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Bad Influence
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In this contemporary YA novel, high school student Charlotte Goh is an aspiring Asian American fashion influencer desperately trying to lift her family out of hardship, only to find it may come at a cost higher than any Chanel bag.
Seventeen-year-old Charlotte Goh is juggling two very different personas: the dutiful Korean daughter, and the hustling NYC fashion influencer. Her best friend Steven scoffs at her ambition, but she secretly hopes that her posts will help financially support her struggling family. Then one night, after posting about a racist experience she had at an influencer event, Charlotte finds herself going viral and garnering the fame she’s always craved. And as much as she doesn’t want her newfound popularity to change her, she can’t help but be swept away by the exciting perks: chic new friends, the attention of one of Hollywood’s hottest heartthrobs, and a slew of companies clamoring to sponsor her.
But as she falls deeper into the influencer world, she finds that she may have to sacrifice more than she bargained for—including her unexpected new feelings for Steven. Will Charlotte be able to stay true to herself, or will she lose the things that are most important to her?
Seventeen-year-old Charlotte Goh is juggling two very different personas: the dutiful Korean daughter, and the hustling NYC fashion influencer. Her best friend Steven scoffs at her ambition, but she secretly hopes that her posts will help financially support her struggling family. Then one night, after posting about a racist experience she had at an influencer event, Charlotte finds herself going viral and garnering the fame she’s always craved. And as much as she doesn’t want her newfound popularity to change her, she can’t help but be swept away by the exciting perks: chic new friends, the attention of one of Hollywood’s hottest heartthrobs, and a slew of companies clamoring to sponsor her.
But as she falls deeper into the influencer world, she finds that she may have to sacrifice more than she bargained for—including her unexpected new feelings for Steven. Will Charlotte be able to stay true to herself, or will she lose the things that are most important to her?
288 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 29, 2025
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April 23, 2025
Thank you @prhaudio @penguinteen for the books! #PRHAudioPartner #penguinteenpartner
Release date: April 29, 2022
Charlotte Goh is a dutiful Korean daughter by day, NYC fashion influencer by night. When a viral post brings her sudden fame, she’s swept into a world of glam perks and unexpected romance. But staying true to herself—and to Steven—might cost her more than she ever imagined.
Every element about this book is fabulous. She’s a fashionista. Warm Korean family. Travel. Tension between her and her mom. Best friends to lovers. It had all the ingredients to be a story I was charmed by, but it was just... missing the actual charm. I wanted the trendiness of Kitty Song Covey (Xo, Kitty + To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) with the sparkle and angst of PREQUEL Carrie Bradshaw (The Carrie Diaries). It had the ingredients to get us there but failed somewhere in the execution.
If you can get past the flat descriptions and Charlotte’s annoying tone, this story does have great messages! Social media is not worth sacrificing values, the intimacy of friendship is sweeter than popularity, and sometimes parents are just as much in the wrong as their kid.
I primarily read via audio, and the narrator represented the character well!
Perfect for you if you like:
Korean American families
Fashion influencer + social media
Friends to lovers subplot
Similar to:
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han (if Xo, Kitty was a book, that’d be the closest)
The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
The Do-Over by Lynn Painter
⛔️fade to black language but nothing happens
⚠️explicit language, racial bullying, underage drinking, previous divorce of friend’s parents (cheating father)
Release date: April 29, 2022
Charlotte Goh is a dutiful Korean daughter by day, NYC fashion influencer by night. When a viral post brings her sudden fame, she’s swept into a world of glam perks and unexpected romance. But staying true to herself—and to Steven—might cost her more than she ever imagined.
Every element about this book is fabulous. She’s a fashionista. Warm Korean family. Travel. Tension between her and her mom. Best friends to lovers. It had all the ingredients to be a story I was charmed by, but it was just... missing the actual charm. I wanted the trendiness of Kitty Song Covey (Xo, Kitty + To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) with the sparkle and angst of PREQUEL Carrie Bradshaw (The Carrie Diaries). It had the ingredients to get us there but failed somewhere in the execution.
