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Griftopia
Tradwife scams, pickleball craze, pimping kids for social media content … the Freischins never met a cultural moment they didn’t exploit.
Orphaned and separated as young children, the Freischin sisters are nothing if not survivors. Now, in middle age, Pearl is blindsided by a sexual harassment allegation at the school where she’s taught for decades, while her sister Scarlett is left penniless after her husband is imprisoned for embezzling. Meanwhile, Pearl’s son Declan, a college student and track star struggling with anxiety, quits school when he becomes entangled with a young con-artist. Scarlett’s daughter, former tennis phenom Helena, needs help as well. Helena’s six-year-old daughter Burkleigh, who achieved meteoric social media fame for her ability to sing like Billie Holiday, has been canceled for appropriation, while Helena, who can’t seem to find a job that pays a living wage, turns to pickleball coaching in order to put food on the table.
Close to destitute, the Freischin clan is in danger of homelessness unless they can make some quick cash. Leveraging Burkleigh’s talent, they arrive at a series of progressively dubious internet scams. Griftopia explores the gritty heart of grifting for survival.
Orphaned and separated as young children, the Freischin sisters are nothing if not survivors. Now, in middle age, Pearl is blindsided by a sexual harassment allegation at the school where she’s taught for decades, while her sister Scarlett is left penniless after her husband is imprisoned for embezzling. Meanwhile, Pearl’s son Declan, a college student and track star struggling with anxiety, quits school when he becomes entangled with a young con-artist. Scarlett’s daughter, former tennis phenom Helena, needs help as well. Helena’s six-year-old daughter Burkleigh, who achieved meteoric social media fame for her ability to sing like Billie Holiday, has been canceled for appropriation, while Helena, who can’t seem to find a job that pays a living wage, turns to pickleball coaching in order to put food on the table.
Close to destitute, the Freischin clan is in danger of homelessness unless they can make some quick cash. Leveraging Burkleigh’s talent, they arrive at a series of progressively dubious internet scams. Griftopia explores the gritty heart of grifting for survival.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2026
About the author
Suzy Vitello
11 books87 followersSuzy Vitello is a proud founding member of a critique group recently dubbed The Hottest Writing Group in Portland, and her short stories have won fellowships and prizes (including the Atlantic Monthly Student Writing Award, and an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship).
Suzy's novels, FAULTLAND, THE MOMENT BEFORE, THE EMPRESS CHRONICLES and THE KEEPSAKE are available wherever books and ebooks are sold.
An e-chapbook of some of her stories, UNKISS ME, can be found here
Find out more about Suzy
Suzy's novels, FAULTLAND, THE MOMENT BEFORE, THE EMPRESS CHRONICLES and THE KEEPSAKE are available wherever books and ebooks are sold.
An e-chapbook of some of her stories, UNKISS ME, can be found here
Find out more about Suzy
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“Fame is fleeting. Stupidity is forever.”
Honestly, this might be my favourite book I’ve read so far this year. Griftopia has a bit of everything (satire, social commentary, family drama, generational trauma, dark humour) and while that’s usually the kind of thing I’d side-eye, it pulls it all off perfectly. It’s wildly engaging and I couldn’t put it down.
"Pearl’s personal mythos took on antivaxxer-esque certainty…”
The writing's sharp and full of dry, self-deprecating humour. The social commentary's on point, skewering modern culture. It's funny, uncomfortable, and observant in equal measure. One small caveat - it's very much a product of its time, and while the dark humour and cultural critique land perfectly now, I’m curious how it’ll age.
“…before she knew it, she’d become her mother.”
The characters feel so real, warts and all, they have so much depth and are every shade of grey. Sometimes you want to hug them and tell them everything will be okay; other times you want to grab them by the shoulders and give them a shake. Everyone's a human car crash, someone you'd never want to be friends with, but can't stop watching.
I love books that follow multiple generations (I could have probably done without Declan, he had none of the charm of the other characters and really just bored me), and Griftopia delivers on that front, weaving its characters’ pasts and presents together in a way that feels natural. There are a few minor typos (missing words here and there or slight misspellings), but that's easy to forgive when the story's this good.
Thank you NetGalley and Sibylline Press for the ARC
March 3, 2026
This was a rough read.
I was intrigued by the blurb of this and was excited to read, as I love stories about messy, complex families, but in the end I was not connected or engaged by this at all.
It started out okay, with Pearl and Helena standing out as interesting characters, but every character felt hollow and like a terrible person, and not in the good way I’d have expected from this type of story. I often enjoy unlikeable characters with flaws, and getting to finding out more about them and why they act in certain ways, but even with lots of flashbacks for the characters, I just hated them and rolled my eyes, especially George who was painful to read through.
My biggest issue with this is the tone it carries and writing style, though. No dialogue seems believable, everything seems to be trying too hard to be different and cool, and in the end it made for a disconnected read where the substance had gone.
This may be the book for many who enjoy the surface level looks at terrible people, complex families and the grifts they all play a part in to survive their lives and the impact of each other, but it certainly wasn’t for me!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sibylline Press for the advance copy of this in exchange for my honest opinion.
I was intrigued by the blurb of this and was excited to read, as I love stories about messy, complex families, but in the end I was not connected or engaged by this at all.
It started out okay, with Pearl and Helena standing out as interesting characters, but every character felt hollow and like a terrible person, and not in the good way I’d have expected from this type of story. I often enjoy unlikeable characters with flaws, and getting to finding out more about them and why they act in certain ways, but even with lots of flashbacks for the characters, I just hated them and rolled my eyes, especially George who was painful to read through.
My biggest issue with this is the tone it carries and writing style, though. No dialogue seems believable, everything seems to be trying too hard to be different and cool, and in the end it made for a disconnected read where the substance had gone.
