She Regrets Nothing

by Andrea Dunlop

In the tradition of The Emperor’s Children and The House of Mirth, the forgotten granddaughter of one of New York’s wealthiest men is reunited with her family just as she comes of age—and once she’s had a glimpse of their glittering world, she refuses to let it go without a fight.

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

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

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Chick Lit, Adult Fiction, Audiobook, Adult

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 6, 2018

About the author

I'm the author of three novels and the mother of one small human. I write complex, suspenseful books about families with dark secrets and women trying to discover themselves in a world full of contradictory expectations. My stories are set in exciting and exotic locations such as French Riviera, New York City, and Buenos Aires which I hope will give readers an escapist thrill.
I love to hear from readers and aspiring authors. I have a background in book publishing as well as writing, and I share my advice and expertise in weekly videos which you can find on Instagram and here on Goodreads.

Reviews

[CristiinaReads୨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

➳Family drama, complications from the past. and new faces to be reacquainted with and get to know… That’s the kind of novel you expect from Andrea…



➳As a New Yorker, and as someone who has gained an understanding as to how people portray the whole aspect of being a New Yorker or new to said state and the city, I can rightfully say that this story was indeed on the right path towards leading to something outstanding. I was hesitant at first when getting to the ideal story plots and how Laila Lawrence, the main character, was brought into this world filled with power and wealth. One in which she had no idea she was a part of blood related until after her mother past away and was left as an orphan. To me I find that aspect of the story appealing in a sense of way that brings an unexpected twist later on throughout the story.



➳That’s when the drama starts to kick in to the twist. Once Laila is brought to the world of wealth and be part of a life that she did not see coming, she is encountered upon the the evolutions of sex, lies, blackmail, greediness, betrayal that erases any sort of aspect of loyalty to the table. To me I found this rather enticing in a way that I could envision everything happening in front of me. This novel would easily become a next time favorite TV show or movie of mine if the opportunity took place. What I did not find appealing was the whole revolving around the same topic. The characters are twenty something year olds and to me I found them very childish in a way that made me cringe for sure. But I got over it once the big plots and twist began to appear and enticed me for more of the story through every page.

➳Overall, this story filled with so many turning points has gotten a place in my shelf that can lead to so much more love towards the author. The writing style itself was just superb for sure. One in which I hope does not change because I am in love with the balance in the story plot that Andrea has provided. I am looking forward to her other books in which I hope to enjoy as well! Thank you to Andrea for giving me this chance at reading her novel, I will cherish it forever.



➳ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review...

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[Melisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a coming of age tale of a woman who discovers she has a long-lost, wealthy family in New York City. It is a dark, edgy, gritty story of a life that has been changed tremendously by these circumstances.

I’m not going to lie, I was first drawn to this book by it’s gorgeous cover, and it is one that suits it well. I especially enjoyed reading about the places in NYC that I was familiar with, I love how it took on a life of its own and was almost a character in the story.

This book was Gossip Girl meets Sex and the City with a darker edge. It took a very unexpected left turn in the last quarter or so of the book which threw me for a loop, in a good way. I wasn’t anticipating the conclusion but it wrapped up quite well.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this cook in exchange for an honest review.

[Holly B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of family drama complicated by money, boyfriends, and status.

When 23 year old Laila becomes acquainted with her 3 long lost cousins who attend her mother's funeral. She had known very little about her father's side of the family. He died years earlier and she was surprised and thrilled to discover her estranged father's family were living in New York and known for their extreme wealth.

Laila discovers a scandalous family secret that reveals why the families were at odds. Ultimately, she takes off for New York and the glamorous life. She struggles to fit in and makes some life changing and rather immature decisions.

I enjoyed the back drop of New York, but felt the story was a bit too long with a few too many scenarios that seemed too familiar (cheating, jealousy, and lies). Still an enjoyable light read for chick-lit fans!

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria for my ARC.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I found the characters in this book difficult to like and all rather nasty, I did enjoy the feeling that some of the flaws displayed in these characters weren’t too far off the mark, characters of questionable morals and selfish narcissistic behaviours who will stop at nothing to keep their financial and social positions protected, mix in a bunch of entitled New York rich kids and a long lost cousin who enters the picture who shows absolutely no shame in her opportunistic and ruthless pursuits in going after the family money for her own greedy purposes and this was nothing short of pure fun shameless entertainment. This perfectly titled book provides plenty of scandalous family drama creating a wickedly fun trashy kind of read with plenty to keep you addictively turning those pages!

[Gabby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is full of #RichPeopleProblems. It's definitely not my thing. This story follows a twenty-three year old girl named Laila Laurence who discovers she has a bunch of rich cousins living in Manhattan, New York when her parents die. She takes a chance and moves to New York to live with her wealthy cousins and becomes swept up in the elite privileged lifestyle that they have always known. Then this book is basically about rich people and their rich people problems.

