Such a Bad Influence

The audio version of Muenter’s debut intensifies the drama of this social-media thriller. Evie has been an Instagram starlet since she was born, when her mom started showing her off. Now that Evie is 18, she is bringing in the big bucks—and has gone missing. Two weeks go by without a selfie, a story, or a sponsored post. Her sister Hazel hasn’t always approved of the career and doesn’t get along with their mom, but she fiercely protects Evie and comes home to help find her. The book is performed by a varied cast of 10 narrators who bring the online world to life. Standouts include Amara Jasper, who reads the bulk of the book as Hazel, and Jesse Vilinsky, whose portrait of Evie—humble, with an occasional well-placed giggle—makes an impact. Muenter has wisely infused the book with text exchanges, social media comments (complete with wild usernames), and podcast recordings. That’s how stories unfold nowadays, and Muenter is plugged into this world as a real-life podcaster and Substack creator.