This may be the book for many who enjoy the surface level looks at terrible people, complex families and the grifts they all play a part in to survive their lives and the impact of each other, but it certainly wasn’t for me!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sibylline Press for the advance copy of this in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 28, 2026
I have to say this book wasn't for me. I love unlikeable characters when the author makes you care for them anyways. In the case of this book all of the characters remain unlikeable. I as a reader felt no connection to anyone. I do however love the ideas in this book.
May 8, 2026
Griftopia by Suzy Vitello follows sisters Pearl and Scarlett, whose parents died when they were young, leaving their futures and custody uncertain from the beginning. Although they grow up separately, they remain close. Pearl is the classic eldest daughter (responsible, rule-following, practical). Scarlett, meanwhile, is rebellious, impulsive and far messier. Unsurprisingly, they grow into adults who still embody those same traits.
Their children become central to the story as well. Declan, Pearl’s son, is on track to become a doctor. Helena, Scarlett’s daughter, is gritty, stubborn, fiercely independent, and struggling to make life work while raising her own daughter, Burkleigh who is only six years old but has become the focus of Helena’s social media ambitions, with Helena posting videos of her singing online since childhood.
A series of unfortunate events forces these characters to live together, all trying to scrape together some version of stability while dealing with financial hardship, family tension and their own personal failings. That’s really the heart of the novel, people doing the best they can, even when their “best” is often deeply flawed.
What I appreciated most about this book is that it’s entertaining. The writing is witty and very palatable, with moments of humour that keep the story moving even when the themes get heavier. It’s easy to fly through because the family drama is so compelling.
My biggest struggle with the novel, though, was the characters themselves. I don’t mind unlikeable characters at all — in fact, I usually love messy characters when there’s still something to root for. But here, it felt difficult to emotionally invest because many of the characters have very few redeeming qualities. I also found the character development a little lacking. I kept waiting for more emotional growth or self-awareness from the characters but most of that development doesn’t really arrive until the final portion of the book. Personally, I would’ve liked to see that progression happen earlier and more consistently throughout the story.
Still, despite those criticisms, Griftopia was an engaging and entertaining read. It feels very reflective of our current cultural moment (especially around influencer culture, financial instability and complicated family relationships) and I think that realism is what makes the story compelling, even when the characters themselves are difficult to love.
Their children become central to the story as well. Declan, Pearl’s son, is on track to become a doctor. Helena, Scarlett’s daughter, is gritty, stubborn, fiercely independent, and struggling to make life work while raising her own daughter, Burkleigh who is only six years old but has become the focus of Helena’s social media ambitions, with Helena posting videos of her singing online since childhood.
A series of unfortunate events forces these characters to live together, all trying to scrape together some version of stability while dealing with financial hardship, family tension and their own personal failings. That’s really the heart of the novel, people doing the best they can, even when their “best” is often deeply flawed.
What I appreciated most about this book is that it’s entertaining. The writing is witty and very palatable, with moments of humour that keep the story moving even when the themes get heavier. It’s easy to fly through because the family drama is so compelling.
My biggest struggle with the novel, though, was the characters themselves. I don’t mind unlikeable characters at all — in fact, I usually love messy characters when there’s still something to root for. But here, it felt difficult to emotionally invest because many of the characters have very few redeeming qualities. I also found the character development a little lacking. I kept waiting for more emotional growth or self-awareness from the characters but most of that development doesn’t really arrive until the final portion of the book. Personally, I would’ve liked to see that progression happen earlier and more consistently throughout the story.
Still, despite those criticisms, Griftopia was an engaging and entertaining read. It feels very reflective of our current cultural moment (especially around influencer culture, financial instability and complicated family relationships) and I think that realism is what makes the story compelling, even when the characters themselves are difficult to love.
June 7, 2026
"Griftopia" is about a family of difficult people who have fallen on hard times for various reasons.
Although the story takes place in the United States, the author uses a lot of British English… For example, referring to sweaters as jumpers, jeans are dungarees, eggplant is aubergine, a nativity set is a crèche.
Also, by the 50% mark, there hadn't really been any grifting to speak of. One character makes and sells her own kombucha and discusses selling turmeric supplements, which I guess the author considers to be a scam? (If so, she needs to avoid the vitamin section of every grocery store and pharmacy.) And after Helena gets hired to teach pickleball and Scarlett wastes her nest egg on "revolutionary" pills that "Big Pharma has tabled on purpose", Pearl determines that her family is a bunch of grifters. But isn't her sister the one who got scammed? And teaching pickleball is an actual job, even if Pearl is unfamiliar with the game.
It seemed like the closest thing to a grift appeared about 60% of the way through… Declan and George set up a social media profile where they perform "tradwife" content. They invent characters for themselves, complete with simple, homespun names; they design scenes and costumes and post carefully curated content along with Bible verses. I guess if you consider performance art to be a scam, then this meets the definition of grifting. And anyone who does not understand that social media is performance art does not understand social media.
Some of the writing is confusing. For example, the big conflict scenes don't seem to make logical sense. At the state fair, when Helena, Chance and Clyde butt heads, there's no rhyme or reason to the scene. Same thing with the Christmas Day showdown. It's as if Vitello wrote the fights first, intending to go back and write the scenes where the tension builds, but then forgot to follow through.
Once the bigger picture is revealed, the title becomes more relevant. But I found it disappointing that after the final Christmas confrontation, when the true grift is made clear and the true grifters have been outed, they never get their comeuppance. I guess that's true to life at this point in our history, but it made for an unsatisfying conclusion.
I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC. My honest review is my own opinion.
Although the story takes place in the United States, the author uses a lot of British English… For example, referring to sweaters as jumpers, jeans are dungarees, eggplant is aubergine, a nativity set is a crèche.
Also, by the 50% mark, there hadn't really been any grifting to speak of. One character makes and sells her own kombucha and discusses selling turmeric supplements, which I guess the author considers to be a scam? (If so, she needs to avoid the vitamin section of every grocery store and pharmacy.) And after Helena gets hired to teach pickleball and Scarlett wastes her nest egg on "revolutionary" pills that "Big Pharma has tabled on purpose", Pearl determines that her family is a bunch of grifters. But isn't her sister the one who got scammed? And teaching pickleball is an actual job, even if Pearl is unfamiliar with the game.
