I've never watched any of the 'real housewives' shows and maybe if I had, I would have liked this book more. It seemed slow and sluggish to me with lots of dialogue and inner thoughts. I didn't really like any of the characters which made it difficult to care what happened to them. I didn't even care who got killed or why. Still, this is all probably more a matter of personal preference than a fault of the book. It might make a good beach read for fans of the 'housewife' shows so I'll give it 3 stars on that basis.

Thank you Net Galley for providing me with a copy of The Favorite Sister. This is my honest review.

The Favorite Sister follows a group of women who participate in a reality show called Goal Diggers. The women are successful, driven women but are also hot messes. None of the characters are particularly likable (by design) and just when I thought I understood what drives a particular character, the plot would twist and turn. It’s what kept me going, because I almost gave up on the book in the beginning - it took a while to sort out the many characters, who they were, how they related to each other, whose POV I was reading. But I was happy I did because I certainly wanted to follow all those crazy plot twists. This was a fun read.

The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll is a recommended thriller for fans of reality based TV. We know from the start that season 4 of Goal Diggers, the New York City based reality series that showcases entrepreneurial woman, results in murder. The question is why was Brett Courtney murdered and who did it?

On Goal Diggers all five of the female cast members compete with each other for audience popularity and a greater share of social media hype to stay on the show. Brett, the youngest cast member, is the owner of a spin studio franchise and quick to make it clear that being skinny does not mean being healthy. She's moving in with her girlfriend this season, which will surely up ratings. Returning cast members include: Stephanie Simmons, the oldest, is a bestselling author of erotic novels and the first black cast member; Jen Greenberg, the vegan owner of a juice bar line and health food guru; Lauren Bunn, a dating website creator and known as Lauren Fun! on the show. The latest addition to the show is Brett's older sister, Kelly, a single mother who runs Brett's ever expanding business empire. Jesse is the network executive who controls the focus of the series and what will be highlighted. The focus for season four will be on the rift and resentment that is growing between Stephanie and Brett, former best friends.

The narrative is told through alternating first person accounts of what happened before and during the production of season 4. Excerpts from Jesse's interview with Kelly after Brett's murder open and close the book, and are also included a few times in-between the first person accounts. This clearly demonstrates how muddy the line between truth and fiction is in the reality TV show and real life.

The start is slow as we are introduced to the woman, their lives, and getting a glimpse into what they are thinking or scheming. You will need to keep track of who is talking in each chapter until you get a grip on the characters. As events unfold with secrets revealed and lies exposed, it becomes clear that the tension is going to boil over and something bad is going to happen. There are humorous moments in The Favorite Sister and Knoll does manage a message about the reality TV obsession - the striving for a few more minutes of public fame, and the need to appear to be young and relevant in order to stay in the public spotlight.

While very well-written, the problem with The Favorite Sister for me is that I simple couldn't muster the capacity to care about these women. They all seemed like caricatures of a type rather than real people. Perhaps it is because I don't watch reality TV shows and don't care about them. Also my lack of following pop culture, etc could have influenced how I related to the book. Knoll's gets points for the writing, the message she was trying to get across, and the ending, which was a surprise. I have a feeling that this novel will do much better with a younger reader (20s or 30s) and anyone who loves to watch reality shows like real housewives and... I can't even name any.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Simon & Schuster via Netgalley
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2018/05/the-favorite-sister.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2393420588
https://www.librarything.com/work/20795317/reviews/156041083
https://www.facebook.com/shetreadssoftly/
https://twitter.com/SheTreadsSoftly/status/996799066892918784

I was enthralled with the premise of this book. Reality tv ladies and one ends up murdered during the filming! Sign me up. In reality this book was slow. It didn’t really get going until about 70%. I didn’t care about the characters and honestly couldn’t keep 3 of the 6 women straight. The references are super dated though while current, it won’t stand the test of time. If you love all thrillers check it out and make your own assessment.

I know that when you read the synopsis of this book, you instantly think of “Real Housewives” or any of those other reality t.v. shows where the women will do anything to get what they want. And while this book is similar, it goes so much deeper than any reality show could ever attempt to go.

The beginning of this book is a little hard to get into. The characters are introduced so quickly, and its slightly hard to keep track with everyone. Plus, we’re seeing distorted reality since everyone is portrayed, or trying to be portrayed, in a certain light. As I read, I almost felt like I was watching the show, and trying to figure out what was true and what was not. No different than a viewer at home.

An aspect that this book touches on, and I’ve always thought this was true, was the manipulation that goes into reality television. When you think of a camera following someone nonstop, and then you realize you get maybe a 30-60 minute show, how much is tossed on the editing room floor? The public feels like they know the characters, when the truth can be so much darker than anyone could guess.

The show, “The Goal Diggers” follows successful business women. What’s interesting is that this show wants to inspire women to not follow the norms (marriage, kids, etc), and be successful for their own achievements. I didn’t necessarily mind that message but the characters do get a little preachy from time to time, and I admit it was difficult to like or root for any one particular person. I’d go from finding them amusing for how they could play the game to hypocritical to just hating them. Not much unlike when I watch reality television.

If you enjoy shows like “The Real Housewives”, “Pretty Little Liars”, or even “Mean Girls”, you would definitely enjoy this book. The drama is there, the twists keep you pulled in and the murder takes it over the top.

4 WTH Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

If you like to keep up with the Kardashians or can’t wait to see who gets voted off the island next, then you will enjoy this book... I don’t watch much television, but when I do it is usually trashy reality television.... there is just something I find enticing about getting a look into other peoples lives... something I felt this book did really well....

Five women who appear to have everything on the outside... beauty, strength, confidence, and status... Brett, Stephanie, Kelly, Lauren, and Jen make up the cast of ”GoldDiggers”.... a cast of women who appear perfect on the outside and yet are all hot messes.... who love to do nothing more than stab each other in the back.... to add more complexity to the situation Brett and Kelly are sisters.... and this season one of the cast members is killed, but the show must go on....

None of these women were likable... with the exception of Kelly’s 12-year-old daughter Layla, but give her a few years.... and as the show and the book progressed they became even more unlikable.... The secrets, the lies, the plotting, it was all crazy, and none of it did I predict.... Half the time I was thinking to myself... oh no she didn’t? And the other half I was thinking... what? Seriously the last 20% of this book was quite the ride on the crazy train!

Quite a few of my book friends had a hard time getting into this and thought the start was very slow... and in discussing this book I realize it is not for everybody, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.... The only slight problem I had with it was it did get a little preachy at times when it came to feminism... I mean truthfully the entire book was about women tearing down other women, but perhaps that was the point.... now I’m feeling like a slight hypocrite, I really do absolutely love strong female friendships in books, and this book really was the complete opposite of that... yet still very entertaining🙃

Strongly recommend if you enjoy reality TV, hot messes, and the crazy train...

*** thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book***

PS: I am currently watching The Voice😉

•Goodreads 5/15
•Amazon 5/15
•Blog 5/16

I had some mixed feelings about this book. The first half was pretty slow and not that interesting. After reaching the halfway point, however, the book picked up and had several interesting twists along with an unexpected ending. All in all, I guess the ending made the book worthwhile.

The Housewives reality series with a built in murder mystery is the center of the novel the Favorite Sister. We meet Brett, Kelly, Lauren, Stephanie and Jen, all suscessful women, most of them without a husband or children, self-made, Goal Diggers. At the beginning of the story, we find out one of them is murdered, as the story continues flipping between the past and now, slowing releasing all the juicy details. Who killed Brett and why? Many secrets are discovered along the way to keep you guessing who was the murderer.

Thick with suspense, this book was even better than Ms Knoll's first novel, The Luckiest Girl Alive. I kept turning pages interested in what secret would be revealed next. And just when you think no more secrets could exist, you are hit with a few more. The last chapter left me surprised - the killer was not at all who I suspected.

