Alice Sadie Celine explores the tangled relationships between Alice, an aspiring actress, Sadie, her best friend, and Sadie’s mother, Celine, a renowned feminist professor. When Celine attends Alice’s play, she becomes unexpectedly captivated, leading to a secret affair that complicates the trio’s dynamics. Though the writing is engaging, the characters feel both flawed and unrealistically self-centered, and the ending neatly resolves their conflict but lacks depth. Despite this, the novel offers a quick, intriguing read with a touch of feminist themes.

This is the first book I have read from this author. I was not really sure what to expect as I got into reading this. Alice and Sadie were a pair of best friends that became close in their teenage years. Alice first knew Celine as Sadie's mother, however when Sadie asks Celine to attend an event in her stead, they make a connection. A relationship of sorts forms and Sadie is not told because of her perceived negative reaction. I am not a really big fan of author's using this sort of mechanism to move a plot forward, but in this case, it made sense to me. The authors decides to take a really long break in the book and returns into the future to find out what happens. I think this threw me off a bit, but I feel that this made great sense and created such an all encompassing ending to the story. I would definitely like to read more from this author. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

I really wanted to love this book but I found my mind wandering while reading it. i finished it and Im glad I did, but it wasnt my favorite. I did like the authors writing style but it just may not be for me.

Alice Sadie Celine held a ton of promise for me but ultimately I found it hard to get into the story and care about the dynamic between mother, daughter, and friend. I could see a lot of readers enjoying and connecting with this book and hope to see it have a successful run!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC - this book is out now!

This book was not for me. I appreciate the publishers and netgalley giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Ate this up. What a fascinating story about female relationships. Totally delivered on the promise of the premise. Loved.

The first half was enthralling--loved the characters, the inciting incident. The second half kind of lost me; it didn't hold the momentum.

Sarah Blakley-Cartwright's "Alice Sadie Celine" is a captivating novel that delves into the intricate complexities of female friendship, motherhood, and desire. The narrative unfolds with a sharp wit and unflinching honesty, offering a compelling exploration of the dynamics between three unforgettable characters.

The strength of the book lies in its characters. Blakley-Cartwright brings Alice, Sadie, and Celine to life with a depth and nuance that allows readers to intimately connect with their joys, struggles, and vulnerabilities. Alice, the therapist, embodies a sense of order amidst the chaos, while Celine, the free-spirited artist, challenges societal norms. Caught between them is Sadie, the dutiful daughter yearning for a more unconventional life. Their relationships are a tapestry woven with threads of loyalty, jealousy, and resentment, reflecting the complexities of real-life friendships.

The introduction of a forbidden romance between Celine and Alice's student adds a layer of suspense and ethical ambiguity to the narrative. Blakley-Cartwright navigates these sensitive themes with a thoughtful touch, sparking intellectual curiosity without resorting to melodrama.

The prose is crisp and insightful, laced with humor that balances the weightier emotional moments. Blakley-Cartwright's writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to contemplate the choices and motivations of the characters long after finishing the book.

The ending, while perhaps open to interpretation, avoids the pitfall of simplistic resolution. Instead, it reflects the messy realities of life, leaving a lasting impression and prompting reflection on the characters' journeys.

"Alice Sadie Celine" is a must-read for those seeking a novel that transcends the boundaries of genre. It offers a nuanced exploration of female relationships, delivered with wit, honesty, and intellectual depth. This is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

Great concept... confusing character arcs
Some decisions made does not just made any sense to the overall plot

One of the first things I heard about this book was the cover blurb from Chloe Sevigny, which simply says, “Obsessed!” And I knew I had to read it.

Alice and Sadie have been friends since early teenhood, and while Sadie is a nervous, meticulous planner, Alice is the opposite. Trying to make a go of acting, Alice has been cast in a Shakespeare retelling in small, basement theater. Sadie, planning a weekend away with her boyfriend, asks her mother, renound, somewhat radical feminist lesbian, Celine, to go instead. Alice and Celine have always had a cordial, distant relationship, but something attracts Celine during the performance. Celine goes back for the second performance, and then the third, which sparks a chain of events from which the three women may not recover.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It changes POVs between the three ladies, revealing their separate and intertwined pasts, showing us how they became themselves. The relationships between mothers and daughters have shaped all of them profoundly and affected not only who they are but how they weather this situation and what they learn from it. A meditation on fuckups and being as women, mothers, daughters, and friends.

𝟹.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙
I really liked this book and it felt like a solid 4-star read for the majority, however that last little bit ruined it for me. The "shift" kind of didn't make a whole lot of sense to me and for that to be the conclusion we get, left me unsatisfied.

All three women were flawed in their own ways and honestly I just ate up how messy everything was and how I could honestly never predict where the story was going next or how each character would react to certain situations. I loved getting all of their perspectives and although they were all unlikeable in their own ways, I quickly grew a soft spot for each of them.

I wanted so badly to like this but it was so wildly lesbophobic and literally nothing happened otherwise,, which is unfortunate. It was hard to get through unfortunately.

I snagged this book because it was highly polarized in my BOTM discussion group. Many women were upset with the power dynamic at play, so I wanted to read it for myself.

Spotlight finds Alice, not just in her Shakespearean garb, but transformed. Celine, Sadie's forced chaperone, recognizes neither the play nor the woman wielding words with newfound power. Gone is the awkward teen; a captivating enigma ignites a secret spark in Celine.

Sadie, Alice's antithesis, thrives on self-imposed deadlines, meticulously charting a life Alice embraces serendipity in. As Alice delves into Shakespearean passion, Sadie ticks through achievements, leaving her oddly unfulfilled. Watching Alice shine, a part of her yearns to rewrite her own script, embracing the unexpected like her friend.

Sarah Blakley-Cartwright's novel is a captivating journey through the realms of love, loss, and self-discovery. From the first page to the last, readers are immersed in a world where emotions run deep and choices carry profound consequences. One of the most striking aspects of the novel is its richly detailed setting. Blakley-Cartwright's vivid descriptions breathe life into the landscapes and cityscapes that serve as the backdrop for the characters' journeys. Whether it's the bustling streets of a vibrant metropolis or the tranquil beauty of a secluded countryside, each setting is rendered with exquisite detail, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the world of the story.

I think this book started good, but it lost its way a little bit. The characters were all intriguing, but I feel like they failed to progress as people. The plot also somewhat diminished, which never really bothers me because I'm a big lover of the "no plot just vibes" style of book. That being said, it was also kind of missing the vibe.

I’m torn on this book. On one hand I liked the writing, and individually I found each of the main characters interesting. But at times I found Celine’s story to be cliche, and I despised the relationship between Celine and her daughter’s best friend, especially the scene in the elevator which came across as predatory to me. While there wasn’t any character development with Celine’s character, I didn’t have a problem with that. And I did enjoy how the book ended.

I was so excited for this book, I thought it would for sure be a five star as it promised forbidden age gap sapphic romance but after 100 pages, there is still nothing going on. The writing is dense and I don't like any of the characters and I'm giving up.

So I really liked the writing in the book. Loved the connections and perspectives between the characters and loved that last chapter. Not something I totally related to in some ways.

I thought it was just fine. None of the characters felt particularly real or consequential to me, and towards the end of the book I found myself skimming chapters. I’m sure there’s an audience for this but that audience is not me.

I honestly don't know what to think of ALICE SADIE CELINE! I was excited because it's gotten a lot of good hype on bookstagram, but I wasn't as taken with it as I expected I would be. The plot promises a saucy and taboo affair between a 20-something woman (Alice) and Celine, who is her best friend Sadie's mom. Celine is only 44, so it's not like it's a humongous age gap, but it's still pretty juicy and even though this book is extremely character-driven with not a lot of fast-moving plot, the reader is still dying to see what will happen when Sadie finds out.

The book starts out strong, but I think seriously flounders towards the end. I found myself skimming, which I never would have guessed I would do in the first quarter of the novel. I wanted more from the story in general. Perhaps it could have benefitted from being a little longer? I found the unexpected time jump and POV change at the end intriguing for sure, and saved the book for me a bit. It's a quick read, but not the plot-heavy drama you may be looking for given the plot. Because it doesn't really say anything instead, I left feeling a bit disappointed.

“Why did we squabble, pick at, and destroy each other when life was so cruel anyway?”

Alice Sadie Celine is challenging to review, as it’s unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s alluring, yet cold. There is little character growth, and very little plot. Yet, I didn’t hate it? I still felt relatively invested? I wanted to see if these characters would do better. Confusing, as those lacking factors usually are deal-breakers for me.

Plot Thoughts: As I mentioned above, I feel like there wasn’t a lot that actually happened in this novel. We see past, present, and the future; however, we don’t see much other than the characters interacting amongst themselves. The writing was more tell than show, which I struggled with.

Character Thoughts: It was interesting to see characters have such a lack of self-awareness. It was interesting to see how so many years can go by, with such little development. It was interesting to explore nature vs. nurture and personality vs. environmental factors. This also was more tell than show, and I wanted to better understand the characters motives behind their decision making.

At the end of the day, I still wanted MORE from this novel. I wanted something to happen; it just felt a little too stagnant for my liking. It was an interesting exploration of unlikeable characters & their characteristics, but overall that’s not enough for me to rate it higher.