What do you think?
Rate this book
Santa Monica
A debut novel in the vein of Liane Moriarty and Tom Perrotta, about dark secrets brought to life after the mysterious death of a handsome and charismatic trainer to the elite women in Santa Monica.
On the western edge of Los Angeles is the gorgeous beachside city of Santa Monica, where the sun-kissed, wealthy residents seem to inhabit real-life California dreams. When movie-star-handsome heartthrob fitness coach Zack Doheny, is found dead on the floor of his gym, the tragedy shocks the elite community, especially those who’d spent many hours each week exercising with the charismatic trainer.
As the narrative flashes back to the months leading up to Zack’s death, it quickly becomes clear that things in this coastal paradise are not as glittering as they seem. Lettie – Zack’s secret half-sister and an undocumented housekeeper for the toned, entitled women of Santa Monica – holds her brother responsible for a horrific family accident, and desperately needs his money to prevent her deportation. Regina, type-A exercise addict and entrepreneur, will do anything to get out of debt and to claim Zack for herself. And Mel – a New York City transplant who finds herself forty pounds heavier and far more cynical than the lithe women of Santa Monica – discovers an electric attraction to Zack that threatens to disrupt his bond with Regina and upend Mel’s own marriage. As these residents of Santa Monica begin to crack under the stress of their secrets, one question hangs above it all: what really happened to Zack Doheny?
As addictively suspenseful as it is sharply observed, hilarious, and compassionate, Santa Monica is the rare novel that captures readers with propulsive storytelling alongside emotional urgency, irresistible characters, ambitious themes, and a vivid sense of place.
On the western edge of Los Angeles is the gorgeous beachside city of Santa Monica, where the sun-kissed, wealthy residents seem to inhabit real-life California dreams. When movie-star-handsome heartthrob fitness coach Zack Doheny, is found dead on the floor of his gym, the tragedy shocks the elite community, especially those who’d spent many hours each week exercising with the charismatic trainer.
As the narrative flashes back to the months leading up to Zack’s death, it quickly becomes clear that things in this coastal paradise are not as glittering as they seem. Lettie – Zack’s secret half-sister and an undocumented housekeeper for the toned, entitled women of Santa Monica – holds her brother responsible for a horrific family accident, and desperately needs his money to prevent her deportation. Regina, type-A exercise addict and entrepreneur, will do anything to get out of debt and to claim Zack for herself. And Mel – a New York City transplant who finds herself forty pounds heavier and far more cynical than the lithe women of Santa Monica – discovers an electric attraction to Zack that threatens to disrupt his bond with Regina and upend Mel’s own marriage. As these residents of Santa Monica begin to crack under the stress of their secrets, one question hangs above it all: what really happened to Zack Doheny?
As addictively suspenseful as it is sharply observed, hilarious, and compassionate, Santa Monica is the rare novel that captures readers with propulsive storytelling alongside emotional urgency, irresistible characters, ambitious themes, and a vivid sense of place.
448 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2020
102 people are currently reading
3456 people want to read
About the author
Cassidy Lucas
4 books103 followersCassidy Lucas is the pen name of writing duo Julia Fierro and Caeli Wolfson Widger. Fierro is the author of the novels Cutting Teeth, praised by the New Yorker as a “comically energetic début,” and The Gypsy Moth Summer, called “hugely engaging” by Francine Prose. Widger is the author of the novels Real Happy Family and Mother of Invention, praised by Margaret Atwood as a “pacey thriller,” and was featured on NPR’s Marketplace. Both Fierro and Widger live in Santa Monica with their families. Santa Monica is their first book together. Their second novel, The Canyon, set in Topanga Canyon on the westside of Los Angeles, will be published in 2021.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
September 8, 2020
I really battled on my rating and review for this one because it started out so amazingly and then sadly fizzled out around 200 pages.
Santa Monica
is a book that I would still recommend for mystery lovers that enjoy anything by Liv Constantine or Wendy Walker. This book dives into race, immigration, and privilege in Trump's America. Many of the characters are unlikable, but there are definitely a few that you will be able to root for. The book starts off with a death and then we are taken back in time leading up to the character's demise. I did enjoy the way the plot developed, but the execution just took a bit too long for my liking. However, the ending is great and there was a moment where my jaw hit the floor. I would've liked the ending to have been buttoned up more, since we had so much fluff in the middle of the novel and felt that it was rushed at the end just a little bit. Overall, I would say this book is a fun ride and I will definitely read more from the new writing duo Cassidy Lucas.