It seemed like the closest thing to a grift appeared about 60% of the way through… Declan and George set up a social media profile where they perform "tradwife" content. They invent characters for themselves, complete with simple, homespun names; they design scenes and costumes and post carefully curated content along with Bible verses. I guess if you consider performance art to be a scam, then this meets the definition of grifting. And anyone who does not understand that social media is performance art does not understand social media.
Some of the writing is confusing. For example, the big conflict scenes don't seem to make logical sense. At the state fair, when Helena, Chance and Clyde butt heads, there's no rhyme or reason to the scene. Same thing with the Christmas Day showdown. It's as if Vitello wrote the fights first, intending to go back and write the scenes where the tension builds, but then forgot to follow through.
Once the bigger picture is revealed, the title becomes more relevant. But I found it disappointing that after the final Christmas confrontation, when the true grift is made clear and the true grifters have been outed, they never get their comeuppance. I guess that's true to life at this point in our history, but it made for an unsatisfying conclusion.
I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC. My honest review is my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Sibylline Press for the ARC!
Pearl is finally easing into her life as an empty nester, when her sister's husband is arrested, her niece is "cancelled," her son drops out of college, and she finds her nest fuller than ever. She expects chaos, but not quite the level of grifting and hijinks that follows.
I enjoyed this timely, very modern story that dives into today’s zeitgeist: politics, social media trends like tradwife content and family vlogs, even pickleball culture—showing how easily all of it becomes fuel for grift. The characters’ sheer resourcefulness was both amusing and unsettling: if you aren't so concerned about integrity, the world is really your oyster in the attention economy.
The most compelling thread for me was the relationship between the two sisters, separated in childhood and shaped by radically different upbringings. Their dynamic raises interesting questions about identity, morality, and the families we create.
At times, the narrative was a bit crowded. Topical references piled up, and it took me a while to get the many characters and their motivations straight. I wished for more time with Pearl, whose contradictions and inner demons were fascinating. I would have loved a deeper focus on her and her son.
Again, I think the theme of how our upbringing shapes our lives, morals, and choices is really rich. This almost could have been a few separate books, and while I enjoyed the chaos to a degree, it was occasionally scattered.
As a Real Housewives fan, I also love Sibylline Press’s mission to highlight women over 50. I’d recommend Griftopia to readers who enjoy woman‑centered stories, messy family dynamics, and sharp observations about our current era.
Pearl is finally easing into her life as an empty nester, when her sister's husband is arrested, her niece is "cancelled," her son drops out of college, and she finds her nest fuller than ever. She expects chaos, but not quite the level of grifting and hijinks that follows.
I enjoyed this timely, very modern story that dives into today’s zeitgeist: politics, social media trends like tradwife content and family vlogs, even pickleball culture—showing how easily all of it becomes fuel for grift. The characters’ sheer resourcefulness was both amusing and unsettling: if you aren't so concerned about integrity, the world is really your oyster in the attention economy.
The most compelling thread for me was the relationship between the two sisters, separated in childhood and shaped by radically different upbringings. Their dynamic raises interesting questions about identity, morality, and the families we create.
At times, the narrative was a bit crowded. Topical references piled up, and it took me a while to get the many characters and their motivations straight. I wished for more time with Pearl, whose contradictions and inner demons were fascinating. I would have loved a deeper focus on her and her son.
Again, I think the theme of how our upbringing shapes our lives, morals, and choices is really rich. This almost could have been a few separate books, and while I enjoyed the chaos to a degree, it was occasionally scattered.
As a Real Housewives fan, I also love Sibylline Press’s mission to highlight women over 50. I’d recommend Griftopia to readers who enjoy woman‑centered stories, messy family dynamics, and sharp observations about our current era.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Griftopia is an incisive and witty look into the lives of one dysfunctional family as they try to survive in the unique pressure cooker that is modern day America. Pearl has to quickly adjust to life after she is fired for sexual harassment and her estranged and newly poor sister , Scarlett, moves in. Her son, Declan, ditches his perfect pre-med life for a bikini barista with ulterior motives. And her niece, Helen, upends her life after her social media star toddler is cancelled. They all attempt to reintegrate as a family and navigate their troubles in a world obsessed with unprecedented events, political turmoil and the reign of social media.
I adored the explorations of parenting, generational trauma and survival. I did catch myself laughing throughout reading. And I am obsessed with stories featuring morally gray and imperfect characters. I'm conflicted because I believe Vitello was aiming to explore how the different generations of the Freischin family handled their trauma and situations. But, I think the chapters following Declan and Helen threw off the momentum for me as a reader. The meat of the story (and what I was most interested in) were Scarlett and Pearl's experiences as single women, mothers and sisters. I would have preferred to zero in on their perspectives. Additionally, there is a certain divisive political figure was mentioned multiple times throughout the novel. He should absolutely be included because he is an integral part of the reality that we and the Freischins live in. However, after multiple mentions, it took me out of the story. I would have been more engaged while reading with less frequent mentions of this person.
Thank you to Sibylline Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I adored the explorations of parenting, generational trauma and survival. I did catch myself laughing throughout reading. And I am obsessed with stories featuring morally gray and imperfect characters. I'm conflicted because I believe Vitello was aiming to explore how the different generations of the Freischin family handled their trauma and situations. But, I think the chapters following Declan and Helen threw off the momentum for me as a reader. The meat of the story (and what I was most interested in) were Scarlett and Pearl's experiences as single women, mothers and sisters. I would have preferred to zero in on their perspectives. Additionally, there is a certain divisive political figure was mentioned multiple times throughout the novel. He should absolutely be included because he is an integral part of the reality that we and the Freischins live in. However, after multiple mentions, it took me out of the story. I would have been more engaged while reading with less frequent mentions of this person.
