Credit: Courtesy of publishers
Stylist Loves
9 books about rich people behaving badly that you won’t be able to put down
By Amy Beecham
16 days ago
All products on this page have been selected by the editorial team, however Stylist may make commission on some products purchased through affiliate links in this article
5 min read
Deep in the drama of The White Lotus or missing Succession on your TV screens? These novels – from Bella Mackie, Freida McFadden and more – about rich people behaving badly will keep you immersed in the gritty world of the rich and powerful.
A conman worming his way into the most opulent parts of society in The Great Gatsby. Succession’s Roy siblings vying for their cruel father’s attention. The outlandish guests of The White Lotus sharing their unreasonable demands. When it comes to the genre of rich people behaving badly, we can’t seem to look away.
Whether it’s on our TV screens or in the pages of a book, the dark underbelly of wealth, fame and power is as fascinating as it is uncomfortable. Which obviously means we want to consume as much of it as possible.
From the Freida McFadden thriller that has sold over 2 million copies to Bella Mackie’s hilarious skewering of upper-class inheritance scandals, read on for our pick of novels exploring the gritty lives of the ultra-rich that will make you squirm – but you won’t be able to put down.
The Will by Rebecca Reid
Think Succession, but set in the English countryside.
The Mordaunts aren’t like most families… For one, their family home is Roxborough Hall, a magnificent, centuries-old mansion in the Norfolk countryside. For another, the house isn’t passed down from parent to child, but rather to the family member deemed most worthy.
On the evening of the matriarch’s funeral, the family gathers for dinner and each will be given a letter revealing the next custodian. The house is a burden, a millstone, a full-time job… but they all want it. And some are willing to do anything to get it.
One family. Eight letters. Who will get what they deserve?
What A Way To Go by Bella Mackie
Anthony Wistern is wealthy beyond imagination: a fragrant wife, a gaggle of photogenic children, a French chateau, a Cotswold manor, a plethora of mistresses, a penchant for cutting moral corners. Unfortunately for him, he’s also dead.
Suddenly poised to inherit his fortune, each member of the family falls under suspicion. And that’s when everything comes crashing down…
I Make My Own Fun by Hannah Beer
Everyone knows Marina, the A-list movie star. But very few know Marina, the absolute monster. Years at the top have proved that whatever Marina wants, she gets. But when she meets bartender Anna, Marina discovers something that can’t be bought: Anna’s affection. As Anna remains unmoved, Marina’s advances become more desperate… and her obsession more dangerous. (out 6 March)
Shop I Make My Own Fun by Hannah Beer at Bookshop.org, £17.99
Clickbait by LC North
For over a decade, the Lancasters were celebrity royalty, with millions tuning in every week to watch their reality show, Living With The Lancasters.
But then an old video emerges of one of their legendary parties. Suddenly, they’re in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons: witnesses swore they’d seen missing teenager leaving the Lancaster family home on the night of the party, but the video tells a different story.
Now a true crime investigator is on the case – and when the cameras are always rolling, it won’t be long until someone cracks.
Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier
Lyla has always believed that life is a game she is destined to win, but her husband, Graham, takes the game to dangerous levels. The wealthy couple invites self-made success stories to live in their guesthouse and then conspires to ruin their lives.
Because as every good rich person knows: in money and in life, it’s winner takes all. Even if you have to leave a few bodies behind.
Shop Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier at Bookshop.org, £15.99
The Real Deal by Caitin Devlin
Belle Simon was just 12 when she was one of six girls plucked from obscurity to star in reality TV sensation The Real Deal. Under the wing of dazzling star Donna Mayfair, she and the five other girls were meant to become world-famous actors, singers and dancers.
But at 26, Belle is trying to live anonymously, away from being loved or loathed, but when a producer offers Belle a big paycheck to join a reunion special for The Real Deal, she finds it hard to say no.
Everyone watching thinks they know what happened, but only Belle knows what really occurred away from the cameras and outside the editing room. Is she ready to go back and confront her past? And will anyone believe her if she reveals the truth?
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Every day, Millie cleans the Winchesters’ beautiful house from top to bottom, and it’s hard for her not to imagine what it would be like to live their life: the walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.
Millie only tries on one of the owner Nina’s pristine white dresses once, just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time she realises that her attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.
Idol by Louise O’Neill
Samantha Miller is everything her fans want to be. Her 3 million followers hang on her every word: she’s an oracle, telling them how to be their best, true selves.
To promote her new No 1 bestseller, she’s written an essay about her sexual awakening as a teenager with her best friend, Lisa. She’s never told a soul, now she’s telling the world.
But Lisa’s memory of that night is far darker.
It’s Sam’s word against Lisa’s – so whose ‘truth’ is really a lie?
Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington
Twelve girls. Three rounds. One ultimate prize … for the last one left alive.
Edgewater Academy is a school for the very rich and very powerful. Adina Walker is neither of those things. Alone and outcast, when she gets into a fight with a fellow student (and former friend), her scholarship to a top college is revoked, and her world falls apart.
Until she’s invited to The Finish. Annual games for the brightest and the best, hosted by power-family the Remingtons, the winning prize for The Finish is everything Adina wants. This is her chance at the life she’s dreamed of.
Then the contestants start to die.
Shop Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington at Bookshop.org, £8.99
Images: courtesy of publishers
Topics
Sign up for our edit of what to buy, see, read and do, and receive a free mini-mag of the top 5 fashion trends you’re sure to see in 2024.
By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy
Thank you!
You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.