Social Creature: A Novel

With a cover that practically screams 'Look at me!' and a blurb that piques the interest, I expected a hard to put down, psychological thriller. Sadly, putting this one down is all I wanted to do almost from the very beginning. For me, a good thriller should have that nail-biting, what's gonna happen next element that keeps a reader on the edge of their seat. I didn't find any of that here. What I did find was a somewhat frenetic writing style and an over the top storyline. The biggest drawback for me were the characters. I didn't find a single likable character in the book - not even among the secondary characters. There's not a redeeming quality in any of them. Maybe this was intentional and I just missed something, but I couldn't even drum up some sympathy for the dead girl. With all the hype and the number of four and five-star reviews, I'm clearly in the minority on this one, but it's clearly not the book for me.

Tara Isabella Burton’s Social Creature is one dark twisted read that will turn your world upside down and flip you back over again, just to mess with you one more time. Lavinia is an impulsive free spirit whose family has provided her with a lavish lifestyle. When her path crosses with Louise who is studious and responsible, they build a unique friendship that creates waves through both of their lives. What seems like a mutually beneficial friendship turns into a dark, toxic relationship that includes posh parties, alcohol, drugs and flamboyant social media posts. Things quickly spiral out of control and that’s when the wild ride begins. What extremes will someone go to in order to sustain their lifestyle or simply survive? There is not much I can say about this one without giving away too much. A blind approach is the best bet on this one. The short blurb provided is all you need because any more than that and you will not get the full affect. This story felt to me like the writing style of Mary Kubica with the darkness of Gillian Flynn. It was unique, quirky, unexpected and ominous. I consumed it in one sitting on a beautiful sunny afternoon, but the irony was not lost on me. I felt like I was under a gloomy veil of sinister secrets and chilling deceit despite my surroundings. Don’t drop your guard because this one will knock the wind out of you when you aren’t looking. 4 shocking stars *Review by Amy, Late Night Reviewer for Up All Night with Books Blog*

Excellent thriller for those who enjoyed Gone Girl and satire.