There are a ton of mixed reviews for Social Creature and I'm about to add to that.

This was another book I had high hopes for that sadly fell short. I had the same feeling when reading this as I did when I read Girls on Fire: distaste, dislike, disinterest. I didn’t like anything about the characters and while there are stories I’ve enjoyed with toxic relationships (Abigail Haas’ Dangerous Girls and also Dangerous Boys), this one wasn’t for me.

Wow, do I ever have conflicting feelings about this book! I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars but since I'm undecided I'll give it 3.5 stars and round up. The first half was barely a 2 star and the last half a solid 4.

I almost DNF’d it multiple times in the first half but kept reading. I can’t say I’m proud of myself for continuing to do so because these are two of the most obnoxious, hedonistic, pretentious, self-absorbed humans on the planet. Neither is likable, and each is unlikable in different ways. Continuing to read was like not being able to tear your eyes away from a train wreck you know is coming. The author tells us fairly quickly someone will die and the foreshadowing kept me reading.

And then the second half – wow, the story takes a dramatic turn and I blew through it very quickly. I had to suspend disbelief a few times but then this is fiction. While there are clever lessons to be learned about self-absorption, empty lifestyles, and social media, the story isn’t meant to be totally believable.

Although it has elements of a thriller, I see it as more of a character study and indictment of social media and empty, purposeless lives. I do think some humor, even just a little bit, would have made this work better for me. When I finished reading I felt like I needed a long, hot shower, ha! Perhaps readers in the 20-30ish age range would like it better than I did?

• Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for a copy of this book for review.

Well…now that was about as different as it gets! Bizarre, shocking, dark, and did I mention bizarre?! If your interest is piqued, then this is a must for your summer reading.

Lavinia has it all. She’s young, rich and drop-dead gorgeous. She resides in the heart of New York City where the night scene is her own private play-ground.

On the other side of town, and calling Brooklyn home, Louise is living a very different lifestyle. Somewhat older, not nearly as glamorous and surviving pay check to paycheck between her 3 jobs.

When fate intervenes and their paths cross, Lavinia strikes up a friendship with Louise. But what starts out as something fun and casual, quickly becomes far more than a friendship. It turns into a suffocating, inescapable relationship that sucks Louise in, ultimately changing their lives forever.

You know what they say about that mangled car wreck on the side of the road? The one people can’t resist slowing down for a closer glance? The one they can’t seem to look away from? That’s exactly how I felt reading this book. Unable to divert my eyes from the mayhem.

I think I can file this one away as one of the most unique, bizarre, yet addicting books I have ever read! After finishing, I just sat there with the biggest smile on my face, shaking my head saying “Wow, what did I just read!!??”🤯

A buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley Doubleday Books and Tara Isabella Burton for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

5 Stars.

WOAH! What in HECK did I just read?

Addictive, crazy and all out weird. “Social Creature” is one of the strangest, most convoluted books I’ve ever read.

Characters without a heart or soul, characters whose behavior completely intrigues and disgusts and whose lives you can’t stop reading about. What starts out as just plain weird quickly becomes totally engrossing. I dove in head first and didn’t dare come up for air till the very end.

Lavinia and Louise’s friendship - say what?! My thoughts ran along the lines of “Oh no you didn’t!”

Entertaining, engrossing and simply wild, this is a read I won’t soon forget.

I read this with Kaceey and both of us had the same reaction: amazement, bewilderment, hysterics and well, horror. It was an awesome book to read together and we had the best time ever.

Thank you to NetGalley, Doubleday Books and Tara Isabella Burton for providing me with an ARC of this highly entertaining read.

Published on NetGalley, Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon on 6.25.18.

Not sure I really liked this story, the unusual narration through me off but I continued to read it to completion.

Much like the way in which I was curious to read Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough (which earned its own hashtag #WTFthatending), I could not resist Social Creature; I'd heard that it was dark and twisty, full of unlikable characters and an unreliable narrator, all favorite elements of mine. Unlike Behind Her Eyes, I didn't feel very invested in the story; I simply kept hanging on because I assumed crazy things would happen...and they did, so I was not disappointed. Having said that, readers must suspend their disbelief on a grand scale and dive right into this world; it is not for the faint of heart, I won't be recommending it to everyone, but I can guarantee that your mouth will drop open on multiple occasions.

You know that feeling you have when you’re watching footage of some inevitable disaster, like train wreck or a flood or something? You know what’s coming and you know it’s miserable and terrible and yet, drawn to the morbidity of it, you cannot look away. That is the best way I can describe the experience of reading this book.

From the very first page, when Louise and Lavinia are introduced, their dynamic, along with the odd, staccato narrative style, makes it very clear that something is Not Right. Though we are in Louise’s head for the most part it is still a somewhat distant third-person perspective that occasionally breaks the fourth wall to address the reader and warn them of the upcoming disaster. It makes for a strange experience and one that strengthens the feeling that you are a spectator to terrible events. There is something very muted about the narrative that keeps you from truly understanding Louise and the terrible choices she makes.

