This YA novel had plenty of intriguing elements - an elite "members-only" type setting, wealthy and powerful players, secrecy, and - of course - a murder. Books about rich people behaving badly have become super popular as of late, and for good reason. They're set in the type of luxurious arena that most of us can only dream of and give us a sense of Schadenfreude when the (typically unsympathetic) characters do fall.
'The Counselors' does all of this, but with the added theme of otherhood. Even though Goldie has a long history of going to the Alpine Lake summer camp, she's the only camper who doesn't come from a wealthy family. Instead, she's able to join her upper-class friends based on the fact that her parents work at the facility. And while she clearly feels a sense of belonging with the group, her status is undeniably different.
Along with a strong premise, the book was easy to read, fast-paced, and had me on the edge of my seat. That said, it was also fairly forgettable. Additionally, I did find the characters insufferable at times. Aside from Goldie, none of them are sympathetic. I found that I was especially irritated with Goldie's parents and ex-boyfriend. None of them seemed to have her best interests at heart.
'The Counselors' does all of this, but with the added theme of otherhood. Even though Goldie has a long history of going to the Alpine Lake summer camp, she's the only camper who doesn't come from a wealthy family. Instead, she's able to join her upper-class friends based on the fact that her parents work at the facility. And while she clearly feels a sense of belonging with the group, her status is undeniably different.
Along with a strong premise, the book was easy to read, fast-paced, and had me on the edge of my seat. That said, it was also fairly forgettable. Additionally, I did find the characters insufferable at times. Aside from Goldie, none of them are sympathetic. I found that I was especially irritated with Goldie's parents and ex-boyfriend. None of them seemed to have her best interests at heart.