I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.

While the idea of a feminist reality TV show certainly is a great one, the plot just did not develop. I couldn't keep the characters straight and honestly nothing of interest ever happened. I also would not classify this a thriller or suspense in any way.

I can see why some people would enjoy this book, but it just wasn’t for me. I really enjoyed Knoll’s previous novel, Luckiest Girl Alive, and had high hopes for this one, but I really struggled to get through it. The plot sounds like it would be great but I just couldn’t connect with the characters

Do you read what you’re told to read, or do you have your own mind and purpose?

Before I start a new book, I have to look at reviews. I just cannot help myself. My husband is the complete opposite – he buys based upon title, subject matter, and cover art exclusively . . . meaning, he never reads the book jacket or the back of the book for a synopsis. I find this incredibly strange, and it is so far beyond the spectrum of my own reading habits that I find it hard to understand. Maybe it’s that I hate surprises, maybe it’s an old tradition I picked up in my adolescence by reading the last few pages first so I’m not blindsided . . . I dunno, old habits just die hard.

I do a lot of reading what I’m told to read, but I think in the last year I’ve been able to find a balance. I buy a lot of books based upon friend’s recommendations and off of what is popular in the Bookstagram world. I also buy a lot of books via hype. I haven’t been too disappointed in this process so far, but I’ve really tried to make a concerted effort to tailor my galley requests from publishers based upon what I personally think sounds interesting. More often than not, I’ve found that authors and books I seek out via galley are not among the most popular opinions on outlets such as Goodreads and Amazon . . . which I find rather interesting and sometimes honestly a little baffling. For example, the book I just read (and loved) – The Favorite Sister – is by an author who doesn’t seem to garner much critical acclaim in the bookish world of readers and reviewers . . . and even this particular book has extremely mixed reviews on Goodreads. I was a bit meh about sitting down and reading it last week but seriously – this novel caught my attention and drew me in like a fat kid standing outside of Willy Wonka’s with a golden ticket in her hand. I finished it within a few days with a resounding WOW as I switched off my eReader.

And still, days later – WOW.

The plot was a little confusing, so I will give the previous reviewers that. You had to pay attention. The author kept dropping little nuggets of information here and there like breadcrumbs in a forest . . . and the way it all came together at the end was nothing short of masterful (and quite resembled a wicked witch’s gingerbread house). There were complicated relationships that you thought you had figured out until . . . well, until you realized you had no idea what was going on and were completely blindsided in the last few chapters. These are the stories I love – love – love to read. These are the truly brilliant writers. These are the ones that will win my loyalty as a reader – the authors who use their own imaginations and don’t simply recycle-rinse-repeat something that has worked for another author in the past.

Without further adieu . . .

So, who’s your favorite Housewife?

The one from New Jersey who ended up behind bars but still somehow was able to retain her McMansion behind the gates? You know, the gates that her $100,000 SUV is parked behind?

The one from Orange County who has had so much filler and Botox and facelifts that you can’t recognize her from Season 1 anymore? So much money but can’t keep a man . . .

Maybe the newbie from Potomac? She’s a bonafide beauty queen, but I hear her mama pays for everything.

Perhaps the one from Beverly Hills, she has such a famous last name. Hotels, right? Oh wait – that’s her sister. I hear she’s writing a TV-show of her own that will tell all.

It’s everyone’s guilty pleasure – the reality show. Especially the ones that feature females. Pitting women against one another and stirring the pot with a bejeweled spoon while waiting patiently for a blow-up (and if one doesn’t happen – simply manufacturing it for the cameras and viewers at home) is what networks do best. It’s a recipe that has worked for season after season, and is showing no sign of slowing down. No matter how many women have sacrificed their reputations, their marriage, their children, or their careers for it, there are still many more waiting in the wings for their turn to take up the crown. Money talks, and the women who sign up to bare it all are more than happy to help the powers-at-be rake it in.

Until they’re not.

