This is my **first** Netgalley review and, to be honest, I completely selected this book based on the cover. I was enraptured. When I read the synopsis and heard it described as “My Dark Vanessa meets The Queen’s Gambit”, I was a bit worried, because I have read both those books and both felt very dark and disturbing. Though the subject matter isn’t fully revealed until a quarter or so into the book, I enjoyed Rachel Kapelke-Dale’s writing style and I was intrigued by the wealth and the talent of the main character, Saskia. When the major conflict/content of the book presented itself, I was already fully invested and continued to read to find out what would happen.
The novel lobbies back and forth in time, and presents trigger warning content in a way that doesn’t read as raunchy or gross, a detail that I believe the novel The Queen’s Gambit lacked (I was quite astounded by how vulgar The Queen’s Gambit was in certain parts). Ingenue never read as vulgar or trashy, but I think was an accurate example of how a grown woman processes abuse she didn’t recognize as abuse when she was enduring it.
I was quite surprised by Saskia’s actions toward the end of the book and certain parts did unsettle my stomach, but, in truth, the ending was satisfying, and I felt Saskia got her just desserts, even if criminal.
Finally, I was absolutely happily pleased with HOW Kapelke-Dale writes. She is fine writer, who had sentences with interesting turns of phrases, and her description of the setting, though sparse, was intriguing. (I don’t think I have ever read a story set in Milwaukee.)
Though I was initially displeased by the content, I do think the author handled such matters with tact. My one contention with the story is how Patrick convinced Saskia’s mother was never truly resolved. You’d think a crime is a crime and Saskia’s mother would have realized that, but, I suppose, in order to craft a compelling story, details, such as this, can be embellished. Overall, I would gladly read another book by this author.

Thank you to Net galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel.

The premise of this story is very interesting. The beginning of novel starts with an introduction of the Elf house. This is an estate our main character is set to inherit due to the passing of her mother. The story uncovers several mysteries plaguing the protagonist. There are interesting elements of fairy tales and hot button topics (feminism) which were entertaining. Additionally, I could see this book as a great discussion for a book club. Although the first act was a bit slow, I think the last act of the book makes up for it.

I would recommend this story for anyone who loves mother-daughter dynamics and mystery novels.

This book is so well done. While the beginning was a wee bit slow, keep going and you will be rewarded exponentially. The plot was well thought out. Backstories were excellently sprinkled throughout the novel, and the characters were very well developed. I highly recommend this book. It is one of few books that I could not manage to figure out what was going to happen.

4 out of 5 stars! I really liked this one. The writing was great. I loved the family history aspect of the story. The legacy of the house. The secrets. And the totally unexpected ending. As the parent of an extremely gifted artist, who decided not to pursue art in college, I had all the feels. I understood her parents and the things they sacrificed to further her musical career. I understood their frustration when she decided not to continue. As a former teenage girl, I understood her infatuation with her first love (however inappropriate it may be). For a girl, it is all encompassing. It becomes more important than anything else... your parents don't matter, school doesn't matter, friends don't matter...your future (unless it's a future with him) doesn't matter! This story was relatable, which made it so much better. It was easy to read. And, really..that ending. Totally unexpected.

I didn’t love the author’s first novel, The Ballerinas, so I was cautious heading into this one.

Wow. Expectations far exceeded! While it got off to a bit of a slow start, as soon as we got the big reveal, the pacing was perfect for a tense and twisty mystery.

I liked the protagonist much more in this book, and loved her parents as well- the interjections of her mother’s writing at the beginning of every chapter also gave a greater sense of history and context to the book.

And I was VERY satisfied with the ending. Great book, will recommend to my book groups.

This book was fast paced and kept me hooked. Ultimately it fell a little flat compared to the authors previous novel, but I enjoyed it still.

I wasn’t expecting so many twists and turns in this book! There were so many layers and themes that intertwined throughout the story that left me scrambling to finish. The fairytale element really wrapped up the story and I loved the feminist connection as well.

I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed her novel, "The Ballerinas". I also saw this book was vaguely compared to "My Dark Vanessa" by Kate-Elizabeth Russell, so that also intrigued me more. While I did enjoy this one, it was just lacking something that her debut did possess. Her writing is beautiful and elegantly constructed, but I just wasn't fully as invested in the plot and in her main character in a way similar to how I was in her previous novel. Still enjoyed it, but not my favorite.

I absolutely adored The Ballerinas, but unfortunately The ingenue just fell short for me. I still enjoyed it but it wasn’t my favorite. I will still read more by this author.

The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale is brilliantly twisted fairy tale that moves between past and present until it's shocking climax. The mother-daughter relationship is fascinating and I absolutely loved the feminist retellings of traditional fairy tales at the beginning of each chapter. So well written, I couldn't put it down.