Louise is a twenty-nine year old white woman who has moved from small-town New Hampshire to New York to pursue a career in writing. She has no friends and her family, from the brief glimpses we see of them, don’t seem like very nice people. One day Louise meets Lavinia, a larger-than-life wealthy twenty-three year old whose parents are bankrolling her “sabbatical” from university as she, in theory, attempts to write a novel, but in reality spends her days drunk and partying. She takes Louise under her wing, but it soon becomes clear that neither one of these women is a good influence on the other. Lavinia is spoiled, selfish, self-centered, naive, pretentious, and clearly very troubled. Louise is a lonely, desperate opportunist who clings to every advantage she can get out of Lavinia, to troubling and disastrous ends that I will not get into because to do so would spoil the seriously dark turn this book takes halfway through.

Not that the entirety of this book isn’t dark. It reads like a Greek tragedy, which is why I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. No part of this book felt real to me; it read more like an elaborate allegory, but one that I didn’t entirely understand. It’s also kind of pretentious. Everyone in this book is on some level deeply unlikable. The parties Louise and Lavinia attend are full of some of the most detestable people I have ever seen. Great attention is paid to the supposed NYC literary scene involving wealthy white people and the luridly unorthodox parties they attend. I would guess this is not just to showcase the supposed glitz and glamor of NYC (a trope I detest) but also to expose its dark side, though I don’t necessarily know if this subversion was done well enough for my liking. In any case, I sincerely hope this is not how people actually live their lives.

There is also some pretty interesting commentary on the place of social media in our lives. Louise and Lavinia are always taking selfies and posting them to Facebook and Instagram and paying close attention to who likes what. Another character, Mimi, who is one of Lavinia’s past castoffs, is desperate to make it seem like she and Lavinia are still friends by posting increasingly desperate captioned photos. When the book takes a turn the effect of social media plays a huge part in the plot. It was an interesting take on how social media can manipulate people’s realities and expectations. It reminded me a lot of a Black Mirror episode – and actually, now that I think about it I can totally see this whole book as a Black Mirror episode!

I’m having a difficult time rating this book because I’m not sure what to make of it. Did I like it? Not particularly. I don’t think I’ve ever despised a book more. It was miserable and depressing. But I don’t think that makes it a bad book or one not worth reading. Like I said, it’s like watching a train wreck: it doesn’t leave you feeling good about anything, but you can’t look away, and you can’t help that sick sense of satisfaction you have at having witnessed the tragedy.

Usually, when I rate a book three stars it means that I felt lukewarm about it, but in this case I’m rating it three stars because I am so damn conflicted about it! My feelings are nothing close to lukewarm. This is a dark, disturbing tale about terrible, miserable people living miserable, tragic lives. So, I don’t know. You will probably like this more than I did if you like your books on the very bleak side.

I was given an ARC of this title from Doubleday Books in exchange for my honest review.

The tone of this book is very unusual. I enjoyed the unique narration style, and could easily envision the kind of person Lavinia is - she's become a trope, but not unlikeable. When Louise finds herself drawn into a weird, wild world of money, drinks, seduction, and glamour that she has never been a part of, I can see why it was a draw for her. There is a lot of Single White Female stuff going on in this book. It was a quick, fun, glitzy read with a bit of a shock at the end. I enjoyed it!

Horrible, awful people going to parties from various Bret Easton Ellis novels. Delightfully trashy and I could not put it down.

Social Creature follows part girl Lavinia Williams and her new "of the moment" bestie Louise Wilson. The two girls couldn't be more different. Lavinia is extremely well off, has the best of the best, and lives for her social status. Louise, on the other hand, lives a very quiet life and is constantly wondering how she's going to make ends meet. Lavinia takes Louise under her wing and soon Louise becomes infatuated with Lavinia's lifestyle. But as most infatuations go, it doesn't end well for either of the girls. This book is a mix of modern-day Gossip Girl with the age of social media and the glamour of The Great Gatsby. I devoured this book, mostly because it was so damn creepy that I couldn't put it down. I loved the writing style and it kept me turning the pages because the story line was so intriguing (and rather f'ed up!!) I will say, this book is very dark and a bit disturbing, but a book I would recommend.

No, no, nope. What in the eff did I just read? That book was so freaking twisted and odd and just when I thought it couldn’t, it got even stranger. I was pulled in by the craziness of it all and yet I wanted to hate it. Geez Louise.

A dark and calculating friendship propels this thrilling debut.

Louise has been living in New York City for eight years, but she's barely getting by. Her dreams haven't even been crushed, just mostly forgotten as she fights to stay afloat. She's nearing 30, has under $70 in her bank account, and lives in a tiny apartment in a nonromantic part of town - but it's still better than going back home to her parents.

