We Could Be Beautiful

(Paperback)

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Description

A spellbinding novel of psychological suspense, Swan Huntley's We Could Be Beautiful is the story of a wealthy woman who has everything-and yet can trust no one. Catherine West has spent her entire life surrounded by beautiful things. She owns an immaculate Manhattan apartment, she buys exquisite handbags and clothing, and she's constantly redecorating. And yet, despite all this, she still feels empty. After two broken engagements and boyfriends who wanted only her money, she is haunted by the fear that she'll never have a family of her own. One night, at an art opening, Catherine meets William Stockton, a handsome man who shares her impeccable taste and whose parents even shared a personal connection with Catherine's family years ago. But as he and Catherine grow closer, she begins to encounter strange signs. Her mother, now suffering lapses in memory, seems to hate William on sight, and cryptic entries in her diary warn that no one is to be trusted. Is William lying about his past And if so, is Catherine willing to sacrifice their beautiful life in order to find the truth

Reviews

"Huntley is adept at deploying Catherine's good fortune as a fulcrum of suspense... Huntley deftly establishes Catherine's tendency to rationalize and repress... Lively... Huntley writes with wit and verve, excelling at economically hilarious descriptions... The book's strengths lie... in the zippy social satire, in the portrait of a dysfunctional family (Catherine's relationship with her sister turns out to be especially affecting) and, most of all, in Catherine's voice--strange and funny and engaging to the very end."
Jennifer DuBois, The New York Times Book Review

"Here's a thriller we can sink into. Deeply psychological and nuanced, Huntley'sWe Could Be Beautifulfollows one wealthy Manhattan woman who has nearly everything. The one thing she lacks, however, is a relationship. That is, until her white knight comes along one evening. But it neverquiteworks out that way, does it (Not in a book like this, certainly.) Huntley's novel is a twisting, turning, secret-filled story that's worthy of your precious summer reading time."
Meredith Turits,Elle

A novel that is deeper than its heiress-meets-man-of-her-dreams setup. The reason: Huntleys uncanny ability to detect the fault lines in Manhattans glitterati as if flaws in a precious diamondand make us laugh about them.
O Magazine

A riveting psychological thriller, Huntleys debut takes you inside the world of Manhattans eliteand keeps you on tenterhooks.
People, Book of the Week

A sparkling dark romance Huntley strings you blissfully along (like a great con man)right up until that epic twist.
Redbook

Quite the psychological thriller that keeps readers on edge wondering how far Catherine will go and how much she'll sacrifice for the truth Brilliantly exposes the life of an affluent family and what greed, lies and wealth can do to them.
Amanda Douville, New York Daily News

* Posh Manhattanite Catherine West has everything but the family she's always wanted. But when she falls for the man of her supposed dreams, she unravels a web of deception that upends life as she knows it Mesmerizing As elegantly plotted as it isand it isHuntley's debut stands out not for its thrills but rather for her hawkish eye for social detail and razor-sharp wit. It is more than a classic psychological thriller: it is also a hauntingand weirdly movingportrait of love and family among Manhattan's flailing upper crust. An intoxicating escape; as smart as it is fun.
Kirkus (STARRED REVIEW)

Author Bio

Swan Huntley earned her MFA from Columbia University. She's received fellowships from the MacDowell Colony and the Ragdale Foundation.