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

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4 ⭐️

This one started off really well, but as I got further along in the book it felt like more of a family drama rather than a thriller. Still kept my interest though! 🙌

I did feel the hologram/deepfake take was a little over the top and the ending was a bit lackluster, but in all I did enjoy it!

Thank you to NetGalley and FSG for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

Thank you to NetGalley, Sara Sligar, and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for providing the ebook. This was an engaging thriller that kept me on edge, leaving me questioning everything and feeling as disoriented as the characters. The concept was fresh and unique, and I haven't come across anything quite like it. The setting also added so much to the atmosphere. A fantastic read!

A tangled web we weave in this family saga. Clara and Teddy grew up extremely wealthy. Upon the sudden death of their parents Teddy takes over guardianship of his sister. Clara finds herself in and out of rehab for a serious eating disorder. In be known to her, it’s put a strain on her relationship with Teddy. Not to mention Teddy is married to Clara’s childhood best friend, Jess. Told from alternating POVs, this is a story about family, betrayal and what you wi do for power.
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I was fully engrossed in the story and curious to see where it would take me. It had me hooked for the first 70%. Unfortunately the last 30% got a bit too far fetched for me. Holograms and strongly imaginative revenge story that had me thinking, “really?” The author had a unique POV and a good story. Personally I couldn’t behind the overall reveal. It was too out there for me. Still entertaining and worth reading for the right reader. I really enjoyed both Jess and Clara’s characters. Despite all their flaws they were complex and smart.

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars.

Is it a curse or a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Either way, Clara Wieland’s favorite song is probably (likely) Taylor Swift’s “The Prophecy”, because boy does she wish there wasn’t such a thing as the Wieland Curse, whether it does or doesn’t exist (she believes it does…her brother and best friend don’t).

The delightful in-book Wikipedia entries tell us readers about the many deaths of members of the Wieland family, some from the most unusual and astonishing circumstances. While the public consciousness within the world of this book seems utterly captivated with the Wieland Family Curse, once has to wonder: Is it a curse or is it just the unchecked negligence of a family that has so much money it seems there’s no problem they can’t simply solve without throwing cash or their name at it?

This modern gothic technothriller has complex family dynamics that will cause you to emotionally invest yourself more than you’d expect from such a story, the plot is not only engaging and compelling but also manages to throw plenty of twists and turns in without ever feeling like it’s making things complex for complexity’s sake, and the political/social undertones give the whole story dynamic a murky, seedy feeling that lingers after the last page has been turned.

I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher and the author via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Gothic Fiction/Literary Fiction/Suspense Thriller

"Undoing an illusion is like peeling off your own skin. Logic says you shouldn’t. It will hurt when it’s removed. It will have consequences..."

So much happens in the uncanny timely Vantage Point by compelling author Sara Sligar that it leaves you drained, confused and a bit frightened of the harsh consequences of modern technology and how it can destroy a family.

Clara and her brother Teddy are the last of the privileged Wieland family. Living on a small island in Maine at the family mansion known as Vantage Point, they are the focus of the paparazzi, scammers, and users. The only person they trust is Clara's best friend Jess; who is also now her sister in law.

Clara suffers from mental health issues and bulimia stemming from the accident that killed her parents 14 years ago. Teddy is running for the Senate and he just needs Clara to stay well.

When a sex tape of Clara goes viral it's a domino effect to unraveling the delicate illusions this wealthy family has crafted for generations. Clara doesn't remember this sexual encounter. In fact, she's sure it never happened; but how does someone who has hidden an eating disorder and been hospitalized for hallucinations prove it's a deepfake, that she's telling the truth? And who is doing it...and why?!

Reading and listening to this family drama was addictive. Debut voice actor Adam Ewer is mesmerizing as Teddy struggles with life not going his way. Voice actresses Jess Nahikian and Helen Laser pour everything into Jess and Clara's survival instincts.

Modern technology has created unimaginable ways to save lives, entertain, and make life easier. This is the story of what happens when evil takes advantage of it.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own

3.5* rounded up... One of the best things this book has going for it is that it's original and an interesting take on family drama. The storyline still felt a little disjointed here and there. I found the additions at the beginning of many chapters of Wikipedia "facts" on the April curse in the story was a nice segue, but then nothing more was said about it after the last one. I wasn't sure where that was supposed to fit in at the end. Perhaps I missed it. It was also hard to like any particular character or root for them, but perhaps that was intentional with this particular tale of woe. Empathy? Yes. Cheering them on for their great life choices? Definitely not.
Overall I recommend for anyone looking for a different kind of mysterious domestic drama.
Thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

Billed as Succession-like, I had an idea what Vantage Point was going to be. The uber rich doing evil things and not giving a second thought to the little guy? Kind of?

Clara Wieland is the (rich) sibling with a severe eating disorder. Jess is married to Clara's brother Teddy (rich and in charge) Wieland, who happens to be making a run for the Senate. Clara and Jess used to be best friends. Messy!

We get the story from the perspectives of Clara and Jess over the course of the month of April, the month of the infamous Wieland curse, the curse that has claimed the lives of various Wielands over the years (according to Wikipedia entries sprinkled throughout).

Will they escape the curse? Can Clara and Jess be besties again? Will Teddy get that Senate seat? What's up with those videos that keep getting leaked? Is somebody trying to sabotage Teddy's campaign? And what the heck do the initials of their company WCIF stand for?

This Succession-lite novel will pull you into a web of lies and deceit, yachts, and fancy estates as the tension escalates.

My thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the digital ARC.

Vantage Point is a deliciously tense suspense novel that blends family drama with modern political intrigue.

At its heart is the Wieland family, a filthy rich and famous clan with serious Kennedy vibes. Clara Wieland, the troubled youngest sibling, has her life upended when intimate videos of her are leaked online—videos she has no memory of making. As her brother Teddy runs for Senate and their family’s legacy comes under increasing scrutiny, Clara finds herself trapped in a web of suspicion, unsure if the videos are real or sophisticated deepfakes designed to ruin her. Complicating the situation is Clara's childhood best friend Jess, who is now married to Teddy and caught between her loyalty to her husband and her loyalty to her best friend.

Sligar does an excellent job of keeping the reader on edge, questioning what’s real and what’s manufactured. I never quite knew who to believe at any given moment, so my emotions were all over the place for the entirety of the time I was listening. The plot is compelling, with twists and turns and the perfect amount of action to keep readers rapt. It’s a sharp, wholly modern take on the classic Gothic tale of family doom. If you're into suspense that dives deep into family dynamics and the price of power, Vantage Point is definitely worth picking up.

I can't wait to see what Sligar comes up with next.

The Wieland family has all the money anyone could ever want, but they also have a curse on their family. Clara and Teddy Wieland felt the curse all too close to home when their parents were both killed at their Maine estate, Vantage Point, when they were teenagers. Today Teddy, married to Clara's best friend Jess, is running for state senate and all three are back living in Vantage Point. Clara has a somewhat checkered past with buried secrets and mental illness, but things start coming back to haunt her when a sex tape is released. Clara doesn't remember anything about the video-- was she blacked out or is it a deepfake? Teddy's political career aspirations could be lost and things between Teddy, Jess and Clara get more tense than ever when Clara starts seeing things. Is it the curse coming for her? Is it her mental illness? Sara Sligar does an excellent job weaving together the past and present in this gripping slow-burn thriller. Though none of the characters are very likable, the sharp writing leaves you wanting more.

This one was a little different from my usual read. Sliger's story around tech and politics is definitely filled with suspense. There are some heavy topics in the first third of the book, but it all is part of the story. Interesting read for sure. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did! Wow what a ride.
When I saw this was a “tech thriller” I was concerned because that didn’t seem like my jam. But it’s safe to say I don’t mind a tech thriller. I really enjoyed it.
Clara and Teddy are brother and sister from a well off family. Jess, Clara’s best friend, is married to Teddy creating the perfect family drama set up. Y’all, there is so much drama in this book. When Teddy decides to run for senate, compromising videos of the family start to pop up. But why can no one involved in the videos remember the situations recorded? This book is twisty and cool and kept me intrigued the entire time.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

Vantage Point, a family drama set in an eerie small town in Maine, is a well-written slow burn novel that explores the dark side of deepfake and hologram technology. I think the word thriller is a bit of a stretch for this book. The plot for the first 80% is rooted in dysfunctional family dynamics, with a mystery at the center which picks up a bit at the end.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. It started off strong for me, I liked the writing, the eerie setting and the mystery surrounding the family and their curse. But the pace was a little slow throughout, and the ending — especially the last few lines — really changed my opinion of the book… for the worse. Not sure I would recommend, unless you are fascinated by the tech aspect.