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Bad Influence

The buzzy debut memoir about growing up online

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Bad Influence

By: Oenone Forbat
Narrated by: Oenone Forbat
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A smart, humorous and candid account of coming of age on the internet, from the much-loved online personality Oenone Forbat.

'I have spent most of my adult life online, so much so that it can be hard to know which parts of me are the 'real' me and which parts I have subconsciously edited, facetuned and perhaps exaggerated, to suit being so hyper-visible'

Oenone didn't set out to become an influencer. The word barely existed when she started posting on Instagram at university to document her 'fitness journey' after a toxic relationship came to a messy end.

In this humorous meditation on her digitized life, Oenone chronicles the pits and peaks of coming of age online. Grappling with modern-day issues on a public stage - from body image and personal boundaries to the limitations of online activism, Bad Influence examines what happens when your day-to-day reality becomes #content - and that #content pays your bills.

It asks: can you truly be authentic online? Can social media be a force for good? Is it necessarily bad for our mental health?

Written and narrated with wit, warmth and honesty, this is a candid account of what it really means to be an influencer, from someone still figuring it out: the good, the bad and the instagrammable.

(P)2023 Quercus Editions Limited©2023 Oenone Forbat Entertainment & Celebrities Personal Development Personal Success Celebrity Comedy Witty Mental Health
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Critic reviews

A warm, witty peek behind the influencer curtain. Oenone is equal parts insightful and entertaining - whatever your take on influencers, Bad Influence is a great read
Warm, juicy, and eye-opening, like having a chat with a best friend
Boldly unfiltered and beautifully written, Bad Influence is a fascinating peek behind the social media smokescreen. A smart and nuanced read for our extremely online times
A brilliant and necessary look at an industry that is wildly misunderstood, as well as a thoughtful and self-aware interrogation of millennial culture, identity politics and contemporary relationships
Like a glass of wine with your most loveable, charming and vulnerable friend. Oenone brings so much nuance to the concept of influencing and living online...If ever a book captured the zeitgeist, this is it.
Bad Influence is witty, honest and refreshingly self-aware. It effortlessly encapsulates the experience of a generation fumbling through life against a backdrop of social media and explores what it truly means to be 'an influencer' in today's digital age. Oenone Forbat is one to watch
I absolutely flew through Bad Influence and loved every page. Oenone has written such a fascinating and self-aware dissection of what it's like to live life in this parallel online universe. It's not just an interesting and incredibly honest memoir, it's also funny, warm and brilliantly engaging. It will leave you questioning about so much - but definitely not how many stars this book deserves. Five stars!
A fun and frothy insight into what it really takes to game the algorithm. An ideal summer read
Oenone writes with real honesty and authenticity, highlighting the good and the bad aspects of having a platform and exploring the life behind the grid squares - the anxiety, scrutiny, and judgement
The strength of Bad Influence is its meditation on the deep-seated paranoia that comes with being constantly exposed to so many people
All stars
Most relevant
I finished this brilliant book in 2 sittings. Oenone it’s so incredibly honest and open while also sharing insightful and interesting opinions and facts on the ‘influencer’ landscape today.

Honest and hilarious

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One of the only influencers I’ve followed for the last 5+ years due to all the reasons in this book!

Perfectly put on the highs and the loss of Social media

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Well written book, quite Dolly Alderton-esque. Appreciated Oenone’s self awareness, as well as the insight into life in such a strange industry. Also a good reminder that just because you follow someone on social media mean you know everything that is going on in their life.

Interesting insight into the influencer world

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I got through this so quickly, as I just couldn't stop listening! It just goes to show that you never know what is going on behind the camera, and that everyone has something else going on. I love how Oenone really opens up and gives us so much unapologetic honesty. Thank you for sharing so much with us!

Loved it!

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I’ve followed Oenone for several years and always enjoyed her content and the variety it spans. After thinking - surely I know most things as a follower I thought I may as well dive in. As usual, Oenone doesn’t disappoint and I found myself skulking off to bed very early to get in more listening time (apologies to my partner who thinks I’ve got a rotten cold). Thank you Oenone, you truly have a gift and we are so lucky to share it with you. A 5/5 listen from a millennial who’s enjoying navigating this crazy world with you

All the emotions in a truly wonderful book

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