January 25, 2021
Another fun and easy read for summer, Santa Monica was definitely a #bookstagrammademedoit book and I loved it.
Although it was a fun read it is about a murder and tackles tough issues like illegal immigrants and Trumps America. The story of a murdered gym instructor and those who might want him dead. Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Santa Monica, where the rich and beautiful live. There are characters you will love and others you will love to hate. All the ingredients of a great story
Although it was a fun read it is about a murder and tackles tough issues like illegal immigrants and Trumps America. The story of a murdered gym instructor and those who might want him dead. Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Santa Monica, where the rich and beautiful live. There are characters you will love and others you will love to hate. All the ingredients of a great story
September 4, 2022
They are hashtag blessed!
I don’t know why Cassidy Lucas novels are so poorly rated because I think they don’t miss. I do complain about politics in fiction if I don’t know about it going in or if it doesn’t add anything to the story, but I did know going in and I think it adds a funny element to the story.
There’s a difference to me between an author sprinkling in their political opinions just to insult or preach to the readers and using them to create a satirical character. I think perhaps people are taking the books too literally.
This is a story about a couple of white women sniffing around Zac, a white-passing conservative Mexican-American man also living in Santa Monica and working as a hot personal trainer. We know from the start Zac is dead but we don’t know why or who did it. But we quickly find out from the POVs that Zac made a big impact in all of their lives, one way or another, and that it probably got him killed. He also had a few other skeletons in his closet.
It’s sort of satirizing white women in today’s America with their half-baked apologies and admittance of privilege, while doing the absolute least to affect actual change, not even being on time to join a political group and infantilizing Letty, at times imo, or at least treating her as property in a tug of war. These women really think they “do the work” you might say.
It also makes fun of gym culture and the toxic positivity movement, with their dumb quotes and infliction of pain to their bodies for sport. It’s like opening Instagram.
Or maybe this was all meant to be taken 100% literally and I’m wrong and still had a good time. 😇
I don’t know why Cassidy Lucas novels are so poorly rated because I think they don’t miss. I do complain about politics in fiction if I don’t know about it going in or if it doesn’t add anything to the story, but I did know going in and I think it adds a funny element to the story.
There’s a difference to me between an author sprinkling in their political opinions just to insult or preach to the readers and using them to create a satirical character. I think perhaps people are taking the books too literally.
This is a story about a couple of white women sniffing around Zac, a white-passing conservative Mexican-American man also living in Santa Monica and working as a hot personal trainer. We know from the start Zac is dead but we don’t know why or who did it. But we quickly find out from the POVs that Zac made a big impact in all of their lives, one way or another, and that it probably got him killed. He also had a few other skeletons in his closet.
It’s sort of satirizing white women in today’s America with their half-baked apologies and admittance of privilege, while doing the absolute least to affect actual change, not even being on time to join a political group and infantilizing Letty, at times imo, or at least treating her as property in a tug of war. These women really think they “do the work” you might say.
It also makes fun of gym culture and the toxic positivity movement, with their dumb quotes and infliction of pain to their bodies for sport. It’s like opening Instagram.
Or maybe this was all meant to be taken 100% literally and I’m wrong and still had a good time. 😇
February 8, 2021
I was kind a looking forward to this book and I think the storyline was good. However I’m really disappointed with all the political references. All leaning to one side even. So this book is a DNF for me I will not finish it.
September 2, 2020
We love it. ;)
Read
October 16, 2020DNF- it probably is just not the right time for this book for me. Will try again later.
September 22, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5
.
It feels fitting to me to review this book on this last day of Summer☀️ It transports you to Santa Monica, a place that feels like endless Summer.
.
This story is a peek into a beautiful, wealthy, privileged community. The main characters all have a gym in common, where there is an obscenely gorgeous and charismatic trainer named Zack.
.
Zack has a half sister named Lettie, whom he shares a Mexican mother with. However, Zack’s father is white and Lettie’s is hispanic. Zack looks completely white and he has sworn his sister to secrecy for fear that he will lose his rich white clients if they find out he is half Mexican.
.
Lettie works as a housekeeper to Zack’s rich, white clients. Despite being siblings, they experience life very differently.
