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Such a Bad Influence
A razor-sharp debut about what happens when one of the first child stars of the social media age grows up . . . and goes missing.
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 lifestyle influencer. Evie came of age on the family YouTube channel after a viral video when she was five. Ten years older and spotlight-averse, Hazel managed to dodge the family business—so although she can barely afford her apartment, at least she made her own way.
Evie is eighteen now, with a multimillion-dollar career, 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, and podcast episodes, Hazel throws herself into the darkest parts of her sister’s world to untangle the truth. After all, Hazel knows Evie better than anyone else . . . doesn’t she?
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 lifestyle influencer. Evie came of age on the family YouTube channel after a viral video when she was five. Ten years older and spotlight-averse, Hazel managed to dodge the family business—so although she can barely afford her apartment, at least she made her own way.
Evie is eighteen now, with a multimillion-dollar career, 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, and podcast episodes, Hazel throws herself into the darkest parts of her sister’s world to untangle the truth. After all, Hazel knows Evie better than anyone else . . . doesn’t she?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 726 reviews
March 17, 2024
Sorry to all the other books, but this one was my #1 most-anticipated of the year, and WOW it delivered.
The book follows the investigation around a second-generation influencer who disappears during a live stream. Told through the POV of her social-media-skeptical older sister as she tries to piece together what happened. This book had so many surprising twists and turns that had me glued to my seat (honestly, finished it in a single day; cancelled plans to make it possible; IYKYK). And MY GOD... the ending!!! Masterful!
There is so much incredibly thoughtful commentary around social media and influencer culture. People are going to be talking about this one! (Also fully approved for thriller scaredy-cats like me... it's more unsettling re: internet culture than outright scary!)
The book follows the investigation around a second-generation influencer who disappears during a live stream. Told through the POV of her social-media-skeptical older sister as she tries to piece together what happened. This book had so many surprising twists and turns that had me glued to my seat (honestly, finished it in a single day; cancelled plans to make it possible; IYKYK). And MY GOD... the ending!!! Masterful!
There is so much incredibly thoughtful commentary around social media and influencer culture. People are going to be talking about this one! (Also fully approved for thriller scaredy-cats like me... it's more unsettling re: internet culture than outright scary!)
June 11, 2024
5 ⭐️
SUCH A GOOD BOOK?!??
Immediate words that come to mind after just finishing this book: addictive, electric, propulsive, unputdownable, insightful, gripping, deliciously entertaining, thought provoking and WOW so well written.
I truly can’t believe this is a debut novel?! I am a Bad On Paper/Olivia’s Substack fangirl so I truly could not wait to pick this up. I knew it would be good but not THIS good.
The slow burn thriller vibes were vibing, and the last 30% had me in an absolute chokehold to the point that I was just sitting at my desk staring into space with my jaw on the floor while listening to the audiobook. Olivia had me on my toes and questioning who I was rooting for the entire time, and I easily could have listened to 7 more hours of this book.
Being a content creator, the questions that were being touched on about the influencer era were so interesting and I want to go back to my Kindle version to highlight and discuss so many things. This would make SUCH a good book club pick. The audio was so well produced (podcast clips, reddits, etc) so highly suggest ear reading for this one!
Olivia, you really did that. So wildly impressed 👏🏼
SUCH A GOOD BOOK?!??
Immediate words that come to mind after just finishing this book: addictive, electric, propulsive, unputdownable, insightful, gripping, deliciously entertaining, thought provoking and WOW so well written.
I truly can’t believe this is a debut novel?! I am a Bad On Paper/Olivia’s Substack fangirl so I truly could not wait to pick this up. I knew it would be good but not THIS good.
The slow burn thriller vibes were vibing, and the last 30% had me in an absolute chokehold to the point that I was just sitting at my desk staring into space with my jaw on the floor while listening to the audiobook. Olivia had me on my toes and questioning who I was rooting for the entire time, and I easily could have listened to 7 more hours of this book.
Being a content creator, the questions that were being touched on about the influencer era were so interesting and I want to go back to my Kindle version to highlight and discuss so many things. This would make SUCH a good book club pick. The audio was so well produced (podcast clips, reddits, etc) so highly suggest ear reading for this one!
Olivia, you really did that. So wildly impressed 👏🏼
Shelved as 'read-audiobooks'
June 26, 2024Earhole read. Lukewarm mystery but I liked the commentary around social media. The main message? We ain't shit. The influencers ain't shit. The haters ain't shit. The fans ain't shit. The companies advertising on these platforms ain't shit. Even the people installing 5G towers ain't shit.
July 5, 2024
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?
Such a Bad Influence is so hard to describe. From the character-driven plot to the constant low-level suspense, I was wrapped up in the mystery of it all from the start. At the same time, however, this was a very long, slow burn for most of the novel. Much more family drama, mystery, or suspense than thriller (which is how it was billed), the pluses were many—even though there were some downsides as well.
Starting with the positives, the characters were pure gold. Fully fleshed out and authentically real, each had their own foibles and flaws that came alive on the page. From the down-on-her-luck narrator to the manipulative mother, the glimpses of not only this family—but the missing influencer as well—felt genuine as could be. Along with that was a juicy dysfunctional family dynamic that kept the plot charged and aimed perfectly for maximum drama.
Speaking of the plot, I absolutely loved the format. Sprinkled with podcast transcripts, Reddit posts, and the like, it brought the storyline utterly to life. I don’t know about you, however, but I expect a thriller to have propulsive writing and unending foreboding. This book, while filled to the brim with an enthralling mystery, was missing much of that pull. But maybe it was just my expectations that hampered my enjoyment a bit.
The biggest success of this book, though, was how brilliantly it critiqued social media, our reliance on it, and the damage it may be doing in the long run. On top of that it touched on topics such as ownership, autonomy, and the right to privacy. For that reason alone, it would make a dynamite book club pick. Add in the finely layered plot and surprising twists and turns, and it would be quite the conversation starter for all those concerned.
Now for the bad news, however. Unfortunately, I just expected so much more. More shocks. More thrills and chills. More moving parts. To be frank, most of the action occurred in just the last 100 or so pages—and even that wasn’t extensive. But it was the big reveal and irritating conclusion that bugged me the most. I can’t say much more, but on one hand they felt anticlimactic and the other they were just displeasing.
All in all, however, I still flew through this one all things considered. Thought-provoking but not missing even an iota of entertainment, I got spellbound by the characters including one I quite loved to hate. I mean, there was even a deftly drawn sense of humor. So if you like a book with a somewhat slower pace and themes that make you think, this one’s for you. Just don’t go by the thriller label. At least for me, that just wasn’t there. Rating of 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Olivia Muenter and Quirk Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 4, 2024
Trigger warning: disappearance of a sibling, eating disorder, trolling, gaslighting
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?
Such a Bad Influence is so hard to describe. From the character-driven plot to the constant low-level suspense, I was wrapped up in the mystery of it all from the start. At the same time, however, this was a very long, slow burn for most of the novel. Much more family drama, mystery, or suspense than thriller (which is how it was billed), the pluses were many—even though there were some downsides as well.
Starting with the positives, the characters were pure gold. Fully fleshed out and authentically real, each had their own foibles and flaws that came alive on the page. From the down-on-her-luck narrator to the manipulative mother, the glimpses of not only this family—but the missing influencer as well—felt genuine as could be. Along with that was a juicy dysfunctional family dynamic that kept the plot charged and aimed perfectly for maximum drama.
Speaking of the plot, I absolutely loved the format. Sprinkled with podcast transcripts, Reddit posts, and the like, it brought the storyline utterly to life. I don’t know about you, however, but I expect a thriller to have propulsive writing and unending foreboding. This book, while filled to the brim with an enthralling mystery, was missing much of that pull. But maybe it was just my expectations that hampered my enjoyment a bit.
The biggest success of this book, though, was how brilliantly it critiqued social media, our reliance on it, and the damage it may be doing in the long run. On top of that it touched on topics such as ownership, autonomy, and the right to privacy. For that reason alone, it would make a dynamite book club pick. Add in the finely layered plot and surprising twists and turns, and it would be quite the conversation starter for all those concerned.
Now for the bad news, however. Unfortunately, I just expected so much more. More shocks. More thrills and chills. More moving parts. To be frank, most of the action occurred in just the last 100 or so pages—and even that wasn’t extensive. But it was the big reveal and irritating conclusion that bugged me the most. I can’t say much more, but on one hand they felt anticlimactic and the other they were just displeasing.
All in all, however, I still flew through this one all things considered. Thought-provoking but not missing even an iota of entertainment, I got spellbound by the characters including one I quite loved to hate. I mean, there was even a deftly drawn sense of humor. So if you like a book with a somewhat slower pace and themes that make you think, this one’s for you. Just don’t go by the thriller label. At least for me, that just wasn’t there. Rating of 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Olivia Muenter and Quirk Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 4, 2024
Trigger warning: disappearance of a sibling, eating disorder, trolling, gaslighting
June 5, 2024
Happy pub day gorgeous!!! 😍 This cover!!!🔥🔥🔥 Right?! Thank you soo much to @quirkbooks for this gifted copy!!! OMG that ending!! 😳🤯🤯🤯🤯 I had to go back and reread the ending… just to make sure!! 😳 Wow!! 👏👏 Totally 💯 blindsided me!!
