Andrea Dunlop | SHE REGRETS NOTHING

Plot (via Goodreads):

When Laila Lawrence becomes an orphan at twenty-three, the sudden loss unexpectedly introduces her to three glamorous cousins from New York who show up unannounced at her mother’s funeral. The three siblings are scions of the wealthy family from which Laila’s father had been estranged long before his own untimely demise ten years before.

Two years later, Laila has left behind her quiet life in Grosse Point, Michigan to move to New York City, landing her smack in the middle of her cousins’ decadent world. As the truth about why Laila’s parents became estranged from the family patriarch becomes clear, Laila grows ever more resolved to claim what’s rightfully hers. Caught between longing for the love of her family and her relentless pursuit of the lifestyle she feels she was unfairly denied, Laila finds herself reawakening a long dead family scandal—not to mention setting off several new ones—as she becomes further enmeshed in the lives and love affairs of her cousins. But will Laila ever, truly, belong in their world? Sly and sexy, She Regrets Nothing is a sharply observed and utterly seductive tale about family, fortune, and fate—and the dark side of wealth.

Review:

SHE REGRETS NOTHING by Andrea Dunlop is a deeply addictive and unsettlingly dark novel that is perfect for fans of Gossip Girl. Dunlop has written a fun read that starts off light, like a gossip column that ropes you in before a series of stormy events take this gossip-feeling novel and turns it upside down.

It took me about 70 pages to fully get into this one as I felt it was kind of light and cliche to begin with and then the story started to take some turns that felt wild, impulsive, and generously deceptive. At first, this novel gives us a look into New York elite that only scratches the surface as to what is really happening under the Lawrence family name. Dunlop has written a genius amount of characters that may seem familiar with stories of similar nature, but changes things and throws the cliches out the window as you become addicted to all of the stories involved, including Laila's journey into finding out who her family really is. 

I found myself addictive, eating up pages left and right, ignoring my responsibilities, guzzling coffee, and hungry for more. The pacing with this novel is that of a thriller wrapped up in cashmere with secrets to die for. I loved how this novel began seemingly light with an air of innocence like a gentle breeze. As you get deeper into the lives of these characters and secrets are revealed, that breeze turns into a howling wind that throws you into the most treacherous storm of your life. With plenty of twists and turns, this is not only literary fiction sprinkled with drama, but there's an element of psychological suspense that would make this the perfect unique read for fans of Desperate Housewives, Gossip Girl, and anyone curious as to what can be hidden behind doors of your favorite celebrities.

Special thanks to BookSparks for providing me with this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4/5