Other People's Clothes
Books | Fiction / Thrillers / General
3.8
(331)
Calla Henkel
Two American ex-pats obsessed with the Amanda Knox trial find themselves at the nexus of murder and celebrity in glittering late-aughts Berlin in this “hugely entertaining” (The New York Times) debut with a wicked sense of humor. “Darkly funny, psychologically rich and utterly addictive... [a] harrowing tale of twisty female friendships, slippery identity and furtive secrets.” —Megan Abbott, best-selling author of The TurnoutHoping to escape the pain of the recent murder of her best friend, art student Zoe Beech finds herself studying abroad in the bohemian capital of Europe—Berlin. Rudderless, Zoe relies on the arrangements of fellow exchange student Hailey Mader, who idolizes Warhol and Britney Spears and wants nothing more than to be an art star. When Hailey stumbles on a posting for a high-ceilinged, prewar sublet by well-known thriller writer Beatrice Becks, the girls snap it up. They soon spend their nights twisting through Berlin’s club scene and their days hungover. But are they being watched? Convinced that Beatrice intends to use their lives as inspiration for her next novel, Hailey vows to craft main-character-worthy personas. They begin hosting a decadent weekly nightclub in the apartment, finally gaining the notoriety they’ve been craving. Everyone wants an invitation to “Beatrice’s.” As the year unravels and events spiral out of control, they begin to wonder whose story they are living—and how it will end. Other People’s Clothes brilliantly illuminates the sometimes dangerous intensity of female friendships, as well as offering an unforgettable window into millennial life and the lengths people will go to in order to eradicate emotional pain.
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More Details:
Author
Calla Henkel
Pages
320
Publisher
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published Date
2022-02-01
ISBN
0385547366 9780385547369
Community ReviewsSee all
"This is such a well-written book but does take a large portion of the book to build and earn the thriller tag. Feels like a great book for people who enjoy reality tv shows. The drama and toxic relationships between the two main characters was portrayed so well but hard for me to get through. "
"I agree with the reviewer who called this "Amanda Knox meets Cabaret," but I also feel like it's more than Cabaret. It's like, if annoying artsy types got what they desperately wanted: Attention at any cost.<br/><br/>No secret that I actually love novels with evil characters. All the characters in this book are evil, pretty much, but their ambition and drive and desire to be something unfortunately makes them pretty interesting. Drama, intrigue, and oh my gosh, that ENDING. Colleen Hoover wishes. <br/><br/>I loved it. I recommend it to folks who enjoy reading thrillers but are tired of domestic thrillers running the whole show. Let young, ambitious women be chaotic! I could see this being an excellent Hulu movie in the future. <br/><br/><br/>Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for a review!"
"one of my new favorites! i blew through it in a couple days. it’s very fun and the narrator feels real and genuine. it explores the intricacies of female friendships, closeted queerness, and feminine identity forming. so so fun and well written."
K M
Katie M