Review: Even In Paradise by Chelsea Philpot

Even In Paradise

Author: Chelsea Philpot
Series: Standalone
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: ebook
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Source: egalley received from publisher via Edelweiss
Rating: 3.5 Stars
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***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my open and honest opinion.***

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When Julia Buchanan enrolls at St. Anne’s at the beginning of junior year, Charlotte Ryder already knows all about the former senator’s daughter. Most people do... or think they do.

Charlotte certainly never expects she’ll be Julia’s friend. But almost immediately, she is drawn into the larger than-life-new girl’s world—a world of midnight rendezvous, dazzling parties, palatial vacation homes, and fizzy champagne cocktails. And then Charlotte meets, and begins falling for, Julia’s handsome older brother, Sebastian.

But behind her self-assured smiles and toasts to the future, Charlotte soon realizes that Julia is still suffering from a tragedy. A tragedy that the Buchanan family has kept hidden … until now.

My Review:

Do you like The Great Gatsby or We Were Liars? Then you’ll probably enjoy this book. Full of mystery and the crossing of social classes, you will remain engrossed in this story and in this world until the very end. The main character, Charlie, befriends Julia in her junior year of boarding school. Julia comes from an entirely different world. Her father is a wealthy politician and their lives are full of glamour. But with that life come secrets. Secrets that Charlie thinks she knows, but really doesn’t.

Julia was an enigma. She was a puzzle that didn’t want to be figured out. She was vibrant and full of life. Charming and almost ethereal. She was too good to be true. Dark secrets lurk behind her mask and I really enjoyed trying to work out exactly what they were. I can’t say that the twists really shocked me, but I still really enjoyed the mysterious aspect this book had going for it.

The rest of the Buchanan family was pretty amazing. Cordelia was probably my favorite, Julia’s younger sister. She was so smart and so energetic. I loved every scene she was in. Boom, their father was also amazing. Even their secretary, Sophie, was a truly special individual. But this family was also very flawed. There were times when every single family member pissed me off (aside from Cordelia). I think that they forgot that Charlie was just a young girl herself and they expected too much out of her.

I loved the setting of this book, bouncing back and forth between boarding school and Nantucket island. Although at times, I was a bit confused by how the family is supposedly very wealthy, but then the house is described as being kind of dilapidated and their cars are all rusted out. Seemed strange to me. This book takes place over two years, but the author still did a great job of grounding us and making me believe in each of the characters and their relationships.

The romance was sweet, but nothing special really. The friendship took center stage in this one which is something I really loved. There’s nothing I really have to complain about with this one, but I gave it 3.5 stars because nothing really stuck out to me either. I wanted to feel all the feels and there was plenty of opportunity to do so, but I was just never quite connected enough. Still it was an interesting book that I read in one sitting so that’s got to tell you something, right? Happy reading all!

Have you read this one? What did you think of the great Buchanans? Did you like Julia and Charlie's relationship? The romance?