Okay guys… this book was totally addictive! I mean hellloo it’s about an influencer…. I am always intrigued… Listen to this…
Evie is … an IT girl…👱♀️… you know.. EVERYONE want to be her.. and EVERYONE thinks they know her..😉.. She’s only just turned eighteen and she has MILLIONS… 💰… She is an influencer.. yep… right here on The Gram. How is she only eighteen and known so well?!! Her mom.. yes her mom encouraged her to stop at NOTHING… to become an internet sensation. 😬… Hmm 🤔 kind of.. creepy.. Just saying.🤷♀️
When Evie goes missing… there are plenty of sketchy suspects… her boyfriend of course being one… 🤷♀️… and all her creepy dude followers that have been “liking” her… for a very long time. 🤨
Holy crap this will get you thinking 🤔… Just how far you will go… to get a taste of fame… 😍…Such a fantastic debut!! I seriously can’t stop thinking about that ending!! So clever! I had no idea if our girl Evie was dead or alive… again.. wait for that ending! Twisted… addictive and a bit creepy… I enjoyed this wild ride! 👏
❤️❤️❤️ Is this on your TBR??
Okay guys… this book was totally addictive! I mean hellloo it’s about an influencer…. I am always intrigued… Listen to this…
Evie is … an IT girl…👱♀️… you know.. EVERYONE want to be her.. and EVERYONE thinks they know her..😉.. She’s only just turned eighteen and she has MILLIONS… 💰… She is an influencer.. yep… right here on The Gram. How is she only eighteen and known so well?!! Her mom.. yes her mom encouraged her to stop at NOTHING… to become an internet sensation. 😬… Hmm 🤔 kind of.. creepy.. Just saying.🤷♀️
When Evie goes missing… there are plenty of sketchy suspects… her boyfriend of course being one… 🤷♀️… and all her creepy dude followers that have been “liking” her… for a very long time. 🤨
Holy crap this will get you thinking 🤔… Just how far you will go… to get a taste of fame… 😍…Such a fantastic debut!! I seriously can’t stop thinking about that ending!! So clever! I had no idea if our girl Evie was dead or alive… again.. wait for that ending! Twisted… addictive and a bit creepy… I enjoyed this wild ride! 👏
❤️❤️❤️ Is this on your TBR??
December 13, 2023
OH MY GOD?? THAT ENDING?!??
Olivia Muenter you are a legend
Olivia Muenter you are a legend
June 4, 2024
Perfect for those who enjoyed the docuseries “Quiet on Set” or celebrity memoirs about growing up in the spotlight, this is a story set in our social media/influencer heavy culture; a “Gone Girl” for our current times. It follows Hazel who is trying to find her 18-year-old sister Evie, who has been a social media star since a video of her went viral at the age of 5, after she goes missing during a livestream. Hazel, who has watched her little sister live her life in the public eye, while keeping herself out of everything, must work to figure out what has happened to her sister and if her public life contributed to her disappearance. Engaging and a fast read, with an ending they won’t see coming, readers will be engrossed into figuring out what is going on.
-Madeline C.
-Madeline C.
June 9, 2024
Such a Bad Influence? More like Such a Boring Plot
June 6, 2024
5⭐️ I’ve been a massive fan of Olivia’s writing for years and it was an absolute treat to read her debut novel because her personality, wit, and voice all jump off the page in the very best way. If I didn’t know who wrote this, I would still know who wrote this. Olivia’s writing is beautiful and her razor sharp commentary on social media, influencers, and the dark side of the internet is timely and thought provoking.
This is not your typical cookie-cutter thriller with cheap thrills and predictable twists. It’s a deliciously slow burning and thoughtful mystery with complex characters, unsettling themes, and an ending that you’ll be thinking about for a very long time.
I have so much to say about this gem of a book but I don’t have the words to adequately express how perfect it was. The thing is, because I know Olivia, there was no doubt in my mind that SABI would be one of the most well written books I read this year. The fact that I was also blown away by the flawlessly executed (and incredibly addictive) plot, the compelling characters, and the juicy twists just goes to show how wildly talented Olivia is. I am so excited to see what her future as an author holds!
My only complaint is that I wanted to read about Hazel and Evelyn for 200 more pages.
📚♣️My book club is reading this in June and not to toot my own horn BUT I think it’s my best pick yet. I’m desperate to talk about SABI with more people and I just know it will spark a juicy conversation!
🥳PUB DAY: JUNE 4th!
Thank you to quirk books for allowing me to be an early reader! All opinions are my own.
This is not your typical cookie-cutter thriller with cheap thrills and predictable twists. It’s a deliciously slow burning and thoughtful mystery with complex characters, unsettling themes, and an ending that you’ll be thinking about for a very long time.
I have so much to say about this gem of a book but I don’t have the words to adequately express how perfect it was. The thing is, because I know Olivia, there was no doubt in my mind that SABI would be one of the most well written books I read this year. The fact that I was also blown away by the flawlessly executed (and incredibly addictive) plot, the compelling characters, and the juicy twists just goes to show how wildly talented Olivia is. I am so excited to see what her future as an author holds!
