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Under the Influence
Under the Influence: A Novel | Joyce Maynard
24 posts | 23 read | 16 to read
TheNew York Timesbestselling author ofLabor DayandAfter Herreturns with a poignant story about the true meaningand the true priceof friendship.Drinking cost Helen her marriage and custody of her seven-year-old son, Ollie. Once an aspiring art photographer, she now makes ends meet taking portraits of school children and working for a caterer. Recovering from her addiction, she spends lonely evenings checking out profiles on an online dating site. Weekend visits with her son are awkward. Hes drifting away from her, fast.When she meets Ava and Swift Havilland, the vulnerable Helen is instantly enchanted. Wealthy, connected philanthropists, they have their own charity devoted to rescuing dogs. Their home is filled with fabulous friends, edgy art, and dazzling parties.Then Helen meets Elliott, a kind, quiet accountant who offers loyalty and love with none of her newfound friends fireworks. To Swift and Ava, hes boring. But even worse than that, hes unimpressed by them.As Helen increasingly falls under the Havillands influencerunning errands, doing random chores, questioning her relationship with ElliottAva and Swift hold out the most seductive gift: their influence and help to regain custody of her son. But the debt Helen owes them is about to come due.Ollie witnesses an accident involving Swift, his grown son, and the daughter of the Havillands housekeeper. With her young sons future in the balance, Helen must choose between the truth and the friends who have given her everything.
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bibliobliss
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Proud of my current (as of yesterday) Litfluence: 63,151 😁🔥

It's only thanks to you awesome people who make this my go-to social media network!!

#LitsyLovelies are the best! Take away all my other networks and I'd be alright as long as I have Litsy.

#goals #friends

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Whoa!! 😱 Congrats! Litsy is definitely my preferred outlet. I don‘t even bother to check my other accounts most days. 😅 3y
bibliobliss @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm 💯 you have the right idea, Litsy is the best. And thank you 😉 3y
BookwormAHN Congratulations 👏🏻 3y
bibliobliss @BookwormAHN Thank you ❤️ 3y
39 likes4 comments
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valeriegeary
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Caramel apple cider ice cream. Move over pumpkin spice. I do not regret my choices.

CouronneDhiver Yes please! 🍎🍎 6y
RadicalReader @valeriegeary sounds spectacularly splendid 6y
Eyelit That sounds fabulous! 6y
See All 6 Comments
Clwojick 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤 6y
LauraBeth I would have zero regrets about that as well! 6y
TNbookworm Oh that sounds amazing! 6y
64 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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valeriegeary
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Well I got out of bed but I'm still reading. Husband is running errands also... Fall is happening outside y'all! #happyautumn #fallyall #sweaterweather

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valeriegeary
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It's been a good while since I've had a lazy Sunday. How long is too long to stay in bed reading? #readwhatyouown

Annl There is no such thing “as too long”! 6y
MicheleinPhilly 🤔If you‘re late for work on Monday? 6y
valeriegeary @Annl 😄😄 well in that case.... 6y
See All 7 Comments
valeriegeary @MicheleinPhilly hmmmm.... But what if I'm self employed and I work from home....? 😂😂😂 6y
MicheleinPhilly Not self employed but I do work from home so my definition of “late” is flexible. 6y
valeriegeary @MicheleinPhilly Tuesday is the new Monday. 🙌 6y
54 likes7 comments
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Victoriahoperose
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Pickpick

This book is as super captivating. I really was absorbed by this story. It‘s about friendship and trust and what truly makes someone a good person and a person who is unethical/bad. The characters were strong and the story was messy, but it really worked well and I found it to be impossible to put down!

ReadZenRites Sounds interesting! Stacked!😊 6y
21 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Chronic_Reader
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Pickpick

#ReadingResolutions • May 11|Fiction • Stumbled upon this gem when searching for a book to fit a Goodreads Challenges (not a lot of books have “U” as title or author!). It was an incredible audiobook and an interesting story with things not as perfect as they first appear.

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DivaDiane
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And again, I missed a milestone! #Litfluence is now over 1000!! How did that happen so fast?!? Due to you lovely folks! Glad to have found you!

