This is such a heartwarming book from start to finish. It focuses most on friendships and finding yourself than it does on romance but still has the perfect amount of romantic scenes to swoon over. The writer had me laughing one chapter and crying the next and every character is likeable. You really get to feel the emotions they are going through. This was a well written book that really flows well and I am excited to read more of Grace’s work.

* . °•★|•°∵ such a bad influence ∵°•|☆•° . *

De antemano muchas gracias a la autora por la oportunidad de leer su libro!

Esta historia fue una hermosa experiencia a través del luto, la soledad, las segundas oportunidades y el perdón. El elemento del found family que tanto adoro de los libros estuvo mas presente que nunca a medida que iba pasando las páginas.

Amé a Felicity, a Alex, A Wade, Juno...un sin fin de personajes que me hicieron reir, llorar, enamorarme.
Una narrativa preciosa, ligera, llena de humor y emociones de familia, simplemente no podía parar de leer.

Es exactamente el tipo de libro que permanece en tu mente por un largo tiempo y te deja el corazon calentito y feliz. Cada palabra fue como recibir un enorme abrazo de oso de tu persona favorita.

No podría haberlo amado mas.

5/5 ★

A story about two women Felicity and Alex who are very much opposites. They form an unlikely friendship to get revenge. Felicity’s mom has passed away and now she is left to take care of the family’s blueberry farm.
Alex keeps getting emotional voicemails from Felicity to her mother’s previous phone number.
Love, grief, friendship, empathy, humor, heartwarming.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

This was a sweet and enjoyable story with a fun premise and some genuinely heartwarming moments. I liked the romance and the pacing kept me hooked. That said, a few of the characters, especially the main one didn’t always feel believable. At times, she came across as much older than 28, which pulled me out of the story a bit. Still, if you’re looking for a light, charming read with a dash of drama, this one fits the bill! Also Wade was my cup of tea or should I say my slice of the blueberry pie 😉

DNF @32%
This book had potential but I just wasn’t feeling it. The plot was a little clunky with bits and pieces that didn’t quite make sense. A lot of the text was inner monologue which slowed down the pace immensely and cause me to be less interested in the book. I love the found family trope but at a third of the way through the book I was not feeling any improvement in the rapport between the two main characters.

I had such a fun time reading this debut novel by Grace Demyan! I'm so grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC and leave an honest review.

What a wild ride! I loved seeing the growing relationship between Felicity and Alex and how each girl was able to offer just what the other needed. For Felicity, Alex helped her step out of her shell and stand for what she believes in. For Alex, Felicity helped her love herself and find courage and happiness in those around her. And of course, I enjoyed all of their shenanigans with Revenge Incorporated.

This book took a lot of turns, some rougher than others, but I enjoyed it all the same. I found myself racing through the book to finish because I needed to know how it ended. Definitely pick up this book if you love banter, found family dynamics, and Hallmark movies gone off the rails.

If you like found family, small-town chaos, and a healthy dose of enemies-to-lovers—with just enough Hallmark charm to keep things cozy—this one’s for you!

Between the hilarious revenge pranks (yes, I actually lol’d and the unexpectedly tender moments (yes, a few tears snuck out), this story balances humor and heart beautifully. The yin-and-yang friendship between Alex and Felicity is the soul of the book—they challenge, ground, and genuinely bring out the best in each other.

A warm, funny, and quietly emotional read that reminds you how healing it can be to show up for someone—and let them show up for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this advanced reader copy of Such a Bad Influence by Grace Demyan.

Such a Bad Influence is a lighter, romantic comedy that also attempts to tackle some difficult topics such as grief and mental illness. I don’t read many books in this genre, but was intrigued by the opening chapters especially the way two main characters connect over a shared phone number. There were certainly some silly, laugh at loud moments, but I had difficulty fully staying on board. Even if a book is lighter on plot, I need to connect with the characters. I had a lot of difficulty understanding Felicity. Her decision making was all over the place in a way that didn’t feel authentic, and it became more disjointed as the story progressed. Overall, the novel was fine but didn't live up to its strong start.

If you love a cosy small town (slow) romance that also pulls your heart strings this is the book for you!

The development of the bond between Felicity and Alex and Wade was absolutely beautifully done and a joy to read.

I loved the way serious emotions and struggles like grieve, loneliness, loss and not feeling good enough were a big part of this book. But that also might make this book difficult for some people to read, especially if you are experiencing these feelings yourself.

The story contains a good dose of humour and shenanigans which made it super fun to read.

This is a brilliant debut novel and I had the best time reading it! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Grace Demyan for sending me the eARC.

