Frenemies Suspense!

I wasn’t sure what I was going to get with this one, and honestly I picked it up because I was obsessed with the cover. I found myself sneaking away to read more and more as the story just kept building, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the tension and lives of Stella and Violet. Stella has always been wealthy and done as she wants. Violet was poor and fled her upbringing first chance she got. Stella took in Violet, giving her a taste of the wealth she’d never belong to. Now Stella has returned from partying around the world as Violet has been working hard in a TV news studio. And that’s when the balance of their tug-and-push friendship begins to unravel. While I knew what was going to happen in the story, it didn’t matter as the writing and ride still made this a page-turner. If you like writers like Megan Abbott and novels like Paulina & Fran this should be right in your wheelhouse. I found myself highlighting a few sentences and sitting with a few.

Is the rich girl/poor girl in the city thriller trope played out? I would have said yes, but then I read this gleefully dark masterpiece.

Previously I felt that this genre was over-saturated and was expecting another iteration of played out, petty Girl World hysterics, which is essentially what this thriller trope has devolved into.

But Necessary People gives us more in so many ways, and it was an absolute joy to read.

At once sinister and hopeful, the book shows us the best and worst of female ambition without stooping to petty, catfight sensationalism to sell copies.

Necessary People was the book that I wanted Social Creature, The Lost Night and so many other books in this genre to be.

And though it definitely compels and gives you the shivers like a thriller should, the lyrical writing and poignant psychological observations made me think more of Aidan Donnelley Rowley’s The Ramblers than the typical toss-off women’s thrillers that all seem to follow the same tired, eye roll-inducing formula.

And the way this book ended? Absolutely fantastic.

The blurb for this book made me request it in a hurry from NetGalley. It sounds so fascinating: two friends reconnect after college to discover that their roles have been reversed, and one of them isn’t happy about that.

For the first half or so, the story met my expectations. Violet lived in Stella’s shadow all through college but now has a pretty strong grip on her life. She works in production for a cable news network, yet while she isn’t in the spotlight, she’s earning respect. She does good, solid work. When Stella shows up, Violet enjoys those moments of having success while Stella does not. But Violet feels beholden to Stella–certainly to Stella’s parents. She wants to help her friend, and it doesn’t hurt that Violet likes being in the position to help. I enjoyed those internals with Violet quite a bit.

Naturally, Stella belongs in front of the camera, and naturally, it doesn’t take long before she usurps Violet. Some of Stella’s shenanigans sound a little too familiar, and she’s wonderfully easy to dislike.

There are some relationships that are put to the test, and you will hold your breath to see what happens with Violet and Stella. The soap operatic turn the book takes, though, made me slow down in turning those pages. I started to not really care about Violet, to dislike her even. She started to seem too weak, too insecure, and the people around her started to seem too blinded by Stella.

The ending is something else. The big question is if it is necessary. Did this need to happen? What does it mean for Violet? The problem for me is that I’m not sure I want to expend the mental energy to answer those questions.

Female friendships can be full of drama, Necessary People takes that premise and flips it on its head and sets it on fire. Dark and suspensful, will be on a lot of book lists.

Wow, I loved this book! Full of toxic friendships and ambitious people who will do literally anything to get ahead. This was a fun quick read.

Necessary People is everything I wanted last year's (2018) Social Creature to be. It's a propulsive, charged look at how an "outsider" (translation: poor) woman is swept into a wealthy, glittering world via friendship and decides that she wants that world. When she does, the steps she takes start off small, but get larger and darker with each one. And the questions it raises! Do we deserve things or people because we want them? How far would we go to get them? How far would we go to keep them? If bad things happen to people who aren't very nice, or who are even out to hurt you because they can, does that make it okay?

Necessary People is a fast, furious ride that explores the friendship between Stella (who has it all) and Violet (who doesn't). If you're even remotely familiar with The Talented Mr. Ripley (and who isn't) you know where this is going. But Violet--so driven, so hungry, and so human--is fascinating to read about. And how she goes from admiration and adoration to fear and anger, from taking handouts to taking advantage of a situation to calculating what needs to be done and going through with it is utterly mesmerizing.