Life changes when she meets Lavinia. Wealthy, beautiful, generous, and extroverted, Lavinia represents everything Louise thought the city would offer her when she first arrived. For Lavinia, each moment is a Facebook post, a shocking display of wealth, and a carefully catered literary intelligence. The crowds that frequent the parties she attends are essentially the same, with varying degrees of desperation. Louise is instantly enamored and willing to do anything to stay in her orbit, to her own detriment.

Though the excess of social media dependence doesn't cause me to clutch my pearls and shake my head, the deceit and insecurities of both girls offers a far sinister picture. Yes, it's all connected, but if you're anything like me you're tired of the frenzy surrounding the modern pitfalls of being constantly plugged in. Each post, like, and share feels like a ticking clock as the tension between the two girls builds. Louise comes to resent Lavinia and the doors her money opens, but she can't stand to walk away, not when her life is starting to get better (on paper at least).

So far Social Creature has been compared to Gone Girl and I absolutely see why. I just couldn't bring myself to like any of the characters - which is why I loved them and couldn't stop reading. Everyone is struggling to be successful and unique at the same time, which essentially makes them all the same. Louise continues to exhaust herself as she becomes ingrained into the culture, even when she has a clearer understanding of the insecurities that surround her. But once she gets the hang of it all, she can be anyone. The ultimate con artist.

The second hand anxiety is very real with this one, but it's so well fine-tuned and page-turning. I read it in two sittings! With it's thrilling middle act and conclusion, this is what I'll be recommending to everyone this summer. As the world obsesses over New York City con artist Anna Delvey, Social Creature is being published at the perfect time.

In the very dark and relevant Social Creature, we are drawn into the fast-paced, drug and sex-infused, party world of Louise and Lavinia. On the surface, the two are best friends, but, as the story progresses, we learn that there is a much more twisted and sadistic element to their relationship that does not represent your average friendship. To say that the two have an unhealthy and codependent relationship is a major understatement. When one night a tragedy occurs to one friend, we learn how dark and sinister the other actually is, leading to the ultimate conclusion that this was never a true friendship.

I found this to be very well-written and successful in portraying a very dark, psychotic way of thinking that is deliciously disturbing. I also found the characters' timely use of social media to manipulate those around them to be fascinating and scary at the same time. Is this what our world is coming to? I certainly hope not!

Despite the excellent writing, this is only getting 3 stars from me because although I finished the book quickly, I found that I reached a certain point where I just did not care anymore. I found all the characters to be utterly despicable and their actions to be exhausting and depressing. It went from bad to worse to even worse than worse. I am sure that many readers will not share my opinion in this, so I encourage anyone who enjoys psychological fiction to read this and form their own opinions. Definitely a unique and thought-provoking read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for providing me with a complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hmm. For a story with no likeable characters and a very unbelievable plot, it wasn't bad. Not my typical read. This book is dark and twisted and very much a rollercoaster, but it will keep you interested. At times I felt like it took place in Old New York (1930's/1940's) but there were A LOT of selfies being taken which reminds you that this a very modern day story.

Nearly all the reviewers compare this book to [[ASIN:0393332144 Patricia Highsmith's]] work, which baffles me. Highsmith's Tom Ripley is among the most compelling characters in American literature, and he drives the books, while the plot drives him. Louise, the protagonist of this book is completely different. If I had to pick a well-known novel with a similar character it's [[ASIN:0394726413 Bright Lights, Big City]].

Like that book, Social Creature is tied to a specific time and place, and is full of arch observations both in the dialog and Louise's third-person narrator thoughts. But I found it superficial, clever rather than insightful. I don't think it will be remembered as the signature account of the 2018 social media age in New York, rather it will seem dated--what people who didn't think very hard thought about their times.

The plot is also clever but it takes a lot of reader effort to disentangle it from the episodic, indirect account. On the other hand, the stylish writing is the best part of the book. Page by page it is enjoyable to read, despite the effort, and the author handles plot, mood and character development skillfully in original ways. It reminded me of [[ASIN:0671636782 Slaves of New York]], but that author (Tama Janowitz) wisely stuck to a series of stories rather than trying to build a novel with no internal support.

I recommend this book to fans of writing, but found it too superficial and artificial to be a really worthwhile novel.

"There are two kinds of people in the world: the people you can fool into liking you, and the ones clever enough not to fall for it."

Wow -- what did I just read? This short novel was full of completely hideous characters that say and do things that actually caused me to shudder and gasp out loud. The gist of it in simple terms, a poor girl (Louise) gets "adopted" like a stray pet by the rich, crazy girl (Lavinia). They hang out, go to wild parties, post tons of photos and status updates on social media and Louise eventually loses her various jobs, has no way to continue to support herself, so she's ends up living in Lavinia's apartment. And that's just the start of this totally messed up story. Bad things happen, but no spoilers. Nobody's dreams come true in this tale.

