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Heiresses #1
The Heiresses
From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars, comes The Heiresses—a novel about the Saybrooks, a diamond family blessed with beauty and fortune yet plagued by a string of tragic and mysterious deaths.
The only thing more flawless than a Saybrook’s solitaire is the family behind the diamond empire. Beauties, entrepreneurs, debutantes, and mavens, the Saybrooks are the epitome of high society. Anyone would kill to be one of them. But be careful what you wish for, because if you were a Saybrook, you’d be haunted by secrets and plagued by a dark streak of luck.
Tragedy strikes the prominent family yet again on a beautiful morning in May when thirty-four-year-old Poppy, the most remarkable Saybrook of them all, flings herself from the window of her office. Everyone is shocked that someone so perfect would end her own life—until her cousins receive an ominous warning: One heiress down, four to go.
Was it suicide . . . or murder? And who will be next: Aster, the beautiful but reckless girl who’s never worked a day in her life—and who’s covering up her father’s darkest secret? Her older sister, Corrine, whose meticulously planned future is about to come crashing down around her? Perhaps it will be Natasha, the black sheep of the family who suddenly disinherited herself five years ago. Or maybe the perpetually single Rowan, who had the most to gain from her cousin’s death.
A gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller about heiresses who must uncover a dark truth about their family before they lose the only thing money can’t buy: their lives.
The only thing more flawless than a Saybrook’s solitaire is the family behind the diamond empire. Beauties, entrepreneurs, debutantes, and mavens, the Saybrooks are the epitome of high society. Anyone would kill to be one of them. But be careful what you wish for, because if you were a Saybrook, you’d be haunted by secrets and plagued by a dark streak of luck.
Tragedy strikes the prominent family yet again on a beautiful morning in May when thirty-four-year-old Poppy, the most remarkable Saybrook of them all, flings herself from the window of her office. Everyone is shocked that someone so perfect would end her own life—until her cousins receive an ominous warning: One heiress down, four to go.
Was it suicide . . . or murder? And who will be next: Aster, the beautiful but reckless girl who’s never worked a day in her life—and who’s covering up her father’s darkest secret? Her older sister, Corrine, whose meticulously planned future is about to come crashing down around her? Perhaps it will be Natasha, the black sheep of the family who suddenly disinherited herself five years ago. Or maybe the perpetually single Rowan, who had the most to gain from her cousin’s death.
A gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller about heiresses who must uncover a dark truth about their family before they lose the only thing money can’t buy: their lives.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2014
358 people are currently reading
11209 people want to read
About the author
Sara Shepard
128 books14.7k followersSara Shepard graduated from NYU and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. She has lived in New York City, Brooklyn, Tucson, Arizona, Philadelphia, and now lives in Pittsburgh, PA. Sara's Pretty Little Liars novels were inspired by her upbringing in Philadelphia's Main Line.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 804 reviews
May 25, 2014
"My life’s sort of in danger. I should probably lie low.”Don't let my rating fool you, this book is unbelievably bad, but sometimes, I just want a trashy book.
“You sound a little Kim Kardashian overdramatic, honey."
Everyone's cheating on everyone else. People are fucking like rabbits. Beloved cousin's husband? Doesn't matter. Engaged to an awesome oil billionaire and college sweetheart and THIS close to being married? Doesn't matter. Dad's friend? Doesn't matter. A 50-something screwing an underaged girl? Go for it. Sex tapes? Yep! Villains who sneak around with shifty eyes? Check! A family curse? It's there! Shadowy people lurking in corners? Got it! Secret babies and pregnancies? You bet! #whitegirlproblems? Fuck yeah! #richpeopleproblems? You got it!
So why do I like this book? Sometimes, I just don't want to think. This is bad and entertaining in the same vein as Passions or Gossip Girl or *shudders* Reign. Oh, I know how bad Reign on the CW is. I mean, it portrays 17th century France as some sort of medieval fantasy, in which the ladies in court wear prom dresses, and says "Fuck you" to historical accuracy. It's really fucking bad, and I watch it like I can watch a train wreck: in horrified fascination. This is that sort of book.
This book is trashy. It is brain candy. It is mental floss. There is no thinking involved whatsoever. I haven't read Pretty Little Liars but I know the premise, and to me, this book is an adult Pretty Little Liars mixed with Gossip Girl. It is so, so bad, trust me. Unless you are prepared to be amused by this book, you're not going to like it.
Did I say it's bad? It's bad. In case I forgot to mention it in the previous three paragraphs or something. I sometimes have a tendency to underemphasize things *snort*
The Summary:
They were the heiresses, all right, the sparkling princesses of a family that might or might not be doomed. But by Edith’s standards, they hadn’t been behaving like heiresses at all.The Saybrooks are American royalty. Like the Kennedys, without the political empire, but with everything else besides that. All-American good looks. The money. The star power. The family curse. The notoriety that comes with it.
And it was only a matter of time before the world found out.
No one could get enough of the legendary American family that was so blessed with fortune and beauty, yet cursed with a string of mysterious sudden deaths.There's Corinne, 27-year old businesswoman, engaged to Texan oil heir Dixon. Corinne, successful, but plain.
Corinne spent enough money on her looks, but her long forehead, square jaw, and thick eyebrows equated to something more handsome than pretty. Her shoulders were broad like her father’s, her chest small like her mother’s, her legs too thick and pale even after hours of Pilates, countless meals uneaten, and thousands spent on spray-tanning.And not enough to win the love of her parents, who dote on her younger sister, 23-year old Aster, radiant with beauty, a wild socialite/party girl who's scared straight and forced to *gasp* work, when her parents get fed up of her wild ways.
