Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for a copy of Other People's Clothes (Feb 2022). This is a fascinating book to review as there is a lot of thought provoking ideas, themes, and real world connections to dissect and talk about. Overall I enjoyed this book, Ms. Henkel was adept at creating an intentionally insular, somewhat claustrophobic feeling of uncertainty and disconnection (all with characters perhaps trying to create connection or at least seeking meaning or attention) and I found the second half of the book to be well executed in terms of suspense and plot development. I appreciated the exploration of ideas of a book within a book (a device I tend to enjoy), the focus on unhealthy friendships, and the integration of art and celebrity; the manipulative nature of Hailey and her art ("art"?) in Zoe's life unfolded effectively and I found Zoe to be a character who made me truly think about youth who lack their own sense of self, who cling to others for a sense of self and struggle to know how to relate to themselves and others on their own. I think a lot of young adult friendships and experiences during the transition into adulthood can be risky, chaotic, and overwhelming and the mood and style of this book effectively reflects this time and does capture the early 200os world very well.

A few aspects of the book held me back from a rave review, despite my genuine appreciation for the writing and plot in this book and my respect for what strong debut novel this is The first half of the book was a bit slow to me and I struggled to really engage with the characters and the direction of the narrative and it felt a bit disconnected from the second half of the book. The ending of the book was also a bit abrupt for me, I felt it was at odds with the main focus of the plot by that point in the story.

I struggled with the themes on eating disorders and related mental health issues; most of this is because I have a strong academic and research background in these areas and the portrayal mythologized, possibly tried to glamorize a lot of mistaken ideas about bingeing and restriction and self starvation. Eating disorders are serious psychiatric disorders and can and do impact all genders and backgrounds, not just disaffected middle class girls. That being said, I can also appreciate that the portrayal of eating disordered behavior actually does fit in with Zoe's lack of identity, her misunderstanding of herself and what healthy relationships and behaviors are, and that the portrayal does fit in with the early 2000s limited understanding of mental health; the presentation fits the narrative and I am willing to see if as part of the commentary on how these young women were slipping into a lot of problematic mindsets and behaviors. I do think some of the writing and conceptualization of eating problems though could be risky for some readers or perhaps triggering. This though suggests that a careful and thoughtful discussion of these topics and this part of the book, which does fit with the overall depiction of Zoe and mood I believe Ms, Henkel intended to create, could be warranted and of value for book groups and readers who seek to understand these topics.

This is strongly recommended for book clubs interested in supporting new authors, readers and groups who like a change of pace read, and for those who want to dive into the intriguing, even mesmerizing, world and mood that Mx Henkel has created in this book. I do look forward to reading more from this writer and to reading what others think of this book.

I just finished Other People's Clothes by Calla Henkel and I can't even decide how I feel. It has left me feeling confused....mostly I don't know how much I liked it. It is definitely a sloooow burn, and while I can appreciate that, I didn't like anyyy of the characters (which is on purpose) so it was a hard time getting invested in their world. Everything was done on purpose though, which I can appreciate after finishing it and that is why I am feeling confused.

Set in the early 2000s, this is a moody, dark, atmospheric thriller that follows two art students studying abroad in Berlin. Zoe and Hailey are f l a w e d and tragic and obsessive. Hailey has really strong main character energy and wants to be a star. Zoe is completely lost and has no idea who she is - she loses herself in other people, but in a weird way like when her best friend is murdered and she starts dating Ivy's ex-boyfriend immediately following the funeral...

They stumble upon a seemingly perfect apartment that they quickly move into. Things get weird when they realize their landlady, Beatrice, is probably spying on them. And also that she is a famous author who pens murdery thrillers. They decide that what they should do next is put on a show. Things start to spiral!

Overall, I am settling on 3.5 stars. This book gave me some things to think about and while it wasn't a traditional thriller, that was kind of nice. I guessed the big twist but the ending definitely got me. I loved that it was something that I had been thinking about throughout but ultimately dismissed, and then the author proved that she was always one step ahead of me. The action really picks up around 50% and prior to that the book is mostly setting the scene. This is an edgy book that will transport you to the dark, spooky world that Hailey and Zoe are inhabiting. It's a fun escape and worth a read for those who are patient and curious.

Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for the ARC. Other People's Clothes is out 2/8/22.

Enjoyed it. A book of two halves. Thought the second “half” could have been better developed, building on the tension created in the first, but liked the interplay between the main characters and the growing realization that something was not quite right in the flat. Very good for a first book by the author and also liked the commentary by the author at the end. Put it all into context.

Thank you Netgalley & Doubleday for the opportunity to read this early. I have some interesting thoughts on this one.

I think this will be a huge hit and well-loved by many bookstagrammers and general readers alike. Unfortunately - I am not one. The pacing of this was BEYOND slow. There are slow burns and then there is Other People's Clothes. If you are into books that take time to build, really paint an atmospheric picture and describe in painstaking detail everything little thing in the apartment, city, etc. then you'll likely like this read.

Unfortunately for me - I can only tolerate a crazy descriptive chapter for so long. When a chapter is 30+ minutes on a kindle...I immediately check out. I tried with this one so hard, but it just never grasped my attention and I couldn't get fully invested.

I think the writing was wonderful and the story interesting, but it was paced too slow for my liking.

As I read this book, I kept thinking that there’s an audience who will really enjoy this, but it not for me. It’s an interesting story told in a fresh style, but I just couldn’t relate to any of the characters enough to get fully invested. It may be a function of my age! But thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Zoe, an art student in the throes of grief after the murder of her best friend Ivy, opts for a year abroad in 2008 to study in Berlin. She and her new roommate, mildly obsessive Hailey, move into an oddly furnished apartment owned by potboiler novelist, Beatrice Beck. It is not long before they come to believe Beatrice is spying on them in an effort to come up with material for her next novel. In response, they decide to perform their own story. Designing flamboyant parties that rival Cabaret, heavy drug use, sexual experimentation and other hedonistic pursuits make them almost famous. Then they discover the hidden door.

Zoe and Hailey aspire to create art, but instead spin out of control. Hailey is fascinated with Ivy’s murder and the trial of Amanda Knox. Zoe questions her sexuality. The plot slowly builds to a crescendo touching on matters of friendship, art, celebrities, drugs and sexuality, and ultimately murder - all in the context of Berlin’s wild nightlife popularity.

American author Calla Henkel lives in Berlin and provides an exotic peek into the art world and that of expats living abroad.

Despite a somewhat slow start, I ultimately ended up really enjoying this book. The writing was so vivid, I felt desperately disappointed I couldn't attend the Beatrice parties or even just google the pictures. I think this will do well with Sally Rooney fans looking for something with a bit of edge.

A slow burn of an absolutely bonkers novel!

You've got two vapid self-centered artists living in Berlin for a semester and trying to party as much as possible, while stealing cheese to eat with the wine they consume.

There's a story within the story within that story and somehow it all comes together in a way that not only made sense, but made me gasp at the end. I would have thrown my book if I wasn't reading on a Kindle
You won't see it coming.

The Berlin party and art scene sound wild and it was great fun to read about because I'm not a clubbing person.

I loved all the twists and gradual reveals,!

Not sure how to feel about l the Amanda Knox chat, but I guess in context it make senses.
Give this one a spin!

What in the cocaine bender did I just read? I started this book wondering where the actual synopsis was. I finished it with a string of words I won’t repeat here that had my boyfriend asking if I was ok. (I was not.)

To be clear, this is a “you’ve gotta check out this book” kind of three star review. It took 50% of the book to hit the actual premise and another 15% to feel like I was getting somewhere. We’re talking slowww burn. BUT THEN the momentum that had been building since the start was a completely unstoppable mess and everything I hoped for.

Had the first half of the book had the same kind of pacing, this would have been an easy four stars.

The characters were so well done. Between Hailey and Zoe, I honestly couldn’t tell who was more severely unhinged. These two were narcissistic, vapid perfection.

Because the book is told from Zoe’s perspective, it initially had me wondering what she put out to the world vs. the thoughts I was reading. She didn’t seem to fit in with Hailey’s chaos. But then she’d casually be like “I was in this underground Berlin club in just my underwear at 4am when someone handed me a pill so I took it” and I’m like “woah, ok, you’re just as nuts.” I wondered if the story was told from Hailey’s perspective, if Zoe might look like the bigger slob kabob.

This was very character-driven for the most part with Zoe seeming fairly dull, which is what made the first half so tough. But boy is it fun to wonder if your MC is playing with a full deck or not. Big ✨unreliable narrator✨ energy. Was she withholding or was she just high off her ass? Hang on tight because it could be both.

As I mentioned, the last 40% or so was phenomenal. What an absolute disaster. I loved it. And I’m pretty sure my soul left my body reading the last page.

So what is my takeaway? Stupid, self-centered, self-sabotaging college girls make for great stories. And also, I would have for sure died if I made an attempt at the ‘90s Berlin party scene.

This book was very different than I expected! It almost had a glamorous feel to it (definitely did not expect that). I felt like I was there with them in many of the scenes! Very well written and an overall enjoyable read.

3.5, rounded up. This book is absolutely WILD. It's a slower burn than I anticipated (and some of the plot points in the synopsis don't come up until later in the novel), and it took some time for me to get through the first third of the book. But, for me, it was worth it to stick with it until the story takes a darker turn to match the underbelly of Berlin and the (already toxic) friendship between Zoe and Hailey starts to unravel. I'm still thinking about the last page of the book.

Grab this if you're looking for a thriller that goes off the rails, explores the gamut of sexuality and relationships, and takes place somewhere outside your comfort zone.

Truly shaken over this book. I loved the pacing, the prose, the characters were wild and mostly unlikeable but I kind of loved that, too. The ending has me all torn up and hoo boy is this just one wild ride. Thanks to NetGalley and Secptre for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! Would give like, a solid 4.25/5.

Hmmm. This novel started off really strong, but around the halfway mark - I became very frustrated with the direction the story was going in. First off, the strongest part of this book was the writing. Calla Henkel is a vivid and detailed storyteller. As for the characters, I found them insufferable and interchangeable. Zoe was a indecisive character. I really wanted to like her, but she kept making idiotic choices for no reason. She's the ultimate people pleaser, and she had no identity. And dear god, that ending! Ugh. I saw the twist coming a mile away. Nothing shocking here. Very predictable conclusion. Basically this book is just another run-of-the-mill novel about young and impressionable girls who get drunk and high every weekend. There's a murder mystery which ends up being barely a mystery at all. This book had some interesting moments here and there, but overall a very bloated and predictable story. I sooooo wanted to like this. It's a mixed bag for me.

Thank you, Netgalley and Doubleday for the digital ARC.

Other People’s Clothes is an intriguing slow burner about two 20-year old art students who travel from New York to Berlin to study...but things don’t go according to plan.

Zoe’s best friend from high school, Ivy, was murdered a few months ago. All Zoe wants to do is escape. Hailey comes from a rich family, is obsessed with pop culture, and wants to be “artfully” famous.

They decide to rent an apartment from Beatrice Becks, a famous author of crime novels, who will be away for a few months. All is fine and dandy until Zoe and Hailey get a vibe that someone has been in the apartment while they were out… Someone may be watching them. That someone may be Beatrice.

Zoe and Hailey are convinced Beatrice is using them as inspiration for her new novel. The young women decide if they’re going to be characters in her upcoming book, they need to take control of the narrative and make sure they come off as interesting and exciting.

They decide to open an exclusive club in the apartment. Booze, drugs, sex. Nothing is off limits…

---until control is lost and something terrible happens.

This is a book where I felt compelled to gather my thoughts before writing my review. The prose is intoxicating. Debut author Calla Henkel is compelling in her writing, including unexpected moments of very dark humor. I enjoyed reading it, and I was eager to see where it would go.

However, I will say there’s quite a few scenes involving partying, jealousy, and unlikable (sometimes despicable) characters. It’s hard at times to figure out where, if anywhere, the story may be going...despite the fact that you may guess where part of it is going.

It does indeed go somewhere dark and thrilling, but it takes time to get there. If you don’t mind the journey and the detours, you may find yourself enraptured in the heightened intensity of a juicy story like I did. Oh, and the last few sentences are a wicked delight!

3.5 stars

Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 2/1/22.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

A truly lovely book that expands on the Germany of American hipsters, a place where I know some drag performers and one person who wears a Pierrot costume and sings Christmas carols.

This is one of my favorite books of the year. I devoured it in two sittings and found myself thinking about Zoe and Hailey everytime the book wasn't in my face (and still even days after finishing it!). It has everything I love in a book: toxic female friendships, pretentious college students, sex, drugs, European cities, paranoia, murder.

I feel that the synopsis is a bit misleading as the suspicions of Beatrice and the wild apartment parties don't happen until at least the halfway point. The first half primarily sets up girls in Berlin and examines the friendship dynamic between Zoe and Hailey, which I think was executed perfectly. I felt like I really knew these two women, both of whom are unlikeable in their own ways but you still can't help but be interested in them.

This first half is a bit slow compared to the last third of the book, where the plot really takes off and goes a bit sideways (but in a good way!). I would have liked the ratio to have been a bit more heavy on the apartment parties and the aftermath but overall I still really enjoyed everything about this book. The last line actually blew my mind and I immediately wanted to start it again from the beginning.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review! I will absolutely be buying my own physical copy.