A powerful and gripping story about entitlement and the damage such feelings can cause
The feeling of entitlement underpinning this story made it a really compelling and powerful read and shows just how far reaching and damaging the consequences of such beliefs can be!
From the opening page alone, I loved the intrigue that was created. For example, which city has Ada returned to and who is the guy she is so keen to impress after all this time? In the first chapter we then learn how Ada blames her mother for selling their family home shortly after her father’s death from cancer, when she was only thirteen years old. Not only had she lost her father but she also felt she’d lost the life she was destined to lead, and therefore believes things would have “turned out differently” if the house hadn’t been sold.
When Ada turns eighteen she finds herself being given a second chance, when her wealthy godmother presents her with the opportunity to embark on an eight week art history course in Italy. A chance to be amongst the privileged and cultured people she aspires to be like. Throughout the trip Ada is determined to do everything in her power to prove she can be just like the members of the group. And on one devastating night, when one of the group members dies in suspicious circumstances, she takes the opportunity to bind herself to them for good. But, many years later when the truth is finally revealed to Ada, she discovers that she has been keeping a secret far darker than she could ever have imagined!
I found myself hooked by this story from the outset and Ada was such an intriguing character. I really enjoyed getting to learn about her thoughts and motivations as the story progressed and how these feelings led her to behave towards the people on the Italy trip and in the months/years that followed.
The descriptions were so beautiful throughout too, and I could really imagine myself there with Ada as she soaked up the sights and the culture around her. The people on the trip with Ada were also very interesting and alluring and I enjoyed getting to learn more about them as the story evolved. I also absolutely loved the twist when the truth was revealed to Ada! I didn’t see it coming and now knowing what I do, it’s made me want to re-read the book to pick up on the subtleties as it was just so clever!
I have really enjoyed Laura Vaughan’s adult debut, and am excited to read more of her books in the future!
From the opening page alone, I loved the intrigue that was created. For example, which city has Ada returned to and who is the guy she is so keen to impress after all this time? In the first chapter we then learn how Ada blames her mother for selling their family home shortly after her father’s death from cancer, when she was only thirteen years old. Not only had she lost her father but she also felt she’d lost the life she was destined to lead, and therefore believes things would have “turned out differently” if the house hadn’t been sold.
When Ada turns eighteen she finds herself being given a second chance, when her wealthy godmother presents her with the opportunity to embark on an eight week art history course in Italy. A chance to be amongst the privileged and cultured people she aspires to be like. Throughout the trip Ada is determined to do everything in her power to prove she can be just like the members of the group. And on one devastating night, when one of the group members dies in suspicious circumstances, she takes the opportunity to bind herself to them for good. But, many years later when the truth is finally revealed to Ada, she discovers that she has been keeping a secret far darker than she could ever have imagined!
I found myself hooked by this story from the outset and Ada was such an intriguing character. I really enjoyed getting to learn about her thoughts and motivations as the story progressed and how these feelings led her to behave towards the people on the Italy trip and in the months/years that followed.
The descriptions were so beautiful throughout too, and I could really imagine myself there with Ada as she soaked up the sights and the culture around her. The people on the trip with Ada were also very interesting and alluring and I enjoyed getting to learn more about them as the story evolved. I also absolutely loved the twist when the truth was revealed to Ada! I didn’t see it coming and now knowing what I do, it’s made me want to re-read the book to pick up on the subtleties as it was just so clever!
I have really enjoyed Laura Vaughan’s adult debut, and am excited to read more of her books in the future!