I read If I Disappear and Brazier's writing is definitely not for everyone. She is different and a little bit weird, and it's horror, but also satirical like Mona Awad, but not yet quite like Mona Awad.

Brazier is definitely trying to do something though and I really dig her work!

Good Rich People takes on the darker side of wealth and power dynamics and it was quite a ride, but I really enjoyed it and very much enjoy Brazier's writing.

A twisted story of deceit that will have you questioning if it is possible for good, rich people to exist?

At first, you’ll read this and likely strongly dislike the main character Lila. She’s vapid, out of touch, and entitled. But for me, as the story went on I began to like parts of Lila. Initially I just found her entertaining (her commentary on her life and other people can be humorous and absurd). But eventually I realized that as a character she goes through a subtle growth arc. The Lila the book ends with is not exactly the same person who began it. Is money the root of evil afterall?

Lyla is so beautiful that sometimes she even gazes at herself in awe. Some of it is natural, and some of it is the sort of beauty that money can help with. Her husband Graham has the two things that make a man impossible to resist: money and looks. And Graham is extremely wealthy and extremely handsome.

But Graham also has a coldness to him. He’s obsessed with games. Lyla thinks she is too, but most of her personality is actually her trying to like the same things as Graham or be the person she thinks he wants her to be. Graham and his mother Margot like to play a game. They invite someone to live in the guest house on their property, befriend them, and then ruin their life. They particularly love to do this to someone poor or vulnerable.

Trust me when I say you will hate them! Graham and Margot the most, but you’ll hate Lyla too for letting it happen. It’s clear that she doesn’t really want to play along with them, but she also doesn’t stop them—this is in my opinion Lyla’s biggest character flaw at the beginning of the novel.

Things really get complicated when Graham and Margot insist that it is Lyla’s turn to play (they say she needs to prove herself). Lyla doesn’t want to, but she doesn’t see a way to get out of it when they find someone to move in. The new tenant is a wealthy tech professional named Demi, and she’s about to change everything for them.

Because it turns out, Demi isn’t actually the person they intended to move in. The Demi they know is actually a homeless women who followed the real Demi home one night after she bought heroin from a man named Michael in the homeless camp. Upon arriving home, Demi falls asleep and when she wakes up, the woman has overdosed. She goes to leave the scene in terror, but runs into Lyla and realizes Lyla doesn’t know she isn’t the real Demi.

So she decides maybe she can slip into Demi’s life—just for a little bit! No one will know and no one will be hurt by it, right? But when Michael arrives and helps her dispose of the body, Demi becomes trapped in the life. She enjoys it’s privileges but what will happen when she becomes ensnared in the cruel games Graham, Margot, and Lyla play?

This book is entertaining and witty. The central couple are so over the top that often the book veers towards comical. Lyla is particularly entertaining and funny—she can be so out of touch but she’s not as bad as Graham and Margot. Lyla wants friends badly. She wants Graham to love her and actually be intimate with her. Even their marriage is a game to him.

So many things in the book are extravagant and jump off the page. Margot’s gardens, for instance, are modeled on different levels and represent the nine circles of Hell. Lyla is planning a birthday party for Graham and knowing his love of games, buys real guns that use “simmunition”—fake ammunition that police officers use for gun training. The one that Lyla procured will splatter the person shot in gold glitter. The game will be played in the grand mansion including a hall of mirrors to distract everyone. I could just picture it!

Demi is another fascinating character. Before she becomes Demi (I don’t think we ever learn her real name—she drifts alone without identity until she becomes Demi), she describes her back story. Many of the things Demi says about being poor or homeless are profound—she made me think about her life in a very real way. This is in sharp contrast to Lyla’s life, which is ridiculous, over the top, and impossible to relate to.

By the end of the book, I was left with a strong message about the worth of a human life and what really differentiates rich and poor people. The title is also referenced in the book, as Demi muses if it is possible for there to be good people who are incredibly rich? Demi reflects on her status—and over the book she muses on how she always felt she wasn’t good enough to be rich, or have a secure life, or even a home. But what will she discover by the end of this twisted story?

Entertaining, sharp, and a mix of shallow characters with deep messages!

Good Rich People was WILD. What an absolute ride. Another one of those reads you simply have to devour in one or two sittings because you need to know how it turns out. I enjoyed the pacing of this one so much I ended up picking up a copy for mom as well. 3.5 stars!

Thank you to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own,

This book is SUCH a wild ride, and I LOVED it. Give me a book about rich people behaving badly any day of the week, honestly. And considering this took that genre plot point and upped the ante by about a million percent, threw in a twist on a con and topped it all off with absolute debauchery, and you could not have cooked up a more perfect, escapist read for me.

The pacing in this book is excellent - just slow enough to simmer the what's-going-to-happen vibe, but just fast enough to keep the storyline timing believable. I really enjoyed the moving POV's from character to character and the way it revealed a new secret at a time that totally turned what I thought I knew on its head.

Overall I don't want to give any spoilers, because this one is best enjoyed without any suspicion of what is to come. but I cannot recommend this book enough. Delightfully diabolical, it is a must for anyone who loves a good character drama with a little side of mystery.

I love a quick, juicy thriller! Good Rich People includes two points of view, Lyla and Demi. Lyla's husband is soooooo bored. To combat his boredom he loves to play a game where he destroys the lives of unsuspecting affluent individuals. After all, the wealthy aren't paying attention to anyone but themselves. In this round of the game, Lyla becomes the cat and Demi is the mouse. I really liked reading the same events through each woman's eyes, although this made the timeline disorienting at times. While I couldn't put this book down, the ending was weak AF. There weren't very many twists, but overall I enjoyed reading about rich people I loved to hate.

This book was so strange…it made me think a lot about my perception of rich people. It’s very twisty and will have you thinking about people of different classes.

This was such an intriguing thriller. I normally read romance but this synopsis pulled me in - and this book did not disappoint! I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down!

Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier has an interesting premise, and satire and social commentary couched in this premise could make for a powerful book. At times, it is entertaining. However, in these games, none of the characters are likable. There is no one to root for to win this game, and the book is dark and at times disturbing. The story does not carry the power that the premise holds.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/02/good-rich-people.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

What a wild romp! This book was nuts! And so entertaining! I really didn't know what to expect going into it and had heard kind of mixed things about it, but I ended up being so entertained by it! A fun, quick, murdery read!

Dark, twisty and messed up in the best possible way! Eliza has crafted an impressive and unique storyline paired with a compelling cast of characters that made this a binge-worthy read.

Good Rich People has a twist, and it ends with an explosive conclusion. It has dark themes, of manipulation, power and a commentary on class, privilege, and the cost of success.

Eliza Jane Brazier immediately became an autobuy author for me after her debut If I Disappear, and book 2 for her didn’t disappoint either. Thank you to Berkley for my gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. 🤍

ummmm. what did I just read. This is certainly not going to be everyone's cup of tea. I am just not sure if this author is for me!

I have a good friend who always says she loves books about "silly rich people," so I was inclined to like this one, but unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. The satirical aspect didn't really land for me, plus I felt troubled about the depiction of homelessness.

This book was SO GOOD! So dark, with incredible introspection on the lives of the homeless and the ultra rich. I couldn’t put it down and thought the story and the way everything played out was extremely unique.

This book sounded so interesting but unfortunately fell flat for me. While the premise sets up for a 'poor girl gets her revenge' type of plotline (which I love), what actually happens is steeped with stereotypes towards unhoused people and only a surface level analysis to class dynamics. I appreciated the dual POVs and how the author allowed the audience "in" for all exchanges between Lyla and Demi, but the payoff in the end was not worth the journey.

I got confused about what this book was trying to achieve, which is, of course, more of a statement on me than on the book.

I read Brazier's first novel "If I Disappear" last year and enjoyed it. When I learned she was coming out with a new novel, I was excited to see what dark world, I'd be thrown into next. Unfortunately, this world I don't want to be a part of.

