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A review by muliejazza
Next To Heaven: A Novel by James Frey
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Authors Equity for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Next to Heaven follows the lives of Devon, Belle, and their husbands in the wealthy, picture-perfect town of New Bethlehem, Connecticut. Beneath the surface of their idyllic world lies a mess of secrets, which all begin to unravel after one night of betrayal and scandal—ultimately exposing the dark underbelly of power and wealth.
First and foremost: this book could basically come with a full-page trigger warning. There are references to assault, rape (off-page and implied), abusive and toxic relationships, cheating, swinging, drug use, and death/murder. Sorry if that’s technically a spoiler, but readers should be aware—this book could be deeply triggering for some, and that context isn’t made clear up front.
The whole vibe was very White Lotus—drama-packed from start to finish. If you’re here for high drama and aren’t too concerned with a layered plot, this might be right up your alley. The first 25–33% was a bit confusing as the many characters were introduced, but I appreciated getting some backstory to give depth to all the chaos that followed.
That said, there’s a lot that could have been improved in the storytelling. The murder reveal doesn’t happen until around 75% in, and it would’ve been more effective to tease that element right from the beginning rather than dropping vague hints at the end of each chapter. The tension built for far too long without enough payoff. As for the writing style—it just wasn’t for me. There was a lot of repetition (some of it maybe intentional, but a lot of it felt like filler), and the run-on sentences were distracting. I’ve seen speculation online that parts might be AI-generated, and honestly, I wouldn’t be shocked.
Overall, this book felt like a constant gossip session among Connecticut’s elite. If you love over-the-top drama and scandal, and don’t mind sacrificing some plot structure or style, this could be a wild ride worth taking.
UPDATE: After reading a lot of reviews and seeing more confirmation that this book was written using some AI I have edited my review to decrease the rating. My critiques above still stand.
Next to Heaven follows the lives of Devon, Belle, and their husbands in the wealthy, picture-perfect town of New Bethlehem, Connecticut. Beneath the surface of their idyllic world lies a mess of secrets, which all begin to unravel after one night of betrayal and scandal—ultimately exposing the dark underbelly of power and wealth.
First and foremost: this book could basically come with a full-page trigger warning. There are references to assault, rape (off-page and implied), abusive and toxic relationships, cheating, swinging, drug use, and death/murder. Sorry if that’s technically a spoiler, but readers should be aware—this book could be deeply triggering for some, and that context isn’t made clear up front.
The whole vibe was very White Lotus—drama-packed from start to finish. If you’re here for high drama and aren’t too concerned with a layered plot, this might be right up your alley. The first 25–33% was a bit confusing as the many characters were introduced, but I appreciated getting some backstory to give depth to all the chaos that followed.
That said, there’s a lot that could have been improved in the storytelling. The murder reveal doesn’t happen until around 75% in, and it would’ve been more effective to tease that element right from the beginning rather than dropping vague hints at the end of each chapter. The tension built for far too long without enough payoff. As for the writing style—it just wasn’t for me. There was a lot of repetition (some of it maybe intentional, but a lot of it felt like filler), and the run-on sentences were distracting. I’ve seen speculation online that parts might be AI-generated, and honestly, I wouldn’t be shocked.
Overall, this book felt like a constant gossip session among Connecticut’s elite. If you love over-the-top drama and scandal, and don’t mind sacrificing some plot structure or style, this could be a wild ride worth taking.
UPDATE: After reading a lot of reviews and seeing more confirmation that this book was written using some AI I have edited my review to decrease the rating. My critiques above still stand.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault