the beginning of this book made it hard to get into, i feel like there was a lot of filler. this story was lacking in some parts, but i was interested in learning about horses, and i thought annelise was intriguing.

I wish I had enjoyed this book a little more than I did. I’m a big animal lover and a tarot reader myself so I thought I would immediately connect with it but for some reason something was lacking to me. Nothing was wrong with the writing or story at all, per se, just didn’t really connect.

This book focuses rather heavily on the equestrian world. There’s a lot of insider horse speak, so if that’s not of interest to you, you may not like this story.

The Fortune seller - Rachel Kapelke-Dale

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A novel about a young woman, Rosie Macalister, who (through a scholarship) gets to go to Yale (rather than a lowly state university) to study horse training.

For the first time in her life, at least while in school, Rosie is surrounded by the "haves" as she leaves behind the "have nots" of her middle-class upbringing. She rents a room in a house with a group of other young women and is immediately accepted as an equal as she makes fast friends of the all, and becomes best friends with the most dynamic of the group - at least until the new girl moves in, who is a chameleon when it comes to mirroring personalities moves in, who has a few secrets that will eventually be revealed.

As the main character matures, she reexamines her priorities, and realizes that sometimes "best" friends aren't really who they initially appeared to be, after all...

A read that is as fun as a new roller coaster at your local fairgrounds. So, dear readers, pick up a copy and enjoy the ride!

I was intrigued by the title and the idea that this story had something to do with fortunes and the Tarot. Unfortunately that part of the story only ended up being chapter introductions. I could not connect with the characters. They did not seem well defined in my mind. The theme was a middle class girl taken in by super rich girls and the class differences that developed. I could predict with great disappointment what was going to happen way before it happened. Rosie struggled with her "poverty" which was a much belabored theme that kept getting reinforced. Without giving away the plot, the end was very unsatisfying and seemed not well developed. It felt like the author was trying to make a sensational end but really did not have the plot to pull it off.
Thank you NetGallery and to the publishers for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

I’m on the fence with this one. It’s the third book by this author that I’ve ready and my least favorite of the three. It’s hard to articulate why. It maybe doesn’t help that I’d just read another book about equestrians and tarot cards don’t really do anything for me.

It’s well written of course and while I wasn’t always that engaged with Rosie, I was very interested in where the story was going. I think I was more drawn to the second half of the book and it took some time to get there. Rosie was often a bit naive and while I get that I was sometimes frustrated by her obtuseness.

I wish I good give a half star because it’s straddling between 3 and 4 for me. The Ingenue was so powerful and intense that by comparison this story felt a bit more muddled to me and not as tightly focused. But I did enjoy it,

I enjoyed this story. I loved the tarot info and how everything can be viewed. That being said, it was just a weird storyline. It was hard to really get into the book because it felt like there was too much going on. I liked the idea and the story, but it made me not rush to read it.

Wow, what an impact! Captivating, original story. Completely drew the reader in--hard to put down. Interwoven storylines made for great pacing.
Enjoyed so much more than the author’s last.

With great thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for this e-ARC!

I liked this just as well, if not better, than The Ingenue (I felt like the end of Ingenue got a little...slapstick? Or something?? This plot felt stronger overall). I wouldn't call it quite dark academia, but it has whispers of that vibe. Enjoyable read, hard to put down.

I recently had the pleasure of diving into the pages of "The Fortune Seller" by Rachel Kapelke Dale, and I must say, it was an incredible read! From start to finish, the story had me hooked with its intriguing plot and well-developed characters. The author's writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy to get lost in the world she has created. One of the things I loved most about this book was the way it kept me guessing. Every twist and turn had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth. Dale's ability to create suspense and build tension is truly commendable. Overall, "The Fortune Seller" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a gripping and thought-provoking story. It's a book that will keep you engaged from beginning to end, and leave you thinking long after you've turned the final page. I highly recommend giving it a read!

I really enjoyed this book! The story was interesting and engaging with a huge twist that changes everything. The conversation on class was eye opening and shocking at times. The huge gap between the upper and middle class that is shown is mind boggling at times. The only reason that this is only 4 stars and not 5 is the pacing. I felt like time moved in sporadic burst and it did feel a little confusing at times, but that could also have been the point. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with a love of horses, an interest in tarot, and those who love watching the rich and famous.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins press for providing me an ARC to review.

This was the first book by Rachel Kapelke-Dale that just didn’t resonate with me. Her stories are beautifully written and highly character-driven, which means you have to be engaged with the main character.

Rosie was 100% unlikeable for me. Not only does she define herself and her family as poor throughout the book, despite her family having very clearly defined white collar jobs, she’s constantly faced with choices time and time again and consistently chooses to be passive. I’m not saying that’s not a realistic position to be in given the world she’s trying to make her own, but she’s not a character you root for. She seems to have a fundamental misunderstanding of how the world works and her place within it.

The entire premise and the addition of the tarot reading just seemed entirely pointless. The plot had no direction other than rich people always win, while stepping on others to get to the top. Those that try to be apart of that world will never truly succeed. While the story explores classism and toxic friendships, I just couldn’t get away from the fact that Grayson and Cressida showed Rosie their worst selves, showed her how they viewed her time and time again, and she still wanted to be a part of their world, to be them. She had no moral standing, no backbone.

Annelise is by far the most interesting character and I wish she’d been the main focus. I think the plot might have made more sense or had more direction with the inclusion of her POV.

Overall, this just didn’t have the same atmosphere or flair I’ve come to expect from Kapelke-Dale. Hopefully her next book will be more up my alley. I’m rating this book 2.5 stars, but rounding up to 3 because it did hold my interest at points and I was able to read it from start to finish.

Note: This book focuses rather heavily on the equestrian world. There’s a lot of insider horse speak, so if that’s not of interest to you, you may not like this story. While I am not an equestrian, I have several friends who are, so that part was interesting for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was really enjoyable for me. I really became invested in the characters, and the Ivy League equestrian element was also interesting. A very satisfying ending capped it off. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't not know what to expect from this book and it was a wild ride. Horseback riding, class issues, mean rich girls, frenemies, a love of veterinary medicine, a shocking death, college drama, fraud, NYC. It really had it all and somehow worked. It felt more autobiographical than her earlier books.

The Fortune Seller is not exactly a mystery as described. Set against a backdrop of social stratification, the story delves into the equestrian realm, which holds considerable importance. The inclusion of captivating tarot interpretations at the beginning of each chapter provided a distinctive element.

There were aspects of the storyline that consistently caught my attention and kept me engaged. I would preface that people did not grow up as "horse girlies" might struggle a bit to stay invested.

The Fortune Seller let me down.

Rachel Kapelke-Dale is a phenomenal writer when it comes to diving into a specialization. This book specialized in both equestrian-ness (what's the word here?) and tarot reading. Unfortunately, a lot of the strife in the book came from money differences.

You get half the story when the ladies are in their last year at Yale, and then the second half of the story in their first 1-2 years in the real world. Honestly, it was a weird line that kind of made the book feel like 2 books instead of one continued story,

There were interesting and gasp-worthy moments in the book, but it overall fell a little flat.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fine. I enjoyed the storyline with the equestrian twist. I loved the tarot aspect and how each chapter was a different card and had an explanation.

I think it started to fall off during the second half for me. Not much was happening and I wasn’t too invested in Graysons company. The revelation at the end of the book wasn’t surprising to me at all since I guessed it earlier on. I also think we didn’t get enough time with Cress and the other girls to build a meaningful connection or relationship.

Towards the end I started skimming not really caring to much about how they all end up. I liked the first part more and wished we could have seen more of the horses, Yale, the tarot, and college aspect of the story. I found that to be more compelling than the city half.

*This review will be posted on my blog and various other social media outlets on January 13, 2024.

When Rosie returns from time abroad to realize that a new girl has made a position in her friend group, she's a little uneasy. She doesn't know anything about Annelise. And now she has to share a room with her. What's even more strange is that the girls in her friend group don't know much about her either. She's a great equestrian. She fits right in on the team. But where did she come from? How does she afford Yale tuition and the lifestyle that comes with being friends with rich girls? Who is Annelise?

In a classic tale of class and ambition, Rosie has to figure out what everybody in her friend group is after, and which of them will stop at nothing to get it.

--

I loved everything about this novel. The way that Kapelke-Dale engrosses readers in atmospheres and how well she develops relationships has never disappointed me, and it didn't let me down here. Just like in The Ballerinas and The Ingenue, I felt completely engrossed in the story unfolding in my mind.

I love the way that her writing captures complicated female relationships and I love the way the tension and pressure builds until it all boils over in a stunning climax. I loved the quiet ending. The way that through everything that happens, there is also space for moving on. How there has to be space for moving on, if you want to keep growing into the person that you are meant to be.

I think as long as Kapelke-Dale is writing anything, I'll be a fan of it. I would probably read her grocery list if it was all I could get my hands on, and as always, even though this novel isn't even published yet, I will be eagerly awaiting her next release.

This book was too dark and too full of characters I couldn’t relate too. It’s the old story of poor girl gets involved with rich girls at a highly competitive university. Sadly, predictable and not really entertaining.

Though I generally like novels that take place on college campuses, this one just didn’t do it for me.

Thank you NETGALLEY for this ARC.

Middle-class Rosie Macalister has worked hard to fit in with her rich-girl friends on the Yale equestrian team. She spends her junior year abroad, and when she returns, she finds that her group has a new member, the mysterious Annelise Tattinger.

Annelise is a brilliant rider, but soon the other girls notice money go missing from their bank accounts, and Annalise's trusted spot in the group is in question. Rosie starts to figure out who Annelise is, but not until after graduation.

3.5⭐ This was a mixed bag for me. Too much horse talk. Just. Too. Much. Besides that, though, this was a fresh take on the less fortunate girl trying to fit in with the wealthier girls. I really enjoyed the character work in this novel. The plot was interesting, the ending solid. I just wish we could have done with a few less horses! 🐴🐴🐴

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!