I am obsessed with this book. It is one of those stories that is absolutely jam packed full of secrets and it metes them out very slowly- we're talking up until the final pages. This one has a lot of the things that are my really specific wheelhouses- rich people's bad behavior (and lots of designer and celebrity name dropping) and religious fanaticism (not sure I've ever read one that combined these so nicely!).
If disordered eating is a trigger for you approach this one cautiously as Eliza's is frequently discussed in detail.

Elizabeth Bennett grew up in an ultra religious family of 5 where she was homeschooled and kept very naive. She wanted to attend college and found a strict Evangelical college and became a student. She became very good friends with her roommate Ruthie and sometimes the two of them would break the rules and sneak out at night.

Today, Elizabeth is calling herself Eliza, has a high powered job in New York, and is engaged to Graham Walker who is from a very wealthy and influential family, a graduate of Yale, has a well-paying job and a fabulous apartment. Eliza has been working hard to tone her body to fit into her size 2 wedding gown. Now, they are heading to their wedding destination of Vermont. She is thrilled when she receives a call from The Times saying they want to cover their wedding.

As the big day approaches, we see Eliza appear to be hiding her past and other big secrets. What is up and why?

I know I have gained a number of new frown lines and I felt like I struggled to keep up with what was happening in this book and it is right up until the end that it all comes together. I wish the author had shared more with us as the book went along because I’m afraid this lack may cause some readers to give up before they finish the book.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to HTP and Park Row for an advanced copy of the Social Climber.

I love books about rich people behaving badly and The Social Climber was a slow burn, but I couldn't put it down! The ending wasn't a total surprise, but the way this story is told from Eliza's time at her super evangelical college to the present when she is about to marry into a prominent family, you are slowly putting together the pieces.

If you're into a slow burn suspense this book is for you!

Eliza was hard to get a read on for most of the book. She was a chameleon, blending into whatever situation or scenario the setting called for.
It took me most of the book to discover what her end game was and even then I had to wait until the very end necsise I just didn’t have enough pieces to complete the puzzle.
I felt sorry for one character, but it turns out my sympathy was misguided.
The author turns one last screw at the end to seal the deal.
I can’t say I really liked Eliza but she had temerity and tenacity

Although the first half of this novel was slow, getting to know Amanda Pellegrino’s writing style a bit from her last novel, I hoped the inevitable build-up could be very, very satisfying. I was correct with this, so if you are finding the story to be a bit of a predictable plot line, stick with it. I won’t give any plot points or spoilers, I’m glad I went in with no real idea of what the story would bring, and would suggest potential readers do the same.
The way “The Social Climber” ended makes this a solid 4star read.. I wouldn’t give it a perfect score as I still had some questions, and was unsatisfied with a few quick, messy points left (perhaps this was changed during final edits). Overall, a great final read of 2022!
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row and NetGalley for the chance to enjoy Pellegrino’s latest novel.

A mystery centered on Eliza Bennett and her upcoming wedding to wealthy Graham Walker. However, Eliza is not all she seems and has completely fabricated her persona in pursuit of her goal. The story unfolds as it is told in dual timelines, with the present Eliza preparing for the wedding and the past Elizabeth starting her freshman year and beginning to craft her persona. The final few chapters are what ties the whole thing together and the setup to get there may lose some readers on the way, but will be a quick read for others. The disordered eating scenes were somewhat hard to read and may not be pleasant for some.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Amanda Pellegrino, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review,

I initially enjoyed the glitz and glam of Eliza Bennet's NYC as she prepared for her wedding to Graham. However, her eating disorder and trauma referenced between the alternating timelines led me to not finish this book.

A well-written, fast-pasted read, I do think this book could be an escapist and fun glimpse into the world of the wealthy and elite for many, and I have enjoyed see the buzz and attention that The Social Climber has received.

Thank you Netgalley and Park Row for the chance to read an advance copy of The social climber by Amanda Pellegrino. This was an ok read for me. I did feel the story was too slow, and it had a dual timeline which I was not expecting. The last 10% of the book made up for the slow storyline.

Wow! Can I just say I love a good thriller especially when all the pieces come together, and you're like that was a great ending. Yes!!!!
This is a slow burn fiction/thriller book that focuses on Eliza Bennett. At the beginning of the book there is a lot of focus on Eliza watching, learning and gravitating to people that will assist her in learning to be something outside her the poor religious upbringing. Eliza wants to learn how to be a woman to fit in, and she begins this journey as a college freshman. Eliza Bennett receives a scholarship to attend a religious college called in Vermont. Eliza befriends her roommate Ruthie who she is drawn to, and they develop a very quick and tight bond. Ruthie helps Eliza to start focusing on teaching Eliza to wear makeup, dressing up, partying, and meeting guys.
Fast forward, to Eliza moving to New York City after graduating from college and she starts learning how to fit into high society. She really works at studying how to dress, how to land the job that will put her in the environment to party with high society. Eliza gets a job at a PR firm where she befriends Lena who then in turn, she meets Graham Walker. Graham Walker of the prominent and wealthy Walker family. As Eliza infiltrates this society, she hopes that no one knows that she is not who they think she is. That she has lied about her poor upbringing, ivy league college credentials as she tries to become the ultimate Social Climber.
I don't want to give too much away but as you read this book you will find that Eliza is not who she claims to be, but the question is why is so insistent on being the ultimate social climber.
I really did enjoy this book. I want to thank Harlequin for allowing me to read this arc via Netgalley.

I will be withholding my review until Harper gives their Harper Collins union workers a fair contract. Thank you again for the copy.

Are you a fan of juicy revenge stories? If yes, then The Social Climber by Amanda Pellegrino is just the book for you. My gosh, this book will keep you on your toes! From page one, I knew that Eliza Bennett had something up her sleeve. You just know that she’s planning something good, but you don’t know the full extent until the very end. Somebody burned this woman in the past, and they must’ve burned her well and good because she’s out for blood! The suspense will drive you absolutely crazy, and you’ll be second guessing every single character in the book! Popcorn, chocolate, and wine are highly recommended while reading this novel. It’s a fun one!

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Slow and suspenseful burns.
- Character studies.
- Dual timelines.
- College campus settings.
- New York City settings.
- Rich people behaving badly.
- Teenage shenanigans.
- Coming-of-age stories.
- Gritty and unsettling reads.
- Twists, turns, and big reveals.

This novel truly surprised me. I barely skimmed the synopsis, and just took a chance on it after seeing some great reviews on goodreads. I’m so glad that I did because it entertained me from start to finish. The Social Climber releases on January 3rd, and it gets 4/5 juicy stars from me!

There is nothing I like better than to curl up that's a good Slow burn thriller . If you're looking for a book that is non stop action and intrigue, this may not be the book for you. If you're looking for a well written story that keeps you guessing , this may be one you'll want to pick up.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book . The opinions opinions are entirely my own.

This is a compelling story about a woman seeking to join the upper echelons of society -- and the lengths she will go to do so. Eliza Bennett is just a week away from her wedding to Graham Walker, a member of the prominent and rich Walker family. With her career in PR, her friends, and her degree from an elite college, Eliza seems like the perfect partner for Graham. But Eliza's real past is quite a bit more complex. As she gets closer and closer to her goal -- her wedding day -- she becomes increasingly concerned that her real past will come to light, and blow up everything she has planned.

This story had been completely engaged, between the perceptive examination of the Walkers and their lives and the tension of whether Eliza's true background would come up. I could not put this book down.

Highly recommended!

I finished this one a few days ago and I still don’t know I feel about it. It was intriguing. But nothing overly special.

Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review

THE SOCIAL CLIMBER
Amanda Pellegrino

I thought there was something juicy in the details hiding behind the synopsis of Amanda Pellegrino’s latest book. I was wrong. Nothing is there.

Nothing.

I read for hours, and hours, almost to the end of Pellegrino’s book before anything happened. She set the stage for hundreds of pages, with nothingness.

A dash of a young girl with self-esteem issues, a little religiosity, a college setting, and rich people doing bad things. It sounds like a really good book to me if it is the stage and not the whole play.

I love a thriller that feels like I’m reading a tabloid magazine. It fills the hole in my heart left when I stopped watching Real Housewives and I know this book hits the target for you too.

I was first introduced to Pellegrino last year when I read her book about bad boys in the office and her feminist revenge stories are appealing in concept, but very thin in the product. There is nothing to hold onto.

While reading THE SOCIAL CLIMBER I kept waiting for something to happen, a character to do something, and a plot line to form that would provide interest. But nothing.

And then you get this horrible ending.

The conclusion after all this nothingness makes absolutely no sense. It was a sad gift to be given after sitting through the duration of the novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for the advanced copy!

THE SOCIAL CLIMBER…⭐️⭐️

Wow now this was a slow burn revenge thriller!
Eliza Bennet has made her way up the social ladder, and now she’s part of the elite with her engagement to Graham Walker, his family is extremely wealthy and he’s Yale graduate.
Eliza didn’t have an easy childhood her family was extremely religious and she attended evangelical college. We soon realize that on the outside Eliza tries to appear perfect but underneath she’s hiding a ton of secrets along with a severe eating disorder and a dark past. We get flashbacks of Eliza’s past at her college and one event that shaped her in during a dual timeline of past and present.
As the wedding day nears we follow Eliza as she prepares to marry Graham and we soon begin to wonder what is going in Eliza’s head. She has Graham wrapped around her finger, she mocks this prestigious family in her head at each turn, so why is she so intent on placing herself right in the middle of them? Who is Eliza and what is she after? I cannot give to much away but let me just say this.. the plot twist shook me!!

The description of this book had me super interested - rich people behaving badly - yes please LOL. The book is a slow burn so don't give up too soon ! The whole thing read as intoxicating to me and Eliza definitely had me under her wicked spell. You have a past and present alternating timeline and things don’t converge until almost the very end but when they do things were pretty explosive. Eliza as a character fascinated me, she got under my skin and there was something unsettling about her but I kind of liked that? Overall this had a sophisticated feel but a darkness as well, something cruel and complicated lurking. Definitely a fan!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC

4 stars- The wealthy and elite with dark secrets & bad behavior? Sign me up! The author's writing was fast paced and razor sharp. Thanks Netgalley & the publisher for the arc, in exchange for an honest review.

This book is separated into two parallel stories: one story of the woman's college years, and the other story of her wedding preparation into a prestigious family. Fast paced and unbelievable finish.

The Social Climber is a tense, stylish thriller. Elizabeth “Eliza” Bennett has been planning her wedding for years and as the big day approaches, we find out why. Moving back and forth from present day to Eliza’s college days, the story unfolds and we get insight into her personality and motivation.

Eliza is a compelling character - very determined, seemingly shallow, and utterly miserable though all outward signs indicate she should be happy. I’m not sure I liked her but I was rooting for her nonetheless. There are a few twists so even when I thought I figured everything out, I was surprised. Recommended to anyone looking for a darkly glamorous, fast-paced thriller.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.