Review: Social Creature

Social Creature

Tara Isabella Burton

As soon as Lavinia meets Louise, it's like a train wreck waiting to happen. Lavinia leads a charmed New York life full of friends, parties and all the excitement one expects from a socialite. In fact, it seems like she has it all. The only thing missing is a best friend, which Lavinia finds when she encounters Louise, who has come to tutor Cordelia, Lavinia's little sister. Louise couldn't be more different, whereas she works two or three jobs to pay the rent on her subsidized rental unit and struggles to make ends meet, Lavinia doesn't work at all, nor does she study at the moment, plus she lives in her parents' fabulous apartment.

It isn't long before Lavinia convinces Louise to move in, but it's a move that leaves Louise more and more dependent on Lavinia and her goodwill, which ultimately depends on her moods. As soon as we think we have Lavinia pegged for the toxic, ego-fueled needy friend in the relationship, something happens and we realize that Louise isn't the long-suffering friend we thought she was. In fact, with the use of social media, she deceives all her friends,which were Lavinia's friends, to begin with, until one day it all falls apart.

Burton has created a page-turner of a book that has received a lot of attention recently. This one is dark but addictive, the kind of story that pulls you along at break neck speed, to the very last page. I can't wait to see what comes next from this author.

Thanks to Double Day for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.