If you can get past the flat descriptions and Charlotte’s annoying tone, this story does have great messages! Social media is not worth sacrificing values, the intimacy of friendship is sweeter than popularity, and sometimes parents are just as much in the wrong as their kid.
I primarily read via audio, and the narrator represented the character well!
Perfect for you if you like:
Korean American families
Fashion influencer + social media
Friends to lovers subplot
Similar to:
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han (if Xo, Kitty was a book, that’d be the closest)
The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
The Do-Over by Lynn Painter
⛔️fade to black language but nothing happens
⚠️explicit language, racial bullying, underage drinking, previous divorce of friend’s parents (cheating father)
March 19, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the premise and the relationship between the two main characters, but the rest didn’t really work for me. The writing was often choppy and the pacing was off and too. I also didn’t care for the FMC or her mother. Charlotte wasn’t convincing when she said she didn’t really like what she did and only did it for her family. Likewise, the mother’s reconciliation wasn’t believable. I liked Steven a lot and wish there was more of him in the book.
I loved the premise and the relationship between the two main characters, but the rest didn’t really work for me. The writing was often choppy and the pacing was off and too. I also didn’t care for the FMC or her mother. Charlotte wasn’t convincing when she said she didn’t really like what she did and only did it for her family. Likewise, the mother’s reconciliation wasn’t believable. I liked Steven a lot and wish there was more of him in the book.
April 22, 2025
This is a beautiful story that really shows not only the reasons why someone would want to become an influencer, the downfalls, and how perception isn’t always reality. I think this book truly shows one person’s experience of finally being able to monetize their content. Charlotte is a teen who is dealing with a lot of personal struggles. Her mother always wants to complain about how they don’t have enough money or what her husband is not doing to provide for the family. Charlotte feels trapped always taking care of her younger sister, and while she loves her, she also doesn’t like feeling like she is her sister’s mother. Her dad is struggling after being hurt at work to try and find something he can do to help his family. Since her family prioritizes education so much Charlotte knows she really can’t get a traditional job, so when she starts to receive emails about brand deals, she feels like this is the only way she can really help her family. Even when one of the brands that reaches out none of her other fellow Asian influencers don’t feel comfortable with working with.
This story really follows Charlotte as she navigates her new found influential powers and the new world she is being exposed to. Sometimes all that glitters is not gold and I liked watching her navigate through the gold and was happy she was able to figure out what truly mattered in the end.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Young Readers and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
This story really follows Charlotte as she navigates her new found influential powers and the new world she is being exposed to. Sometimes all that glitters is not gold and I liked watching her navigate through the gold and was happy she was able to figure out what truly mattered in the end.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Young Readers and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
March 23, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc!
3.75 �
I really really enjoyed this book. The writing was romcom material and the story fast paced. My main issue was the main character's decisions, which I get has its purpose, but it got annoying. We should've at least gotten some more insight or inner turmoil about why she was doing all this.
3.75 �
I really really enjoyed this book. The writing was romcom material and the story fast paced. My main issue was the main character's decisions, which I get has its purpose, but it got annoying. We should've at least gotten some more insight or inner turmoil about why she was doing all this.
April 23, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley and Viking/Penguin Random House for the ARC of "Bad Influence" in exchange for an honest review.
Author Claire Ahn has given us something I didn't think possible......a teen influencer we can empathize with and cheer on in her quest for "likes" and followers. (It seems lately such characters only hang out in horror of murder mysteries....)
Korean-American Charlotte is by no means your standard vapid fashionista living out a click bait life on social media. Her family has fallen on hard times making ends meet, and Charlotte's secretly helping them out with money she's earned from her site's first sponsorship, (Her family has no clue about her media life, so she makes up a series of lies about where the money came from.)
Charlotte's ups and down as an influencer take her on quite an emotional ride. Decrying the anti-Asian bigotry of some of her fellow influencers gains her a growing fan base, but she suffers derision and scorn by a taking a sponsorship from a company accused of that exact misdeed. To complicate things even more, she catches the attention of a rising, devil-may-care young movie star at the very same time she realizes she's been in love with that always familiar standby, the combo lifelong friend/boy next door.
