I had high hopes for his book and this may be why I was a bit disappointed. I have been a lover of YA for a long time and the description of this book excites me. I struggled to connect with any of the characters but I was intrigued to figure out what was going on and what the end would be. I enjoyed “seeing” how the people were viewed online and then to see them interact in their actual lives. It’s a good lesson for us all

I got this book because I didn't really understand influencers and what they do. I feel like this explained it pretty good. I liked the representation in it too. Jasmine was my favorite. But I wish more of the actual social media was included.

Four girls, many secrets, one murder.

Delilah Rollins has just entered the world of influencers on a wholesome platform but is quickly inundated with drama and scandal. However, with the guidance of Jasmine Walters-Diaz and Fiona Jacobs, Delilah quickly adjusts and is soon a rising star. But the lives of these three influences are quickly disrupted by a scandal that rocks L.A. and leaves Scarlet Leigh burned.

Four perspectives are a lot for readers to adjust to, but the lives of teacher influences are different enough that readers will quickly adapt. The police report in between chapters grounds the plot and familiarizes readers with the many characters introduced in the story. The interaction between the characters is revealing and dramatic. The romance is predictable with a few surprises thrown in but nothing readers will get drawn into. The LGBTQ+ aspect of the story was introduced well but dramatized, as should be expected with Shepard's writing. A lot happens in the stories and it can be confusing and overwhelming at some parts. However, it clears up towards the end with solid answers. But of course, there is still some mystery left until the very end.

This book is somewhat revealing of the world and competitiveness of influencers but only mildly.

A good read for drama lovers, complicated romantics, and who-done-it guessers!

Overall I enjoyed the story but I just had no real connection to the characters and I had trouble excepting the strong friendship between the three main characters after such a short amount of time.

Youtube influencers rule the world, at least that's what it seems to the younger generations. Posting videos of their post live, friends, and relationships. But how much of their content is real and how much of it is fake? Influence explores what happens to the influencers on the other side of the camera. Following 4 influencers as they try to navigate fame, fortune, and opportunities. Shepard gives juicy bits of gossip to keep the reader intrigued as would a real-life influencer. The 4 protagonists each have their own problems they must manage and are distinct enough that they can be called individual. Yet, even though they have their own voices, they seem to all run into one. Their actions and situations are all too similar because backstories are not clearly provided but intersected at random times. The gossip is juicy but it seems Sheppard was holding back to really make it worthy of Gossip Girl status. While the influencer lifestyle was presented, it would have added depth and insight if it had gone one step further. Giving the reader a real insider look into Influencers' lives.

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Happy Pub Day to Influence!! Influence is a YA contemporary/thriller that focuses on the pitfalls of being a celebrity and the bad side of influencing and technology. The storyline follows 4 LA based influencers, each chapter alternating between each of their perspectives and sometimes even transcripts of their vlogs, and allows for a glimpse behind the curtain. 16-year old Delilah Rollins is an upcoming influencer and after having recently moved to LA she becomes friends with two other famous influencers, Fiona Jacobs and Jasmine Walters-Diaz. However, the group is plagued by Scarlet Leigh, perfection itself, who has it out for each of them individually. Everything is about to change for all of them, they just don't know how much.
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I found this book to be absolutely fantastic. Growing up, I read Pretty Little Liars and Influence packs all the punches of PLL in one book, not to disappoint. The book reads fast and covers a lot of different important topics. I also love how Lilia Buckingham came up with book and went to Sara Shepard for help. The detail and accuracy of the influencer life is because of her and often times so nuts, you can't help but feel like you need to delete all social media accounts at once. There were a few twists and turns that kept the book fun and interesting. There are few books I read where I cannot predict the ending or the villain and this book got me more than once. Overall, this is a fun read and I'd even reccomend it to those that don't normally pick up young adult contemporary or YA in general. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy and of course this book hits shelves TODAY!
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Is this on your TBR list?

Gossip, celebrities, blackmail, young love, and murder?

Influence follows a group of young influencers as they navigate the exciting world of becoming Insta-famous. Unfortunately, too much exposure, competition for the spotlight, and the bullying that can come from online ambiguity looms over each of them. Who can they trust? Who will survive the dark side of social media? Who is a murderer?

Influence was a perfect read to start the year out with. The first hand experience Lilia Buckingham has with the world of being an “influencer” and the unique and engaging mystery style Sara Shepard is known for blended so well to create this fun, modern, and dramatic murder mystery. I didn’t want to stop reading this one. YA lovers, please check out Influence (OUT NOW) especially if you’re fans of modern YA murder mysteries and dramas!

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with an advanced copy to review!

Maintaining the illusion of a perfect life can be killer...