My only complaint is that I wanted to read about Hazel and Evelyn for 200 more pages.
📚♣️My book club is reading this in June and not to toot my own horn BUT I think it’s my best pick yet. I’m desperate to talk about SABI with more people and I just know it will spark a juicy conversation!
🥳PUB DAY: JUNE 4th!
Thank you to quirk books for allowing me to be an early reader! All opinions are my own.
Shelved as 'dnf'
May 22, 2024Dnf at 21%. Missing girl and then nothing but insight into influencer life. Interesting at first but let’s move on with the story.
July 8, 2024
18-year-old Evie has been in the spotlight ever since a video of her dancing with her dad went viral when she was five. Now, thanks to the determined efforts of her stage mother, she’s a seven-figure-earning influencer with millions of followers and a hot YouTuber boyfriend. Her much older sister, Hazel, leads a very different life. She’s a freshly unemployed journalist living in a shitty apartment in Vegas. Still, the sisters have always been close…or as close as two young women who are 10 years apart in age and worlds apart in lifestyle can be. And when Evie goes missing, no one is more determined to find her than Hazel.
I was fully prepared to give this book five stars. It was super intriguing with well-developed characters, and raises some interesting questions about the ethics of family blogging. However, the big twist disappointed me. It was a major, ambitious detour that wasn’t fleshed out as well as it could have been and ultimately felt like a missed opportunity.
Still, if you’re a thriller fan, I think this book is well worth your time. It’s smart, funny and creepy. Highly recommend it as a beach read.
I was fully prepared to give this book five stars. It was super intriguing with well-developed characters, and raises some interesting questions about the ethics of family blogging. However, the big twist disappointed me. It was a major, ambitious detour that wasn’t fleshed out as well as it could have been and ultimately felt like a missed opportunity.
Still, if you’re a thriller fan, I think this book is well worth your time. It’s smart, funny and creepy. Highly recommend it as a beach read.
June 27, 2024
This book had so much potential but my goodness was it boring! I kept waiting for the plot to speed up and offer true suspense but it never came.
Such a Bad Influence approaches the reality of aging child social media influencers who are realizing their whole lives have been broadcast to the world by their parents. Of course, this is a hot topic and one that interests me so I couldn’t wait to dive into this book. Unfortunately, the plot didn’t hold up and for the record- this should not be considered a thriller.
Evie has lived most of her life in front of the camera. Her mom is the classic “momager” (mom and manager) living out her dreams through her kid and addicted to the social popularity and money that comes from the numerous brand deals she’s garnered for herself and Evie. As Evie matures she realizes that almost everyone around her is invested in her fame and money and she’s looking for a way out.
When she suddenly disappears from home and social media her sister Hazel becomes distraught looking for her and we’re taken on a journey with her to find Evie. The journey is boring, nothing really happens, and reading this was a waste of time.
One star for the premise, another for the interview/podcast structure but this was a terrible read.
Such a Bad Influence approaches the reality of aging child social media influencers who are realizing their whole lives have been broadcast to the world by their parents. Of course, this is a hot topic and one that interests me so I couldn’t wait to dive into this book. Unfortunately, the plot didn’t hold up and for the record- this should not be considered a thriller.
Evie has lived most of her life in front of the camera. Her mom is the classic “momager” (mom and manager) living out her dreams through her kid and addicted to the social popularity and money that comes from the numerous brand deals she’s garnered for herself and Evie. As Evie matures she realizes that almost everyone around her is invested in her fame and money and she’s looking for a way out.
When she suddenly disappears from home and social media her sister Hazel becomes distraught looking for her and we’re taken on a journey with her to find Evie. The journey is boring, nothing really happens, and reading this was a waste of time.
One star for the premise, another for the interview/podcast structure but this was a terrible read.
June 8, 2024
To all the girls who saw their lives flash before their eyes in a Zara fitting room: I hope that your prosecco is always bubbly and your favorite moisturizer never out of stock.
Read
June 16, 2024Leaving off the star rating because I can't narrow it down right now.
I was fascinated by the social media elements of this novel. Being someone who spends too much time scrolling, this book had me looking inward and examining some of my thoughts and behaviors. In the beginning, I was interested in the sudden disappearance of social media sensation, Evie Davis, but the more I got to know her as a character, the less I cared what happened to her. Evie's self-absorbed mother is an easy villain, but it was the MC, Hazel, whom I most disliked. Despite declaring she'd do anything for her sister, she backed down in the face of any opposition. Her weakness was aggravating, and while I was delighted by the twist in the end, I still wished I'd had one character to root for.
All that being said, this book made me think, and when an author's words get under my skin like that, they're doing something right.
I was fascinated by the social media elements of this novel. Being someone who spends too much time scrolling, this book had me looking inward and examining some of my thoughts and behaviors. In the beginning, I was interested in the sudden disappearance of social media sensation, Evie Davis, but the more I got to know her as a character, the less I cared what happened to her. Evie's self-absorbed mother is an easy villain, but it was the MC, Hazel, whom I most disliked. Despite declaring she'd do anything for her sister, she backed down in the face of any opposition. Her weakness was aggravating, and while I was delighted by the twist in the end, I still wished I'd had one character to root for.
All that being said, this book made me think, and when an author's words get under my skin like that, they're doing something right.
January 30, 2024
Such A Bad Influence will take you on a ride that you will finish and immediately want to go again. Lucky for you there are no hourslong lines to wait in, but you may want to pack snacks because you’re likely to be glued to your couch/bed/reading locale of choice as you devour it (speaking from personal experience here).
I am amazed at how much richness can be packed into one novel (a debut, at that!). Olivia manages to give the reader so much to think about and reflect on - consumerism and influencer culture, ownership, privacy, and autonomy in the age of social media, body image, family dynamics - without sacrificing the things that make this a truly fantastic reading experience: a compelling, perfectly paced plot, complex characters and relationships, a mastery of words that will take your breath away, and a sense of humor that brings these characters to life and gives levity to even the book’s darkest moments. Lovers of thrillers and scaredy cats alike (no jump scares here, people) will appreciate this book for all of those things and then some.
This book, despite its name, won’t influence you to feel a particular way about any of it, and certainly doesn’t pretend there are easy answers. Rather, it allows readers to unpack its questions for themselves. I personally will be thinking about the themes of this story for a long time to come, not to mention the juicy twists and incredible ending. I cannot wait to read more by Olivia!
(PS I also really want an August/Kira spinoff)
I am amazed at how much richness can be packed into one novel (a debut, at that!). Olivia manages to give the reader so much to think about and reflect on - consumerism and influencer culture, ownership, privacy, and autonomy in the age of social media, body image, family dynamics - without sacrificing the things that make this a truly fantastic reading experience: a compelling, perfectly paced plot, complex characters and relationships, a mastery of words that will take your breath away, and a sense of humor that brings these characters to life and gives levity to even the book’s darkest moments. Lovers of thrillers and scaredy cats alike (no jump scares here, people) will appreciate this book for all of those things and then some.
This book, despite its name, won’t influence you to feel a particular way about any of it, and certainly doesn’t pretend there are easy answers. Rather, it allows readers to unpack its questions for themselves. I personally will be thinking about the themes of this story for a long time to come, not to mention the juicy twists and incredible ending. I cannot wait to read more by Olivia!
(PS I also really want an August/Kira spinoff)
June 15, 2024
Obviously I had to read this since I love Olivia’s podcast, Bad on Paper. However, this book kinda sucked. The beginning was boring and I couldn’t focus. And then the rest of the book just got too ridiculous. It was not what I was expecting at all and I’m a little disappointed.
July 7, 2024
so disappointed in this book. it was repetitive and too slow paced for my liking.
definitely a commentary on social media and influencers, but would I consider it a thriller? I don’t think so. it’s mostly drama with some suspense sprinkled in.
the plot started to thicken and speed up at around 80% and that is just unacceptable.
and that ending? don’t even get me fucking started! truly despise a last minute, last paragraph twist with no explanation whatsoever.
definitely a commentary on social media and influencers, but would I consider it a thriller? I don’t think so. it’s mostly drama with some suspense sprinkled in.
the plot started to thicken and speed up at around 80% and that is just unacceptable.
and that ending? don’t even get me fucking started! truly despise a last minute, last paragraph twist with no explanation whatsoever.
July 7, 2024
I just got this book and the Audio 🎧, but hadn’t heard anything about it. Wow, this is the type of book that is hard to put down! It had a lot to say, both about The Influencer Culture, and the Relentlessness of Social Media. It made me feel for so many young people who have been exposed to this their entire lives. Everything is being marketed or positioned for consumption. It is tricky since influencers you do not really know, but the point is to make you feel invested in their lives. This had creepy vibes to all the Reality Families that crumbled while having their children grow up being filmed. Yet, it is hard to resist. True Crime Reporting comes in when a top influencer goes missing. So, that was a lot to think about, but the book also was a psychological thriller, with twists and turns that left me uncertain what would happen next. The Ending, I was Surprised. This is going to be a book that is going to be talked about. It is different and timely and just had to finish it. This is the author’s debut, so congratulations 🎉.
July 2, 2024
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.