But it's none of those usual, typical and predictable YA tropes that attracted to me to this book. The beating heart of "Bad Influence" lies in Charlotte's relationship with her loving, close-knit Korean family. (including, of course, mouth-watering descriptions of Korean cooking at the dinner table.) She and her parents dote upon Jojo, her irrepressible toddler sister, with Charlotte often assuming co-parenting duties of the little girl. But she harbors a long simmering deep resentment of her mother, whom she feels never raised Charlotte with the love and care she now lavishes on Jojo.
While I realize that a lot of readers will, unlike me, find the social media stuff fascinating and compelling., along with the questionable choices Charlotte makes, it's her family dramas and their resolution that kept me glued to the book. (Sorry, but the rising amounts a character's 'likes' doesn't pump out much adrenalin for me....)
A pleasant, satisfying read, that manages enough heart to overcome the self-absorbed superficial world of influencing.
(and please check out my other reviews at )
Author Claire Ahn has given us something I didn't think possible......a teen influencer we can empathize with and cheer on in her quest for "likes" and followers. (It seems lately such characters only hang out in horror of murder mysteries....)
Korean-American Charlotte is by no means your standard vapid fashionista living out a click bait life on social media. Her family has fallen on hard times making ends meet, and Charlotte's secretly helping them out with money she's earned from her site's first sponsorship, (Her family has no clue about her media life, so she makes up a series of lies about where the money came from.)
Charlotte's ups and down as an influencer take her on quite an emotional ride. Decrying the anti-Asian bigotry of some of her fellow influencers gains her a growing fan base, but she suffers derision and scorn by a taking a sponsorship from a company accused of that exact misdeed. To complicate things even more, she catches the attention of a rising, devil-may-care young movie star at the very same time she realizes she's been in love with that always familiar standby, the combo lifelong friend/boy next door.
But it's none of those usual, typical and predictable YA tropes that attracted to me to this book. The beating heart of "Bad Influence" lies in Charlotte's relationship with her loving, close-knit Korean family. (including, of course, mouth-watering descriptions of Korean cooking at the dinner table.) She and her parents dote upon Jojo, her irrepressible toddler sister, with Charlotte often assuming co-parenting duties of the little girl. But she harbors a long simmering deep resentment of her mother, whom she feels never raised Charlotte with the love and care she now lavishes on Jojo.
While I realize that a lot of readers will, unlike me, find the social media stuff fascinating and compelling., along with the questionable choices Charlotte makes, it's her family dramas and their resolution that kept me glued to the book. (Sorry, but the rising amounts a character's 'likes' doesn't pump out much adrenalin for me....)
A pleasant, satisfying read, that manages enough heart to overcome the self-absorbed superficial world of influencing.
(and please check out my other reviews at )
April 16, 2025
Since young adult influencers are experiencing increasing attention on social media sites, I was looking forward to reading Claire Ahn’s latest offering.
Seventeen-year-old second-generation Korean student Charlotte Goh is paving the way as a fashion influencer to help her family financially. Firstly, her keeping them in the dark didn’t overly excite me; however, I understood her reasoning. Not only have digital platforms become a source of parental worry, but I also considered her folks� cultural thinking and health–I truly loved her dad, hmm ... there are mum-daughter issues. Then, trying to keep up with schoolwork, child-minding her little sister, and other responsibilities seemed a lot to take on for a teen.
A fitting title for a novel that would more than likely appeal to GEN Z readers, connecting to some of the characters and more so to Charlotte, was challenging. I felt a hint of jealousy–what her new friends' lifestyles and possibilities were like compared to how her family lived was something she’d have to deal with. Ahn has candidly planted a parental and young people's learning curve by tackling subject matters such as racial bullying, cultural and moral conundrums, and a fixation on growing follower numbers that go hand in hand with excessive phone usage. A new must-watch streaming series with a different premise but concerns teenagers crossed my mind while absorbing this read.