🫐 sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ʙᴀᴅ ɪɴғʟᴜᴇɴᴄᴇ 🫐

ARC review | fiction | by Grace Demyan

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ~ releasing Oct. 21, 2025

when Grace approached me to invite me to read & review an ARC of her debut novel, i was immediately intrigued by the premise! Felicity Lavigne is twenty-seven, living on her family’s blueberry farm alone after the loss of her mother several years ago, and she’s still leaving voicemails to her mother’s old phone number. so when her phone rings with her mother’s number one night, she meets the new owner of it: eighteen year old Alex, a girl who’s homeless and aged out of the foster care system, who needs help and only had Felicity to call. as the two women spend more time together, what begins as a scheme to raise money to save Felicity’s struggling farm turns into an under-the-table revenge business…but the consequences of causing trouble in a small town are quick to catch up.

i enjoyed this one! watching the bond develop between Felicity and Alex was lovely, and the discussions around grief and loneliness were very well done. there’s a wonderful dose of small-tone humor and shenanigans, and while the ending isn’t what i expected, it’s super heartwarming, and i liked that it wasn’t super predictable! if grief is a difficult topic for you, i’d recommend proceeding with caution, but for my fiction lovers, check this one out! thanks so much again to Grace for the advanced reader copy!

First of all I would like to say thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really strong debut novel filled with small town quirky charm, it was a really heartwarming story and I look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next.

A little bit literary fiction, a little bit of a romance story.

Heartfelt, real, messy, emotional characters. This book is equal parts funny and heartfelt. It was a fun read and had me laughing, cheering on, and hurting for the characters.
It’s a bit campy with a lot of small town tropes but not in a bad way, it’s so much fun to read.

This read like a literary fiction, for the first half of the book I didn’t think there was a romance plot or even a prospect for it. But it was just a very slow simmer of a romance.

*warning* a pet gets seriously injured toward the end of the book.

Full of found family and personal and emotional growth for the characters.

Felicity is a mess, and she knows it, she’s lost in her grief over her mom and can’t move forward. But she tries her hardest to pull herself together when she gets a phone call from the number she’s been leaving emotional voicemails on for the last couple years and discovers it’s a teenager on the other end in need of help.

Alex and Felicity strike a deal to help each other as they await Alex’s court date. They get up to a lot of mischief in this tiny gossip and drama filled town and hijinks ensue. The two of them form a strong bond while trying to work out their trust issues and baggage. There’s a lot of raw tender moments.

During this whole thing Felicity is slowly being pulled (or pushed) into a certain attractive someone’s orbit until neither of them can deny that maybe there’s something more between them.

This is a wonderful debut! I am still thinking about the characters and story - weeks after finishing it! The story encompasses friendship, love, empathy, grief, and kindness. Thank you for Grace Demyan and NetGalley for the ARC. Make sure you add this one to your TBR when its released in October!

One Bad Influence is a heartfelt story that beautifully balances grief, humor, romance and friendship. This story overflows with emotion as Felicity works through the grief of losing her mother and embraces opportunities to allow herself to trust and love again. This journey is a warm embrace that stays with you.

Such a Bad Influence by Grace Demyan was a cute and cozy read. We follow main characters Felicity and Alex, who are complete opposites in every sense of the word. While Felicity likes going to bed at 8 pm with her favorite book in hand, Alex would rather be throwing a brick through the window of a certain shop in the local town. We meet Felicity after her mom passes away and she is left to take care of her family’s blueberry farm, and Alex is on the receiving end of the countless calls she makes to her mother’s previous phone number. They end up meeting under not-so-wonderful circumstances, and as their relationship takes many twists and turns, we learn what it means to find a best friend in the most unlikely of places.

I really enjoyed the romance between Felicity and Wade as well, it was cute and lighthearted! My only qualm with this book was the number of Gilmore Girls references. One or two would have been cute, but it felt like overkill in my opinion. It started to get a little repetitive after awhile. All in all, I enjoyed this book!

I loved this entertaining, heartwarming and adorable book! The town reminded me of Stars Hollow and makes me want to go move to Felicity and Wade’s street. Congratulations Grace Demyan on an amazing debut novel! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the eARC copy. Be sure to add it to your TBR!

Thank you to the author for reaching out to me on Instagram and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Such a Bad Influence is a story about two women who form an unlikely friendship to get revenge — and I loved every minute of it. The setting at a blueberry farm in Ohio gave me the perfect beginning-of-fall vibes while still feeling like a late summer read.

This book blends hysterical and heartfelt moments seamlessly. The banter was perfection, the humor had me laughing out loud, and the deeper themes of grief, found family, and loneliness gave it so much heart. It’s the kind of story that will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt out of place — and it just might leave you craving a slice of blueberry pie 🥧🫐😋

A fantastic debut from Grace Demyan, and one I’ll be recommending often!

Loved this book so much. Its a story of two woman who form an unlikely friendship through revenge. It was full of whitty banter. The romance was sprinkled in nicely.

Humor, love, friendship and family all in an Ohio blueberry farm. This book is filled with excitement and heart warming moments that will pull on your heart string. When two girls team together to over take some vandalizing kids what could possibly go wrong....?