July 8, 2024
It took me quite a while to get into this one, and to be honest, about halfway through I contemplated abandoning it, but I am glad I stuck with it, because suddenly, it really picked up and grabbed my attention. I would classify it as a novel of suspense rather than a thriller, but it definitely entertained and bought up some topics that feel very relevant to today. Looking forward to see what this promising author comes up with next!
June 3, 2024
I liked it! It was a well written mystery that had me committed. The entire thing is driven by what happens to this social media influencer. Her rise to fame and her demise. There’s even a podcast in this story and it did a great job telling me about her.
This book will make you stop and question everything you thought you knew about social media. Because we already know don’t we? Is it safe? No! And still…, we’re so addicted to it??!
I loved disliking most of these characters and I didn’t want to put it down. The author did a great job and gave me a little bit of a Gillian Flynn vibe.
Thanks Quirk Books via NetGalley.
This book will make you stop and question everything you thought you knew about social media. Because we already know don’t we? Is it safe? No! And still…, we’re so addicted to it??!
I loved disliking most of these characters and I didn’t want to put it down. The author did a great job and gave me a little bit of a Gillian Flynn vibe.
Thanks Quirk Books via NetGalley.
February 2, 2024
I couldn't put this book down! Olivia did a masterful job developing the characters and the plot line, and this is already one of my fave 2024 reads. The ending was truly AMAZING, too.
June 10, 2024
This is not my typical genre, but we had a copy with the physical ARC's at work and it looked interesting. I do like stories that involve social media, so I figured I'd give it a shot. It turned out to be pretty well written and held my interest throughout. There were complex, believable characters with complicated relationship dynamics. A pretty decent read for something I wouldn't usually go for!
The basic story is that wildly popular teenage influencer Evie has gone missing. Her older sister Hazel is the most concerned about what's really happened to her, and the story is told from her perspective. We learn more about their relationship, Evie's rise to internet fame, and what a revolting person their mother Erin is. Hazel was, for the most part, a likable and sympathetic narrator. I thought it made total sense that she felt jealous of her sister for making millions off of IG and TikTok while she was struggling, but also felt guilty for that jealousy. At the same time, she tried to protect her sister from their monster of a mother. (Think: “Family YouTube Channel” vibes but even worse.) Hazel had additional layers, though, often seeming very self-righteous and tending to lecture Evie a lot while trying to steer her towards a safer path. Throw a sketchy You Tuber boyfriend and a shithead Detective who doesn't seem to care at all into the mix, and it makes for an intriguing premise. Even the mom, Erin, was written in a way that made her seem like more than just a cardboard cutout. It's true that I don't read thrillers but I think this author was pretty good at building intrigue. Also, having observed a few influencers and reaction channels in my day, (GUILTY), I'd say those comment threads were very accurately depicted.
Having said all that, I do think that the story went off the rails a bit in the last third. It felt like the characters were doing a LOT of explaining to try to make things make sense, but it was still a bit confusing/over-complicated. That knocked things down from four stars to three for me. However, the VERY end? Definitely satisfying. The book ended with a nice little bang that I didn't anticipate.
3.5 stars
TW: Disordered eating, Body shaming
The basic story is that wildly popular teenage influencer Evie has gone missing. Her older sister Hazel is the most concerned about what's really happened to her, and the story is told from her perspective. We learn more about their relationship, Evie's rise to internet fame, and what a revolting person their mother Erin is. Hazel was, for the most part, a likable and sympathetic narrator. I thought it made total sense that she felt jealous of her sister for making millions off of IG and TikTok while she was struggling, but also felt guilty for that jealousy. At the same time, she tried to protect her sister from their monster of a mother. (Think: “Family YouTube Channel” vibes but even worse.) Hazel had additional layers, though, often seeming very self-righteous and tending to lecture Evie a lot while trying to steer her towards a safer path. Throw a sketchy You Tuber boyfriend and a shithead Detective who doesn't seem to care at all into the mix, and it makes for an intriguing premise. Even the mom, Erin, was written in a way that made her seem like more than just a cardboard cutout. It's true that I don't read thrillers but I think this author was pretty good at building intrigue. Also, having observed a few influencers and reaction channels in my day, (GUILTY), I'd say those comment threads were very accurately depicted.
Having said all that, I do think that the story went off the rails a bit in the last third. It felt like the characters were doing a LOT of explaining to try to make things make sense, but it was still a bit confusing/over-complicated. That knocked things down from four stars to three for me. However, the VERY end? Definitely satisfying. The book ended with a nice little bang that I didn't anticipate.
3.5 stars
TW: Disordered eating, Body shaming
July 2, 2024
4.5/5 ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ ✰
✎… This book was a little boring to me in the beginning, but damn did it pick up! I found myself no longer bored, rather not being able to put this book down, wanting to know what was gonna happen next. I had so many theories swirling around in my head. However, only one I was able to accurately predict was the one about who was behind the cameras. One of the big things I look for in my thrillers is that it’s not predictable. At one point, because I guessed one thing correctly, I got a little cocky & thought I had it all figured out. THAT ENDING THOUGH. Did not see it coming one bit! The author did such a good job about making you question everything you just read.
