Flawed

December 5, 2016
In Wolff’s shallow but fun fourth contemporary, linked to her Ethan Frost trilogy, a socialite fallen on hard times gets an unexpected hand up. Party-hard Victoria Reed is trying to slow her drinking, extricate herself from San Diego’s social whirl, and clean up her life, which includes refusing to sleep with her cheating ex. To get back at her, he releases a sex tape recorded without her knowledge while they were together. Her heartless, domineering father‚ who’s fed up with her wild behavior—and unaware that Tori’s trying to turn over a new leaf—completely disowns her. With no car, no phone, and no shoes, Tori hikes two miles to her friend Chloe’s supposedly vacant home, only to find that her archnemesis, Chloe’s brother, Miles, is living there. Miles has been trying to make amends for terribly wronging Chloe, but Tori never cuts him any slack. Though they’ve done nothing but take jabs at each other, he finds it difficult to turn her away when she shows up in need of help. Extremely lengthy sex scenes dominate the relationship development, but individual growth eventually occurs as both Miles and Tori struggle to fight their emotional demons. This riches-to-rags story leaves a few unanswered questions, but readers will not feel cheated. Agent: Emily Sylvan Kim, Prospect.