Ada, our antagonist, believes she is entitled to something more from life. She can't pass up the chance to join the dilettante on a tour of Italy to learn about art history with some very rich peers after having a taste of the good life taken from her. Ada knows this is the life she was supposed to live, and all she has to do now is infiltrate their circle and they'll be friends for life.Ada was one of the few people I hated. She's ephemeral and has no true links. In her pursuit to climb the social ladder, she neglects to form true friendships and to appreciate the beauty of Italy. As the book progressed, I didn't really warm up to her. The author's descriptions of Italy are beautifully written, and I thoroughly enjoyed that section of the novel, which has piqued my interest in reading future books by her. if you have read the secret history this is a must for you.