I didn't like any of the characters in this book besides Liberty (because she has anxiety and she works at a literary fiction publishing place and she is the most down to Earth out of all the Laurence's). Laila is a very unlikable main character but I feel like as a reader we aren't supposed to like her (I could be totally wrong though), but then I ask myself if the reader is intended to dislike Laila in this book, then what is the point? This isn't a mystery or a thriller where I wouldn't mind an unlikable main character - this is a contemporary fiction novel and I guess I just don't really understand the point of this book? Am I supposed to care about Laila and her poor decision making skills? She's incredibly selfish and is a gold digger and doesn't care about anyone. Also the amount of times people are refereed to as sexy and hot in this book is absurd, do these characters not have any other redeemable qualities? (Cause if they do, I don't see any.)



Here are some direct quotes from the book that left a bad taste in my mouth and will give you an idea of why I couldn't stand any of these characters:
●"Tom was definitely a catch. Was he the best Laila could do, though? She'd just gotten here."
●"Laila was shocked that Tom porter didn't have more money. What did bestselling even mean if not that the author was wealthy?"
●"A billionaire had been flirting with her; it must count for something somehow. A check mark on some version of becoming a new yorker bingo?"
●"Men like him always had the advantage. Liberty was over thirty; certainly plenty of men still wanted her now, but it wouldn't be so for long. Whereas his advantages over the opposite sex would only increase from here."
●"He was rich, he was the best-looking man he knew, and he was still young. He could have anyone. He would have everyone."

Those are just a few quotes that made me dislike every single character in this book. I don't understand how Laila started off as this small town girl who never had anything and then so quickly became this spoiler privileged asshole within months. And then she actually went and fucked Cameron the guy that Liberty was crushing on and for what?? After everything Liberty had done for her and this is how she repays her? And the fact that Laila cheated on Tom to do it with Cameron. And then later on in the book she cheats on Tom again with Simon while on that vacation... I just. I can't stand a cheater. I couldn't stand Laila in this book. Laila is a social climber and she's hungry for money and attention and she doesn't care who she hurts with her selfish behavior and I just can't.



If you want to read a book that has a bunch of selfish hot characters bitching about their rich people problems and cheating on each other and being spoiled bratty privileged assholes then this is the book for you! Unfortunately this kind of book just isn't for me. The only reason this book gets two stars instead of one is because I really enjoyed Liberty's character, she was easily my favorite in the book and the only reason I continued reading and because this cover of the New York City skyline washed in pink is one of the most gorgeous covers I've ever seen and was partially the reason why I wanted to read it in the first place.

Thank you to Atria Books for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED the heck out of She Regrets Nothing by Andrea Dunlop!!!! I ran through this story within a day as it was VERY addicting! She Regrets Nothing is scandalous, juicy, and just plain fun! My typical genre is mystery or thriller but this story was just what I needed at the time! And the cover?! It’s gorgeous! I just love everything about it!

So what’s it about? The story opens up at Laila Lawerence’s mothers funeral. Unbeknownst to Laila, her three cousins from NYC, Liberty, Leo and Nora, are in the back of the funeral. Only after the funeral at the family gathering Laila notices the three and asks them who they are. She was under the impression she didn't have cousins or family from her father’s side. Her father passed away earlier in Laila’s life and after her mother’s passing, Laila was left an orphan. Liberty wanted to reach out to Laila because she felt sorry for her and to let her know she indeed has other family. Liberty left her number to Laila and told her to reach out.

Laila did some research on her extended family only to find out the Lawerence’s were extremely rich and practically famous. Their grandfather has made their family very wealthy. She decided to reach out to Liberty before her cousins went back to New York City and they planned to keep in touch. Over the next two years, Laila visited New York City a couple times and saw the way her extended family lives the glamours life. Money, multiple penthouses, drivers, named brand clothes, etc.

Laila then decides to make changes back home and move to New York City to be with her family. She is envious of the lives of her cousins. She feels as she has been left out from such a fabulous rich life. Laila is determined to be a part of the Lawerence’s and the NYC crowd. She is willing to do anything!

Sex, lies, betrayal, blackmail, money etc! It had allllll the dramas! I loved every character. Laila was such a greedy little thing! Her twin cousins, Leo and Nora, were spoiled rotten. Both living in connecting penthouses. Laila’s oldest cousin, Liberty, was the only one never interested in the family money and was a hard working publisher. I also loved how the book world of publishers were a part of the story, giving you a glimpse of all the hard work they do.

