Obsession, Scams & Drama — 11 Books to Read after the Caroline Calloway expose

This week the internet exploded when Natalie Beach wrote a piece in New York Magazine’s The Cut about her friendship with the infamous Instagram star, Caroline Calloway (who has had her share of limelight with a six figure book deal and scam accusations). Beach dropped some bombshells about ghost writing Calloway’s Instagram captions and her memoir, and scams. Much drama.

Hate it, like it, you have probably read the ‘white girl friendship gone wrong’ story in all the glory of its viral-ness. This reading list is in no way a comparison of the relationship between Calloway and Beach, or related to their actions — these are books of secrets, obsession, toxic relationships, unlikeable characters, scheming minds and a helluva drama, pointers that made us click and soak up the hyped Calloway-Beach narrative in the first place. Plus these books are more delicious with thrills and twists to keep you entertained.

Many of the novels — temptingly good, if I may say so — listed include ‘for fans of Gone Girl’ in the blurb. Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl is on a league of its own, of course, where the lady (anti heroine?) is obsessed with herself and creates a whole new identity from scratch and fools everyone. I wish there were more novels on clever  scams but Catch Me if you Can (love the movie!) sets a high bar. There is a generous platter of murders in here — what is this trendy trope of girl friendships going toxic and ending with murders? (Here is a list about non-toxic female friendships, Huffpost ) In their defense, probably because the more the drama and gruesome kills, the more we glug down the story.

The classic lovers, might appreciate the frenemies in the Neapolitan quartet by Elena Ferrante, or the mysterious, adolescent friendship in Margaret Atwood’s Cat’s Eye or the obsessive admiration of Harriet towards Emma in Jane Austen’s Emma. For the others, here are some novels to satiate your thirst for drama and obsession.

1.Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton

Delicious and sinister, Social Creature, is a classic story of a poor girl befriended by the rich girl who has the perfect (and luxurious) life and enviable group of friends. It is Penn Badgley starrer YOU (based on caroline Kepnes’ novel) meets Gossip Girl. There are lies, sub renting apartments, cleaning up rich girl’s place, handsome boys and more. Subtract the murder mystery and Social Creature reads like a novel version of The Cut story; I almost wondered if Natalie Beach ghost wrote the book too (no, she didn’t);

2.Swan Song by Kelleigh Greenberg Jephcott

Jephcott’s debut about Truman Capote’s infiltration into the elite society and its expose (which banished him from those circles in his social life) is thrilling and slow. With gossips, scandals, tragedy, decline and food (oh my! I lived for the luxurious spreads described in the novel), this one’s a chunky read and I loved it!

3.Dead Letters by Caite-Dolan Leach

Twins, dysfunctional, alcoholic families and a death (burnt alive, no less) — Dead Letters begins with Ava who has discovered a new life and identity in Paris returning to her family’s vineyard in Upstate New York after news about her estranged twin sister’s death. A scavenger hunt (from A-Z) for clues, ample emotional manipulation and unlikeable characters make this debut a wholesome thriller.

4.The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

The best part about this dark book about the small time con-man and compulsive liar, Mr. Ripley, is the ambiguity you feel towards the end of it — do you ‘like’ the killer? Ripley, gifted with the art of forgery and impersonation, is fascinated by the money and life of Dickie Greenleaf and romantically jealous of Dickie’s lover, Marge. Many novels and movies are inspired from the anti-hero which is high praise in itself.

5.My sister, the serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

What’s with twin sisters and thrillers? A murderous, flirty beauty who has a thing for stabbing boyfriends and her twin sister nurse who scrubs crime scenes and destroys evidence make a compelling pair. Brathwaite’s debut was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize and longlisted for the Booker Prize this year, which is all the more reason to pick up this glittering, dead pan humoured, dark Lagos noir.

6.Notes on a Sacndal by Zöe Heller

Lonely, priggish, sixty-something school teacher, Barbara, is obsessed with the new middle-aged art teacher, Sheba, who is having an extramarital affair with her 15 year old student. Barbara writes her observations and keeps them safe under her mattress, but the more she writes, the more she exposes her own secrets. A dark tragicomic of manipulative-lady-turned-guardian-angel that battles sex and class — you’ll probably read this in a single night.

7.The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

Amber’s goal is to marry rich guy, Jackson Parrish, but there’s a small snag — his beautiful, perfect, philanthropist wife, Daphne. Amber ingratiates herself into the Parrish family and becomes Daphne’s confidante and the kid’s ‘Aunt’. Lots of scheming and burying secrets in this one. Trigger warning for abuse, domestic and sexual.

8.See What I’ve Done by Sarah Schmidt

I was obsessed, with all the characters — more so with Lizzie in Schmidt’s true crime novel based on the Lizzie Borden murder case. I didn’t know what to believe — I hated Lizzie but I had moments of empathy, and I was constantly wiping my hands during the read because of them feeling stickly and doused in pear juice. Two brutal axe murders and a mysterious, almost frighteningly obsessive bond between the Borden sisters, this deeply atmospheric book will make you very uncomfortable.

9.Big Little Lies by Lianne Moriarty

Because there are so many toxic female friendships and a handful of murders in this list — Big Little Lies is an ultimate twister of three women making their way through lies, a death (but whose?) and parent-children problems and of course, men. Fantastic!

10.Devotion by Madeline Stevens

Destructive girl friendship set in Manhattan. Broke Brooklyn girl, Elle, who occasionally indulges in casual sex to put a meal on her plate, is given a ‘new life’ as a nanny by a rich Upper East side couple. Things are good until the nanny gets obsessed with the rich girl (and mother) and wants her life as well as her undivided attention. Devotion is on my TBR and comes recommended from Tara (@taralikestea) who says “it doesn’t have the punch of Social Creature but is still a good read”.

11.Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak

I am waiting to read this novel that follows two college friends — the reckless and privileged, Stella, and the brainy and ambitious, Violet (who often cleans up the mess Stella creates). After college, Violet lands a job in cable news but Stella arrives to steal her thunder. I heard it is delicious with toxic friendship and unlikeable characters.
11 books on obsession, scams and drama to add to your reading list — delicious brill reads with thrills and frills. Click To Tweet

The featured image is by Maria Popovic (Unsplash)

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