4.5 stars. I don’t know why I put off reading this for so long, I loved it! This book had dual timelines, past and present. Normally, when reading this type of book there is always one timeline I enjoy more. In this book, I enjoyed each timeline equally. I loved Eliza/Elizabeth. She had many flaws, but was also funny, sarcastic, and smart. I love stories involving revenge on the rich. I noticed many reviews saying this was a slow burn, but I found it to be a fast pace read and enjoyed uncovering each piece of the puzzle along the way. Highly satisfying ending as well.

Trigger warning: eating disorders

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I did half audio/half kindle. I recommend the audio, the narrator was great.

This was a light, quick read, likely not memorable. I enjoyed this book for what it was and if you need a quick beach read I would highly recommend. The main character is days from her wedding and her past is catching up with her. I enjoyed the descriptions of the evangelical college that she attended. I could have used more of that. The story came together and was enjoyable.

This is a slow burn character driven story. The book utilizes a dual timeline which I always like. Eliza is set to marry wealthy Graham Walker but she is not all she seems. I loved this fascinating book. You should go into this one not knowing too much ahead of time. The secrets revealed were definitely intriguing.

An interesting concept that had me hooked from page one. It wasn’t an absolutely perfect story, but I enjoyed overall

This book had a ton of stellar early reviews, but unfortunately, did not work for me. I found myself not caring about the characters and ultimately, the plot.

My four stars rating is because I like this type of book, and I really enjoyed it while I was reading, but it doesn't really hold up to scrutiny or thinking about it afterward. I've been very immersed in the South Carolina Murdaugh case and this felt at least a little bit inspired, although rich and corrupt people aren't in short supply in the real world, are they?

There's something less polished, almost amatuerish about this, and I don't mean that as an insult. It can be refreshing to read something less slick sometimes. My review copy had a lot of misspellings and typos (that's review copies for you), so maybe that was effecting it.

I love stories of masquerading social class, rightful revenge, a plan coming together, and this book had all of that in a satisfying but not particularly complex way. Everything is hinted at appropriately, and you can figure it all out right before it slots into place, which I like, but at the end of it all I was like...."Ok sure" instead of feeling impressed.

[ The name stuff felt kind of added on? It came somewhat out of nowhere and didn't seem like it added anything. I didn't immediately guess that Bernadette was Ruthie, but I thought she was maybe another girl the brothers had done something similar to. When Molly and Jess were clearly helpers, I had forgotten the names of the girls from college and thought those were their names already. The main character's real name is told at the very end of the book and it's not a reveal or anything. It literally means nothing to us. And maybe this is me being Catholic, but making them go by saint names? Bernadette is very much a saint's name. I get the control aspect you're pointing out but Bernadette is a saint. I actually looked up if Ruth was a saint because that isn't in my mind as much as Bernadette is.

Then for the big reveal, it's like... a powerpoint presentation. that has pictures of the party. How is this damning at all? Sarah the reporter says she got the confession, but his words could easily have been taken many other ways. And Tim says they found the body and she was strangled with a necklace (Eliza's necklace!) ok but this was how many years ago? Isn't she just bones now? How did random cops take one look at whatever level of desiccation and immediately have a cause of death? None of this makes sense and it was a good thing it was at the very end of the book because otherwise I would have stopped for a minute and been like...no that wouldn't happen. Then the girls just drive off into the sunset but I hope Eliza comes back for the trial cause like... girl what you doing. None of this will hold up in court, especially not a corrupt one. Maybe again this is because I have been following the Murdaugh case so closely, but sorry there is NO WAY Graham is getting convicted, or if he does it will be the world's lightest sentence. This is not ironclad, even a little bit.

Graham has a tradition of putting the dates he visits the mountain on the post EVERY TIME, religiously. Did I miss a bit where Eliza checks the date for the party and he was there so she has confirmation, or was that overlooked and we had to figure it out ourselves? Like, I dunno there is a lot here that was sloppy and didn't have to be, which annoys me now, but I was willing to go with the flow at the time. (hide spoiler)]

Trigger warning for the book for eating disorders, like, MAJORLY.
So, the fact that I find reading a book at the time and thinking about a book later as two separate activities makes this an odd rating because it was 4 stars for reading but maybe a 2 or low 3 for thinking. I don't think I will reread this at any point, I don't see me craving it the way I have with other revenge stories or transforming into high class for nefarious purposes books.

Are you a fan of juicy revenge stories? If yes, then The Social Climber by Amanda Pellegrino is just the book for you, because it will keep you on your toes from the very beginning! And, don't get me started on the edge of your seat suspense that will have you wanting to take peeks at future chapters just to make sure the story goes the way you want!

This book was just such a fun surprise and I'm so glad I had the time to sit and binge it! Definitely grab a copy and get lost in a fabulous world!

This book was tragically average. In fact, calling it average is being generous. The slow burn wasn't enjoyable, the twist and turns are predictable, and the characters are generic. All of these sins would be forgivable if the writing was better but the reality is the book is flat.

I can't decide if the issue is the author's writing, or lack of quality editing. It is very possible the book suffers from both. The premise and possibility is there but potential only gets you so far. I regret not DNFing this title.

This was a slow-burn but engrossing peek into the lives of the rich and privileged. The story alternates between the the present day and Eliza's college past and I was intrigued to find out what was buried in her past and how it impacted her present plans.

A slow burn with a twisty ending!

"The Social Climber" was the first book I've read from Amanda Pellegrino, and I was completely hooked! I love a story about rich people behaving badly so this completely scratched that itch. This book gave me "Gone Girl" vibes - I didn't know where this was going to go in the end. There is a TW for disordered eating, but will still highly recommend to others.

Really good read. I loved reading the "now" portion of the book and trying to put it together with the "past" portion. The book did not go in a predictable way, and that was a fun surprise. Overall, I really enjoyed it and would recommend!

A slow burn with dual timelines who doesn’t love a book about the rich behaving badly and with the main character having a shady and suspicious past about why she is hiding it and why she wants revenge. While this is a slow burn it’s one that will keep you turning the pages asking what happens next.

This definitely wasn’t an OMG amazing read. A third or fourth round purchase for many, if not all, public libraries

I went in relatively blind to this one as I generally love me some good rich people drama and I was not disappointed! Although it’s a slow burn, I found it incredibly compulsive and captivating!

This was also largely my favourite trope of dark academia as we alternated timelines of current day and Eliza’s past college days. I relish in a good secret past and skeletons in the closet plot and found this one a highly entertaining balance of darkness and fun!

Eliza was the fascinating type of character that is somewhat unlikeable and often unbearable, but you also find yourself enjoying and rooting for? Very well done by Pellegrino!

Are you a fan of juicy revenge stories?
Cause this one serves it up perfectly!

Amanda Pellegrino's second novel, The Social Climber, shows her growth as a long-form fiction writer. It is more buttoned up than Smile and Look Pretty, so I'm excited to read more from her. I always look for authenticity in New York stories and Pellegrino gets New York. This one has thriller vibes - there is a creep factor kind of like Behind Her Eyes, but without the supernatural. The story capitalizes on the thrill of the privileged Upper East Side and the desire to be one of them, but the reality of what goes into that. But it also goes into the darkness of religious schools and the need for friends. A lot going on, for sure - And I don't think all of the details are relevant, but they keep the story going. I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you, Park Row Books, for the gifted copy of The Social Climber {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 📖
Pages: 320
Pub Date: 1.3.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5

"You're either kind, or you're not. You're born with it, or you die without it."

If you're seriously considering reading The Social Climbers (and you should), I suggest straying away from most reviews. I read this title a few weeks before publishing, and I went into it without reading any reviews or other details — I relied solely on the synopsis, and it paid off. But I know that a review might help you add this to your 2023 reading list.

Typically I'm not too fond of stories about the entitled 1%, but The Social Climber kept my attention, and although the main character had an unsettling personality, I strangely liked her. The author, Amanda Pellegrino, crafted this book so that I constantly found myself reading "just one more chapter" because I couldn't put it down.

Slow-burn stories aren't my typical cup of tea, but The Social Climber unfolded so carefully and intentionally that I never found myself bored. I was fascinated as I knew something about the story was not quite right...

The ending was full of so many "didn't see this coming" moments. And I loved it! It felt like the fog had lifted, and I was seeing everything clearly.

✌🏼 Alternating timelines
🙃 Unsettling but likable MC
📖 The whole book is a "one more chapter" vibe
🧐 Mysterious undertone
🤯 Those reveals

❌ Anorexia, bulimia, compulsive Exercise, and fat shaming are very present in this book. It goes along with the story, but I think it was a tad over the top (why I knocked 1/2 star off).

I recommend reading The Social Climber if you're looking for a compulsive read that will leave you guessing.

I loooooooved this book. From the very first page, I was HOOKED and absolutely loved Eliza's voice. I flew through this so quickly and could not put it down. Loved the rich people behaving badly, the NYC social scene, the college flashbacks - all of it! Highly recommend if you're looking for a singable story.

A popcorn thriller about rich people behaving badly?! Sign. Me. Up.

I really enjoyed Amanda Pellegrino’s debut novel, “Smile and Look Pretty,” so I was thrilled to get an early look at her second novel, “The Social Climber.”

Eliza Bennett has it all: a high powered NYC PR job and a rich fiancé. But as her wedding day approaches, questions begin to emerge about her time at an Evangelical college.

Told in alternating perspectives between Eliza’s college experience and the weeks leading up to the wedding, this one comes together in an explosive ending. It was the perfect book to keep me entertained while I was sick on the couch; if you love books about rich people behaving badly, you’ll enjoy “The Social Climber.”

This book just wasn’t for me. I felt like the pacing was a little too slow and I never found myself eager to pick the book back up. It wasn’t the writing that I didn’t care for but the development of the story.

I just didn’t connect with this book. I was missing the intrigue and suspense. I also didn’t care for the protagonist, so that did not help!