June 4, 2022
Sometimes, a book is exceedingly popular for a reason. Sometimes, the good press and algorithmic success are attached to something worthy of the attention. This book constitutes one such instance. The first half or so of this book is good. With a semi-unique premise and characters that feel larger-than-life and still so very human, Taylor Jenkins Reid promises us an interesting narrative commentary on the nature of celebrity and the consequences of ambition. The conclusions presented are unoriginal, and the leading lady becomes less compelling as her mythic presence unravels, but the bones are strong and the details are tasteful, if often unpleasant. Then, roughly halfway through, the real story starts. What were once cliched adages about greed and ambition transform into nuanced, sensitive examinations of a number of different complex topics, including money, grief, sexuality, and the nature of women with power. A glamorous but rather surface-level protagonist becomes a rich, vibrant character as deeply complex and deliciously contradictory as any real person. Even the ending twist, which seems extraordinarily predictable in the first several chapters, turns out to be more interesting and complicated than anyone might guess. This book deals in tragedy as well as any I have seen, and while it may not make you feel good, it will leave you fulfilled.
7.5/10
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