Ada was raised by her mother and step-father in his grand stately home in the Welsh countryside. When he sadly passes away her mother decides to sell up and move them both to London to live in a town house. Ada is left with just the memories of what life used to be like. The smells of the house, the feel of the grass in the gardens. Ever since the move she has felt a deep longing to regain the lifestyle she once had. A desperate need to fit in with the super rich and privileged.
Her chance presents itself when her Godmother gives her the opportunity to go on an art trip to Italy, where she will at last find herself among the type of people she feels she truly belongs.
New friendships are forged but Ada worries that as soon as the trip is over she will be cast out back to her regular life. However, a tragedy among the group presents Ada with the opportunity to remain in her friends lives back in Britain. But is it true friendship or is it all based on lies?
Ada is quite a complex character. She is very ambitious but never seems to have the talent and ability to back it up. You can see the mistakes she is making and the poor decisions but she genuinely seems so oblivious about her manipulative behaviour so you're never quite sure if she is likeable or not. I do geek quite sorry for her at times. The lifestyle she yearns for and the people she's so desperate to be accepted by are so fake and judgemental, but she cannot see it.
This book is described as similar to The Talented Mr Ripley and it definitely gives off that feeling, but in a more relatable way.
I really enjoyed this book. I particularly liked seeing things through Ada's eyes. It really managed to convince you that what she did wasn't that bad and that everyone else were terrible friends. Towards the end seeing it from a couple of other perspectives, you can see just how manipulative she was.
Her chance presents itself when her Godmother gives her the opportunity to go on an art trip to Italy, where she will at last find herself among the type of people she feels she truly belongs.
New friendships are forged but Ada worries that as soon as the trip is over she will be cast out back to her regular life. However, a tragedy among the group presents Ada with the opportunity to remain in her friends lives back in Britain. But is it true friendship or is it all based on lies?
Ada is quite a complex character. She is very ambitious but never seems to have the talent and ability to back it up. You can see the mistakes she is making and the poor decisions but she genuinely seems so oblivious about her manipulative behaviour so you're never quite sure if she is likeable or not. I do geek quite sorry for her at times. The lifestyle she yearns for and the people she's so desperate to be accepted by are so fake and judgemental, but she cannot see it.
This book is described as similar to The Talented Mr Ripley and it definitely gives off that feeling, but in a more relatable way.
I really enjoyed this book. I particularly liked seeing things through Ada's eyes. It really managed to convince you that what she did wasn't that bad and that everyone else were terrible friends. Towards the end seeing it from a couple of other perspectives, you can see just how manipulative she was.