We Could Be Beautiful

Gone Girl meets Gossip Girl in this twisted tale of New York City gentry. When heiress Catherine meets enigmatic William she thinks she has found her future. Their life together could be beautiful were it not for the secrets the lie beneath the surface.

Title: We Could Be Beautiful

Author: Swan Huntley

Pages: 352

Genre: Fiction

Listened to audiobook

Recommended: If you like shadowy characters and dark plot twists

Song: "Beautiful" by Moby

The Snobbiest Character You've Ever Met

If this book gets made into a movie, the high-end product placement would be amazing. Catherine, a 43 year old heiress lives in the lap of luxury. There isn't anything money can't buy...except for a husband. She looks down on everyone and sees only what is wrong or ugly about them. Catherine is blind to most things, including her own inner ugliness. There is always something bad lurking beneath the surface in this book, and this anti-heroine has you almost wanting it to jump up and bite her on her b*tchy face.

I wouldn't want to be friends with a single person in this book, but that doesn't mean they are bad characters. Huntley has written some very interesting and layered characters, and I love that.

Twisted Like a Corkscrew

I totally spoiled this one for myself. (Thanks, Goodreads for making questions so answerable. Can't say you didn't warn me about the spoiler.)

So I listened to about 80% of this book knowing the twist, and wondering what I would think if I never read that spoiler. I can confidently say that knowing the end didn't spoil the story. The twist is worth it. I just don't know if you will be able to see it coming.

For my point of view, the story is told as gracefully as the author's name implies.

The Namesake

My given name is also Katherine. It was reserved for formal occasions, government forms, introductions from my father and times when I was in serious trouble. The name, spoken aloud makes me cringe. It made the book more creepy to me.

Love, Acceptance, and Family

Catherine's need to project a perfect image takes most of her brainpower. She craves the acceptance and approval of others and rarely gives it in return. At its core, this book is about how the need for love, acceptance and a family of one's own can motivate and blind people to the truth.

Audiobook

Cassandra Campbell has an easy listening voice, and her intonation on the characters is awesome. Catherine's disdainful way of talking and William's Euro-American way of speaking is well-done. I will definitely listen to another book if she's the narrator.

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