I really liked this book and the characters sucked me in a lot and I wanted to be friends with them yet also didn't and it made me feel like I was a college aged again.

Thankyou NetGalley for this arc copy; I loved the characters in this book from the start your sucked in by Bette character as she convinces Marin to change majors to suit her lifestyle better. From then you get a true insight on what Bette is like in this story. At times I did feel the place of the book was so but it did still grip me. I was a bit disappointed in the plot twist however it still didn’t deter me from continuing to read

DNF unfortunately. Couldn't get into it at all. I didn't mind the writing it wasn't bad but wasn't great. The Banter was sub par and slightly confusing. I felt like the friendship between the two MC was very Insta friendship with no real buildup. Not for me!

It was really depressing to read about Marin and how her life is destroyed by the horrible Bette while she somehow thinks she is her friend and a person she loves. Marin comes from a problematic background and wants a new life and be seen but to be that naïve and fall for all that shit coming from Bette and her companions is a bit unbelievable. I also had severe issues with all the drinking and the drugs throughout the whole book.

I wanted to like this book, but it was for sure not for me, I never felt that much for Marin. She kind of got what she deserved in a way.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the arc

Some spoilers ahead

I've been sitting on this review for a little while, trying to decide how I want to approach this review. I think I've decided what I want to say but I'm going to try to be concise, which is always a difficult task for me! (Note from future me: I did not manage to be concise and brief. Oops!)

I liked this book. Let's start there!

I also liked Marin and found her very relatable. She's a college student, searching for a purpose, for something more. She finds that sense of purpose in Bette -- a rich, enigmatic fellow student who quickly pulls Marin into her orbit.

Bette herself is a fascinating character. She's not really nice -- in fact shortly after meeting Marin, she forces her to switch her major to something she finds more acceptable -- but you also can't help but be drawn into her personality and to want to know more, a testament to the strong character Liautaud has created. Just like Marin, the reader gets sucked into Bette's world.

And it's a chaotic one at that! Drugs and booze and all around bad choices run rampant -- and I was enthralled every second of it. In many ways Marin is a somewhat unreliable narrator, which just adds to the drama and intensity. She becomes more unreliable the closer she gets to Bette.

I'm gonna quickly review some of the other major characters before moving on to the plot and other aspects.

Harry I really liked. He ends up being more than he originally seemed and he cares deeply for Ozzie. Ozzie is a fun character who is similar to Marin in many ways regarding his connection to Bette, but he also adds humor and a valuable additional perspective. I liked Martin a lot and the way he cared for Marin. I did get him and Scott confused a couple of times (though they could not be more different).

Marin's mother was interesting simply because of the way Marin sees her. At first, she loves and seeks her out while she's first at college. Then, as she's more involved with Bette, she sees her mother and her past life as embarrassing and has a lot of disdain for it, then at the end she comes back around and realizes she was taking her for granted. Marin's father, I didn't have particularly strong feelings about -- in fact, I don't know if we ever actually see him on page.

Sergie was another "good" character because of how he served as a foil between Bette and Marin. Both of their care and feelings for him are questionable at best, as they use him to get under each other's skin.

There's another character, but I'm going to save my analysis on them for just a second.

What worked for me: the descent into chaos, essentially. It continues to build and spiral until it's out of control. The building of tension went hand in hand with that descent as well, creating stakes that feel real. I also liked the handling of the sexual assault/rape. The depictions were hard to read, but I appreciated that there wasn't a subplot of characters not believing those who had been assaulted and that in the end they received the justice they deserved.

The pacing I'm going to put in the middle -- some parts were great, some were too fast, and some parts were too slow. Overall, it didn't affect my experience too much, but I did notice it.

Now for what unfortunately wasn't working for me: (MAJOR SPOILER WARNING) The twin plot. Sigh. To sum it up, Bette killed her twin sister, but surprise, she's actually the one she claimed died! It's just a plot that's far too over done. We've all read it a million times. They second they revealed she had a twin at all I knew that's where we were going. For once, I'd really love a twin plot to be just even a little more original! It's not necessarily bad, I just didn't think it added anything to the plot. It could've been omitted entirely and there'd be no difference.

I also wish we got more resolution for Ozzie and I don't think Marin's last conversation with Bette's father added much either, other than her getting her money and exposing Bette, I liked it in the beginning to set the scene and then by the end I found it a little bit unnecessary after everything. It did work to tie things back together, but I also could've done without.