Thank you to Sibylline Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such an interesting, character driven story about what it means to live in a world where it’s become normal to make a living by putting on a performance and sometimes scamming people. The plot follows members of the Freischin family over the course of a year in which their worlds fall apart in a multitude of ways and they are forced to come together to figure out how to rebuild.
Pearl and Scarlett are the matriarchs of the family who have a vastly different approach to life, not only from their temperaments, but due to being separated as children. Scarlett loses everything when her husband goes to jail and subsequently her daughter loses her livelihood too along with Pearl’s son who drops out of college in order to hook up and travel with a woman he met at a coffee shop. What follows is a variety of schemes the family cooks up to make a living, the pitfalls they encounter, and how they ultimately make it work.
The plot was a lot less sensational than I was expecting which is absolutely a good thing! It primarily focused on what led the characters to make these choices and had great backstory and character development to show how to they got to these points in their lives. The plot was a little slow paced for my taste, however not to the point that I wasn’t interested at all in what came next. I also wished it dived deeper into the cultural phenomena it critiqued in passing such as trad wives and the MAGA movement.
This was definitely a fun book for folks interested in quirky families, quirky people, and pop culture critique.
Many thanks to Sibylline Press and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This review is my honest opinion.
Pearl and Scarlett are the matriarchs of the family who have a vastly different approach to life, not only from their temperaments, but due to being separated as children. Scarlett loses everything when her husband goes to jail and subsequently her daughter loses her livelihood too along with Pearl’s son who drops out of college in order to hook up and travel with a woman he met at a coffee shop. What follows is a variety of schemes the family cooks up to make a living, the pitfalls they encounter, and how they ultimately make it work.
The plot was a lot less sensational than I was expecting which is absolutely a good thing! It primarily focused on what led the characters to make these choices and had great backstory and character development to show how to they got to these points in their lives. The plot was a little slow paced for my taste, however not to the point that I wasn’t interested at all in what came next. I also wished it dived deeper into the cultural phenomena it critiqued in passing such as trad wives and the MAGA movement.
This was definitely a fun book for folks interested in quirky families, quirky people, and pop culture critique.
Many thanks to Sibylline Press and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This review is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Going into this, I was expecting a lighthearted, humorous book about the lengths people will go to secure fame and fortune for themselves and their kids, and although it had those moments, Griftopia was so much more than that.
Suzy Vitello touched on the political climate, health anxiety, childhood trauma, and child exploitation in a way that was relevant in the current societal context. The conversation about child exploitation is increasingly important in today's climate, and this book did such a great job of immersing you into the lives of the people grappling with this, while also focusing on the immense damage it can cause.
The depiction of Declan's health anxiety was extremely interesting to me. Although I lack any experience with this topic and therefore cannot speak to how realistic it was, I found it extremely insightful on how debilitating it can be for those who suffer from this.
Although I enjoyed these aspects, I definitely would have liked more information and insight into Scarlett's ex-husband, Dex. I felt like the downfall of this family was described to have started with him, but apart from the first chapter and a couple of mentions throughout the book, he was absent from the story. To coincide with this, additional insight into Scarlett's thought process about Burkleigh would have been interesting. Although she was present in the book, the lack of her point of view in the last 30% left me wanting more.
#Griftopia #NetGalley
Suzy Vitello touched on the political climate, health anxiety, childhood trauma, and child exploitation in a way that was relevant in the current societal context. The conversation about child exploitation is increasingly important in today's climate, and this book did such a great job of immersing you into the lives of the people grappling with this, while also focusing on the immense damage it can cause.
The depiction of Declan's health anxiety was extremely interesting to me. Although I lack any experience with this topic and therefore cannot speak to how realistic it was, I found it extremely insightful on how debilitating it can be for those who suffer from this.
Although I enjoyed these aspects, I definitely would have liked more information and insight into Scarlett's ex-husband, Dex. I felt like the downfall of this family was described to have started with him, but apart from the first chapter and a couple of mentions throughout the book, he was absent from the story. To coincide with this, additional insight into Scarlett's thought process about Burkleigh would have been interesting. Although she was present in the book, the lack of her point of view in the last 30% left me wanting more.
#Griftopia #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Judging from the reviews, this is a book you either really like or hate. Luckily, I am the former. This book got me from the very first page. I read the entire thing in about a day. What can go wrong in this family? Everything. Every. Single. Possible. Thing. Every single character is a hot mess that makes decisions that have a horrible ripple effect on their lives and everyone around them. Author Suzy Vitello has created a family of absolutely infuriating people that will make you slap your head in disbelief while also hoping one of them will finally be able to rein everything in. Everyone in the Freischin family is looking for a way to escape something, and each one decides that manipulating their situation and attempting to control everything around them is the way to go, usually with disastrous results.
Griftopia is a chaotic, messy (and okay, sometimes annoying) dark comedy of a book. It is very, very easy to get lost in the story of all these people desperately trying to gain control of their out-of-control lives. The ending isn’t perfect. There are some loose ends that I wondered about afterwards. However, it was, in all, a highly entertaining car crash of a book. The only thing that would make it better is a postscript in which we learn that an older Burkleigh changes her name to something less hideous, runs off to live her best life, and never talks to any of these people again.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, very entertaining!
Griftopia is a chaotic, messy (and okay, sometimes annoying) dark comedy of a book. It is very, very easy to get lost in the story of all these people desperately trying to gain control of their out-of-control lives. The ending isn’t perfect. There are some loose ends that I wondered about afterwards. However, it was, in all, a highly entertaining car crash of a book. The only thing that would make it better is a postscript in which we learn that an older Burkleigh changes her name to something less hideous, runs off to live her best life, and never talks to any of these people again.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, very entertaining!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Sibylline Press, and Suzy Vitello for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was an interesting read with a lot of great social commentary and, at the start, it reminded me a little bit of Arrested Development with the vibe, the cast of characters, and the humor/wit. But I expected it to be more funny and less sad than it ended up being.
