Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton

May 15, 2018

Social Creature is a vulgar glimpse into the lives of incredibly unstable people and the repercussions of their truly vile decisions. Tantalizing, repulsive, and you cannot put it down despite the bizarre storyline. It’s akin to addictive tv shows (I’m looking at you Vampire Diaries/Pretty Little Liars) where you just HAVE to know the ending. The writing is fast and compelling, despite the excessive crude subject matter(s) and definitely doesn’t read like a debut novel. 



Lavinia will never go. She is going to die soon.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I have never been to New York nor do I associate with people similar to the characters in Social Creature and I must say, thank goodness! As the tale unravels more unsavory bits are revealed through the eyes of Louise, our main character who is a self-proclaimed screw-up (although her choice of words are much more...colourful). While, likened to Donna Tartt's writing, there were only minute ghosts, if only in the character of Hal with the same unrelenting and brash personality as Bunny, from The Secret History. The rest of the characters are either overly pretentious (which also is reminiscent of Tartt's characters), especially Lavinia who just wants 'to live!' or another fly caught in Lavinia's drug infused web. I'd say the only character with any merit is Cordelia, Lavinia's sister (unfortunately).

If you liked The Secret History, Gossip Girl, or The Talented Mr Ripley, I would say there’s a good chance you’d like Social Creature
Social Creature is set to be published in June 2018. 

Thank you to Doubleday for sending me this ARC! 

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