“It’s time you got a job. I’ve talked to HR, and they’re finding an assistant position for you in one of the departments.”Rowan is their cousin, 32-year old brilliant lawyer, Rowan, who is beautiful, successful, intelligent...but who harbors a secret love.
“A job?” Aster sputtered.
Mason stood, the discussion clearly over. “You’ve got to grow up sometime, Aster. And that time is now.”
She’d known James for nearly fifteen years, and she’d loved him every minute.Which wouldn't be so bad, except James is married to her beloved cousin, beautiful 34-year old Poppy. Poppy, who has beautiful children, an adoring husband.
“Poppy has it all,” said Amelia, a little unkindly. “And we all kind of hate her.”Poppy, who is the first to die. Murdered.
“I know I’m not the only one who’s had questions about Poppy’s death,” she said gravely. “I’ve brought you all here to tell you that Poppy didn’t commit suicide. She was murdered.”And then there's 23-year old Natasha, a cousin who has turned her back on the family.
The fact that Natasha had recently disinherited herself was the subject of much speculation. Why would one of America’s heiresses give up her fortune?Each of these cousins have their secrets. Corinne, though engaged, has a secret love who has recently emerged from the past. She has a scar that holds a terrible secret.
...her gaze drifted to the scar below her navel. It was something she rarely looked at, the sight of it still surprising after all these years.Her sister Aster knows something that would destroy Corinne if she ever finds out.
What Corinne didn’t know was that Aster had protected her all these years. She’d preserved Corinne’s perfect little view of their family. Oh, there’d been plenty of times when Aster had almost blurted out what she knew, but something inside her had held back, knowing it would shatter her sister even more than it had shattered Aster.Poppy might have been seeing someone behind her husband James' back.
James’s voice was suddenly sober. He placed his hands on his knees, a pained expression on his face. “Rowan...I think Poppy’s cheating on me.”And James isn't exactly innocent, since he's been fucking Rowan behind his wife's back.
“He was at my apartment. In my bed. Are you happy now?” Rowan hid her face in her hands.And Natasha? Why has she suddenly resurfaced after all these years. What kind of secrets is she holding?
After all that had just happened, all they’d just confessed and argued over, Natasha was texting? “Who are you talking to?” she snapped.And then there's the gossip blog, The Beautiful and the Cursed, that has all the insider information on the cousins. Who's behind
One heiress down, four to go.#scandalous
Other Notes: This is the part where I usually do my analysis. I can't. There is no analysis. This book is so transparent, it's not even funny. There is no character development. There's roughly 193848457983475 characters to keep track of. The secrets aren't secrets at all, because a 2nd grader can guess what's going on. Everyone's fucking everyone else, so there's no point in even attempting a relationship analysis. It's so, so bad.
And I kind of enjoyed it. What can I say? #guiltyascharged
Sometimes, a person just needs some mindless entertainment.
Want to read
March 11, 2014I predict twins (maybe two sets?), much deceit, at least eight books, a spin off series, a television show on ABC Family, and a drawn out plot.
I will buy them all.
Of course I will buy them all.
I will buy them all.
Of course I will buy them all.
October 13, 2017
Deleting this at 23% -audiobook
Poor little rich girls, who have to deal with having it all handed to them with some expectations. Aww, how sad. Imagine being expected to act with decorum in public, family, work and socially ?!?! Who has to do such a horrible thing, right ? We should all be drunk, cheating, lying, manipulating, disrespectful spoiled jerks free of judgement. All these expectations make a spoiled rotten little princess upset
Oh the horror for these precious sweet trust fund angels when when daddy steals money from the poor and puts their fortune in danger and they have to.... oh it's too ugly, < shutter >, work. Yes they have to work ! 
I hope you didn't faint. They don't have to work with the common folk at least. No, they work for their family business, in their tower, with their name on the building.
I'm a princess, she's a princess, you're a princess. Well, now lets gets this on the table because there isn't enough specialness unicorn sprinkle powder already. Somebody or somebodies, I didn't care enough to get their names, is semi royal and oh so precious. I know this because it is mentioned over and over already.
Snobbery, brand name dropping, social status lines, selfishness, self centered horrible characters. I couldn't dislike this book more. Good bye oh so precious princesses 
Poor little rich girls, who have to deal with having it all handed to them with some expectations. Aww, how sad. Imagine being expected to act with decorum in public, family, work and socially ?!?! Who has to do such a horrible thing, right ? We should all be drunk, cheating, lying, manipulating, disrespectful spoiled jerks free of judgement. All these expectations make a spoiled rotten little princess upset
Oh the horror for these precious sweet trust fund angels when when daddy steals money from the poor and puts their fortune in danger and they have to.... oh it's too ugly, < shutter >, work. Yes they have to work ! I hope you didn't faint. They don't have to work with the common folk at least. No, they work for their family business, in their tower, with their name on the building. I'm a princess, she's a princess, you're a princess. Well, now lets gets this on the table because there isn't enough specialness unicorn sprinkle powder already. Somebody or somebodies, I didn't care enough to get their names, is semi royal and oh so precious. I know this because it is mentioned over and over already.
Snobbery, brand name dropping, social status lines, selfishness, self centered horrible characters. I couldn't dislike this book more. Good bye oh so precious princesses 
January 8, 2016
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! THAT CLIFFHANGER!!
This was an incredible murder mystery novel. It's nothing new in the genre, but it's been a while since I read a good whodunnit, so I was very very pleased. I appreciated that the mystery had a full arc and we got answers so that I felt fully satisfied, but it still managed to set up for the next book.
