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The Pessimists
The Pessimists | Bethany Ball
3 posts | 5 read | 16 to read
From Center for Fiction First Novel Prize finalist Bethany Ball comes a biting and darkly funny new novel that follows a set of privileged, jaded Connecticut suburbanites whose cozy, seemingly picture-perfect, lives begin to unravel amid shocking turns of fate and revelations of long-held secrets
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review
Megabooks
The Pessimists | Bethany Ball
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Pickpick

This novel, set in CT, is about four wealthy couples and a very peculiar school. The school is part granola/part cult-y (theme in reading this week!), and I enjoyed the interspersed school bulletins. At first I thought it was a typical fluff book, but it‘s much darker, dealing with survivalism, hedonism, and betrayal. The ending was fantastic and unexpected.

Between this and What To Do about the Solomons, I‘ve found a new author to watch!

Cinfhen Ohhh, the same author!!! Good to know 😁who would you compare her to?? 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen not ignoring you but my mind is a fog right now. 💜 2y
Cinfhen Hahaha, you‘re the best!! I‘m sorry you‘re feeling hazy but I NEVER feel slighted or ignored by u xxx it‘s that low iron brain haze, I get that too!! Sending loads of love 😘😘😘 2y
See All 8 Comments
Megabooks @Cinfhen working on bringing in the big guns: A‘s father‘s colleagues. Will fill you and @BarbaraBB in when I know more! 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen love you too awesome big sis!! 💜😘🥰 2y
BarbaraBB 🤍🤍 2y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB much love to my other big sis, too!! 2y
Cinfhen Yay for A! 2y
80 likes4 stack adds8 comments
review
KarenUK
The Pessimists | Bethany Ball
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Pickpick

I do love a sharp and witty satire of marriage and suburban ennui, secrets and lies, and those rich people problems that are my comfort read (for some strange reason!)
Three couples, a sleepy Connecticut suburb, their lives all revolving around a private school, with it‘s somewhat unusual philosophies and domineering head mistress with questionable connections in the past. Perceptive, amusing, and heartbreaking at times, a really fun read.

squirrelbrain Sounds right up my street! Is it ‘schooly‘ or dark enough to work for the dark academia prompt for #booked2022, do you think? 2y
KarenUK Mmmmm…. It‘s not officially dark academia, but definitely a super weird school, so I say go for it! ☺️ @squirrelbrain 2y
CarolynM Sounds fun. Stacked 2y
Cinfhen Does sound tantalizing!! Happy Birthday 🎂🎈🎁🎉 My dear friend 2y
50 likes6 stack adds4 comments
review
Well-ReadNeck
The Pessimists | Bethany Ball
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Pickpick

In the vein of Where‘d You Go, Bernadette? And I Don‘t Know How She Does It, The Pessimists takes a humorous but cutting look at suburban life. Strong character arcs, here. #ARC #Netgalley

61 likes1 stack add