The Birthday Girl: A Novel

This is the first book I’ve ever read by Melissa de la Cruz and it completely sucked me in and kept me engaged the whole time I was reading it. I couldn’t put the book down once I had started!

First off, this author really knows how to write about rich people. Her nonchalant style of name-dropping and shameless way of describing the lives of the rich are enough to make you feel a little like a naughty rather starstruck voyeur. On top of that, the story is just really, really good.

The chapters alternate between the past and the present. In the past, best friends Mish and Leo set out to celebrate Leo’s sixteenth birthday. The two girls come from broken families and live in a trailer park. The story builds up to something that happens on Leo’s birthday that seems to be life-changing for the characters. In the present, Ellie, whom we may assume is either Mish or Leo in the future, is a very wealthy lady who is throwing herself a huge fortieth birthday bash. She invites people from her past and present, and the group is quite eclectic.

What blew me away was the ending. Never did I ever guess that ending. It was just so clever. I may need to reread the book. It’s simply shocking, so wait for that twist at the end people. This psychological suspense thriller is the best of the best.