This wasn't my favorite read. The plot was a little slow and the characters felt a little underdeveloped. Overall it had the potential to be great but unfortunately, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book catches a peep of what to expect in the next book that will be later released. A glimpse of the high society with the luxurious surroundings of the “dolce vita”. The main characters are perfectly pointed out but their story needs yet to be developed. The beginning is promising and this is the reason for which I’m giving it a 3 star.

Just an introduction - the setting of the scene.

Introducing the players in this elegant and privileged social set who coalesce around the Carltons.

It is an abundance of rapid impressions as the characters are given texture and substance. I found an almost overwhelming barrage of information as this celebrity cast came together. Yet, it wasn’t the simple descriptions sufficient to picture them. Not a photographic capture more an impressionist painting depicting mood, colour and tension. Indeed, the piece seems to be fighting to drop in the most luxurious props and product placement to authentic the people’s place in these entitled circles.

In simple appetisers like this opening part, offering a glimpse into this series, I was looking for something to anchor to, a perspective going forward. I was hoping the location might hook me. Failing that, then a mystery, intriguingly luring me in, where I wanted truth and explanations. Or even characters I would want to share a journey of pleasure, decadent living and ambitions materialised.

I feel nothing here. Indeed I have a sense of disconnect and away from the hype and promotional spiel, there is little to draw me back to these stories.

But the book does deserve merit, and your own perspective, based on the innovative style, the broad brush strokes and the desire to present fiction in a progressive way.