There are definitely several grifters in this, but it isn't all of the characters participating and there isn't really a big family group grift, which is what I was expecting from the listed premise. It feels like Helena (and, consequently, Burkleigh) and Pearl just keep getting slammed with bad thing after bad thing, and the entire book just made me really sad for Burkleigh.
The story is told from the perspective of several characters. Primarily, this is Pearl, Helena, and Declan. It is told partially from the present day, but there is also a lot of reminiscing, of both short and long term memories. I don't mind the flashbacks to the distant past, showing the characters' backgrounds, but there were a lot of chapters where it was telling about something that had happened recently, during the timeline of the book, and it felt like major (or, at least, what could have been fun or funny) events happened off page.
Overall, this was an interesting read. It just wasn't what I was expecting in a way that made it not my favorite.
This was an interesting read with a lot of great social commentary and, at the start, it reminded me a little bit of Arrested Development with the vibe, the cast of characters, and the humor/wit. But I expected it to be more funny and less sad than it ended up being.
There are definitely several grifters in this, but it isn't all of the characters participating and there isn't really a big family group grift, which is what I was expecting from the listed premise. It feels like Helena (and, consequently, Burkleigh) and Pearl just keep getting slammed with bad thing after bad thing, and the entire book just made me really sad for Burkleigh.
The story is told from the perspective of several characters. Primarily, this is Pearl, Helena, and Declan. It is told partially from the present day, but there is also a lot of reminiscing, of both short and long term memories. I don't mind the flashbacks to the distant past, showing the characters' backgrounds, but there were a lot of chapters where it was telling about something that had happened recently, during the timeline of the book, and it felt like major (or, at least, what could have been fun or funny) events happened off page.
Overall, this was an interesting read. It just wasn't what I was expecting in a way that made it not my favorite.
May 10, 2026
Griftopia had everything I normally eat up immediately - dysfunctional family drama, terrible financial decisions, morally questionable people making even worse choices under pressure. Basically a group project designed by Satan.
The strongest part of the book is definitely the family dynamics. Everyone feels just toxic enough to be believable. And there's this constant tension simmering underneath every interaction. Like Thanksgiving dinner where someone is one glass of wine away from exposing a decade-old secret. The scams and money schemes added a fun layer of chaos too.
My issue was that I never fully connected with the characters beyond enjoying them as disasters. They all felt emotionally just out of reach, so when the bigger dramatic moments happened, I was more "that's unfortunate" than actually devastated.
The dialogue also kept pulling me out of the story. A lot of conversations felt overly polished, like everyone has spent three business days preparing their comeback lines in advance. You know when characters speak entirely in quotable moments instead of sounding like actual humans? Very that.
Overall, it's messy, chaotic, and compulsively readable. But it never hit me emotionally the way I wanted it to. Still worth picking up if you enjoy watching families implode over money, ego, and extremely questionable decision making. Which, unfortunately for me, I do.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sibylline Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.
The strongest part of the book is definitely the family dynamics. Everyone feels just toxic enough to be believable. And there's this constant tension simmering underneath every interaction. Like Thanksgiving dinner where someone is one glass of wine away from exposing a decade-old secret. The scams and money schemes added a fun layer of chaos too.
My issue was that I never fully connected with the characters beyond enjoying them as disasters. They all felt emotionally just out of reach, so when the bigger dramatic moments happened, I was more "that's unfortunate" than actually devastated.
The dialogue also kept pulling me out of the story. A lot of conversations felt overly polished, like everyone has spent three business days preparing their comeback lines in advance. You know when characters speak entirely in quotable moments instead of sounding like actual humans? Very that.
Overall, it's messy, chaotic, and compulsively readable. But it never hit me emotionally the way I wanted it to. Still worth picking up if you enjoy watching families implode over money, ego, and extremely questionable decision making. Which, unfortunately for me, I do.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sibylline Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.
May 31, 2026
Picking up GRIFTOPIA and leaping into the mad world of the Freischin sisters and their crew of extended family and various hangers-ons, the reader is immediately smacked in the face with the extraordinarily sharp, hilarious, really smart writing of author Suzy Vitello.
There were countless times I laughed out loud, shaking my head in literary admiration at the turn of a phrase, a unique take on a plot twist; the antics of these wild, finely detailed, wholly original characters. The narrative ride was unpredictable (which I always love) and the personalities brought to life never failed to engage on a wide range of options on the emotional spectrum.
Modern, sassy, with an unvarnished look at the current state of affairs in our social media obsessed world, its story explores these characters and their needs, wants, and attempts at happiness and success via every meme, hot topic, or “influencer” trend, making their foibles and failures culturally spot-on, yet somehow still moving and, at times, even heart-tugging.
Having read Vitello’s previous novel, BITTERROOT, a beautiful, profound story with darker, more dramatic themes, GRIFTOPIA makes clear the versatility of this author in her ability to swing from drama to comedy and all the colors in between.
A wildly unpredictable, funny, smart take on failure and survival in the modern world, it’s a fabulous read I highly recommend.
There were countless times I laughed out loud, shaking my head in literary admiration at the turn of a phrase, a unique take on a plot twist; the antics of these wild, finely detailed, wholly original characters. The narrative ride was unpredictable (which I always love) and the personalities brought to life never failed to engage on a wide range of options on the emotional spectrum.
Modern, sassy, with an unvarnished look at the current state of affairs in our social media obsessed world, its story explores these characters and their needs, wants, and attempts at happiness and success via every meme, hot topic, or “influencer” trend, making their foibles and failures culturally spot-on, yet somehow still moving and, at times, even heart-tugging.
Having read Vitello’s previous novel, BITTERROOT, a beautiful, profound story with darker, more dramatic themes, GRIFTOPIA makes clear the versatility of this author in her ability to swing from drama to comedy and all the colors in between.