Delilah is new to LA, and to the world of Internet fame. Everything seems to be going perfectly for her - she’s getting invitations and attention, making new famous friends in former child star Jasmine and influencer-turned-actress Fiona, and even striking up a flirtation with YouTube star Jack, despite his ongoing relationship with ruthless starlet Scarlet. But all that perfection is about to crack...

Influence is cheesy, over the top, and a lot of fun. Ideal for fans of Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl, this deep-dive into the world of social media influencers features an excess of secrets, toxic twists, and drama in one easily bingeable package.

Though it’s pacey and clips along quickly enough, for a murder mystery, the actual murder doesn’t come ‘til fairly far into the book, leaving not a lot of time to investigate. Still, that turns out to be plenty of time for a dozen red herrings and new twists and revelations to be brought to light, all culminating in what I must say is not the most comprehensible or satisfying solutions. But though the conclusion might be a little...much, it's all fairly in keeping with the ridiculous-in-a-good-way rest of the novel. And though the prose may occasionally be flatter than an instafamous influencer's flat ironedhair, it really is a fast and fun read, going down easy as a sponcon branded pressed juice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Books for the advance review copy.

CW: Bullying, eating disorders, alcohol abuse, manipulative/controlling family members, OCD/intrusive thoughts, drug overdose, death.

This was an engrossing read! I don’t know much about the world of influencers, and I thought this insider’s look was fascinating. I thought the characters were interesting and the plot moved quickly. I was surprised at how fast the friendships and relationships developed, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. Definitely recommend for fans of Sara Shepard who are looking for a juicy, drama-filled murder mystery.

In my opinion, Sara Shepard's books always leave you like this: first, a feeling of completion and satisfaction. "The mystery is solved!" But after a few minutes reflecting on the book you start to question if there is really a conclusion.

Influence is no different. I find myself wondering a few days later, if there will be a follow up book or if I'll always have this feeling of questioning.

Influence is about a world we are all familiar with, even if it's just by glimpsing at a filtered and face-tuned picture on social media. With the rise of reality tv, it seems like there also evolved the social media star. What started as a place for friends to connect with friends became a place where people could build a following, snatch up sponsors, and make a living just from sharing about their lives.

But when you give people access to so much of your life, where can you draw the line and when? That's exactly what influencer and actress Jasmine Diaz-Walters is trying to figure out. She's been acting since she was younger and growing up in the public eye isn't always easy. When your life has always been rainbows and sparkles, no one wants to let you grown into a young woman.

Another influencer is Fiona Jacobs tries to balance between letting her fans in and keeping her fans OUT. Trying to hide a part of yourself (or many parts) when you have the camera rolling constantly isn't easy and it's even more difficult when your frenemies cameras are at the ready too.

And then there is Delilah, an up-and-coming influencer whose trying desperately to break into the social media frenzy. She's trying to hold on to her "15 minutes of fame" that came when he friend got footage of her rescuing a puppy from a burning building. But Delilah doesn't want to settle for being known as "Puppy Girl."

All of these girls are getting in over their heads trying to keep secrets and keep up appearances. Especially when someone turns up dead.

I wasn't familiar with Lilia Buckingham but her co-authorship with Sara Shepard for this was great. I'm sure she served as great insight into the micro-managed world of social media. I'm not sure how much she participated in the writing of the novel but I enjoyed this one as much as I've liked Shepard's past novels. She maintains the same compelling writing style as before. If you're already a fan, you'll like this one as well. And if you haven't, but like a suspenseful read filled with tangled web of lies and secrets, you've found the right read as well.

Thank you #NetGalley and Delacorte Press and Random House Children’s for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book had my pulse pounding. It gives an inside look into the world of Influencers. We all envy them and want to be them, but should we?? This story is twisty with sharp turns every few pages. It follows the stories of young Instagram influencers that end up in the worst situation possible when another Influencer is found dead. Each member of the group is a suspect, but the actual murderer comes as a real shock in the end. This is a fast read and I can honestly say that I did not come close to guessing who did it. A true tale of the social media times we live in with romance, murder, secrets, and suspense all wrapped into one!

I was really looking forward to this book and was left disappointed. The concept is very interesting - following four young influencers through the ins and outs of their life - but the story didn't do it for me.

The writing was a little immature, and the story was slow. I was worried that it wasn't going anywhere. I read the book because I love Sara Shepard's storylines, and while I was hoping to see some of her typical storylines in this, it was too predictable. For me, it didn't start getting good until about 75 percent in. None of the secrets were really shocking or surprising, and the big twist at the end was good, but not riveting enough to redeem the book for me.

I feel like this review will be an unpopular opinion, but I personally wouldn't recommend this book. Maybe only to younger people who are newer to reading or new to thrillers.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. INFLUENCE is scheduled for release January 5, 2021.

Drama, drama, DRAMA! This insider's look into the world of teen influencers was a wild ride from start to finish—and I couldn't stop reading it.

Characters: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★ 1/2
Pacing: ★★★★
Binge-level enjoyment: ★★★★

Delilah Rollins is catapulting to stardom in a major way on Instagram. From her Minnesota roots to her recent move to LA, she's scrambling to find her bearings in a world where hundreds of thousands of people know her name, her face, and her life. Is Delilah really ready for her autonomy to be controlled by the opinion of the masses?

Jasmine Walters-Diaz is used to the fame of being an influencer. From her roots as a wholesome child TV star to her teenage years as a brand's dream endorsement, Jasmine should be used to her life being filtered through the lens of perfection and frozen time... but as her need to be herself and love who she loves grows and chafes against her public image, Jasmine finds herself bending and breaking to get out.

Fiona Jacobs is the perfect casual and funny influencer. She's effortless... right? As she listens to her inner monologue critique her every move, every breath, every calorie, and every step, Fiona tries to desperately maintain the facade of put-together perfection while her OCD and fear of past secrets threaten to tear her apart from the inside. Will she survive her own attacks on herself?

Delilah, Jasmine, and Fiona all have one thing in common: they're living their teenage years through the crystalized lens of public opinion, filters, and judgement.

And then there's Scarlett Leigh. Another teenage influencer but with more sex appeal, more ruthlessness, and more drive to win, Scarlett seems to be the three girls' worst nightmare and competition all rolled into one. But you can never trust what's on the surface...and the girls should really know better.

They'll find out just what exactly the truth means when one of them ends up dead. It's time to show off your best angle, ladies, as the part you're going to play now is one of suspect...

My thoughts:
My immediate response to this book was WOW, what a crazy premise and an even crazier plot. This reaction was further cemented when I realized that the co-author to this book, Lilia Buckingham, is an actual bona fide teen influencer herself. That definitely lent a more realistic quality to some of the details used in the novel (besides the murder, of course!).

My interest in this book came from the other author, Sara Shepard, who is best known for her drama-laden series Pretty Little Liars. Fans of Pretty Little Liars should be all over this—the amount of drama, gasps, and trainwreck sitcom moments are at the same level here in Influence. Like a reality tv show, I couldn't look away.

Definitely one to pick up if you like drama, glitz, and murder...

Thank you to Delacorte Press via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like if you’re a Pretty Little Liars fan you’re either going to love or hate this book. No in between! For me I loved it! I miss the show and the books so reading this reminded me of that love for PLL. It has a lot of the same mystery vibes but goes in a completely different direction! So it ends up being a really great mystery. I finished the book in two sittings because I was so into it. For me personally I also enjoyed the influencer aspect. It really goes into how if you have a YouTube or Instagram how you’re constantly having to keep up with it all. Great mystery and great book!

This fun mystery/suspense is perfect for the generation of IG, Snapchat, and influencers! Lilia Buckingham, a popular teen IG influencer, teams up with bestselling author Sara Shepherd to deliver a cut-throat suspense surrounding the world of social media, celebrity status, money, and losing oneself in order to be liked by people you’ve never met. Delilah finds herself the new teen influencer in town, having moved to L.A. from Minnesota for her dad’s job (yes, totally “Beverly Hills 90210”-style). She is quickly befriended by “high-roller” teen influencers Jasmine and Fiona, who seem to genuinely want to help Delilah as she navigates this new, exciting lifestyle. While Delilah is instantly caught up in the fame and perks that being an influencer provides, Jasmine and Fiona have their own issues to deal with, including trying to keep their secrets private in a life that is open for all to see. When Delilah, Jasmine, and Fiona start to receive threatening messages, they will stop at nothing to protect the social media personas they’ve worked so hard to build. Even if it leads to murder…

This is one YA book that I think I’m too “adult” for, even being a HS librarian, but it was such a fun read! It seriously reminds me of why I do not wish I could be a teenager again. Lilia Buckingham offers intimate details as to what it’s like being a popular teen influencer, and Sara Shepherd provides witty and captivating prose to lead this suspenseful mystery. While I felt too old to appreciate the daily teenage drama these characters dealt with, I did appreciate the self-deprecation of influencers that Buckingham adds to the book while also sharing her insecurities through the characters’ voices. This is a definite addition to my HS library collection!

**Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Random House Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Delilah Rollins has been catapulted into the world of social media influencers after one of her videos unexpectedly goes viral and she moves to LA, and she finds fast friends in Jasmine and Fiona. Child star turned popular influencer, Jasmine Walters-Diaz has grown up in the spotlight, but is beginning to feel boxed in and suffocated by the image she must maintain in order to keep her fanbase. Aspiring actress Fiona Jacobs struggles with a secret from her past that could ruin her career if it became known. Then there’s Scarlet Leigh, who seems to have the perfect life and is something of a mean girl, but how much of it is real? Influence is a glimpse into the world of influencers and the darker side of celebrity – the glamour we see is not always the entire story.

