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.

“Succession Meets Megan Abbott in this seductive, technological suspense about the dramatic downfall of one of America’s most affluent families.”

A family drama akin to the award-winning streaming sensation, Succession, and writing compared to the suspense and horror author, Megan Abbott, who could resist? Not me! The promise of a thriller about rich people behaving badly, along with a captivating cover, Sara Silgar’s new release, Vantage Point, grabbed my attention, making it a must-read for me.

Vantage Point is told from the alternating POVs of two young women who have been friends since 4th grade. Clara and Jess, coming from completely different backgrounds, could not be any less alike. Even so, they each find a safety net in the other, which travels with them through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood. We meet Jess and Clara in present-day, in April, which is the month of “the curse” for Clara Wieland’s uber-wealthy family. Clara’s brother, Teddy, is running for Maine Senate, and all has been going according to plan, until a scathing video featuring Clara is released to the internet. From that point on, Clara, Jess and Teddy struggle to keep their lives in the balance, while also trying to uncover who or what has unleashed “the curse” upon them.

The back-stories of Clara, Jess and Teddy were especially compelling for me. Additionally, I enjoyed the alternating POV’s which contributed to the unsettling eeriness which lingered over the entire story. I did particularly enjoy the use of mixed media, via Wikipedia entries, as part of the structure of this book.

Vantage Point, was fairly propulsive, and should have been a win for my thriller-loving reading tastes. Although, I found it hard to put down most of the time, there were certain points throughout the book where the pacing was off and my interest would lag for a bit. Additionally, I figured out the twists early on, and found the reveals to be lacking.

Sadly, this was a bit of a miss for me, largely because my expectations were high with the comparison to Succession and Megan Abbott. I do think Vantage Point will appeal to many thriller readers, especially those that enjoy a story grounded in friendship and family.

Reader know thyself, as there are heavy themes of eating disorders and sexual trauma.

3.25 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the ARC of Vantage Point by Sara Sligar, in exchange for my honest review.

Political thrillers aren't typically my thing, but they are in Sara Slingar's hands. While I did find this highly unbelivable, that didn't matter, her writing and propulsive plot made this a page turner I couldn't look away from. AI is terrifying and Sligar reveals that fully here. This is gothic suspense dealing with a wealthy family/tech and I'm not sure I've read anything like it. Pick it up!

This is a complex story, one that if filled with themes on AI and gaslighting, on rich people problems and mental health and viral videos, and one that leans into the messy toxicity of famous, in the public eye family relationships. What stood out was the development of the story, how Silgar plays with Clara's storyline to twist and turn the story around to the reader as well as to her characters, and how the story leans into, more than expected, the role of deep fake videos, how harmful use of AI can wreck lives and cause those dominoes to fall as they will until more and more people are hurt. What worked less for me for the book was how really unlikable each character was , I felt no real connection to the characters, I wasn't sure I really cared enough to know what was going on even though the plot was though provoking... when I can't find myself really wanting redemption for anyone it's hard to really like a book. That being said, this is one read that is worth discussing for the bigger themes explored and introduced. 4 star plot, 3 star execution.

NOTE: themes on mental health, substance use, and eating disorders are present.

Vantage Point by Sara Sligar was a great gothic suspense novel.
I just loved the writing style done here it was lyrical and suspenseful. Which made for a gripping read.
I really enjoyed reading Take Me Apart so I was thrilled for a new novel. Which did not disappoint.
Sligar creates a haunting and decidedly literary thriller.

Curses, holograms, deepfakes…intriguing subjects that combined with a triad of siblings and a best friend, Clara and Teddy, and best friend /wife, Jess, made for an intriguing read. Not knowing much about deepfakes I had no clue they were as prevalent or convincing as they are after my limited research after reading this book. The concept was used in such a way, so devastatingly and yet so convincingly at first in Vantage Point, that certainly caught my attention. The dynamics between the three main characters were the heart of the story and Sara Sligar set it up so very beautifully, but also so very realistically. I found myself rooting for each one of them at various parts of the story.
The setting in Maine was very appealing to me as I grew up visiting Acadia, Mount Katahdin and Mount Desert throughout my childhood.
This was an engaging book for sure, Three and a half stars.

I was dying to read this after checking out the synopsis. Unfortunately, this book isn't really what I expected. I was under the impression this was a thriller with gothic themes. It's not. It was painfully slow, the plot was very convoluted, and it was much longer than it needed to be. Sadly, I wasn't a fan of this one.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sara Sligar for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Vantage Point coming out January 14, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. Thrillers can be a hit and miss with me. I love mysteries more. I thought the summary was really interesting. I love mysterious mansions and secrets. But this book wasn’t my cup of tea. I couldn’t really get into it. I couldn’t understand the characters. I do really love the show Succession, but this didn’t feel the same. So it just wasn’t for me. I would check out other books by this author though.

I was immediately intrigued by the pitch of Succession meets the unhinged elite of Saltburn combined into a "tech-thriller."  Sara Sligar is a very impressive writer. The characters here felt so well rounded and I kept wanting to turn the page. The structure of the novel was itself beautiful, with political plot lines and well planned character construction. This novel perfectly encapsulated what it's like to live in the Doom Scroll era, especially as a young woman surviving in an era of nude photos, sex tapes, eating disorders and embarrassing tags on social media. Loved this line: “I challenge you to find any former party girl not familiar with the morning-after Scroll of Shame. You can’t make a 30-hour-rave omelet without scrambling a few brain cells.” I can't wait to one day soon watch this as a limited series, because it's sure to be developed for the big screen. Thank you Net Galley for the early digital copy.