A wildly unpredictable, funny, smart take on failure and survival in the modern world, it’s a fabulous read I highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Overall, I found the book very readable and was initially drawn to the characters and premise but ultimately found the reading experience frustrating. The characters frequently recognize problems without taking meaningful action, instead responding primarily through complaints and insults. I love a "quirky character" but these just felt angry and entitled.
The political tone, in particular, will be polarizing and appears very early in the narrative. While I appreciate political emotion in fiction, here it felt immature and not at all nuanced.
I also found the pacing uneven. The year long gap in the story disrupted the narrative for me and made it difficult to stay emotionally invested.
Finally, the book was not what I expected based on the description and the first few chapters. What began as a story about an empty nester having her sanctuary disrupted and perhaps compromising her ideals, turned to too many absurd subplots.
This is not a title I would prioritize purchasing for my library and I would recommend it only selectively. While I did find it readable and humorous at times, it does not have broad appeal and the heavy political references will (hopefully) become dated fairly quickly which would further impact long-term appeal.
The political tone, in particular, will be polarizing and appears very early in the narrative. While I appreciate political emotion in fiction, here it felt immature and not at all nuanced.
I also found the pacing uneven. The year long gap in the story disrupted the narrative for me and made it difficult to stay emotionally invested.
Finally, the book was not what I expected based on the description and the first few chapters. What began as a story about an empty nester having her sanctuary disrupted and perhaps compromising her ideals, turned to too many absurd subplots.
This is not a title I would prioritize purchasing for my library and I would recommend it only selectively. While I did find it readable and humorous at times, it does not have broad appeal and the heavy political references will (hopefully) become dated fairly quickly which would further impact long-term appeal.
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January 21, 2026Thank you NetGalley and Sibylline Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed Suzy Vitello’s writing style. I found it witty, quite a dry sense of humour which is something I always appreciate in my reading. The characters were complex and layered, and I especially liked reading from Pearl’s perspective.
Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. I believe a lot of my disappointment comes down to the blurb, which described a really intriguing and unique premise following a family who must grift to survive. I reached the 35% mark and I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated with how long this book was taking to “kick off”. By 35%, I was just too frustrated to continue and so I’ve decided to DNF. While I appreciate that it was full of backstory and scenes that would help us understand characters and their motivations, I did feel it was too much.
What I did read was an in depth exploration into family dynamics, how our past can shape our relationships in the present, particularly between sisters and mother & child. I think readers who enjoy exploring these dynamics, and are drawn to Griftopia because of this, might enjoy it more than I did.
I really enjoyed Suzy Vitello’s writing style. I found it witty, quite a dry sense of humour which is something I always appreciate in my reading. The characters were complex and layered, and I especially liked reading from Pearl’s perspective.
Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. I believe a lot of my disappointment comes down to the blurb, which described a really intriguing and unique premise following a family who must grift to survive. I reached the 35% mark and I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated with how long this book was taking to “kick off”. By 35%, I was just too frustrated to continue and so I’ve decided to DNF. While I appreciate that it was full of backstory and scenes that would help us understand characters and their motivations, I did feel it was too much.
What I did read was an in depth exploration into family dynamics, how our past can shape our relationships in the present, particularly between sisters and mother & child. I think readers who enjoy exploring these dynamics, and are drawn to Griftopia because of this, might enjoy it more than I did.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
If you enjoy your social commentary with a side of "everything is terrible but at least it’s funny," Griftopia should be next on your TBR list. It’s a masterclass in imperfect characters—with a sprawling family tree where every branch is on fire. It’s the kind of book that skewers modern culture so accurately it makes you want to delete your social media and change your name.
The prose is dry, self-deprecating, and dangerously sharp. Managing a cast this large usually results in a messy sprawl, but the author handles it with surgical precision. The author weaves past and present together so seamlessly that the generational trauma feels less like a plot point and more like a hereditary curse. It’s rare to find a book that balances this many characters and perspectives without losing the thread. It’s uncomfortable, observant, and stays with you long after the final disaster.
I particularly enjoyed the social media commentary and how easy it is to fake content for likes—and how easy it is to be canceled.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves a family-oriented, character-driven plot.
If you enjoy your social commentary with a side of "everything is terrible but at least it’s funny," Griftopia should be next on your TBR list. It’s a masterclass in imperfect characters—with a sprawling family tree where every branch is on fire. It’s the kind of book that skewers modern culture so accurately it makes you want to delete your social media and change your name.
The prose is dry, self-deprecating, and dangerously sharp. Managing a cast this large usually results in a messy sprawl, but the author handles it with surgical precision. The author weaves past and present together so seamlessly that the generational trauma feels less like a plot point and more like a hereditary curse. It’s rare to find a book that balances this many characters and perspectives without losing the thread. It’s uncomfortable, observant, and stays with you long after the final disaster.
I particularly enjoyed the social media commentary and how easy it is to fake content for likes—and how easy it is to be canceled.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves a family-oriented, character-driven plot.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is chaos. It has 4 (unlikable) main characters and some of their pasts are revealed to us by intermittent and irregular flashbacks. Some information about them is shared by telling the reader. E.G "Helena got horny when she drank". Thank you for explaining why yet another character is going to make yet another barley explicable decision. I think bits of this book are meant to be satire. I'm not sure what the rest it. Certainly anti-trump. Even so, no one every considers the possibility of a safety net.
One big problem was that the content of the book didn't match the description. I thought it was going to be a story about a family of grifters and fraudsters. Instead, it's about a family of misaligned, desperate narcissists who are doing it tough, partly because they live in a terrible country and partly because they make terrible decisions.
The decision to make the final chapter "one year later" was a bad one. Tying a very mess book up into a neat resolution like this was boring to me, and inconsistent with all the characters' behaviour throughout the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an DRC in exchange for an honest review.
One big problem was that the content of the book didn't match the description. I thought it was going to be a story about a family of grifters and fraudsters. Instead, it's about a family of misaligned, desperate narcissists who are doing it tough, partly because they live in a terrible country and partly because they make terrible decisions.
The decision to make the final chapter "one year later" was a bad one. Tying a very mess book up into a neat resolution like this was boring to me, and inconsistent with all the characters' behaviour throughout the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an interesting premise for a book. With the current social media climate of child exploitation, trad wife, and cancel culture, this book was an interesting take on these topics. The writing was overall pretty good. There were a lot of characters and many POVs that it took me a while to keep track of who was who. These characters are unlikeable, but this is on purpose. Sometimes, unlikeable characters work for me, but this one it was hard to root for them because their motives weren’t something to root for and there wasn’t enough character development to make up for these shortcomings.
Along with the many characters were the many subplots. This was entertaining because this family is a dumpster fire. There were a couple of loose ends at the end and by that point I was fine not having everything tied up. It is a book I’d recommend to certain people, but it’s not an overall crowd pleaser.
Thank you, NetGalley and Sibylline Press for allowing me to read this early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Along with the many characters were the many subplots. This was entertaining because this family is a dumpster fire. There were a couple of loose ends at the end and by that point I was fine not having everything tied up. It is a book I’d recommend to certain people, but it’s not an overall crowd pleaser.
Thank you, NetGalley and Sibylline Press for allowing me to read this early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Griftopia is my first read by this author, and I was intrigued by the blurb's focus on the multi-generational grifts perpetuated by the family in the book. I appreciated the fact that the publisher is focused on stories from women over fifty, and I was excited to support this effort. While I found several elements of the novel to be quite entertaining, for the most part I simply could not connect with the book in a way I had hoped.
Part of the problem is that pretty much all of the characters are profoundly unlikeable. I usually don't have a problem with that, as I often root for people who are flawed yet fun to spend time with on the page. But here it's just too much.
Another issue I found hard to overcome is the writing style. It felt to me to be trying too hard to be quirky and wry, and it just came off as cringey. This book was ultimately not for me, but it might be for you!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Part of the problem is that pretty much all of the characters are profoundly unlikeable. I usually don't have a problem with that, as I often root for people who are flawed yet fun to spend time with on the page. But here it's just too much.
Another issue I found hard to overcome is the writing style. It felt to me to be trying too hard to be quirky and wry, and it just came off as cringey. This book was ultimately not for me, but it might be for you!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This story was a train wreck that you just couldn't look away from. The characters were all so dysfunctional playing off each other's vulnerabilities. They were all ready to hurt each other emotionally in order to receive more control.
I wouldn't say that there was an individual character that I rooted for. They all seemed to have been shaped terribly by their pasts. In the present they are all chasing the next trend to make a buck whether it be tradwifes, pickleball, or exploiting a child for financial gain on social media.
I felt the need to see how this was all going to play out. It seemed like nothing these people touched turned to gold. All their choices were the wrong ones. Their lives were chaotic and messy.
There were a lot of characters and I felt that because of that we did not get a full sense of who they really were and why they did the things they did.
All in all this was an engaging read dealing with many issues that we see and hear on a daily basis.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sibylline Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I wouldn't say that there was an individual character that I rooted for. They all seemed to have been shaped terribly by their pasts. In the present they are all chasing the next trend to make a buck whether it be tradwifes, pickleball, or exploiting a child for financial gain on social media.
I felt the need to see how this was all going to play out. It seemed like nothing these people touched turned to gold. All their choices were the wrong ones. Their lives were chaotic and messy.
There were a lot of characters and I felt that because of that we did not get a full sense of who they really were and why they did the things they did.
All in all this was an engaging read dealing with many issues that we see and hear on a daily basis.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sibylline Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
If you're looking for likeable characters then this is not the book for you. However, their unlikeability is the central theme of this story, and their antics will keep you going to see what this family does next. Not once in the first 90% of the story will anyone do anything that immediately doesn't make you cringe.
The end is realistic despite not being totally satisfying, but who among us has a satisfying conclusion in this timeline? The themes of being honest about our most base selfish tendencies as well as how generational trauma is a thing is topical and as messy as it is in real life.
This story is a relatively quick and easy read. For its length there is quite a bit of bouncing between all the family members. A few chapters felt like they were cut off just as it was gaining momentum, which felt odd next to a stretch of the book that really lingered in Pearl's childhood. Overall a fun read.
If you're looking for likeable characters then this is not the book for you. However, their unlikeability is the central theme of this story, and their antics will keep you going to see what this family does next. Not once in the first 90% of the story will anyone do anything that immediately doesn't make you cringe.
The end is realistic despite not being totally satisfying, but who among us has a satisfying conclusion in this timeline? The themes of being honest about our most base selfish tendencies as well as how generational trauma is a thing is topical and as messy as it is in real life.
This story is a relatively quick and easy read. For its length there is quite a bit of bouncing between all the family members. A few chapters felt like they were cut off just as it was gaining momentum, which felt odd next to a stretch of the book that really lingered in Pearl's childhood. Overall a fun read.
April 23, 2026
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Griftopia had all the ingredients I usually love—messy family dynamics, tangled relationships, and plenty of questionable money schemes—but it didn’t fully land for me.
The family drama was definitely the strongest part. There’s a lot of tension, secrets, and morally gray decisions that keep things interesting, especially when money starts complicating everything. The schemes themselves were intriguing and added a layer of chaos that kept me reading.
That said, I struggled to really connect with the characters. I never felt fully invested in their outcomes, which made some of the bigger moments fall a bit flat. On top of that, the dialogue often felt forced and unnatural—like it was trying too hard to be sharp or impactful, but instead came off awkward.
Overall, it’s a decent read with compelling themes, but it lacked the emotional connection and authenticity I was hoping for.
Griftopia had all the ingredients I usually love—messy family dynamics, tangled relationships, and plenty of questionable money schemes—but it didn’t fully land for me.
The family drama was definitely the strongest part. There’s a lot of tension, secrets, and morally gray decisions that keep things interesting, especially when money starts complicating everything. The schemes themselves were intriguing and added a layer of chaos that kept me reading.
That said, I struggled to really connect with the characters. I never felt fully invested in their outcomes, which made some of the bigger moments fall a bit flat. On top of that, the dialogue often felt forced and unnatural—like it was trying too hard to be sharp or impactful, but instead came off awkward.
Overall, it’s a decent read with compelling themes, but it lacked the emotional connection and authenticity I was hoping for.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fast paced and interesting read,"Griftopia" is about a family who will do anything to keep themselves above water, and all the grifts that come with it, including an Etsy shop, pickleball, and creating a child influencer. Personally, I found the concept and twists to be entertaining, but the characters fell flat in my opinion. I couldn't get myself to root for their motives and they aren't what I am personally looking for in a story. I understand having flawed realistic characters, but some of the things the protagonists did were unforgivable at times. I really enjoyed the concept and the fast pace helped increase the stakes in the story, but the characters were not engaging or likeable enough to root for in my opinion. The family's drama was enjoyable though to watch like a trainwreck (in a good way) .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2026
This book pulled me in with the slow burn of dread that followed the main characters, which was perfectly balanced by its sharp humor. By the time I was done with my time with this little family, I felt a bit, but not fully, relieved for them. How could I be fully relieved when the characters were so real, so vital, and so much a part of the real world we live in right now? Vitello isn't asking us to look at the world through rose colored glasses (unless, of course, those pink lenses are a bit shattered). She's presenting us with the world as it is, the beauty and the ridiculousness, and asking "So what are you going to do with this one wild and precious life" to butcher Mary Oliver.
Read this if you're a person who doesn't need an HEA to feel connected, hopeful, and grateful for the ride.
Read this if you're a person who doesn't need an HEA to feel connected, hopeful, and grateful for the ride.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Prolific writer Suzy Vitello once again delivers a story that speaks to the issues of the day in her new book Griftopia: A Novel. As the title foretells, this is a story about grifts, both large and small, and the fallout that includes broken families, time in jail and shattered dreams. Griftopia: A Novel could be a tawdry tale ripped from the headlines we see highlighted daily, where children are for sale to the highest bidders and nothing is off limits. In Vitello’s capable hands, however, there is redemption and starting over which sets Griftopia apart from real headlines.
Vitello’s gift, one of many, is creating stories that resonate with the issues of our times and she does so splendidly with Griftopia: A Novel.
Vitello’s gift, one of many, is creating stories that resonate with the issues of our times and she does so splendidly with Griftopia: A Novel.
June 27, 2026
Imagine this astonishing novel as a literary circus car, packed not with clowns, but with quirky human beings. And instead of climbing out of a car, they are all in the process of migrating from a distant location toward a modest house in a Portland suburb, intending to squeeze themselves inside.
Each is related by blood or error to the owner Pearl, who teaches high school science and gets through each day by chewing THC gummies. Each is scrambling to navigate a stream of mishaps so thoroughly up-to-date and familiar, you wonder how Suzy Vitello could possibly have managed to recreate our whole contemporary world overnight.
How will its inhabitants fit together? What sparks will fly? Will they ever self-regulate? Find home? Plunge into this addictive fabulous fable and find out!
Each is related by blood or error to the owner Pearl, who teaches high school science and gets through each day by chewing THC gummies. Each is scrambling to navigate a stream of mishaps so thoroughly up-to-date and familiar, you wonder how Suzy Vitello could possibly have managed to recreate our whole contemporary world overnight.
How will its inhabitants fit together? What sparks will fly? Will they ever self-regulate? Find home? Plunge into this addictive fabulous fable and find out!
July 9, 2026
Suzy Vitello’s Griftopia is a hilarious rollercoaster ride and a send-up of 21st century American culture. With wit and a sharp eye, the author delves into the distress, the delusions, the blatantly delinquent behaviors of her complex and always entertaining multi-generational family, the Freischins. A childhood tragedy sets the disparate courses of the two matriarchs, Pearl and Scarlett, and the author masterfully weaves the threads of their trauma through increasingly outrageous dilemmas towards some semblance of resolution, of peace, and maybe even redemption. Even at such helter-skelter speed, each character has depth and saving graces that make us root for them and want them to survive and to thrive, despite the overwhelming odds.
February 14, 2026
Griftopia by Suzy Vitello follows Pearl Fleischman and other members of her family as Pearl navigates what should be a quiet, mostly solitary, time in her life. Not so fast, Pearl! A cast of characters ranging from Pearl’s spiraling sister to her internet famous singing niece, soon invade Pearl’s space and all hell breaks loose!
As the title implies, there are grifters in the mix and no one is safe from their reach.
I liked the straightforward and witty writing style and look forward to reading more from this author. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a fast-paced read with timely topics and relatable characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sibylline Press for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Overall entertaining read that helped pull me out of a reading slump. I clicked with the dry humor and writing style right away. I would recommend this for people who like reading about dysfunctional families doing stupid stuff. As you might guess from the description, many of the topics and events in this book are EXTREMELY current and it literally feels like it was written yesterday.
However, the ending left much to be desired. The story doesn’t feel finished. Several plotlines are introduced and they were not very fleshed out or followed through to a conclusion, hence the 3 star rating.
However, the ending left much to be desired. The story doesn’t feel finished. Several plotlines are introduced and they were not very fleshed out or followed through to a conclusion, hence the 3 star rating.
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May 15, 2026Griftopia started slow and built speed in conjunction with the character arcs of family members and associates who were hard to like at the beginning. As the characters evolved or, even as they devolved, I liked them more and became interested and invested in their growth. I found the theme of protecting children from exploitation especially compelling, and the plot had me holding my breath near the end. I would look forward to meeting these characters again and reading the continuing adventures of each. The novel reminds me of an adult version of Helen Cresswell's Bagthorpe Saga, which I loved as a teen.
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