It’s so surreal to read and review an author’s debut novel and then getting to do the same thing with their sophomore novel. When THP first started our book team, we reviewed Claire Ahn’s debut, I Guess I Live Here Now. Today, we get to review her second novel, Bad Influence.
Bad Influence tells the story of Charlotte Goh, an aspiring teen influencer in New York City. Her family has been struggling financially, and she wants to make money from brand deals to support her parents. But can she trade her real-life relationships for online popularity?
We loved Claire Ahn’s new novel for so many reasons, but we’ll give you just a few. Here are three of our favorite things about Bad Influence!
Book Overview: Bad Influence
Content warnings: mentions of divorce and cheating
Summary: 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?
The Eldest Daughter Struggle
We relate so hard to Charlotte’s role as the eldest daughter in her family. She acts as the second mother to her three-year-old sister Jojo. Whenever her mother falls into a mood, Charlotte has to hold onto the bulk of her mom’s emotional burden. As the eldest daughter, she feels obligated to take care of everything. Her main reason for becoming an influencer is to make money and relieve her parents’ financial stress. And Charlotte’s monologue near the end of the book had us on the verge of tears.
Charlotte’s Korean Roots
Another thing we love about Bad Influence is getting a look into Charlotte’s Korean heritage. Her family makes it a tradition to have Sunday dinner with her best friend Steven’s family. The weekly spread includes homemade Korean dishes, along with Korean and Asian-inspired desserts. Charlotte and Steven’s families also celebrate Chuseok together, which is the Korean Mid-Autumn harvest festival and a major holiday reserved for honoring ancestors and spending time with loved ones.
The Best Friends-To-Lovers Romance
Charlotte and Steven’s best friends-to-lovers romance is one of our absolute favorite things about Bad Influence. There’s so much tension and vulnerability between the two of them, given how much they’ve been through. Even when Charlotte was casually seeing a famous actor, she would think about Steven. Though they start growing apart the more Charlotte pursues her influencer dream, they can’t avoid their feelings forever. It’s a slow burn with plenty of jealousy and denial on both sides.
For the eldest daughters, the children of immigrants, and anyone trying to make a space for themselves. Claire Ahn’s Bad Influence offers a YA narrative that’s as relevant as it is healing.
Bad Influence by Claire Ahn goes on sale April 29th, and you can order a copy of it here!
What do you think of Claire Ahn’s sophomore novel, Bad Influence? Did you relate as much as we did? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
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