Such a Bad Influence Summary, Characters and Themes
Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter is a psychological thriller that dives into the dark underbelly of influencer culture, family exploitation, and the toxic dynamics fostered by life lived online.
The story follows Hazel Davis, a woman struggling in the shadow of her younger sister Evie, a social media megastar who’s been in the public eye since childhood. When Evie vanishes during a disturbing TikTok livestream, Hazel is forced to confront not only the sinister corners of internet fame but also the deep, unresolved tensions within her own family. Gripping, timely, and unsettling, it’s a chilling exploration of identity, obsession, and the price of living under constant scrutiny.
Summary
Hazel Davis is adrift. In her late twenties, she’s stuck in a job she doesn’t care about, living in a city she hates, and grappling with the bitter reality of being overshadowed by her younger sister, Evelyn—or as the world knows her, @evelyn, a social media influencer with millions of followers.
Unlike Evie, who grew up basking in the glow of internet fame after a viral family video catapulted her to stardom, Hazel managed to sidestep the family YouTube business. But that doesn’t mean she escaped its impact.
Their mother, Erin, turned Evie’s childhood into content, exploiting her daughter’s charm and innocence for clicks and sponsorship deals, while Hazel was left to resentfully watch from the sidelines, feeling both protective and distant.
Evie, now eighteen, is beautiful, rich, and seemingly living the dream—except her life is anything but perfect.
Behind the curated Instagram posts and TikTok dances lies a young woman suffocating under the relentless pressure of maintaining her online persona. She’s entangled in toxic friendships, manipulative romantic relationships, and the crushing expectations of her followers, all while dealing with the emotional scars of being treated as a brand rather than a person.
The story kicks into motion when Evie goes live on TikTok from her car. She’s visibly distracted, glancing nervously outside, as if someone is watching her. Then the screen abruptly cuts to black.
The livestream becomes an internet sensation overnight, sparking conspiracy theories, trending hashtags, and obsessive Reddit threads. At first, many dismiss her disappearance as a publicity stunt or a mental health break—typical influencer behavior, some say.
But Hazel knows better. When days pass with no sign of Evie, Hazel’s protective instincts kick in.
Despite their strained relationship, Hazel drops everything to find her sister. She knows Evie’s life better than anyone—or at least she thinks she does.
As Hazel dives into Evie’s carefully curated world, she’s forced to confront the dark truths lurking beneath the surface: obsessive fans who believe they own a piece of Evie, friends who are more invested in her brand than her well-being, and a boyfriend, Gavin Ramirez, whose charming, carefree influencer persona masks manipulative tendencies.
Gavin, an on-again, off-again presence in Evie’s life, becomes both a suspect and a reluctant ally in Hazel’s investigation.
Hazel’s search exposes the toxic underbelly of influencer culture: parasocial relationships where followers feel entitled to a stranger’s life, the blurred lines between authenticity and performance, and the devastating mental health toll of being commodified for public consumption.
She also uncovers disturbing family dynamics—particularly the role of their mother, Erin, whose obsession with control and public image reveals just how far she’s willing to go to maintain the façade of a perfect family. Erin’s manipulative tendencies, once dismissed as overbearing parenting, now seem sinister in the context of Evie’s disappearance.
The narrative is interwoven with snippets of online discourse—podcast transcripts, Reddit sleuthing threads, and social media commentary—that highlight how easily the internet can turn someone’s trauma into entertainment. The very people who claim to care about Evie are also the ones dissecting her every move, twisting facts, and spreading rumors for likes and clout.
As Hazel pieces together Evie’s last days before she vanished, she uncovers hidden relationships, buried secrets, and unsettling clues. The tension escalates when Hazel realizes that Evie’s disappearance wasn’t random—it was orchestrated by someone close to her.
The true villain isn’t an anonymous stalker or deranged fan, but a person within Evie’s inner circle, driven by obsession, jealousy, and the need to control. This person didn’t just want Evie’s attention; they wanted ownership over her, mirroring the parasitic relationships fostered by her online fame.
In a heart-pounding climax, Hazel locates Evie—alive but emotionally shattered. Evie has been psychologically manipulated and isolated, held captive not just physically but mentally, by someone who claimed to love and protect her. The revelation forces Hazel to confront her own complicity: her emotional distance, her resentment, and the ways she, too, allowed Evie to be consumed by fame without fully stepping in to help.
The novel ends on a bittersweet note. Two years later, Hazel and Evie are slowly rebuilding their relationship.
Evie has left social media behind, trying to reclaim her identity outside the influencer bubble. Hazel, too, has found her voice, no longer defined solely by her role as “Evie’s sister.” The scars of their past remain, but there’s hope—for healing, for growth, and for lives lived authentically, away from the unforgiving gaze of the internet.
Such a Bad Influence is a haunting, thought-provoking thriller that examines not just the dark side of influencer culture, but also the fragile bonds of sisterhood, the lasting effects of family dysfunction, and the desperate human need to be seen—not as a brand, but as a person.

