This is such a good read for middle schoolers and up. So many students say they don’t need to study in school because they are going to become an athlete or an influencer. Is being an influencer all that it is cracked up to be? Influenced by Sara Darer Littman and Cindy L. Otis, although fiction, takes a hard look at this lifestyle and how it can change a person’s life.
4/5 stars ★★★★☆
To read the synopsis: https://amzn.to/3UsBGsm
Published on: August 19, 2025
From the publisher: What happens when friendship goes too far?
What I Liked About Influenced:
I’m intrigued by influencers. I’m a sucker for a good reality show. What I don’t usually think about is how the person became an influencer in the first place or how it has changed their life. This story is centered around two high school girls in the 10th grade. Elizabeth, known as “Bliss” online, has cerebral palsy and became an instant Tik Tok sensation by accident. Lainey, like many other people, starts to respond to Bliss and believes that Bliss is now her best friend.
My heart went out to Bliss. She always wanted to be an influencer, until she didn’t. She realizes that it isn’t as easy as it looks, and it can start controlling her life. It also starts controlling her relationships with people. Lainey is dealing with divorced parents, and a twin brother who moves across the country to live with their dad and his new family.
Littman and Otis portrayed the high school characters in a very true way. Between friendships, bullies, family problems and the romances that start to blossom, high school is hard. I’m just so thankful that I didn’t have social media around to throw that into the mix. The characters are realistic, and I believe that young adults will enjoy this book. I also believe that I will never be too old to enjoy a good YA book myself. This would be a great book for discussion in any secondary classroom.
Influenced is an easy read. It is told from two different viewpoints, and in different timelines. I like how the authors threw in some surprises by setting up the book this way.
My Favorite Quote From Influenced:
“True friends can spread their roots and grow in different directions. But we’re still part of the same tree, no matter how far our roots spread.”
So many of my past students are heading off to college this month. I kept thinking about them as I read this quote. You can be miles away from your friends. Your life can change drastically, even as an adult, from that of your friends. But if you are true friends, none of that will matter.
Where To Buy Influenced and More:
- Purchase Influenced: https://amzn.to/3UsBGsm
- If you liked this book, I also recommend these other coming-of-age books:
- Catch the Sun by Jennifer Hartmann
- The Sister Switch by Charlotte Butterfield
- What’s Yours Is Mine by Jennifer Jabaley
- Read more of my book reviews: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/
- Missed my Top Books of 2024? Find them here: https://judiholst.com/top-20-books-that-i-loved-in-2024/
Thank you to NetGalley, Scholastic, Sarah Darer Littman and Cindy L. Otis for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
Now, I’d love to hear from you: Who is your favorite influencer and why? I’d love to hear the stories.
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