Anyways, all the 5 Stars! She Regrets Nothing could easily be turned into a television show and I would binge watch the hell out of it! Many thanks to Atria for sending me a galley!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5

First of all, many thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Wow, I was seriously blown away by this book, especially the ending. Ah, the lifestyles of the rich and famous (pardon the pun). She Regrets Nothing gives you an interesting look into how the esteemed and wealthy in New York live, at least how I imagine many of them live anyway.

This book is mostly based on poor Laila, the "lowly" girl from Grosse Point, Michigan. Daughter of a man cut off from his wealthy family due to a secret no one wants to talk about, but what made him the black sheep of the family. Laila ends up moving to New York and living with her twin cousins Nora and Leo. We also have the beautiful, driven, older cousin of hers, Liberty, who shows Laila great kindness the entire time even though frankly she doesn't even deserve it.

Laila's choices throughout the book are incredibly naive and ridiculous for the most part, but what kind of book would it be if they weren't? She is truly enamored with the life of the rich family she didn't even know existed. I love reading books set in New York because I feel like it makes them seem larger than life. NY just feels larger than life to me in general, and fun books like this set among wealthy (albeit fictional) characters there just ups the ante.

She Regrets Nothing is definitely a bit of a lighter read, while at the same time dealing with a couple heavy topics. There is also plenty of dirt and secrets mixed in to keep it spicy. It was a bit like watching a reality show honestly, and I loved every second of it. It took me awhile to get through this one because I wasn't reading it too often, but I know that if I had focused on it I would have flown through it. It also had multiple viewpoints, hurray!

3 words to describe this book: Juicy, Glamorous, Sexy.

Final Thought: If you like The Real Housewives or juicy reality shows, this is probably going to be the perfect book for you! At the end of this book my mouth actually dropped open more than once because THAT my friends, is the kind of book this is. I seriously cannot wait to see what Dunlop comes up with next!

*This title was published on 06 Feb 2018*

[☆Dani☆ ☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this was a likable book. There was a lot of characters that I loved to hate and it went at a steady pace. I was first intrigued by the synopsis and the cover and thought it would be interested. This book was definitely interesting with the family drama and all the scandal that consumed the plot. I felt this story was lacking a bit because it felt a bit too pretentious for my liking. I was torn on the characters but I really LOVED Liberty's characterisation! So overall this was a likable book for me that had it's flaws for sure. I am sure though that there would be a lot of people who would enjoy the drama in this fiction novel. I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the opportunity.

[Janelle Janson · Rating 5 out of 5]

SHE REGRETS NOTHING by AndreaDunlop - Thank you so much to Atria Books for providing my free advance copy - all opinions are my own.

The story starts off at a funeral for Laila’s mom, who passed away suddenly. Her cousins show up at the funeral to pay their respects, only she had no idea they existed. Laila grew up relatively poor so when she realizes her cousins are wealthy socialites who live in New York... well, you can guess what can happens BUT I recommend picking up this book! It is so compelling and complex that I couldn’t put it down.

I LOVED Dunlop’s writing style! Reading back and forth seamlessly between the characters is so addicting! You HAVE to keep reading!! I absolutely love Liberty and Reece. They are very likable and relatable woman despite their high class background. They both have an actual moral compass, which is refreshing in this book. And WOAH, a couple of the other characters in the book (and I won’t name names) are awful, self absorbed, and downright cruel people.

I really enjoyed this book! It is a wild ride of deceit, broken families, secrets, blackmail, tawdry affairs, and yes, money. I highly recommend this book; trust me, you won’t want to miss out on the ending!

For more reviews, please check out my blog at https://shereadswithcats.com

[Heidi (can’t retire soon enough) · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

Remember the 1980s nighttime soap opera Dynasty? That’s what this book reminded me of— unfortunately about half-way through I realized I just didn’t care... about any of it. The one character that seemed to be the breath of fresh air in the whole white privileged mess was suddenly regulated to the background— a pain-stricken waif which spelled victim to me. Without someone to root for, I’m out.

PS- I did something I almost never do— read the last chapter and epilogue. Not finishing was a good decision. Moving on...

(Reviewed 1-21-19)

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raise your hand if you were a fan of Gossip Girl? Either the books or the TV series, I preferred to binge the series, but I digress. If you liked those books back in the day then She Regrets Nothing should be your next read. It’s a more adult version with a darker edge but still explores the glamorous side of the elite society in NYC. This was scandalous, juicy and full of family drama.

Laila never knew she had wealthy, albeit estranged family members until her mother passed away. When she finally meets her cousins she takes the opportunity and uses it to her advantage, the only thing she truly she wants is to be fabulously wealthy. Laila wasn’t likable at all but she sure was entertaining, this girl redefined the phrase social climber and took deceit and manipulation to a crazy level.,Most of the Lawrence family is pretty unlikable honestly, but Liberty was my favorite and not at all like the rest of the clan. She works in publishing and is a bookworm, what’s not to like?! Badly behaved characters are some of my favorites though and this had them in spades.