The story is told from the perspectives Demi and Lyla. I personally wasn't a fan of the switch between the two POVs and having to recalibrate to the changing timelines. I think it's fine if one of these is done, but both are a lot to mentally keep track of. I also didn't think the inner thoughts of both characters were distinct enough.

The most unique aspect of this novel was this "game" played by Lyla and her husband where they rent out their guesthouse and have to ruin the life of their guest. It's dark and twisted-- I got major "Cruel Intentions" vibes. However, there is a twist in this game and that lies in their guest Demi, who has something to hide as well.

Honestly, there were just too many things going on in this to flow well and not be confusing. However, there are some spectacular scenes that I still think about which is rare for me in novels.

Honestly the subject matter and tone had me out off a bit. The neglect for other people who don’t have money or class was hard to read at times.

I really kept wondering what the hell I was reading.

However the ending redeemed itself and made me give it a little more credit.

It just wasn’t my favorite thriller unfortunately but I liked the concept.

I have truly been blessed in 2022 with finding new author's and absolutely loving their books and Good Rich People and Eliza Jane Brazier was no exception!

This book was so exciting because it was so different from anything I had ever read before which brought a whole new sense of fulfillment for me! Don't get me wrong, I love your classic mystery book, but I also love a good book that can throw you for a loop and for me, this book does that!

The characters were horrible, but I think that's part of what made the book so great! They were horrible people, doing horrible things, and let's just face it, it was pure entertainment to see where this book was going to go! I was guessing until the very end, even maybe actually having to pick my jaw up off the floor! This book is THAT GOOD!

I see Eliza Jane Brazier only has one release prior to this book, and it's my understanding that she has a unique writing ability that you either love or hate and considering I LOVE this book, I can't wait to pick up her other book and see what else she comes out with! She reminds me of Chelsea Cain and there's absolutely nothing wrong about that!

This book has it all...humor, excitement, mystery, intrigue, a story that keeps you guessing long into the last chapter...what's not to love about it? If you haven't read it yet...you're missing what has to be one of the the best books published in 2022! I think this is the year for books!

Overall, don't wait...get yourself a copy of this book and indulge yourself! You won't be disappointed!

**I would like to offer a huge thank you to Eliza Jane Brazier, Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of "Good Rich People" which allowed me to contribute this honest and unbiased review."

Good Rich People is a fast-paced, unpredictable thriller that keeps readers hooked until the end. Brazier expertly weaves together multiple plotlines and subplots, creating a rich tapestry of deceit and manipulation. With intricate plotting and well-developed characters, Good Rich People is a must-read for fans of page-turning thrillers.

Can I just say that I’m freaking OBSESSED with this book??? Brazier is now an auto-buy author and I will order anything she writes without even looking at the synopsis! I LOVED the alternating POV in first person perspective between Lyla and Demi. I LOVED the whole book from the first page through to the last! It was fast paced and kept my attention with quips and jaw dropping moments! Little things like Lyla thinking pasta sauce needs to be pricey: “Why is this so inexpensive? Is there something wrong with it? … Do you have anything more expensive?” 😂
And more serious things but if I tell you, I’ll have to kill you. Nahhhh just kidding. But it WOULD be a spoiler. So you’ll have to read it to find out! And I promise that you’ll love it!!!

Lyla is married to a man who is best friends with his mother, both of whom enjoy playing games that ruin the lives of those around them. When they make Lyla take a turn playing the game, she must decide whether to play by their rules or come up with her own.

I am both very confused and completely enraptured by this book. I flew through it in one day and found myself not wanting to put it down. This is a twisted book full of unlikeable characters who do terrible things; I ate it up. I really enjoyed the back and forth between Lyla and Demi’s perspectives, although there were a few times when I got a little confused on the timeline of the story. I’ve been on a thriller kick recently, and I’m glad I decided to pick this one up. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started reading it, but it definitely exceeded my expectations!

CW for murder, violence, death of animal, drug addiction, overdose, cheating.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier!