This is narrated by an over-privileged main character. I really could not relate to the main character, and I was disappointed to see that she had very little growth or character development through the novel.

This book has stuck with me since reading it. Such strong character development and a foundational mystery.

While her family struggles with her sister’s health issues, Rachel, a rising college freshman, is sent to spend the summer with her aunt and uncle in Connecticut. She’s supposedly there to “help” her aunt with her toddler-aged cousin—but it turns out the kid already has a full-time nanny, Claudia. A recent college grad, Claudia is sophisticated and fun, and quickly takes Rachel under her wing. The story is narrated by the future 30-something Rachel—and she warns us through cryptic clues that it will end in scandal and tragedy. As Rachel and Claudia embark on their fun summer, we know that it will take a turn for the disastrous.

This story is well-crafted, and the vague foreshadowing works particularly well. Even in the sunniest scenes, there is a sense of foreboding. It also explores race and class in a nuanced way through the experiences of Rachel, who is white, and Claudia, who is Black. Neither girl fits neatly into an archetype. Rachel is from an upper middle class home, but her aunt and uncle are uber wealthy and she gets to vicariously experience the life of the ultra privileged. Claudia is a highly educated artist, the sister of Rachel’s aunt’s colleague. But when things fall apart, the gap between how she and Rachel are perceived becomes shockingly clear.

Be warned that this story is a very sad one, but it’s also fascinating. It’s a literary page-turner that will especially appeal to fans of books like Little Fires Everywhere.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to an eARC of this book.

This is a book that will stay with you and you will find yourself thinking about often- the best kind of story. Did not read like a debut; it was complex, had a point of view and was engaging.

3.5/5. An interesting story, a slow burn but a great payoff. I couldn't connect to Rachel, who was a terrible person, but I still really enjoyed her story and her arc. Lots of disturbing, shocking moments here, but I've never read anything like this before.

What a ride! I enjoyed reading Greenwich by Kate Broad. The story was well written and mysterious. The writing style is polished and intellectual. The characters were multi-layered and felt real. I'm looking forward to Kate Broad's next novel. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

Kate Broad's debut novel, Greenwich, is a compelling exploration of class, race, and moral complexity set against the backdrop of affluent Connecticut. The story follows 17-year-old Rachel Fiske, who spends the summer before her senior year at her aunt and uncle's estate, where a tragic event unfolds, challenging her perceptions of privilege and complicity. Broad's nuanced portrayal of Rachel's internal struggles and the societal dynamics at play offers a thought-provoking narrative that lingers long after the final page. The novel's atmospheric setting and richly developed characters draw readers into a world where every choice carries weight and consequences. Greenwich is a standout debut that will resonate with fans of literary fiction and social commentary.

Thank you for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review. I was enthralled by this book and the twists and turns kept me guessing. Loved it!

Greenwich is a riveting debut that elegantly straddles literary suspense and coming-of-age, as teenage Rachel spends a transformative—and tragic—summer in her aunt and uncle’s affluent Connecticut enclave. Against manicured lawns and genteel garden parties, Rachel becomes captivated by Claudia, the live-in babysitter, sparking a tense, morally charged exploration of desire, complicity, and class. Kate Broad’s atmospheric prose shelters a penetrating critique of privilege—especially how whiteness and power shield wrongdoing—while refusing tidy moral judgments. The emotional hold tightens as small compromises cumulate into tragic consequences, and the aftermath leaves no easy redemption in sight.

I know the real Greenwich, Connecticut and Kate Broad's GREENWICH accurately captures how the bizarre mix of astounding wealth, privilege, and social hierarchy can result in twisted, terrible realities of daily living for the ones caught up in the never-ending cycle of meeting expectations to be bright, brilliant, charitable, empathetic, and extremely successful. Newcomer Rachel is dropped into the quiet turmoil of her aunt and uncle's house and finds herself challenged at every turn, figuring out who and what matters most and what life she wants to live. This book could be a wonderful book club discussion. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Thank you netgalley for the arc of Greenwich in exchange for my honest review. Greenwich is a story told by seventeen year old Rachel who is sent to Greenwich Connecticut to stay with her aunt and uncle because her younger sister is sick. Her cousin Sabine has a babysitter named Claudia who Rachel ends up obsessing over. When tragedy strikes Rachel makes a choice that she has to live with but she doesnt seem too effected. Four stars

I so wanted to love this novel and there were a lot of elements I did thoroughly enjoy, particularly starting around 70%. I struggle with novels that lay on the foreshadowing too thick. It was obvious something devastating was coming and I was glad that Broad didn’t drag that out past 60% or so.

Rachel was not a relatable or likable character for me. She was hard to root for and her nativity and clinginess were irksome. As the novel progressed into the later plot line, my dislike for her grew and she became completely irredeemable. I do think had Rachel been a more likable character, it could have improved my experience with this book.

I also think a linear timeline could have improved this novel for me. Different perspectives from the aunt and Claudia could have added depth and a more well rounded dynamic.

Overall, this book has potential. The ending was actually excellent and saved it for me, but getting there was a bit of a slog. I’d be interested to see how Broad grows as an author and I’ll definitely be checking out her next work as she’s clearly talented.

