I don't know how Eliza Jane Brazier does it, but her stories always mess with my head in the most disturbing, delicious, devastating way. Just like If I Disappear, Good Rich People has an incredibly atmospheric/cinematic setting, incredible prose, and the most intriguing, messed up, fleshed-out characters. And just like with If I Disappear, I devoured this book in a sitting because I HAD TO KNOW HOW IT WAS GOING TO END. One my fave thrillers of the year, cannot recommend it enough, do yourself a favor and read it so we can collectively talk about how wonderfully messed up this story is. 9000000/10.

So absorbing and twisty I couldn't put this book down. READ IT IN ONE SITTING! Eliza is now definitely on my must read author's list.

Wowza. This propulsive, one-sitting read was a wild ride! Spoiler alert: the title is NOT accurate at all! These are very bad rich people, and you are going to love/hate them.

The incredibly wealthy couple Lyla and Graham live in the Hollywood Hills, with Graham's even more wealthy mother living directly above them in what I imagined to be an insane modern castle. They technically share the same property. Neither Graham nor his mother is a good person. They like to play little games to ward off the boredom that comes from unlimited resources. These games always end up hurting people, which is the ultimate goal. Lately though, the games are starting to fall flat. The last one resulted in someone's death and even that didn't live up to their expectations. So Graham and his mother decide to task Lyla with the next game. They find the perfect mark, an up-and-coming businesswoman named Demi, and offer her cheap rent at their gorgeous guesthouse on their property. What happens next is entirely up to Lyla, but it better ease some of Graham's boredom, or else.

Whew! The twists and turns in this are truly unbelievable in the best way. Every single person in this book is truly awful but for some reason I couldn't look away. I was hooked and I think you will be too. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

It's surprising to find a book that is both creepy and insightful, full of social commentary and with no one to root for. Somewhat defies categorization - which is a good thing. Recommend for armchair sociologists who read suspense.

Eliza Jane Brazier did it again! This book has everything: suspense, drama, a sprinkle of humor, endless Moët - the list goes on and on.

The story set in the glitzy and glamorous LA and, well, I don’t know that I can ever go to LA now because I’m worried about might what happen.. 😅

And the characters in this story! 😱 I thought Jane killed it with the character development in If I Disappear but this was next level. At first I hated Lyla because she seemed like another thoughtless rich girl but as soon as you realize she’s so much more than that, and that the world she’s wrapped up in is a real life nightmare, the whole story changes. 🤯 And then you have the mysterious Demi that you love but maybe hate but maybe love again? I don’t know - I’m still debating. 😂 Oh and we can’t forget about Graham and his mother, Margo - our darling, special Graham and sweet, generous Margo… 🙄 They were truly…something.

But I couldn’t put this book down. You have to read it. Pre-order it, pirate it (don’t do that), ask a sky writer to put it in the clouds for you (that’d be kind of cool) - whatever you gotta do to read this, DO IT!

Wow that was one entertaining, wild, ride! Usually authors struggle with the "Book 2 curse", but I think Eliza Jane Brazier's 2022 novel Good Rich People breaks that mold entirely. I read this book in one sitting and was glued to it. This book is definitely one of the most bingeable books I've ever read.

Good Rich People focuses on Lyla Herschel and her husband Graham. The two of them are extremely wealthy, with money coming from Graham's mother, Margo. Lyla and Graham live in the hills of Los Angeles, with Margo living in sprawling towers (think like a castle sort of vibe) on the same property. Graham and Margo are not good people and they get bored very easily. Makes sense with all the money the family has to get easily bored with life, right? After marrying Graham, Lyla realizes that the Herschel family likes to play "games." These games veer on the dark side, specifically with people's lives. On the family compound, there's a guesthouse that the family rents out after stalking their prey. They allow tenants to move in and effectively ruin their entire lives. That is, until they meet their newest tenant, Demi.

