Maggie, who’s cued white, nervously accepts queen bee Giselle’s invitation to join her on her final voyage on her family’s yacht. Giselle’s senator father has sold the boat, and Maggie will be accompanying Giselle (who’s Cuban and white), Nigerian and Greek Emi (who’s obsessed with her new boyfriend), and “blond bombshell” Viv (who’s working on being an influencer) on a first-class adventure to deliver it to her new owners in Grand Cayman. Secrets abound as the girls, who are preparing to graduate high school, harbor resentments and grudges—all while pretending to have the time of their lives, sunning themselves, drinking, and gambling. But on the final day, Maggie wakes up to the news that Giselle has been thrown overboard—and she’s the prime suspect. Unfolding in reverse chronological order, this novel displays an impressive narrative feat: Readers follow the journey from finish to start. Giselle’s journal entries and news reports are interspersed throughout. As Maggie’s secrets are slowly revealed, readers realize how much the characters are hiding about their true identities. The final reveal is surprising yet well supported by details that appeared earlier in the story. The privileged lifestyles of the wealthy and the resulting friction that arises are a well-presented thematic undercurrent.
English (US) ·