Weekend Book Club: Beautiful Malice

I don't read newspapers or listen to the news, so I missed the hoopla surrounding Rebecca James' sale of Beautiful Malice, a YA novel that sparked an auction frenzy worldwide in many countries.

Then I read the blurb in a recent Borders catalogue and was intrigued.


So. Were you glad, deep down? Were you glad to be rid of her? Your perfect sister? Were you secretly glad when she was killed?

Following a horrific tragedy that leaves her once-perfect family devastated, Katherine Patterson moves to a new city, starts at a new school, and begins a new life of quiet anonymity. But when Katherine meets the gregarious and beautiful Alice Parrie her plan to live a solitary life becomes difficult. Katherine is unable resist the flattering attention that Alice pays her and is so charmed by her contagious enthusiasm that the two girls soon become firm friends. But being friends with Alice is complicated and as Katherine gets to know her better she discovers that although Alice can be charming, she can also be selfish. Sometimes, even, Alice is cruel. And when Katherine starts to wonder if Alice is really the kind of person she wants as a friend, she discovers something else - Alice doesnt like being cast off . . .

I love the fact this is set in Australia, though the setting doesn't play a huge part.

The characters on the other hand...wow, I read this in two days, for the sheer fact I was mesmerised by the relationships in the book.

While Katherine is 17 so technically this is YA, her voice is much older. In fact, the whole book had an older, women's fiction feel to it.

I enjoyed it and Alice makes you wonder about how much you put up with from so called 'friends'...

What are you reading this week?