This isn't a critique but I also did want to touch on that while this was under the LGBTQ+ category and certainly does feature several queer characters, this is not a romance at all! Marin does say she loved Bette but is not explicit about her identity and sleeps with men, as does Bette. While she and Bette do sleep together (and have a threesome with Sergie) to me personally it wasn't clear if Marin was actually attracted to her or was just under her spell, so to speak. Bette is also mentioned to have slept with other girls, but only as a way to manipulate them.

Overall, despite my few issues, I liked this book a lot. Once I got into it, I was able to work through it pretty quickly. I always love a story about bad people doing bad things, and those who they suck into their worlds. The description of Bette's extravagant life was lush and really helped to build the scene. I enjoyed reading this!

3 stars

Marin has recently transferred to a new college during her junior year, struggling to fit in with her peers, when she meets Bette. As the two grow closer, Marin is drawn deeper into a world of privilege and a lifestyle of partying, with the lines of their friendship blurring and twisting. As Marin uncovers secrets from Bette's past, danger draws closer and closer.

I thought this novel was well written and I enjoyed the premise. I found myself invested in the outcome and driven to find out what events would happen to Marin.

I did find the storyline to be a bit repetitive and found the ending confrontations to be lackluster.

Overall, I give this novel 3.5 stars out of 5.

I was completely enthralled with Butterfly Pinned by Leslie Liautaud. Not only did this book capture the elements of wealth and materialism, but it detailed the struggles of a young woman navigating life trying to find herself in the midst of family, school, and social acceptance. There where times when I could relate some of the themes of this work to that of The Great Gatsby in that there was a detachment from consequences and the main character often felt isolated rationalizing self destructive choices and relationships. I was not expecting this book to evoke such connection and empathy to a character and possess such depth in the story line.

Thank you, Blue Handle Publishing for the copy of Butterfly Pinned by Leslie Liautaud. I was intrigued by the story, but the writing style felt old-fashioned and not easy to get into. Marin and Bette’s relationship starts out interesting, but the foray into dark art and all of the drinking and pills were off-putting. The ‘big reveal’ was predictable. I'm not sure this book was for me, but it might be for you if you don’t mind reading about yet another woman who abuses booze and drugs and surprise, surprise,it gets her in trouble, you will love this book. 2 stars, and I hate to rate books so low. I probably should have known by the cheesy title.

This book takes you on a journey through friendship and life. As you read you will see insights into the characters that will have you questioning life and love. It was powerful and the author kept me reading. Thought out the night.

I’d recommend starting in the morning because once you start you will want to keep reading.

Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A really enjoyable read. A very powerful look at how friendships can be toxic. Also how they impact not only our lives but changes our psyche. The book follows Marin and Bette. How their friendship begins and gradually builds. I'm not going to say what happens in the friendship as this will ruin it for you. What I will say is this books delves inside both girls and highlights all their vulnerability. I think the author does this very well you cannot help but sometimes love and hate the characters. It's a very tense action packed read but also with a sinister undercurrent. Which as a reader compelled me to want to finish to see the end result. This is a very thought provoking book which makes you resonate and empathise with the characters. This again as a reader keeps you gripped right till the very end. The ending itself is perfect. I would definitely recommend this book. I imagine like me this book will stay with you long after reading it.

Butterfly Pinned by Leslie Liautaud is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that delves into the complexities of love, loss, and resilience. The story follows the life of the protagonist, who navigates a tumultuous journey marked by personal tragedies, heartbreak, and the struggle to find meaning and redemption. Liautaud’s writing is raw and evocative, drawing readers into the inner world of her characters with vivid descriptions and poignant storytelling.

One of the standout aspects of the book is its exploration of human vulnerability and strength. The metaphor of a "butterfly pinned" serves as a powerful symbol of fragility and the ways in which individuals can feel trapped or immobilized by their circumstances. Yet, the novel also offers a message of hope, emphasizing the possibility of healing and transformation.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, each grappling with their own demons and striving for connection. Liautaud’s ability to portray the intricacies of relationships—both romantic and familial—adds depth to the narrative, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in stories about the human condition.

While the book deals with heavy themes, it is ultimately a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. The pacing is steady, with moments of tension and introspection that keep readers engaged. Some may find the emotional intensity overwhelming at times, but it is this very intensity that makes the story so impactful.

Overall, Butterfly Pinned is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that leaves a lasting impression. It is a story of pain, love, and the enduring hope for renewal, making it a worthwhile read for fans of contemporary fiction and character-driven narratives.