The Fortune Seller has an intriguing premise of tarot and horses, class and secrets, and complicated friendship at Yale during the aughts. Protagonist Rosie is trying to fit in seamlessly with her group of rich girl friends while being middle class and striving for post-grad financial success. New girl Annalise moves in with them for their senior year and occupies Rosie with her tarot reading and mysteries.

I was hooked at the beginning and drawn in by the friend group and specific dynamics of Yale and the equestrian world, but ultimately feel like the book didn't have much pay-off. For a book all about mystery and secrets, leading to a death around the mid-point, I felt the book didn't have much actual tension and suspense. It certainly didn't feel propulsive and I found myself actually bored at points, especially while waiting for the final act.

This novel does. a good job at exploring toxic and complicated female friendships with a background of class commentary. I enjoyed learning more about the equestrian and tarot worlds and am a sucker for any story that takes place at a university. Not my absolute favorite of her fantastic books, but I definitely enjoyed and also found the ending to be satisfying.

I like reading books by Rachel Kapelke-Dale because of the ominous mood and the tension she creates among her characters. The Fortune Seller is no exception.

In Part 1 of The Fortune Seller we meet Rosie and her roommates/ equestrian teammates. She lives in a house and trains with them. The ringleader of this group is Cressida Tate, an heiress from NYC. Rosie is also just meeting her roommate Annelise who practices reading tarot. Rosie and Annelise quickly hit it off which makes Cress a bit jealous and creates some tension among the team. Annelise has a secret past and seemingly isn't who she says she is.

In Part 1 the reader can feel the tension build among these housemates because everyone seemingly has a secret. While Rosie and Annelise are in the spotlight, I wish we had gotten a little bit more from the other roommates.

In Part 2 the girls have graduated and have all started their careers. But the question of who Annelise is and where she comes from still lingers. There was a tone shift in part 2 and the book kind of unraveled for me. For whatever reason I didn't feel as much suspense and I didn't feel like Rosie got deep enough into the Tate family secrets for the surprises to have a dramatic effect. While I was happy I continued reading the book I didn't feel like Part 2 was as strong as Part 1.

If you like academia settings, mean girl groups with secrets, and glimpses into the lives of the elite upper class, than this book will probably be for you!

"The Fortune Seller" by Rachel Kapelke-Dale offers a compelling journey through the intricate world of elite Yale equestrian circles, with a touch of mystery and social commentary. While the novel presents an engaging narrative, there are certain aspects that deserve consideration.

The title might suggest a more mystical storyline, but the tarot card references, although intriguing, are mostly limited to chapter intros. This subtle approach to mysticism may leave readers expecting more in that realm. However, the story compensates with its exploration of themes such as classism and misogyny, adding depth and relevance to the narrative. The plot unfolds with elements of mystery and revenge, keeping the reader hooked throughout. However, the wrap-up in the last few chapters felt a bit too convenient. Some resolutions felt rushed or convenient, leaving a sense of disappointment in the story's conclusion.

Of note is the portrayal of middle-class individuals as almost impoverished. Rosie, despite experiencing her own privilege, mostly compares herself to her extremely wealthy friends, and tends to downplay the education, opportunities, and job handed to her post-graduation. Additionally, the dialogue among Ivy League-educated, uber-wealthy characters read as too simplistic. The disconnect between the characters' backgrounds and their spoken language was a little distracting.

The novel, at times, leans towards a Robin Hood-reminiscent narrative, where privilege is critiqued. This theme may resonate with some readers, while others might find it a bit too familiar. Despite these considerations, "The Fortune Seller" still shines as an enjoyable read The author's narrative prowess is evident, and the novel succeeds in raising thought-provoking questions about class, ambition, and the choices that shape our lives.

In conclusion, generously awarding the book 4 out of 5 stars acknowledges its strengths while acknowledging the areas where it may fall short. Rachel Kapelke-Dale's "The Fortune Seller" is a commendable work that invites readers to reflect on societal expectations and personal agency in the face of privilege and ambition.

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve always thought horse girls were strange, and this book just proved it. Our main character, Rosie, is attending Yale and living in an apartment with her friends, who are all in a riding club with her. The difference is that Rosie is middle class and her friends are very much upper class. Rosie tends to feel like the odd girl out, until she meets Annalise, who teaches her to read tarot cards. Eventually, things start to go missing, friendships blow up, and Rosie is forced to decide who she wants to be, and what to do with the rest of her life. I like the interweaving of the tarot cards and their descriptions at the beginning of each chapter. At first, I thought there was some sort of Anna Delvey situation going on, but I wasn’t sure until I got to the end.

I wanted this to be like The Cloisters, but it was Horse Girl fiction and I am not and have never been a Horse Girl.

I enjoyed Rachel Kapelke-Dale's previous book, The Ballerinas, and had high hopes for this, but again...Horse Girl heavy.

It just felt very....white.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Yellowjackets meets The Cloisters in this beguiling coming-of-age story about class, reinvention, and destiny, set against the backdrop of two mysterious deaths. This story was very creative, but I found it a bit wordy - wanting to just skim over paragraphs and paragraphs that I didn’t think were necessary. Overly descriptive - especially of horses, lol.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press but because of the publisher's stance on the genocide happening in Gaza, I will not be promoting this book at all. Unless they change their stance, I will no longer be requesting/reviewing any of their publications.

It's 2005, senior year at Yale, and Rosie is best friends with the coolest girl on campus. Rosie might be middle class, but Cressida Tate is richer than God, and their group of friends and roommates--Rosie, Andra, and Lila--orbit around her accordingly. Rosie returns from a semester abroad to find that their group has been infiltrated by a new student, and she's forced to share not only Cressida's attention but also a bedroom, with Annelise Tattinger. 

All 5 of the girls are on Yale's equestrian team, and while Annelise is new to competing, she's undeniably talented, threatening to surpass Cressida as top rider. The girls idolize Cressida's father, the magnate Grayson Tate, who got his start in horses. Rosie even secretly learned to ride through a charity program started by Grayson. Needless to say, expectations are high for his daughter to follow in his footsteps. 
Rosie is skeptical of Annelise at first, worried for her own place in the group. Annelise is different from the other girls. She has a passion for reading tarot cards, and a different way of looking at fortune vs. destiny. She and Rosie quickly grow close, at first to Cressida's joy, but then to her annoyance. 

This story is told in two parts, one in 2005 throughout the girls' senior year, and the other in 2006, post-graduation. Rosie is shaped by her experiences in both timelines, and her idolization and later disillusionment with the extremely wealthy are a vehicle for her learning who she is and wants to be. I'm a sucker for a good "rich people behaving badly" story, as well as anything examining the intensity of female friendships. Adding the ultra-competitive equestrian team and Yale angle to those made this an extra fun and tense read. 
Maybe my favorite part was the examination of social class and the machinations of wealth and power. It was bleak at times, but profound. I also loved that there was an epitaph at the start of each chapter featuring a tarot card pull for Rosie's day, and Annelise's interpretation and explanation. 

I previously read "The Ballerinas" by this author and much preferred "The Fortune Seller", but I really enjoy her writing and the topics she explores, so I'll definitely be picking up more of her work!

Set at a prestigious college, a group of women run the horse world with their fabulous chaos and money. Everything seems to go well until a new girl shows up, who reads tarot. Secrets begin as well as multiple deaths on campus. These millenial hedge fund kids are pitted against their own friendship and class.

A book about tarot card readings and horses and hedge funds ... Unexpected mix of things.

I liked the story. I've liked all the books I've read by this author, but there was too much lacking from this main character. Rosie is like the shell of a person with no personality. And why did anyone think they couldn't ask "what do you do when you go to NY?". Thats a totally normal thing to ask your friend and roommate.

The Fortune Seller is my third Rachel Kapelke-Dale book, and by far the best. It’s a book for the horse girls but not just the horse girls. Circa early 2000s, it centers around Rosie, a middle-class midwesterner on Yale’s equestrian team. She’s returned home from a year abroad to find her place in her elite group of teammates has been filled with a newcomer, the mysterious Annelise. As the book and time goes on, the pair slowly become friends. But a mysterious death fractures the group, leading Rosie to question if she ever really belonged or knew her friends. After graduation, working at a hedge fund as a way to try to claw her way up out of middle class, she has time to reflect her time at university and friendships, and when another mysterious death occurs, she begins to question her whole life and what she wants out of it. Perfectly plotted and drawn out over a span of two years, this coming-of-age-cum-smart-mystery had me turning pages as quickly as possible. It’s a nostalgic throwback to the early aughts that is still very relevant today as an examination of the whole eat-the-rich and excesses/influencer culture. A must-read for 2024.

"Yellowjackets meets The Cloisters in this beguiling coming-of-age story about class, reinvention, and destiny, set against the backdrop of two mysterious deaths.

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 mean, Annelise HAS to be up to no good, grifters tend towards the tarot.

Fun thriller but I found the social aspect weaker than I expected, and this was very horsey. Like, almost as horsey as Girls and their Horses. Still it’s decent to tide you over. Thanks for the arc. 3.5

I enjoyed the mixing of tarot "lessons" with the story. Overall I enjoyed the plot, but felt at times it was too drawn out and then the end seemed to wrap up quickly. I wish I could give half stars because I would give it 3.5. It was a unique way to write using tarot card meanings at the beginning of each chapter, I feel that it just could've been a little better overall.

I have two main issues here; One, Rosie is insufferable. I didn't like her at all, and I feel like all of the girls in the group are insanely immature to be Yale seniors. I was reading reviews after I finished this, and I saw someone say they thought Annelise should've been the main character, and I have to agree.

Two, I don't believe I would've been interested in this novel if I had known it was more about horses than tarot. The tarot aspect is what drew me in initially, but I didn't realize how horse-heavy the plot was gonna be.

I felt like all the "twists" were fairly obvious, but the story itself was interesting enough that I wanted to keep reading. I also felt like the ending was too sweet. There is so much talk of destiny, fate, and karma in this book, and I think the ending could've been better and more centered around that. All in all, this was okay. It's not my favorite, but it was well-written and easy to be pulled into.

4 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.

Rosie grew up in a small town in Illinois, aptly named Western Plains, where she swears everything was beige. With parents who are veterinarians and barely getting by, Rosie has been told this isn’t the life for her. So instead, Roaie works really hard in school and finds herself going to Yale.

Not only Yale, but a member of the equestrian team at Yale. Yes, that sport. The one that leans toward very wealthy people. But Rosie is nothing if not determined to never have to worry about money, and this is her way to make sure of that.

So when the wealthiest, most elite girl in all of her freshman class befriends her, Rosie thinks, these will be my people. But will they really? Can someone of Rosie’s background ever really be one of the elite 1%? And when Rosie realizes, as a graduate of Yale and an adult, what being part of that class means, will she really want to be there?

Somewhat a coming of age novel as well as an indictment of the very privileged, this book was amazing. Again, I wasn’t quite sure at the beginning, but as the novel progressed and I became more absorbed in the lives of these young women and what they were capable of, I truly enjoyed it. Rosie is a wannabe, but a wannabe with a genuinely good heart. In the end I think that is what saves her.

There is a lot of what-ifs that might have never flown in the real world, but it does make you wonder if the truly wealthy can get away with just about anything. I enjoyed this romp through the tarot and young adulthood. It was dark and serious at times. Not all fun and games. I especially liked how the cards of the tarot intertwined with the chapters themes. Well written and lots of fun to read.

This book started off strong and I thought this would be a 4 or 5 star book for me. The story intertwined the collegiate equestrian lifestyle, tarot, and dark academia. So this seemed like a win for me. About 25% in though, the book really started to drag and Rosie, the main character, became more and more unlikable, along with a cast of other unlikable characters.

"The Fortune Seller" by Rachel Kapelke-Dale is a riveting exploration of privilege, betrayal, and the consequences of unspoken tensions within an elite social circle. The author weaves a compelling narrative around Rosie Macalister, a middle-class student striving to fit into the world of her wealthy Yale equestrian friends. The introduction of the mysterious and talented Annelise Tattinger adds a layer of intrigue that unravels into devastating consequences. Kapelke-Dale skillfully captures the heady days of the early aughts, crafting a haunting tale that delves into themes of class, ambition, and the unforeseen desires that shape our lives. As Rosie navigates the aftermath, the novel prompts readers to question whether it's too late to rectify the past or if, as the title suggests, everyone's luck eventually runs out. "The Fortune Seller" is a gripping examination of the complexities that underlie friendship and privilege.

There are some really interesting aspects of The Fortune Seller — the tarot, of course, and Rosie's description of animals, particularly the horses — but outside of that, I wasn't incredibly drawn to the story. The outsider with wealthy friends is a common trope, and while Rosie was a character I rooted for, the book didn't stand out to me.

One other thing I want to note — the description is somewhat misleading. I assumed the bulk of the book would be her post-college years, when in reality, the majority of it took place before either of the mysterious deaths occurred. This might seem like a small thing, but really changed the shape of the narrative and what drove it.