Very interesting story! Definitely learned a bit more about tarot. Middle class Rosie rooms with her upper class equestrian friends and meets Annalise who she feels a connection to. This story follows Rosie and the decisions she must make as she figures out what she truly wants for her life.

Thank you for the ALC for my honest review.

I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley. Thank you for the advance reader copy! This fact does not change my review.

The narration was well done.

This book was a very interesting trip into the world of competitive horse-riding Yale elites from the perspective of one who does not feel like she fits there. It is a strong story following the twists and turns of growth, identity and changes in one's early 20s.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced audio copy. The Yale Equestrian team brings 4 girls together as friends, teammates and roommates. College especially at Yale is a time where everyone wants to fit in but not everyone grew up with the same things or comforts especially like Cressida Tate. Then Cress discovers Annelise and how well she rides and will help their Yale team and invites her to move in with them and to room with Rosie without even asking her. Rosie is very hesitant to accept someone new until she meets her and they hit it off. The mysterious Annelise reads Tarot Cards and teaches Rosie about it. There are times when the story gets slow but as Rosie starts to discover some things about Annelise everything changes and splits the girls apart as they graduate. As typical of that age they and especially Rosie is searching for her passion and her place in the world thinking most often with misguided ideals and the tarot cards become a source to help her figure out what that is. If you find it slow or you aren't sure where it is going, stick with it to see what happens and the lessons that are learned and you will be glad you did!
3.5 stars rounded up to 3
#TheFortuneSeller #NetGalley @Susanna's Bookshelf

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Fortune Seller by Rachel Kapelke-Dale will be released on February 13th, 2024.

Honestly? This book wasn't anything memorable. I found myself having a hard time paying attention and found the large amount of conversation surrounding horses to be distracting. Maybe if you are familiar with horses you would have a better opinion of the story. The author is talented, you can't argue that, but this book just wasn't exactly my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher, and author for an advanced audio in return for my honest review.

The Fortune Seller gets a solid 3.5/5 for me.

The narrator was good, though there were a few weird breaks that I’m not sure were intentional pauses or edits.

Middle-class Rosie Macalister has tried to fit in with her upper-class friends for years at Yale, never finding her place. After a year abroad she rejoins the friend group senior year to find another friend has joined the group.

As tensions rise turning the group on itself, consequences ripple out for all their futures.

I was very intrigued by the blurb which is why I request this ARC. However, the mystery seemed predictable to me, there seemed to be a few plot holes or areas that the author left for you to infer or fill in the blank that just didn’t really seem to flow with additional closures happening all around the story.

Rosie was also a pretty intolerable character, I’m unsure if the author intended this, or didn’t understand the background she was trying to convey. I would not pick this up to read again personally but I would recommend as a recent read to anyone who was looking for a mystery/thriller book to dive into next.

<b>2.5 Stars
I like the idea and overall message, but I was not a fan of the pacing</b>

In the first half of the novel, the author sets the stage for the rest of the story. However, the reader should be aware that horseback riding and fortune-telling are discussed frequently. If those topics do not interest you, then you may want to consider skipping this novel. The second half of the book is where the plot thickens. Rosie uncovers the truth behind Annelise's accident and finally realizes her true desires in life.

I thought the story had a great idea of examining how the wealthy interact with those from different backgrounds. However, I personally found the pacing to be too slow, and the MC a little flat. Overall, not for me.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Kapelke-Dale, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook
The Fortune Seller surprised me. While I love my fair share of drama at an elite college (Ninth House, Gilmore Girls, etc.), I am often not enticed by horse-related media. The Fortune Seller definitely changed that, at least a little.
Rosie, a middle class equestrian rider Illinois, joins the Yale equestrian club in hopes of raising her economic status and joining the world of the wealthy elite. In her senior year, she meets Annalise, a mysteriously talented rider and tarot card reader. As Annalise holds her own secrets, how will she affect Rosie's plans for a brighter future?

First, the narrator for this audiobook was excellent. Every character had a distinct voice, and the narration felt natural. I really enjoyed the tarot/spiritual aspects of this book in the first half. The equestrian drama was also juicy, but Rosie often felt like a background character to the plot. Rosie was driven to become a financial analyst, but her drive felt under developed. In the second half of this book, her character is comically naive, and the villains become cartoonishly mean.

