ALICE SADIE CELINE is a novel about a relationship that should raise eyebrows and cause some problems: a forty-year-old lesbian provocateur Berkeley professor has an affair with her uptight, normie 20-year-old daughter's best friend, an aspiring actress. Unfortunately, this plot point is revealed in the first chapters and then set aside for backstory that remains firmly in the habitual, telling the reader what led up to this hookup.

For a novel ""about"" sex and gender, it spends a shockingly small amount of time showing characters talking or thinking about it. (I know the age-gap discourse will descend because the book didn't seem to be aware that this might be something the characters should feel a little weird about—I was expecting an argument about this, at least, that would bring up and challenge some of those criticisms.)

Sadie and Alice's romantic motivations feel so underdone as to come off as silly. (I agree with another reviewer who classed these characters as living in the genre of 'new adult.') Not a whole lot of interiority! Other than the inciting affair, nobody did anything that pushed them out of the bounds of their established, stated character traits.

As I am forbidden from quoting from the ARC, I will say this: the writing style is hard to ignore. Sometimes, the strange turns of phrase are quite funny. More frequently, it felt overwritten, both stilted and convoluted: modifiers misplaced for no reason, alliteration, inverted syntax, seven mentions of balloons in a metaphorical sense, adjectives and adverbs that don't quite mean the right thing. It wasn't idiosyncrasy in a character's voice, just the narrator wavering between jokey and cringey.

All characters fundamentally underreact to the extreme situations they find themselves in, which makes the consequences uninteresting and the relationships feel limp and diffuse. This includes (muted spoilers) affairs, keeping secrets from one's best friend, getting pregnant, and deaths in the family: truly nobody has either a rational or deeply emotional reaction, which makes the tone bizarre.

The pacing and structure of this novel is really strange, with a lot of scenes retold from alternate perspectives. There are a total of two plot points in the whole book, and then a coda where we get a ton of plot that would have been interesting to read about. Tellingly, one of the main scenes where a secret is revealed ~is not even dramatized~: you don't hear the conversation, you get a summary. It's curious that a set-up so ripe from drama would turn away from the tension at almost every opportunity.

A weird reading experience!

I just finished reading a NetGalley copy of this book and found it to be an excellent book. A book about the complicated lives and relationship between well Alice, Sadie and Celine. This book has characters that are excellently written. I found that I really understood the inner workings of them all. I was obsessed with what was going to happen and how it was going to end and my god did it. Excellent writing highly recommended.

Welp, this was underwhelming. Following the intricately linked lives of three characters, Sadie, Alice (best friend to Sadie and, at one point, Celine's lover), and Celine (mother to Sadie and at one point, Alice's lover), this novel explores mother-daughter and female friendship dynamics - or at least it attempted to. Each of the characters felt like a caricature. The novel skimmed the surface the entire time - nothing much was said. I wasn't too sure what the author was trying to say about feminism. There was the feeling that the author hasn't herself mastered feminist literature or theory, often conflating Celine's (women's studies professor at Berkeley) feminist leanings to literal man-hating (I thought we'd come a long way from that elementary conclusion, it seems I was wrong). Overall, a disappointment. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. Thank you, NetGalley, for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was not ready for all the DRAMAAA!!

So Alice and Sadie have been best friends since high school, now graduated from college. Sadie has a weekend planned with her boyfriend, and can’t make Alice’s play (Alice is an aspiring actress), so Sadie sends her mother, Celine. Celine goes back to see Alice two more times, and then they end up SLEEPING TOGETHER. THE SCANDAL.

They hide this from Sadie, as she has a complicated relationship with her mother (Celine is pretty toxic) and while Alice’s guilt weighs her down, Celine does not appear concerned.

These characters are a mess. Alice is from a wealthy family and grew up with a lot of privilege, everyone loves her, but she is struggling to find her passion and her path, Sadie has her own struggles with her mom and her love life, seeming to be the adult in her mother/daughter relationship, and Celine is…messy.