An intense read about a mother-daughter relationship. Sasia is a child prodigy we follow as we go back and forth from her childhood to where she is currently. With the unexpected death of her mother, we take a journey that is involved with issues, including the current issue of inheritance...an old family estate that has been in the family from generation to generation. But the surprise question is who will inherit this home now, bringing to the forefront the secrets that have been hidden. Dramatic in its telling, the book was well written, one that I would highly recommend. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love time jumps when done appropriately and Rachel pulls it off with amazing success. It’s pleasing to see how she painted the relationship dynamics from character to character. Rachel navigates the reader through the premise with intricate details woven in at the right time. This should be on everyone’s TBR or at least in your beach bag collection. High praises for her storytelling.

I really enjoyed the fairytales for feminists and the overall story in THE INGENUE, along with the themes of an aging prodigy and familial relationships. Saskia is a complicated character and not everyone will like her, which is okay. The setting, especially the Elf House, is quite atmospheric, almost gothic, and the author does a terrific job at setting the scene. The plot feels well-constructed and I did not get confused by the back and forth in time. Recommended for fans of dark family sagas.

Overall, I enjoyed the book but the plot was slow and didn’t gain momentum so it took a long time to read. I finished it and felt a little letdown of how it gradually wrapped up, even though I did appreciate the closing. The book summary from Evie’s book at the start of each chapter followed by ~2000, then 2020 was consistent so I was able to easily make the mental jump around. The book built upon itself and the story was pretty good. Not sure I could compare it to anything else I’ve read lately.

A retired, prodigy piano player, Saskia, in her mid 30s returns to Wisconsin when her mother unexpectedly dies to help her father settle the estate. What neither of them expect is that her mother has left their family mansion and it’s land, that has been handed down to a member of the family for generations, to a friend. It doesn’t make sense but also it does. Saskia is determined to get to the bottom of it…at any cost.
Initial reactions:

Patrick, the family friend who was gifted the house in the will, can go take a long walk off a short cliff. I really like Saskia. I think she’s relatable even if you never went through any of the things she went through. I have to admit I had no idea where this story was going. How was this going to end? A good note? A bad note? It’s kind of a messed up story so can it even end of a good note. I think it kind of did in a messed up way. It was well paced. Not to slow, not to fast. Just at the right pace to keep me interested.

I don’t read many books like this but I was intrigued by the dynamic between Saskia and her mother. They hid so much from one another. What could they have been if they had been more open? Evie clearly loved Saskia in her own way.

The opening talked a lot about how import the elves on the house were and then it was never important ever again in the book except to reference the house by name. “Elf house.” Who put the damn elves on the house?!?!

The book addresses grooming, sexual assault of a minor, pedophiles, drug use/drugging of a minor. There are times when other victims are addressed and their refusal or inability to address what happened is talked about. That could be problematic for some people. It wasn’t for me but I would like to mention it for others.

The Ingenue follows Saskia Kreis as she returns to her hometown after the death of her mother. Saskia has to grieve and at the same time try to deal with traumatic experiences that she had while growing up in this town. The chapters alternate between present day and the time of Saskia’s childhood. For me, this book was just ok. I enjoyed the story mostly until one unbelievable event occurred, at which point it was a struggle to finish the novel. Saskia is a self-centered character that I found unlikable which is another reason that I didn’t enjoy the novel much. It’s hard to be invested in the emotional salvation of the protagonist when you find them unsympathetic.

Whoa! What a ride. It was very fast-paced. The writing style kept me hooked and I didn't find myself losing any interest. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and how real the story felt. The author did a great job painting the setting, so it was easy for me to visualize the scene played out before me. I recommend giving this one a chance!

I was taken by the books claim to be the new Dark Vanessa and while there are similarities between the 2, the road Ingenue goes down is far more interwoven as part of Saskia’s life than Vanessa’s was. The topic of teenage girl/older man is explored in a far more gritty detail, so if that’s a trigger for you, keep away. I found myself trying hard to relate to Saskia and once I was past the 30% part I got there, and was so invested I barely let go until I was done. Prose is thick, begging you to slow down and take a moment - and you’ll be best served to do just that.

What is the life of a child prodigy like?
This is the story of a near middle aged woman who is trying to figure out who she is after a childhood as a prodigy, the story of the love parents have for their child, the story of things that have been happening for way too long and shouldn’t. Not ever again.

I was on board for this one right up until the final quarter. That ending??

I was invested in this story, I really wanted to know how Saskia was going to move on, I wanted to see what would happen with secondary characters, but then, out of the blue, it’s over. Just like that. I found it so underwhelming and unsatisfying with far too many loose ends. I understand that like in life, an ending won’t always be clear but in a story like this one, a more neatly tied up end is something I find necessary.

Ultimately, the ending ruined this one for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Unfortunately, the back and forth and repetitiveness wasn’t for me. It was very hard to get through and just didn’t grab my attention. The premise was intriguing but the execution was lacking.