Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

The Fortune Seller by Rachel Kapelke-Dale. Pub Date: February 13, 2024. Rating: 3 stars. This novel could be described as a lighter version of dark academia. The novel focuses on a group of girls involved in the Yale equestrian team. Honestly, the girls are cringy and not really likable and some of them are spoiled/stuck up. What I did enjoy about this novel were the elements of astrology and how it was woven into the storyline. I think it was well executed, but not overly done. This novel was an okay read, but nothing with a wow factor for me personally. Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Rosie comes from a middle-class upbringing and worked hard to fit in with her uber-wealthy friends on the Yale equestrian team. When Annelise Tattinger joins their team, her talent on horseback and at reading tarot quickly has her joining Rosie's inner circle. But when money disappears from bank accounts, tensions rise among the friend group.

After graduation, Rosie realizes there is more to Annelise's history than she thought and she needs to set things right and figure out what happened all those years ago. Rachel Kapelke-Dale's previous stories focus on the #metoo movement and women's rights, while this one looks at class differences and the wealthy's disregard for those around them. It's a medium-paced, character-driven story that's perfect for dark academia lovers. #gifted by St. Martins Press.

I have read a couple of this author’s previous books and immensely enjoyed them. I was hoping that I would have a repeat experience with this book but, I’m sad to report that I did not. I just couldn’t get behind these rich characters doing despicable things and getting away with them. I’m also not a huge fan of books set around college roommates or horse riding. The main mystery/drama was unrealistic and didn’t end in a way that satisfied me. Overall, I found it to be just okay. I know other readers may enjoy it much more than me.

All that being said, I did enjoy the writing. It what has pulled me into all of her books so far. I’m hoping that this book is just a fluke and her next book will work much better for me.

I gave up on this about a third of the way through. the writing is great, but the plot and characters just weren’t gripping me (maybe if I knew more about tarot cards or horses!)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was the first book by this author that I have read and while it was enjoyable I thought that it did drag on too long in some parts. The storyline was a good one if you enjoy although very horse related, more so than I thought it would be. I did find the main character Rosie to not be very likeable in my opinion and the author seems to make her stories highly character driven so I would have liked to be more engaged with her. The chapter openings about the tarot card meanings were beautifully written..I did enjoy them. Overall an okay read for me but not a favorite.

An interesting story about the class divide in the US had high potential but fell flat for me. The pacing was off and I felt like it was supposed to be Secret History adjacent.

Ivy League Equestrian and Tarot Reader

Set in the early 2000s, The Fortune Seller by Rachel Kapelke-Dale follows the life of Rosie Macalister, a middle-class girl attending Yale on a scholarship. Desperate to fit in with her affluent peers, Rosie forges a friendship with the enigmatic Annelise, a talented tarot reader and equestrian. After graduation, Rosie takes a job at a Manhattan hedge fund and uncovers shocking truths about Annelise's identity and the dynamics within their friend group, leading to a series of dramatic revelations.

The Fortune Seller is a compelling read that offers a haunting examination of class and ambition. Kapelke-Dale's masterful storytelling and complex characters make it a standout novel. However, the pacing may deter some readers who prefer a faster-moving plot. Overall, this book is a thought-provoking exploration of the desires that drive us and the consequences of our actions.

I don’t want to spoil too much, but honestly, this was just okay. I felt that some parts were really draggy, while others were really rushed. I feel like the discussion around the gap between the middle class and wealthy was really shallow, I expected it to be a lot deeper based on the synopsis. From this book, I was expecting a layer of depth that I didn’t get. I feel like a lot of this was very surface level, and that was largely due to the narrow world view Rosie had. I was excited for the premise, but the delivery wasn’t as good as it could have been.

If you love talk about class divide and well horses this one might be for you. It was a little like one of those books that it was ok but it could have been more fleshed out and better. I would say that if you want to check this one out to grab it from the library.

Ponies and rich girls and drama, oh my!

An entertaining read about being the odd girl out in a group that gets pretty dark prettyyyy quickly. As someone who is "old poor", I related to Rosie's situation of living hand to mouth but I also loved Annelise and knew that all wasn't how it seemed with her.
Rosie is from a solidly middle class family but wants more out of life than her family's veterinary practice so she works very hard to see how the other half lives and try to obtain that life herself.
Annelise is a character who seems very free-spirited and "earth mother-y" but something is lurking underneath. Of course Rosie dislikes her because her best friend, and queen bee's newest pet project is, you guessed it, Annelise.
Fun read that has definite dark academia vibes. Would recommend.

Rosie returns to her life at Yale, which consists of her wealthy friends and her participation on the equestrian team, after a stint in Argentina working on a ranch. When she finally gets to her off-campus apartment, she finds that a new occupant moved into her room. Who is Annelise, and will she fit in with the group that Rosie tries so hard to keep up with even though she was brought up in a middle-class lifestyle with her two vet parents in somewhat rural Illinois?

