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eee0603's review
4.0
This book surprised me. A few chapters in, I almost wanted to give up; the heavy internal monologue of Catherine West is irritating. She let's the reader know she's rich and enjoys having (and spending) money. I get that yes, money isn't everything, Catherine's life is incomplete, etc, etc.
However, I found myself continuing to read. It's almost like watching a train wreck ins slow-motion. You know it can't all be rainbows and sunshine for Catherine and at some point, everything's going to get messed up. She meets William Stockton, the supposed man of her dreams.
I enjoyed Swan Huntley's writing and found myself actually highlighting quotes from the novel, which I don't do very often. She has a gorgeous way with words.
Overall, the books was enjoyable and the way the ending played out was something I could not predict.
However, I found myself continuing to read. It's almost like watching a train wreck ins slow-motion. You know it can't all be rainbows and sunshine for Catherine and at some point, everything's going to get messed up. She meets William Stockton, the supposed man of her dreams.
I enjoyed Swan Huntley's writing and found myself actually highlighting quotes from the novel, which I don't do very often. She has a gorgeous way with words.
Overall, the books was enjoyable and the way the ending played out was something I could not predict.
gilmoreguide's review
1.0
This should have been a DNF but I kept thinking 'something's going to happen, there is a point to this'. Sadly there was not. The page paper had more life to it than the characters. To say that the protagonist, Catherine West, is one-dimensional would be a stretch. She is a farcical wealthy woman who goes a bit nutty when she discovers her money is gone. There is a plot, but it is so far fetched and obvious that there's no tension. When all is revealed it's as energizing as an Ambien.
mdodds11's review
3.0
*3.5*
Some parts I liked & other's a didn't; the main character was extremely selfish at times, which was really annoying.
Some parts I liked & other's a didn't; the main character was extremely selfish at times, which was really annoying.
debi_g's review against another edition
3.0
Not entirely literary, not exactly suspenseful, not fully captivating, and not a thriller as promised. This book defies simple categorization. It is competently, even ponstakingly, written, but reading experience is fairly joyless throughout the novel's representation of wealth's tedium.
Swan Huntley's novel offers reasons aplenty to pity the 1%. Is it true, or is it an ugly, bitter hope of those who struggle: sad, thin, rich women have dismal inner lives and lack true friendships.
The book can be summed up thusly: "Mirrors reminded me that it was what I was on the outside that counted. I wasn't transparent. I was real, solid, pretty. If Infelt like a mess, nobody had to know that but me" (203).
The repeated misuse of the word "nauseous" nearly cost this book a star.
Swan Huntley's novel offers reasons aplenty to pity the 1%. Is it true, or is it an ugly, bitter hope of those who struggle: sad, thin, rich women have dismal inner lives and lack true friendships.
The book can be summed up thusly: "Mirrors reminded me that it was what I was on the outside that counted. I wasn't transparent. I was real, solid, pretty. If Infelt like a mess, nobody had to know that but me" (203).
The repeated misuse of the word "nauseous" nearly cost this book a star.
machelriller's review
I'm not sure if this book was good but it was SO FUN to read.
readrienne's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
marshmallowbooks's review
2.0
I had to remind myself while reading this book that characters without flaws aren't actually interesting. But some flaws are preferable than others to read about. I think this book will appeal to certain audiences. Other audiences, though, will probably be bothered by it. I started out interested; in the middle was quite annoyed; and finished like, Okay, it's done.
If you are at all bothered by privileged, white, rich girls complaining about rather unrelatable privileged, white, rich girl problems, you will most likely all into the second category.
If you are interested in family closet skeletons being discovered and forced to be dealt with, there's a possibility you will fall into the first category.
The blurb on the back makes it seem like this book is all about the family skeletons. The slow middle of the story lets you know it's actually about privileged, white, rich girl problems.
If you are at all bothered by privileged, white, rich girls complaining about rather unrelatable privileged, white, rich girl problems, you will most likely all into the second category.
Spoiler
Example of a privileged, white, rich girl problem: if one were to fail to verify amounts of money in a family foundation and then try to blame everyone else when one doesn't realize one's funds are soon to be gone, and then to have feelings of dislike for one's friend who doesn't offer to let one borrow "1 or 2 million dollars."If you are interested in family closet skeletons being discovered and forced to be dealt with, there's a possibility you will fall into the first category.
The blurb on the back makes it seem like this book is all about the family skeletons. The slow middle of the story lets you know it's actually about privileged, white, rich girl problems.
the_coycaterpillar_reads's review
1.0
DNF @32%
My word this was actually painful. The characters were unlikeable and just threw their wealth around in people's faces. It was obscene. Nothing remotely redeemable.
My word this was actually painful. The characters were unlikeable and just threw their wealth around in people's faces. It was obscene. Nothing remotely redeemable.