I was unable to finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review. I typically love this author but this one just didn't work. IT was weirdly written and hard to follow. Thank you for the opportunity.

I might be in the minority but this book was a little slow for me. The reviews are good but it wasnt the best for me.

Abbott is a wizard at inducing anxiety whilst reading! This kept me on the edge of my seat for hours while reading. I really felt for the sisters and then found myself questioning everything.

I received a copy for review. All opinions are my own. I could not put this book down! I already love this author but she has done it again! Family drama, scandal, pyramid schemes, tragedy, chaos, and mystery. I enjoyed the banter between sisters and how everyone’s characters were developed and the backstories were explained. This one was an up and down wild ride!

The premise alone (suburban women starting a pyramid scheme to escape crappy husbands and a failing economy) was so fresh and fun. The plot kept me intrigued the whole way through, even though the pacing felt a bit slow at times. The writing style was unique, which made the experience feel a little offbeat (and a tad slower than I expected). The characters started to blend together a bit, but I was still invested in their chaotic plan. Definitely worth a read if you’re into messy schemes and women reclaiming their power.

A big thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Megan Abbott for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Meh. Can’t recommend, so that means a 2 from me.

If I hadn’t gotten this book from NetGalley, this is a book I would have put on hold at the library and then snoozed 15-20 times until I finally gave in and read it. And I would have been right to do so.

Pam, Harper, and Debra are sisters with varying types of financial insecurity. Until one of them discovers The Wheel. Except near the end it suddenly is called The Club. Maybe that’s just because of the ARC thing.

Anyway… it’s fine. Pretty dull. The premise was intriguing enough for me to check out, but this author doesn’t do it for me. Though I seem to be in the minority. It’s fine. Not anything special. I don’t get it.

Sisters and friends in Detroit, MI invite other women to contribute 5K to "The Wheel" to gain financial freedom. It ultimately becomes a pyramid scheme with unforeseen dangers.

Megan Abbott delivers another compelling exploration of female relationships and desperation in *El Dorado Drive*, a tense psychological thriller set against the backdrop of Detroit's economic decline. The story follows the Bishop sisters—Harper, Pam, and Debra—who once enjoyed privilege in suburban Detroit but now find themselves struggling as the auto industry collapses around them.

Abbott's portrayal of middle-aged women grappling with financial insecurity feels painfully authentic. When Harper moves in with her recently divorced sister Pam, she discovers that Pam has found financial salvation through "the Wheel"—a women-only investment circle that promises easy money through pooled contributions. What starts as sisterly support quickly transforms into something much more sinister.

The author excels at creating atmosphere and building tension through small, intimate moments. Her writing captures the claustrophobic nature of suburban decline and the way desperation can drive ordinary people to extraordinary measures. The pyramid scheme at the novel's center serves as both plot device and metaphor for how women can simultaneously lift each other up and tear each other down.

Abbott's signature style—sharp prose that cuts to the psychological heart of her characters—is on full display here. She has a particular talent for writing about the complex dynamics between women, especially when money and survival are at stake. The Bishop sisters feel like real people with genuine grievances and believable motivations, even when their choices become increasingly questionable.

Where the novel occasionally stumbles is in pacing. Some sections feel slightly repetitive, and the middle portion drags as Abbott perhaps lingers too long on the mechanics of the scheme before the inevitable crash. Additionally, while the Detroit setting is evocative, it sometimes feels more like backdrop than integral to the story's emotional core.

The climax delivers the shocking violence that Abbott's readers expect, but it feels earned rather than gratuitous. The resolution ties together the themes of class, greed, and female solidarity in ways that are both satisfying and disturbing.

*El Dorado Drive* is a solid addition to Abbott's impressive body of work. It's a smart, well-crafted thriller that uses its crime elements to explore deeper questions about American dreams deferred and the lengths people will go to reclaim lost security. While it may not reach the heights of her previous novels like *The Turnout* or *You Will Know Me*, it's still a gripping read that will keep you turning pages and questioning the true cost of survival in modern America.

**Recommended for:** Fans of psychological thrillers, readers who enjoy complex female characters, and anyone interested in stories about economic anxiety and class decline in contemporary America.

Well-written thriller, perfect for all of us with economic anxiety.

This is the story of three sisters who join a women’s club/money-making scheme in the midst of dire financial circumstances. We get family secrets, a nasty divorce, and a murder, along with an exploration of wealth for a generation whose parents had been wealthy and who now are in much reduced circumstances.

This started a bit slow for me, but it picked up by the second third and left me rapidly turning pages until the end. I can’t say I loved any of the characters, but I could definitely relate to some of their circumstances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Harper and her sisters, Pam and Debra, are close. They grew up in the metro Detroit area during the end of the heyday of the auto companies. Their dad was an executive for one of the Big Three and made good money. Unfortunately, we all know how things went for the car companies in the early 2000s. The sisters miss when life was easier and they had money to keep up with everyone else. Now they are adults dealing with medical bills, college tuition, and mortgages. Money is constantly on their minds. Pam invites Harper and Debra to be part of the Wheel. This is an all women's group that supports other women by lifting them up and that includes money.

Abbott is one of the few authors I read who I can't guess the ending or the suspect until it's revealed. She is the queen of red herrings and this book had plenty. Yet it all flows so well that you don't realize they are red herrings until the truth is discovered.

I loved the setting for this book. I grew up near the Detroit Metro airport and my dad worked for one of the auto companies. If you live in Michigan you have a good probability of being related to someone who worked for one of the Big Three. The impact of their breakdown is still being felt almost 20 years later. They were Michigan's economy. It was understandable that Harper, Pam, and Debra were desperate to have money. It was hard for them to give up the lifestyle their parents had provided for them. This is not unique to Michigan and many will relate to the struggles they experience.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! If you want a story that involves fraud, family drama, and murder then look for this book in late June 2025!

Family drama with mystery and pyramid scheme between housewives thrown in. I really enjoyed this book something about her writing is makes me not want to put her books down. I also loved the setting off Detroit having lived near there at one time. Giving this 4 stars while I didn't particularly like any of the characters it was page turner and had some good twists. I want to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was rather drawn out. I didn't believe in the Wheel. It just seemed too far fetched. I thought that the premise was interesting, having been a member of many MLM, but it just wasn't. I wasn't a fan of the characters or of the relationships. Sorely disappointed.

I couldn't take any of the women seriously, giving it more of a Desperate Housewives murder mystery tone than a fast-paced thriller. I liked having the sisters at the root of the book and guiding it along, though the concept of "The Wheel" seems highly implausible. For those who spend thousands on MLM, maybe it's not that different, and I liked the fresh spin on the idea of a collective of women in different financial situations buying into something (literally) for the sake of promising results.

[Snack-Size Review] El Dorado Drive, by Megan Abbott

Quick Bite: I shouldn’t love her books, but I do.

(*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*)

What It’s About: Sisters Pam, Debra, and Harper grew up in the lap of luxury, until their father lost it all. Unprepared for the real world, dealing with their own financial hardships, they become devotees of The Wheel, a really obvious pyramid scheme. It’s all working out beautifully for them, however, until someone ends up dead….

A Word From The Nerd: Ms. Abbott’s prose is the juiciest shade of purple, every page dripping with overwrought emotions and sensations, which usually annoys me. But somehow, she makes overwriting work - maybe because there’s also lots of feminine rage and gobsmacking twists?

The Nerd’s Rating: FOUR HAPPY NEURONS (and a screwdriver - the boozy kind.)

A mystery with pyramid schemes, lies, and betrayal..
The desperation people face will pull them into things they thought they would never do.

#NetGalley

This was ok! Not bad but not my favorite by this author. I found the pyramid scheme portion to be kind of redundant and masking it as feminism was a far stretch.

The Difference That Makes the Difference is a practical and empowering guide to creating meaningful change using the principles of Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) and modern behavioral science. Drawing from the authors’ diverse backgrounds—Greg Prosmushkin’s real-world application in law and entrepreneurship, and Josh Davis’s academic expertise in psychology and neuroscience—the book demystifies NLP and presents it as a powerful toolkit for improving communication, boosting confidence, and taking control of personal and professional growth. The authors do a strong job of making complex concepts approachable and actionable, making this a valuable read for anyone seeking concrete strategies for self-improvement.
Rated four stars, this book offers readers a motivating roadmap for change, supported by science and real-world examples. While some parts may feel overly promotional or simplified for those already familiar with NLP, its accessibility and clarity make it an ideal starting point for newcomers. The Difference That Makes the Difference encourages readers to stop waiting for transformation and start actively creating it—one mindset shift and skill at a time

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my free copy.

I loved this one! This was such a a great thriller that held my interest to the very end. I definitely recommend this one!

Nobody does feminist, well written thriller like Megan Abbott! She really knows how to take a relevant, important topic and weave it perfectly with a fast paced thriller. Loved this.

thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

megan abbott is a great thriller writer - thinking of dare me and the turnout in particular - but this one was just ok to me! i think debt and financial problems are such a relatable thing today and that should've made it a slam dunk, thematically, but i had a hard time relating to the specific characters and didn't root for them as much as i would have liked to. i also found the pacing to be a litle tough, as the "thriller" aspect (i would call it more domestic suspense in this case) doesn't play a major role until more than halfway through the book.

what i'll applaud her on is the setting and how it is so specific and plays such a vital role in this story. that, to me, was one of the strongest traits of this book. i also did appreciate the ruminations on sisterhood, but it didn't go far enough for me. overall, this was serviceable! but it wasn't great.