Just wondering who I could recommend this to, and can't come up with a name. If you are the type who enjoys a book that is populated by characters you'd never want to meet, much less befriend, then maybe you would like this one. So many literary references that my mind was boggled with the continuous nagging thought -- how pretentious. I definitely don't KNOW this New York and can honestly say that I'm very glad about that! Wondered if anything like this was really happening out there in the real world, and hoped not.

Just leaving it here -- read if you want your mind blown. Although not my cup of tea (or glass of champagne), I do want to thank NetGalley and Doubleday for the opportunity to read and review.

Like nothing I’ve ever read before. At times I thought I’d put it down unfinished but it kept pulling me in each time. Although I didn’t really love any character the story as a whole worked and it was a fun unique story.

I really couldn't get into this book. The whole NY thing has been so overdone and right on cue this book was overwrought with extreme characters, partying in an extreme way, with no real redeeming value to anyone. Quit reading about a third of the way through.

This book is unlike anything I've read before. Even now that I've finished it, I truly can't decide what I think about it. But the book itself has stayed with me and I've thought about it more than a few times. 

Louise Wilson is just a girl trying to make it in New York City. Insecure and unsure of herself, she works several jobs to get by. One, as an SAT tutor, and this is how she meets Lavinia. Louise is easy to forget. You could pass her in a crowd and not think anything of it. But Lavinia, an actress/student/writer/wealthy kid stands out. And once Lavinia pulls you into her world, it's hard to let go of that lifestyle. This is exactly what happens to Louise. 

The way this story is told was enjoyable for me. You feel like the author is actually telling you the story, and that adds an extra layer of depth. It kept me on edge because initially, we aren't sure how nefarious this story might turn. You really don't know who is bad and who is good. Both Louise and Lavinia are not the most lovable characters. It's a delicate push and pull between them and the author maintains a perfect balance so the story always has just the right amount of tension. 

This story was fascinating. I would stop reading and I found myself sitting and thinking about Louise and Lavinia and what they would do next. What weird person Louise would meet and how she would handle her changing life. What would Lavinia think as Louise starts to branch out on her own with Lavinia's friends? I would absolutely recommend this book. It was easy to read, had the perfect elements to keep me on edge (as I think any good thriller should do), and the ending left me speechless.

Social Creature is receiving hype as one of the best summer reads of 2018. Frankly, I get why. The premise revolves around our obsession with social media and how lives are illustrated (or even fabricated) through pictures, videos, stories and, ultimately, the persona one creates on such platforms.

Louise’s life isn’t glamorous – she lives deep in Brooklyn, works three jobs and still barely has enough money to survive. Cue Lavinia who lives in the upper echelon of society filled with vintage dresses, expensive art and exclusive parties.

Louise and Lavinia become fast friends. However, Lavinia is quickly exposed as highly volatile, narcissistic and oddly lonely. Something just doesn’t seem right. Despite feeling like a pet project, Louise becomes more and more enamored with her new friend’s life – wearing her clothes, makeup, and jewelry. She soon becomes reliant on Lavinia.

The plot is The Talented Mr. Ripley for the social media age. Unfortunately, I was never totally emotionally invested. I admit I may not be the target audience. Despite being the same age as Louise in this novel (29), I don’t have the same inclination or addiction to social media.

My biggest issue was Louise never sufficiently creeped me the f*** out like Tom Ripley (Matt Damon). While she certainly becomes enamored with Lavinia, I never really felt she was dangerously obsessed with her. I wanted to fear what happened on the next page, but I never did.

Jen’s take:

I agree with Pasquale. When the book started out, I was engaged and excited, wondering what would happen next. However, I felt like the book lacked a climax as well as resolution. It built, but there was never a culmination of everything that happened. That being said, it was a fun, easy and quick read.

I really enjoyed the social media aspect of the book, and that it highlighted the cultural shift that often people interact on social media but not in real life. It spotlights the issues of Social Media Obsession and Anxiety, two things that have an increasing prevalence in a world where people rely so heavily on social media. I found Burton’s commentary interesting and important, but the story itself fell flat for me and never got where I wanted it to go.

This book lived up to some of the hype, as it really is a peek into the wealthy elite and a timely commentary on social media. If you are someone who values “Likes”, definitely check out this summer read!

Verdict: Read it 3.5/5 Stars
Length: 278 pages
When: If you value “Likes” or had a taste of the high life and never wanted to leave!
Quote: “There’s a reason people are able to function, in this world, as social creatures, and a good part of that reason is that there are a lot of questions you’re better off not knowing the answer to, and if you’re smart you won’t even ask.”
Also Try: Watching The Talented Mr. Ridley with Matt Damon and Jude Law!