While this book tried to make a point about class, the central plot left me with more questions than answers. Do middle-class people get access to the world of the elites or not? Do rich people get unfairly rewarded or not?

Ultimately, I am not a thriller-lover. If you like thrillers, you should definitely check this out. The ending was satisfying, and reminded me of The Secret History in a fun way.

The Fortune Seller is an adult mystery thriller that follows a middle-class Rosie who works to stay in the inner circle of her wealthy friends. That's the main theme throughout this story.
Going in I knew I was going to like the university setting, the mystery of a new girl in her friend group, tarot reader. Annelise is the new girl, and right away I wasn't sure if we were to like and trust her or not. And it was well written, that uneasiness. Soon a friendship develops. I like how the tarot cards play not only into the story, plot, and the characters' lives but also into the chapter headers. But when Cress, the leader of the friendship group, begins to get jealous of Annelise events unfold. Unspoken tension leads to devastation.
So there are a few twists and turns, but I wasn't surprised, I guess them. But I cared more about the relationship between Annelise and Rosei than the mystery part of the story. I like the first 75% of the book and wasn't a huge fan of the last chunk. Also, I'm not a huge horse person and there are more horse-related scenes than what I thought there were going to be.
I listened to the audiobook and it was fun. Stephanie Cannon is the narrator, felt that it was done well, and liked the different tones for each character.
Overall, I think if you do like light thrillers based around friendships, the power of money, trying to find yourself around university age, a small pinch of romance, finding truths, and answers. Then you could enjoy this read.
In the full circle of a mystery thriller of wrongs and rights, comes a story of friendships.

THE FORTUNE SELLER by Rachel Kapelke-Dale is narrated by Stephanie Cannon and will be coming on February 13th!

Rosie is finishing her years at Yale, but when she took a year off to work abroad, a new girl came into her friend group. Rosie already feels on edge since she is the only one who is a scholarship student. Annelise, a tarot reader, seems loved by the group leader (think Mean Girls), until it becomes clear that she takes too much of the attention. Rosie is caught in the middle and tries to straddle this wealthy world and keep herself from losing herself.

I really enjoyed this author's previous suspense books, so I was excited to see another title coming up! This story felt more of a coming-of-age in a dark academia setting than a true suspense. It has been likened a bit to The Cloisters, and I can see it, but this is more character development & less suspense. I do wish I had understood that better going in.

This story is a fascinating look at what can be lost when we try to make ourselves something inauthentic. The setting of massive privilege specifically with all the equestrian elite circles, showed the disconnect between classes. I had a tough time connecting to the characters in this one. I am not one who is drawn to an elite crowd, so I had a hard time with the motivations of Rosie. I also kept waiting for the slow build to lead to something. It did, but it took a while. The second part of the book felt a bit disparate, though by the end I could see how the story kept the focus on the umbrella theme of how the rich and powerful maneuver. It ended up a 3.5 Star read for me.

The narration of this book was done pretty well. For a dark academia vibe, I expected a deeper voice, but she did a great job with all the characters.

Thank you to @netgalley & @macmillan.audio for this advanced audiobook! I believe that this will be a really fascinating read for those interested in deeper character study.

This book has quite a few of my favorite things: an Ivy League setting, social commentary, mysticism… But, somehow, it just never pulled me in. Upon reading the description, I was so excited to start the story but then I had to force myself pick it up and struggled to finish. As others have mentioned, there is a lot of horse talk. Like, a lot. And that’s fine, but it just felt like too many things were happening to try to achieve a vibe. As a result, the vibe was cluttered, and not in a chic way. You know when you see someone who is wearing too many trendy things at once so they just look like a fashion victim? This was the book form of that. It felt like it was trying really hard to be cool there’s nothing less cool than conspicuous effort.

The plot also didn't twist like it thought it did. It felt like the author was holding my hand and making me stop and look at every “clue”… and then walking me around the block again to make sure I didn’t miss it. I didn’t.

I’m legitimately sad that this one fell so short for me because the elements were there, they were just all blown up to poster size and duct taped to the wall instead of effortlessly tossed on a beside table. That said, I would try other books from this author. I can’t make myself give it a *low* rating for whatever reason, even though I struggled through it. My heart tells me she has it in her.

My deepest gratitude to both NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read and review this one.

What an utterly consuming read. I was gifted an audiobook and I couldn’t stop listening to it for the entire day.
.
This is, essentially, a dark academia novel about how a middle class girl’s desire to fit in with her rich friends at Yale. The book reminded me of the yearning in Free Food for Millionaires for the “glamor” of financial jobs and their cushy salaries. The magical realism in Immoralists. And the dark, cultish ways of Secret History. God I can’t wait for this to come out and to talk about it with everyone I know.

"Fortune Seller" is an equestrian murder mystery that captivated me with its reminiscent Saltburn vibes, showcasing the nuanced dynamics of class and secret elitism. As someone who has been an equestrian for 25 years and rode on an East Coast equestrian team, I was impressed by the accuracy and authenticity of the horse/equestrian/show references, which added a layer of realism to the narrative.

The story, set against the backdrop of the Yale equestrian team, weaves a compelling coming-of-age tale with the sinister elements of privilege. The addition of the tarot subplot introduces a magical dimension, beautifully entwined with the main storyline. Rosie Macalister's character, alongside the mysterious Annelise, creates an intriguing dynamic that drives the story forward.

However, the ending of the book felt a bit underwhelming. While the author does an excellent job tying up the storylines, the conclusion seemed too predictable and straightforward. A more complex moral, or even a cliffhanger leading to a potential sequel, would have added depth to the narrative.

Despite this, "Fortune Seller" stands out for its engaging plot and spot-on equestrian details. It’s a must-read for anyone with an interest in a story that combines the thrill of high-society intrigue with an authentic equestrian backdrop, even if the finale was a bit mundane.

Rachel Kapelke-Dale's "The Fortune Seller" takes readers on a captivating journey through the complexities of college life at Yale. Set against the backdrop of the academic aspirations and elite social circles of an Ivy League school, the story follows the lives of Rosie and her college friends, whose paths intersect in unexpected ways.

Kapelke-Dale skillfully weaves a story that explores the intricacies of relationships, social standing, and the pursuit of desires. The story revolves around the arrival of Anneliese, a mysterious new girl with an extraordinary talent for tarot card reading. Her inclusion in the close-knit group introduces an air of mystery that triggers a series of events, revealing secrets and exposing vulnerabilities in the characters' lives.

What makes this novel unique is its exploration of the profound impact that differences in status, class, and ambition have on friendship. As the characters grapple with jealousy, revenge, and the lengths some are willing to go to achieve their desires, Kapelke-Dale vividly depicts the human condition under the pressure of social expectations and personal desires.

One of the strengths of this book is its portrayal of characters, each uniquely flawed yet relatable. The journey of Rosie and her friends becomes a microcosm of larger social forces within Yale's esteemed halls. The author skillfully captures the nuances of their relationship, enabling readers to empathize with the characters' challenges and successes.

Anneliese's talent for tarot reading adds an intriguing supernatural element to the narrative, enriching the story's complexity and unpredictability. Blending mystery with the realities of college life adds a layer of complexity that captivates readers and engages them in the characters' fates.

Kapelk-Dale's writing is both eloquent and accessible as the plot navigates the turbulent waters of ambition and competition. The pacing is well executed, ensuring the story unfolds with the right balance of tension and resolution. The author's astute observations of human behavior and social dynamics enhance the narrative, transforming it into more than just a story about college friendships but also a commentary on universal themes of human nature.

I awarded "The Fortune Seller" four and a half stars for its compelling storytelling, well-drawn characters, and thought-provoking exploration of societal dynamics. This book lingers in the mind, prompting reflection on the choices we make in our pursuit of success and the impact these choices have on our relationships. Rachel Kapelke-Dale has crafted a novel that is not only entertaining but also resonates with profound truths about the human experience.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Kapelke-Dale, and S.t Martin's Press for the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in exchange for my honest review. The book is set to be released on February 13, 2024.

This is a cross between a rich-people's reality show (Kardashians) and a murder mystery. So, everything that I like!