I read Good Rich People in record speed. I could not stop flipping through the pages and I'm sure my husband is annoyed with me for ignoring all responsibilities while doing so. To be fair, I literally hated every single person in this book. There is not one likeable character at all. If you like unlikeable and unreliable characters, you'll enjoy this book. Good Rich People reminds me of something Tarryn Fisher would've written, because it is totally F'd up in the best way possible. Wow, I will be thinking about this book for some time. Eliza Jane Brazier, what else do you have up your sleeves? I AM HOOKED.

I did enjoy huge fan of Eliza Jane Brazier’s debut novel, If I Disappear, so I was thrilled to get an early copy of her next novel, “Good Rich People”. Of course, the very title is pretty much an oxymoron - these particular rich people are behaving very, very badly. Lyla, Graham & his mother Margot are completely over-the-top awful - playing nasty games on their unsuspecting guesthouse tenants just to ruin their lives for fun - to the death! But will their newest tenant, Demi flip their script? Full of twisty, mind-blowing craziness on the fast-paced, oft humorous thrill ride! Recommend for any who like dark, over-the-top thrillers with mental manipulators - it’s really crazy! My sincere thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the complimentary DRC, which did not affect my review!

“Everyone is playing a game all the time. It only matters when you are losing.”

GOOD RICH PEOPLE is a disturbing look behind the devious minds of some very rich people.

Graham Herschel and his wife Lyla are rich. But not as rich as Graham’s mother, Margo, and Margo never lets Lyla forget it.

Graham and his mother enjoy destroying people. So much so, they call it the game. The unwitting contestant being the latest tenant of their guesthouse, which is located below Graham and Lyla’s Glass House.

Graham and Margo take great care in selecting their tenant. They like to pick a person who has “pulled themselves up by their bootstraps” and made something of their life. And then they take great pleasure in destroying that person.

Lyla doesn’t like the game. And this time, Graham and Margo have decided that she has to play.

The problem is, their new tenant, Demi, isn’t who they think she is. She plays to win.

Thank you so much for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book re-ignited my love for psychological thrillers. To the point where I was already creating fancasts when this inevitably makes it onto the big screen (Huge Tarantino x Jordan Peele vibes!).

The writing is absolutely phenomenal, and the pacing made it so easy to binge this in one night. I loved how there were multiple unique characters that truly elevated the plot and made it such an addicting read. I loved how the author portrayed how absurd the loves of the elite are, and to what extremes they would go to just so they wouldn't be bored. There are very few books I like that deconstruct the class system, this is not one of them.

100% would recommend. I just wish everyone could read this during spooky girl fall.

Okay, so this was an unexpected hit for me. I was hooked from the title alone, but I was skeptical of the rich-people-are-evil thing. It's just not something I usually like because so often, it's heavy handed and coming from either a bitter or pandering place. But in this instance, it's coming from a deeply clever place, and I couldn't get enough. The characters are brilliantly constructed because, while they're not 'good' people, they're still somehow likable-- at least the POV characters. How is it possible to be cheering for these women who have both played roles in the deaths of other people?! Great writing, that's how. Eliza Jane Brazier's writing is so sharp and witty, you can't help but be sucked into the story. There's a satirical element, but it's never on the nose and never dips into farcical territory. The characters feel foreign in their desires and lifestyles, yet real enough that they feel like they might truly exist. In other words, they're not caricatures. I could go on and on about Brazier's particular brand of humor, which I so deeply enjoy, but I'll save the space and just advise you all to read it for yourselves.
The only faults I had with this book were that:
1) I felt there was little difference in the voice of Lyla and Demi, so I would often find myself several pages into a chapter and have to go back to see-- wait, whose POV is this?, and 2) it did get slightly confusing around the party, with the changing points of view and language that skewed more abstract-- although, my God, can you imagine seeing that type of a party played out on screen? It's so cinematic, with the gold blood dripping from 'dead' people. But neither of those bothered me too much, and after the party, it became very clear what had happened and everything was wrapped up well.

Good Rich People puts a sinister new spin on the bored housewife and a mother-in-law with whom she doesn't get along.

Lyla and Graham seem to have it all. They are attractive and wealthy and appear to be living the dream. Graham, however, is bored and he and his eccentric mother, Margo, have come up with ways to entertain themselves that are not for the faint of heart.