I enjoyed reading about Korean cuisine, their mealtimes–foodies–you'll love how the mouthwatering dishes are served, and the Korean chit-chat was easy to grasp in its context. Yet, I’d have liked to have seen a more fleshed-out romance between Charlotte and her bestie, Steven; fewer truncated sentences and some paragraphs felt rushed and a tad inconsistent.
Bad Influence is indeed thought-provoking, if not without heightened emotional moments.
Many thanks to Penguin Group and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seventeen-year-old second-generation Korean student Charlotte Goh is paving the way as a fashion influencer to help her family financially. Firstly, her keeping them in the dark didn’t overly excite me; however, I understood her reasoning. Not only have digital platforms become a source of parental worry, but I also considered her folks� cultural thinking and health–I truly loved her dad, hmm ... there are mum-daughter issues. Then, trying to keep up with schoolwork, child-minding her little sister, and other responsibilities seemed a lot to take on for a teen.
A fitting title for a novel that would more than likely appeal to GEN Z readers, connecting to some of the characters and more so to Charlotte, was challenging. I felt a hint of jealousy–what her new friends' lifestyles and possibilities were like compared to how her family lived was something she’d have to deal with. Ahn has candidly planted a parental and young people's learning curve by tackling subject matters such as racial bullying, cultural and moral conundrums, and a fixation on growing follower numbers that go hand in hand with excessive phone usage. A new must-watch streaming series with a different premise but concerns teenagers crossed my mind while absorbing this read.
I enjoyed reading about Korean cuisine, their mealtimes–foodies–you'll love how the mouthwatering dishes are served, and the Korean chit-chat was easy to grasp in its context. Yet, I’d have liked to have seen a more fleshed-out romance between Charlotte and her bestie, Steven; fewer truncated sentences and some paragraphs felt rushed and a tad inconsistent.
Bad Influence is indeed thought-provoking, if not without heightened emotional moments.
Many thanks to Penguin Group and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read this ARC.
📖 Synopsis:
Charlotte Goh is balancing two identities. Devoted Korean daughter and ambitious NYC fashion influencer. When her family’s financial struggles intensify, she turns to social media, hoping it will provide the security they desperately need. But navigating the influencer world isn’t easy, especially when she witnesses racism within the community and later finds herself accused of betraying it. Along the way, she’s torn between her childhood best friend, Steven, and a Hollywood heartthrob, all while trying to stay true to herself and her cultural identity.
💭 My Thoughts:
This YA contemporary novel explores identity, family expectations, and the highs and lows of social media fame. The cultural elements were thoughtfully woven into Charlotte’s journey, highlighting the challenges of being a second-generation Korean American. Then being an influencer, showing both the glamorous perks and ethical dilemmas that come with online success.
At times, the pacing felt a little slow, and certain moments could have been bridged more smoothly. However, the emotional depth, particularly Charlotte’s struggles with family obligations and self-worth, made for a compelling read. Her internal conflict, balancing personal ambition with cultural expectations, felt authentic. The romance subplot added another layer to Charlotte’s story.
Overall, Bad Influence is a thought-provoking and timely read about the cost of social media fame, the pressures of family duty, and the importance of staying true to yourself. Definitely worth picking up when it releases!
📖 Synopsis:
Charlotte Goh is balancing two identities. Devoted Korean daughter and ambitious NYC fashion influencer. When her family’s financial struggles intensify, she turns to social media, hoping it will provide the security they desperately need. But navigating the influencer world isn’t easy, especially when she witnesses racism within the community and later finds herself accused of betraying it. Along the way, she’s torn between her childhood best friend, Steven, and a Hollywood heartthrob, all while trying to stay true to herself and her cultural identity.
💭 My Thoughts:
This YA contemporary novel explores identity, family expectations, and the highs and lows of social media fame. The cultural elements were thoughtfully woven into Charlotte’s journey, highlighting the challenges of being a second-generation Korean American. Then being an influencer, showing both the glamorous perks and ethical dilemmas that come with online success.
At times, the pacing felt a little slow, and certain moments could have been bridged more smoothly. However, the emotional depth, particularly Charlotte’s struggles with family obligations and self-worth, made for a compelling read. Her internal conflict, balancing personal ambition with cultural expectations, felt authentic. The romance subplot added another layer to Charlotte’s story.
