Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel

This is my second time reading a thriller that takes place at a rehab center. But this one is very unique because it takes place at Rush’s Recover, a celebrity rehab center. They promise privacy and discretion as they treat some of the world’s biggest stars for a variety of issuse: drugs, alcohol, eating disorders, and more. So in this story we’re introduced to 3 B-list celebrities who are sent to Rush’s Recovery for a variety of reasons. In today’s book review of Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel, I’ll be going over my thoughts on this interesting novel.

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What is Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel About?

Rush’s Recovery promises its wealthy guests the utmost discretion. But when a body is discovered, how long can the center’s secrets stay buried?

Tucked among the pristine beaches and lavish manors of the Hamptons sits Rush’s Recovery, a rehabilitation center where ultra-high net worth clients can seek treatment away from prying eyes and paparazzi. The center’s latest guests have just arrived: Lord Edward of Essex, a British aristocrat fighting his black-sheep status and a painful addiction; Amelia Blue Harris, the daughter of a 90s rock legend struggling with an eating disorder; and Florence Bloom, a pop star trying to lay low after her latest tabloid scandal. Each has been promised the highest standard of care, from daily therapy and a live-in chef to acupuncture sessions and a personal care manager, available 24/7. Just so long as they stay in their private cottages and never interact with the center’s other guests.

But these three self-destructive B-listers have no intention of playing by the rules. No amount of cold plunges and talk-therapy can prevent Florence’s illicit flirtation with a staff member, or keep Amelia Blue and Lord Edward from sneaking out to wander the snow-covered grounds at night. Celebrities check in to Rush’s Recovery to protect their privacy, but the darkest secrets may lie in the center’s own history—and not every guest will be checking out alive. (from Amazon.com)

My Initial Thoughts

It’s funny that this book is recommended for fans of Nine Perfect Strangers because I read that book a couple of years ago and did not really enjoy it. I think that my biggest issue was that there were too many characters.

But anyway, I did like Such Sheltered Lives. I was curious from the very beginning because Rush’s Recovery felt odd. It seemed weird to me that a rehab center would only take 3 clients at a time. And it also felt strange that there was a doctor assigned to each patient who lived in the house with them?

I don’t know. I’ve never been to a treatment center before but that seems kind of odd. So I had a feeling from the beginning that this was going to be a gripping story.

My Critiques of Such Sheltered Lives

One thing that bothered me was how it felt like the story could have moved a little faster. I appreciate how in mysteries and thrillers the backstory needs to be explained little by little, but this book felt too slow to me. Add in the fact that Lord Edward’s story felt very small compared to the other two, and I was very confused. My feelings are that this story could have been more effective with a faster moving plot. I would have liked it more if the main story had focused on Amelia Blue and Florence Bloom as their stories felt like the most important.

What I Enjoyed about Such Sheltered Lives

I enjoyed the setting of this story. A treatment center is such a cool place to set a thriller because you know that all of the characters are going to be flawed. Some of them might tell the truth, while others tell lies. It adds a lot to the story and I think that’s what happened in Such Sheltered Lives. Author Alyssa Sheinmel did a good job of creating Rush’s Recovery and the backstory of the people who worked there.

Conclusion

In the end, I did wind up enjoying Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel. I did take some issues with the pacing but it was a unique thriller that readers are bound to enjoy. I was looking on goodreads and it appears that she has published quite a few other books! I hope that I am able to read some more by her in the future.