The characters in this book are complex and multidimensional. The reader is hooked from page one and the story being told from multiple points of view keeps the reader engaged throughout the twists and turns of this story. This was the first book I read by this author and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed how the author dove deep into the worlds of extreme wealth and extreme poverty with such an unexpectedly enjoyable story. The characters are mostly unlikable and parts of the book made me downright uncomfortable but it was a bit like a train wreck from which you cannot look away.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Ok, I’m going to tell you now - this book is going to have some very polarized reviews, as did her last book, IF I DISAPPEAR.

But, I LOVED it! I also liked her last one.

This author is not going to be everybody’s cup of tea. Her writing is bizarre - a Tarantino and Twilight Zone kind of vibe.
But, no matter what, you have to give her points for uniqueness and creativity.
_________________________________

Lyla and her husband, Graham, live with his filthy rich mother in the Hollywood Hills.

Graham and his mother like to play games with peoples’ lives for their entertainment.

Lyla has always looked the other way, but gets pulled into the game with their latest target…..
_________________________________

This book is savage, shocking and just soooo entertaining!

Honestly, I’m sitting here trying to figure out what the hell I just read.
The whole book was convoluted and confusing. I’m not sure if the plot was good and the writing was bad or vice versa. Either way, not exactly an enjoyable read.

Everyone is playing a game all the time. It only matters when you’re losing.

When it comes to Good Rich People there’s really only one thing that needs to be said - THIS IS NUCKING FUTS!

The story here is about Lyla her husband Graham and his mother Margo who live in pretty much a compound of mansion, second house and guest cottage in the Hollywood Hills. Something ridiculous like where Lisa Vanderpump lives. Too rich for their own good, the trio have created a hobby of finding the perfect tenant to live in the cottage – and then finding a way to ruin them.

So you have to know going in this is 100% over the top. Like throw away all sense of realism, pop a big ol’ bag of corn and just go with it type of crazy. There’s obviously some B.E.E. inspiration going on here, but much like any other copy of an original it’s not quite as crisp. That’s not to say it’s not highly enjoyable for the right audience. You’ll know right away if you’re going to like it or not. Just know you need to truly have an appreciation for the absurd.

Oh and one more thing. I figured out how publishers can get me to enjoy people covers. CUT OFF THEIR HEADS!

Many thanks to Berkley via NetGalley for offering me an early chance to read this one. It was just what I needed!

If you havent read Eliza Jane Brazier's novel, If I Disappear, get it now! It was so good and I am super excited to see the author has a new book coming out in January 2022. It will be here before we know it.
I don't know about you but I am already looking forward to this one. The synopsis pulled me in right away.
Take a look:
"Lyla has always believed that life is a game she is destined to win, but her husband, Graham, takes the game to dangerous levels. The wealthy couple invites self-made success stories to live in their guesthouse and then conspires to ruin their lives. After all, there is nothing worse than a bootstrapper.

Demi has always felt like the odds were stacked against her. At the end of her rope, she seizes a risky opportunity to take over another person’s life and unwittingly becomes the subject of the upstairs couple’s wicked entertainment. But Demi has been struggling all her life, and she’s not about to go down without a fight.

In a twist that neither woman sees coming, the game quickly devolves into chaos and rockets toward an explosive conclusion.

Because every good rich person knows: in money and in life, it’s winner take all. Even if you have to leave a few bodies behind."
Intriguing! I already added it to my To Be Read list and also put it on my Goodreads list "CAN'T WAIT BOOKS 2022" so you can find more books coming out in 2022 over there as I find them!
What are you reading right now?

Oh my god, what a ride! I knew I would like Good Rich People as soon as I read the synopsis. It sounded dark, twisty, and absolutely gut-wrenching, and the early reviews were promising.

Eliza has crafted an impressive and unique storyline paired with a compelling cast of characters that made this an addictive read. I really wanted to savour this one, but ended up devouring the entire book in just a few hours, unable to put it down.

