Influenced, Sarah Darer Littman
Influenced, Sarah Darer Littman
List: $27.99 | Sale: $19.59
Club: $13.99

Influenced

Author: Sarah Darer Littman, Cindy L. Otis

Narrator: Ali Stroker, Nora Hunter, Rebecca Soler

Unabridged: 12 hr 55 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/19/2025


Synopsis

What happens when friendship goes too far?Tenth grade isn't going according to plan for Lainey. Her twin brother moved across the country to live with their dad and stepmom, leaving Lainey -- and her anxiety -- behind. And Lainey's starting to realize that maybe most of her friends were really her brother's friends. Thank god for Bliss.Bliss is navigating her own tough sophomore year, determined to find her place. But no matter what's going on in her life, Bliss is really good about being there for Lainey. She's confident and fearless, all that Lainey wishes she could be. It seems like Bliss is getting everything she's ever wanted, including a new boyfriend and becoming the first wheelchair user to land a lead role in the school production.What no one knows is that Bliss is struggling. At school it feels like everyone is always watching her, and at home, she's overwhelmed by her parents' expectations. When things get worse for Bliss, Lainey stops hearing from her completely. Panicked that something awful has happened, Lainey rushes to find out what's going on. But when Lainey arrives at Bliss's apartment, nothing is what it seems, and everything Lainey thought she knew about her friend is a lie...

About Sarah Darer Littman

Sarah Darer Littman is the critically acclaimed author of In Case You Missed It; Backlash; Want to Go Private?; Life, After; Purge; and Confessions of a Closet Catholic, winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award. She is also an award-winning news columnist and teaches writing as an adjunct professor in the MFA program at Western Connecticut State University and with the Yale Writers' Conference.


Reviews

Goodreads review by PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps on March 12, 2025

***Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of INFLUENCED by Sarah Darer Littman in exchange for my honest review. *** Lainey, a socially awkward teenager believes she’s developed a friendship with teen influencer Elizabeth “Bliss”, a disabled girl with CP. Lainey decides that she......more

Goodreads review by Gina on March 24, 2025

I tell my students all the time that I’m so glad that I grew up in a time where there was no social media because for all the good things about it, there are so many more bad things that just seem designed to make kids feel badly about themselves. In this book, Lainey has had some big changes in her......more

Goodreads review by Nicole on March 24, 2025

Thank you Netgalley and Scholastic Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! In a world where social media dominates teenage life, “Influenced” by Sarah Darer Littman and Cindy L. Otis is a timely and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of parasocial relationships and......more

Goodreads review by Vicky on August 30, 2025

When my daughter was in elementary school, she came to me in tears one day. Her favorite YouTubers, Popular MMOs’ Pat and Jen were getting a divorce, and my poor child was crushed. It’s a great example of what we call a parasocial relationship, in which we feel a connection with public or profession......more

Goodreads review by Hayley on July 24, 2025

No matter how old I get I will always love YA novels. While they have a simplistic writing choices they usually pack very powerful messages and have complex story lines that will appeal to everyone not just young adults. This book is one that proves the YA genre is for everyone as its strong message......more


Quotes

Praise for Cindy L. OtisAt the Speed of Lies "With a sharp, compelling main character and an equally compelling mystery, At the Speed of Lies is a perfect -- and timely -- thriller." -- Kirsten White, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hide"Timely and gripping, Cindy L. Otis's fiction debut is a thought-provoking commentary on the far-reaching consequences of conspiracy theories. Readers are sure to devour this smart and captivating thriller." -- Emily Lloyd-Jones, international bestselling author of The Drowned Woods★"Former CIA officer Otis crafts a timely, pulse-pounding mystery..." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)"A timely, unsettling, and insightful read." -- Kirkus ReviewsPraise for Sarah Darer LittmanSome Kind of HateA Sydney Taylor Honor Book"Thoughtful, meticulous, and devastatingly revealing, Some Kind of Hate opens readers' eyes into how ordinary people -- a neighbor, a classmate, a teammate, a friend -- can become brainwashed and indoctrinated into the frightening and bigoted world of white supremacy. To stop hate, Sarah Darer Littman has written a critical, heart-wrenching, and hopeful book that not only shows how and why the seeds of hatred grow into a destructive force, but also the importance of owning one's actions, which allows for the possibility of redemption and forgiveness." -- Liza Wiemer, author of the Sydney Taylor Notable Book The Assignment"Littman's latest novel presents an unvarnished and eye-opening account of how a frustrated young athlete becomes radicalized into a hate group, while examining the causes and consequences of unchecked antisemitism. This is truly a story for our times--a raw and visceral exploration of how a single, traumatic event in a person's life can quickly turn him down the dark path toward extremism, and ultimately, redemption." -- Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League"Some Kind of Hate is not an easy read, but it's a necessary one that is unflinchingly realistic and brutal, and yet, somehow, hopeful. I wish for it to find its way to every library and classroom shelf, where it might help more than one reader realize that it's never too late to say no to hate and open our eyes and hearts to love." -- Gae Polisner, author of The Memory of ThingsBacklash"Littman pens a raw, frighteningly realistic, and absorbing look at cyberbullying and the damaging effects of airing private trauma in a public forum." -- Publishers Weekly"This is a powerful and credible story." -- BooklistWant to Go Private?"A bold investigation of a potentially lethal, if common, mixture for teen girls: emotional immaturity, technology and emerging sexuality." -- Los Angeles Times"This book is a compelling, if not disturbing, read." -- School Library JournalAnything But Okay"With well-developed characters, Littman explores growth and personal relationships alongside pain, mental illness, and social issues -- showing how people can come together to heal." -- Kirkus Reviews"This novel by Littman tackles the current sociopolitical climate with multifaceted, redeemable characters." -- Publishers WeeklyIn Case You Missed It"Littman crafts an unnerving cautionary tale about misplaced digital trust and illusions of privacy." --Publishers Weekly"An unexpectedly layered story of slow awakening and redemption." -- Kirkus ReviewsLife, After"Convincing and absorbing." -- Publishers Weekly"Littman catches the voice of teen readers with her spot-on dialogue and realistic situations." -- Jewish JournalPurge"An intimate and powerful novel." -- Stamford Times