Books set in NYC always appeal to me and Dunlop brought the glittery backdrop to life. I mentioned a dark edge earlier and this part took me totally by surprise, for the majority of the book I figured this would be a three star read at best, nothing inherently bad, just a fun read about rich kids in the city. But things took a turn and I was pleasantly surprised and totally addicted. The ending was fantastic as well, one of those rare times where it was exactly what I wanted.

She Regrets Nothing in three words: Seductive, Dazzling and Dramatic.

[lucky little cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unapologetically trashy soap opera about a social-climbing vixen. NYC beautiful people (Kardashian-style)

No, the other kind of vixen

rescue their country-mouse poor cousin after her trampy mama's funeral. Then the New Yorkers get to watch the country mouse say thanks by stealing all their boyfriends.

Good for the beach or a vacation read, since you'll never notice or mind if you skip a few pages here and there.

X actually writes dialogue well, but makes her characters behave arbitrarily. The  episodic plot wastes the novel's most promising dramatic secrets. We keep waiting for a "bang" that never goes off.

Lots of name-dropping of designer labels. Dresses are described in such detail that you can google them if you want to, so there's that.

keywords: How dare you compare this to House of Mirth; It Came From the Slush Pile; who knew you could earn just $30,000 a year working in publishing; I'm dating a Famous Author and he's sooooo boring; Mama's ugly pendant turned out to be Fabergé just like on Pawn Stars, It's the Hot Cousin! Run!

[MaryBeth's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

She Regrets Nothing sucks you in from the very first page and doesn't let go until the end. I could not put this book down. The unexpected twists and turns had my heart racing as I read through this book. It's like Sex and the City with a high stakes, scandalous edge to it.

Laila Lawrence is 23 years old when she finds out that she has long lost family living in New York City. The Lawrence family is one of the wealthiest and well-known families in the city. Her cousin Liberty is a literary agent, twins Leo and Nora float through life living off the family's money, her Uncle Ben is distant and cautious around her, and his wife Petra, a Russian supermodel is friendly, but guarded. The Patriarch of the family, affectionately known as "Opa" has his own hidden secrets. But, Laila decides that she is going to re-claim what is rightfully hers, at all costs. She inserts herself into the family, threatening everything they have built, social climbing her way up the ladder.

Definitely read this one!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

She Regrets Nothing

Andrea Dunlop

Received from Atria Books


Holy cow! SHE REGRETS NOTHING is filled with family drama at its finest! Once I started reading, it was very hard to put down. The twists and turns kept me reading late into the night and I had to know what was going to happen. Laila has just lost her mom and her dad has already passed. She is truly alone. Then she learns she has cousins in New York City who are very very rich. Two years later, Laila finds herself going to live with those cousins and her life takes a wicked and crazy turn. She goes from almost homeless to wanting for nothing. As family secrets are learned, Laila decides to get what is due to her.



Just how far will Laila go to become part of this family? Is there anything she won't do? I really disliked most of her family. They were snobby and Laila never really felt like she fit in with them.
You won't believe how far Laila will go to try and fit in and get what she thinks she deserves. Once the family secrets start coming to light, readers won't believe how shallow people can be. SHE REGRETS NOTHING pulls the reader right in and when tragedy strikes, you won't believe the direction the story goes to. I have never read Andrea Dunlop before but after reading this dazzling story, it surely won't be my last time. I'm going to keep my review short as I'm afraid I'm going to give something away.

[Fareya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scandalous and seductive, She Regrets Nothing by Andrea Dunlop is the perfect road-trip read, extremely enjoyable and easily binge read worthy. Think of it as an adult version of Gossip Girl, but darker and more twisted. Lies, secrets, jealousy, betrayal, blackmail, essentially all the ingredients of a juicy, glamorous story revolving around the extremely rich and entitled living in New York City. Oh, and drama, there is so much drama! Don't get distracted by the pretty cover, the story is anything but that, and yet it's an addicting read, I couldn't put it down, and also, that ending was perfect! Recommended if juicy, scandalous NYC stories are something you enjoy!

[Georgie O'Dwyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could’ve been good. It should’ve been better.

[MacKenzie Russell · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. It’s been four months since I picked this up and I have no plans to finish it EVER.

I can’t communicate to you enough how much I just do not care about this book. I got halfway through it and still felt like nothing was happening. It wasn’t even a good slice of life - it was just materialistic mush. I usually love things set in New York and I was excited to read something with a main character that was in their mid-20s that I would hopefully be able to relate to more than the YA characters that I read often, or the older people in most of the other books that have established marriages and family. Instead, there was no substance and seemingly nothing worth reading.

[FMABookReviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

❝I didn’t realize that matchmakers still existed,❞
❝Welcome to New York,❞ ❝How do you think all of those gross old men find their hot young wives?❞

When I read the blurb for 'She Regrets Nothing', I was intrigued, and since Andrea Dunlop is a new-to-me-author, I was excited to start reading about a story that was said to be, "Sly and sexy, She Regrets Nothing is a sharply observed and utterly seductive tale about family, fortune, and fate—and the dark side of wealth."

Did it deliver? 

Yes and no

I do like this author's voice, it's smart and quick. This story was filled with sex, deceit, betrayal, and scandal. It was addictive and reminded me of a soap opera or a movie.

And that was where this book didn't succeed for me.

It reads like a screenplay; where changes of character and time jumps are okay because there’s fade to black or scene changes to make the flow work and the plot make sense. But when reading, and not seeing, as in a movie, I struggled to keep up with the disjointed writing, character changes and time hops where there were no helpful warnings or headings. It was distracting and I had to stop and recalibrate my thoughts to keep up and figure out what was going on. All of that was disappointing because I did like the story.

As a 20 something, Laila Lawrence is left broke and orphaned. While at her mothers funeral, she meets her cousins, Liberty, Leo, and Nora, whom she had no idea existed. They were glamorous and giving and fun and very wealthy. Laila had stars or more accurately money signs in her eyes when she thought of them and their life in New York. Two years later after divorcing her husband, she leaves her Midwest town and heads to New York to live with her cousins. They take her in with open arms and introduce her to the wealthy, New York life. Leo and Nora are twins and are spoiled, and lack real direction, while Liberty is an independent, working woman. Liberty helps Laila get a job. While Laila helps herself to everything the cousins have AND I DO MEAN EVERYTHING!

An addictive read, 'She Regrets Nothing' is a scandalous tale of betrayal, deceit, and greed.



**I was provided a review copy by Atria. This did not influence my opinion of the book nor my review.**

[✦ Ellen’s Reviews ✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

A peak into the glittering world of New York society and the conflict between a poor cousin and her fabulously wealthy family.

Described as a Gossip-Girl type story, this book certainly delivers on describing the incredibly wealthy New York socialites and their often-empty lifestyle. There's romance, intrigue, family drama and blackmail - all wrapped up in a shiny bow.

I found the main character, Laila, slightly unlikable. Yet I kept reading to find out what she would do next. Laila moves from the Midwest to New York after the death of her mother and after she learns that she actually has cousins who are enormously wealthy. They take her in but Laila never quite gets over the huge chip on her shoulder.

Laila is ready to claim the life she is meant to lead. But it seems as though she will never really fit in despite her best efforts. Her arrival also re-opens old family feuds. What will become of Laila in the big city? Will she ever find her place in the family?

I am a huge fan of Ms. Dunlop and loved how she described the family drama and the day-to-day lives of New York City's young elite. There is a very surprising conclusion that never saw coming. While Laila was not my favorite, I enjoyed the overall story and the New York City setting. I am still thinking about the ending of 'She Regrets Nothing' and cant wait to see what the author comes up with next.

“I love New York, but sometimes I think that if I find my way in, I’ll never find my way out.”

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lately I have had a desire to read a few more contemporary novels that are out of my traditional review genre. I have been particularly interested in books about ‘lifestyles of the rich and famous’ but with a darker twist.

That was what caught my eye about this book…..it sounded like something a little more complex than regular contempo lit. I liked that it featured the wealthy and privileged society but at the same time showed the seedier side of money. It was not a hard sell for me to read this book.

So let’s get the obvious out of the way, this is a book about rich, privileged people. So if you have a problem with that then you might not want to read this book. The characters live lives that most readers will only dream about and their ‘problems’ aren’t even on the same level as a normal person which makes some of the characters a little unreliable. But for me, I liked the glamour and glitz of the rich and famous. I didn’t care that their ‘problems’ weren’t really ‘problems’ in the normal sense, I knew what I was most likely going to get when I agreed to read this novel. Rich people problems.

This book was really meant to be a character study. Characters should have driven this novel and for me it fell a little short in that. Even though the characters were about as far from ‘average’ as you could get, I had a hard time really liking any of them. I don’t mind if there are characters that I don’t like but eventually I think that at least one needs to be able to redeem themselves, in this book that wasn’t the case. I didn’t really feel like there was very much character development or change throughout the book. The characters are complexed enough but there wasn’t really any development in my opinion.

I think what would have helped me enjoy the story more was an older heroine. Laila was 23, I am a good decade older than her, even though she was a character I loved to hate–I didn’t connect with her beyond that and I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that I am much older than her and am reading the story through the lens of a 30 something.

