Saturday, March 27, 2021

3.27.2021 - Astrid Sees All

Astrid Sees All by Natalie Standiford

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut adult novel by Natalie Standiford.  3.5 stars.

Phoebe is desperate to become someone.  After graduating college and landing in NYC, she hooks her wagon to a college friend, Carmen, who is the "it" girl of the moment.  After Phoebe's dad dies, she is even more desperate to stay in the city and find her spot.  Phoebe takes a job at an artsy club, working as Astrid, a fortune teller working with movie tickets instead of cards.  Taking place in the early 1980s, Phoebe and Carmen flit from club to club, seeking the next high, with the celebrities of the day in the background.  

This was just an okay read for me - my favorite part was Astrid's fortune telling with old movie titles.  It was definitely a love letter to NYC in that era and you felt the grittiness of the city and its people.  None of the characters are likable and it felt slow in spots.  Touches on lots of topics - grief, friendship, loyalty, family.  

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