Time will tell, and so may the tarot cards that Annelise uses to do readings for herself and the roommates in The Fortune Seller by Rachel Kapelke-Dale. Once a tragedy occurs among the friends, graduation puts them all on separate paths, one of which includes Rosie finding a prestigious job at a hedge fund in New York City. That's when she finds out who Annelise really is and comes to terms with her past life at Yale.

I really liked this book and enjoyed how the story slowly plays out. The main character was likeable, nuanced, and you felt empathy for her although she wasn't a sad sack. The other characters, including Cressida, Rosie's best friend who's incredibly wealthy, and Annelise who is mysterious, charming, and the best equestrian on the team, stood out. Some of the more incidental characters like the other two roommates seemed interchangeable, and I had trouble identifying them at times.

Every chapter starts out with a reading from Annelise of one of the tarot cards, and I liked that aspect of the book. It was distinct, and the chapter usually reflected some aspect of the reading. I thought that was a clever touch. It was interesting enough to me to look up all the cards while I read the book.

The book splits into two separate timeframes--one at Yale, one when Rosie goes to New York. Both periods of time were distinct and compelling. I could relate to Rosie and her dilemmas and the situations she faced. It would be hard for me to put them into words because I'd be giving away plot points, but she must figure out the kind of person she really wants to be. That's part of the story.

I wouldn't say this is a terribly suspenseful thriller but more of a drama. Also, if you've read the author's other books, you sense more doom on the horizon. While this book is in no way sunny and cheerful, I found the main character less threatening and threatened. She's a lot like you and me. I could relate to her way more and feel what she was feeling. I didn't find the book too inundated with information about horses and the equestrian life as some reviewers pointed out. I almost could say that this book was my favorite among her three novels.

I enjoyed the glimpse inside Yale and the horseback riding lifestyle. The characters were well developed and the fortune telling references made for a well woven and complex story. I throughly enjoyed this book. I would look forward to another book from this author.

I really enjoyed this! I loved the wealth and power dynamics at play, and the characters were both realistic and interesting enough to draw me in. I recommend for modern contemporary fiction fans!.

3.5 stars.

I don’t really know why Kapelke-Dale’s books keep getting labeled as mysteries or thrillers because they never really are. Consequently, I feel like her ratings get pulled way down below where they should be.

All of her books seem to revolve around toxic relationships, toxic families, or toxic communities. This one involved a group of friends, mostly wealthy apart from the narrator and a new friend who no one seems to know much about. The synopsis makes it sound like there’s a big mystery and catastrophes, and while those aspects are there, it feels like the message and themes were broader. The story really is more about wealth - the striving for it, the effects it can have on someone’s character, whether it’s worth striving for, questions about what is valuable enough to strive for. The pacing is incredibly slow and I don’t know that the plot is particularly original but I still really like Kapelke-Dale’s writing style so I stayed engaged.

The setting and college aged characters were on point here. I've never done tarot, but it makes me want to?? lol The writing was paced nicely and was a quick read for me. Had some shocking moments in between. I can definitely see this as being a book club pick.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This book started off a bit slow but as it went on it really picked up! I loved the idea of the fortune teller who actually profited off the business and watching it develop into something else and push the story was a lot of fun. Highly recommended!

The Fortune Seller is a well-crafted story about greed, jealousy and social pecking order in today’s society. It throws together a group of women who live together at Yale, some incredibly rich, while others, barely making ends meet. You definitely can tell these women’s differences not only in the way they dress, but the way they act, to each other. Not only does the story show the struggles of those attempting to move up in the world, but it also lets the reader envision the life of the wealthy and the comparison of what they both consider problems in their lives. But, more importantly it shows what some people, both the rich and the poor will do in order to climb the social and financial ladder, and what happens when they begin to fall off.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an arc of this book for my honest review!

Rating: 4 Stars

Rachel writes incredible and complicated relationships like no other, I really was impressed by this. The dark academia vibes were just pristine and the tarot cards?! Awesome. I need more from this author, I will be reading whatever else Rachel has or will have in the future.

Would recommend for fans of…
🔮 Complicated friendships
🔮 Horses (and all things equestrian)
🔮 Early 2000s settings

Rachel Kapelke-Dale always manages to write suspenseful stories that delve into complex relationships of all kinds and The Fortune Seller continues that hot streak, exploring Rosie McAllister’s relationships with the other women on her equestrian team. Characters are the center of the story and Kapelke-Dale does a great job of making sure that every character, no matter how minor they are. She also nails a lot of the details of the early/mid 2000s which adds a touch of nostalgia to the story.

The Fortune Seller puts major emphasis on both tarot reading and equestrian sports and Kapelke-Dale provides an extreme amount of detail on each subject. If you’re familiar with or interested in either of these things, the details are probably interesting, but if you’re less into those things, it might be a bit tedious.

Unfortunately, tedium is a theme throughout the book. The Fortune Seller is very much a slow burn, so if you’re a fan of more plot-driven stories, be prepared to wait for the action. The ending was also a bit of a miss for me and felt incongruous with all of the events that came before.

Overall, I’d recommend The Fortune Seller for anyone that enjoys character-driven suspense novels that focus on complicated relationships. The Fortune Seller is out now. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.