Now I know the thought on everyone's mind (mine included) was something like 'Oh, another mystery by Sara Shepard that involves a dead girl and secrets, and probably twins. Oh but it's for adults, oooo different!' I've read both her Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game series, and am aware that her upcoming The Perfectionists series has the same similarities as well. So yes I saw many parallels. I rolled my eyes and made jokes - I mean, Shepard must just copy and paste her book pitch every time, right? But holy heck if I wasn't a sucker for the suspense. It took a good chunk of the book for the mystery to really get going but she was on her A game (teehee).
Four stars instead of five because it took a bit for it to pick up for me, and I grew tired of the constant bed hopping.
Just be warned, the cliffhanger on the last page is pure torture.
This was an incredible murder mystery novel. It's nothing new in the genre, but it's been a while since I read a good whodunnit, so I was very very pleased. I appreciated that the mystery had a full arc and we got answers so that I felt fully satisfied, but it still managed to set up for the next book.
Now I know the thought on everyone's mind (mine included) was something like 'Oh, another mystery by Sara Shepard that involves a dead girl and secrets, and probably twins. Oh but it's for adults, oooo different!' I've read both her Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game series, and am aware that her upcoming The Perfectionists series has the same similarities as well. So yes I saw many parallels. I rolled my eyes and made jokes - I mean, Shepard must just copy and paste her book pitch every time, right? But holy heck if I wasn't a sucker for the suspense. It took a good chunk of the book for the mystery to really get going but she was on her A game (teehee).
Four stars instead of five because it took a bit for it to pick up for me, and I grew tired of the constant bed hopping.
Just be warned, the cliffhanger on the last page is pure torture.
other
April 9, 2013I don't know what this is about yet, but I have two requests:
1.) No twins. Diabolical people are okay, but not if they are twins. If you must have twins, make it boy/girl instead of one gender.
2.) No lying - whether it's a pretty little game or not. :)
Other than that, and even though I have no idea what this is about*, I'm sure it will be a great series.
*I heard there was going to be a spin-off of the PLL show, so maybe it'll have something to do with that? I don't know, since I don't watch the current two shows and have no idea if there are heiresses in them.
---
Edit 6/12/13
First, thank you to those of you who clarified my little questions.
Second, I just noticed a description. I hope none of the heiresses are twin girls. It'd be interesting if there are boy/girl twins, if only for the inheritance aspect.
Third, family curse? Interesting. Is there a murderer on the loose? Ohh, interesting. Very Sara Shepard-y. Of course.
I predict a lot of tension, many cliffhangers, and at least four books. And a television series.
1.) No twins. Diabolical people are okay, but not if they are twins. If you must have twins, make it boy/girl instead of one gender.
2.) No lying - whether it's a pretty little game or not. :)
Other than that, and even though I have no idea what this is about*, I'm sure it will be a great series.
*I heard there was going to be a spin-off of the PLL show, so maybe it'll have something to do with that? I don't know, since I don't watch the current two shows and have no idea if there are heiresses in them.
---
Edit 6/12/13
First, thank you to those of you who clarified my little questions.
Second, I just noticed a description. I hope none of the heiresses are twin girls. It'd be interesting if there are boy/girl twins, if only for the inheritance aspect.
Third, family curse? Interesting. Is there a murderer on the loose? Ohh, interesting. Very Sara Shepard-y. Of course.
I predict a lot of tension, many cliffhangers, and at least four books. And a television series.
August 21, 2020
*4.5*
Nunca está de más leer los problemas de primer mundo que tiene una familia rica.
Este libro es muy diferente a todo lo que he leído anteriormente de Sara y aún así me fascinó. Es literalmente un PLL adulto; tiene la misma vibra, tono y tipo de historia y yo con eso fui feliz el día y medio que me duró esta joya.
Los Saybrook son una familia muy interesante y me encantó leer todo los problemas que tienen. Infidelidades, traiciones, fraude y todo lo que se puedan imaginar en una familia de la alta sociedad Neoyorquina sucede en este libro y eso hizo de esta lectura una de las piezas más entretenidas que he leído en todo el año.
A pesar de tener a penas 300 páginas logré conectar con las protas. Poppy, Asher y Corinne fueron mis favoritas, tanto que podría leerme más libros con ellas. Este desde el inicio se vendió como autoconclusivo (aunque mi teoría es que no se vendió lo suficiente y decidieron no continuar la serie) y siento que un solo libro no es suficiente para mi. Me quede con ganas de seguir leyendo las travesías de esta familia y con ese mendigo epílogo se que hay espacio para mucho, mucho más.
Sara Shepard, como es costumbre, nunca decepciona, y lo que más me emociona es que aún tengo muchos libros de ella para seguir explorando sus historias.
Nunca está de más leer los problemas de primer mundo que tiene una familia rica.
Este libro es muy diferente a todo lo que he leído anteriormente de Sara y aún así me fascinó. Es literalmente un PLL adulto; tiene la misma vibra, tono y tipo de historia y yo con eso fui feliz el día y medio que me duró esta joya.
Los Saybrook son una familia muy interesante y me encantó leer todo los problemas que tienen. Infidelidades, traiciones, fraude y todo lo que se puedan imaginar en una familia de la alta sociedad Neoyorquina sucede en este libro y eso hizo de esta lectura una de las piezas más entretenidas que he leído en todo el año.
A pesar de tener a penas 300 páginas logré conectar con las protas. Poppy, Asher y Corinne fueron mis favoritas, tanto que podría leerme más libros con ellas. Este desde el inicio se vendió como autoconclusivo (aunque mi teoría es que no se vendió lo suficiente y decidieron no continuar la serie) y siento que un solo libro no es suficiente para mi. Me quede con ganas de seguir leyendo las travesías de esta familia y con ese mendigo epílogo se que hay espacio para mucho, mucho más.
Sara Shepard, como es costumbre, nunca decepciona, y lo que más me emociona es que aún tengo muchos libros de ella para seguir explorando sus historias.
June 18, 2018
I really did like it, and it really plays out as a drama-tv show in my head. The ending tho, how could you end it like that Sara? How?
June 18, 2014
DNF at 18%
This has to be some mistake! Sara Shepard (aka one of my favorite authors EVER) could not have written this piece of crap. There's just no way. I can't believe the woman who wrote one of my absolute favorite series(pretty little liars) wrote this. *sobs in a corner* WHY MUST LIFE BE SO FUCKING CRUEL?!?
I couldn't get past seven chapters. By the end of chapter one I almost consumed a whole bottle of wine because I just wanted it to be over and I thought be a bit tipsy would help. It only made me angrier...
By chapter one, I kid you not, you are introduced to over 12 characters. Whom most of their names I don't even remember right now. That's just too many characters to take in. And all of them are bitches and assholes. All of them cheat, drink, lie, ect. I'm all for trashy books(gossip girl *cough cough*), but atleast give me somewhat of a plot with the trash!
I will NOT pick this book up or finish the series once more books come out. I will stick with her YA books. I'd honestly rather have her publish ten more PLL books than crap like this! -________- Ya, I went there damn it.
You hear that? That's the sound of my heart being ripped into hundreds of pieces. *sobbing hysterically*
This has to be some mistake! Sara Shepard (aka one of my favorite authors EVER) could not have written this piece of crap. There's just no way. I can't believe the woman who wrote one of my absolute favorite series(pretty little liars) wrote this. *sobs in a corner* WHY MUST LIFE BE SO FUCKING CRUEL?!?
I couldn't get past seven chapters. By the end of chapter one I almost consumed a whole bottle of wine because I just wanted it to be over and I thought be a bit tipsy would help. It only made me angrier...
By chapter one, I kid you not, you are introduced to over 12 characters. Whom most of their names I don't even remember right now. That's just too many characters to take in. And all of them are bitches and assholes. All of them cheat, drink, lie, ect. I'm all for trashy books(gossip girl *cough cough*), but atleast give me somewhat of a plot with the trash!
I will NOT pick this book up or finish the series once more books come out. I will stick with her YA books. I'd honestly rather have her publish ten more PLL books than crap like this! -________- Ya, I went there damn it.
You hear that? That's the sound of my heart being ripped into hundreds of pieces. *sobbing hysterically*
January 29, 2014
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
Poppy, Aster, Corrine, Natasha, and Rowan are the heiresses of the Saybrook’s jewellery empire, a family business that is known for both its wealth, and a very old curse that leads to family members dying suddenly.
When one of the 5 heiresses is killed, and an online gossip site publishes a statement ‘One Heiress Down, 4 more to go’, an investigation is opened.
Who is the killer? Why did they kill one of the girls? Are they really targeting all 5 of them? And what other secrets was the dead girl hiding?
This was a good murder/mystery story, which was actually a little reminiscent of ‘Pretty Little Liars’.
I liked each of the girls in this, and I liked the way they all made their own mistakes. I loved how Aster changer, and Corrine couldn’t decide whether to through with her wedding. I liked how Poppy was such a good mother whilst also being head of the company, and how Rowan felt guilty for betraying her. I also liked the way even after everything that happened to them, they were still about to act like a family.
The storyline in this was pretty good, and I liked the hidden secrets and gossip. I thought that the addition of the Gossip website devoted to the Saybrooks gave this a hint of the ‘Pretty Little Liars’ series, although it could also be compared to Gossip Girl.
There were quite a few characters in this to keep track of, but I think this was sort-of necessary with such a large and public family, and I don’t think keeping track was all that difficult really.
There was a little romance, but it was more in the form of risky secret encounters rather than anything else and everyone seemed to be cheating on their significant other! I have to say that I did lose track with how many people one person’s husband was sleeping with!
The ending to this was good, but it did end on a cliff-hanger. For this reason I can only assume that this is going to turn into a series, and while I didn’t enjoy this as much as the ‘Pretty Little Liars’ books, I did think this was pretty good, and I’d definitely read the next book.
Overall; a good adult mystery/ chick-lit story
7.5 out of 10.
Poppy, Aster, Corrine, Natasha, and Rowan are the heiresses of the Saybrook’s jewellery empire, a family business that is known for both its wealth, and a very old curse that leads to family members dying suddenly.
When one of the 5 heiresses is killed, and an online gossip site publishes a statement ‘One Heiress Down, 4 more to go’, an investigation is opened.
Who is the killer? Why did they kill one of the girls? Are they really targeting all 5 of them? And what other secrets was the dead girl hiding?
This was a good murder/mystery story, which was actually a little reminiscent of ‘Pretty Little Liars’.
I liked each of the girls in this, and I liked the way they all made their own mistakes. I loved how Aster changer, and Corrine couldn’t decide whether to through with her wedding. I liked how Poppy was such a good mother whilst also being head of the company, and how Rowan felt guilty for betraying her. I also liked the way even after everything that happened to them, they were still about to act like a family.
The storyline in this was pretty good, and I liked the hidden secrets and gossip. I thought that the addition of the Gossip website devoted to the Saybrooks gave this a hint of the ‘Pretty Little Liars’ series, although it could also be compared to Gossip Girl.
