Kate Baron is a successful litigation lawyer and single mother to Amelia. Despite her hectic life Kate has made a success of their small family with time put aside to concentrate on Amelia to make up for the hours spent working late. Amelia used to have the company of her nanny who had looked after her since she was a small child but at fifteen Kate was persuaded by Amelia who argued she was too old.
One day Kate gets a call from Amelia’s school while she is in one of the most important meetings of her career, Amelia has been suspended, the matter to be discussed in person with the Headmaster. Later that day Amelia is found dead; soon classified as suicide but then Kate gets a text that claims that her daughter’s death wasn’t suicide at all. Kate sets about what really happened to Amelia and the texts, emails and social media pages, including a blog will make the most hardened adult wince.
This book quickly drew me in to the heart of the tale which is Kate’s belief that she knew her daughter but as soon as she starts investigating, she finds out that Amelia had secrets, lots and not just from Kate but from her best friend too. Female teenage friendships are complicated at the best of times but in the progressive American High School that Amelia attended there were also secret societies complete with initiation tasks and a complete stink, rather than a mere whiff, of bullying about them. Could membership, or not, really be behind the loss of life, of all that potential?
As the gap between mother and daughter is laid bare, the tension mounts as Kate is determined to uncover the truth and it would seem that there is more than one person who is determined to obfuscate what really happened that day. And the author manages that tension superbly with only too realistic text exchanges between Amelia and Ben, a friend from out of town, revealing one version of events whilst an anonymous blog is busy revealing the secrets of many of the pupils to all and sundry telling a slightly different one. We also get Amelia’s perspective of her life in the lead up to the fateful day as well as Kate’s in the present, and in the past – be warned, keep your eye on the dates that head up each narration to be sure where you are on the timeline!
This was a far more engaging read than I expected and there were plenty of secrets to discover but this is one of those reads where I think you have to go with the flow and not question some decisions and actions too closely, if you do you may find yourself wondering quite how likely some of the scenarios posed really are. This is a dramatic read, one that could make parents of teenage girls get into a spin and worry themselves stupid about the dangers of social media, but in many ways, although the book uses social media as a vehicle to illustrate Amelia’s life, at the heart of the book is a young girl’s loneliness and her need to be accepted by her peers, and that story definitely pre-dates facebook, mobile phones and emails. One thing is for sure Kimberly McCreight has created a haunting story which won’t be forgotten in a hurry!
First Published UK: 20 June 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
No of Pages: 400
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Amazon UK
Amazon US
I remember reading this about 3 years ago! It was okay, a fast-read, although in hindsight, I don’t know if it would’ve impressed me now!
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Some books are like that, my issue was about how realistic this actually was but while reading it, I was certainly entertained and that’s what I look for in a book 🙂
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I have been on a hunt for this book. I hope to find it soon especially after reading this review. It sounds quite interesting.
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I enjoyed review. I’ve had this book for a good while and for some reason, haven’t read it. I will now. Thanks!
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I totally see your point, I remember having issues with the realistic aspect of the storyline, but overall I enjoyed this book. I was disappointed in the rushed ending. I am glad you enjoyed it 🙂 It definitely is a scary take on how far things can go in the social media era, and a good view on the loneliness teenagers can face.
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It sounds as though this one really touches on some issues that get to the heart of the mother/daughter dynamic, Cleo. I generally prefer my stories to be really credible, and the characters actions believable, too. But sometimes, as you say, it’s the sort of story that encourages you to just ride along…
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I’m looking forward to this one!
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I enjoyed this book, too. The bullying that goes on, both in schools and through social media, is very frightening. But I think that the issues for this girl, as you pointed out, predated those sites. Thanks for sharing.
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I have a copy of this that I really need to read. I’m glad to see that you loved it so much. That’s great you get some of Amelia’s perspective!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
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I remember when so many where discussing this book. I consider this a mood one and it seems like it was great timing for you. Enjoy the weekend.
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I have this on my shelf, and every time I see it I want to read it. One of these days it will actually happen… 🙂
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This sounds so good to me – yet with a future teenage girl on my hands I’m afraid to read it almost. I know that’s crazy! Great review.
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Oh good! This doesn’t sound like my kind of thing – the TBR is safe! Glad you enjoyed it though! 😉
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I can’t imagine what it would be like to be a teenager nowadays but if books are to believed it’s a lot more of a nightmare than I remember. Do like the sound of this though.
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I’ve read this one too some years ago. I gave it three stars, it was ok but not extraordinary if I remember correctly. I’m happy you liked it this much though!
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I remember reading this a while ago and enjoying it, would probably be a good teenage read.
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I loved reading this book too.
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