Thank you to the author, publishers Faber & Faber and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.

 

Edward is desperate to fit in. He’s not as wealthy as the people he goes to university with and so he tries to ingratiate himself with them by acts of service. Even post-university he’s still running errands just to make himself feel like he belongs in a group with Robert and Stanza. And, when Robert wants his help with taking care of a personal problem, Edward’s desperation to belong has sinister consequences.

 

With elements of The Great Gatsby and The Talented Mr Ripley crossed with You, there’s a very particular tone to this book. It was a tone I didn’t really get along with. Very classist overtones with a cast of thoroughly unlikeable narcissists. The main character, Edward also didn’t strike enough of a contrast for me. While pitiable at times, he wasn’t ever likeable. I wasn’t cheering him on, I wasn’t shocked at what he did or thought about doing, I just largely wanted to reach the end.