There were quite a few characters in this to keep track of, but I think this was sort-of necessary with such a large and public family, and I don’t think keeping track was all that difficult really.
There was a little romance, but it was more in the form of risky secret encounters rather than anything else and everyone seemed to be cheating on their significant other! I have to say that I did lose track with how many people one person’s husband was sleeping with!
The ending to this was good, but it did end on a cliff-hanger. For this reason I can only assume that this is going to turn into a series, and while I didn’t enjoy this as much as the ‘Pretty Little Liars’ books, I did think this was pretty good, and I’d definitely read the next book.
Overall; a good adult mystery/ chick-lit story
7.5 out of 10.
October 9, 2014
Provided by the Publisher via Edelweiss
First off, it is NOT a young adult book as characters are in their late 20s and early 30s. There are several mature scenes as well, but they aren't too descriptive.
In a nutshell, this book was more like an adult version of Pretty Little Liars, only the mystery wasn't dragged on as it was in PLL.
After have read more than 20 books from Sara Shepard, it wasn't that difficult to identify the trend and guess where this book was going. However, for some reasons, I found this book very entertaining.
The story was told in third person multiple point of view on the lives of the rich and famous Saybrook family. To be honest, it was extremely hard to follow the story at first as there were so many characters being thrown in almost all at once. Later on, though, it got better when the book started to focus on those who played significant roles in the story.
To me, Sara Shepard books have always been addictive. Likewise, I loved the character developments and the storyline of this book. There were 5 heiresses, Corrine, Aster, Poppy, Rowan and Natasha. Getting to know their personalities and mistakes they had made were what I liked about this book. So far, Aster is my favorite.
I enjoyed the twists and turns in this book. How they came to the conclusion who the killer was and how each dirty secret was revealed were well-done. Even it did share a lot of resemblance with Pretty Little Liars, this book was still very unpredictable and amazing in its own way.
Overall, it was a wonderful read for me. I just hope it isn't going to be a big series as Pretty Little Liars.
Blog: YA Obsession
May 22, 2014
hmmmm, Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars? Not complaining.
January 14, 2022
I’m giving this a 3.7 but I’m rounding down because I don’t think it deserves a 4.
I know Sara Shepard wrote Pretty Little Liars, but this book really is just PLL and Gossip Girl on ROIDS. The rich, untouchable family with deep dark scandalous secrets. Most of the drama is predictable but it still offers a fun reading experience.
A little too many secrets, it got a little out of hand. It truly did feel like I experienced 6 seasons of a teen drama in only 300 pages. I’m not saying I’m mad about it, but I could see how it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
I liked seeing the Saybrook cousins familial bond strengthen over the course of the book.
Murder, luxurious lifestyles, lies, secret lovers, DRAMA. If you like any of this, this book is the one for you.
I know Sara Shepard wrote Pretty Little Liars, but this book really is just PLL and Gossip Girl on ROIDS. The rich, untouchable family with deep dark scandalous secrets. Most of the drama is predictable but it still offers a fun reading experience.
A little too many secrets, it got a little out of hand. It truly did feel like I experienced 6 seasons of a teen drama in only 300 pages. I’m not saying I’m mad about it, but I could see how it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
I liked seeing the Saybrook cousins familial bond strengthen over the course of the book.
Murder, luxurious lifestyles, lies, secret lovers, DRAMA. If you like any of this, this book is the one for you.
May 14, 2014
Can this have a huge banner on top of it that says “HI I’M MADE BY SARA SHEPARD BUT I’M NOT EXACTLY A YA BOOK”? That would have saved me from a lot of trouble. Maybe it was partly my fault though. I had a hard time dealing with the characters because they are adults. And they have their own jobs and families and I was like, “Oookay. Would their kids be secret assassins? Would one of their kids go missing?” Maybe if I had a built-in incentive to know that the mothers are the main characters in the book, this would be bearable. And it’s not like there’s anything wrong with adult books really, I think they have more of a huge potential in creating a more in-depth view to the plot and complicated theories to accompany that but knowing that this is Sara Shepard, I expected that it would just be another one of her mystery, YA Nancy Drew-esque stories. It clearly was not.
I made it up to about 34% of the book before I decided I had enough. By then, I caught up with this annoying factor that these people in the book are all crackheads an downright confusing for me. Right from the first thirteen pages or so, we are introduced with more or less twenty-five people. The number of people I give a care about? Zero. The five girls that was mentioned in the synopsis? I wouldn’t give a care either. It’s irritating because they are so boring to read about. All they do is whine, and gossip, and smoke, mess things up, and whine again. In all truth and honesty, these characters were underdeveloped, much like Sara’s other books. But the different thing is that if there’s ever such a word that means ‘boring as fuck’, this would be it. There was nothing interesting that kept me hooked from that 34% of the book.
So basically, this is about a wealthy family, the Saybrooks, who encounters strange deaths. It’s like a ‘curse’ that runs course into their bloodstreams. And then there are these five Heiresses who are about to inherit their grandfather’s massive fortune. But when one of the five went missing and found dead later on, the remaining Heiresses are set on a frantic run that makes them doubt if being rich is even worth it all. It also made me doubt if this was ever written by Sara. Granted, all these characters all have juicy secrets. They have vague backgrounds that I suppose is for making us feel the complexity of the mystery. I don’t think it was put well though. It was annoying because the book was so confusing and these characters refuse to give out any clues because these ‘confusing terms’ are supposed to be a secret for now. I put up with it, I really did. But it was really annoying because I wanted to know so bad. I was done with my patience. From where I ended, the thrill factor was still not starting. And I don’t think it’s not going to start until it gets 76% and then we would, of course, metaphorically die waiting for the next book to come out.
Great move, Sara.
I’ve read things while I was writing this review that this was somewhat an adult version of PLL. I have to say that is true. The same set of characters, one goes missing, and poof!
Boring characters, recycled plot; this is a joke, Sara, right?
I made it up to about 34% of the book before I decided I had enough. By then, I caught up with this annoying factor that these people in the book are all crackheads an downright confusing for me. Right from the first thirteen pages or so, we are introduced with more or less twenty-five people. The number of people I give a care about? Zero. The five girls that was mentioned in the synopsis? I wouldn’t give a care either. It’s irritating because they are so boring to read about. All they do is whine, and gossip, and smoke, mess things up, and whine again. In all truth and honesty, these characters were underdeveloped, much like Sara’s other books. But the different thing is that if there’s ever such a word that means ‘boring as fuck’, this would be it. There was nothing interesting that kept me hooked from that 34% of the book.
So basically, this is about a wealthy family, the Saybrooks, who encounters strange deaths. It’s like a ‘curse’ that runs course into their bloodstreams. And then there are these five Heiresses who are about to inherit their grandfather’s massive fortune. But when one of the five went missing and found dead later on, the remaining Heiresses are set on a frantic run that makes them doubt if being rich is even worth it all. It also made me doubt if this was ever written by Sara. Granted, all these characters all have juicy secrets. They have vague backgrounds that I suppose is for making us feel the complexity of the mystery. I don’t think it was put well though. It was annoying because the book was so confusing and these characters refuse to give out any clues because these ‘confusing terms’ are supposed to be a secret for now. I put up with it, I really did. But it was really annoying because I wanted to know so bad. I was done with my patience. From where I ended, the thrill factor was still not starting. And I don’t think it’s not going to start until it gets 76% and then we would, of course, metaphorically die waiting for the next book to come out.
Great move, Sara.
I’ve read things while I was writing this review that this was somewhat an adult version of PLL. I have to say that is true. The same set of characters, one goes missing, and poof!
Boring characters, recycled plot; this is a joke, Sara, right?
October 1, 2014
The Heiresses is the first installment in author Sara Shepard's The Heiresses series. At about the 13% mark, I almost added this to my DNF pile. Too many characters were introduced at once and I didn't care about any of them or their stupid little "Miss Socialite" problems. Read any of the top goodreads reviews that reflect 1 or 2 stars and that is exactly where my mindset was. Instead of dropping it for good, I just decided to put it down for the day and try again the next. Well, I finished it! The mystery and family curse elements caught my interest and I started looking forward to learning yet another secret within this family. It was like reading a gossip magazine- so unnecessary but entertaining nonetheless. My investment in this story and it's characters ebbed and flowed though, mostly because I couldn't relate. But I have to admit that by the end, some of the very characters I started out hating ended up growing on me and I was happy to see the personal growth that was made. While The Heiresses was never going to be a 4 or 5 star reading experience for me, I ended up liking it well enough to finish it. I gave it 2.5 stars, rounding up to 3. If you like mysteries and don't mind reading about scandalous, rich families with major family secrets and a whole lot of drama, then give The Heiresses a try.
My favorite quote:
"Corinne unloaded several more parcels and returned a cashmere blanket, a Versace tray for chips and dip, and a pair of crystal goblets with gold-tipped rims. All at once, she thought of the mismatched plate she and Will had used the night they were at his apartment. He'd bought them at flea markets for a dollar a piece and they'd all had a story before Will got hold of them. That was far more interesting than a Versace chip and dip for three hundred dollars."
My favorite quote:
"Corinne unloaded several more parcels and returned a cashmere blanket, a Versace tray for chips and dip, and a pair of crystal goblets with gold-tipped rims. All at once, she thought of the mismatched plate she and Will had used the night they were at his apartment. He'd bought them at flea markets for a dollar a piece and they'd all had a story before Will got hold of them. That was far more interesting than a Versace chip and dip for three hundred dollars."
June 14, 2014
After reading a small snippet of "The Heiresses" by Sara Shepard(Pretty Little Liars author)in Cosmo, I wanted to know what happened next -
"The Heiresses" is a somewhere between a young adult/women's lit book. Sara Shepard is a good writer, solid in her 'young adult' world - This book wasn't even in the young adult section.
It's dramatic, sexy and definitely a good beach read. This started off my Summer well. The heiresses of the title are a group of women in the same family. Their ancestors started a diamond company which worked it's way up to NYC. One of them mysteriously dies, thus begins the search to find out what really happened.
A definite page turner and Perfect book for Summer!
"The Heiresses" is a somewhere between a young adult/women's lit book. Sara Shepard is a good writer, solid in her 'young adult' world - This book wasn't even in the young adult section.
It's dramatic, sexy and definitely a good beach read. This started off my Summer well. The heiresses of the title are a group of women in the same family. Their ancestors started a diamond company which worked it's way up to NYC. One of them mysteriously dies, thus begins the search to find out what really happened.
A definite page turner and Perfect book for Summer!
June 19, 2014
The girls were the future of Saybrook's Diamonds, and they had to act accordingly. They were to live their lives with the utmost decorum, smile for the cameras, speak several languages, hold many degrees, cultivate the art of conversation, and most important, refrain from doing anything that might bring scandal upon the family. To never, ever break the rules.
And yet they had. All of them. It had been a summer of secrets. They were heiresses, all right, but they hadn't been behaving like heiresses at all.
And it was only a matter of time before the world found out.
Opening in tragedy, and confined by tragedy, The Heiresses follows the lives of the five—well, four—Saybrook heiresses: their lush, rich world, their deeply personal problems, and fate's cruel affinity for hurdling their family into a string of mysterious, sudden deaths, otherwise known as the Saybrook Curse by the public.
Upon the unthinkable loss of one of their own—the perfect Poppy Saybrook—the remaining four cousins set out to solve the dangerous, wildly eery crime, but approach a dilemma when they realize Poppy's murder can only be solved by revealing the scandals and secrets of their past. Each Saybrook cousin has a life-threatening secret—that one personal demon they want to take to the grave—and as each figures out who is a witness, who is an alibi, and who is a backstabber, the dark secrets are slowly revealed.
I was so enchanted by this book. Dramatic irony keeps it running, and the suspense is absolutely electrifying—hair-raising—in a creepy "someone's watching you" kind of way. I couldn't stop reading it because I was too scared to put it down! In the vein of the Gossip Girl series, Sara Shepard masters the sinister, omniscient tone that, in the backdrop of high-society New York City, is as extravagant as its characters are.
The Heiresses is not your average chick-lit novel; it's not just another happy day at the Hamptons. The calamities and misfortunes of the world-famous diamond empire will stun and frighten you, as well as teach you a thing or two about the dangers of money, misconceptions, and pride. It's a story of the consequences of deceit, greed, and lies from one generation to the next, but beneath it all, it's also an examination of four courageous women who bond and discover the values of fortune, trust, and always: family.
Pros
The ending!!!! // Characters aren't deep, but are understandable and lovable // Scintillating suspense // Cinematic, dramatic—I can easily see this being made into a TV show or movie // One of those books you can't put down // Eery, startling tone is so well done
Cons
Literally everybody is screwing everybody... this book is centered on infidelity and illicit sexual relations // Not a super deep, meaningful novel, but still a hell of an entertaining one
Verdict
With the addictive, crippling voice akin to Gossip Girl, the darkly comical tone found in Desperate Housewives, and allusions to the Kennedy curse we're all so familiar with, Sara Shepard's newest novel reads like Pretty Little Liars all grown up. The Heiresses is a juicy, sinful mystery about a legendary American dynasty so blessed with fortune and beauty, yet cursed in the worst of ways. I admit at times the plot resembles that of an overdone soap opera, but that doesn't make it any less entertaining; this series is bound to become everyone's newest guilty pleasure.
Rating: 9 out of 10 hearts (5 stars): Loved it! This book has a spot on my favorites shelf.
Source
Complimentary copy provided by publisher via tour publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Harper Collins and TLC!).
April 18, 2017
I was a little surprised by this book. 3.5. It had a solid mysterious plot, great characters, scandalous and lots of "romance". I loved the ending because I didn't guess it or see it coming. A perfect beach read. The writing wasn't even half bad. I look forward to the follow up.
August 6, 2016
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher Harper via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is May 20, 2014.
What can I say about this story? It was deliciously scandalous. Following the lives of a wealthy family in New York as they struggle to keep up with appearances and keep their secrets hidden. Add to this a murder and it was a truly entertaining read.
There were some flaws in my opinion. The beginning of story introduced simply too many characters that it took me a little while to keep everyone straight. Once I got past that it was thumbs up for me.
Now this book is not going to make you have any personal revelations or inspire you to make any life altering changes in your life. It was pure entertainment watching the privileged stumble and fall. While reading the story it read to me like a television show (think an older version of Gossip Girl) and I wonder if that was intentional. Given the success of Shepard's pervious work transitioning in to the television market I wouldn't be surprised although I have to admit this is the first of her work that I have read and I have never seen the show.
Although some people may say this is a shallow read as it focuses on the privileged but I say come on folks! It is entertaining seeing that people have issues regardless of social status and it is after all fiction. I enjoyed curling up and reading about the trial and tribulations of the Herme's clad socialites.
The ending left it open for another instalment. From what I have read this is the start of a series that Shepard will be publishing. Since this was an entertaining and easy read for me I fully intend to follow the series once the next books become available. Highly recommended!
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher Harper via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is May 20, 2014.
What can I say about this story? It was deliciously scandalous. Following the lives of a wealthy family in New York as they struggle to keep up with appearances and keep their secrets hidden. Add to this a murder and it was a truly entertaining read.
There were some flaws in my opinion. The beginning of story introduced simply too many characters that it took me a little while to keep everyone straight. Once I got past that it was thumbs up for me.
Now this book is not going to make you have any personal revelations or inspire you to make any life altering changes in your life. It was pure entertainment watching the privileged stumble and fall. While reading the story it read to me like a television show (think an older version of Gossip Girl) and I wonder if that was intentional. Given the success of Shepard's pervious work transitioning in to the television market I wouldn't be surprised although I have to admit this is the first of her work that I have read and I have never seen the show.
Although some people may say this is a shallow read as it focuses on the privileged but I say come on folks! It is entertaining seeing that people have issues regardless of social status and it is after all fiction. I enjoyed curling up and reading about the trial and tribulations of the Herme's clad socialites.
The ending left it open for another instalment. From what I have read this is the start of a series that Shepard will be publishing. Since this was an entertaining and easy read for me I fully intend to follow the series once the next books become available. Highly recommended!
Want to read
June 1, 2013I'm a self-proclaimed Sara Shepard's junkie (well, her books precisely ;D) so guess what ? I'm adding it. Duh!
June 23, 2016
The book is a mixture of Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl. It has a sense of mystery while still staying fun.
May 27, 2017
Actual rating: 3,5
This is a typical Sara Shepard novel apart from the fact that the protagonists are young adults and not teenagers. I think this is my least favourite book written by Sara Shepard that I have read so far. However, I would lie if I told you that I hadn't enjoyed the story because I certainly had. I am quite sad due to the fact that there aren't any signs that the author will continue this series... The ending raised so many questions...
This is a typical Sara Shepard novel apart from the fact that the protagonists are young adults and not teenagers. I think this is my least favourite book written by Sara Shepard that I have read so far. However, I would lie if I told you that I hadn't enjoyed the story because I certainly had. I am quite sad due to the fact that there aren't any signs that the author will continue this series... The ending raised so many questions...
May 13, 2015
As a HUGE Sara Shepard fan since day one (and by day one..I mean before pretty little liars was ever even being considered for a tv show) I was beyond excited to get my hands on The Heiresses. I could not wait for an adult mystery from the author who so successfully wrote two young adult mystery series previously.
I could not get enough of The Heiresses. I do admit it took a little time to get all of the names down among the girls (separating out which sister is which in my brain) but the I was intrigued from the very beginning. The mystery of who killed Poppy and why captivates readers and keeps you guessing all the way through. I myself never figured out the twist prior to the reveal, so there was a blows-your-mind moment.
I can only hope and pray that Sara Shepard graces us with a sequel!!
PLEASE OH PLEASE
I could not get enough of The Heiresses. I do admit it took a little time to get all of the names down among the girls (separating out which sister is which in my brain) but the I was intrigued from the very beginning. The mystery of who killed Poppy and why captivates readers and keeps you guessing all the way through. I myself never figured out the twist prior to the reveal, so there was a blows-your-mind moment.
I can only hope and pray that Sara Shepard graces us with a sequel!!
PLEASE OH PLEASE
June 1, 2018
It's sad to rate a book by Sara Shepard only two stars, but the things is, as a standalone is underwhelming. The mystery plot is solved, so it could be considered satisfying in itself, but it ends with more questions. Too cliffhangery!
Many things in here irked me, and the characters aren't likable like in other books by Sara. Her prose is elegant almost as usual and the reading as a whole is enjoyable as usual, but I didn't love this book like her others. And then that ending...
If there ever will be a sequel I'll change my rating to three stars (an okay book for me), but as for now I was left with a new mystery unsolved in a novel itself not as good as the others.
Overall, however, I recommend this to Sara Shepard's fans! An easy and quite intriguing read!
July 19, 2015
Hmm, I'm going to take a wild guess and say this will probably be about pretty teenagers who lie .
The above was my reaction when this book was first announced, before a summary came out.
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This was seriously Pretty Little Liars for adults, so naturally I enjoyed it. It was a nice escapist novel, and sometimes I just need brain candy like this.
I thought this was going to be a series - especially after that cliffhanger! - but I don't see a listing for another book. The ratings on this one are pretty dismal, though, so maybe the idea to write more got scrapped. Oh well.
The above was my reaction when this book was first announced, before a summary came out.
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This was seriously Pretty Little Liars for adults, so naturally I enjoyed it. It was a nice escapist novel, and sometimes I just need brain candy like this.
I thought this was going to be a series - especially after that cliffhanger! - but I don't see a listing for another book. The ratings on this one are pretty dismal, though, so maybe the idea to write more got scrapped. Oh well.
October 13, 2016
This was a great read. This reminds me of the Pretty Little Liars books. I thought the storyline was great. I really liked the plot. The secrets made the story more interesting. The character was interesting and I liked how they have different issues that they have to go through. It made the book more relatable and interesting. The ending was good as well. It was a cliffhanger. I want to know happens next. I recommend this book to fans of the Pretty Little Liars books and mystery kind of books. Overall, an interesting read.
May 21, 2014
I received this book as a First Reads giveaway.
This the first book by Sara Shepard I've read (yes, I've been living under a rock.) As others have mentioned, the amount of characters you're introduced to in the first chapter is overwhelming at first, but luckily Shepard gives each a distinct personality and they become easy to remember.
I found the book suspenseful, unpredictable (in a good way) and entertaining. I can't wait to read the next installment of the series!
This the first book by Sara Shepard I've read (yes, I've been living under a rock.) As others have mentioned, the amount of characters you're introduced to in the first chapter is overwhelming at first, but luckily Shepard gives each a distinct personality and they become easy to remember.
I found the book suspenseful, unpredictable (in a good way) and entertaining. I can't wait to read the next installment of the series!
April 19, 2015
Sometimes you just need a trashy book to cleanse your palate lmao. I've read a lot of really heavy books lately and this was just a good book to kind of get me in the mood to read other stuff.
Don't get me wrong, this was a terrible book. The plot twists that were not really twists and the 25 characters I didn't care about, two deaths that made me feel nothing but you know, sometimes it's good to read things with characters you don't care about. I didn't hate it.
Don't get me wrong, this was a terrible book. The plot twists that were not really twists and the 25 characters I didn't care about, two deaths that made me feel nothing but you know, sometimes it's good to read things with characters you don't care about. I didn't hate it.
November 20, 2016
Oh. My. Gosh. This book is amazing. I am like literally dead. Like this book caused me to feel the feels dead. This is a must read, but I warn you it ends on a cliff hanger and as of right now(11/9/16) there is no second book. But don't worry! I have a plan to email Sara Shepard until she makes a second book therefore giving me closure.
September 24, 2016
.... ARE WE EVER GETTING A SEQUEL OR WHAT??
December 3, 2017
Fast paced murder mystery about a socialite family. Well drawn characters, fascinating settings, and dialogue that rings true.
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