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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
This was one of the longer books I’ve read recently but I felt it needed to be this length to hold all the detail it did. All these beautiful strangers is a young adult book that follows the secrets that family’s hide and the way privilege can effect someone’s lives. The storyline was thrilling and kept you guessing throughout, with different narrators from the past and present. I loved the way the main character shared her family’s bad traits and watching her struggle with her personality and self awareness throughout the book. It was really interesting to read of the blind devotion some of the characters had for each other without a second thought of what they were doing.
All in all a very good book.
All in all a very good book.
This one had a slow start but I thoroughly enjoyed the ending. Rating up because of that.
More than a mystery
This book is not average. It's different. It doesn't try to win you by having likeable characters or, by making you think about more than what is on the page. Nor, by being an original voice. And, that's okay. The story is enough, more than enough and there's nothing to distract you from it.
At first, it's told with clarity. Charlie is a Calloway. Her family name is a brand, she's innocently privileged by association. And, with great certainty and pride, she wouldn't have it any other other way. The Calloways are of the elites, but getting to the top comes with a price and no family is without its secrets... Charlie's mother left the world of privilege behind, she left Charlie. Charlie, who claims she's over it, has always thought about her mother's reasons. But more so, when she sees some compromising photographs from her family's past. She refuses to settle for anything but the truth. That is her way. But soon, Charlie has more questions than answers: whose truth is she telling?
The story is an engaging one. It reminded me of a book I read some time ago, Tradition by Brendan Kiely. Like Tradition, the story is set in a prestigious college, seeped in fictional history. Both writers describe a subculture of patriarchy, traditions, privilege. Elizabeth Klehfoth's characters were unapologetically self absorbed and arrogant (but, conscious of it). I didn't like that they were so stubbornly unrepentant but, anything otherwise would not been as plausible. Though, naturally, there was more to the story than their unlikeability.
My only gripe was that even by the end, (and what a surprising ending that was) Charlie never realises the true nature of her parents' relationship. Her father never fully confesses so if, ever, she forgives him, it wouldn't be completely meaningful. She believes she knows the full truth. Maybe some secrets are better kept unshared, but it felt unlikely that the ever-persistent Charlie would overlook this.
I know I said the writing wasn't exactly original, I did nonetheless find the style remarkable. Elizabeth Klehfoth writes mystery incredibly. She drip-feeds you the facts, excruciatingly slowly as if she were waiting to gauge your reaction. She distracts you with other smaller narratives, but ultimately builds this tense atmosphere and a world that you come to know well. The plot, very much, thickens. The characters surprise you, in their true to life unpredictable ways. Will they or won't they? You'll have to read it, there's no room for guessing.
I was also reminded of Gossip Girl. I can't say much on the similarities as I only ever watched the first few episodes before giving up on it. But with confidence, I can say that the college society where competition is encouraged, cliques are founded, identities are forged, was integral to this storyline too. The special and exclusive group of 'As' , students banding together to make their own rules and ensure their own brand of justice was enacted and imposed, was described well. The members had all the characteristics of an in-group mentality. It was interesting to see it play out.
I received this book through Netgalley.
This book is not average. It's different. It doesn't try to win you by having likeable characters or, by making you think about more than what is on the page. Nor, by being an original voice. And, that's okay. The story is enough, more than enough and there's nothing to distract you from it.
At first, it's told with clarity. Charlie is a Calloway. Her family name is a brand, she's innocently privileged by association. And, with great certainty and pride, she wouldn't have it any other other way. The Calloways are of the elites, but getting to the top comes with a price and no family is without its secrets... Charlie's mother left the world of privilege behind, she left Charlie. Charlie, who claims she's over it, has always thought about her mother's reasons. But more so, when she sees some compromising photographs from her family's past. She refuses to settle for anything but the truth. That is her way. But soon, Charlie has more questions than answers: whose truth is she telling?
The story is an engaging one. It reminded me of a book I read some time ago, Tradition by Brendan Kiely. Like Tradition, the story is set in a prestigious college, seeped in fictional history. Both writers describe a subculture of patriarchy, traditions, privilege. Elizabeth Klehfoth's characters were unapologetically self absorbed and arrogant (but, conscious of it). I didn't like that they were so stubbornly unrepentant but, anything otherwise would not been as plausible. Though, naturally, there was more to the story than their unlikeability.