I did enjoy seeing how the other half lives and examining their lives, secrets, and issues. I know this comparison is going to sounds random, but I love Law and Order and I especially love when they have a ‘rich and famous’ scandal or murder. To me this book reminded me of a Law and Order episode set within the upper echelons of Manhattans elite. Even if the episode isn’t that great, I still love stories set in that unimaginable world that only admits the wealthy. And that’s what this book was for me….without the rich and famous backdrop I don’t think I would have liked it. This book was trying to envelop the reader in a world of glitz and glamour so even if the character development fell short, I still loved reading about the problems of the elite. I did keep reading because I wanted to know how it ended but beyond that I don’t know that I felt really invested in the characters.

Sure there were plenty of juicy, scandalous, and curious secrets that I think readers will like, but for me it landed in the middle. It was good but not great. Others might feel differently, but for me it was a solid 3 star novel.

See my full review here

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not, I repeat, do not eff with Laila. This girl is cray, cray. Hellbent on a mission towards the way to reach her goal. Be rich, like she should have been in the first place! I felt all kinds of sorry for Laila at the beginning. Yeah, she will do that to you. Her naivety and wonderment, so endearing.

A cousin of a major wealthy NYC family who has been denied her due. That would be the huge share of the wealth that was kept from her due to her deceased parents being ostracized from the family when Laila was very young. She regrets nothing is a great title for this book which I truly discovered at the end.

I loved how the author gave me an insight into what the character's are thinking. It really added to my enjoyment, a lot.

Lesson learned for me: You can have all the money in the world and it won't keep you from being cray, cray.

Sooo many times I wanted to leave Crazyland, but someone would play the crazy card again . . . and I was sucked right back in.

Great read, had major feelings for the characters (good or bad, always works for me).

Thanks to Atria Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm calling this at 32%. I kept hoping to be drawn into the story but I never engaged with it. The only character I really cared about was Liberty, but even she wasn't enough for me to continue on. This book just felt too pretentious and while the blurb intrigued me, there was really nothing in the story that held my interest.

I very much appreciate Atria Books and Simon & Schuster giving me the opportunity to read an early copy of this book, and I'm sadly disappointed it didn't work out for me.

[Ally Wiegand · Rating 4 out of 5]

With my first experience with Andrea Dunlop's writing, I was pleasantly surprised. She Regrets Nothing has a sophisticated heir about it. The story was a mix of Gossip Girl and Sex and the City. She Regrets Nothing has everything you could want if you are craving a story anything like the two mentioned television shows: scandal, money, sex, affairs, and the lavish life of the upper class in New York City.

The story centers around Laila Lawerence, the estranged cousin to Liberty, Leo, and Nora. Her cousins are from the wealthy side of her family that live and rule New York City. After becoming orphaned, Laila reaches out to her cousins, with whom she meets at her mother's funeral. They take her in and show her the lavish life they have grown up in within Manhattan.

Since this book is not yet out, I will not give away the plot of the story. However, I felt this book was very well done. It held extremely complex characters, each driven by something different. Laila is driven by the thought of money, fame, and the lavish life she feels was stolen from her and will stop at nothing to make sure she achieves this life. Nora and Leo, the twins, are spoiled and rarely have to lift a finger to do anything. They have never worked, or done so seriously, and use most of their days to experience all of the luxuries that New York City has to offer. The supporting characters to the Lawerence family are equally complex and each have their own interesting stories.

I could easily see this book becoming the next binge-worthy television show or dramatic movie. This book is very addictive and well-done and I want to thank Taylor from SparkPoint Studio for giving me an e-galley copy!

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

[The Blonde Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrea Dunlop has become one of my auto-buy authors, and in her latest novel She Regrets Nothing, Dunlop does not disappoint. The reader follows along as Laila Lawrence is reunited with the wealthy side of her family. And not just a little wealthy, these people know how to spend money and have a lot of it to spend. They quickly take Laila under their wing in NYC and begin to teach her what its like to be wealthy.

She Regrets Nothing is fast paced and extremely well written. Dunlop has a talent for keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, and I constantly felt the slight build up in her writing and knew that eventually something awful or amazing was going to happen. I loved the characters in this novel and felt that each of them were important to the plot and particularly complex.

In summary, She Regrets Nothing is a gorgeous novel about deceit, greed, and what some will do for the love of money. I absolutely loved this novel and would highly recommend it! Thank you to Atria Books, NetGalley, Andrea Dunlop, and Booksparks for sending a novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4/5

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wicked and witty but a little too soap opera. But very enjoyable.

[Dorothy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Forget "She Regrets Nothing"... I regret wasting time on this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital e-galley. Netgalley is absolutely awesome and I've read some fantastic, yet-to-be-published books, but this one just didn't do it for me.

"She Regrets Nothing" is the story of Laila Lawrence, a 25 year old Midwesterner who meets her long-long cousins at her mother's funeral. Liberty, Leo and Nora Lawrence leave their glittery New York lives to connect with a cousin they have never met for reasons they do not understand. 

The cousins bond in their brief meeting. Two years later, Laila leaves her unappealing life, including her husband, behind to make a new life in Manhattan.

The Lawrence family is fabulously wealthy. Twins Leo and Nora, also 25, live in adjoining penthouses. They have never had to work for a thing in their lives. They think nothing of spending vast amounts on money on whatever catches their fancy. 

Older sister, Liberty, is more grounded. She works as a literary agent and lives in a modest apartment, preferring to spend her time reading and giving back to the community. She is indulgent of her flighty younger siblings and deeply protective of her new found cousin. She is also guarded, after suffering a trauma in her younger, modeling days. 

Laila insinuates herself into their lives: allowing Nora to play Professor Henry Higgins to her Eliza Doolittle by dressing her in designer clothes and allowing her to move into her guestroom. Liberty hires her as an intern at the agency, where Laila soon meets Tom Porter, a well-regarded author who falls for her.

It seems that Laila will be happy with her new life among the Literati, but nothing is ever enough for Laila. She is desperate to meet her grandfather, Frederick, the family patriarch. After finding some old notes at her mother's apartment, she suspects that Frederick and her mother, Betsy, had had an affair, leading to the family estrangement. 

Frederick keeps himself away from Manhattan, though, and Laila can barely find any time with her uncle, Ben. She wants a cut of the family fortune, but can't figure out an in, so she sets her sights on a billionaire, Simon, who whisks her away to Mustique for a trip that goes wrong almost immediately.

Despite what befalls her, it's impossible to have any sympathy for Laila. She is constantly frustrated by her attempts to ingratiate herself with the Lawrences and truly become a part of the family, wealth and all. She feels that she is always on the outside looking in.

Meanwhile, Liberty is falling in love with her best friend Reece's older brother, Cameron, who is also drawn to Laila, but hates himself for every sordid encounter they have. And yet, their sexual encounters set the stage for several awful things that happen towards the end of the book. 

This all sounded like a bit of a fun Cinderella meets "Gossip Girl" type book, but really, it was awful.

There was no redeemable character, except Liberty. There were multiple plotlines that seemed important (Liberty's teenage trauma and subsequent rejection of Cameron and Laila's questionable paternity for example) that were completely dropped in favor of other, more scandalous storylines.

There's a big moment in the last third of the book that came out of nowhere. A character did something that seemed so out of left field. Sure, this person showed some signs of not being the nicest, but their actions came out of nowhere. 

It seemed as if author Andrea Dunlop wanted to create this sexy look at the lives of Manhattan's fabulously wealthy. She did a lot of name dropping of brands and New York hot spots, but that can't make up for a disjointed plot and completely irredeemable and unlikable characters. The pace also really dragged. At one point, I realized I was barely halfway through and had no idea where the plot was going... and not in a good way.

I say skip this one. It's due out February 6. 

[Jessica *The Lovely Books* · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

When I was first contacted to read She Regrets Nothing, all I saw in the subject line was “Blair Waldorf would certainly approve”. That was it for me—I didn’t even need to read the rest of the blurb. Gossip Girl is my guilty pleasure—I started watching the show in high school and to this day, I still watch it. Sue me. If someone says Blair freaking Waldorf approves of something, you bet your ass I’m reading it! Drama? Yes! Scandalous? Hell yes! Betrayal, secrets, and lies, oh my! I loved this book from start to finish.

The book starts off with Laila putting her mother to rest—and meeting cousins she never knew existed. Liberty, Nora, and Leo are three fabulously wealthy socialites from New York. They live the life that Laila deems rightfully hers. Her father, Gregory, became estranged to the Lawrence family when they had a falling out of some kind. Resulting in all the cousins not knowing the other existed. That is, until Liberty heard her parents talking about Laila. That’s when they decided to go and meet her.

Once Laila makes it to New York, we start seeing her true colors, so to speak. I’ll admit, Laila’s character made me very uncomfortable. While she is well-written, her manipulations and greediness made me want to shake her. I don’t like how fake she is. If you want to be a bitch, own it; don’t hide behind a shy and naive demeanor. Other than that, every time her name came up, I was unable to stop reading or look away. There’s something about Laila that just pulls you towards her. Even if her character is a shady bitch.

What is it about the young, wealthy, and beautiful that makes them so intriguing? The drama is deliciously juicy and at times sexy. So many times I got lost in the glamorous parties and nights at ritzy nightclubs. The writing makes it so easy to believe that you’re right there along with the characters. There were times when I was giddy and other times where I actually got angry and almost threw my kindle across the room. I don’t know about you, but that’s always a good sign to me.

I have really high hopes for New York when I go to visit one day. It’s obviously a city with character—so many movies and books are based there. Overall, loved the book, it kept me reading well into the night. But that ending... You’ll just have to see for yourself. Obviously from my review I more than likes the book—I just can’t forget those last 60 pages or so. Those pages are what made my rating go down.

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Monica Kim | Musings of Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I freaking love Andrea Dunlop’s “She Regrets Nothing: A Novel” so much! It gets all the love & stars and highest recommendation from me. I didn’t think I was going to love it as much as I did, but this is my favorite novel of the year so far. I’m going to buy one for my bff & sis. It hit all the right notes for me — the story was fun, captivating, smart, and deliciously addictive & sexy with none of the cringe-worthy elements that tend to follow with novels with plots like this, which I tend to avoid. Andrea is a fantastic writer, the writing is so good, and it was what I loved the most about the novel. the rich & famous lifestyles & characters of New York socialites you’d loved to dislike, glamour, dramas, dirty little secrets, old-family scandals, twists & turns, and the shocking ending that completely took me by surprise, all nicely put together in an elegant prose & well-balanced pace made this book a huge winner for me. I can’t pinpoint a single negative thing, although some characters will piss you off, lol.

When Leila becomes an orphan @ 23, she is unexpectedly visited by three cousins from her father’s side @ her mother's funeral. She had known very little about her father's side of the family, who had long been estranged. He died years earlier and was surprised to discover her estranged father's family were living in New York, and these three Lawrence siblings are scions of the wealthy family. Two years later, after a failed marriage, Leila leaves Michigan to live them in New York. Leila quickly falls in love their decadent lifestyle and the siblings take good of her. During this time, Laila discovers a scandalous family secret that reveals why the families were at odds. That discovery pushes her into relentless pursuit of a lifetyle she had missed out & denied of all these years. At first, this sounds just like another lifestyle story of rich & famous, but it’s actually quite rich, multi-layered, and you’ll meet many interesting characters. Addictive & seductive story of family, fortune, greed, power, lies, drama, love & sex, and social climber. Oh boy, this book has it all! It is a must-read. Drop everything & add this to your #TBR, if you haven’t read it yet.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. In "She Regrets Nothing," family secrets, entitlement, and villains abound! Laila has always regretted that she has been forced to live a reasonably unexciting life just outside of Detroit due to her parents' previous transgressions. When she is left an orphan, her rich, glittering cousins from New York City come to bring her back into the fold. Laila is excited to have family again or maybe she's just excited to have access to the family riches. Now that she has had a taste of the good life, she'll do anything to keep a hold of it.

This book is filled with characters who all seem to be hiding dark secrets. Laila is the kind of character that you love to hate. She's nice to people just as long as it takes to get what she wants from them and once she has no use for them, she has no qualms about casting them to the side. There are her twin cousins, Leo and Nora, who seem to be allergic to work and are only really good at spending money and living the good life without lifting a finger. Then there is Cameron, a family friend of the Lawrence family who is used to getting his own way. My favorite character was Leo and Nora's sister, Liberty, who is hiding a dark past but she now realizes that not everything can be handed to you on a silver platter and has become successful in her own right. She is really the only one with redeemable qualities.

This book was a fascinating look at how the other half lives in New York City. That was interesting but what I liked most about it is that it was really a character study in the insidious lengths some people will go through to get what they want, even if it means trouncing on others. These characters pull you in and even though many of them do some pretty desperate things, you can't turn away!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Laila is in her early 20’s, having a funeral for her mother when she meets her 3 cousins that she never knew existed. After spending some time researching their backgrounds, she quickly discovers that they come from a pretty wealthy bloodline that she was excluded from due to a riff in the family. Seeing that she is now an orphan left with nothing, she finds their lifestyle particularly intriguing and glamorous. When she moves to New York City to claim her share, she gets a little more (or less) than she bargained for.

Here’s where we can cue Good Charlotte and “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”... this novel was full of drama, jealousy, scandalous characters, and entitlement. On the surface it’s how money can be a curse to some and the lifeblood for others, but it’s so much more than that too.

I really want to talk about the writing!! I highlighted so many lines in this book! As a writer, I felt like her descriptions and analogies were so spot on that she makes you feel like you’re watching a soap opera or reality TV show. And her characters were perfectly flawed and balanced. There were a couple that I enjoyed and many others that I despised, but I loved how well they all told the full story.

Overall, I really liked this one and I can’t wait to see what Dunlop writes next! Be sure to pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy!