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The Ingenue
My Dark Vanessa meets The Queen's Gambit in this new novel of suspense about the bonds of family, the limits of talent, the risks of ambition, and the rewards of revenge.
When former piano prodigy Saskia Kreis returns home to Milwaukee after her mother's unexpected death, she expects to inherit the family estate, the Elf House. But with the discovery that her mother's will bequeathed the Elf House to a man that Saskia shares a complicated history with, she is forced to reexamine her own past--and the romantic relationship that changed the course of her life--for answers. Can she find a way to claim her heritage while keeping her secrets buried, or will the fallout from digging too deep destroy her?
Set against a post #MeToo landscape, The Ingenue delves into mother-daughter relationships, the expectations of talent, the stories we tell ourselves, and what happens when the things that once made you special are taken from you. Moving between Saskia's childhood and the present day, this dark, contemporary fairy tale pulses with desire, longing, and uncertainty, as it builds to its spectacular, shocking climax.
When former piano prodigy Saskia Kreis returns home to Milwaukee after her mother's unexpected death, she expects to inherit the family estate, the Elf House. But with the discovery that her mother's will bequeathed the Elf House to a man that Saskia shares a complicated history with, she is forced to reexamine her own past--and the romantic relationship that changed the course of her life--for answers. Can she find a way to claim her heritage while keeping her secrets buried, or will the fallout from digging too deep destroy her?
Set against a post #MeToo landscape, The Ingenue delves into mother-daughter relationships, the expectations of talent, the stories we tell ourselves, and what happens when the things that once made you special are taken from you. Moving between Saskia's childhood and the present day, this dark, contemporary fairy tale pulses with desire, longing, and uncertainty, as it builds to its spectacular, shocking climax.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2022
141 people are currently reading
9959 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Kapelke-Dale
7 books499 followersAmerican novelist living in Paris. Obsessed with ballet, books, and dogs. THE FORTUNE SELLER is out 2/13/24; THE INGENUE (2022) and THE BALLERINAS (2021) are already out, all with St. Martin's Press!
My first book, GRADUATES IN WONDERLAND, is a memoir I co-wrote with Jessica Pan about our post-graduation years. It's out now!
My first book, GRADUATES IN WONDERLAND, is a memoir I co-wrote with Jessica Pan about our post-graduation years. It's out now!
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October 23, 2022
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I really enjoyed The Ballerinas by this author and was so excited to be approved for this one and let me tell you Rachel Kapelke-Dale did not disappoint. I absolutely loved the format of this book. Each chapter starts with a part from Saskia's mother's book "Fairy Tales for Little Feminists". We then get a few paragraphs from Saskia's teenage years, then each chapter ends with Saskia dealing with her father and her mother's estate following the death of her mom.
What can I say other than wow? This book was so intriguing, sucked me in right away, and kept me engaged throughout. I loved how angst-filled teenaged Saskia was and how well the author had that come across, I felt it viscerally. The #metoo theme was brilliantly put front and center and the character development was masterful. I so enjoyed learning about Saskia when she was a piano prodigy and how she came to be in the situation she found herself in. When we finally solve the mystery of why Patrick is receiving the house, her mother's love jumped from the page. The writing and the plot were both poetic and the ending was surprising and satisfyingly perfect. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
#NetGalley
I really enjoyed The Ballerinas by this author and was so excited to be approved for this one and let me tell you Rachel Kapelke-Dale did not disappoint. I absolutely loved the format of this book. Each chapter starts with a part from Saskia's mother's book "Fairy Tales for Little Feminists". We then get a few paragraphs from Saskia's teenage years, then each chapter ends with Saskia dealing with her father and her mother's estate following the death of her mom.
What can I say other than wow? This book was so intriguing, sucked me in right away, and kept me engaged throughout. I loved how angst-filled teenaged Saskia was and how well the author had that come across, I felt it viscerally. The #metoo theme was brilliantly put front and center and the character development was masterful. I so enjoyed learning about Saskia when she was a piano prodigy and how she came to be in the situation she found herself in. When we finally solve the mystery of why Patrick is receiving the house, her mother's love jumped from the page. The writing and the plot were both poetic and the ending was surprising and satisfyingly perfect. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
#NetGalley
September 18, 2022
According to Merriam-Webster.com- “an ingenue person is: a naive girl or young woman”. This small definition will give you big details to what this book is about. This is also somewhat of a dark, disturbing read. There are often times when I felt angry and depressed for that of our main character, Saskia. This book has been compared to My Dark Vanessa, and if you are familiar with that book (which I am), I can agree that it is.
The Ingenue deals with the present day and the teenage years of Saskia. It also deals with growing up and coming home to the mansion she grew up in, known as the Elf House. I wouldn’t say that Saskia had a complex relationship with her mother/parents, so much as she had an independent relationship from them. So many secrets were kept, and the Elf House didn’t necessarily keep them either…
I’m still processing this book, as it wasn’t an easy read. Still reflecting on the fact that everything that happens to us in our childhood/teenage years does affect our adult years and the choices we make. Did I like the ending of the book? I’m not sure? I don’t think it was realistic, and probably wouldn’t work for the other “ingenue” out there, but that’s just my thoughts on that right now.
I previously read The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale, which I loved, so I was excited to read this newest release. I do recommend reading this book as well, although it’s not a light, easy read. The Ingenue covers a topic/topics that are not being discussed enough.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book. Publication date: December 6, 2022.
The Ingenue deals with the present day and the teenage years of Saskia. It also deals with growing up and coming home to the mansion she grew up in, known as the Elf House. I wouldn’t say that Saskia had a complex relationship with her mother/parents, so much as she had an independent relationship from them. So many secrets were kept, and the Elf House didn’t necessarily keep them either…
I’m still processing this book, as it wasn’t an easy read. Still reflecting on the fact that everything that happens to us in our childhood/teenage years does affect our adult years and the choices we make. Did I like the ending of the book? I’m not sure? I don’t think it was realistic, and probably wouldn’t work for the other “ingenue” out there, but that’s just my thoughts on that right now.
I previously read The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale, which I loved, so I was excited to read this newest release. I do recommend reading this book as well, although it’s not a light, easy read. The Ingenue covers a topic/topics that are not being discussed enough.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book. Publication date: December 6, 2022.
December 28, 2022
Saskia Kreis, former child piano prodigy, returns home to Wisconsin following the death of her mother. Her childhood home, Elf House, has been in the family for a long time and Saskia fully expects to inherit it. She is devastated when she finds out her mother has left it to a former colleague, Peter, with whom Saskia shares a complicated history.
Each chapter begins with a snippet of "Fairy Tales for Little Feminists", a retelling of fairy tales by Evelyn Kreis, Saskia's mother, followed by a section of the story of Saskia's childhood beginning in 1991 when she was 9, followed by Saskia's current story beginning in January 2020, until the timelines merge. Although I was unable to fully immerse myself in the story, I enjoyed it much more than the author's previous novel, The Ballerinas. The ending was a bit of a shock but not totally surprising. I was very impressed by the writing and found the book to be a smooth read. I'd give it 3.5 stars but I'm rounding up since there's not a lot wrong with the book and I think most people would enjoy it more than I did.
TW: Like My Dark Vanessa to which The Ingenue is compared, there is an inappropriate relationship between a young Saskia and an older man.
My thanks to St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel which was published December 6, 2022. All opinions expressed are my own.
Each chapter begins with a snippet of "Fairy Tales for Little Feminists", a retelling of fairy tales by Evelyn Kreis, Saskia's mother, followed by a section of the story of Saskia's childhood beginning in 1991 when she was 9, followed by Saskia's current story beginning in January 2020, until the timelines merge. Although I was unable to fully immerse myself in the story, I enjoyed it much more than the author's previous novel, The Ballerinas. The ending was a bit of a shock but not totally surprising. I was very impressed by the writing and found the book to be a smooth read. I'd give it 3.5 stars but I'm rounding up since there's not a lot wrong with the book and I think most people would enjoy it more than I did.