✎… The only reason I didn’t give Such a Bad Influence 5 stars across the board was because of the all the grammatical errors. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves especially when I’m reading. I would’ve overlooked it if there were just a few, but there were enough that I had to reread the whole section over because I thought I was having a stroke reading it the way it was initially worded. Other than that, loved this book, highly recommend if you have patience for slow burn thrillers & love a good cult story.
❝ 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅, 𝒂 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒐𝒑𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆. ❞
✎… This book was a little boring to me in the beginning, but damn did it pick up! I found myself no longer bored, rather not being able to put this book down, wanting to know what was gonna happen next. I had so many theories swirling around in my head. However, only one I was able to accurately predict was the one about who was behind the cameras. One of the big things I look for in my thrillers is that it’s not predictable. At one point, because I guessed one thing correctly, I got a little cocky & thought I had it all figured out. THAT ENDING THOUGH. Did not see it coming one bit! The author did such a good job about making you question everything you just read.
❝ 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒔—𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒆—𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏���. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒘-𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒘𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔. ❞
✎… The only reason I didn’t give Such a Bad Influence 5 stars across the board was because of the all the grammatical errors. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves especially when I’m reading. I would’ve overlooked it if there were just a few, but there were enough that I had to reread the whole section over because I thought I was having a stroke reading it the way it was initially worded. Other than that, loved this book, highly recommend if you have patience for slow burn thrillers & love a good cult story.
June 8, 2024
Oh that ending???
June 12, 2024
1.5 🌟 Social commentary on influencers / momagers, rather than a mystery/thriller.
Well written and the narration was good but unfortunately the story was boring with lots of navel gazing from our mc and not a lot actually happening.
I very nearly quit at around half way but I wanted to know the ending and couldn’t find it in any reviews so persevered.
To save anyone else the same experience, I’m spoiling the ending below as best I can remember it…
Evie was alive and well. She’d heartlessly joined a sort of detox cult for influencers without telling her sister. Hazel visited but left her there (finding her through one of Evie’s obsessed fans who it turned out had been a confidante/therapist for her).
For an epilogue 2 years later Evie left and they wrote a book but Evie’s internal thoughts showed she hadn’t recovered from her influencer lifestyle.
Well written and the narration was good but unfortunately the story was boring with lots of navel gazing from our mc and not a lot actually happening.
I very nearly quit at around half way but I wanted to know the ending and couldn’t find it in any reviews so persevered.
To save anyone else the same experience, I’m spoiling the ending below as best I can remember it…
Evie was alive and well. She’d heartlessly joined a sort of detox cult for influencers without telling her sister. Hazel visited but left her there (finding her through one of Evie’s obsessed fans who it turned out had been a confidante/therapist for her).
For an epilogue 2 years later Evie left and they wrote a book but Evie’s internal thoughts showed she hadn’t recovered from her influencer lifestyle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2024
The first 80% of this book is utter art. I'm talking it's a read in one sitting but think about it for days in how well-written it is. The last 20%, however? Kind of let me down.
In short, Evie Davis, a 'famous' (by internet standards) influencer suddenly disappears. And the details of her disappearance are suspicious. And no one is more invested in discovering what happened to Evie than her older sister, Hazel. But as Hazel uncovers more details about her sister, mother, and the internet stardom their family cashed in on, she has to grapple with what kind of people influencers truly are. And what extent people will go to to keep that "fame."
SABI does a phenomenal job fleshing out all the arguments associated with influencers and child stardom without sounding biased or accusatory. On top of that, the characters seemed incredibly well-fleshed out and unequivocally real, and I could imagine this happening in real life. (I also have quite a few questions for the La Brant family, iykyk).
I enjoyed reading from Hazel's perspective the most because her motivations truly seemed altruistic, but the few 'outside' perspective tidbits you receive make you wonder how reliable of a narrator she is or how inherent the victim complex reigns.
That being said, I thought this book could have gone without the chapters from Evie's perspective. I would have much rather her true character remained a mystery to the reader, and I especially thought the epilogue shorted the overall message/themes of the story (plus, it was rather predictable IMO).
I think if the author had chosen to go in a slightly different direction with the ending and Evie's character, this book would not only have gotten a five-star rating from me, but also ended up on one of my "favorite mysteries/thrillers of all time" list.
However, I realize that authors can't please everyone and that this ending might suit a lot of people's fancy-- just not mine. As it is, I still found this book worthy of four stars, and I'll definitely be thinking about it for a while.
