It was a deeper look into the motivations and complexities of building a social media career and juggling real life. It didn't always feel believable and sometimes I was confused by either the timeline or certain parts of the plot. Overall, it was a quick fun read, even though it touched on some important issues like the intersectionality between the pressures of being an older child and also being from an immigrant family.

I think it could be quite impactful for the target audience (YA).

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.

I loved this book for everything but its main plot unfortunately.

I overall found the romance uncompelling and was often quite angry with how Steven treated Charlotte and how she was often said to be in the wrong when he was just being a right ass. I also thought that, for a book that was rooted in the world of fashion, these were some of the worst described outfits I've ever had the opportunity to read.

But I loved Charlotte, and I was rooting for her to end up dating the girl she befriends whose name I'm blanking on. currently. Her family was a lot more interesting to read, and I really enjoyed that element of the book.

This was a great book and I think many students could relate to the character's dilemma. The story focuses on social media and how it can affect young adults. It was also great to see the positive surface effects on a person and the negative effects that could happen. I believe it would give students an inside look as to how being an influence would work and maybe that it isn't all that it seems. I would recommend this for a classroom read and encourage discussions on topics such as social media, family relationships, peer relationships, social influencers, stress, and false advertising. This would also be great for the school library.

This was a good ya book but as a millennial where social media is just really an interesting place these days a lot of the influencer stuff was annoying but I can see how it's applicable for certain age groups. I really enjoyed some diversity in our main characters and they were very well written. So I would recommend this book to younger Generations that enjoy books with social media as a main part in them.

I really wanted to get into this story as the synopsis caught my eye and fit a category I’ve enjoyed in the past. Sometimes the advanced reading copies are formatted in a way that makes it harder for me to get through. This was one of them. The formatting will likely be fixed come final publishing but it was funky and the dialogue/text exchanges and chapter turning over were not smooth or consistent.

The story was paced slow at times, but it was deeper than I expected too making it a decent read. I am also reading a nonfiction story about the age of social media and children so it felt interesting to read this simultaneously. It does read like a YA or high school reactions, but that’s what it is written for.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions are mine.

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

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

I enjoyed this book! The main character, Charlotte, was likable and her relationships with her family and friends were thoughtfully crafted. There were meaningful and interesting issues around identity and what is means to be a teenager in today's world that were thoughtfully addressed. 4 stars instead of 5 because sometimes, the pacing felt a little slow and there was some dialogue that felt a little awkward. Overall, I would look for other titles by this author and would recommend this book!

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.

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.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC.

Overall, I enjoyed Bad Influence. by Claire Ahn. I think Ahn did a great job at tackling family expectations. That was probably my favorite part of the book. There were times when I loved Charlotte and her mom and then there were times when I loved them but what I love most is the growth and development they both have throughout the story.
I did find the romance aspect lacking a bit. Just like how I loved and hated Charlotte at times, I also loved and hated Steven. I just felt like he didn't support Charlotte as much as I would have expected from a childhood best friend.
Overall, Bad Influence was an easy read and I would recommend it.

There was a lot to like about this YA romcom! I especially liked that it wasn’t over the top with romance, but also had valuable segments about social media/influencing and family.

📖 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!

I love this book! It was fun and had such a good pace. If you're a fan of YA definitely read this one. Thanks for the ARC.

If being the child of immigrant parents could be any better captured, I'm not sure how. Claire Ahn perfectly encapsulates the frustrations, fears, and love that comes from being loved in the untraditional ways that only immigrant parents can give. I cried two different times reading this because I felt so deeply within how Charlotte feels thrust between wanting to be the good older sister and daughter vs being influential and cool in one of the biggest and chicest cities in the world.

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.

If you are looking for your next romcom, check out Bad Influence by Claire Ahn. This was an enjoyable read.

Wow this book was very good. a very strong story and the plot was very interesting and unique especially the characters. thank you so much for the arc. i really enjoyed it

strong story with very interesting characters and very well-plotted ideas. i really felt for them. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.