Rosie Macalister is a middle-class girl who goes to Yale. She joins the equestrian team and becomes friends with all the rich girls - way tooo rich for her. She struggles to fit in with her friends. Things become a bit better for her when after spending a year in Argentina the group of friends has a new girl - Annelise. She's mysterious but nice, plus she is sharing a room with Rosie, which means less money in rent.

Annelise does tarot readings for all the girls, until... she doesn't.

The narrator of this audiobook is AMAZING. If I were rating her I'd give her 5 stars! Back to the book...each chapter starts with a tarot card which I thought was really interesting. I like her white people problems, and I can relate to the fact that she was middle class and ended up in a world with way richer people than she is. Of course there are people with real problems in the world, but I like this 'coming of age' aspect when she realizes that for her rural standards her family was rich, but for NYC/Yale standards she is poor as hell.

I am docking one star because the ending is a bit rushed. I wanted the satisfaction of getting an ending for Tori as well. I recommend for people who like mystery novels, rich people's gossip, and tarot.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy is exchange for my honest review.

This book was a bit twisted but in an interesting way. The characters remained true to themselves throughout the whole book unapologetic. The main character and pov is the one that moves around others and sees the truths around them. Nicely done.

The Fortune Seller by Rachael Kapelke-Dale
Release date 2/13/2024
Audio Arc review

There were many things that made this book a most enjoyable listen for me. I loved, loved the tie in with the Tarot cards and how well this was woven into this coming of age story. It wrapped around a dark Ivy academia and some shadings of equestrian sport. All in all I find it a propulsive listen, one that kept me listening far into the night when I should have been sleeping.

It is contemporary fiction set in the early 2000’s and begins when four Yale women, close friends, return for their senior year. Three of these friends have meet through their involvement in the equestrian team. A new girl, Annelise, an exceptional rider has been accepted into this tight circle and has moved into the house the girls have rented for this last year. The story line is linear told by Rosie, who feels herself a little outside her rich friends, hardly able to afford the current living situation and works hard to keep this fact hidden and be one of the group. She is called on to share a room with Annelise and while at first she resents this the two women become close friends. Rosie finds Annelise different from anyone she has previously known, a little of a hippie and while very private about her life appears to Rosie to be from a working class family. Annelise is a tarot card reader and loves to read the cards for her new friends.

The author uses this element of the Tarot deck to highlight parts of the story. Each chapter begins with an explanation of a card in the deck and how it might be interpreted. It helps to highlight and move the plot forward in most interesting ways. It gave an extra facet to what might otherwise been a predictable story and kept me listening. (I also went back to the library to get a book on the Tarot so I could see the cards as well as listen to what they might represent). I found that device fascinating and so well used.

As can be guessed all does not go well for this group, Annelise or the friendship. Rosie finds her loyalties divided and tragedy strikes. Rosie begins to question her own values and all she believed to be true or is it? And who really is Annelise?

It was a good mystery but less complex than I would have liked. I wanted more from it. At its end I felt a little let down. What could have been a 5 star read dropped to 4. Predictable and it stretched believability at times. Two much black and white, not enough shades of gray in the characterizations. I did love much about it, the Tarot tie in, the propulsive plot, the mystery of Annelise but Rosie felt a little too naive for an Ivy graduate in finance. Too often she felt like little girl lost without the gumption that got her from parochial beginnings to a Ivy school in the first place.

The audio was a great listen. Narrated by Stephanie Cannon who was a perfect voice for Rosie and with just enough inflection and change that the voice of Annelise was perfect as well. She really did an incredible job. While there are several characters I never had any problems knowing who was speaking or where I was in the story, not easy to do by one narrator with an all female cast of characters. Would highly recommend this format but I still wished at times I had the print, mostly so I could read faster as I was so hooked and intrigued wanting to know who Annelise is and that reveal I knew was coming.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Audio ARC

