I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Fortune Seller" and all opinions expressed are my own. This was an interesting book. I liked the tarot cards themes. Lots of equestrian talk throughout the book, so if you don't want to read about horses, then this book isn't for you. Definitely starts off slowly and then picks up. Overall I did like the book, but more of the tarot and mystical pieces of the story.

This request from @NetGalley was automatically approved and it sat on my “to be read” shelf for a couple of weeks before I started it. The idea was interesting - secrets galore amongst a group of elite athletes at an Ivy League school. Each chapter started with a different card from tarot deck, which sort of tied into the chapter. I have to be honest; after one or two chapters, this aspect of the book lost its appeal for me. Mediocre writing and an overly used plot line are the reasons I only gave this one three stars. Wasn’t awful but not award winning either.

This is a psychological story, a coming of age, a coming to terms with what is important. A middle class young women gets in with the rich girls at her school, one of whom has a father who she admires in the field she wants to work in. While the beginning of the book is slow and alot about horse competitions. It is about the good and bad in people, the people we admire, the goals that cover our real goals, morality and what fills our hearts. Friendships that are so meaningful and sometimes so destructive. There was a mystery at the heart of the story told in an understated way that was effective and it was ultimately a moving, brought me to tears book Once I got into it, i couldn't stop reading way past time to stop I also enjoyed the tarot cards exploring the themes and foreshadowing I also enjoyed the repeat of the question do you really want to know as denial/unwillingness to face the truth was also at the heart of the novel 4.5

Meh. The title of the book is what drew me in along with the tarot aspect. While I appreciated the larger conversation on the gap between upper & middle class, it felt a little too rushed and made the entirety of the story confusing. Also, if you're obsessed with horses, cool, I however am not so I just didn't vibe with all the equestrian theme in the book.

3 stars. This book was ... fine. The mystery of who Annelise is -- and later, what happens to her -- is a juicy enough hook that it kept me on the line, even as I found myself mildly bored by the horse talk and exasperated by the shallow girl fights. The pacing is slow at first but picks up significantly at the 50% mark, and I ended up staying up late to finish it as the climax neared. The major issue, quite honestly, that I had with this book was that Rosie was so fucking annoying. And so fucking stupid. I genuinely cannot emphasize enough how hard I laughed when, at one point, Rosie tells herself that "despite [not being rich, etc.], she's always had common sense," because she consistently displayed lack of that throughout the entire book. Rosie is supposed to be the "reasonable" one in this scenario, the down-to-earth, middle-class girl who sees through all the bullshit, but the book turns her into a passive, willfully blind wannabe that genuinely detracts from the narrative. I cared about Annelise, and I wanted to know what happened to her. But I did not care about Rosie at all.

Despite Rosie's blandness, The Fortune Seller is an interesting, well-written take on class divides and the lines that blur with money and power, but one that I simply didn't find very memorable. It was a good read, but perhaps might have been better with a protagonist with more depth -- or more brain cells.

This book is very horse-centric, which might not suit everyone's taste. If you're not a fan of horses, be aware.

Putting the horse theme aside, "The Fortune Seller" offers an engaging exploration of class divisions in the United States. It follows the classic narrative of a modest girl navigating life at an elite school among the privileged one percent. However, Rachel Kapelke-Dale adds a fresh perspective to this familiar storyline.

The story begins slowly but gains momentum around the halfway point. The character dynamics are well-crafted, especially the evolving friendship between Rosie and Annelise. While some characters are unlikeable due to their shocking actions, they add depth to the narrative.

There are two mysteries at play: the identity of Annelise and what happened to her. The revelation of the first mystery is a surprising twist, while the second becomes evident later but feels somewhat predictable. Nevertheless, the suspense keeps you engaged.

The ending, while a pleasant departure from cliffhangers, is a bit too neatly resolved, offering karma and sweetness, along with an endearing dog.

In summary, "The Fortune Seller" is an engaging read, albeit horse-focused. Final rating: 3.49 stars (rounded down to 3 stars upon further reflection). It's worth reading, though it didn't quite match up to my other four-star reads.

This book reminded me of a TV show I watched growing up, The Saddle Club, expect they all went to Yale and this is their story. Overall a pretty good tale, the characters were easy to connect with but it was very horsey, which I didn’t mind.

This book threw me off a little.. I liked how different it was, definitely not like any book I've read. I did find all the horse references a little overboard. I did love watching this close friend group deteriorate. I think the progression of watching these relationships crumble was so well done and relatable.

Like slipping into a warm bath when you haven't been able to shake the chill from your bones for days. My reading slump is over babies: Watch me now.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

From the publisher:
Middle-class Rosie Macalister has worked for years to fit in with her wealthy friends on the Yale equestrian team. But when she comes back from her junior year abroad with newfound confidence, she finds that the group has been infiltrated by a mysterious intruder: Annelise Tattinger.

A talented tarot reader and a brilliant rider, the enigmatic Annelise is unlike anyone Rosie has ever met. But when one of their friends notices money disappearing from her bank account, Annelise's place in the circle is thrown into question. As the girls turn against each other, the group’s unspoken tensions and assumptions lead to devastating consequences.

It's only after graduation, when Rosie begins a job at a Manhattan hedge fund, that she uncovers Annelise's true identity––and how her place in their elite Yale set was no accident. Is it too late for Rosie to put right what went wrong, or does everyone's luck run out at some point? Set in the heady days of the early aughts, The Fortune Seller is a haunting examination of class, ambition, and the desires that shape our lives.

I liked the premise of this book. Rosie, a middle class girl trying to make it at Yale but always being just a bit off the beat, despite befriending the daughter of a hedge fund billionaire. I also really enjoyed the build up of tension between Rosie, Annelise, and the other girls as the story moved through book one.

I’m not an equestrian or familiar with that world so that was an aspect of the story that was hard to connect with. The pacing was off for me as well. The first book was a slow burn, with a twist I saw coming, but the second book moved so fast. I also didn’t buy how naive Rosie was at certain points in the story or how some plot points were just left hanging there.

I did read this in a day and was intrigued enough by the storyline.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy.

The Fortune Seller by Rachel Kapelke-Dale is a delectable and captivating tale. This juicy campus novel is infused with intricate dynamics of friendship and an insider-outsider narrative, portraying one woman's arduous journey to assimilate among her ambitious peers. The well-crafted characters in this story were so compelling that I found it impossible to set the book aside.

This is a hard book to place.

The tarot was cool but seemed out of place.

I am not nor have I ever been a horse girl so I was skimming past those parts. It was interesting in small doses but there is so much horse talk.

I am seeing the similarities to The Ballerinas. This is a character driven story and Rosie was overwrought and obnoxious.

While she may be poor compared to her upper class classmates and colleagues she is not poor in the least.

I grew up on 2000s rich mean girl lit so the dynamic between the women wasn’t that surprising. I do wish Rosie would have bought a clue though. I didn’t feel that sorry for her.

The pacing was uneven. Being a character driven book didn’t help this.

I didn’t hate it but I wasn’t a fan. This does have an audience. I’m just not a part of it.

I was drawn to The Fortune Seller because tarot cards, mean girls at college, and mysterious circumstances just seems like a recipe for a good story.

The first half of the book was a bit slow, however I enjoyed the setting of Yale and the horse stables. The friendship group and the university setting almost felt like dark academia and I was excited to see where this was going.

The ending wrapped up a little too nicely for me...this book painted the difficulties between the upper and lower classes, so the realistic ending of "this is just how things are" are would have been more convincing.

I had no idea this was primarily going to be a book about horses and the equestrian world. If I had known this I would not have requested it. I expected more focus on the tarot/mystical elements, from the blurb, but instead found a book about rich horse girls at Yale - which just isn't my cup of tea. I wasn't able to finish.

I love books that fit into that wealthy, old money vibe and THE FORTUNE TELLER had it in spades! It doesn't hurt that I'm also a horse girl at heart, so the Yale equestrian setting was just perfect for me. THE FORTUNE SELLER was a bingeable read that had me hooked. Overall it was a nicely paced drama that explored class, ambition, and and secrets we keep from ourselves and others.

This novel really made feel the dark academia vibes with the old money references. I thought the characters were pretty well crafted and complex. You could feel their realness. The twists and turns were also fun. I had a good time. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy.

"The Fortune Seller" delves into Rosie's quest for belonging among wealthy friends, disrupted by enigmatic Annelise. After graduation, Rosie unravels Annelise's identity, revealing a haunting exploration of class, ambition, and secrets. A great recommendation for a book to read quickly because you can't put it down.

This was an okay read, but ultimately you had to be *really* into horses to enjoy it. I found the main character compelling if a bit annoying, but the twist in the middle kind of killed the storyline as suddenly the most interesting character in the book was removed. The final wrap up was a bit predictable - ultimately I wasn't excited or thrilled by this "thriller."

The Fortune Seller by Rachel Kapelke-Dale

Competing on an equestrian team with the daughters of millionaires and billionaires is difficult enough for a girl who isn’t born rich. Add the pressures of Ivy League schooling and uncertainty about what professional path to follow after graduation, and it’s no wonder Yale senior Rosie Macalister is muddled. Her situation worsens when she arrives in the rented Victorian house that she and her upper-crust teammates share and discovers she’s stuck in a double room with a complete stranger. Not only has the lovely and mysterious Annelise apparently stolen the affections of Cressida Tate, Rosie’s best friend, she’s also an enviably skilled rider. But Rosie unexpectedly bonds with the West Coast newcomer, attracted by her warmth and intrigued by her tarot readings. She becomes her roommate’s pupil, friend—and defender, when mistrust severs longstanding friendships.

Reeling from tragedy and loss, Rosie settles for a post-graduation job in finance that is at odds with her longstanding desire to follow her parents’ profession and become a vet. Torn between her desire to achieve wealth and her longing to care for animals, she tries to navigate her way through betrayals, revelations, and a budding romance doomed by her circumstances and conflicts. A twisty plot, the interweaving of tarot cards and lore, the unpredictability of highly strung horses, characters of privilege and of wasted promise, laced with mystery and suspense lead to an impressively satisfying yet bittersweet conclusion. (St. Martin’s Press, 320 pp., hardcover/ebook/audio, February, 2024)

Gilmore Girls meets Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars? Something like that! And I mean that in the best way.

Roaming around in high society doesn’t exactly feel at home for Rosie but she has the intelligence and talent and earns her spot amongst her new upper class social scene.

Anneliese is another newbie but for all their getting along, mystery and mixed emotions seem to follow her. The intrigue of the elite and all their secrets continued to absorb me through the end and I was not disappointed!