About a week ago I’ve received a message from Grace Demyan about her debut novel called ‘Such A Bad Influence’. It’s a contemporary women’s fiction and will be released on the 21^st of October.

The fact that this is a debut novel and the story being that good. There were moments that had me laughing and the end (and this doesn’t really happen, ever) had me fighting back my tears.

Felicity inherited her mothers blueberry farm after her mother lost her battle with cancer. Overcome by grief her she became a recluse; she hasn’t left her house in a long time apart from when she really had to, no one has been welcomed in her home. But something is about to change, she has to be courageous since there are thieves stealing her blueberries. After finally being able to scare them away she goes home and dials her mother’s number. It’s been a weekly constant even if she knows her mother won’t answer and the number belongs to someone else. She does get to leave voicemails, so that’s what she does.

Alex is 18 years old and homeless, a bit lost in live but she is a girl on a mission. She has to get felicity’s attention somehow, but for that to happen she needs to do something big. Stealing something of value and being caught is the only thing she can think of and it works!

Felicity lets Alex stay at the farm, to help with the Blueberry Bandits. They are kids so; nothing to scary. While they plot and succeed with their plan, they set up some kind of revenge business so they could earn money, with being in a humongous debt they need every single dollar they can get. But in taking these jobs, some of the town’s most important people are angry and will be making live for Felicity and Alex a lot harder. Those shenanigans will help Felicity in coming out of her shell; once cowering away when being bullied, she now faces things head on. Letting people see she’s not to be messed with; but also letting them see that underneath it all she is a woman with a heart of gold.

And Wade; Oh Wade… A total stunner, which a good book like this just needs to have. ‘Enemies to lovers’ is a thing and whilst I don’t always like stories with this as an element, in this one it fits. The teenage douche growing up to be infatuated with the once geeky girl turned neighbor.

All the elements in this story connect and make sense. It’s a cozy read and a story you can read in one sitting, but it will pull at the heartstring.

It’s a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐star read!