Characters and dialogue so well-written but uneven plot doesn't justify the wild swings.

Unreliable narrator, twists, nasty poor ambitious people and warped people with wealth.

This got 4 stars because of how much it pissed me off. It deals with a troupe literally makes my blood boil and for some reason I don't like watching movies and won't finish some books with it. HOWEVER... I finished this book so that is a win for the author and it was done really well. It was the point of the story.

Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Review also found here at Booked J. I was sent an eARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This does not change my view in any shape or form. Until Necessary People, I'd only heard Anna Pitoniak's name in passing. Now, I find it impossible to forget her words--this story is written beautifully and I'm absolutely going to check out The Futures. One of the big draws for me, personally, about Necessary People was the promise of exploring the general complexities of flawed women--women who are blatantly flawed, armed with ambitions and complexities that make them ordinary and maybe a little dangerous. I love novels that portray women as we are, which is more than just one thing; more than just background noise. Give me all the novels that explore the many types of us and the many types of relationships that contribute to who we are. Give me toxic, give me angst, give me hope, give me healthy--don't just draw a simple picture that feels more like background noise than actual characteristics. Here's what you need to know about Necessary People: Anna Pitoniak doesn't skim the surface of an incredibly toxic friendship. This novel shows the sacrifices two women make for the sake of their careers and in these moments, you feel very connected to them. Even if you don't necessarily like the characters as individuals, you don't feel like they are simply characters in a book--they feel real. What I liked most about Violet and Stella is that they feel real. They're neither likable nor unlikable to me (although I did root for Violet quite a bit more) but they still remained relatable. I wasn't sure if I wanted to consider them frenemies or just two friends who bring an entirely toxic edge to the table, but I new that, in some way, I wanted the best for both of them. It's funny, I've had my share of toxic friendships in the past. Which is what makes this as universal as it is. Now, I'm not saying that these characters--their friendship and the choices they make--are fully relatable based on where they are in life. What I am saying is that Anna Pitoniak dives head first into development and it shows. Necessary People tackles many topics that its audience will appreciate. There's something honest about it and this needs to be acknowledged. I really liked the general message behind it--and about whether your friendship is really necessary, what makes a person necessary to who you are, how to step into the light and out of the shadows, etc--and was thoroughly satisfied with the ending. In short, Necessary People is a great look at complex female friendships and determination. If you have ever been in a friendship that is toxic, this is something that will hit close to home. Pitoniak crafts a beautifully honest story with this one, and it's definitely one of THE books of 2019.

** spoiler alert ** Gossip girl gone dark. Slumps a little bit in the middle but makes up for it soon after. Enjoyable summer read.