Thank you MacMillan Audio for the review copy, this was an excellent production for Sara Silgar's new book Vantage Point and I appreciated how stylized parts of the audio were and the performances from all three voice actors, particularly Helen Laser who is becoming a favorite narrator. This is a complex story, one that if filled with themes on AI and gaslighting, on rich people problems and mental health and viral videos, and one that leans into the messy toxicity of famous, in the public eye family relationships. What stood out was the development of the story, how Silgar plays with Clara's storyline to twist and turn the story around to the reader as well as to her characters, and how the story leans into, more than expected, the role of deep fake videos, how harmful use of AI can wreck lives and cause those dominoes to fall as they will until more and more people are hurt. What worked less for me for the book, not the production per se, was how really unlikable each character was , I felt no real connection to the characters, I wasn't sure I really cared enough to know what was going on even though the plot was though provoking... when I can't find myself really wanting redemption for anyone it's hard to really like a book. That being said, this is one read that is worth discussing for the bigger themes explored and introduced. 4 star plot, 3 star execution.

NOTE: themes on mental health, substance use, and eating disorders are present.

The lives of a small Maine family and their bid for power in politics. There’s something sinister going on beneath the surface. By the description, I thought I would enjoy this book much more than I did. It was a bit of a slog in places and as a native Mainer myself, I found the descriptions of the land and the people to be those of someone who hasn’t spent any real time in the state