#allthebookreviews – Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton

Another June release! This month has been so busy with great new releases 🙂 It’s a good problem for a book worm to have.

Thanks to Doubleday Books for the free advanced copies in exchange for our honest reviews.

SOCIAL CREATURE – Tara Isabella Burton (out now)

Here’s what the #allthebookreviews duo thought 🙂

Chandra’s Thoughts: 3.5/5 stars

First, let me say what a deliciously creepy book this is.  Obsession, lying, conniving, compulsive… makes me question everyone around me!  Second, I’ve seen TONS of comparisons of this to The Talented Mr. Ripley… which I saw the movie ages ago and never read the book so while I can see how it is, that kind of got lost on me in making any type of comparison myself (which I’m grateful for).

The writing style was a bit different than what I’m used to.  Honestly, if I had to read Lavinia’s name one more time, I was going to scream.  In one paragraph alone, it was used ten times.  I realize this was probably used to show just how crazy the obsession was and it definitely served its purpose.

This crazy story shows the spectrum of lifestyles in NYC – the posh, rich, spoiled girl who spends money like it is nothing – ultimately buying her friends who somehow end up falling under her spell; the poor, living paycheck to paycheck girl with low self esteem that just wants to be noticed.  A chance encounter and the unstable relationship that ensues.

I absolutely loved the glitz and glamour and being able to know and vividly picture the various scenes around NYC.    I recognized several places from the descriptions alone.

A different take on the obsession thriller that will have you cringing in the best way.

My Thoughts: 4/5 stars

I’ll start out with saying that this is an incredibly unique read. Tara Isabella Burton has a very distinct literary voice, and I loved it. SOCIAL CREATURE will be one that I can see having some readers divided, but there is no doubt that Burton can write some messed up characters!

We follow a new friendship between Louise and Lavinia. These two couldn’t be more opposite of each other – Lavinia is everything that Louise wants to be and wants to have. Louise has to work multiple jobs to support herself while Lavinia is from a wealthy family that makes it so she never has to worry about finances. Louise quickly gets sucked into the glamour of Lavinia’s life – parties every night with NYC elite, lavish living, and not having a care in the world.

Of course, this friendship isn’t all that it seems to be. Are there ulterior motives at play? Who is using who? One thing I loved from the synopsis was: “A Talented Mr. Ripley for the digital age, this seductive story takes a classic tale of obsession and makes it irresistibly new.” Any other fans of TALENTED MR. RIPLEY?

This story does take obsession to a whole new level and keeps it unique and fresh. Like I mentioned before, Burton has a unique literary voice and I will definitely be looking for more from her in the future. If you want a twisty, original, and dark novel about obsession, then this is the next book for you!

 

What do you think of these stories of obsession? I think they’re so wonderfully unsettling and creepy!

–Jess