Description
A friendship to die for.
Louise is struggling to survive in New York; juggling a series of poorly paid jobs, renting a shabby flat, being cat-called by her creepy neighbour, she dreams of being a writer. And then one day she meets Lavinia. Lavinia who has everything – looks, money, clothes, friends, an amazing apartment…
Lavinia invites Louise into her charmed circle, takes her to the best parties, bars, the opera, shares her clothes, her coke, her Uber account. Louise knows that this can’t last for ever, but just how far is she prepared to go to have this life? Or rather, to have Lavinia’s lie?
A Ripley story for the Instagram age set in contemporary New York; a world at once sophisticated and sordid, irresistible and irresponsible, unforgettable yet unattainable
Review
The two main characters are moneyed Lavinia and down at heel although smart and educated Louise. I didn't care for either of the characters as they are both so self absorbed each in their own way. Louise seems to be completely in Lavania's control - but maybe not all is what it seems and this is hinted at throughout the book with references to the future. I was surprised when I learnt exactly how the future events were arrived at.
Comparisons are drawn between this book and the Mr Ripley stories. Certainly it is set in a privileged New York background with Lavinia spending money like it's going out of fashion but not working for it, her parents providing her with a substantial allowance.
Whether it was the background it was set against, with the talk of parties, lavish dresses, men treating women as less than equal most of the time and everyone having names from the 1920's; I kept forgetting it was set in the modern day. Every so often there would be a spate of posts to Instagram and then Facebook updates and I would have a jolt back to the 21st Century.
Towards the last third of the book when events take a different turn, the social media side does come more into its own. Made for an interesting twist on the tale. It is this part of the book that took it from 3 to 4 stars for me as up until this point I was finding it all just so pretentious and a little boring.
I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for an ARC for review.
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