Such a Bad Influence - by Olivia Muenter (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Infamous social media influencer Evie Davis has spent her whole life online, since her mother shared a viral video of her at age five. When she suddenly disappears in the middle of a live stream, her older sister, Hazel, becomes determined to find Evie and the truth behind her disappearance"--

Book Synopsis

For fans of Ashley Winstead, Jessica Knoll, and Jo Piazza, an electric debut thriller 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 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?

Review Quotes

One of Electric Literature's Best Books of Spring 2024, According to Indie Booksellers

"A smart and intelligent thriller that is a not-to-be-missed page-turner. Buy multiples because this one has the making of a big best seller."--Library Journal, starred review

"Packed with trenchant critiques of internet celebrity and topped off by a satisfyingly nasty finale, this leaves readers wanting more from Muenter."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Timely, riveting. . . . This story is as addictive as scrolling Instagram, and marks the launch of a talented new writer."--Ashley Winstead, author of Midnight Is the Darkest Hour

"An addictive psychological thriller that will totally immerse you in the terrifying, overexposed world of child social media stars. Muenter's debut will have you rethinking everything about your Instagram scroll as you inhale this book in a single sitting."--Jo Piazza, author of The Sicilian Inheritance and host of the Under the Influence podcast

"Such a Bad Influence is as addictive as Instagram. Woven into its twisty, propulsive story of a missing influencer are complicated questions about the cost of mining one's life for content. I was riveted the whole way through."--Ana Reyes, author of The House in the Pines

"A fascinating exploration of the dangers of social media . . . smart and timely."--Carola Lovering, author of Tell Me Lies and Bye, Baby

About the Author

Olivia Muenter is a writer and cohost of Bad on Paper, a weekly podcast about books, life, and everything in between. Previously she was a senior fashion and beauty editor at Bustle.com. Olivia's work has appeared in Refinery 29, HuffPost, Glamour.com, Philadelphia magazine, Byrdie, Apartment Therapy, and more. This is her first novel.