Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford | Rating: ★★★★☆

As a note, a printed galley of this novel was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

What a stellar debut! I’m still swooning a bit from its prose and how everything just was.

Which leads to me screaming from my roof: Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford is a delight. I loved the vibe of it and while it may not be for absolutely everyone, you really do need a specific taste to enjoy this, it caters incredibly to my taste of literature.

And then some. Truly.

Plus–how bright and gorgeous is that cover? It’s so eye catching and a rare one that actually suits the book. If you are to judge one book on its cover this year, and buy it because HELLO gorgeous, make it Everybody Rise.

I enjoyed this little guy so much–in spite of its flaws and the lack of inclusion on my best of 2015 list, it only JUST missed the cut by one inch–I devoured it in one sitting. I am not exaggerating, I read it so quickly I’m pretty sure I left some sort of road marks on it from going so fast. I wouldn’t be surprised if I accidentally tore some pages.


Okay. That is an exaggeration.

I’ve never flipped pages so quickly that I ripped, well, anything.

But I did come close with Stephanie Clifford’s novel. Stylish, devious and full of social climbing Everybody Rise is a mix of a lot of things and will surely surprise you by novels end.

I do think there are a lot of things that will be insufferable to many readers but for the most part, I think you’ll be a bit surprised by this one. Pleasantly, if you don’t take it too seriously and get your head out of your own ass. Was that too forceful of a statement? Sorry.

Social climbing is a tricky subject to tackle in entertainment without coming off as blah.

When writing about an outsider who desperately whats to be an insider you risk making the character dull and one dimensional and while Evelyn may make it hard to like her at times, she isn’t totally unlikable. I daresay I enjoyed her and while I didn’t always understand her desire to become part of the in, I did–on some levels–want her to have something of a happy ending.

If you like novels involving a facade of keeping up and trying to be in high society, Everybody Rise should be at the top of your list. I can easily see it becoming a television series on HBO or CW in the vein of Sex and the City or Gossip Girl. But if that’s not your genre, you shouldn’t approach it. Like.. at all. You’ll only be disappointed and annoyed and wasteful of your own time.

Overall Clifford paints us a vivid picture of struggling to the top, trying to make the most of your desire and bend lives rules a bit to your advantage. Moments of cringe worthy nature are scattered here and there but for the most part, I really enjoyed this debut and hope to hear more from our author. I think her hype is well deserved and if you are an outsider looking in, this is your next great read.