.
Lettie finds Zack dead on the floor of the gym.... Who killed Zack? 👀
.
The story alternates from the present to the months leading up to Zack’s death.
.
________________________________________
.
The politics interwoven into the story are provocative and relevant.
.
When I first finished it, I wanted more from the ending. But later, I felt like the authors want the reader to infer some things about the ending and what it means for the future for some of the characters- which I like.
.
I really loved this one and continued thinking about the characters long after finishing the book ✨
.
Definitely grab a copy of this one!
.
✨Due out October 6, 2020✨
.
It feels fitting to me to review this book on this last day of Summer☀️ It transports you to Santa Monica, a place that feels like endless Summer.
.
This story is a peek into a beautiful, wealthy, privileged community. The main characters all have a gym in common, where there is an obscenely gorgeous and charismatic trainer named Zack.
.
Zack has a half sister named Lettie, whom he shares a Mexican mother with. However, Zack’s father is white and Lettie’s is hispanic. Zack looks completely white and he has sworn his sister to secrecy for fear that he will lose his rich white clients if they find out he is half Mexican.
.
Lettie works as a housekeeper to Zack’s rich, white clients. Despite being siblings, they experience life very differently.
.
Lettie finds Zack dead on the floor of the gym.... Who killed Zack? 👀
.
The story alternates from the present to the months leading up to Zack’s death.
.
________________________________________
.
The politics interwoven into the story are provocative and relevant.
.
When I first finished it, I wanted more from the ending. But later, I felt like the authors want the reader to infer some things about the ending and what it means for the future for some of the characters- which I like.
.
I really loved this one and continued thinking about the characters long after finishing the book ✨
.
Definitely grab a copy of this one!
.
✨Due out October 6, 2020✨
September 27, 2020
Big Little Lies fans will appreciate the similarity in style in this debut by duo Julia Fierro and Caeli Wolfson Widger. Like Lies, the prologue starts out with a dead body and works its way from past to present as told by multiple characters as to what happened and why.
It was long but moved quickly and was entertaining to read about these California stereotypes of the lives these women live and how they are involved in gym trainer Zack Doheny’s story.
There was a great mystery to it and the pacing was perfect. Some reviews felt it got bogged down in the middle and I disagree. I enjoyed getting more into the characters’ day to day to see how everything would play out.
My one gripe was the amount of anti-Trump messaging and this is coming from a big anti-Trump reader. Once or twice would have been enough to make a point but I started to roll my eyes every time it came up and he was referred to as the orange Cheeto. I felt it was too much and actually took away from the story. So, Republicans, beware.
I would be eager to read the next book by these two authors. We are starting out on a great path.
My thanks to the publisher for the early copy.
It was long but moved quickly and was entertaining to read about these California stereotypes of the lives these women live and how they are involved in gym trainer Zack Doheny’s story.
There was a great mystery to it and the pacing was perfect. Some reviews felt it got bogged down in the middle and I disagree. I enjoyed getting more into the characters’ day to day to see how everything would play out.
My one gripe was the amount of anti-Trump messaging and this is coming from a big anti-Trump reader. Once or twice would have been enough to make a point but I started to roll my eyes every time it came up and he was referred to as the orange Cheeto. I felt it was too much and actually took away from the story. So, Republicans, beware.
I would be eager to read the next book by these two authors. We are starting out on a great path.
My thanks to the publisher for the early copy.
October 3, 2020
This is my firsy Cassidy Lucas book and I loved it!!!!! The high end gossip and problems of the rich will keep you enticed until the last page. I highly recommend this book.
April 15, 2021
DNF. Unusual for me, but this was very disappointing. Way too many political comments, not a thriller at all, at least what I read. I stopped after about 90 pages.
October 5, 2020
4.5 rounded up to 5...
I loved this one! I loved the sassy main character, Mel, and all the glamour and drama. This one really had me missing my days going to Orange Theory Fitness (pre covid) if you read this one, you will understand why! I love how the authors dropped anti Trump messages throughout. As for the story, this mystery had me guessing all the wrong people. There were so many characters with a motive, it easily could have been anyone. I also thought the ending was perfect. Pick this one if you were a fan of Big Little Lies, love stories full of glamouor with beautiful settings, and are looking for an escape to Sunny CA! Definetly a great domestic thriller, and I can't wait to read more from Cassidy Lucas!
Thank you Harper Perrenial for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review this one is available 10/06!
I loved this one! I loved the sassy main character, Mel, and all the glamour and drama. This one really had me missing my days going to Orange Theory Fitness (pre covid) if you read this one, you will understand why! I love how the authors dropped anti Trump messages throughout. As for the story, this mystery had me guessing all the wrong people. There were so many characters with a motive, it easily could have been anyone. I also thought the ending was perfect. Pick this one if you were a fan of Big Little Lies, love stories full of glamouor with beautiful settings, and are looking for an escape to Sunny CA! Definetly a great domestic thriller, and I can't wait to read more from Cassidy Lucas!
Thank you Harper Perrenial for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review this one is available 10/06!
October 26, 2020
Well...this was a flop.
This was very long for a lot of nothing. I kept waiting for some epic plot to take hold and unfortunately it just kept going with mindless details about a lot of vain Santa Monica Mom's and honestly? As a native SoCal/Los Angeles girl...it gets old hearing about the vain, gym obsessed, skinny, Botox'd women running around our city.
Maybe I'm over it because I am from here and far from that description, but I felt that was a majority of what this story was about, but was marketed more as a fast paced, irresistible mystery/thriller and a thriller it was NOT.
Moving on with my non-Botox'd LA life!
114/100
⭐️⭐️
.
.
.
.
This was very long for a lot of nothing. I kept waiting for some epic plot to take hold and unfortunately it just kept going with mindless details about a lot of vain Santa Monica Mom's and honestly? As a native SoCal/Los Angeles girl...it gets old hearing about the vain, gym obsessed, skinny, Botox'd women running around our city.
Maybe I'm over it because I am from here and far from that description, but I felt that was a majority of what this story was about, but was marketed more as a fast paced, irresistible mystery/thriller and a thriller it was NOT.
Moving on with my non-Botox'd LA life!
114/100
⭐️⭐️
.
.
.
.
January 22, 2021
I never do book ratings, but I had to write this to save more readers from waisting their time. I hate to be harsh but the ENTIRE mystery and suspense part of the book was non existent and the summary was completely misleading. I am disappointed and will stop judging books by nice covers from now on. The whole book talked about women and their boring petty lives and love lives and politics. Only 1 chapter talks about zacks death. I repeat 1 chapter. Whattt??? And absolutely nothing leading up to it. Such an awful plot. I was so disappointed. I have never read a mystery/murder book in my life that was not at all mystery/murder. Seriously don’t waste your time on this book:(
August 3, 2020
Didn't want to stop reading this book. Well written characters. Excellent book
February 9, 2021
DNF. Rarely do I not finish but poorly written, useless political commentary and no character development.
October 11, 2020
Fans of Liane Moriarty's books should make room on their shelves for Cassidy Lucas' debut novel, Santa Monica. Set in a wealthy enclave of Santa Monica, we have sex, adultery, secret relationships, immigration issues, an unexplained death and so much more in this propulsive page-turner.
Zack is the sexy trainer that all the ladies in his exercise classes pine after. When he is found dead by his half-sister Leticia, an undocumented worker from Mexico, the book grabs us and never lets us go until the very end.
The story moves back in time five months and we discover that Leticia cleans house for several wealthy families in Santa Monica, including Mel Goldberg, a Brooklyn transplant. Mel's husband Adam wrote a hot screenplay and now they have made the move to Hollywood.
Adam has settled into the Hollywood scene, but Mel misses her business, her friends, and pretty much everything about Brooklyn. She doesn't fit in with the thin, blonde, surgically enhanced women who spend a lot of time at the gym where Zack works. She's a little overweight, and openly speaks her mind on everything, including her politics, which differ from many of the other women.
Her one friend Regina is an exercise addict, and convinces Mel to host an exercise class at her house. Zack is the instructor and he finds himself drawn to Mel, which enrages Regina, who has her eye on Zack. Regina has involved Zack in a shady financial scheme which she hopes will get her out of debt before her husband finds out.
Zack doesn't want anyone to know that Leticia is his half-sister. Leticia works several housecleaning jobs, babysitting jobs, dog walking jobs, anything she can to support herself and her young son, who is disabled after an accident. Zack feels guilty, and tries to help Leticia in any way he can, and he adores his nephew.