Characters
Hazel Davis
Hazel Davis is the older sister of Evie, and her character is defined by complexity and internal conflict. While she is protective of her younger sister, she also harbors feelings of resentment toward her due to the immense attention Evie has received throughout their lives.
This resentment stems from their shared upbringing, especially as their mother, Erin, capitalized on Evie’s fame, which caused Hazel to feel overshadowed and neglected. Hazel’s career is not as glamorous as Evie’s, and she is living a quiet, somewhat isolated life in a city she dislikes, struggling with both financial and emotional instability.
She appears to be a person who has avoided the spotlight by choice, but her protective instincts toward her sister ultimately pull her back into the chaos of Evie’s influencer world. Hazel is driven by a desire to find the truth behind Evie’s disappearance, but her search is not just for her sister—it also becomes a journey of self-discovery.
Throughout her investigation, she faces uncomfortable truths about her own relationship with Evie and her family, challenging her notions of loyalty, responsibility, and the impact of growing up under the shadow of fame.
Evie Davis
Evie Davis, the younger sister, is the central figure of the novel’s mystery. She is an influencer who has spent her entire life in the public eye, having gained fame at a very young age due to a viral video.
On the surface, she appears to live a dream life, filled with luxury, millions of followers, and brand deals. However, beneath the curated online persona lies a young woman who is struggling with the pressures of being constantly watched, admired, and critiqued.
The weight of her fame, combined with online hate and toxic relationships, makes Evie’s life increasingly difficult. She is caught in a web of parasocial relationships with her fans, where they feel entitled to her life and often project unrealistic expectations onto her.
While Evie seems to have it all, the novel reveals the deep emotional toll that her fame has taken on her, making her vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation. Her disappearance is the catalyst for the novel’s plot, and it is soon revealed that her life is not as perfect as it seems.
Despite her fame, she longs for escape, and this desire for independence plays a key role in her disappearance.
Erin Davis
Erin Davis, the mother of Hazel and Evie, is portrayed as a manipulative and controlling figure whose actions are driven by her obsession with her daughters’ social media fame. Erin plays a critical role in the commercialization of Evie’s childhood, pushing her into the public eye to capitalize on her viral success.
While Erin’s behavior seems driven by a desire to secure a better future for her daughters, it quickly becomes clear that she is more interested in the power, attention, and financial gains that come with having a famous child. She is dismissive and emotionally detached, prioritizing her image and her family’s public perception over her daughters’ emotional needs.
Throughout the novel, Erin’s apathy and failure to protect her children become glaring. Her lack of concern for Evie’s well-being during her disappearance adds an additional layer of tension between her and Hazel.
Erin embodies the dark side of influencer culture, where parents and family members can exploit children for their own benefit.
Gavin Ramirez
Gavin Ramirez, Evie’s on-again-off-again boyfriend, is a key character in the unraveling mystery surrounding Evie’s disappearance. On the surface, he is charming, charismatic, and seemingly concerned about Evie’s well-being.
However, as the novel progresses, it becomes evident that Gavin is not as he appears. His involvement in Evie’s life is not driven by love but by his own desires to profit off her fame and maintain a certain public image.
He is emotionally manipulative and controlling, often prioritizing Evie’s brand and online presence over her mental health and personal needs. Gavin’s relationship with Evie is toxic, marked by volatility and exploitation.
His role in the investigation is complex, as he moves between being a suspect and an ally in Hazel’s search for answers. While he offers some clues, he also withholds information and creates confusion, making it unclear whether he is a genuine part of the solution or simply another obstacle in Hazel’s quest to find her sister.
Themes
The Dark and Toxic Nature of Parasocial Relationships in the Age of Social Media Fame
One of the most compelling themes in Such a Bad Influence is the exploration of parasocial relationships, particularly in the context of the influencer culture that dominates social media. These relationships occur when fans form one-sided emotional connections with celebrities or influencers, believing they know these figures intimately despite the lack of any real interaction.
In the novel, Evie Davis, as a mega influencer, becomes a commodity that is consumed by millions, with fans deeply invested in her life, treating her every move as public property. The narrative showcases how this can be dangerously toxic, with fans either idolizing or hating the person they think they know, all while not fully grasping the humanity behind the persona.
This is a powerful critique of how modern fame works in the digital age, where followers feel entitled to the personal lives of influencers and often blur the lines between reality and online performance. Through Evie’s disappearance, the novel explores how quickly fans shift from being obsessive in their love for her to their outpouring of suspicion, blame, and even vitriol when she vanishes, exposing the superficiality and danger of these relationships.
The Exploitative Nature of Social Media Fame, Especially for Child Influencers
Another central theme is the exploration of exploitation, particularly within the family unit, as seen through the lens of child influencers. Evie’s fame began at a young age, thrust into the public eye after a viral video of her and her father.
This event set the stage for her life to be controlled by the pressures of maintaining a social media persona. Her mother, Erin, capitalized on this early success, treating her daughter as an investment, and constantly pushing Evie to perform for a public that saw her as a product rather than a person.