This book is not the type typically found on my TBR as I largely tend to avoid anything contemporary, but after reading Bookish and the Beast last year, which illustrated how life in the spotlight isn’t as amazing as it appears to be, I was quite curious to know more. I liked that we got to see the world of influencers through different perspectives, from newbie Delilah to experienced stars like Scarlet, Jasmine and Fiona. Between the pressure of maintaining a perfect image, staying on brand, the online bullying, everyone has something to hide. Secrets abound, and if that wasn’t enough drama, there’s a murder thrown in for good measure.

It was interesting to get a glimpse into what the life of an influencer is like – both the good and bad. While this book is a little slow to start out, it does an excellent job at giving us the backgrounds of these four influencers and what their lives are like away from the camera, taking the time to really build their characters. I enjoyed the writing style and the POVs were very well balanced, making it easy to keep track of everything. The story did take on a darker tone than I expected, but if anything, I feel it has probably been toned down for the book.

However, while the build up of the mystery was good enough, the ending was a bit lacklustre, not only for who did it, but how the reveal came about was quite haphazard with a few too many false leads. I also didn’t really like the final twist which still leaves a question hanging that was completely unnecessary in my opinion.

Influence is an engrossing read that you will not want to put down. Mystery aside, it perfectly illustrates the travails of fame, especially at a young age, and is very thought-provoking as it explores themes that are very relevant in today’s world where social media plays such a large role. The importance of being yourself is a constant message throughout and this is a book I would highly recommend to all readers!

This wasn't bad, but the writing style (while not bad whatsoever!!) read a lot younger than I was expecting so I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would.

Being a teenager is hard enough. But add in the stress of being a perfect influencer on social media and it is a powder keg just waiting for a lit match to set it off. Influence tells the story of newly transplanted Minnesotan, Delilah, as she tries to climb the social media ladder. Unfortunately, it’s a zero sum game so she has to displace someone else.

There is the relatively normal Jasmine, famous for her childhood TV role, but still finding herself as a person. Her best friend, Fiona, is also an actress and influencer, whose insecurities and mental issues could fill a textbook. And let’s not forget the venomous Scarlet, who has never forgiven Fiona for stealing her boyfriend, Chase, years ago. Scarlet is also facing rumors online about her current boyfriend, Jack, who is famous for eating Tide pods on YouTube, canoodling with a mystery girl, who the reader knows is Delilah.

Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive! No one my age understands influencers. Perhaps because we instinctually know that the lives portrayed, and even the photos showing it, are all fake. I wanted this book to explain the fascination. To be honest, that didn’t happen. These four girls deserve whatever happens to them. They are not sympathetic characters at all.

However, I’m not the demographic for this young adult book after all. I think female preteens and teens will enjoy the feeling of being an insider behind-the-scenes in these girls’ lives. It is humorous at times too. Anyone who liked the author’s Pretty Little Liars series will also love Influence. 3 stars.

Thanks to Delacorte Press, Random House and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I watched Pretty Little Liars, and wanted to read Reputation so bad, so I was super excited to receive Influence from @netgalley and finally try a Sara Shepard book out!

Influence tells the stories of three females influencers and how their lives overlap. There is plenty of drama and some darkness as well. This is a twisty YA mystery. That shines a light on bullying and the dark side of social media. This is a super easy read, it’s fast paced too, you could easily read this one in a day.

This is great for YA lovers, those who enjoy reading about the dark side of social media, and fans of Sara Sheppard.

Thank you @delacortepress for my advanced copy.

I used to be obsessed with the Pretty Little Liars series, so I have been looking forward to Sara Shepard's new book with Lilia Buckingham for a while. Influence is a fast-paced, drama-filled, mystery set in the crazy world of influencers in California. The storylines were plotted well and it seemed to follow the Pretty Little Liars formula closely, including an almost "A" like character in Scarlet Leigh. It was an effective choice for this plot and these characters, if not entirely fresh. There were a lot of twists and red herrings that made it exciting and fun to read, and I never knew what was coming next. I really liked the characters, Jasmine and the mysterious Scarlet especially, and what I appreciated was that even though they were dealing with some pretty adult subject matter, they still seemed like teenagers. It has a little bit of everything with a great mix of drama, romance, family, sexuality, and coming of age, all while navigating the chaotic life of social media and fame. The world of influencers is a fascinating and wild subject in itself, and though I know it is very real, it almost feels hard to believe. This book is a solid standalone, but there is definitely enough of an open door to write another one, and I know I would like to see more of these characters.