TW: Like My Dark Vanessa to which The Ingenue is compared, there is an inappropriate relationship between a young Saskia and an older man.
My thanks to St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel which was published December 6, 2022. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 5, 2022
3.5⭐
Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, multiple timelines, underage student/teacher relationship, manipulation
Saskia is back home after her mother's death. There are some shocks when the will is read, so Saskia sets forth to get what's rightfully hers.
I liked that this was written with a multiple timeline that took us through Saskia's childhood, which led us to why the house was not left to her. She took matters into her own hands in a big way and I liked the reasoning behind why of why her mother did what she did. Wasn't loving Evelyn's 'fairy tales for little feminists' stories at the beginning of the chapters.
There's an inappropriate relationship between 14 year old Saskia and her much older teacher, Patrick, that some might not enjoy reading about.
Being a mother with a daughter around the age of when Saskia was being manipulated might be reflecting on how I feel about this one. The story was well written, but that's a tough topic to read about for sure.
Narrated by Stephanie Willis for 12 Hours, 18 Minutes, 56 Seconds, easy to follow at 2-2.5x. It is on the longer side, but she did a good job keeping me listening. I was growing annoyed with the way she said Evelyn Harper Kreis though.
*Thanks to Macmillan Audio, Rachel Kapelke-Dale and NetGalley for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, multiple timelines, underage student/teacher relationship, manipulation
Saskia is back home after her mother's death. There are some shocks when the will is read, so Saskia sets forth to get what's rightfully hers.
I liked that this was written with a multiple timeline that took us through Saskia's childhood, which led us to why the house was not left to her. She took matters into her own hands in a big way and I liked the reasoning behind why of why her mother did what she did. Wasn't loving Evelyn's 'fairy tales for little feminists' stories at the beginning of the chapters.
There's an inappropriate relationship between 14 year old Saskia and her much older teacher, Patrick, that some might not enjoy reading about.
Being a mother with a daughter around the age of when Saskia was being manipulated might be reflecting on how I feel about this one. The story was well written, but that's a tough topic to read about for sure.
Narrated by Stephanie Willis for 12 Hours, 18 Minutes, 56 Seconds, easy to follow at 2-2.5x. It is on the longer side, but she did a good job keeping me listening. I was growing annoyed with the way she said Evelyn Harper Kreis though.
*Thanks to Macmillan Audio, Rachel Kapelke-Dale and NetGalley for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
August 17, 2022
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: December 6, 2022
Saskia Kreis, former child piano prodigy, returns home to Wisconsin to bury her mother. Her beloved childhood home, Elf House, has fallen into disrepair but it holds so many pleasant memories for Saskia and has been in the family for so long that Saskia is devastated when she finds out her mother has left Elf House to her mother’s former colleague, Peter. Saskia knows she has to reach out to Peter and find out his motivations, and even Saskia’s strained and tenuous relationship with him won’t get in her way. As she fights to save the only house she has ever known, Saskia also must fight to find her place in an unfamiliar world.
Rachel Kapelke-Dale returns with her new novel, “The Ingenue”. After a cleverly well developed story like her previous work, “The Ballerinas”, I had high hopes for this one, and Kapelke-Dale did not let me down. Similar in theme, “The Ingenue” follows a piano prodigy, struggling to deal with the normal expectations of adult life, after her childhood dreams were literally ripped away.
The novel was difficult to get into at first, as characters are mentioned out of context, with no background, so it seemed like I was missing something. However, the story is told in two time periods, and each chapter is divided into the current era, and various points of Saskia’s history, and as the story unfolds, all of the questions are answered. Saskia narrates the entire novel, and her perspective is gripping and uncomfortable, in all the right ways.
“The Ingenue” has so many overt themes at its core- exceptional talent, family relationships, and, of course, inappropriate conduct and sexual assault. It is not a novel to be taken lightly, but it is so moving and engaging that it will definitely stick with you. Regardless of Saskia’s actions, I rooted for her throughout, and the ending was unexpected, yet exactly what the novel needed.
Kapelke-Dale has a way of bringing to light the pressures of exceptional talent, and the devastation that follows when the light burns out, while still providing relatable characters and a novel full of emotional, heartstring-pulling plotlines. This novel left me with all the feels, and it seems that Kapelke-Dale is only getting better. I look forward to her future novels.
Expected publication date: December 6, 2022
Saskia Kreis, former child piano prodigy, returns home to Wisconsin to bury her mother. Her beloved childhood home, Elf House, has fallen into disrepair but it holds so many pleasant memories for Saskia and has been in the family for so long that Saskia is devastated when she finds out her mother has left Elf House to her mother’s former colleague, Peter. Saskia knows she has to reach out to Peter and find out his motivations, and even Saskia’s strained and tenuous relationship with him won’t get in her way. As she fights to save the only house she has ever known, Saskia also must fight to find her place in an unfamiliar world.
Rachel Kapelke-Dale returns with her new novel, “The Ingenue”. After a cleverly well developed story like her previous work, “The Ballerinas”, I had high hopes for this one, and Kapelke-Dale did not let me down. Similar in theme, “The Ingenue” follows a piano prodigy, struggling to deal with the normal expectations of adult life, after her childhood dreams were literally ripped away.
The novel was difficult to get into at first, as characters are mentioned out of context, with no background, so it seemed like I was missing something. However, the story is told in two time periods, and each chapter is divided into the current era, and various points of Saskia’s history, and as the story unfolds, all of the questions are answered. Saskia narrates the entire novel, and her perspective is gripping and uncomfortable, in all the right ways.
“The Ingenue” has so many overt themes at its core- exceptional talent, family relationships, and, of course, inappropriate conduct and sexual assault. It is not a novel to be taken lightly, but it is so moving and engaging that it will definitely stick with you. Regardless of Saskia’s actions, I rooted for her throughout, and the ending was unexpected, yet exactly what the novel needed.
Kapelke-Dale has a way of bringing to light the pressures of exceptional talent, and the devastation that follows when the light burns out, while still providing relatable characters and a novel full of emotional, heartstring-pulling plotlines. This novel left me with all the feels, and it seems that Kapelke-Dale is only getting better. I look forward to her future novels.
March 26, 2023
The Ingenue is dark, compelling and disturbing. Saskia is forced to investigate her troubled past while trying to grapple with the present. This is a story of the shattered childhood of a prodigy and the path she takes to vengeance. One of the most powerful and gut wrenching lines was “He didn’t like me in spite of my age; he liked me because of my age.” Heartbreaking. The narrator expertly brings Sakai’s character to life adding a complex layer of emotion from her past when she was a young teenager and her present scarred state as an adult. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my audiobook.
December 22, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
From the publisher: When former piano prodigy Saskia Kreis returns home to Milwaukee after her mother's unexpected death, she expects to inherit the family estate, the Elf House. But with the discovery that her mother's will bequeathed the Elf House to a man that Saskia shares a complicated history with, she is forced to reexamine her own past––and the romantic relationship that changed the course of her life––for answers. Can she find a way to claim her heritage while keeping her secrets buried, or will the fallout from digging too deep destroy her?
Set against a post #MeToo landscape, Rachel Kapelke-Dale's The Ingenue delves into mother-daughter relationships, the expectations of talent, the stories we tell ourselves, and what happens when the things that once made you special are taken from you. Moving between Saskia's childhood and the present day, this dark, contemporary fairy tale pulses with desire, longing, and uncertainty, as it builds to its spectacular, shocking climax.
What I Thought
My last NetGalley review of 2022( and my 184th read of the year) finds me with very turbulent emotions. For the majority of my reading experience, I was sitting on the passenger side of Rachel Kapelke-Dale's car following Saskia on her journey to acquire her family home while getting someone from her past to admit how they had manipulated her mind and her heart.
But then...... I felt the need to grab onto the door handle, free the lock, and tuck and roll and make it to the ditch safely.
I see a lot of glowing 5-star reviews and I guess the climax and resolution of this novel worked better for most readers. For myself, I think had I held a physical copy of the book in my hands instead of my Kindle, it would have hit the opposite wall so fast.