And the ending! When you have what you want, when you've gone from being somewhere to making yourself be somewhere--what if you knew just how far you would go to stay there? Could you put all the darkness that's in you, once it's been out, away? What if someone else rose up to block what you wanted, when you knew you could and would do everything and anything to stay where you are or do more, get more, be more? By the end, Violet knows she's in a great place with a good job and good friends--but she's been there before and had that threatened. Had a need for more. Can she just be? Does she want to be?

Well written, with vividly drawn characters, and fantastic questions about human need and human nature, Necessary People is a riveting read.

Thanks to Net Galley and Little, Brown and Company for the review copy of Necessary People. This book gave me major Gossip Girl vibes, and I must say, I loved it!

Violet and Stella become fast friends in college. Violet grew up in small town Florida, with distant, abusive parents. She looks forward to college as an escape, and is swept away by rich, beautiful, and charismatic Stella. They are total opposites, but click and are die-hard friends.

After college, Violet gets an entry-level job at TV news channel, where she quickly rises up the ranks to become an associate producer. She loves her job and has a natural talent for snuffing out good stories, as well as playing up to execs to get her work noticed. In the meantime, Stella is adventuring at luxury locales, and upon returning to NYC to live with Violet, finds herself with the opportunity to work for the same news channel as her friend. Stella becomes an on-screen "talent" on-screen and steals the spotlight away from Violet with ease. This creates a tense dynamic between them, and after a blow up argument, tragedy ensues.

This was a page-turner and I loved the dichotomy of the rich vs. poor friend. From the perspective of Violet, we see how she feels threatened by Stella's easy way through life. She can't fathom that Stella could be jealous of her own career success, when Stella is flush with money, fame and familial support. This back and forth created an intriguing storyline. The backstage look behind TV news was pretty fascinating as well. There were plenty of juicy plotlines to keep the story interesting. I highly recommend picking up Necessary People!

WoW! This book has everything I want in a thriller. It's unputdownable. Be prepared to be glued to this story! I won't give anything away so just read it!!

Fast paced and lots of twists. One of the best I've read.

Oh good laws almighty, these girls.... Why is it so difficult to get out of toxic relationships? Here we have a story that we have seen before. Stella, the rich, entitled girl who is used to getting everything she wants. Money is no object and neither of people Violet, the girl from the wrong side of the tracks who lives in Stella's shadow. Low self esteem but a drive underneath.

The thing with girls like these is that it's SO hard to find any sympathy for either girl. Stella who shits on everyone and uses and abuses people to get her way. Violet, being one of those people allowing Stella (among others) to treat her this way. Yet... they also provide for the other in their own way. Stella thrives on the attention that Violet gives her - the only person who sees Stella's true colors and stays loyal. Violet appreciates the opportunities Stella gives her in regards to a place to live "cheaply" and somewhat a (nicer) family that she ever really had.

What it comes down to, is how much is too much? When do either of them reach their breaking point? Is one of them better or worse than the other? It's honestly really hard to say. I've seen this story before but the way the author attacks it made for a great read. This one truly sneaks up on you. While I saw certain instances coming, that added moment or two really elevated this thriller in my eyes.

Watch the evolution of their sordid and toxic friendship and especially pay attention to Violet. Keep your friends close, your enemies closer and the advantages in your back pocket.

Read this book. I went into it with no idea what it was going to be about - I knew I had added it to my TBR because I was interested in the synopsis I'd seen, I knew it was a BOTM pick, I knew it was coming out soon - and that was it. I didn't reread the synopsis, I just decided to dive in and let it unfold. If possible - I suggest you do the same. Stop reading this review right here. Don't read the synopsis or other reviews - just read the book without any expectations.

However, if you need a little more to draw your attention - here's a bit about the plot. Stella and Violet become best friends in college - despite coming from completely opposite backgrounds and having very different personalities. After they graduate, Violet gets a job at a cable news show as an intern and Stella is traveling and living a care-free party life. As Violet starts to work her way up - from intern to assistant producer to associate producer - Stella decides she's tired of the constant partying and uses her family connections to get a job on the same show.

I really loved this book - I was drawn into the story quickly and loved that it didn't go where I expected. I found the last half of the story impossible to put down - and want everyone else to read it so we can discuss it!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book reminded me a lot of Social Creature, but with more likable characters. Violet, a girl who grew up in a troubled home without a lot of money, becomes best friends friends with Stella, a rich girl. They meet in college and this story follows them after college when they live in NYC and Violet follows her dreams in the news world. This books gets a little dark but not as much as I was anticipating. Overall it was an interesting and entertaining read.