As Evie grows older, the impact of this exploitation becomes evident, as she struggles with her identity and the constant pressure to maintain her brand. The novel presents a disturbing view of how children raised in such an environment are deprived of their autonomy and forced into roles they didn’t choose.
The Illusion of Control and the Struggle for Personal Identity in the Face of Public Scrutiny
The theme of identity is intricately woven into the novel, particularly the tension between personal authenticity and the constructed persona required by public fame. Evie, as an influencer, is a perfect example of how one’s true self can be lost in the process of becoming a brand.
For years, she has been shaped by external forces—her mother’s ambitions, her fans’ expectations, and the influence of sponsors. The novel critiques this idea of self-performance for an audience, questioning whether one can truly retain a sense of personal identity when the public’s gaze is constantly on them.
Evie’s desire to step away from social media, to reclaim some semblance of a life outside the digital spotlight, becomes an act of rebellion. However, the novel also shows the immense difficulty of doing so, as her fame is not just her own but has been built up by countless others.
On the other hand, Hazel’s struggle is equally profound. As Evie’s older sister, she has lived in her shadow, but she, too, must contend with who she is outside of being defined as “Evie’s sister.” Both women must come to terms with the fact that they are not just public personas—they are real people with private desires and struggles, but these are often suppressed by the expectations that fame imposes on them.
The Psychological and Emotional Toll of Living Under Constant Public Scrutiny
The novel also delves deeply into the psychological impact of living under constant public scrutiny, a theme that is central to the lives of both Evie and Hazel. Social media fame, especially for someone like Evie, who has been in the public eye since childhood, carries a heavy toll on mental health.
The pressure to perform, to maintain an image of perfection, and the inevitable backlash that comes with any misstep, create an environment where self-worth becomes dependent on public approval. The novel portrays how Evie’s life is dominated by online hate, obsessive fans, and the relentless need to maintain her brand.
This creates a cycle of anxiety, self-doubt, and, ultimately, a loss of agency. Hazel, too, faces emotional trauma from her upbringing. Her resentment towards her mother for exploiting Evie’s fame and the emotional distance she maintains from her sister are manifestations of her own struggles with identity and family dynamics.
Both sisters are emotionally scarred by their experiences within the public sphere, which leads to a powerful commentary on the mental health challenges that accompany social media fame.
Family Dysfunction and the Dark Side of Parental Control in the Age of Fame
At the heart of the story is the dysfunctional nature of the Davis family, especially the relationship between Hazel, Evie, and their mother, Erin. Erin’s obsession with Evie’s fame and her manipulative tendencies form a core critique of the modern parenting style in the age of social media.
Erin is not just a supportive mother; she is a controlling figure who views her daughters as assets rather than individuals. Her intense focus on the commodification of Evie’s life creates a toxic family dynamic, where emotional needs are neglected in favor of brand deals, sponsorships, and maintaining the image of a perfect family.
The psychological manipulation is starkly illustrated by Hazel’s observations of her mother’s actions throughout the novel. Erin’s failure to recognize the emotional and psychological toll on her daughters in favor of personal gain highlights the dangers of turning children into public figures for the sake of financial gain.
The Corrupting Influence of Fame on Personal Relationships and Trust
Fame not only strains family dynamics but also distorts personal relationships, often causing them to be rooted in opportunism and manipulation. Evie’s romantic relationship with her boyfriend, Gavin, exemplifies this theme.
Although he initially appears to be a concerned partner, Gavin is revealed to be deeply invested in Evie’s fame, seeing her as a means to bolster his own brand. His behavior is emblematic of the way social media fame can warp personal relationships, as people become more interested in capitalizing on the fame of others than in forming genuine, supportive connections.
His controlling and emotionally manipulative nature adds another layer to the complex web of Evie’s life, which is constantly shaped by people who treat her more as a product than as an individual. Through Gavin and other characters, the novel critiques the way fame fosters relationships built on exploitation, jealousy, and a skewed sense of love, rather than trust and genuine emotional connection.
The Disturbing Reality of Obsession and Jealousy Behind the Facade of Friendship and Love
Throughout the book, there is an undercurrent of jealousy and obsession that runs through Evie’s relationships with both her followers and those closest to her. On the surface, many of Evie’s friends, acquaintances, and even her boyfriend seem to care for her, but beneath this veneer lies a darker, more manipulative side.
The novel reveals that some of these figures are driven by a toxic mix of envy, jealousy, and a desperate need for control. This is most apparent in the case of Gavin, whose relationship with Evie is entangled with his desire to maintain and enhance his own public image.
His manipulative actions are not solely out of love or affection for Evie but are driven by his desire to keep her in a place where she is an asset to him. Similarly, Evie’s followers, while professing adoration, are often complicit in the exploitation of her persona.
They feel entitled to her life, to access her most intimate moments, and to control her narrative. The novel presents a chilling critique of the way fame attracts not just fans but also predators—individuals who cloak their obsession in the guise of friendship or love, when in reality, they are driven by selfish desires to control, manipulate, and profit from the people they claim to care about.