What exactly was my problem? On that, I wish I could say to anyone reading my review, that it is as clear to me as the day when I felt the author steered me off the tracks. The topic of sexual consent is an important one. I did grapple with liking the character as I felt she was a hard character to connect with. But even that I can push to the side in pursuit of seeing where the author will take the story. I liked the feminist retelling of fairy tales. Although a few did make me roll my eyes with the vocabulary, they were great. The Beauty and Beast one was awesome!
No, I think it's because I just don't buy into the author making this the way the novel ended. I DEMAND a rewrite of that ending! Haha! Just kidding!
Seriously, I shall have to concede that I may just be a very disgruntled reviewer. I think I shall "safely" place my review at a 3 star because I did like the majority of the novel.
Publication Date 06/12/22
Goodreads review 22/12/22
From the publisher: When former piano prodigy Saskia Kreis returns home to Milwaukee after her mother's unexpected death, she expects to inherit the family estate, the Elf House. But with the discovery that her mother's will bequeathed the Elf House to a man that Saskia shares a complicated history with, she is forced to reexamine her own past––and the romantic relationship that changed the course of her life––for answers. Can she find a way to claim her heritage while keeping her secrets buried, or will the fallout from digging too deep destroy her?
Set against a post #MeToo landscape, Rachel Kapelke-Dale's The Ingenue delves into mother-daughter relationships, the expectations of talent, the stories we tell ourselves, and what happens when the things that once made you special are taken from you. Moving between Saskia's childhood and the present day, this dark, contemporary fairy tale pulses with desire, longing, and uncertainty, as it builds to its spectacular, shocking climax.
What I Thought
My last NetGalley review of 2022( and my 184th read of the year) finds me with very turbulent emotions. For the majority of my reading experience, I was sitting on the passenger side of Rachel Kapelke-Dale's car following Saskia on her journey to acquire her family home while getting someone from her past to admit how they had manipulated her mind and her heart.
But then...... I felt the need to grab onto the door handle, free the lock, and tuck and roll and make it to the ditch safely.
I see a lot of glowing 5-star reviews and I guess the climax and resolution of this novel worked better for most readers. For myself, I think had I held a physical copy of the book in my hands instead of my Kindle, it would have hit the opposite wall so fast.
What exactly was my problem? On that, I wish I could say to anyone reading my review, that it is as clear to me as the day when I felt the author steered me off the tracks. The topic of sexual consent is an important one. I did grapple with liking the character as I felt she was a hard character to connect with. But even that I can push to the side in pursuit of seeing where the author will take the story. I liked the feminist retelling of fairy tales. Although a few did make me roll my eyes with the vocabulary, they were great. The Beauty and Beast one was awesome!
No, I think it's because I just don't buy into the author making this the way the novel ended. I DEMAND a rewrite of that ending! Haha! Just kidding!
Seriously, I shall have to concede that I may just be a very disgruntled reviewer. I think I shall "safely" place my review at a 3 star because I did like the majority of the novel.
Publication Date 06/12/22
Goodreads review 22/12/22
December 6, 2022
Having a child with a wonderful gifted ability often makes parents, sometime feel that the child is their ticket to a glorious future. However, in the case of Saskia Kreis, a vulnerable young girl, her life becomes one of abuse, sexual manipulation, and desire. The story begins as Saskia returns home to attend her mother's funeral. She finds out that her beloved home Elf House, is bequeathed to the man who abused her. Why was this done? Saskia then takes matters into her own hands and is determined to capture that home for herself.
The story is interwoven with feminist reworkings starting each chapter with fairy tales, written by her mother Evelyn. This starts us onto levels of teenage angst, and a belief that an older man whom she thinks she loves and who starts sexually using her at fourteen, is divided between the past and the present. We can understand the child Saskia is and as she matures, she begins to see that she is not the prodigy she once was. As an adult, she knows her talent seems to be interrupted by her supposed love for Patrick, the sexual manipulator. She had been a child searching for acceptance and love and as teenagers so often do. Perhaps, once ourselves, we knew the feelings that we thought were love, but nothing more than acceptance, supposed care, and a newly budding sexual desire.
However, the bottom line, was why would Evelyn give the Elf House to Patrick, the abuser?
This complicated story really portrayed the tenuous relationship a child if often in when in relationship with an older man. She becomes a pawn in the search for love and her immature idea of what it constitutes. At eighteen, Patrick ends the "affair" and Sakia returns to her passion for the piano. Patrick is an abuser and when she commits an offense, she confesses to her beloved father, the chain of events. Saskia has taken control of her life, and as Her father rages against the past happenings, perhaps things will spiral out of Saskia's control.
Can Saskia find someone who can love her who doesn't know about her being a prodigy? Is her former skill what made her lovable or is there something else within that makes her worthwhile? She can always retreat back to the Elf House, but can she face life and live up to reality? Can you face the fact that there were others who are better than you, and you are no longer remarkable?
Thank you to Rachel Kapelke-Dale, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this well written book that might revel some of our own hidden memories.
The story is interwoven with feminist reworkings starting each chapter with fairy tales, written by her mother Evelyn. This starts us onto levels of teenage angst, and a belief that an older man whom she thinks she loves and who starts sexually using her at fourteen, is divided between the past and the present. We can understand the child Saskia is and as she matures, she begins to see that she is not the prodigy she once was. As an adult, she knows her talent seems to be interrupted by her supposed love for Patrick, the sexual manipulator. She had been a child searching for acceptance and love and as teenagers so often do. Perhaps, once ourselves, we knew the feelings that we thought were love, but nothing more than acceptance, supposed care, and a newly budding sexual desire.
However, the bottom line, was why would Evelyn give the Elf House to Patrick, the abuser?
This complicated story really portrayed the tenuous relationship a child if often in when in relationship with an older man. She becomes a pawn in the search for love and her immature idea of what it constitutes. At eighteen, Patrick ends the "affair" and Sakia returns to her passion for the piano. Patrick is an abuser and when she commits an offense, she confesses to her beloved father, the chain of events. Saskia has taken control of her life, and as Her father rages against the past happenings, perhaps things will spiral out of Saskia's control.
Can Saskia find someone who can love her who doesn't know about her being a prodigy? Is her former skill what made her lovable or is there something else within that makes her worthwhile? She can always retreat back to the Elf House, but can she face life and live up to reality? Can you face the fact that there were others who are better than you, and you are no longer remarkable?
Thank you to Rachel Kapelke-Dale, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this well written book that might revel some of our own hidden memories.
November 7, 2022
I was immediately drawn to this book by its artsy, gothic cover. The story itself didn't start rocking my world until the 50% mark. It was building, expanding, getting crazier- and then ended with a big bang!
For a synopsis, Saskia was a child prodigy pianist, the only child of Mike (a cellist) and Evie (sculptress, artist, and children's book author). Her mother is an heiress to the gothic heap of a mansion they live in nicknamed "Elf House". Like most inherited mansions, it is in constant need of upkeep like cleaning, cliff erosion, back taxes and other continual structural/necessary improvements. Saskia is now in her thirties, living in NYC, and forced to return to Elf House following the death of her mother. The simmering mystery in the story involves the character of Patrick, an art/photography teacher who crossed the line with Saskia when she was 14 and he was 37. This very much reminded me of the book "My Dark Vanessa", and the details of their relationship are teased intermittently throughout the book.
The writing itself was skillful, forthright and free-flowing. I was intrigued by the bohemian- yet sometimes forceful parenting style of Saskia's mother, in contrast with her father's more laid back/ resigning approach. There was also the knowing result of Patrick's early "mark" on Saskia which continued to resonate into her adult life. In the aftermath of Saskia's mother's death, there is a struggle involving the property, financial issues, dealing with her past relationships and what to do with the rest of her life. It was a slow build at the beginning, but really took off to an unexpected finale. This was a fascinating psychological study of relationships which is why I found it so interesting.
Thank you to the publisher St. Martin's Press for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
May 9, 2023
I read the first 100 + pages, skimmed the next chunk, and read the last 30 pages. It was slow and boring to the point where I didn't even want to keep reading nor did I care about any of the characters.
I absolutely loved The Ballerinas... it was hard to reconcile that the same author wrote both.
I absolutely loved The Ballerinas... it was hard to reconcile that the same author wrote both.
November 27, 2022
Saskia, a former piano prodigy, comes home after her mother's death to find that she is not inheriting The Elf House, their family mansion. Instead it is going to the most improbable person she could have imagined. As Saskia begins to investigate why her mother would have done this, shocking truths are revealed.
I was absolutely awed by this. The writing is fantastic, and the premise is unique and original. The weaving together of Saskia's present and past is exquisitely done. Her mother's personality shines through the book as well. The writer flawlessly presented a unique work of fiction combining music, art, and the depths and heights a human being can reach. The "me too" movement is a part of this book in a big way, but that's all I will say. If you think you've figured out what's going on in this book by reading my review or the synopsis, you haven't. Read it.
The narrator does a wonderful job of capturing the suspense and emotion of this book in all the different characters.
I received a free audiobook from MacMillan Audio. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
I was absolutely awed by this. The writing is fantastic, and the premise is unique and original. The weaving together of Saskia's present and past is exquisitely done. Her mother's personality shines through the book as well. The writer flawlessly presented a unique work of fiction combining music, art, and the depths and heights a human being can reach. The "me too" movement is a part of this book in a big way, but that's all I will say. If you think you've figured out what's going on in this book by reading my review or the synopsis, you haven't. Read it.
The narrator does a wonderful job of capturing the suspense and emotion of this book in all the different characters.
I received a free audiobook from MacMillan Audio. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
February 1, 2023
I couldn’t put this book down! I had no idea exactly where this was headed but I knew I liked it… Imagine you have been told your entire life…you are going to inherit your family estate… until you didn’t..😳…The Elf House has been passed down generation after generation.. but then you realize.. something has gone terribly wrong.. 😬..why is it being left to someone else?! 😦🤔😠
Okay what did I love? This whole Elf House vibe… I found it to be very gothic… which I love of course..😉 I also loved that Saskia was a prodigy and had a promising future.. until she didn’t…🤫… Each chapter starts with a quite witty Fairytale that I could not get enough of… and the strong #metoo vibes… 💔
What I appreciated most was seeing this story from Saskia’s POV as a young girl… 👱♀️… The pressure of being a prodigy… the profound innocence of a young girl thinking it’s true love ❤️ When in fact.. it is quite something else…Yes this was a bit dark and definitely disturbing… however it was written so well and I was immediately intrigued…
The ending was… perfection!! 🙌🙌 I read The Ballerinas 🩰 and enjoyed it.. but I liked this one even more!! 😍
Okay what did I love? This whole Elf House vibe… I found it to be very gothic… which I love of course..😉 I also loved that Saskia was a prodigy and had a promising future.. until she didn’t…🤫… Each chapter starts with a quite witty Fairytale that I could not get enough of… and the strong #metoo vibes… 💔
What I appreciated most was seeing this story from Saskia’s POV as a young girl… 👱♀️… The pressure of being a prodigy… the profound innocence of a young girl thinking it’s true love ❤️ When in fact.. it is quite something else…Yes this was a bit dark and definitely disturbing… however it was written so well and I was immediately intrigued…
The ending was… perfection!! 🙌🙌 I read The Ballerinas 🩰 and enjoyed it.. but I liked this one even more!! 😍
November 22, 2022
After reading and being very impressed with The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale, I knew I would read anything the author wrote next. So I was very happy to land a copy of her upcoming work The Ingenue.
The Ingenue is centered around 20-something Saskia Kreis. Saskia returns to her hometown of Milwaukee after her mother's unexpected passing. Saskia expects to inherit her childhood home the Elf House, which is a mansion that’s been passed down in her family for generations. But Saskia is shocked to discover that her mother left the house to a former colleague Peter. Saskia has had a very complicated history with Peter but ultimately she must face the past to claim what is rightfully hers.
An Ingenue is a character in literature, film, or theater, generally, a girl or a young woman, who is endearingly innocent. This perfectly sums up our main character Saskia. Even though she was unlikeable at times, I still rooted for her. The characters and story were very well developed and I loved the setting of the elf house. It took me a bit to get into The Ingenue but once I did I ended up falling in love with the writing. Just like in The Ballerinas, Rachel Kapelke-Dale always evokes an elegance of yesteryear that’s not so common in modern times.
In the same vein as My Dark Vanessa and Dark Horses, The Ingenue is centered around an adult woman who is reckoning with a past relationship she had as a young teen with a grown man. As with any story dealing with sexual abuse, this is not an easy story and will not be for everyone.
The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale will be available on December 6. Many thanks to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the gifted copy.
The Ingenue is centered around 20-something Saskia Kreis. Saskia returns to her hometown of Milwaukee after her mother's unexpected passing. Saskia expects to inherit her childhood home the Elf House, which is a mansion that’s been passed down in her family for generations. But Saskia is shocked to discover that her mother left the house to a former colleague Peter. Saskia has had a very complicated history with Peter but ultimately she must face the past to claim what is rightfully hers.
An Ingenue is a character in literature, film, or theater, generally, a girl or a young woman, who is endearingly innocent. This perfectly sums up our main character Saskia. Even though she was unlikeable at times, I still rooted for her. The characters and story were very well developed and I loved the setting of the elf house. It took me a bit to get into The Ingenue but once I did I ended up falling in love with the writing. Just like in The Ballerinas, Rachel Kapelke-Dale always evokes an elegance of yesteryear that’s not so common in modern times.
In the same vein as My Dark Vanessa and Dark Horses, The Ingenue is centered around an adult woman who is reckoning with a past relationship she had as a young teen with a grown man. As with any story dealing with sexual abuse, this is not an easy story and will not be for everyone.
The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale will be available on December 6. Many thanks to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the gifted copy.
February 13, 2024
From the author, Rachel Kapelke-Dale, of the bestselling debut, The Ballerinas comes a stunning dark, lyrical, and searing tale —THE INGENUE. A novel of suspense of family,mothers-daughters, talent, ambition, and revenge!
My Dark Vanessa meets T. Greenwood's Such A Pretty Girl in this provocative lyrical drama of innocence lost, prodigy, time, girl, and woman.
From this impressive front cover, the author captivates you instantly and holds you to the twisty, satisfying conclusion.
Saskia Kreis, a former piano prodigy, returns to Milwaukee after her mother's death. She is expecting to inherit the family estate called Elf House.
But she learns it will go to a man with that she shares a complex and sordid past. A much older man, Patrick, stole her innocence. How will she get this time back? Her life?
Saskia has long-buried secrets. What did Patrick have over her mother? Why did her mother bequeath him the estate?
From past to present, we hear from Saskia and her life from a teen to today. Set against a post #MeToo era, the author delves deep into the strained mother-daughter relationship.
Was her mother protecting her? Now, what will her dad say that the mom is gone? Can she be truthful about her past without it destroying her?
She has a purpose. She has a plan. She can let herself do this.
Enthralling, atmospheric, gothic, and mixed with fairy tales, this clever mystery tale of revenge and redemption is exceptional. Way to take back the power!
From child pornography, innocence lost, sexual abuse, a victim, the piano, dreams, sacrifices, and time, the author takes readers on a journey with short feminist fairy tale excerpts (from her mother's Fairy Tales for Little Feminists)—at the beginning of each chapter which were a delight! (LOVED) You will be swept away by Saskia and her mother's story.
Alternating between Saskia's childhood and the present day, this dark, contemporary fairy tale, with its beautiful lyrical prose, will captivate you and have you smiling at its spectacular conclusion.
Thank you to #StMartinsPress and #Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #SMPInfluencers
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Dec 6, 2022
Dec 2022 Must-Read Books
My review of her debut, The Ballerinas!
My Dark Vanessa meets T. Greenwood's Such A Pretty Girl in this provocative lyrical drama of innocence lost, prodigy, time, girl, and woman.
From this impressive front cover, the author captivates you instantly and holds you to the twisty, satisfying conclusion.
Saskia Kreis, a former piano prodigy, returns to Milwaukee after her mother's death. She is expecting to inherit the family estate called Elf House.
But she learns it will go to a man with that she shares a complex and sordid past. A much older man, Patrick, stole her innocence. How will she get this time back? Her life?
Saskia has long-buried secrets. What did Patrick have over her mother? Why did her mother bequeath him the estate?
From past to present, we hear from Saskia and her life from a teen to today. Set against a post #MeToo era, the author delves deep into the strained mother-daughter relationship.
Was her mother protecting her? Now, what will her dad say that the mom is gone? Can she be truthful about her past without it destroying her?
She has a purpose. She has a plan. She can let herself do this.
A mother's choice:
"What did her mother have to give her? To save her? Ambition. Opportunity. Privilege. Love."
"But what did her mother think she had to give? The Elf House. Or her stories."
Enthralling, atmospheric, gothic, and mixed with fairy tales, this clever mystery tale of revenge and redemption is exceptional. Way to take back the power!
From child pornography, innocence lost, sexual abuse, a victim, the piano, dreams, sacrifices, and time, the author takes readers on a journey with short feminist fairy tale excerpts (from her mother's Fairy Tales for Little Feminists)—at the beginning of each chapter which were a delight! (LOVED) You will be swept away by Saskia and her mother's story.
Alternating between Saskia's childhood and the present day, this dark, contemporary fairy tale, with its beautiful lyrical prose, will captivate you and have you smiling at its spectacular conclusion.
"And after all. What is a fairy tale, anyway but a ghost story about the living? About taking care of unfinished business while you still have time."
Thank you to #StMartinsPress and #Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #SMPInfluencers
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Dec 6, 2022
Dec 2022 Must-Read Books
My review of her debut, The Ballerinas!
December 26, 2022
The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale is said to be a mix of My Dark Vanessa and The Queen's Gambit and while I haven't read either of those books, I can still imagine that is an accurate description. Saskia being a prodigy mixed with her prior relationship with an older man screams both of those books, and if you are going to read this you definitely need to be prepared for a #MeToo story. I hadn't read the synopsis going in since my desire to read The Ingenue was based solely on how much I loved Kapelke-Dale's The Ballerinas (of course the gorgeous cover helped too), and I have to admit that I ended up with a lot more than I bargained for. Parts of the book did drag a bit for me especially in the beginning to middle and I started to lose interest, but I am really glad I stuck with it because the climax was nothing less than explosive.
There are some serious triggers in this book, so I would highly recommend checking those out before picking it up. However, I thought the way Kapelke-Dale approached them was in such a sensitive way that they might not be a dealbreaker either. The audiobook for The Ingenue is narrated by the extremely talented Stephanie Willis and I was in awe of how well she adapted to voice this novel. Her performance felt different than in other books I’ve listened to her narrate and she really brought Saskia’s character alive. She made it a lot easier for me to get through the parts that felt slow, and I loved the audio. The ending really made this book for me, and it is important to know the storyline is fairly dark. I really felt for Saskia, and I enjoyed watching the way she transformed by the time the story was over. The Ingenue had a bit of a coming-of-age story vibe as well, and though it was a tough read at times, I appreciated where Kapelke-Dale decided to take the storyline.
Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
There are some serious triggers in this book, so I would highly recommend checking those out before picking it up. However, I thought the way Kapelke-Dale approached them was in such a sensitive way that they might not be a dealbreaker either. The audiobook for The Ingenue is narrated by the extremely talented Stephanie Willis and I was in awe of how well she adapted to voice this novel. Her performance felt different than in other books I’ve listened to her narrate and she really brought Saskia’s character alive. She made it a lot easier for me to get through the parts that felt slow, and I loved the audio. The ending really made this book for me, and it is important to know the storyline is fairly dark. I really felt for Saskia, and I enjoyed watching the way she transformed by the time the story was over. The Ingenue had a bit of a coming-of-age story vibe as well, and though it was a tough read at times, I appreciated where Kapelke-Dale decided to take the storyline.
Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
December 1, 2022
The Ingenue is a beautiful fever dream of a story, a genre-blending mix of mystery and fairytale that metamorphizes into different stories as you’re reading: an intimate look at the bonds between mothers and daughters, a searing exploration of who you are when you’re no longer exceptional, a knife-edged tale of vengeance. It is utterly enthralling, provocative, and so smart it held me captive until the perfect, sinister end. A book for anyone who was told they were special and is still clawing their way back.
December 18, 2022
Review and rating to come.
June 8, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book!
Saskia Kreis was a piano prodigy when she was a child. She left for New York when she turned 18, but her decisions thereafter caused her to have a strained relationship with her mother. Then her mother unexpectedly died and Saskia has to go home to the Elf House – a mansion that has been in her family for generations. Expecting to inherit the house as it is supposed to stay within the family, Saskia is shocked when she learns that her mother’s will was giving the house away to a man with which Saskia had a complicated relationship. When Saskia tries to figure out why her mother made this choice, she comes to the realization that the relationship she had with this man was not what she thought it was, and wants to keep her secrets to herself.
This is a beautiful book about the complexities of relationships, the perception of relationships, and how our age and place in life effect those perceptions. Saskia’s realization of what actually happened to her as a teenager was written with such grace. It wasn’t a sudden realization, as it isn’t for most people, but a gradual realization. Then there was the acceptance of that realization, which like most, Saskia struggled with as well. The author used differing time periods in each chapter to highlight the polarity of Saskia’s view as a teenager and as an adult. There was also an err of mystery with the book – what happened to Saskia, what is she going to find, and how is it going to help her save her legacy? The ending was quite a surprise, and not the way that I thought the book was going to end. I would love to speak with the author to ask her if she had an alternative ending in mind, and why she chose this one.
Saskia Kreis was a piano prodigy when she was a child. She left for New York when she turned 18, but her decisions thereafter caused her to have a strained relationship with her mother. Then her mother unexpectedly died and Saskia has to go home to the Elf House – a mansion that has been in her family for generations. Expecting to inherit the house as it is supposed to stay within the family, Saskia is shocked when she learns that her mother’s will was giving the house away to a man with which Saskia had a complicated relationship. When Saskia tries to figure out why her mother made this choice, she comes to the realization that the relationship she had with this man was not what she thought it was, and wants to keep her secrets to herself.
This is a beautiful book about the complexities of relationships, the perception of relationships, and how our age and place in life effect those perceptions. Saskia’s realization of what actually happened to her as a teenager was written with such grace. It wasn’t a sudden realization, as it isn’t for most people, but a gradual realization. Then there was the acceptance of that realization, which like most, Saskia struggled with as well. The author used differing time periods in each chapter to highlight the polarity of Saskia’s view as a teenager and as an adult. There was also an err of mystery with the book – what happened to Saskia, what is she going to find, and how is it going to help her save her legacy? The ending was quite a surprise, and not the way that I thought the book was going to end. I would love to speak with the author to ask her if she had an alternative ending in mind, and why she chose this one.
November 17, 2022
[4.5 stars]
I loved Kapelke-Dale's debut novel, The Ballerinas, and she's done it again with The Ingenue! Former piano prodigy, Saskia, returns home to Milwaukee after her mother dies, leaving the family estate ("Elf House" - based on 2 elf statues at the front door) to a complicated man from her past. Saskia has to decide if pursuing what she sees as her rightful inheritance is worth buried secrets being revealed. The Ingenue was such a pleasant surprise for me: the story went in unexpected directions and was much more layered than I anticipated. There's a coming of age element, the family drama, and the fact that Saskia is a piano prodigy…and what that does to a young girl’s psyche (I found this element particularly fascinating). Though it’s not a particularly plot-driven book, there is still suspense and Kapelke-Dale generates so much tension through her writing style. It's been compared to My Dark Vanessa and it's definitely reminiscent of that, but there is much more to this particular part of the story - it's NOT a straight up copy of My Dark Vanessa. This is one of my top underrated gems of 2022!
I loved Kapelke-Dale's debut novel, The Ballerinas, and she's done it again with The Ingenue! Former piano prodigy, Saskia, returns home to Milwaukee after her mother dies, leaving the family estate ("Elf House" - based on 2 elf statues at the front door) to a complicated man from her past. Saskia has to decide if pursuing what she sees as her rightful inheritance is worth buried secrets being revealed. The Ingenue was such a pleasant surprise for me: the story went in unexpected directions and was much more layered than I anticipated. There's a coming of age element, the family drama, and the fact that Saskia is a piano prodigy…and what that does to a young girl’s psyche (I found this element particularly fascinating). Though it’s not a particularly plot-driven book, there is still suspense and Kapelke-Dale generates so much tension through her writing style. It's been compared to My Dark Vanessa and it's definitely reminiscent of that, but there is much more to this particular part of the story - it's NOT a straight up copy of My Dark Vanessa. This is one of my top underrated gems of 2022!
January 17, 2023
I appreciate the idea behind this book. A former piano prodigy has to come home and deal with what will happen to her childhood home after the death of her mother. The story also has a big focus on a manipulative relationship she had when she was underage and how that impacted her life.
I wanted a larger portion of the book to be focused on her childhood as a piano prodigy and how her life changed course. Also how her view of this relationship she had with a much older man changed from the time when she was an underage teenager to her view in the present day as someone in her 30s. Yes, that all is featured here… but it seemed like there were just too many scenes about the will, and the house, and probate, and lawyers, and contesting this, and property tax, and finding documents, and on and on and on and on. I just did not care.
There were some good scenes exploring her trauma and how different people react to similar situations in very different ways. I just wanted that to be the majority of the book rather than spending so much time on the minutiae of what will happen to the house.
Also, the ending felt too ridiculous and like everything happened too easily.
I wanted a larger portion of the book to be focused on her childhood as a piano prodigy and how her life changed course. Also how her view of this relationship she had with a much older man changed from the time when she was an underage teenager to her view in the present day as someone in her 30s. Yes, that all is featured here… but it seemed like there were just too many scenes about the will, and the house, and probate, and lawyers, and contesting this, and property tax, and finding documents, and on and on and on and on. I just did not care.
There were some good scenes exploring her trauma and how different people react to similar situations in very different ways. I just wanted that to be the majority of the book rather than spending so much time on the minutiae of what will happen to the house.
Also, the ending felt too ridiculous and like everything happened too easily.
November 11, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My Selling Pitch:
Do you like preachy books in the Me Too era? Do you want to read yet another book about a privileged white girl being abused by an older, powerful man? Do you like books that just exist and don’t have any real concrete messaging to them?
Pre-reading:
More emotional trauma books, please.
Thick of it:
Weird opener for this kind of book. Dunno if I like it.
This book is giving me Verity vibes.
Luthier is a brand new word.
I agree; right over kind any day.
I would find out.
It’s giving Gone Girl with the parents’ books.
I do not like this book. I am bored. The not knowing is not teasing or playful or building tension. I’ve just become annoyed by it.
The “feminist” story chapter openers are insufferable.
He is way too old for her.
She’s 13, you pedo.
Baby Scorpio or Sag? (Astrotrash me up, baby.)
That’s not love if they are underage.
This is some infuriating, token Me Too shit. It’s all of us. It’s every single one. Burn it all
Just say you’re jealous and have a tiny penis, Patrick.
It took 50% way through for this book to get interesting. That’s unacceptable.
A Scorpio.
Comparing it to 9/11 is really not cool. It feels cheap.
What the fuck, Sheila?
I mean, she literally has photos, and his admission of guilt like the man would go away for statutory and child pornography and dissemination because he literally gave it to a museum so…
Which also I just don’t understand how he even gave it to a museum?
The Elf House is such a dumb name. It makes me cringe every time it’s mentioned.
Why do all the villains in this book eat rare meat? There’s nothing wrong with rare meat.
Also, you’re gonna talk business eating a fajita wrap? What are you doing? Who wants to eat with their hands in front of their abuser?
What editor read fajita in this scene and let her keep it?
HA extra Scorpio.
Don’t leave him with the photos though? You need those. What if he destroys them?
No, sorry there’s no way in hell an insurance company is buying that it was an electrical fire in the middle of a house’s ownership being disputed. Especially with a man who went missing. Are you fucking stupid.
Two stars. So much I would edit in this book
Post-reading:
Whenever I read these woke, post Me Too era books, I always think to myself am I in the wrong? Am I part of the problem for not liking it? And then it’s like no, because truly who is the audience for these books? When you write a moralistic book, you have to be held to a higher standard than a simple work of fiction. If you’re going to impart any type of message, that message better be fucking airtight and gone over with a fine tooth comb to make sure it’s actually the message you want to portray. I don’t think this book does that, and I think that failing is enough to make it bad. Who needs the Me Too books? Because it’s not the women. The women already know it’s fucked. So either you do the work to correct men, which this book doesn’t do, or you do it to empower other women and make them feel not alone, but this book fails in that regard too because what’s the fucking message? No one will come forward with you, you’re above the law, and you can just murder your way out of problems? You know provided you’re a rich white lady with family support behind you who’s conventionally attractive and college educated and talented. And then this book is filled with the girl boss woke jargon-a comedian, Iliza Schlesinger, just articulated it perfectly by calling it the infantilization of feminism. That’s insulting.
The beginning of this book is incredibly slow and borders on irrelevant. You have to get halfway through the book before it gets going. The romance added to this book is misplaced and completely dropped as a plot point. The ending makes no sense and feels like morbid wish fulfillment.
Truly, I still cannot get over the author and the editor allowing her to eat a fajita during that scene.
Who should read this:
People obsessed with Me Too books
Do I want to reread this:
No.
Similar books:
* My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell-inappropriate relationship with a teacher
* Verity by Colleen Hoover-inappropriate/criminal relationships and finishing someone else’s novel
* Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn-revenge thriller
* Deadly Waters by Dot Hutchison-revenge wish fulfillment
My Selling Pitch:
Do you like preachy books in the Me Too era? Do you want to read yet another book about a privileged white girl being abused by an older, powerful man? Do you like books that just exist and don’t have any real concrete messaging to them?
Pre-reading:
More emotional trauma books, please.
Thick of it:
Weird opener for this kind of book. Dunno if I like it.
This book is giving me Verity vibes.
Luthier is a brand new word.
I agree; right over kind any day.
I would find out.
It’s giving Gone Girl with the parents’ books.
I do not like this book. I am bored. The not knowing is not teasing or playful or building tension. I’ve just become annoyed by it.
The “feminist” story chapter openers are insufferable.
He is way too old for her.
She’s 13, you pedo.
Baby Scorpio or Sag? (Astrotrash me up, baby.)
That’s not love if they are underage.
This is some infuriating, token Me Too shit. It’s all of us. It’s every single one. Burn it all
Just say you’re jealous and have a tiny penis, Patrick.
It took 50% way through for this book to get interesting. That’s unacceptable.
A Scorpio.
Comparing it to 9/11 is really not cool. It feels cheap.
What the fuck, Sheila?
I mean, she literally has photos, and his admission of guilt like the man would go away for statutory and child pornography and dissemination because he literally gave it to a museum so…
Which also I just don’t understand how he even gave it to a museum?
The Elf House is such a dumb name. It makes me cringe every time it’s mentioned.
Why do all the villains in this book eat rare meat? There’s nothing wrong with rare meat.
Also, you’re gonna talk business eating a fajita wrap? What are you doing? Who wants to eat with their hands in front of their abuser?
What editor read fajita in this scene and let her keep it?
HA extra Scorpio.
Don’t leave him with the photos though? You need those. What if he destroys them?
No, sorry there’s no way in hell an insurance company is buying that it was an electrical fire in the middle of a house’s ownership being disputed. Especially with a man who went missing. Are you fucking stupid.
Two stars. So much I would edit in this book
Post-reading:
Whenever I read these woke, post Me Too era books, I always think to myself am I in the wrong? Am I part of the problem for not liking it? And then it’s like no, because truly who is the audience for these books? When you write a moralistic book, you have to be held to a higher standard than a simple work of fiction. If you’re going to impart any type of message, that message better be fucking airtight and gone over with a fine tooth comb to make sure it’s actually the message you want to portray. I don’t think this book does that, and I think that failing is enough to make it bad. Who needs the Me Too books? Because it’s not the women. The women already know it’s fucked. So either you do the work to correct men, which this book doesn’t do, or you do it to empower other women and make them feel not alone, but this book fails in that regard too because what’s the fucking message? No one will come forward with you, you’re above the law, and you can just murder your way out of problems? You know provided you’re a rich white lady with family support behind you who’s conventionally attractive and college educated and talented. And then this book is filled with the girl boss woke jargon-a comedian, Iliza Schlesinger, just articulated it perfectly by calling it the infantilization of feminism. That’s insulting.
The beginning of this book is incredibly slow and borders on irrelevant. You have to get halfway through the book before it gets going. The romance added to this book is misplaced and completely dropped as a plot point. The ending makes no sense and feels like morbid wish fulfillment.
Truly, I still cannot get over the author and the editor allowing her to eat a fajita during that scene.
Who should read this:
People obsessed with Me Too books
Do I want to reread this:
No.
Similar books:
* My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell-inappropriate relationship with a teacher
* Verity by Colleen Hoover-inappropriate/criminal relationships and finishing someone else’s novel
* Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn-revenge thriller
* Deadly Waters by Dot Hutchison-revenge wish fulfillment
November 13, 2022
2 stars
This one did not work for me AT ALL. Prospective readers need to be aware that the central, relentless focus of this novel is the systematic rape, sexual abuse, and exploitation of a child. If you can stomach these motifs better than I can, you may derive more enjoyment from this novel - or at least an appreciation of the style - than I did.
Saskia, the m.c., returns to her family home, Elf House, when her mother dies. Saskia is unprepared for her mother's death, and her return home forces her to face not only her unconventional parents (her dad is physically present, and the spirit of her mother is pervasive throughout, too), but also the horrific scenarios Saskia faced in her teens. Like many survivors, Saskia comes to understand these events quite differently as an adult than she did when they were occurring. Her process of discovery is detailed, disturbing, and - for me - way too intense. There were many points throughout the work that the details felt egregious. Stylistically, I get it. Saskia is processing, and readers are watching the processing. But I struggled with these details, the way they were presented, and some of the general clunkiness that happened with what felt like an attempt to wedge Saskia's mother's work - feminist fairy tale snippets - into Saskia's actual lived experiences. Yes, we're supposed to assume that Saskia is now flipping her own horror story into a feminist retelling in which she'll take the power and show the patriarchy what's what, but as a person who has professionally studied and taught both fairy tales and all forms of gender-related constructs in literature to college students for over two decades, I experienced much more extended eyerolling than warm tingles of empowerment. This pairing just felt distracting throughout.
I do not enjoy spoilers, so I'll give away exactly no details on this, but the ending took a turn that I just cannot get behind at all. Like the ongoing feminist fairy tale connections, it played as convenient, clean, and absurd, and I wonder if some readers who have related personal experiences might find the messaging somewhat disempowering.
I went into this novel with a lot of enthusiasm. The treatment of the subject matter, the feminist promises, the updated tales connecting to modern events? All potentially exactly in my wheelhouse. I'm unfortunately finishing the novel feeling like each of these areas fell flat - or, frankly - left me feeling really grossed out and knowing with great certainty that I'll be going out of my way to recommend that various people in my life not read this: the opposite of how I leave nearly every read.
Prospective readers, I hope this works better for you, but do not sleep on the content and trigger warnings.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This one did not work for me AT ALL. Prospective readers need to be aware that the central, relentless focus of this novel is the systematic rape, sexual abuse, and exploitation of a child. If you can stomach these motifs better than I can, you may derive more enjoyment from this novel - or at least an appreciation of the style - than I did.
Saskia, the m.c., returns to her family home, Elf House, when her mother dies. Saskia is unprepared for her mother's death, and her return home forces her to face not only her unconventional parents (her dad is physically present, and the spirit of her mother is pervasive throughout, too), but also the horrific scenarios Saskia faced in her teens. Like many survivors, Saskia comes to understand these events quite differently as an adult than she did when they were occurring. Her process of discovery is detailed, disturbing, and - for me - way too intense. There were many points throughout the work that the details felt egregious. Stylistically, I get it. Saskia is processing, and readers are watching the processing. But I struggled with these details, the way they were presented, and some of the general clunkiness that happened with what felt like an attempt to wedge Saskia's mother's work - feminist fairy tale snippets - into Saskia's actual lived experiences. Yes, we're supposed to assume that Saskia is now flipping her own horror story into a feminist retelling in which she'll take the power and show the patriarchy what's what, but as a person who has professionally studied and taught both fairy tales and all forms of gender-related constructs in literature to college students for over two decades, I experienced much more extended eyerolling than warm tingles of empowerment. This pairing just felt distracting throughout.
I do not enjoy spoilers, so I'll give away exactly no details on this, but the ending took a turn that I just cannot get behind at all. Like the ongoing feminist fairy tale connections, it played as convenient, clean, and absurd, and I wonder if some readers who have related personal experiences might find the messaging somewhat disempowering.
I went into this novel with a lot of enthusiasm. The treatment of the subject matter, the feminist promises, the updated tales connecting to modern events? All potentially exactly in my wheelhouse. I'm unfortunately finishing the novel feeling like each of these areas fell flat - or, frankly - left me feeling really grossed out and knowing with great certainty that I'll be going out of my way to recommend that various people in my life not read this: the opposite of how I leave nearly every read.
Prospective readers, I hope this works better for you, but do not sleep on the content and trigger warnings.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
January 25, 2023
Fucked up? Yes. Predictable ending? Yes. Kept me on the edge of my seat because I was so pissed and stressed? Also yes.
Men are terrible. The end.
CWings: death of a parent, pedophelia, child abuse, revenge porn, child pornography, child neglect, drugging, kidnapping, imprisonment, murder
Men are terrible. The end.
CWings: death of a parent, pedophelia, child abuse, revenge porn, child pornography, child neglect, drugging, kidnapping, imprisonment, murder
January 27, 2023
Dark, dramatic, and disturbing!
The Ingenue is a gritty, suspenseful tale that takes you into the life of Saskia Kreis, a thirty-seven-year-old former piano prodigy who, after returning home after her mother’s death to find she’s been disinherited and that her mother has left her multi-million dollar mansion to an old family friend, decides to open up old wounds and discover just how inappropriate her teenage relationship was with this man and just how many others he may have also targeted.
The prose is taut and gritty. The characters are vulnerable, consumed, and tormented. And the plot does a exceptional job of building tension and unease as it subtly intertwines and unravels an intricate tale of lies, secrets, abuse, control, manipulation, expectations, revenge, and redemption.
Overall, The Ingenue is an unsettling, compelling psychological thriller by Kapelke-Dale that delves into all the deep, dark secrets people keep even from those closest to them and raises the question of how well do you really know anyone.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Ingenue is a gritty, suspenseful tale that takes you into the life of Saskia Kreis, a thirty-seven-year-old former piano prodigy who, after returning home after her mother’s death to find she’s been disinherited and that her mother has left her multi-million dollar mansion to an old family friend, decides to open up old wounds and discover just how inappropriate her teenage relationship was with this man and just how many others he may have also targeted.
The prose is taut and gritty. The characters are vulnerable, consumed, and tormented. And the plot does a exceptional job of building tension and unease as it subtly intertwines and unravels an intricate tale of lies, secrets, abuse, control, manipulation, expectations, revenge, and redemption.
Overall, The Ingenue is an unsettling, compelling psychological thriller by Kapelke-Dale that delves into all the deep, dark secrets people keep even from those closest to them and raises the question of how well do you really know anyone.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2022
5 stars! This is my second book by this author and she writes conflicting, sometimes painful stories that always pull me in. I really got this one! Several days of reading this had me re-remembering my past. There is definitely a #metoo trigger and I was ready.
The story was complicated and I can imagine many will not understand the spell she was under. I thought it was well done and I had a nervousness I hadn’t felt in awhile. It’s dark and troubling in a way that had a resolution.
If you liked (can I say that?) Dark Vanessa then you like this.
I read and listened to this. Both were intriguing. The audiobook gave me a chilling front row seat. The narrator was excellent.
Thanks St. Martin’s Press, McMillan Audio via NetGalley.
The story was complicated and I can imagine many will not understand the spell she was under. I thought it was well done and I had a nervousness I hadn’t felt in awhile. It’s dark and troubling in a way that had a resolution.
If you liked (can I say that?) Dark Vanessa then you like this.
I read and listened to this. Both were intriguing. The audiobook gave me a chilling front row seat. The narrator was excellent.
Thanks St. Martin’s Press, McMillan Audio via NetGalley.
November 28, 2022
Five Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale is an exciting thriller about a young woman who returns home to find out her inheritance was left to her ex-lover.
Story Recap:
When Saskia Kreis returns to her childhood home for her mother’s funeral, she doesn’t expect to find out that her inheritance, the Elf House, was left to an ex-boyfriend, Patrick. The historic Elf House has been handed down from generation to generation and Saskia has grown up knowing the house would be hers one day.
Saskia and her father can’t believe her mother would not leave the home to Saskia. Even her father can’t understand her mother’s thinking, and even if she didn’t want to leave it to Saskia, they are both perplexed why she would leave the home to Patrick. With so many unanswered questions, Saskia is determined to find some answers.
My Thoughts:
I loved this fast-paced story and I could not put this book down until I found out why Saskia’s mother left the house to Patrick.
I like the way the author organized the chapters. It starts with a quick snippet from her mother’s feminist fairy tales and I thought this gave us a look into Saskia’s mother and how she thought. Next was a few paragraphs that took place in Saskia’s past and highlights how she became a pianist and how her parents supported her talent. I thought this gave us more suspense as Saskia’s past has clues to her mother’s motivation and we learn why Saskia abandoned her promising career. Next came the present-day section that details Saskia’s search to find the truth behind her mother’s bequest.
As I read, the suspense got more and more intense, and the ending was one I had to read twice as I couldn’t believe what happened, and it was a very satisfying end.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend The Ingenue to anyone who loves suspenseful fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale is an exciting thriller about a young woman who returns home to find out her inheritance was left to her ex-lover.
Story Recap:
When Saskia Kreis returns to her childhood home for her mother’s funeral, she doesn’t expect to find out that her inheritance, the Elf House, was left to an ex-boyfriend, Patrick. The historic Elf House has been handed down from generation to generation and Saskia has grown up knowing the house would be hers one day.
Saskia and her father can’t believe her mother would not leave the home to Saskia. Even her father can’t understand her mother’s thinking, and even if she didn’t want to leave it to Saskia, they are both perplexed why she would leave the home to Patrick. With so many unanswered questions, Saskia is determined to find some answers.
My Thoughts:
I loved this fast-paced story and I could not put this book down until I found out why Saskia’s mother left the house to Patrick.
I like the way the author organized the chapters. It starts with a quick snippet from her mother’s feminist fairy tales and I thought this gave us a look into Saskia’s mother and how she thought. Next was a few paragraphs that took place in Saskia’s past and highlights how she became a pianist and how her parents supported her talent. I thought this gave us more suspense as Saskia’s past has clues to her mother’s motivation and we learn why Saskia abandoned her promising career. Next came the present-day section that details Saskia’s search to find the truth behind her mother’s bequest.
As I read, the suspense got more and more intense, and the ending was one I had to read twice as I couldn’t believe what happened, and it was a very satisfying end.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend The Ingenue to anyone who loves suspenseful fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 7, 2023
Woah! What a read. I absolutely loved the authors writing style! This isn't a light/fluffy read, it packs an emotional punch. It's dark and it's heavy.
Karma is real and her name is Saskia!🙌
I enjoyed the Feminist Fairytales at the beginning of each chapter. Some of them were quite amusing!
I can definitely appreciate the reference to My Dark Vanessa as it deals with a very similar theme. -Content Warnings have been added to the bottom of this review. Please note they may contain spoilers.
This would make an excellent book club pick as there is a TON to unpack!!
My thanks to St. Martin's Press for this gifted copy! I look forward to future books from this author.
Content Warnings: Child pornography/Emotional Trauma/Drug Use/Death Of Parent/Kidnapping/Underage Sexual Relationship/Grooming
Karma is real and her name is Saskia!🙌
I enjoyed the Feminist Fairytales at the beginning of each chapter. Some of them were quite amusing!
I can definitely appreciate the reference to My Dark Vanessa as it deals with a very similar theme. -Content Warnings have been added to the bottom of this review. Please note they may contain spoilers.
This would make an excellent book club pick as there is a TON to unpack!!
My thanks to St. Martin's Press for this gifted copy! I look forward to future books from this author.
Content Warnings: Child pornography/Emotional Trauma/Drug Use/Death Of Parent/Kidnapping/Underage Sexual Relationship/Grooming
December 16, 2022
3.5 Stars for The Ingenue (audiobook) by Rachel Kapelke-Dale read by Stephanie Willis.
This is a disturbing story about a piano prodigy and the ramifications of the love affair she had with an older man. I think it’s a good thing that some of the story didn’t seem plausible.
This is a disturbing story about a piano prodigy and the ramifications of the love affair she had with an older man. I think it’s a good thing that some of the story didn’t seem plausible.
November 22, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, author Rachel Kapelke-Dale, and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
Whew, I struggled to get through this. The Ingenue was perhaps one of the most perplexing books I've read this year; it never quite knew what it was trying to be and didn't do any of it successfully. At its core, this is a book that flips back and forth between past and present to tell a story about a young piano prodigy who was sexually abused in an inappropriate relationship. However, there are also side plots about a historic house, a dying mother who wrote feminist fairy tales, childhood friendships, and a new love interest, so there is a lot going on. I felt like this book was trying to be too much like My Dark Vanessa at times, but nowhere near as well-written or executed. I found the characters to all be extremely flat, and I could never get a read of who exactly Saskia was supposed to be. I thought the rewritten feminist fairy tales by her "mother" before each chapter didn't add anything to the book and felt very much like "girl power yay!" treatment rather than actually making any sort of statement. It was boring to read and confusing for me personally in several spots. Overall, I'm just glad to be finished with this book and cannot recommend.
Whew, I struggled to get through this. The Ingenue was perhaps one of the most perplexing books I've read this year; it never quite knew what it was trying to be and didn't do any of it successfully. At its core, this is a book that flips back and forth between past and present to tell a story about a young piano prodigy who was sexually abused in an inappropriate relationship. However, there are also side plots about a historic house, a dying mother who wrote feminist fairy tales, childhood friendships, and a new love interest, so there is a lot going on. I felt like this book was trying to be too much like My Dark Vanessa at times, but nowhere near as well-written or executed. I found the characters to all be extremely flat, and I could never get a read of who exactly Saskia was supposed to be. I thought the rewritten feminist fairy tales by her "mother" before each chapter didn't add anything to the book and felt very much like "girl power yay!" treatment rather than actually making any sort of statement. It was boring to read and confusing for me personally in several spots. Overall, I'm just glad to be finished with this book and cannot recommend.
February 18, 2023
This was so frustrating to read and frankly by the middle I was just reading to find out the ending and be done with it. I didn’t like the main character at all, didn’t understand her decisions, didn’t really like the ending
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