Love them or hate them, influencers are everywhere, appearing in our social media feeds and television shows and popping up in the wild as they create content. News stories regularly report on the high percentages of kids who aspire to become influencers, even as exposés and scandals pull back the curtain on the darker side of this industry. Australia’s recent ban on social media use for under-16s rocked the world: Many celebrated this move to protect youth mental health even as others focused on the impact on young content creators’ revenue (and the financial hit to brands that target these consumers). So it’s no surprise that YA authors are thoughtfully incorporating these topics into novels like the ones below, creating entertaining stories that span a variety of genres.

Who’s All Going (To Die)? (Delacorte, 2025) is set in Barbados, where author Lisa Springer is from. Lush sensory details contrast the beautiful setting with the horrors that ensue during the winter break Teenage Dream retreat, a partnership between enigmatic wellness influencer Divinity Aster and aesthetician-turned-hotelier Juniper-Moon. It’s all fun and games with flower extracts and fruit enzyme facials—until people start dying.

In the sweetly amusing romance Reel Love by Addie Woolridge (Delacorte Romance, 2025), Jamie and Ethan are attending TrendCon with their rival influencer grandmothers. The aspiring film director and car-loving influencer have complementary skills that come in handy when they secretly collaborate on a project, sneaking around Las Vegas making a video for a contest with a large cash prize.

Love Goes Viral (Simon & Schuster, Jan. 6) is a romance full of strong characters co-authored by Camille Stochitch, Alexander Berman, and Estelle Laure. A viral video catapults Love Thompson, a working-class girl from Tennessee, to stardom, making her dream of a performing arts career seem attainable. But a sudden fall from grace leads to a fake-dating scheme with Austin Grey, a “clean and wholesome” boy who can help rehabilitate her image.

In The Oks Are Not OK (Kokila, March 3), Grace K. Shim thoughtfully explores the impact of a fraud investigation on a wealthy family who flee Los Angeles for a tiny Wi-Fi-free town. Living without cell service—and losing sponsors—is a shock for it girl Elena. She, her brother, and their parents grow in nuanced ways as they adjust to their new reality.

Rebekah Weatherspoon’s Summer Official (Putnam, April 14) is a charming grumpy/sunshine romance between two well-drawn teen girls that explores authenticity and identity. Heaven, a goth skateboarder who needs a social media presence to build an audience for her tattoo portfolio, and sociable basketball player Saylor, whose influencer mom monetizes Saylor’s coming out in a Pride month video, find much common ground despite their different personalities.

In the twisty, fast-paced mystery They Want Us Dead by CL Montblanc (Wednesday Books, April 28), Sam is passionate about using their channel to draw attention to missing and murdered queer people—and even helped solve a John Doe case. They’re invited to attend the Teens of True Crime event, but the hoped-for boost for their worthy cause quickly turns into a desperate quest to find a killer.

Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor.