Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 1/14
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I went completely blind into this book and I loved every second of it. I had no idea what I was going to be getting - but this - this was just awesome.
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I was absolutely enthralled by these characters. The Wieland family had it all, the money and the power; it just sucked they were cursed. Teddy was so interesting, charismatic but I also was sketched out by him. Clara was the family problem; she needed help in more ways that one and I really felt for her on so many levels. Jess, Teddy’s wife and Claras best friend was doing her best for both of her family members throughout the story but seemed to always get the short end of the stick. I really loved the uniqueness of each of the different ways the Wieland family members died. This story is told in multiple POV through the eyes of Teddy, Clara and Jess and I think having each POV really gave a deeper edge to this story.
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Once the videos started popping up, thats when things started to get a bit wild. I never really knew who to trust or what to believe. My head felt like it was spinning out of control with how the characters chose to act at times. When everything starts coming together in the end I was truly and utterly flabbergasted. Like this was the coolest and most terrifying outcome. I absolutely loved it.
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I listened to this one via audiobook while reading my ebook and Adam Ewer, Helen Laser and Jess Nahikian were fantastic. They each complimented one another and they created the perfect flow for this story. I highly reocmmend the audiobook if you are looking to read this one.
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Overall, this was the definition of a suspenseful mindfuck and this is one of those books that will stay with you long after you finished. Absolutely fantastic. Make sure you check this one out! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Sara Sligar, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, MCD and MacMillan Audio for the ALC / eARC in exchange fro my honest review.

Vantage point is one of the buzzy new thrillers to kick off 2025 reading season. It follows the cursed weiland siblings, teddy and Clara. The weilands have a long history of deaths in April for years, and teddy and Carla have so far survived the Curse. Their parents died in an unexpected accident years ago and now the siblings and teddys wife/claras best friend, Jessica, move back to their hometown and the sprawling family estate, vantage point. Teddy is launching a senate bid when a sex tape of Clara’s begins to circulate. Clara can’t remember who is in the tape or recognize where she is in the video, but that could be the effect of years of drinking. Are the videos deepfakes done by someone out for the family? Calara is intent on proving that it’s not her, but is she spiraling out of control? And what secrets does her brother hold on his rise to the top?

A blend of gothic and tech thriller, with family drama among the elites of society, this is a fun book! The novel bounces between Clara and Jessica’s pov both in the past and the present interspersed with “research” on the family curse. The three main characters aren’t particularly likable, but that’s not a bad thing in this type of book-just as Clara isn’t sure who to trust (including herself) neither are the readers. I like the blending of elements from various thriller sub genres. I did find the last third dragged a bit, but it was still overall a fun read!

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

TW: Disordered eating, death

This book has a lot going on, but it all makes sense and fits together so well.

There's a RICH rich family (à la Succession), complicated friend dynamics, a family curse, hallucinations (or are they?), and the coastal Maine setting which is its own character. I truly had such a blast reading this!

Thank you MCD and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Vantage Point, a busy book with subplots and back stories, was a fast-paced page turner for me. Clara, her brother and his wife are wealthy and moving up, as long as they can avoid the family's curse. Occurring only during the month of April several mbers of the family were killed by accidents, they call the Wieland Curse. When a crippling sex video of Clara is released in social media, the status and reputation of the family begins to change. Are cyberbullying, holograms and deep fakes the Weiland Curse for Clara and her family? I found this book to be suspensful and unpredictable. The chatacters were nicely and authentically developed. The pacing of the story was fast and captivating. I will absolutely follow this author and look forward to her next book. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of Vantage Point.

𝑽𝑨𝑵𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑬 𝑷𝑶𝑰𝑵𝑻 𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝑺𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒓! I was offered this ARC by @fsgbooks via @netgalley and it started so strong, so when @macmillan.audio had the audio to pair, I couldn't wait to add it.

This is another fantastic suspense that had me questioning what was real, while addressing the believability of people who have struggled. I was riveted. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

When a video begins to leak that Clara can't remember, is it just another of her lost nights? Teddy, her brother, running for senate, and his wife Jess, Clara's best friend from childhood aren't sure what to think. When Jess is the focus of another leaked video, it is clear someone is out for maximum damage to this elite family. Clara has had her issues, but the family curse must be real as she is experiencing some very strange things, and she is sure she isn't high. The closer she gets to the truth, it becomes clear there are sinister acts afloat, and she may be the only one who believes.

I had no idea where this was going and when it became clear, I was both fascinated and horrified. This taps the very real fear of doubting what we see, both online and in real life. I want to say more about this specifically, but I am afraid of spoilers, so I will refrain.

I thought the way eating disorders were discussed was well done as a way to highlight how we dismiss people who struggle and also just to inform.

I will say that this multiple perspective suspense had me on my toes. I started reading the digital ARC adding the audio after several chapters in. I thoroughly enjoyed the listening experience and recommended either format!

These people were a mess and I loved every second of it. If Succession and rich people behaving badly is your thing, this book is for you. I wasn't sure how I would feel about Teddy, Jess, and Clara's dynamic going into the story, but it ended up feeling like an intense game of Jenga in a good way. Watching Clara with Jess becoming her sister in law and no longer being just her best friend was at times intense and palpable and other times it was devastating. The tightrope Jess walked is one many of us have walked - maybe not in a romantic sense, but at work, school, or in our families. The pressure to perform for someone who holds the keys to what you hold dear even when you don't realize that's exactly what they're doing. Teddy had such "I'M THE ELDEST BOY" energy throughout the second half of the book. It was like watching a train wreck and feeling good about it because no one real got hurt.

While this thriller started pretty slow, establishing the characters and setting the scene, by the end, I couldn't put it down!
The Wieland family is old-money Maine, but their story is also tragic, raising rumors of a curse that has killed generations of Wieland's under strange circumstances. Clara Wieland has spent the last 16 years, since the accidental death of her parents, fighting an eating disorder and self-destructive behavior. She has been doing better lately, until a disturbing video of her surfaces on the internet during her brother Teddy's campaign for a Senate seat. As Teddy, his wife Jess (who has been Clara's best friend for over 20 years), and Teddy's campaign manager try to figure out how to minimize the impact of the video on Teddy's campaign, Clara starts to fall apart and the story takes on "gothic thriller" undertones. However, when another video is released that Jess knows is a deepfake, the focus on the story changes: what is real? Who can you believe? 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Vantage Point was awesome. It fed into a very real fear of AI and Deep Fake videos making it look like people are committing a crime. Utterly horrifying.

The writing in this book was electric. I was enamored from the first word, found myself questioning everything. That is the mark of an incredible thriller.

I loved this one!

This takes you into the world of a wealthy family laden with secrets. True to the nature of a dark suspense thriller, it becomes evident that the story never ends well for someone.

This novel blends the intrigue of new technology with the timeless complexities of family drama. The characters are well-crafted, each bringing their own unique and interesting dynamic to the story. From the very first page, the plot pulls you in and refuses to let go. For anyone who loves a good mystery with twists and turns, I highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was hard for me to rate. I didn’t dislike it, but I didn’t love it either. I was interested enough to want to know how it ended, but the ending disappointed me in some ways (felt it was kind of unnecessary). The concept behind the plot was very interesting and the characters were pretty good, but something just wasn’t there that would make it a 4 or 5 star rating. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me early access.

Part of the challenge of writing about "doomed dynasty" families is that the truth always winds up being stranger than fiction. The Wieland family are basically the Kennedys of Maine, complete with gothic deaths and patently unqualified kids running for office. In this book, the two siblings of the latest generation, Clara and Teddy, are on wildly different life paths -- Teddy as a candidate for the Senate and Clara as a drugged up mess. The action kicks off with an anonymous source sharing a sex tape of Clara -- but is it real? I won't say too much to spoil the ending, but things are twisty and propulsive and kept me guessing until the end.

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ rounded up!
TRIGGER WARNING: prevalent and severe eating disorder, domestic violence
There are certain metaphors that stick with us throughout our journey on the planet. Right down to its title, VANTAGE POINT is a life metaphor in perspective, trust, and greed.

The Wieland family has had a history of horrible unfortunate events happening in the month of April. Teddy Wieland isn’t the superstitious type. Clara Wieland is. Almost every Wieland has died in April. Teddy is running for Senate and it seems to be in the bag since everybody on the island in Maine loves the Wieland family. But when scandalous videos begin showing up online, implicating Clara, Teddy, and even Jess (his wife and Clara’s best friend) in acts they do not remember, Teddy wonders if his campaign will bring success.

This book is wildly creative and interesting in concept, especially the last half. The doubt and drive I had for the truth grew like weeds as I rapidly turned the pages. At first, I wondered if the concept itself (which I won’t disclose because it’s a spoiler) could really hold my attention til the end. But it did. And it all made sense. The ending was WILD! I really enjoyed the persistence in Clara’s character and the energy she gave to the plot. Jess’s character had a very different arc than I expected, yet it is VERY well written. Teddy’s character brought such a gravity to the storyline. Though a little slow in parts, I really liked this one.

A very special thank you to Sara Sligar, NetGalley, and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for this captivating eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Wow! 🤯 A mind-blowing mystery and a family conspiracy that haunts a family!
Teddy and Jess seem to have it all. They have the wealth, a campaign for the Senate for Teddy, and the complete team behind them. However, Clara is a bit of a bigger eyesore for the family. Jess and Clara have been friends since grade school. Clara has a wealthy social life and Jess is a poverty child who lives with her single mother, who cleans hotel rooms for a living.
As life goes on, Clara has an eating disorder and receives help for it, but Jess and Teddy bond over their love for Clara and eventually start dating and get married. For Jess, it's like a classic rags to riches type of story and for Teddy, it is a married-for-love, not money type of story that is very appealing to voters. Someone released a sex video of Clara while they were on the highway to Washington, beginning the voters' disapproval. Clara's embarrassment stems from her lack of memory concerning the video. She discusses this with Jess and while Jess keeps the secret for Clara until she is ready to tell Teddy this causes issues when Teddy finds this out, as if her keeping the secret has Jess picking Clara over Teddy. Then, on top of this issue,e there is a conspiracy of bad luck following the family following several generations with untimely gruesome deaths of different family members. Unfortunately, the release of 3 more videos created numerous additional problems for the campaign.
I read the ebook first, then I listened to the audiobook, and both were thrilling and enticing! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and each event led to another, finally culminating in a grand revelation. The audiobook narrator fit the story and was captivating. And it was a truly remarkable performance that was thrilling and enticing! I recommend the audiobook to anyone who loves a good spooky mystery thriller book! Thank you, Macmillan, Farrar Straus Giroux, and Netgalley for this opportunity and this was a thrilling experience!

Sara Sligar’s Vamtage Point was a fun read for me, mostly because I loved the Maine connection. Set on a fictional Maine island, with enough detail to be able to identify its inspiration, along the fictional mill town of Kattinocket and the cinder block elementary school cafeterias and gymnasiums.

I want to keep my review spoiler free and not say too much, but the use of technology to create disturbances is Teddy’s life and senate campaign was an interesting plot component. The multiple points of view really worked to craft the story, and the characters were realistic, sometimes likeable and sometimes not. In short, Vantage Point is an entertaining read with enough unique aspects to make it different from the thriller norms.

Old manors, complicated families full of secrets--the makings of a truly spellbinding tale! Adored this Sara Sligar book, which is no surprise!

“The downside of being known is…being known.”

For the most part I really liked this sharply observant novel, which is really well written for something classed as a thriller and wryly reflective about what it means to truly know someone else, or to truly know ourselves.

The writing is exceptional, funny when called for and achingly serious when required. The plot had good bones (though aside from the ending, it’s more mystery and suspense than thriller). The story has a few notable points where it really stretches what’s actually believable (Yes, deep fakes are terrifying and might appear very real, but no, no one would mistake a hologram for a flesh and blood loved one from a few feet away).

The characters too are a mixed bag in terms of how successfully drawn they are. Clara and Jess are both really well rendered (and I absolutely loved Clara’s observant humor), but Teddy’s character arc is pretty absurd and hard to buy.

I’ll also warn that I think it’s bizarre that this is being compared to Succession.

For the most part the people here are a lot more likable or at least sympathetic(with an exception or two), and this is a story about redemption and regression, and about how we can be our best or worst selves in any given situation, rather than a showcase of entitled bad behavior and disloyalty, as Succession was. Think less maneuvering and backstabbing and more painful truths about loyalty and how relationships evolve, as well as a lot of interesting discussion about how many assumptions people often make about those they don’t know, especially those who they perceive to have it better than they do.

In all, a compelling and exceptionally observant piece of fiction.

At first I wasn’t sure where this story was going to go. I’m not big on stories regarding politics or the tech world, but Vantage Point was so much more. In the end, we went on a wild and unexpected journey. This book explores the depths of human depravity especially when motivated by power and money. Technology scares the hell out of me and this novel did NOT help. I loved the evolution of the relationship between our two main characters. It felt very realistic and true to the trials and tribulations real friendships endure. The *very* end was kind of heartbreaking in all honesty. All in all, this book exceeded my expectations. It was refreshingly unique.

What a wild ride- this literary thriller kept me turning the pages.

Clara and her brother Teddy are part of the infamous cursed Wieland family.

Now that Teddy is running for political office, the family is once again thrust into the spotlight but not for a great reason- videos of the family are being released showing them in compromising situations, but are these videos real or are they the work of AI?

This book has it all- murder, revenge, romance and even controversy.

I highly recommend this book for people who enjoy multiple POVs, thrillers, or are interested in AI/ deepfakes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Very timely twists with digital manipulation but I just couldn’t accept one of the repeating details, keeping this book in the “good” not “great” category

I went into Vantage Point excited about its promise of gothic vibes and a family curse, and for a while, it delivered. The eerie details, like the Wikipedia articles documenting deaths in April, pulled me in and were easily my favourite aspect of the novel. The mystery surrounding the videos and the unsettling question of whether they were real kept me turning the pages, but as the story unfolded, the book sort of... fell apart.

The emphasis on deepfakes and holograms, while intriguing at first, ended up pulling me out of the gothic atmosphere I was enjoying - and that the novel presents itself as. When their purpose was revealed, I understood what the author was trying to do, but she just didn’t stick the landing for me. The mix of gothic suspense and speculative tech just don't go well together (at least in this book), and it left me feeling like I was reading two different stories.

Clara and Jess were generally well-developed, but I struggled with Teddy's character. He started off as this steady, supportive figure, and then over a few days, he became someone completely different. His abrupt shift felt forced and out of place, and it wasn't believable.

I wanted to love this book, and there were parts of it that I did enjoy. The gothic vibes and character development were great, but the pacing dragged in the middle, and the mix of supernatural elements with tech just didn’t work for me. I think if the story had stuck closer to its gothic roots, I personally would’ve been more invested. While I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it, Vantage Point isn't quite what it presents itself to be.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an electronic review copy of Vantage Point by Sara Sligar to review. All thoughts are my own and are not influenced by any third party. #VantagePoint #NetGalley #SaraSligar