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Bad Influence by Claire Ahn

Bad Influence

Claire Ahn

Penguin Young Readers Group · Hardcover · April 29, 2025

In this contemporary YA novel, high school student Charlotte Goh is an aspiring Asian American fashion influencer desperately trying to lift her family out of hardship, only to find it may come at a cost higher than any Chanel bag.

Contemporary YA RomanceAsian American YAYA Fashion & Beautyrealistic
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Who it’s for
A good fit if you’re following Claire Ahn or browsing for a contemporary YA romance nearby.
Genres
YA Fashion & Beauty, Contemporary YA Romance, Asian American YA
Published
Penguin Young Readers Group, April 29, 2025

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About this book

In this contemporary YA novel, high school student Charlotte Goh is an aspiring Asian American fashion influencer desperately trying to lift her family out of hardship, only to find it may come at a cost higher than any Chanel bag. Seventeen-year-old Charlotte Goh is juggling two very different personas: the dutiful Korean daughter, and the hustling NYC fashion influencer.

Continue reading

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?

Romance Adjacent

A good fit if you’re following Claire Ahn or browsing for a contemporary YA romance nearby.

Come here for

  • a Romance pick with Bad Influence adjacency
  • college-age energy, Asian American YA

Expect

  • realistic-fiction lane
  • easy entry from category search

Where it sits

Asian American YA65%
Contemporary YA Romance61%
YA Fashion & Beauty47%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • YA Fashion & Beauty
  • Asian American YA
  • Contemporary YA Romance
Authors
Claire Ahn
Publisher
Penguin Young Readers Group
Published
April 29, 2025
Format
Hardcover
Reading lane
YA Fashion & Beauty