I listened to Greenwich on audio and the narrator did a really nice job. She imbued Rachel’s youth and naivety flawlessly and kept the occasional slow pace of the plot moving nicely.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the copy.

Oof… this one is heavy. Greenwich centers on status, race, power, morals, family ties and coming-of-age desire. This slow-burn of a novel is captivating but unsettling — one that will sit with you for a long time, even after turning the last page. Needless to say, I will be picking up the next book Kate Broad writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced reader in exchange for my honest review.

Kate Broad does an excellent job showcasing privilege and how people sometimes have to choose between maintaining it vs doing what is right. This was a quick read for me, and I attribute that to the book's fast pace and the author's ability to write a story one cannot put down.

Thanks for the arc. I overall enjoyed this story. The writing and the characters had me glued to the page, having to know what would happen. It wasnt a pretty story or one with a HEA but despite that and the tragedy, I still really enjoyed this one. I love a flawed character and would have liked to see these characters realize their mistakes and faults and own up to them more. While its hard to read about messy bad characters, its unfortunately a fact of life. This story is one to open eyes and hopefully make more people aware of the consequences of their actions especially if they're selfish and entitled. A good message.

The perfect summer suspense! After a falling out with her high school friends, Rachel decides to spend the summer before college living with her aunt, uncle, and cousin in Greenwich. At first, everything seems glamorous - their enormous old home, days spent swimming and lunching at the club with her little cousin. Rachel even becomes fast friends with her cousin's live-in nanny, Claudia. Soon, though, Rachel learns that both her aunt and uncle are harboring dangerous secrets. Then, when tragedy strikes, everyone's world is rocked and carefully spun lies begin to unravel. The question is, who will end up paying the price?

I really liked the late 1990's setting, and also that it wasn't just a formulaic summer suspense. The author explores issues of race and class as the events of Rachel's summer unfold. I found the first half a bit slow, but once the plot picked up it was hard to put down!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's Rachel's senior year in high school and hasn't been a good one. She's made some stupid social moves, her best friends have turned into mean girls, and her younger sister is diagnosed with cancer. What's supposed to be a free and fun summer before going to college turns into living with her wealthy aunt and uncle in Greenwich, CT., where she learns having money isn't always all it's cracked up to be.
Rachel turned out, for me at least, to be a really unlikable character and I kept wishing she had found a good therapist. Her character might have been more balanced if there was more of an exploration of her family dynamics. Did the challenge of being in a family where a sibling has a life-threatening illness cause her psychological issues? Or, were they long standing and simply not addressed by her parents? Overall, the story moved slowly during the first half of the book and I would have also been interested in seeing more about Claudia's background and subsequent time in prison.
Greenwich is a debut novel and I look forward to reading more by Ms. Broad.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read Greenwich. I received a complimentary copy of the book and opinions expressed are completely my own.

3.5 stars. The writing was good, super visceral. but overall a tough subject to read. None of the characters were likable but I don’t think any of them were meant to be. I wanted to know how it ended but also felt sick to my stomach reading it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel—it’s the kind of story that made me reflect on the characters and the choices they make even after the final page. The narrative centers on 17-year-old Rachel, who spends the summer with her affluent aunt and uncle in Greenwich, Connecticut. To Rachel, their world embodies wealth and privilege, a stark contrast to her own life, and she quickly feels like an outsider. Her growing friendship with the family’s nanny, Claudia, further highlights the disparities in power and privilege within the household, and she soon uncovers that not everything is as perfect as it appears. The story takes a dramatic turn after a tragic accident, with repercussions shaped by the characters’ decisions—especially Rachel’s. Rachel is not entirely likeable, but it was compelling to see how unresolved guilt, grief, and regret shape her identity and relationships over time. I enjoyed the author’s writing, and I’m excited to see what she writes next.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Greenwich by Kate Broad is a slow-burn debut that captures the hazy, restless energy of late adolescence against the backdrop of wealth, privilege, and secrets. Set in the summer of 1999, it follows almost-eighteen-year-old Rachel Fiske as she spends the season with her wealthy aunt and uncle in Greenwich, Connecticut. Drifting on the edges of adult worlds she doesn’t fully understand, Rachel grows close to Claudia, the babysitter, only to have her summer—and her future—shattered by a tragic accident and the moral dilemma that follows.

Broad’s writing is atmospheric and evocative, especially in capturing the languid, uncertain moments of coming-of-age. The exploration of complicity, class, and power feels timely and layered, and the themes of desire and moral ambiguity are handled with thoughtfulness. Rachel’s attraction to Claudia is one of the novel’s most compelling elements, bringing an intimacy and vulnerability that feels genuine.

Where the book falters is in its pacing and character depth. The story takes its time building, and at times the tension felt stretched thin. While the central accident is gripping, some of the characters orbiting Rachel come across more as archetypes than fully fleshed-out people, which diluted the emotional stakes. The novel’s commentary on wealth and whiteness is sharp but occasionally heavy-handed, which lessened its impact.
Overall, Greenwich is a promising and thought-provoking debut that delivers atmosphere and moral tension but doesn’t fully land its emotional punch. Readers who enjoy slow, contemplative literary fiction with themes of privilege and complicity may find it rewarding, even if it leaves some threads unresolved.