My deepest and most sincere thanks to Netgalley, Olivia Muenter, and Quirk Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
In short, Evie Davis, a 'famous' (by internet standards) influencer suddenly disappears. And the details of her disappearance are suspicious. And no one is more invested in discovering what happened to Evie than her older sister, Hazel. But as Hazel uncovers more details about her sister, mother, and the internet stardom their family cashed in on, she has to grapple with what kind of people influencers truly are. And what extent people will go to to keep that "fame."
SABI does a phenomenal job fleshing out all the arguments associated with influencers and child stardom without sounding biased or accusatory. On top of that, the characters seemed incredibly well-fleshed out and unequivocally real, and I could imagine this happening in real life. (I also have quite a few questions for the La Brant family, iykyk).
I enjoyed reading from Hazel's perspective the most because her motivations truly seemed altruistic, but the few 'outside' perspective tidbits you receive make you wonder how reliable of a narrator she is or how inherent the victim complex reigns.
That being said, I thought this book could have gone without the chapters from Evie's perspective. I would have much rather her true character remained a mystery to the reader, and I especially thought the epilogue shorted the overall message/themes of the story (plus, it was rather predictable IMO).
I think if the author had chosen to go in a slightly different direction with the ending and Evie's character, this book would not only have gotten a five-star rating from me, but also ended up on one of my "favorite mysteries/thrillers of all time" list.
However, I realize that authors can't please everyone and that this ending might suit a lot of people's fancy-- just not mine. As it is, I still found this book worthy of four stars, and I'll definitely be thinking about it for a while.
My deepest and most sincere thanks to Netgalley, Olivia Muenter, and Quirk Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2024
I don’t usually enjoy reading about influencers and tbh probably wouldn’t have wanted to read this if it weren’t for the fact that I follow Olivia Muenter on Instagram and love all of what she does (so I guess, ironically, I was influenced).
SABI offered a lot of good commentary and criticisms on influencing and social media which I appreciated. The story was at times creepy but also at times kind of mundane. I didn’t love how almost every chapter involved a flashback of some kind that wasn’t all that interesting.
Hazel is a tough character to have as a narrator since she’s kind of annoying and the chapter with her and Gavin almost made me want to throw my book in the ocean.
Despite my qualms, I did always find myself reaching for the book to see what would happen at the end - and now that I’ve finished, I need someone to discuss the end with!
SABI offered a lot of good commentary and criticisms on influencing and social media which I appreciated. The story was at times creepy but also at times kind of mundane. I didn’t love how almost every chapter involved a flashback of some kind that wasn’t all that interesting.
Hazel is a tough character to have as a narrator since she’s kind of annoying and the chapter with her and Gavin almost made me want to throw my book in the ocean.
Despite my qualms, I did always find myself reaching for the book to see what would happen at the end - and now that I’ve finished, I need someone to discuss the end with!
March 30, 2024
If you listen closely you can hear me screaming from this ending!!! Need to decompress but Olivia the way that you are!
EDIT:
Strong 5 stars. What an amazing debut from the author. I’m not someone who enjoys thrillers. So when the backstory of the disappearance of Evie is shared with the audience, I got too anxious to read it at night and kept it on my bedside for 2 weeks. As a result, I slowly consumed the first 30% of the book. After that point? I INHALED the story. Even if you’re not someone who keeps up with influencers, I think you’ll find the conversations about social media, privacy in the digital age, and consumerism to be extremely relatable. The plot was plotting. The twists were twisting. And nothing seemed *too* outrageous to take you out of the story (one of my thriller pet peeves).
So for my fellow scaredy cats, don’t worry! Perhaps a few jump scares but nothing too graphic to keep you away.
I’m so excited about the discussions this book will bring to the chronically online side of the internet (Blogsnark, GOMI- I’m looking at you!).
Thank you to the publishers and author for the ARC. SABI is released June 2024!
EDIT:
Strong 5 stars. What an amazing debut from the author. I’m not someone who enjoys thrillers. So when the backstory of the disappearance of Evie is shared with the audience, I got too anxious to read it at night and kept it on my bedside for 2 weeks. As a result, I slowly consumed the first 30% of the book. After that point? I INHALED the story. Even if you’re not someone who keeps up with influencers, I think you’ll find the conversations about social media, privacy in the digital age, and consumerism to be extremely relatable. The plot was plotting. The twists were twisting. And nothing seemed *too* outrageous to take you out of the story (one of my thriller pet peeves).
So for my fellow scaredy cats, don’t worry! Perhaps a few jump scares but nothing too graphic to keep you away.
I’m so excited about the discussions this book will bring to the chronically online side of the internet (Blogsnark, GOMI- I’m looking at you!).
Thank you to the publishers and author for the ARC. SABI is released June 2024!
June 19, 2024
Wow! I can’t believe this had me shook all the way until the very end.
Let’s all quit the internet, yes?
Let’s all quit the internet, yes?
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