The story was interesting, but there was a LOT of narration in this, not as much dialogue. Sometimes while reading you’re just weighed down by heavy, long paragraphs. Near the end when Celine finally tells Sadie, and the whole scene with Alice, and it’s pretty comical even if that wasn’t the intent. After that everything spirals.

The last sort of Epilogue chapter I didn’t love. It was really long, and told from the POV of a character we didn’t even know which threw me off.

Overall, this was fast read, a messy dramatic story.

3.5 ⭐️

This comes out November 28!

Thank you @simonbooks and @Netgalley for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

It honestly pains me to write this review because the early blurbs had me thinking this was going to be sexy and compulsively readable. Instead, it was awkward and cringeworthy and frankly somewhat ageist (Celine reads like a horny curmudgeonly grandma instead of a woman in her 40s). All three main characters are wildly unlikeable in their own ways and the writing is obnoxiously pretentious. This is one of those rare books I wish I hadn’t spent precious reading time on.

Pub Date: 11/28/23
Review To Be Published: 11/21/23

In a multi timeline story surrounding three very different women you meet:

Celine- lesbian feminist juggernaut and educator, mom to Sadie
Sadie- a type A perfectionist with a plan and her best friend
Alice- a struggling actress born with a silver spoon.

Alice Sadie Celine will make you slightly uncomfortable, but underneath the slightly icky feelings at surface level, this story defines being yourself and growing into womanhood on your own terms. Each of these women were slightly unlikeable in their selfishness but also made you root for their individual growth, maturity, success, and acceptance. It is a portrait of what can happen when lines and boundaries are crossed with both positive and negative outcomes of those choices.

I really enjoyed the introduction of the last chapter POV character as a way to show the growth of Alice Sadie Celine.

The title alone, with no punctuation separating the names is in and of itself a work of art- showing how interwoven your identities can become with your parents, friends, and lovers as you navigate womanhood.

Alice Sadie Celine is Sarah Blakely-Cartwright’s adult debut novel following three women during a very interesting time in their lives. Alice and Sadie are friends and Celine is Sadie’s mother. This book follows what happens when Alice and Celine start having an affair. What starts as a casual secret quickly becomes a pivotal point in three different lives.

This is a tough one to rate because the writing was so beautiful and well done but the story itself didn’t go far enough and I was left wanting just a little more. There are many times through the book where we would get three chapters in a row from all three perspectives about the same time period and it felt repetitive at times and didn’t always add anything to the story. The relationship at the center of this novel also felt very strange and kind of icky and I don’t think that was the intention.

None of the three characters are particularly likable and I feel like it really worked for me because it felt so much more like real life. The mother/daughter dynamic between Celine and Sadie felt particularly toxic and strained and I think anyone who has that kind of relationship with a parent will be able to relate to that. I also think the last chapter was an interesting choice and I liked it.

So I did like a lot of this book. I was absolutely absorbed by the writing and character development and the way some of the characters interacted with each other. I just wish the romantic relationship at the center would have been a little more fleshed out and developed so it didn’t feel quite as weird and when everything kind of came out, it would have been a bit more dramatic.

I feel that this is a very modern take on womanhood, sisterhood, motherhood, and friendship. Friendship as a whole, especially, female friendship, is so dangerous. There are lines that are crossed all of the time, boundaries that are crossed in some friendships and some that are never in others. The friendship between Sadie and Alice is one that has developed over time, from the angst of early teens, to the post-college young adult malaise of life.

Celine, on the other hand, is a full adult, and a mother, despite never wanting to be a mother, really. She was pushed into conventional marriage, then motherhood. Quickly restless, she left her Ohio home and husband, taking her daughter Sadie to San Francisco toward a new life, and reinvented herself as a new queer leader. She's been open about her sexuality, and celebrated as a feminist voice and now is a professor.