Overall, Bad Influence is a thought-provoking and timely read about the cost of social media fame, the pressures of family duty, and the importance of staying true to yourself. Definitely worth picking up when it releases!
April 18, 2025
Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
•Ģ�
Seventeen year old Charlotte Goh has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. Between studying to keep up her grades, babysitting her three year old little sister, being a confidante for her mother and worrying about her father after an accident left him injured... she’s carrying a lot for a teenager. Classic eldest daughter syndrome.
It’s also clear that they’re struggling financially, so Charlotte decides to try to help. For the last two years, she’s been hiding a secret Instagram account where she’s become a micro-influencer just waiting for her first sponsorship. When she overhears racist remarks at an influencer event and stands up for her friend, herself and their Asian community, she ends up gaining thousands of followers and going viral.
But going viral isn’t always a good thing, and I really appreciated that the author looked at both the good and bad sides of social media/being an influencer, especially at a young age. This book looked at topics surrounding ethics and values when it comes to brand deals, becoming too invested in a follower count, spiraling down the rabbit hole of negative comments, cancel culture, and most importantly, the moments you miss out on when you’re addicted to your phone. There can (and should) be healthy boundaries with social media where you can still be present for the ones you love, and I think this book had some great lessons on this topic for teens that are written in ways they’d be receptive to.
As for the things I didn’t love as much� the pacing was a little too fast and I wasn’t the biggest fan of Charlotte overall. While she’s a young woman and of course has much to learn, I thought the author could’ve given us more depth and maturity for her character since she was 17 vs. a younger teen and she’s been forced to grow up quickly.
But on the whole, I think it’s a good book for a young audience growing up in the digital age, and they’ll take away some valuable lessons at the end!
•Ģ�
Seventeen year old Charlotte Goh has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. Between studying to keep up her grades, babysitting her three year old little sister, being a confidante for her mother and worrying about her father after an accident left him injured... she’s carrying a lot for a teenager. Classic eldest daughter syndrome.
It’s also clear that they’re struggling financially, so Charlotte decides to try to help. For the last two years, she’s been hiding a secret Instagram account where she’s become a micro-influencer just waiting for her first sponsorship. When she overhears racist remarks at an influencer event and stands up for her friend, herself and their Asian community, she ends up gaining thousands of followers and going viral.
But going viral isn’t always a good thing, and I really appreciated that the author looked at both the good and bad sides of social media/being an influencer, especially at a young age. This book looked at topics surrounding ethics and values when it comes to brand deals, becoming too invested in a follower count, spiraling down the rabbit hole of negative comments, cancel culture, and most importantly, the moments you miss out on when you’re addicted to your phone. There can (and should) be healthy boundaries with social media where you can still be present for the ones you love, and I think this book had some great lessons on this topic for teens that are written in ways they’d be receptive to.
As for the things I didn’t love as much� the pacing was a little too fast and I wasn’t the biggest fan of Charlotte overall. While she’s a young woman and of course has much to learn, I thought the author could’ve given us more depth and maturity for her character since she was 17 vs. a younger teen and she’s been forced to grow up quickly.
But on the whole, I think it’s a good book for a young audience growing up in the digital age, and they’ll take away some valuable lessons at the end!
March 18, 2025
Bad Influence is a compelling YA novel that dives into the challenges of family expectations, social media pressure, and self-discovery. Charlotte, the eldest daughter in a struggling household, is used to carrying the weight of responsibility—playing babysitter to her younger sister while also being her mother’s emotional support. As her parents� financial troubles escalate, Charlotte turns to social media as an escape, throwing herself into the influencer world. But juggling school, family, and her growing online presence proves to be more difficult than she expected, and soon, her carefully constructed life begins to unravel.
Claire Ahn does a fantastic job capturing the reality of teen life, particularly the pressure of being the "responsible one" in a family. Charlotte’s journey is both relatable and thought-provoking, as she struggles with slipping grades, strained relationships, and the consequences of chasing online validation. The romance adds an extra layer to the story, with an engaging contrast between her childhood friend, Steven, and a fresh new love interest.
Overall, Bad Influence is a captivating and timely read, perfect for teens navigating similar struggles. With a strong emotional core and an authentic look at social media’s impact, this book is definitely worth picking up!
A big thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Claire Ahn does a fantastic job capturing the reality of teen life, particularly the pressure of being the "responsible one" in a family. Charlotte’s journey is both relatable and thought-provoking, as she struggles with slipping grades, strained relationships, and the consequences of chasing online validation. The romance adds an extra layer to the story, with an engaging contrast between her childhood friend, Steven, and a fresh new love interest.
Overall, Bad Influence is a captivating and timely read, perfect for teens navigating similar struggles. With a strong emotional core and an authentic look at social media’s impact, this book is definitely worth picking up!
A big thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2025
This was a great YA read with a lot of relatable events. I liked the way the author tied everything together and gave a little of romance as a plus! I thought it was relatable in the aspect of being the oldest daughter and parents expecting so much. For example, Charlotte was a babysitter to her little sister but was also her mother's therapist/confidant. At times, it seemed like Charlotte was the only mature person in the family. Having to deal with her parents fighting all the time because of financial issues, stressed her out and gave her the push to be a social influencer.
Charlotte thought that being able to juggle with everything would be easy, but she soon finds it is not. She finds herself lying to her parents and getting bad grades on her assignments. She puts being an influencer in the front burner and everything soon starts to fall apart.
I like the way the author introduced a new love interest for Charlotte vs. her long-time childhood friend, Steven. The way Claire Ahn connected all events and characters, made this story a good one. I would definitely purchase this book for my teenage daughter; she would absolutely love it!
This is a 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me!
Thank you to Penguin Group/Viking Books/Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Charlotte thought that being able to juggle with everything would be easy, but she soon finds it is not. She finds herself lying to her parents and getting bad grades on her assignments. She puts being an influencer in the front burner and everything soon starts to fall apart.
I like the way the author introduced a new love interest for Charlotte vs. her long-time childhood friend, Steven. The way Claire Ahn connected all events and characters, made this story a good one. I would definitely purchase this book for my teenage daughter; she would absolutely love it!
This is a 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me!
Thank you to Penguin Group/Viking Books/Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 22, 2025
I want to say thanks to NetGallery, the Penguins Young Readers Group and for to get ACR of this book.
📚: Charlotte Goh is trying to be Fashion influence to help with Her family’s financial, also trying to keep her social media world a secret from her family. Charlotte start get more followers after she talking about how she encounter racism during a fashion event. During her journey she met other influencers and celebrity. Now she how choose to stay true to herself or become a new person. Along the way, she also how choose between her childhood best friend Steve or Alan the Celebrity
💭: this my second time read her book. Her first book was “I guess I live here now� which I enjoy reading. Trying not spoiler a lot : l Iove how her first book was daddy issues, now her second book is mommy issues. Both books talking about different issues but manly issues that stay in my head was Charlotte’s relationship with her mom. And I love how when “they talk in Korean�, example; “my dad call out in Korean� and “his mom says defensively in Korean.� Idk why but enjoy that parts. And resason why I give 4.25⭐️ bc scenes will change out of nowhere like one moment she will be at school then next moment she at home. Idk bc my dyslexic or how she wrote it. It feels like I missread it but besides I will enjoy the book.
I definitely will buy this book when it comes out. Probably talking more about favorites parts of book.
Coming out : April 29, 25
📚: Charlotte Goh is trying to be Fashion influence to help with Her family’s financial, also trying to keep her social media world a secret from her family. Charlotte start get more followers after she talking about how she encounter racism during a fashion event. During her journey she met other influencers and celebrity. Now she how choose to stay true to herself or become a new person. Along the way, she also how choose between her childhood best friend Steve or Alan the Celebrity
💭: this my second time read her book. Her first book was “I guess I live here now� which I enjoy reading. Trying not spoiler a lot : l Iove how her first book was daddy issues, now her second book is mommy issues. Both books talking about different issues but manly issues that stay in my head was Charlotte’s relationship with her mom. And I love how when “they talk in Korean�, example; “my dad call out in Korean� and “his mom says defensively in Korean.� Idk why but enjoy that parts. And resason why I give 4.25⭐️ bc scenes will change out of nowhere like one moment she will be at school then next moment she at home. Idk bc my dyslexic or how she wrote it. It feels like I missread it but besides I will enjoy the book.
I definitely will buy this book when it comes out. Probably talking more about favorites parts of book.
Coming out : April 29, 25
February 14, 2025
Thanks to netgalley for the ARC! This is a very timely topic with influencers being a big thing, which I think will appeal to teens looking for a love story, realistic teen fiction, and something that covers social media. Charlotte and her growing popularity, struggles to stay true to herself, and figuring out her feelings for her best friend are all topics of interest. While it checked all those boxes, I can’t say it was a favorite of mine. I feel like Charlotte and Steven and any feelings kind of came out of now where, and I found some of the teen characters and their choices, especially with Steven and some of his reactions, to be rather immature for their ages. It didn’t ruin it for me as I tried to read it through the lense of a teen reader, but as someone who reads quite a bit of YA, I do think there’s some better and deeper book options out there. Overall, not a bad read that does tackle some moral and integrity issues that show lessons learned. FYI some unneeded profanity with underage drinking but nothing too crazy
April 22, 2025
Charlotte is a devoted daughter AND a fashion influencer. When she decides to share her thoughts about a recent experience involving racism on her social media page the instant fame she recieves begins to be too hard to handle.
This was a very quick read which I appreciate. I continue to forget that YA genre doesn't usually mesh with me. I LOVE flawed characters but the writing style typically feels a little adolescent for my taste. Now, I enjoyed Claire Ahn's debut novel I Guess I Live Here Now a lot and Bad Influence definitely had similar vibes but I think this one just felt a smidge too choppy and I also feel like the romantic element took a tad too long to explore.
Still, this is a though provoking book perfect for young adults since 'influencers' seems to be such a big wish these days. At times the pacing felt slow but the importance of family is very rewarding.
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC
This was a very quick read which I appreciate. I continue to forget that YA genre doesn't usually mesh with me. I LOVE flawed characters but the writing style typically feels a little adolescent for my taste. Now, I enjoyed Claire Ahn's debut novel I Guess I Live Here Now a lot and Bad Influence definitely had similar vibes but I think this one just felt a smidge too choppy and I also feel like the romantic element took a tad too long to explore.
Still, this is a though provoking book perfect for young adults since 'influencers' seems to be such a big wish these days. At times the pacing felt slow but the importance of family is very rewarding.
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC
April 19, 2025
Thanks to Penguin Young Readers group for the galley! I was so excited to read this.
I feel like social media is such an interesting idea for a book� we all are really consumed by it and I liked seeing our MC, Charlotte, try to juggle social media star-power with her life and her family responsibilities.
It broke my heart to see how she felt responsible to support her family, and be her mother’s therapist. It was absolutely heart wrenching. It was so realistic the way she interacted with her best friend, her little sister, her mom, her social media friends� it was relatable, and because of that the end was that much sweeter.
CW/TW: heavy make outs, a couple of descriptive open door scenes that don’t “go all the way�; parental neglect; divorce of friend’s parents, cheating father before book;
I feel like social media is such an interesting idea for a book� we all are really consumed by it and I liked seeing our MC, Charlotte, try to juggle social media star-power with her life and her family responsibilities.
It broke my heart to see how she felt responsible to support her family, and be her mother’s therapist. It was absolutely heart wrenching. It was so realistic the way she interacted with her best friend, her little sister, her mom, her social media friends� it was relatable, and because of that the end was that much sweeter.
CW/TW: heavy make outs, a couple of descriptive open door scenes that don’t “go all the way�; parental neglect; divorce of friend’s parents, cheating father before book;
April 12, 2025
Junior Charlotte has been a social media influencer for two years, gradually becoming more well-known in the AAPI online community and is on the verge of actually getting contracts for her work. She loves the creativity of posting and the attention she gets, but is also stressed by the financial needs of her family since dad’s work injury, and she loves/resents the time she spends caring for her three year old sister. Although she wonders if what she feels for best friend Steven might turn romantic, her head is turned when she meets teen movie star Alan at an influencer event. Racism and cultural expectations are woven through this complex took at the costs and benefits of creating an identity online, EARC from Edelweiss.
February 7, 2025
Bad Influence by Claire Ahn was a lovely YA romance and novel of self-disovery. While I did feel it was a bit of a slow burn, it really picked up about half way through. Charlotte Goh was such a truly relatable teenage girl. I am not Korean, but Charlotte/Ahn did such a good job of reflecting on what it means to be a young Korean American, that I felt like I actually could understand her thoughts and motivations. I also saw aspects of my own life reflected in Charlotte's in how social media affected her life in so many ways. I loved the dichotomy between Charlotte's love interests, and her friendship with Steven was absolute perfection. I also absolutely adored Charlotte's relationship with her little sister Jojo, who truly came to life and jumped off the page.
February 16, 2025
Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for the copy of Bad Influence by Claire Ahn. What a fun, fast book! I loved Charlotte’s perspective as a teen influencer trying to find her place in her world. I loved how she had to navigate her family issues and her desire to be an influencer to earn money for them. The class disparities were well-written, and the racial issues were a big part of the story but were presented deftly and were not heavy-handed. I can see this book being popular in school libraries everywhere. 4 stars
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 14, 2025DNF @ 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.
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.
April 21, 2025
I tend to love these wanna-be influencer reads, and this one was just adorable. I had to remember that not all YA's read alike and these are kids, but I liked Charlotte, even though she was so confused with everything that had to do with her life. From wanting to be MORE, a social media influencer, but for no other reason then to be MORE, ain't that what most of these teens want??? lol...
December 9, 2024
strong story with very interesting characters and very well-plotted ideas. i really felt for them. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.
January 28, 2025
Bad Influence was an unexpected joy! It follows Charlotte Goh as she navigates the world of social media to help her family through hardship.
This was a beautiful story of family and friendship. I loved seeing what the Goh family was going through and the community that they fostered with Steven, Charlotte’s best friend, and his mom.
Charlotte spends her time in two worlds, and it is heartbreaking to watch her navigate the new upper-class friends while drifting away from the family she was trying to help.
Bad Influence is a beautiful novel about growing up, and I think it speaks volumes about the way teens and young adults are navigating the world through social media today. I wish I’d had this when I was sixteen, and I hope it reaches the people who need it most.
This was a beautiful story of family and friendship. I loved seeing what the Goh family was going through and the community that they fostered with Steven, Charlotte’s best friend, and his mom.
Charlotte spends her time in two worlds, and it is heartbreaking to watch her navigate the new upper-class friends while drifting away from the family she was trying to help.
Bad Influence is a beautiful novel about growing up, and I think it speaks volumes about the way teens and young adults are navigating the world through social media today. I wish I’d had this when I was sixteen, and I hope it reaches the people who need it most.
April 22, 2025
When struggling but determined influencer Charlotte posts a racist interaction to her platforms, she goes viral and is swept away into the fancy world of fellow influencers, brand deals, and famous actors. Her goal is to make enough money to help support her family and care for her little sister. Though she has made new friends, caught the attention of a Hollywood actor, and has millions of new followers, Charlotte realizes that the influencer world isn't as perfect as she expected.
This was a quick read that focused on Charlotte's influencer achievements before shifting to focus on her feelings for her friend Steven. Her feelings came out of nowhere since she spent the majority of the story obsessed with her influencer lifestyle and new friends. Charlotte also wasn't the most likeable character, but she eventually learned to let go of her bad habits.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.
This was a quick read that focused on Charlotte's influencer achievements before shifting to focus on her feelings for her friend Steven. Her feelings came out of nowhere since she spent the majority of the story obsessed with her influencer lifestyle and new friends. Charlotte also wasn't the most likeable character, but she eventually learned to let go of her bad habits.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.
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