All of these stories circle each other until they collide. The juxtaposition of the wealthy Santa Monica residents and people like Zack and Leticia, who scramble everyday to keep their heads above water, is thought-provoking. Leticia's fear of being discovered by ICE agents, deported and having to leave her son gives the reader a window into the daily stress of living with that fear.
The characters here are multi-dimensional. We see their good sides and the bad decisions they make; we root for them to make good choices and cringe when when they don't. When a book gets me that me invested, I know it's good read. There are also some very steamy sex scenes here that will raise your pulse like you just took a strenuous class at the exercise studio.
Santa Monica is a stellar debut, a satisfying mystery with incisive social commentary. I hope to read more from Cassidy Lucas and I can see this as an HBO miniseries, ala Big Little Lies. I recommend it, I read it in one day as I couldn't put it down.
Zack is the sexy trainer that all the ladies in his exercise classes pine after. When he is found dead by his half-sister Leticia, an undocumented worker from Mexico, the book grabs us and never lets us go until the very end.
The story moves back in time five months and we discover that Leticia cleans house for several wealthy families in Santa Monica, including Mel Goldberg, a Brooklyn transplant. Mel's husband Adam wrote a hot screenplay and now they have made the move to Hollywood.
Adam has settled into the Hollywood scene, but Mel misses her business, her friends, and pretty much everything about Brooklyn. She doesn't fit in with the thin, blonde, surgically enhanced women who spend a lot of time at the gym where Zack works. She's a little overweight, and openly speaks her mind on everything, including her politics, which differ from many of the other women.
Her one friend Regina is an exercise addict, and convinces Mel to host an exercise class at her house. Zack is the instructor and he finds himself drawn to Mel, which enrages Regina, who has her eye on Zack. Regina has involved Zack in a shady financial scheme which she hopes will get her out of debt before her husband finds out.
Zack doesn't want anyone to know that Leticia is his half-sister. Leticia works several housecleaning jobs, babysitting jobs, dog walking jobs, anything she can to support herself and her young son, who is disabled after an accident. Zack feels guilty, and tries to help Leticia in any way he can, and he adores his nephew.
All of these stories circle each other until they collide. The juxtaposition of the wealthy Santa Monica residents and people like Zack and Leticia, who scramble everyday to keep their heads above water, is thought-provoking. Leticia's fear of being discovered by ICE agents, deported and having to leave her son gives the reader a window into the daily stress of living with that fear.
The characters here are multi-dimensional. We see their good sides and the bad decisions they make; we root for them to make good choices and cringe when when they don't. When a book gets me that me invested, I know it's good read. There are also some very steamy sex scenes here that will raise your pulse like you just took a strenuous class at the exercise studio.
Santa Monica is a stellar debut, a satisfying mystery with incisive social commentary. I hope to read more from Cassidy Lucas and I can see this as an HBO miniseries, ala Big Little Lies. I recommend it, I read it in one day as I couldn't put it down.
February 19, 2021
3.5 stars!
It's a fact well acknowledged that climaxes makes or breaks a thriller. You would either be disappointed that you guessed the ending it early on or just be sitting there trying to grasp "how the heck did that happen" ! But with Santa Monica, I don't think I'd tick either of the boxes!
Santa Monica begins with the murder of a rather highprofile aka "on demand" fitness coach Zack Doheny and as the narration shifts and forth among the women who are closely related to him, we are spooled into their lives in an attempt to dissect (haahaaah) who did the deed! The women namely :
Lettie – Zack’s secret half-sister and an undocumented housekeeper for the elite women of Santa Monica, who holds a grudge against Zack for an incident that cannot be forgiven and who is in desperate need of money to avoid deportation and risk losing her child.
Regina - Zack's partner in fraud, an exercise addict and entrepreneur who apparently has a thing for him and is neckdeep in debt after her business shut down.
Mel - And finally Melina, Zack's recent love interest, who suspects her husband's infidelity and gradually develops a relationship with her trainer Zack.
All these women, at some point or the other holds a resentment against Zach and has a clear motive for murder. A major reason why I would say Santa Monica was incredibly enjoyable is because of how the point of views and the present and post death timelines were perfectly sprawled out! This not only kept me hooked to the story but also didn't let the suspense subdued for a moment.
The ending however quite left me unsatisfied and I am still disappointed maybe because of what it came down to. But in a way, I also get why a certain character did what they did! Ah! I am still conflicted!