About 40% into this book I stopped came to Goodreads and read reviews about the book and for the most part people loved it and so I finished it because at that point I really was over the book but some reviewer‘s who I really respect and mostly agree with t like the book I finished it and OMG I am so glad I did! The book is about Rosie McAllister who gets in to Yale on an equestrian scholarship and the friends she makes who are Uber rich. One of them is Cressida her father is Rosie‘s idol a true New York money magnet then there’s Andra whose father is a chocolate tier… He makes chocolate candy and last but not least is Lila who is Uberrich because her parents were both attorneys and in the words of Rosie they worked for a living. Rosie however is the daughter of two country veterinarians and all that applies. Send you dear when Rosie returns from her year abroad in Argentina Cressida has been telling her about this new girl Annalise and how she does taro readings and she’s just fabulous and an awesome rider, she was at Stanford but switched to Yale (because that happens every day right?). In any event Rosie comes back and they’re living in the dean of finances home a beautiful Victorian but Rosie has to share a room with Anna Lise something at first she’s not happy about but wants her and the girl meets slowly but surely Rosie likes her much more than she thought but when Christina notices money missing she immediately thinks it’s in the lease it isn’t long after Anna Lise has a accident during equestrian practice… Or was it an accident at all? Then the book jumps to Rosie working for Cressidas dad Grayson it’s after graduation and soon Andra becomes her roommate. She also starts getting text from someone named Tori… OK I’m just going on and on there’s going to be another murder and Cresidas star starts to fade and Rosie starts to see things in a whole new lite. Just trust me this book is so good it’s not a murder mystery per se but OMG it’s good I didn’t like it at first because I thought Rosie was so obsessed with morning and then saying she was poor when… Really like they say in the book there’s a difference between being poor and being broke and Rosie my friend it’s not poor. I am so glad I came to Goodreads and read reviews no trusted reviewer‘s because I continued the book and I absolutely enjoyed it it was so good the further it gets into it the less I wanted to stop listening because yes I listen to the audiobook and the narrator was top notch which seems to be par for the course lately. Not to mention there are those in the book that have secrets that totally floored me I did not see that coming neither time but either way this is a great book with a great narrator and even when you think you’re over it I would continue to talk because it gets so much better and Rosie totally redeemed her self at least to me she does… An awesome awesome dog. I want to thank McMillan audio and Net Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Rosie Macalister has worked hard to fit in with her Yale equestrian team but after spending a year aboard she’s worried about being replaced by newcomer Annelise Tattinger. A brilliant rider and a tarot card reader, Annelise is nothing what Rosie expected and is unexplainably draw to her. As tensions in the house start mounting, and everyone’s place in the circle start to come into question decisions are made that lead to devastating consequences. After graduation, Rosie beings to fully understand who Annelise was and knows that Annelise came to Yale for a reason.

This gave me all the vibes Katy Hay’s The Cloisters which I read last year especially with the Tarot aspect. Both books rely heavily on creating an allusion of magical realism but neither actually takes the plunge into the realm of magic. Which for me is a disappointment. Both are more character driven, coming of age stories that infiltrate the lives of the wealthy. I would say that The Fortune Seller has a bit more ‘action’ in the sense that there is a mystery element, but it’s a slow burn. I don’t think I would have made it through this story without the audiobook, but even then, I was only ever partially invested. Stephanie Cannon’s voice though is incredibly soothing which is why I think I kept listening.

I will say that this book is heavvvy on the horses and equestrian lifestyle. It’s not necessarily a detractor but I did have to look up a few things since I’m not familiar with that world much. I read Girls and Their Horses last year, and while it’s also big on horses I felt more in line with the story and less like I was learning a new sport.

I didn’t particularly love Rosie either, her lack of self-motivation (I guess you could call it) irked me. You’re a senior and haven’t done a single internship or applied for the jobs you think you deserve. The Enneagram 3 in me just can’t deal with that type of limp fish. none of the other characters besides Annelise is particularly likable either but I just wish it would have been more of a page turner story, instead of so drawn out. If you love horses or really enjoy more atmospheric read vs plot-based reads than this book is for you, otherwise you might want to skip.


The Fortune Seller comes out February 13, 2024. Huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my copy in exchange for an honest review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.

Great book would highly recommend, dazzling read will keep you entertained from page one to the end.

I really enjoyed this book. I love the title, cover and theme of this book. I also loved that they started of the chapters with a bit of fortune telling or starting of each chapter with the symbols. I thought the characters were well developed and really loved the dynamics between each of them. I would definitely suggest giving this one a read.