3.5 stars. The writing was good, super visceral. but overall a tough subject to read. None of the characters were likable but I don’t think any of them were meant to be. I wanted to know how it ended but also felt sick to my stomach reading it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel—it’s the kind of story that made me reflect on the characters and the choices they make even after the final page. The narrative centers on 17-year-old Rachel, who spends the summer with her affluent aunt and uncle in Greenwich, Connecticut. To Rachel, their world embodies wealth and privilege, a stark contrast to her own life, and she quickly feels like an outsider. Her growing friendship with the family’s nanny, Claudia, further highlights the disparities in power and privilege within the household, and she soon uncovers that not everything is as perfect as it appears. The story takes a dramatic turn after a tragic accident, with repercussions shaped by the characters’ decisions—especially Rachel’s. Rachel is not entirely likeable, but it was compelling to see how unresolved guilt, grief, and regret shape her identity and relationships over time. I enjoyed the author’s writing, and I’m excited to see what she writes next.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Greenwich by Kate Broad is a slow-burn debut that captures the hazy, restless energy of late adolescence against the backdrop of wealth, privilege, and secrets. Set in the summer of 1999, it follows almost-eighteen-year-old Rachel Fiske as she spends the season with her wealthy aunt and uncle in Greenwich, Connecticut. Drifting on the edges of adult worlds she doesn’t fully understand, Rachel grows close to Claudia, the babysitter, only to have her summer—and her future—shattered by a tragic accident and the moral dilemma that follows.

Broad’s writing is atmospheric and evocative, especially in capturing the languid, uncertain moments of coming-of-age. The exploration of complicity, class, and power feels timely and layered, and the themes of desire and moral ambiguity are handled with thoughtfulness. Rachel’s attraction to Claudia is one of the novel’s most compelling elements, bringing an intimacy and vulnerability that feels genuine.

Where the book falters is in its pacing and character depth. The story takes its time building, and at times the tension felt stretched thin. While the central accident is gripping, some of the characters orbiting Rachel come across more as archetypes than fully fleshed-out people, which diluted the emotional stakes. The novel’s commentary on wealth and whiteness is sharp but occasionally heavy-handed, which lessened its impact.
Overall, Greenwich is a promising and thought-provoking debut that delivers atmosphere and moral tension but doesn’t fully land its emotional punch. Readers who enjoy slow, contemplative literary fiction with themes of privilege and complicity may find it rewarding, even if it leaves some threads unresolved.

I really loved this book -- it is one of my favorite niche genres - unsettling books about mothers with young children, although this one is also a lot more than that. While this one is incredibly sad, I couldn't put it down and wanted to find out what happened.

The telling of this one is unique in that it's told from the point of view of Rachel as an adult, looking back on the events that happened when she was 17 and staying with her aunt and three-year old cousin. Rachel quickly develops a close friendship with the nanny, Claudia.

This book was incredibly unsettling. I really liked seeing Rachel as an adult and realizing how stunted she was as a result of what happened when she was 17. I thought the writing was great -- I could picture all of it vividly and all of the side characters were unique and well written.

I am really excited to see what Kate Broad writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Greenwich started strong — beautifully written with a great sense of atmosphere and tension. But the second half lost momentum, and some of the characters never felt fully developed. Interesting themes, just not as gripping as I hoped.

I was hoping for so much more from this one but unfortunately it read like YA. I was honestly a little bored throughout.

This book wasn’t what I expected based on the cover and description - BUT I absolutely loved it. I was expecting a thriller-esque book, and Greenwich was not that. Instead, it is part coming-of-age, part suspense, part legal drama, part family saga. We follow Rachel, during (and after) the summer she spends with her wealthy aunt and uncle, their daughter, and their daughter’s nanny in Greenwich. Early on, we know something bad happens, but we don’t find out what it is until about halfway through the book.

