Ada Howell felt like she lost eveyrthing in life when her step father died, her ancestral pile, their affluent lifestyle and social standing, all the luxuries and benefits that brought and of course her father who idolised her.
Not getting over his death and struggling to fit in to a more mundane life she is thrilled when her godmother pays for an art retreat in Venice.
NOW she can live her "best life" and get an "in" to the echelons she has been cheated out of.
She muddles along with the other well heeled students until one night someone unexpectedly dies.
Ever the social climber Ada offers to cover up the true story hoping by buying their friendship in this way she has a bond and a gateway into the world she craves.
But she doesn't even KNOW what secrets she is keeping...
Overall this is a terribly sad tale of how desperate someone can become to fit in with society and the burden of peer pressure and how Ada became so consumed she went way too far to find acceptance both in a higher milieu and her own skin.
This was brilliant, as the author's debut adult novel this was a real page turner and a thought provoking read.
Not getting over his death and struggling to fit in to a more mundane life she is thrilled when her godmother pays for an art retreat in Venice.
NOW she can live her "best life" and get an "in" to the echelons she has been cheated out of.
She muddles along with the other well heeled students until one night someone unexpectedly dies.
Ever the social climber Ada offers to cover up the true story hoping by buying their friendship in this way she has a bond and a gateway into the world she craves.
But she doesn't even KNOW what secrets she is keeping...
Overall this is a terribly sad tale of how desperate someone can become to fit in with society and the burden of peer pressure and how Ada became so consumed she went way too far to find acceptance both in a higher milieu and her own skin.
This was brilliant, as the author's debut adult novel this was a real page turner and a thought provoking read.