JoeStalksBeck 🖤🤘🏻👏👏👏👏👏👏💕📖📚🍭 6y
Andrew65 Well Done 👏👏👏👏 6y
JessClark78 🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊📚 6y
See All 17 Comments
Lissa00 Yay🎉🎉📚📚 6y
DGRachel Woohoo! 🎉🎉🍾🎉🎉 6y
Cinfhen Awesome 🎉🎉🎉 6y
Kalalalatja 🎉🎉🎉 6y
PurpleyPumpkin Yay!🎉🎊🎉🎊 6y
Ms_T 🎉🎉🎉 6y
SilversReviews Congrats!!👍 6y
Bklover Congratulations! 🎉🎉 6y
Jas16 Yay!🎉📚👏 6y
hes7 Yay! 🎉 6y
Jess7 🎉🎉 6y
LeahBergen 🎉🎉🎉🎉 6y
Redwritinghood 🎉🎉 6y
Izai.Amorim Congratulations 🎉🎊🍾🎈 6y
62 likes17 comments
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valeriegeary
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Attention Portland bookworms! Broadway Books is having a sale this weekend! ARCs are $4 each or 3 for $10 and all ARC proceeds are being donated to Literary Arts Writers in Schools program! They are offering discounts on regular priced books too. Oh and there are donuts across the street! So really, you can't go wrong here. Except I may have already taken all the best ARCs so... #sorrynotsorry #booksanddonuts #blameitonlitsy #tbr

Moray_Reads I'm not a donut fan but those could print change my mind! 🍩🍩 7y
valeriegeary @Moray_Reads coconut, cinnamon & sugar, applesauce, and blueberry! I'm not really a donut fan either but these were 💯! 7y
48 likes2 comments
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Laalaleighh
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Also, wanted to catch this while it was still in the 17,000s (Seven is my favorite number)

Love you Littens all so so much!!!

#LitsyIsMagic

intothehallofbooks Yay! ⭐️✨👏🏻 Litsy is the best! 7y
BekahB Awesome!! 😃 7y
BookishFeminist 💖💖💖🎉 7y
See All 15 Comments
DebinHawaii Congratulations!! 🎉👍🎉👍😀 7y
CherylDeFranceschi Congrats! 🎉❤️🎉 7y
Dragon 😀👍🎉 7y
Megabooks 👍🏻👍🏻📚🎉🎉🎉🍾🥂 7y
Libby1 Yippee!!! ❤📚❤ 7y
Smrloomis 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🎉🎉🎉 7y
TrishB 👍😀🎉 7y
RohitSawant That's great! Congrats! 7y
LauraBeth Awesome! 😀⭐️👏🎉 7y
moranadatter 😀 7y
susanw 🎉📚🏅 7y
MyNamesParadise Yay!!! 🎉🎉⭐️🎈🎉 7y
50 likes15 comments
review
Pelican71
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Pickpick

Good, solid book about manipulation and a persons idea of friendship.

Yvonnel Joyce Maynard is fantastic! Have you read The Good Daughters? Or Labour Day? Both excellent 7y
Pelican71 I have not but after reading Under the Influence they're on my list. 7y
18 likes2 comments
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Pelican71
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"Swift and Ava have been wonderful to me," I said. "I owe them so much." "I just hope they don't try to collect at some point," Elliot said. ?

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Pelican71
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"Some people just need a strong person in their life to give them a little encouragement and direction," Ava said. "It's just too hard, doing everything on your own."

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Pelican71
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"You must never lower your standards," she told me. "Hold out for the real thing. If you don't feel totally crazy about him, forget it. And if the day comes when it's over, walk away. Assuming you can walk," she said, with a laugh free of bitterness.

Donna_sBookMinute Sounds like s good read. After reading the synopsis, my first thought was, "blood is thicker than water." That would probably be brewing in the back of my mind while reading. Can't wait to see your review. 7y
Pelican71 My co-worker was reading it at work and it peeked my interest. Stay tuned. 7y
Donnasmiles I won it on Litsy a couple months ago and really enjoyed it. I think it would make a great movie. 7y
20 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
Donnasmiles
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐This book would make such a great movie! Characters are well developed. My empathy for Helen was overflowing...Friendships can be elusive, deceptive, and complex. Could you be bought with money.

20 likes2 stack adds
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Minispok
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#bookmail Thank you @WilliamMorrow for the wonderful book 😊

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Hooked_on_books
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Thank you *so much* to @WilliamMorrow for the book! I see so many freebies going out on Litsy and am so excited to have won one!

Reviewsbylola I just got that one too. 7y
NatalieR Pretty 🎄 7y
Megabooks That's a good one! 7y
Alfoster Got my freebie today too! Yay!!😳 7y
47 likes4 comments
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Lissa00
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#bookmail! Won this book from @WilliamMorrow in a Litsy giveaway. So excited to read it! 🎉📚

Simona Congrats 🍾 7y
quirkyreader I guess mine will show up any day now. 7y
83 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Adventures-of-a-French-Reader
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@WilliamMorrow Thanks for the #bookmail Under the Influence #wononLitsy
The rest of the books I ordered for the different challenges I'll be doing this year!!!

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WilliamMorrowBooks
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UNDER THE INFLUENCE is a poignant story about the true meaning - and price - of friendship. It's full of complex and powerful characters and centers around a mother and her son. It's available in paperback now. We're giving away 15 copies! Leave us a comment and you may be a lucky winner. (Closes tomorrow 11/24 at 5pm EST) 📚 #giveaway

Lissa00 I have read several of Joyce Maynard's book and have enjoyed them. Would love to win this book. 7y
Tcip Hey! I would love to get a copy!! 7y
Karkar This book sounds like a great read! Thanks for the chance to win! 📚👍🏻 7y
See All 39 Comments
Alfoster This looks awesome! 7y
mrsh62010 Hi! I would love to win!! 😆😃🙌📚📖📭 7y
Donnasmiles Yes! I need that book. Sounds like a page turner. 7y
Adventures-of-a-French-Reader Thanks for this giveaway ;) Can't wait to see the results! 7y
Minispok It look great! 😀📚📚 7y
quirkyreader Please sign me up. I enjoy her writing, especially "To Die For". 7y
UwannaPublishme Woo hoo! 👏🏻👏🏻Thanks for offering this! Count me in. 👍🏻 7y
LeahBergen Yes, please!! This looks like a great read. 👍🏼 7y
LiteraryinLawrence This one looks great! 7y
Hooked_on_books Oooo, I'd love to have that! 7y
Annl Would love to read this! 7y
James Thank you! Sounds interesting. 7y
AnnieOakley Love this author 7y
CherylDeFranceschi Oooo. Yes, please! 7y
EKonrad Sounds good. 😊 7y
Branwen Yay! Count me in! 7y
WilliamMorrowBooks @Lissa00 @Karkar @Donnasmiles @JulietteGF @quirkyreader @LeahBergen @Hooked_on_books @Annl @Branwen @Ekonrad @AnnieOakley @james @Minispok @Alfoster @Tcip congrats!! You're all winners. Email us at morrowmarketing@HarperCollins with "litsy" in the subject line to claim your book! 7y
Lissa00 @WilliamMorrow Thanks so much! I'm really looking forward to this book. 7y
Annl @WilliamMorrow thank you. 7y
Minispok @WilliamMorrow thank you 😀 7y
Karkar @WilliamMorrow Woo hoo. Thank you!!! 7y
Adventures-of-a-French-Reader @WilliamMorrow Thanks ;) Can't wait to read it! 7y
James @WilliamMorrow thank you! 7y
Alfoster @WilliamMorrow Thank you!👏👏 7y
LeahBergen @WilliamMorrow Yay!!! 🎉🎉Thank you so much! 7y
EKonrad @WilliamMorrow Hooray! Thanks so much! 😊 7y
Hooked_on_books @WilliamMorrow Yippee! I'm so excited to win! I shall email you right away. 7y
quirkyreader Hurrah, and thank you. 🐸🐙 7y
Tcip @WilliamMorrow oh heck yes!!!!! Super excited!!!!! 7y
Donnasmiles @Hooked_on_books what's the email address? 7y
Donnasmiles @WilliamMorrow Oh my! So excited....I'm a winner. 7y
Hooked_on_books @Donnasmiles It's in their post above. morrowmarketing@HarperCollins.com 7y
Donnasmiles @Hooked_on_books thanks I missed it! 7y
Branwen Omg yay! I can't believe I won! I am so excited! This totally made my day, you have no idea! :-) 7y
Donnasmiles @Branwen it was shocking! 7y
Alfoster @WilliamMorrow My free book arrived today! Again, thanks so much!😀👏👏👏👏 7y
40 likes5 stack adds39 comments
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LitHousewife
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And with the purchase of these ebooks, the rest of my settlement 💰 is gone.

MrBook And well worth the bounty we behold before you! Well done. Bravo! 8y
RebeccaH Nice!!! 8y
Beckys_Books Great choices! 8y
67 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
PrezBookster
Pickpick

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 this book is nothing what I thought it would be! Twists and turns and a tidy ending!

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Celiafae
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Bailedbailed

Not a Joyce Maynard fan. Don't know why I picked it up. I gave it 109 pages and quit.

Brenda I bailed on this one too. 8y
1 like1 stack add1 comment
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Megabooks
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Mehso-so

3🌟 For me this book suffered a bit of an identity crisis. Is it a suspense book or not? While it was very readable, and I didn't bail; I wasn't super invested either. Ava and Swift Havilland gave opened a world of wealth to Helen and her son, but boyfriend Elliot is suspicious of them - summary.

4 likes1 stack add
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bermudaonion
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Pickpick

Another winner from Maynard! Helen loses custody of her son while under the influence of alcohol and then falls under the influence of a wealthy couple. There's much to think about and discuss so UNDER THE INFLUENCE would be great for book clubs.