This book is everything I want in a novel. I savored every single page. In one word - AMAZING!!!

Violet and Stella meet in college and quickly become best of friends. The two young women come from very different backgrounds. Violet, couldn't wait to escape to college from her poor upbringing in the middle-of-nowhere Florida by neglectful parents. A quiet but determined young woman she's the perfect friend for the flighty Stella. Stella, on the other hand, was raised in a wealthy family with little care and regard for anyone or anything around her. Beautiful but reckless she adores it when Violet swoops in to save her time and time again.

When Violet finally gets her foot in the door at a cable news station it seems like a dream come true. With hard work, ambition, and endless determination she quickly begins climbing the corporate ladder. So what happens when Stella returns from traveling the world and sees just how successful Violet has become?

"This wasn't my role in our relationship. She could only stand the spotlight being on someone else if that spotlight was unflattering."

Stella, jealous of Violets success and her endless hours at work, decides to make a few phone calls that ultimately land her a job at the same cable news station. While Violet frets behind the camera it appears that Stella's own star is beginning to rise in front of the camera and casts a shadow on everything that Violet has worked so hard for. When best friends become rivals someone is bound to win and someone is bound to lose.

OMG!!! I loved this. I should mention I have always been intrigued by journalism and reporters and all things news so this was just so delightful to read about. It was the perfect juicy, scandalous, let's pass the popcorn type of read. I really can't praise this one enough. 5 Delicious stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This wasn't the book I was expecting it to be, unfortunately. I didn't really care about the characters, as Violet wasn't as smart as I would have liked her to be...It felt like she had to be "dumbed down" to suit the purpose of the story to keep it going; and the beginning was a bit too much of a slow burn and took too much time getting to the meat and potatoes of the story. I was hoping for a full-on, out the gate, fun and campy book, considering the idea. But this wasn't it. There stars because I know this book will do better with it's true, intended audience.

Wow! This book was not what I was expecting it to be in the best way. A truly unique story of friends, obsession, and becoming frenemies. I don't want to spoil anything, but there is a large twist that I truly didn't see coming and had me floored. I highly recommend Necessary People.

I was lucky enough to receive this ARC from NetGalley. The book, published by Little, Brown and Company is scheduled for release on May 21st, 2019. It has also been chosen as a selection for Book of the Month, if the spoiler posts remain true. This will give BOTM members early access to the book before they can pick it up in stores.



This book is about Stella and Violet, lifelong best friends. Stella comes from money, and it's obvious she's never heard of the word "consequence." Violet has had to scrape and scratch for everything. She often accompanies Stella home on holidays because her family is so horrible. Stella's family seem to "adopt" her, as long as that means they can brag about her accomplishments. After college, Violet moves to New York and begins working for a cable company while Stella travels the world on her very own drug binge. She claws her way up from intern, only to have Stella barge in and announce that she wants to be a part of the TV world too. With the help of the cable channel president (who just happens to be like a grandmother to Stella) she starts to take the anchor world by storm. Stella even moves in on Violet's best friend/coworker Jamie, and they begin dating. This proves to be one of the last straws for Violet. Through the rest of the book, each girl shows just how hard she'll fight to obtain the life she feels she deserves.



This was a great read. It was suspenseful, but fast. Pitoniak nails it on the details of the two girls in the friendship. While reading the first half of the book I thought back to my own college years, when I was Violet with my very own Stella. I too have had to scratch and fight for everything good in my life. I found myself cheering on Violet, and I wanted her to take down Stella so bad. She didn't deserve the life she had been handed and she certainly didn't appreciate it. The ending brings redemption, success, and triumph, and I could not have wished for better circumstances.



This book was similar to Big Little Lies, or Behind Closed Doors. It had that type of "rush" feeling. I was gifted the digital ARC, but I'm honestly thinking of making this my May BOTM selection just so that I have it. I'd highly recommend picking this book up to everyone else interested in thrillers when it's released on 05/21/19.



🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars

An interesting novel about what happens when two friends clash. Stella and Violet are polar opposites. Stella has it all - beauty, money, personality. Violet has ambition and brains. She comes from the wrong side of the tracks, not just a lack of money but the mother from hell who doesn’t even want to see her daughter succeed. She’s doing everything she can to put her past behind her. Initially they bonded at college and bolstered each other. After college, Stella takes off to travel the world but Violet is still using Stella’s coattails to maintain a certain standard of living. She carves out her own niche as she gains traction on a cable news show.

Pitoniak gives us an insider’s view of the world of cable news - the dynamics, the interaction of the team, the pressure. It was the perfect industry for these two to face off.

What struck me as odd is that Violet, for all her intelligence, doesn’t see Stella for what she is - a spoiled brat. But maybe that’s 63 year old me seeing what the young cannot. And like a typical spoiled brat, Stella wants what she doesn’t have. Jealous of Violet’s job, she immediately gets an entree into the same network.

The title is spot on perfect. Stella needs/uses Violet. Even Stella’s family uses Violet like some hybrid family servant.

Remember those horror movies when you’d be screaming at folks on the screen not to do something? I found myself doing that with Violet. And that was even before things took a wild, wild turn. And after the turn, well I can honestly say I didn’t know how I wanted this to end.

Great writing and characters, too, on top of the fast paced story. Just a fun read that I didn’t want to put down.

My thanks to netgalley and Little, Brown for an advance copy of this novel.

A stunning, knockout novel. This book sits somewhere between "literary fiction" and "thriller" - it is smart and insightful but also incredibly suspenseful. The dynamic between fiercely determined underdog Violet and her hateful "best friend" Stella is never less than thrilling, but the tension ratchets up another notch when their rivalry turns deadly. Giving a believable glimpse into the TV news industry and exploring the toxic effects of valuing privilege over merit, Necessary People is timely, thought-provoking and utterly unputdownable.

This is the story of two best friends who meet in college and become obsessed with each other. One wealthy, beautiful, and aimless and the other of modest means, average looking, and ambitious. Each craves what the other has. The book begins as they graduate and, while sharing an apartment the wealthy woman's parents own, seek their paths in life. Each woman has a cruel and thoughtless streak and they begin sabotaging each other and wishing ill upon each other. The narrative is engrossing but the characters are fairly unlikeable, especially as they become enmeshed in trying to outdo and one-up each other. Well-written yet an unsatisfying conclusion.

Stella and Violet meet in College and become roommates. So begins a friendship that endures for years. But it’s a very uneven friendship as Stella is from a rich and privileged lifestyle whereas Violet grew up with parents fighting over money and belittling her every chance they get. Violet gets a chance to get away when she earns a scholarship to College. Stella is a bit of a wild one at college and Violet is there to help her out of any mess she may find herself in. They eventually graduate from college and move to New York together.
Stella still needs Violet’s admiration and love and envy. And Violet gives it. But Stella leaves for several months of partying and Violet gets down to the real world of finding a job. She begins working at a TV station, works hard and gets promoted. Stella comes home and is very surprised at how well Violet is doing. And the friendship begins unraveling.
This was a really exciting drama/thriller about a toxic friendship. The characters were really well written - I don’t think I liked a single one except maybe Jamie. The story had me intrigued until the end so I’m giving it 4 stars
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I really wanted to love this book. The early hype for it had me itching to read it. I had expected to devour it...

This was one of those books that started out extremely slow, then it got really good, then it just fell off for me. I got whiplash from the slow to fast throughout the story. I wasn't sure I liked it or not at different points of the book. I think I am somewhere in the middle.

The main focus on this book is social status and what people will do to ensure their get it and/or keep it. I think that is where I got stuck. I am not usually a big fan of these types of themes. The lengths the author went to show the separation of classes and statuses in this book felt forced and trite.

I am not quite sure who I deem as the hero/heroine in this book. Most of the characters have some redeeming qualities, while also possessing some really disgusting traits. I know who the hero is supposed to be, but by the end, I didn't quite like her at all. She was just as despicable as her counterpart.

I did enjoy the aspect of the newsroom in this story. Books that revolve around journalism, that include it in much of the story, tend to intrigue me. Some of those scenes, I felt like I was in them.

Overall, the author wrote this story well. It just felt too, "look at me and what I am accomplishing" and "feel bad for me". I can see why some are really enjoying this one. I am over the middle, shrugging my shoulders.