This book is about a few hot summer months and a tumultuous time for all three. Alice and Celine start a sexual affair while keeping it a secret from Sadie. How will all three women handle this, when it all comes to head?

I think books like this work, so often, because they are written in such a modern voice from all of the characters. That said, the last chapter - with the introduction of new characters - felt tacked on and really tried to put a bow on the story. I would have preferred a different sort of ending or a more vague conclusion, perhaps that's me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book in advance of publication.

Sarah Blakley-Cartwright's debut adult novel offers a unique exploration of friendship, love, and feminism over the course of several decades. The opening night of Alice's less-than-glamorous performance in a small Bay Area theater sets the stage for a narrative that weaves through the complexities of her relationship with her best friend Sadie and Sadie's mother, Celine.

The characters are well-drawn, with Sadie's pragmatism contrasting with Alice's flighty creativity. The story unfolds over the years, capturing the nuances of friendship and the unexpected turn of events when Celine becomes captivated by Alice's performance. The affair that ensues tests the limits of love, friendship, and beliefs about power and agency.

While the novel engages with provocative themes, some aspects felt somewhat predictable, and the pacing was occasionally uneven. The strength of the narrative lies in its portrayal of the inner lives of three very different women, providing readers with a mesmerizing glimpse into the complexities of their relationships.

In conclusion, Sarah Blakley-Cartwright's debut novel is a solid read, offering a thoughtful exploration of love, friendship, and feminism. While it may not reach the heights of a 5-star rating due to some predictability and pacing issues, it remains a compelling portrait of the intricacies of female relationships.

Alice Sadie Celine by Sarah Blakley Cartwright is a captivating exploration of friendship, love, and the evolution of three unique women's lives.

The story begins with Alice, a young woman with dreams of a career in the theater. Her journey unfolds against the backdrop of the Bay Area, where her opening night isn't quite the glamorous start she had imagined. Despite the odds, Alice's character is portrayed with charm and grace, making it easy to connect with her on her path.

Things take an unexpected turn when Alice's pragmatic best friend, Sadie, is unable to attend her play and instead enlists the help of her mother, Celine. Celine, a prominent women's and gender studies professor, brings an intriguing contrast to the story with her academic background. Their relationships and dynamics evolve over decades, from their early friendship to navigating the complexities of the 1990s Berkeley and contemporary Hollywood.

Blakley Cartwright's writing is engaging and thought-provoking. The characters are complex and their relationships and evolving beliefs are central to the narrative. Themes of power, agency, and feminism are masterfully explored as the affair between Alice and Celine tests their love for Sadie and their own convictions.

While the pacing can be slow at times, the character development and storytelling are worth the investment. Alice Sadie Celine is a beautifully written novel that takes readers on a compelling journey through friendship, love, and feminism. Thanks so much to Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read an eGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this book. On one hand, the writing was impeccable and what initially drew me into the story. Additionally, I truly love a character study and this book really focused on the characters of the story, they felt incredibly real. On the other hand, I found the relationships in this story to be painful and predatory. Alice and Celine's relationship was not sexy and alluring to me. The beginning of the relationship made me uncomfortable in just the way it began and I couldn't let go of the fact that Alice was Sadie's best friend. I guess, at the end of the day that was the point of the story, though it was sold as a provocative book, which in a way it was but in another it was slightly sad and hard to read at times.

I hated Celine, which was absolutely intentional. This made me not want her in either Sadie or Alice's life. I felt the middle of the story was dragged out and unnecessary, but I did like the beginning and the end. Still thinking about this, I am settling with a 3 to 3.5 because I do think I liked it, but there are definitely parts that I didnt like.