Goal-Diggers has its own set of stars, glamorous and shiny like a brand new penny. The five women cast each season are supposed to be showcasing what it means to be a woman-boss in a man’s world – the epitome of feminism – all while being encouraged behind the scenes to ruthlessly cut one another down and spew spiteful comments behind backs clad in Chanel’s latest couture.

Brett is the fan-favorite. Young, out and proud, she’s tatted up and full of feisty passion. She runs her own spin studio – the cleverly named SPOKE – and is a beacon of light in the LGBTQ community. Recently engaged to a vivaciously beautiful attorney and ensconced in her cozy New York apartment, Brett is busy making the right moves on behalf of herself and her company. Proceeds from her studio help fund a relief to young women on the other side of the world . . . women who live in a tiny village right outside of Morocco and who have to walk hours and miles each day “just to get water”. The women in question are being given free bikes on behalf of SPOKE – all so the girls can spend less time walking (and being raped by the men who stalk them on their journey) and more time educating themselves. A worthy cause, right? Sure . . . if you believe it.

Kelly is Brett’s older sister and the keeper of the keys at SPOKE. She’s so tired of being looked down upon, type-cast as the stuffy old woman with the stick up her butt. She’s sacrificed so much for Brett, and so much for her exotically beautiful and surprisingly grounded teenage daughter. If only she could get some recognition or a modicum praise . . . maybe even a simple thank-you from her younger sister. Instead, all Kelly seems to get is grief, especially when she positions herself to become a cast member on Goal-Diggers. Putting herself in the spotlight would never be okay according to Brett, the sister who never got a second look when the two were growing up. Kelly knows that her sister loves having every ounce of the attention and it’s not something she will be willing to share without a fight. Kelly grew up the golden child whereas Brett . . . she will always be the pudgy afterthought. It troubles Kelly, watching Brett’s star shine so bright, especially when she knows where all the bodies Brett had to climb upon to get to where she is today are buried.

Stephanie is an author of smut in the finest degree. After years of churning out moderately successful romance novels and using the reality show as a stabilizer for a waning career, she decided to plunge headfirst into the memoir arena and try to create some buzz around herself. As Goal-Digger’s oldest cast mate at the tender age of 34, she knows she is very near to her shelf life and is sure to be put out to pasture if she doesn’t do something sensational. She’s watched with increasing trepidation as her position as one of the show’s few standing sisters has begun to shift; she is no longer fresh-faced and new, as Brett has stolen that spot. Brett used to be her best friend and her valued confidante. The new star of the show used to live in Stephanie’s Upper East Side townhouse, where they’d share secrets and . . . other things. But now that things have taken a turn and are smelling sour, Stephanie has to wonder how far she go to remain on the show. How far will she go to protect Brett’s secrets? How far will she go to protect her own?

Jen and Lauren are for all intents and purposes, the throwaways. Fillers. Fodder. Pillows full to the brim with stuffing. Two women harboring hatred and pain that is carefully hidden behind manicures, blowouts and professionally applied makeup, they round out the cast of characters in ways that the other women cannot begin to comprehend. Jen is known for her vegan lifestyle, her tiny figure, and her huge line of health juices with clever names – but she’s busy binging on forbidden fatty meats and wine when cameras aren’t in the room. But that’s not all she’s up to, and she will take her secrets to the grave. Lauren is the house drunk but swears she’s sipping water from the bottle she carries around in her Chanel bag, a bottle that she has a Kung-fu grip on. How much does Lauren see and remember through her constant haze of vodka and tequila? And how much do the cast-off duo know about what is going on behind the scenes? How much are they involved in . . . personally?

When Brett’s murder caps off a scintillating season of Goal-Diggers and sends the cast reeling internally, it’s what they show to the outside world that is the most revealing. Everything and everyone has their place, and the network won’t let them forget who was the favorite.

The Favorite Sister is the newest novel by Jessica Knoll, a former editor for Cosmopolitan and Self magazines, and author of Luckiest Girl Alive.

Going back to what I said before about reviews – I just couldn’t believe how split down the middle they are for this book. For me, it was a home run. I am a HUGE Housewives fan and it was obvious how much the author drew from that scripted reality series (talk about an oxymoron) to shape her characters. It was rich with background information and the nasty in’s and out’s of production, things that I just ate up with a spoon.

I have to wonder if those who disliked the book had a hard time following it. It’s packaged as a quick thriller or as chick-lit, but it’s deeper than that. You have to pay attention. And you don’t even realize how much attention you need to be paying until about halfway through the book when you see what’s beginning to unravel between the women. I actually want to read this book for a second time to see what little details I missed the first time around.

There were some uncomfortable moments and some traditionally-taboo themes. Racism, vicious self-doubt, homosexuality, being an imposter, feeding off of hate and pain, eating disorders, blatantly using something tragic for your own self gain . . . this novel was full to brimming with all of that and then some. There were a few monologues that I could have done without; the author seemed to enjoy the sprint of tangents, which makes the different perspectives really come in handy because at some point she has to give up and switch off. Zero of these characters are likable, including the teenager . . .

But . . . I mean . . .

None of the Housewives are likable either, right? And we still love to hate them. Season after season. City after city. Bankruptcy and divorces and estranged children notwithstanding.

This novel was fascinating and a page-turner. It was gritty and gross. It was shocking and seductive. It leads you down this dark and twisty path that you don’t really want to go on, but you can’t help yourself. It was brilliant, and I loved it, and I have to give it all the stars.

So, five stars from me for this backstabbing and bitch-full read.

Thank you so much Simon Books for providing my free copy of THE FAVORITE SISTER by Jessica Knoll - all opinions are my own.

Well, she did it again! I loved LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE and this one is just as fantastic! We follow a group of strong, well-to-do women, Brett, Lauren, Stephanie, Jen, plus a newcomer Kelly, who aren’t interested in the conventional norms, but are interested in breaking barriers and being highly successful. Oh yes, and they star in a New York City reality television show called Goal Diggers. Knolls brilliantly exploits everything I love and hate about reality television! I also love that Knoll touches on other themes in the story, such as feminism, misogyny, and race.

This is a dynamic cast of characters with explosive personalities, so be prepared for ALL THE DRAMA! It took me a bit to get into the story as there is a ton of information up front, but it was well worth it. This is not a thriller, but it is just as compelling. It’s a page-turning drama with a lot of affinities and betrayals. Picture a better version of Real Housewives, but with a murder mystery. Doesn’t that sound like so much fun?!! It’s packed with entertainment and I guarantee once you get hooked, you won’t want to put it down until you’ve finished. THE FAVORITE SISTER is addictive, twisty, salacious good fun! It’s the perfect summer read! Highly recommended!!

I've made no secret of the fact that I enjoy reality television, especially highly scripted and overproduced fare like The Bachelor and Real Housewives franchises. In Jessica Knoll's sophomore effort, The Favorite Sister, readers are introduced to a highly plausible, yet fictitious, series called Goal Diggers; it purports to showcase strong women who have become successful entrepreneurs without the help of men.

This sounds like a great idea but, as is always the case with these programs, there must some drama, including strained dynamics and secrets between the individuals cast for the show, and Goal Diggers is no exception; not only does Jessica Knoll brilliantly demonstrate how this all plays out, in a highly entertaining story, but she also injects relevant social commentary, through her characters, to highlight the discomfort with subject matter like disordered eating, racism, homosexuality, mental health and the fact that, no matter how hard we try to change the narrative, society insists on pitting women against one another.

"Fun fact: Spell check red-flags the word “millionairesses,” but not “millionaires.” There’s no entry for “millionairesses” in the dictionary, which beautifully illustrates my point - the world will only permit one of us to make it. Is it any surprise then that women continue to be so horrible to each other? Supporting your kind is supporting your own fucking demise. It’s unnatural."

There is a mystery, but don't expect thriller-type suspense; The Favorite Sister is a slow burn. Having said that, Knoll drops twisty bombs the way someone with dry humor drops jokes; you might not realize what's she's just presented until the next paragraph and you suddenly find yourself thinking, "wait, what did that just say?"

Most of all, I love that Knoll snarks on the very concepts and social constructs about which she is writing; if I was describing this in the world of theatre or film, I would say that she definitely breaks the fourth wall during portions of her narrative. I can almost envision her leaning out to the side, giving her audience a wink, as she shares short quips and highlights injustices. I could hardly get enough.

"They should list impaired hearing as a side effect on the bottle of fame. There are so many people clapping for you all the time, for walking, for breathing, for wiping your own ass, that it drowns out what I like to call your not that inner voice, the one that says you’re not that smart, you’re not that talented, you’re not that funny."

Whether you are a fan of reality television matters not; Knoll's characters are the strong, loud, survivalist individuals that society, in general, loves to hate. I'm thankful that she has chosen to illuminate them in a different way and remind us that success, especially for women, does come at a cost and it's often one that we have been programmed to accept.

This novel is about the women on a reality show called Goal Diggers, about ambitious successful young women, and we know at the start that someone dies during the fourth season but don't know who or what happened. Essentially, a really dark satire of reality tv combined with a mystery/thriller - like if the TV show "Unreal" was about a "Real Housewives" type of show. The characters were all unlikable and not necessarily believable, and this was a book with a pretty dark view of humanity, but it was also extremely juicy and entertaining to read.

Disgusting and intriguing; difficult to read and even moreso to put down. The Favorite Sister focuses on a group of successful women starring on a reality tv show centering around their success - so you already know it's going to be a disaster. Power hungry women are NOT(!!!) to be F-ed with. Suspenseful and with the final twist coming out of left field (for me), I found this to be a refreshing psychological thriller. Each character has some truly ugly flaws, but ultimately it's easy to find something relatable about them all (which can be a little unnerving, to say the least).

Knoll spins a great story about the constant struggle women have - we're supposed to lift each other up, but don't we actually just keep pushing each other down?? - with the guilty addiction of reality TV. It has staged cattiness and scandal of a good Bravo TV binge combined with an actual murder mystery.

Sadly I found the characters too unlikable to enjoy this book. I liked Knoll's first novel, but she missed the mark with this one.

This was an okay read for me. After hearing of the first book I wanted to give this author a try. It was different, set in reality show with backstabbing and the need to be the best. I found it difficult to follow the story. Not my kind of read

The Favorite Sister is about five successful women that are on a reality tv show called Goal Diggers. Each of the characters is rather unlikable and somewhat unrelatable for one reason or another, but what I do like about the writing, is as we flip perspectives we get to see what motivated one of the characters to do certain things - which is a good lesson to remember in life that you can’t assume you know why people do what they do and it’s not all about you! Overall a lot of the characters were hyper-materialistic and a bit self-centered. We learn early on which one of the Goal Diggers is murdered, but then we go back in time to see the events that led to the killing. With that being said, the cadence does not read like a typical thriller. It feels much more like a beach read. This book is part of @booksparks #src2018

If you are a fan of thrillers and The Real Housewives franchises, you're going to enjoy this book. If you're not a fan of thrillers, but are a fan of The Real Housewives franchises, you're going to enjoy this book. If you're a fan of thrillers but not a fan of The Real Housewives franchises.....well....

I, shamefully, am a "fan" of the franchises. Watching those shows makes me feel better about myself as a human being. I may not have their lifestyle, but I do have morals and ethics and don't feel the need to verbally cut down women younger, thinner, and with more money than me.

This book is The Real Housewives on Steroids.

90% of this book is about the cast of the reality television show Goal Diggers. A group of smart, successful, established, strong women working towards achieving everything without conforming to societies beliefs in what a real woman should be. Think about the RH when their "kids are older now and I need to focus on meeee", and they start schlepping laxative teas and plastic handbags.

Except these women really are successful. From a best selling author to a health and wellness guru, an innovative dating app creator and a philanthropic 'bigger girl' whose profits go towards providing women and children in third world countries with life saving bicycles. These women are successful, and the spotlight cast on them via the show is addictive.

It is not hard at all to recognize the real life inspirations for these women. There's not one set person, but...

The backstabbing, the scheming, the behind-the-scenes plotting. Don't film with her, spread the rumor, squash the rumor, did she gain weight, did she have work done. It's all here, and it's actually scrumptious.

But. Well.

I signed up for a thriller.

I liiiiiiiiiiived for Luckiest Girl Alive. I screamed from the rooftops about it. And that means I had really high hopes for this follow-up, ESPECIALLY because it's the Housewives minus the brats plus murder.

And the last 10%, the actual thriller portion, is good. It's meaty, and twisted, with a nice couple of surprises.

But again, it's the last. ten. percent. There's so much that happens and the bow that ties it up is sloppy and kind of complicated, and keeping up is not that easy.

There's also a fantastic underlying current through the entire book about feminism, and deep seeded misogyny, and the way women are treated in society, especially when it comes to reality TV and what is expected from these 'unscripted' reality programs. And it's good, and it's important, and it's evenly spread through the story. I do feel like it's stacks on stacks on stacks of PLOT and there's a serious disconnect between the three main themes.

I don't hate this book, I actually really like it. But it's not quite what I was sold on, and that disappoints me.

Just last month I posted about Jessica Knoll's Luckiest Girl Alive, and I mentioned that I was looking forward to her new book. Well, here we are! It's The Favorite Sister, out this week.

Goal Diggers is a popular reality television show featuring five women who will fight their way to the top at all costs. People tune in for catfights and sure, also for the feminism. You get what you pay for, you know? Brett is the producer's darling, the lesbian do-gooder whose scrappy beginnings are ratings gold. It also doesn't hurt that her feud with cast mate Stephanie, an author of a series of bestselling books with a new memoir of her surviving an abusive relationship, will be ratings gold. When Brett's sister and business partner Kelly joins the cast, and secrets that the five women hoped to keep secret start coming out in the press, the season goes off the rails and not everyone will get out alive. Literally.

Knoll's books are incredibly entertaining, and I think that she is entering into my world as one of my favorite writers. Her work is a little off in a world that may not be entirely realistic, and I love it. She writes about worlds that I don't live in, and I love that she brings to the page such full-bodied characters in worlds that I would never want to live in. It's really fantastic, and it makes for an engaging and (dare I say?) riveting story. Her build up to climax in this book is amazing, and she did the same thing in Luckiest Girl, but these books are not alike in terms of content. They both tell compelling, full stories that don't have any content overlap. I'm crazy impressed.

We know at the beginning that Brett is dead and her sister, Kelly, is playing the grieving sister. We know the who and the what, but we don't know the when, the where, they why, and the how. As Knoll reveals the details of the plot throughout the book, I found myself gripping my Kindle harder and harder and ignoring people more and more as we got down to business. She has this way of storytelling that peels away layers like an onion and it's amazing. She always reveals just enough to keep you moving on to the next chapter even when you need to go the &^%$ to bed because you have to work in the morning. (Not that I'm speaking from personal experience...) She makes it hurt so good because she knows how to tell you just enough to keep you flipping the page but not enough that you can figure out what's going to happen next until it's too damned late.

Another reason why Knoll is poking her way into my favorites list is her ability to create horrible, nasty female characters that I find myself loving in spite of myself. This is a true compliment, because it's hard to create horrible people that are so unlikable yet you can't stop thinking about. (I am reminded here of Amy in Gone Girl). It takes a sharp writing hand to be able to create characters like this, and that she can do this with women that are strong and principled (in their own, fucked up way) is just incredible.

Hats off to this lady who can write.

I don't want to give away too much, so I will end here and encourage you to pick up this book yourself. It's the beach read you are looking for.