The first character we meet is Lyla Herschel, with the beginning of the story being told from her perspective. She's an interesting character, and through Brazier's prose, I really started to build a picture of her in my mind. She lives in a state-of-the-art home on the edge of a cliff in Los Angeles, which she shares with her attractive husband Graham and vicious mother-in-law Margo. On the surface, Lyla seems like the typical Beverly Hills housewife, filling her time and her wrinkles with plastic surgery and lavish Moët lunches with the ladies, but underneath it all, she's quite a complex and layered character.

The reader is then introduced to mother and son duo, Graham and Margo Herschel, two characters with too much time, too much money, and not enough excitement in their life. To combat their boredom, they rent out the guesthouse on the property and take turns playing twisted psychological games with the tenants who live there, conspiring to ruin their lives.

"The game is simple, in theory, but in practice it always gets messy. The tenant is the pawn. The landlord is the player. The family is the audience. We observe from a distance, talk it over at private dinners."

When a new tenant called Demi moves in, Graham and Margo decide it's about time Lyla steps up to the plate to play. As much as she doesn't want to, she's desperate to prove her worth to her husband and mother-in-law.

Once Demi is introduced, the suspense really starts building. She has an intriguing backstory that adds layering and depth to the plot. After her arrival, the story is told from both Lyla and Demi's points of view, so the reader gets a real sense of what's going on under the surface for each of them. The alternating points of view are seamlessly written, and there's much more to Demi than meets the eye.

So, will the new tenant be enough to satiate the Herschel family? Or is she smarter than they think? What's that saying, two can play that game?

Brazier held my attention from start to finish with this book. I became so completely absorbed by the characters and the constant unexpected plot twists. Eliza also manages to capture so accurately the complete ridiculousness of the ultra wealthy, to the point that it's hilarious at times.

Good Rich People is intoxicating, well written, and highly engaging.

Highly recommended for fans of literary thrillers.

I was not previously familiar with Eliza Jane Brazier, but I will now be looking for her other titles. She writes with a biting wit and sophisticated sense of satire, bordering on the surreal. She sets the scene extremely well so that the reader can picture what's going on in a very cinematic and entertaining way.

The narrative is twisted and dark, but very easy to follow and quite suspenseful.

The pacing drags a tiny bit as Lyla is trying to decide how to initiate the game. However, interspersing Demi's chapters managed to keep me turning the pages. I also appreciated how the characters' motivations are credible.

Graham is a little hard to get to know, but I believe this is intentional on the author's part.

Without giving anything away, I enjoyed the hints at what happened with the prior guest and how that comes full circle.

The ending is satisfying. Brazier is clearly a talented writer.

This is the most bizarre, outlandish, absurd, CAMP and downright disturbing story I’ve ever read…and I loved every second of it. I genuinely believe that if The Hunger Games, Gossip Girl and The Purge franchise had a love child - it’d be this. From the theatrics of showing the absurd lives of the rich and elite and how far they are willing to go to cure their boredom, to incorporating a sinister twist that involved scheming, strategy and survival between the classes was absolutely brilliant. I never read a story like this - every time I thought I had things figured out, it would take a completely different turn hitting me like a bus. Yes, a bus. I love psychological thrillers more than anything, especially when it keeps me on my toes and makes me crave more and more. Overall, I think this is a very unique story, definitely reminds me of that Jordan Peele-esque horror, where it’s just wicked and sinister more than Michael Myers or Friday the 13th scary/thrilling. Brazier did an excellent job at exploring class, social status, old vs new money and how others will view you, no matter how much money you have in your bank account, especially if you pulled yourself up by the bootstraps and earned it.

This definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed the oddness/absurdity of this story.

QUICK TAKE: I am a big Eliza Jane Brazier fan and really enjoyed her previous book, IF I DISAPPEAR. I similarly liked a lot about this book, and the concept is dark and twisty and right up my alley (rich couple plays a twisted game with each other where they fuck with the unsuspecting victims who rent out their guest house). The characters here are almost on another planet, but I had a lot of fun with the cat-and-mouse antics and the ending is Alice in Wonderland tomfuckery (evening shootouts in the rose garden, anyone?).

I absolutely love this book. It’s a really original story idea and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen. The main character immediately drew me in as well.