I would say Santa Monica is perfect for a onetime read, might feel a little slow if you are not into "elite housewifes" whining and bickering (i personally love it so XD) but all in all it was worth it for me! I loved Big Little Lies and The husband's secret by Liane Moriarty and this certainly could be compared to them!
It's a fact well acknowledged that climaxes makes or breaks a thriller. You would either be disappointed that you guessed the ending it early on or just be sitting there trying to grasp "how the heck did that happen" ! But with Santa Monica, I don't think I'd tick either of the boxes!
Santa Monica begins with the murder of a rather highprofile aka "on demand" fitness coach Zack Doheny and as the narration shifts and forth among the women who are closely related to him, we are spooled into their lives in an attempt to dissect (haahaaah) who did the deed! The women namely :
Lettie – Zack’s secret half-sister and an undocumented housekeeper for the elite women of Santa Monica, who holds a grudge against Zack for an incident that cannot be forgiven and who is in desperate need of money to avoid deportation and risk losing her child.
Regina - Zack's partner in fraud, an exercise addict and entrepreneur who apparently has a thing for him and is neckdeep in debt after her business shut down.
Mel - And finally Melina, Zack's recent love interest, who suspects her husband's infidelity and gradually develops a relationship with her trainer Zack.
All these women, at some point or the other holds a resentment against Zach and has a clear motive for murder. A major reason why I would say Santa Monica was incredibly enjoyable is because of how the point of views and the present and post death timelines were perfectly sprawled out! This not only kept me hooked to the story but also didn't let the suspense subdued for a moment.
The ending however quite left me unsatisfied and I am still disappointed maybe because of what it came down to. But in a way, I also get why a certain character did what they did! Ah! I am still conflicted!
I would say Santa Monica is perfect for a onetime read, might feel a little slow if you are not into "elite housewifes" whining and bickering (i personally love it so XD) but all in all it was worth it for me! I loved Big Little Lies and The husband's secret by Liane Moriarty and this certainly could be compared to them!
October 8, 2020
This book starts out with a bang! Zach Doheny is found dead within the first few pages, and then it just takes off from there. Lucas's style is very much like Liane Moriarty, who I absolutely love. There is a twist and turn on every page. This story is set in the beautiful Santa Monica, and the characters are the stereotypical rich white women. However Zach and Lettie are two characters who are in this world but clearly don't fit in. Zach was a gym rat trainer who is trying to become an actor. Lettie is an immigrant, as well as, a maid for the women of the neighborhood just trying to make a living for her son. The narration rotates among a few of the lead characters, and they all have thrilling stories. I devoured this story because it is both unpredictable and twisted.
October 7, 2020
Who needs escapism in this world of calm and beauty? Damn, if that were only true! This book is an antidote to the degrading news cycles. It's fun, sexy, insightful and bedeviling. For the life of me, I could not figure out who the murderer was, but on reflection it's as obvious as Zack's pecs. I lost a lunch with my guess. If you have streaming fatigue, grab this novel for a truly well-told mystery. The scenes and characters are smartly and colorfully written. Yet, I cannot wait for the movie version, sure to follow. I nominate Rachel Brosnahan (with a few more pounds) to play Mel and Margot Robbie (just as she is) as Regina. Zack fittingly goes to Zac Efron. Your thoughts?
September 24, 2020
If you read Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty, and enjoyed it, this book will be for you! This story starts off with the death that is discussed in the synopsis and then takes us back in time to five months earlier. The story is then told using the perspectives of several different characters up until the time of the death. I didn’t really like most of the characters, but I think that was purposeful and was used to create a tone of the Santa Monica elite.
As for the story, I quite enjoyed it. I currently live in Los Angeles, and while I don’t visit Santa Monica too often, I can say that the elite vibes present in the book are typical of some cities in the Los Angeles Area. The book was definitely a slow burn, but not one that gets so boring and dull it becomes hard to read. I think it was a slow burn that kept my interest and had me continuing to want to turn each page and keep reading. I do think there were some details and areas of the story that could have been left out, but this didn’t take away from the overall book. I think the plot twist at the end of the novel was definitely surprising and not something that was even on my radar! I can get behind any book that leaves me shocked!
As I said before, if you were a fan of Big Little Lies, I definitely think you should check this one out. It’s current and relevant for our world today and provides a glimpse into the maybe not-so-enviable world of the rich and famous.
Thank you to Harper Perennial for an early copy and finished copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
As for the story, I quite enjoyed it. I currently live in Los Angeles, and while I don’t visit Santa Monica too often, I can say that the elite vibes present in the book are typical of some cities in the Los Angeles Area. The book was definitely a slow burn, but not one that gets so boring and dull it becomes hard to read. I think it was a slow burn that kept my interest and had me continuing to want to turn each page and keep reading. I do think there were some details and areas of the story that could have been left out, but this didn’t take away from the overall book. I think the plot twist at the end of the novel was definitely surprising and not something that was even on my radar! I can get behind any book that leaves me shocked!
As I said before, if you were a fan of Big Little Lies, I definitely think you should check this one out. It’s current and relevant for our world today and provides a glimpse into the maybe not-so-enviable world of the rich and famous.
Thank you to Harper Perennial for an early copy and finished copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 7, 2020
If you like domestic thrillers, this book is for you! I especially love a book that includes upper-class drama and this one has it all; people with too much money, cheating spouses, etc. I give it 4 stars because I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t a book I just couldn’t put down. Definitely a solid read for any domestic thriller lover! ⠀
⠀
Thanks Harper Perennial for the gifted copy! ⠀
⠀
⠀
Thanks Harper Perennial for the gifted copy! ⠀
⠀
October 6, 2020
This book reminds me of Big Little Lies, which I loved. The author uses the same premise of starting with a dead body and working through the story backwards. I enjoyed this one and the locale of Santa Monica was perfect, as I read this as it is starting to get cold, so it was nice to have a reminder of summer and the beach!
October 13, 2020
I couldn't put this one down--the twists and turns, the keen observations of Santa Monica and the social dynamics at work there, the political criticism and the suspense that lasted until the last page. This was a thoroughly enjoyable escapist read about one of my favorite places--so needed at this time!
I can't wait for the next Cassidy Lucas book, Topanga Canyon!
I can't wait for the next Cassidy Lucas book, Topanga Canyon!
September 26, 2020
9/25/2020 3.5 rounded up. I have Thoughts! Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.
Want to read
September 21, 2020**Deep,compelling...absorbing*
*Thank you for my free Goodreads copy *
*Thank you for my free Goodreads copy *
June 25, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This fun and quick read started with a dead body - Zack, a handsome trainer with a sex addiction, is found dead by his sister. How did he die, and who killed him?? Set in LA in the months before his death, the rest of the plot follows Zack, his sister Lettie, and two women who take Zack’s workout classes and hide some pretty dark secrets. Though the death was a mystery, the rest of the book was a sharp and witty look at LA and the secrets people have. Funny and smart. 4 stars.
This fun and quick read started with a dead body - Zack, a handsome trainer with a sex addiction, is found dead by his sister. How did he die, and who killed him?? Set in LA in the months before his death, the rest of the plot follows Zack, his sister Lettie, and two women who take Zack’s workout classes and hide some pretty dark secrets. Though the death was a mystery, the rest of the book was a sharp and witty look at LA and the secrets people have. Funny and smart. 4 stars.
October 31, 2020
Ice Storm Book 2. I mainly wanted to read this because, hey, I've actually been to Santa Monica! Don't pick up a book just because it's set somewhere you've been. It's fine for what it is. Tons of unlikeable characters vying to be your least favorite person. And even a few of the triumphant moments come about due to some real dick moves.
May 9, 2021
Ohhmmpphf! This is a total brain candy book. There isn’t any real story here. Luckily it was on the .99¢ rack on Amazon.
READER BE AWARE: The author inserts MAGA and political leanings into the book. They don’t even fit in the storyline. I quit reading when she insulted women voters if they weren’t Trumpers.
Good luck to the author. Her market is shrinking!
READER BE AWARE: The author inserts MAGA and political leanings into the book. They don’t even fit in the storyline. I quit reading when she insulted women voters if they weren’t Trumpers.
Good luck to the author. Her market is shrinking!
July 28, 2020
I grew up in Los Angeles and went to Santa Monica often. This is a good whodonit about what happened to Zach the fitness trainer. So the book goes back in time and examines different people who have been in his life and as usual everyone has secrets.
October 18, 2020
3.5 stars. I loved the “real housewives” feel of the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews