Butterfly Pinned hits hard. It’s an emotionally intense story about Beth, a teen girl dealing with family pressure, identity, and feeling stuck. The butterfly metaphor—beautiful but trapped—totally fits her situation.

The characters feel super real, and it’s easy to see parts of yourself or people you know in them. Beth’s struggles, especially, are super relatable if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or unheard. Some parts are a bit slow, but the emotional payoff makes it worth it. Overall, it’s a powerful, honest story about growing up and finding your voice. A solid 3.5 ⭐️

What an interesting and intense read. I did not know what I was getting into when I requested this ARC but it was dark and suspenseful in some really good ways.

Marin seems to be a bit of an outsider as we enters into her college years. Though her roommate seems nice enough at the time and invites Marin to things, she stops inviting her after a while because Marin doesn't seem interested in joining. when she runs across Bette in the library, she is drawn into the allure and mystery of this elegant looking girl. Bette, on the other hand, seems aloof and uninterested at first but soon draws Marin into a world of manipulation and control. I don't even think Marin realizes what is happening for the longest time, she is like a puppy following Bette and trying to keep her happy, hanging on her every word or command.

In a lot of ways, this book is hard to read due to the control and power Bette exerts over those around her and how they do not seem to understand what she is doing to keep them in line. It was a bit difficult with writing style as well, but I think that was more of a personal feeling not really the writer. Things do move a bit slowly but overall, I was interested which kept me reading to the end.

This was an interesting one for me. I was gripped and really invested in finishing it, but I found the twists to be a little predictable and maybe a little reductive? I did find the world of the ultra wealthy to be fascinating and dark, and I enjoyed the class commentary aspect of it.

4.25stars-BUTTERFLY PINNED by Leslie Liautaud is a contemporary, adult, psychological, suspense thriller focusing on the spiral of college student Marin.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Marin) BUTTERFLY PINNED focuses on the need to fit in; to be wanted and love; to experience everything life has to offer but for college student Marin, her life is about to spiral out of control in the wake of meeting fellow student Bette Winston. Bette Winston is the ‘it’ girl at college, well to do, with many questionable yet interesting friends but not everyone is impressed with Bette’s lifestyle including Marin’s roommate Cassie. The numerous red flags will be ignored as Marin is pulled into a world that will quickly warp and twist, leaving Marin a shell of her former self, struggling to come to terms with what happened and why.

The world building is detailed, complex and dark as Marin battles not only the outside forces but her inner turmoil as well. Wanting to fit in,Marin rarely questions the antics and idiosyncrasies of others, until the ultimate betrayal sets into motion another spiral for our story line heroine.


There is a bit of questionable timeline continuity as the jumps are uneven and odd but perhaps Marin’s need to feel accepted forced the awkward relationship development that went from zero to sixty in a matter of hours.

There is a large ensemble cast of controversial, colorful, entertaining and spirted secondary and supporting characters, many of whom are questionable, impulsive and destructive. As Marin struggles to navigate a life no longer under her control, others will seek the opportunity to take what is not freely given.

BUTTERFLY PINNED is a coming of age, through provoking and cautionary tale of power and control, madness, betrayal and mayhem wrapped in an almost pathological need to fit in. The twisted premise is gritty, dramatic and edgy; the characters are controversial, unconventional and tragic.

THE READING CAFÉ: https://www.thereadingcafe.com/butterfly-pinned-by-leslie-liautaud-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7480849590


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3259071491


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Unfortunately I couldn't get into this book and ending up DNF around 16%. This book just simply wasn't for me

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will preface this by saying this book was not for me. I considered DNF’ing it multiple times but stuck it out.

The book follows Marin, an average college student with low self esteem and an unestablished sense of self, as she is pulled into a seemingly glamorous world of drugs, alcohol, and questionable art. From the moment she meets the enigmatic Bette, her life is derailed. Instead of studying for her math courses, she attends party after party, giving herself over to Bette pieces at a time.

By the time she’s realized her life has spiraled out of control, it’s too late for her to pull the brakes. Each time she tries to disentangle herself from the mess, she only gets drawn further in.

I think the narrative pulled off what it set out to do, and if this is the type of story that intrigues you, then you should consider giving it a read

DNF at 23%

This book was difficult to get into, and if I’m not into a book by around 20-25% that is a sign that the book is not for me.

The writing style was not my favorite. It came off as trying to hard to be tense/mysterious, which made the narrator (since the book is written in 1st person) seem dramatic. I couldn’t relate or empathize with her. On top of that, I didn’t find the dialogue realistic being over dramatized. I didn’t believe these people were talking to each other the way they were which took me out of the story.

I’m sure someone will like this book, but unfortunately it wasn’t me.

Butterfly Pinned is hands down one of the most captivating novels I’ve read in years. Leslie Liautaud delivers a seductive and unsettling psychological thriller that lingers long after the final page. A masterclass in tension, this novel explores power, obsession, and the dangerous allure of privilege with razor-sharp insight.

Marin's journey — from hopeful college freshman to a young woman caught in a chilling web of manipulation — is both harrowing and addictive. The moment Bette enters the scene, the novel pulses with a dark energy that refuses to let up. Liautaud brilliantly layers suspense with emotional depth, making Marin’s unraveling feel as real as it is disturbing.

Taut, provocative, and impossible to put down, Butterfly Pinned is a must-read for fans of dark academia, twisted female friendships, and psychological thrillers that don’t shy away from uncomfortable truths. This one slithers into your soul and doesn’t let go.

this book pulled me in. the way the main character did to her naive victim. i was there i was in it i was captured throughout. this book would take all day for me to review with allllll i want to say. and we all know by now that i am not a concise person. even when i say this i know i will still probably say too much! but some books you have alot to say on. and i would love to do a whole book club type break down of this one because it is that good, hookable, need to talk this throughable.
i know we all look on Marin as "oh come on open your eyes'" but im sure weve all been there. or know someone close to us who have. that time where you feel vulnerable, a little lost and starting school, college etc. some need,yearn to fit in and if someone shines a light on them then they are under their spell, almost forever grateful. this is what Bette does. and she does it with many of her underlings. shes someone who will literally morph into whatever she needs to to hold power. and it forces other to do the same almost to be under her power. she is one of those girls, woman who can just DO that. and thats not a compliment to those people.
what follows is a mess for all involved. its rich,and drugged and boozed up. full of bad choices and forced choices. and i was on the edge of the book pages all the way through.
oh and of course there are some surprises or should i say shocked.
Marin just seems to become poorly the more she gets close to Bette and i felt so much for the girl that went in, the irony that she was so much better of not "needing to belong". its cost her. and Bette seeks and sought out the perfect one to do it.
the plot picks up as the characters fall. and you are mixed up in it all.
this was a gripping book in all the right reasons but for all the wrong ones for the chaos involved for the characters. but bravo it was good.

Thank you for the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

The best way I could describe this book would be if:
- the characters, personalities & obsession from the secret history & if we were villains set (as well as the riches)
- the gossip & drama from gossip girl was on steroids (and they mainly hung out at clubs)
- and a super addictive writing style of a thriller
had a baby, it would be this book! So in other words, it was incredible and I highly enjoyed and recommend!

DNF at 19%, because frankly? I was bored. Regardless, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I think part of my struggle here is because I started reading An Education in Malice shortly after I started this, and that book both covers similar ground (young, somewhat naive woman goes to college and experiences dark plots and lesbianism) and was significantly more interesting to me than this one. However, unlike when I had this problem with "Nettle and Bone" and "Swordheart", I simply cannot get myself to care enough to go back to this book after finishing the other.

I was willing to go along with the unexceptional prose and mystery, until the book entirely skipped over Bette and Marin's first friendship conversation. Because as of the beginning of Chapter 5, the reader only knows some vague gestures at Marin's backstory, I'm assuming that the reason the reader didn't find out about that conversation was because the information in it would have been a spoiler for later in the book when all is revealed. Unfortunately, this means that the reader goes from an unbelievably awkward conversation between Bette and Marin to them being best friends, which feels weird! This is only worsened because Bette comes off as overbearing and not a particularly nice person. This may be a me thing, because I've had relationships with people who are overbearing in the way that Bette is, and while it makes total sense to you at the time and you think that person is great, it's grating watching Marin go through this, knowing that we've got a lot of the book to go before she snaps out of it, or Bette does something else.

The girl-hate also pissed me off. Cassie goes from a normal college girl, to a huge bitch for seemingly no reason. Marin is then justified, because Cassie does cut her off rather rudely in front of her friend group, but that also feels completely out of left field. I'm just so tired of the "normie girl is soooo mean to our protagonist, who doesn't like normie stuff". It's lazy. If I never see a character of this type again, it will be too soon.

This may be a book for some, but it was not a book for me. No star rating because I DNF'ed, and I don't think it's fair for me to assign a star rating to something that I didn't finish.

I was not prepared for the multiple twists that came within this book.

Marin is just your average college student, she gets looked over and has no friends until she meets the illustrious Bette. Bette gives ‘Aron the change in life she went to college to find however is it too good to be true? Is this a path Marin really wants to go down?

“…Can we meet? I have something I want to give to you.”


*I received a free ARC from NetGalley*

Heartbreakingly beautiful, I read this all in one sitting I couldn’t put it down.

I was Marin at one point not to the extent she was, I know how easy it is for young people to become Marin, desperate for somewhere to fit in, for love and validation. Doing anything anyone asks because it’s better than being lonely.

I’d of loved to have a POV from bette at the end, did she know what happened in the club. Was poppy in on it too taking Marin there? How much did she know? was she grooming these girls like suggested or was she really just a mentally ill girl who needed validation from others so she did what she needed to do. Maybe both can be possible at the same time.

Overall an amazing book, I thought it was an extremely unique writing style and the hard hitting topics were perfectly written, I can’t wait to read more from this author

DNF around 18%, book sampled, and I do not think I am the reader for it.

I love the cover and enjoyed the writing style, but I was wanting something faster paced with more thrills.

I will likely end up purchasing this if I see it in stores though, as I enjoy the cover and may be in the mood for it later down the road. For me right now, I am not the reader for it, but you might be!

Thank you for the opportunity to sample this eARC! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.

I really liked this book and the characters sucked me in a lot and I wanted to be friends with them yet also didn't and it made me feel like I was a college aged again.

Thankyou NetGalley for this arc copy; I loved the characters in this book from the start your sucked in by Bette character as she convinces Marin to change majors to suit her lifestyle better. From then you get a true insight on what Bette is like in this story. At times I did feel the place of the book was so but it did still grip me. I was a bit disappointed in the plot twist however it still didn’t deter me from continuing to read

DNF unfortunately. Couldn't get into it at all. I didn't mind the writing it wasn't bad but wasn't great. The Banter was sub par and slightly confusing. I felt like the friendship between the two MC was very Insta friendship with no real buildup. Not for me!

It was really depressing to read about Marin and how her life is destroyed by the horrible Bette while she somehow thinks she is her friend and a person she loves. Marin comes from a problematic background and wants a new life and be seen but to be that naïve and fall for all that shit coming from Bette and her companions is a bit unbelievable. I also had severe issues with all the drinking and the drugs throughout the whole book.

I wanted to like this book, but it was for sure not for me, I never felt that much for Marin. She kind of got what she deserved in a way.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the arc

Some spoilers ahead

I've been sitting on this review for a little while, trying to decide how I want to approach this review. I think I've decided what I want to say but I'm going to try to be concise, which is always a difficult task for me! (Note from future me: I did not manage to be concise and brief. Oops!)

I liked this book. Let's start there!

I also liked Marin and found her very relatable. She's a college student, searching for a purpose, for something more. She finds that sense of purpose in Bette -- a rich, enigmatic fellow student who quickly pulls Marin into her orbit.

Bette herself is a fascinating character. She's not really nice -- in fact shortly after meeting Marin, she forces her to switch her major to something she finds more acceptable -- but you also can't help but be drawn into her personality and to want to know more, a testament to the strong character Liautaud has created. Just like Marin, the reader gets sucked into Bette's world.

And it's a chaotic one at that! Drugs and booze and all around bad choices run rampant -- and I was enthralled every second of it. In many ways Marin is a somewhat unreliable narrator, which just adds to the drama and intensity. She becomes more unreliable the closer she gets to Bette.

I'm gonna quickly review some of the other major characters before moving on to the plot and other aspects.

Harry I really liked. He ends up being more than he originally seemed and he cares deeply for Ozzie. Ozzie is a fun character who is similar to Marin in many ways regarding his connection to Bette, but he also adds humor and a valuable additional perspective. I liked Martin a lot and the way he cared for Marin. I did get him and Scott confused a couple of times (though they could not be more different).

Marin's mother was interesting simply because of the way Marin sees her. At first, she loves and seeks her out while she's first at college. Then, as she's more involved with Bette, she sees her mother and her past life as embarrassing and has a lot of disdain for it, then at the end she comes back around and realizes she was taking her for granted. Marin's father, I didn't have particularly strong feelings about -- in fact, I don't know if we ever actually see him on page.

Sergie was another "good" character because of how he served as a foil between Bette and Marin. Both of their care and feelings for him are questionable at best, as they use him to get under each other's skin.

There's another character, but I'm going to save my analysis on them for just a second.

What worked for me: the descent into chaos, essentially. It continues to build and spiral until it's out of control. The building of tension went hand in hand with that descent as well, creating stakes that feel real. I also liked the handling of the sexual assault/rape. The depictions were hard to read, but I appreciated that there wasn't a subplot of characters not believing those who had been assaulted and that in the end they received the justice they deserved.

The pacing I'm going to put in the middle -- some parts were great, some were too fast, and some parts were too slow. Overall, it didn't affect my experience too much, but I did notice it.

Now for what unfortunately wasn't working for me: (MAJOR SPOILER WARNING) The twin plot. Sigh. To sum it up, Bette killed her twin sister, but surprise, she's actually the one she claimed died! It's just a plot that's far too over done. We've all read it a million times. They second they revealed she had a twin at all I knew that's where we were going. For once, I'd really love a twin plot to be just even a little more original! It's not necessarily bad, I just didn't think it added anything to the plot. It could've been omitted entirely and there'd be no difference.

I also wish we got more resolution for Ozzie and I don't think Marin's last conversation with Bette's father added much either, other than her getting her money and exposing Bette, I liked it in the beginning to set the scene and then by the end I found it a little bit unnecessary after everything. It did work to tie things back together, but I also could've done without.

This isn't a critique but I also did want to touch on that while this was under the LGBTQ+ category and certainly does feature several queer characters, this is not a romance at all! Marin does say she loved Bette but is not explicit about her identity and sleeps with men, as does Bette. While she and Bette do sleep together (and have a threesome with Sergie) to me personally it wasn't clear if Marin was actually attracted to her or was just under her spell, so to speak. Bette is also mentioned to have slept with other girls, but only as a way to manipulate them.

Overall, despite my few issues, I liked this book a lot. Once I got into it, I was able to work through it pretty quickly. I always love a story about bad people doing bad things, and those who they suck into their worlds. The description of Bette's extravagant life was lush and really helped to build the scene. I enjoyed reading this!

3 stars

Marin has recently transferred to a new college during her junior year, struggling to fit in with her peers, when she meets Bette. As the two grow closer, Marin is drawn deeper into a world of privilege and a lifestyle of partying, with the lines of their friendship blurring and twisting. As Marin uncovers secrets from Bette's past, danger draws closer and closer.

I thought this novel was well written and I enjoyed the premise. I found myself invested in the outcome and driven to find out what events would happen to Marin.

I did find the storyline to be a bit repetitive and found the ending confrontations to be lackluster.

Overall, I give this novel 3.5 stars out of 5.