My only gripe was that even by the end, (and what a surprising ending that was) Charlie never realises the true nature of her parents' relationship. Her father never fully confesses so if, ever, she forgives him, it wouldn't be completely meaningful. She believes she knows the full truth. Maybe some secrets are better kept unshared, but it felt unlikely that the ever-persistent Charlie would overlook this.
I know I said the writing wasn't exactly original, I did nonetheless find the style remarkable. Elizabeth Klehfoth writes mystery incredibly. She drip-feeds you the facts, excruciatingly slowly as if she were waiting to gauge your reaction. She distracts you with other smaller narratives, but ultimately builds this tense atmosphere and a world that you come to know well. The plot, very much, thickens. The characters surprise you, in their true to life unpredictable ways. Will they or won't they? You'll have to read it, there's no room for guessing.
I was also reminded of Gossip Girl. I can't say much on the similarities as I only ever watched the first few episodes before giving up on it. But with confidence, I can say that the college society where competition is encouraged, cliques are founded, identities are forged, was integral to this storyline too. The special and exclusive group of 'As' , students banding together to make their own rules and ensure their own brand of justice was enacted and imposed, was described well. The members had all the characteristics of an in-group mentality. It was interesting to see it play out.
I received this book through Netgalley.
This was an odd read for me because for the first quarter of this book I was really on board and was enjoying how the story was beginning to unfold but as the novel developed I felt it became more and more convoluted and cluttered and I just became more and more dissatisfied with ow it was plotted.
I think you can really tell that this was a debut novel from the author with just how much she packed into this book. The amount of storylines and subplots and the amount of the characters and POV’s. It definitely could’ve been tighter and really needed some streamlining in certain parts. I also felt like the novel didn't really know what it wanted to be was it a soapy family melodrama, was it a YA boarding school mystery. It was walking this balancing act and it ended up disservicing both sides of this story.
Another big critique I had was the way the flashback chapters worked, they unfortunately added to how convoluted the novel became and especially some of those middle flashback chapters really became very repetitive and it felt like they were not servicing the story in any meaningful way or pushing the plot forward at all.
The mystery element of the novel was the only part that really worked and it did deliver on its premise and I also liked how everything ended up tying together but unfortunately the ending was very anti climatic with it all feeling weirdly truncated.
Last but not least spoilers for those who care
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I am unclear what the ultimate relationship between Charlie and Greyson ended up being since it is said in the epilogue they live together but the main character meets him when she is 17 and he is 22 which is a very odd romance in my opinion and certainly did not sit well with me.
I think you can really tell that this was a debut novel from the author with just how much she packed into this book. The amount of storylines and subplots and the amount of the characters and POV’s. It definitely could’ve been tighter and really needed some streamlining in certain parts. I also felt like the novel didn't really know what it wanted to be was it a soapy family melodrama, was it a YA boarding school mystery. It was walking this balancing act and it ended up disservicing both sides of this story.
Another big critique I had was the way the flashback chapters worked, they unfortunately added to how convoluted the novel became and especially some of those middle flashback chapters really became very repetitive and it felt like they were not servicing the story in any meaningful way or pushing the plot forward at all.
The mystery element of the novel was the only part that really worked and it did deliver on its premise and I also liked how everything ended up tying together but unfortunately the ending was very anti climatic with it all feeling weirdly truncated.
Last but not least spoilers for those who care
.
.
.
.
I am unclear what the ultimate relationship between Charlie and Greyson ended up being since it is said in the epilogue they live together but the main character meets him when she is 17 and he is 22 which is a very odd romance in my opinion and certainly did not sit well with me.
What a great read to start 2019! A story of family, friendship, loyalty and secrets against the backdrop of spoiled rich kids at a NE prep school. The story is told in chapters that spans two decades by three of the characters and their individual voices help bring the story to conclusion.
I never write reviews but this book was amazing! It's hard to believe this is a debut novel...very well done! Great writing, suspenseful plot...couldn't put it down!
Finally got to read this book and it was worth the wait. A mystery around the disappearance of Charlie's mother, plus rich kids at boarding school, secret society, culture clash of working class and wealthy sides of the family. Multiple POV between Charlie and her parents in the past.
GAHHHH this was so good! I could practically see everything that was going on like a fly on the wall. I loved the alternate POV as well as the change in times. The back and forth of it all really allowed to reader to be 'there' with each character. In the end I feel bad for Daddy C. It seems like he was really in love and made some crappy choices that chased him his entire life. There is so much to unpack here that I can't without giving much away. Just *dive* in and enjoy the swim.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No