I loved the sound of this book – I was especially drawn to the idea of a young woman grifting her way around glamorous Long Island during a hot summer (given that I’m living a chilly and distinctly non-glamorous British springtime!) Thanks to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book follows Alex, a young woman existing on her wits, as she scams her way through the luxurious homes and lives of those holidaying on Long Island. Having been asked to leave by her first host (an older man that she was using as a meal ticket), Alex is determined not to return to the city – and the unfortunate mess she left there. Instead, she takes advantage of whoever is willing to help her as she tries to keep one step ahead of her past.
The setting of the novel is glorious – we are taken inside some of Long Island’s most opulent houses and see the lifestyles of the wealthy. As it’s holiday season and super sunny in this playground of the rich and famous, there is a kind of laid-back, languorous, hazy feeling to the novel which is captured beautifully in Cline’s writing. At the same time, there is a kind of underlying sense of tension as Alex treads a fine line between having the summer of her life…and being found out to be someone who is flexible with the truth and prone to helping herself to other people’s belongings.
I did find the book a compelling read – even though I found the character of Alex to be strangely cold. I’m not sure the reader is ever really given much to like about Alex, although there are plenty of reasons to admire her chutzpah in a kind of half-fascinated, half-horrified way. Alex’s casual manipulation of people was shocking and I found her detached disregard for the child’s safety particularly uncomfortable. However, I liked the insights into the people that Alex interacted with – especially the way that wealth didn’t make them immune from their own problems.
The structure of the book was quite episodic as Alex worked her way through different days and ‘hosts’ on the island. While clever as a concept, it didn’t quite hold together as a complete novel for me, especially as the ending did not fully resolve everything I wanted.
I’d recommend this to those who enjoy books packed with underlying tension, interesting characters and engaging settings. While it didn’t quite hit the mark for me all the way through, there’s lots to enjoy in this unusual and intriguing novel.
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Header photo by Jubéo Hernandez on Unsplash