I like the style with which this book is written. There is a tremendous flow to the syntax which aids in the telling of the story. I wished they had revealed the secret to Sadie earlier or waited later to tell us that Alice and Celine were hooking up. It was dragged out way too long and you end up waiting the whole book for the shoe to drop and in the end the reaction from Sadie was very anticlimactic. Provocative premise but the execution was subpar. Bit of a let down to be honest. Never quite reached the intrigue that its fundamental premise engenders.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5888927035

this book is everything but sexy and fun. it’s sad, triggering, angering, and uncomfortable.

Celine is the mother of Sadie and throughout the book she does nothing but makes the reader uncomfortable. at first i couldn’t tell if this was done intentionally or not and that in of itself was scary. which is why i completely understand why some people will put this book down after a couple of chapters (hell, it took me weeks to finish but i was determined because i think this book is saying a lot while not doing too much).

Sadie is a victim to her mothers whims. She tries so desperately to control her life and i’m happy for Sadie sort of- when then story ends.

I don’t want to say too much but read the book. take your time with reading it. it’s sad. it’s disheartening.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC.

This fully was not what I thought. It felt uncomfortable and predatory and I did not enjoy it. The characters are odd and unlikeable and no thank you.

I tried to like this book, find a way to not make it drag. The thrill I felt when I got this book quickly turned to dismay as i attempted to devour it. These three ladies, I thought they would offer me a glimpse into a dynamic relationship, instead I wondered why am I torturing myself trying to see where this was heading to. I was hoping for a sexy romp, loads of fun and some lessons to be learned on the way. It was not to be, and I felt disheartened because I think women are the most desirable creatures in the universe and wanted this book to showcase them in that light. There’s always next time.
Thank you NetGalley for nothing review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alright, I’m not sure how I feel about this one. This book was described as “hypnotic, sexy, and incisive” and honestly I found the opposite to be true. Someone recommended this book for fans of Meryl Wilsner’s “Mistakes Were Made”, and I’m guessing because of the similar plots. However, the mother/daughter’s best friend relationship in “Alice Sadie Celine” felt predatory and sad. For me, that made the story uncomfortable and a little off putting. I just couldn’t get behind this one and I guess I just expected it to be different. If you can get past the relationship, the writing was great and this is a great adult debut.

Creepy, off putting, strange and cold. This is a no for me. The glorifying of a predatory relationship is not the kind of book I, personally, want to read.

This book is advertised as sexy and exciting and it's absolutely none of those. It's weird. Its just weird. I don't know how to describe it other than weird. I didn't love it or even like it that much. It's just so odd. Highly possible it's just me. This definitely wasn't the book for me.

I laughed at the review of this that just said "obsessed!" but I get it! This book felt a bit like a fever dream in places and I tore through it, completely fascinated by the triangle of Alice, Sadie and Celine. This book is heady, sexy, dark and anxious, digging into the dynamics of best friendships, mothers and daughters and how one unlikely relationship between a mother and her daughter's best friend can blow up any semblance of "normalcy." These women are fully developed but in a way that is so "in relation" to one another that it makes you wonder how much of your personality is a response to influential people in your life.

This book was advertised as a hypnotic, sexy, and incisive novel following one woman's affair with her daughter's best friend that tests the limits of love and affection.

What I found was a relationship put to paper in a tone that reminded me of Joanne from Company, without any of the LuPone sparkle. Just the "I'm smarter than you and I thought you should know that" attitude.
Gun to my head, by 85% in- I was wondering WHY I'M STILL READING. I started 7/18, and by hook or by crook- today is my last day trying to finish. NOTHING IS HAPPENING. I waited for 70% for the daughter's reaction to her BFF having sex with her mom and the reaction was a non-entity told primarily in conversations between lovers Alice (BFF) & Celine (Mom). The MAY-DECEMBER FORBIDDEN SAPPHIC SEX was BARELY REFERENCED. This is NOT a romance. It's not even a hate story. As my queen Taylor Swift said- "It isn't love, it isn't hate, it's just indifference." I don't need 300 pages of people being indifferent to each other.

I cannot wait to forget this book exists.