Taking a break from watching Korean dramas, I decided to search for a book with the same vibe. Skimming through several recommended lists, I found Ahn’s Bad Influence. Since YA novels were what made me fall in love with reading, I was ready to soak up this gem.
Charlotte Goh is a teenage New Yorker and an aspiring fashion influencer, blogging for two years on Instagram. Both of her parents struggle to make ends meet since her dad was injured, prompting Charlotte to land a sponsored post. Told to focus on her studies, Charlotte hides her page from her parents, only looping in her best friend, Steven, who is unsupportive due to his disdain for social media after his own family scandal.
One day, browsing a ritzy store simply for content, Charlotte overhears some cruel comments about Audrey, a popular Asian American influencer. She confronts them, which sparks a friendship with Audrey, who boosts Charlotte into finally landing a brand deal.
Thrown into a world that’s less intimidating than she expected, she begins to juggle her new online popularity with family obligations and loyalty to friends old and new. Though thrown into circumstances I couldn’t imagine, Charlotte stays relatable even to me – someone 10 years her senior.
As relationships of all kinds evolve alongside our protagonist, Bad Influence is a book that encourages everyone to remember why it’s important to exist outside of the curated life of social media. For fans of Jenny Han, YA romance, and the addictive charm of K-dramas, this fast-paced read is a must.