If you’re anything like me, you will likely find this to be a PERFECT summer read. It’s easily digestible, and has popular themes like rich people behaving badly, but it also touches on important issues such as race, class, justice (and injustice), addiction, sexuality, and corruption. I flew through it, BUT also had a lot to think about it.

Five stars!

Greenwich by Kate Broad was a tough read, not because of the writing, which is solid, but because of the weight of the story itself. I’d love to give a trigger warning about what troubled me, but I would spoil a critical plot point.

What I can talk about is the author’s sharp take on money, influence, and the power it buys. Broad reminds us that when someone says you’re “like family,” you’d better remember you really are not. She also captures the messy, self-destructive tendencies often seen in that late-teen, early-twenties stage of life, when you’re old enough to make big choices but not always wise enough to make the right ones.

The novel also digs into what happens when women are unfulfilled and unheard, and how often people will do the right thing only when it doesn’t mean sacrificing their own comfort or safety. It’s well-written and well-paced, with characters whose motivations are clear even when you can’t agree with them. Their actions are believable, but often unsettling.

“Greenwich” isn’t a light read, but it’s one that stays with you and provokes you to consider what you would do in a similar situation.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advance copy of Greenwich by Kate Broad.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for sending me this ARC. Unfortunately, this one was not for me. I really struggled to connect to the characters and the storyline. The book is essentially split into three segments: 1. foreshadowing of the tragedy, 2. the tragedy itself, and 3. the aftermath. I initially felt intrigued because, naturally, I wanted to know what happened and the outcome of the event, but simultaneously, this story dragged. The storyline embedded throughout, outside of the incident, was the bulk of the book, and it just lacked substance. Maybe the audiobook would be better?

2.5 stars✨

The publication date is set for July 22, 2025.

Family drama and intrigue are at the heart of Greenwich, the debut novel from Kate Broad. It's set in the late 1990's in Greenwich, CT. Rachel comes to stay with her aunt and uncle at their home for the summer and the story takes off from there. The story is a very New England/Upperclass summertime plot.

Firstly, my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I tried to like this book but in all honesty I could only like parts of it. I think it wouldn't make an ideal beach road, which was what I was hoping because of the detailed narrative. Plus, there is a lot of narrative...for me anyways. I can't say that I liked any of the characters in this book. Each and every one of them seemed self indulged and entitled. I honestly believe that if I hadn't received this as an ARC that I might not have finished it. This is only my opinion. I know there are others who really liked it and can recommend it but it did not appeal or resonate with me in any way at all.

This is the sort of review that I really dislike writing. I know writers work very hard and I don't want to disrespect Kate Broad in any way. I am not saying she is not a good author but that the subject matter, characters and style did not connect with me in any way.

Set in the summer of 1999, nearly-eighteen-year-old Rachel Fiske spends a turbulent summer at her aunt and uncle’s estate in Greenwich, Connecticut. Initially there to help after her aunt’s injury, she instead finds herself isolated and adrift until a bond develops with Claudia, the family’s Black, artsy live-in babysitter. This quiet, uneasy friendship turns explosive when a tragic accident occurs, and the family swiftly deflects blame onto Claudia, forcing Rachel to choose between truth and her own future.

For me this novel was a slow burn and a wild ride. I was reluctantly fascinated by Rachel, who felt trapped in her own privilege. I was left uncertain by narrative threads that seemed to fade away intentionally. There were times where I found the pacing excessively long and repetitive, particularly in later sections, with the novel’s moral and social explorations feeling overly familiar.

Greenwich is a haunting, introspective debut that trades standard suspense for moral complexity. It delves into the weight of silence, the burden of privilege, and the cost of doing or not doing the right thing. If you’re drawn to literary fiction that lingers long after you finish, this one delivers.
I would recommend for readers who enjoyed Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. If you enjoy books that probe class, race, and conscience you'll like this.

i loved this book! it was intriguing and captivating since the first page. a really interesting look at greenwich ct is presented & i loved the author's writing style. 4.5, would recommend.

Greenwich is one that grabbed me pretty quickly and I didn’t want to put it down! It is more of a slow burn but the tension that was built in the first half made me fully invested.

I felt completely uncomfortable and uneasy the entire book as the main character, Rachel, makes a lot of questionable decisions. She is completely unlikeable and yet I also empathized with her because of what had happened to her and the fact that she was 17 and figuring out life. This book definitely makes the reader feel a lot of conflicting emotions. Another aspect that made me uneasy is that the reader doesn’t really know what the book is leading up to for quite some time. This book isn’t full of twists and turns but still had me captivated.

This book explores a lot of topics but I think the main one is shame and how wealth protects you. Racism and sexuality are also explored as well as family dynamics.

I loved the setting of the 90’s as someone who was also a teen during this time period. I thought the summer vibes also helped set the scene.

Overall, I would recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

Oh man, what a story! Kate Broad's debut reads like a seasoned novelist — her writing is warm, mysterious, and very well developed.

We're transported back to 1999 when Rachel arrives at her aunt and uncle's summer home in Greenwich, CT. She adores her younger cousin and quickly grows closer to the nanny, Claudia, as Rachel's aunt and uncle are seemingly disconnected from her visit. Inevitably, tragedy strikes, and Rachel has a decision to make, one that has lasting consequences.

As someone who lives in a seasonal destination, I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book — it feels almost a little too real. Broad captures the way that vacation vibes can alter our judgments and decision-making, with repercussions lasting beyond the summer season.

If you enjoyed Sandwich, The Paper Palace, or Fellowship Point, I think you'll enjoy this one.

Thank you to Kate Broad, St. Martin's Press, and Net Galley for the advanced copy in exchange for my thoughts.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of Greenwich by Kate Broad. This book is a stunning debut that immediately pulls you into its richy rich world and doesn’t let go. Broad’s writing is both elegant and emotionally resonant, weaving together a compelling narrative that feels both intimate and expansive. I devoured this book in a single sitting—its characters are vivid, its pacing sharp, and its themes linger long after the final page. It’s rare to find a first novel this assured, and I’m excited to see what she writes next.

This book use set primarily in the summer of 1999, when 17 year old Rachel goes to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle in Greenwich CT to help with their 3 year old daughter while her aunt recovers from an accident, even though they also have a live in nanny. It’s part coming of age story, with a dash of extremely slow burn mystery as it’s told from the perspective of an older Rachel looking back, so we know from the start that something bad is going to happen though it takes forever to find out what.

I had mixed feelings about this one. I was initially drawn into the story, but then got frustrated at the slow pace because of the hints at something ominous that takes forever to be revealed. The book eventually picked up the pace and sucked me in, but I then was disappointed by the ending. And throughout I found Rachel a frustrating and unlikable character. That being said, the writing was very good especially for a debut, and I’d definitely try another book by her in the future.

3.5 stars

A thoughtful coming-of-age story about a teen girl, a summer of secrets, and a life-changing choice.

What a hazy, regret-soaked summer. Greenwich is all about money, memory, and the weird ache of not quite belonging. It’s 1999, and Rachel is spending the summer in her aunt’s fancy Connecticut mansion- trying to stay cool while everything simmers under the surface. There’s a babysitter named Claudia, a tragic accident, and a whole lot that goes unsaid. Don’t expect drama or twists- this book is a slow burn. But if you like your stories moody, intimate, and full of quiet tension, this one hits. 4/5 stars.

Greenwich is a coming of age story about longing, pain, and figuring out who you are at your core. The main character spends most of the book straddling the line between wanting to do the right thing but not yet having the wisdom or discernment to figure out what the exact right thing really is.

This was a heavy read that touched on several heavy topics and is certainly a story that will stick with me for a long time. However, my biggest issue is that I felt like the main character didn’t have enough of an emotional arc. I kept waiting for her to learn something from her experiences and make the right choice, but by the end I struggled with her always feeling like a victim and never taking real ownership of her choices.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!