Lifelong friends Paige Buckley and Fina Manzetti are getting a fresh start in New York City. During her first week at a new job, Paige meets Max Dovic, a wealthy businessman. It’s an encounter that catapults Paige into a world she has never experienced. As Paige falls into lust with Max, she ignores the red flags: how Max talks to people as if he owns them, his endless supply of cash, strange early morning deliveries to his yacht. Convinced Max is not what he seems, Fina and their friends Lindsey and Martha implore Paige to look deeper. During an outing on Max’s yacht, Paige discovers notebooks full of names, photos, and strange notes in a small, seldom-used cabin, a discovery that makes Paige agree with her friends. After Fina disappears one night near Max’s yacht, Paige is torn between confronting Max and playing an evasive game to learn the dark truth. And when things become too dangerous, Paige realizes she’s a tiny fish in a massive pond. As Paige sinks deeper into this risky game, she must decide how to expose Max and escape with her life.
The story and romance build with a teasing, slow-burn pace, with Paige keeping Fina in the loop—"I wouldn't say cute, but he's really handsome”—and each chapter boasting a cliffhanger that only flipping onto the next can satisfy. Paige knows that something doesn't add up with Max’s temperamental moods, ostentatious lifestyle, and her friends’ warnings have power: "Just because he’s rich as hell doesn’t mean he can treat people the way he does," one points out. (Readers will nod along … and turn the pages.)
As the relationship gets steamy, the tension ramps up, with Paige and Fina compelled to snooping about Max’s shipping business, and readers given plenty of clues to worry over. Less a will-they-or-won’t-they than an is-he-or-isn’t-he-evil?, Snap Decision offers a satisfying level of unpredictability and two compelling relationships, especially the chatty, powerful sisterhood between Paige and Fina. Spofford captures the importance of genuine and dependable friendships while offering friendly advice of her own: check out red flags.
Takeaway: Tense New York thriller of romance with a controlling businessman.
Comparable Titles: Shari Lapena's The Couple Next Door, Megan Abbott’s Beware the Woman.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Holly Spofford's Snap Decision is a compelling narrative set against the backdrop of New York City, unfolding from January to September 2001. It follows the lives of Serafina "Fina" Manzetti and Paige Buckley, two friends from Philadelphia navigating their careers in the Big Apple. The story gains momentum when Paige encounters an alluring man named Max on her first day of work, leading to a whirlwind romance.
Spofford's tale is a testament to the mystery genre, adeptly maintaining suspense and engaging readers with its intricate plot. Central to the story is Max, a character whose outward charm and success mask a much darker reality. Fina, working at a magazine, is assigned a story on Max, which leads to her growing skepticism about him. This doubt is echoed by Paige's friends, Martha and Lindsey, who also harbor reservations about Max's character. The author masterfully weaves a narrative that emphasizes the danger of superficial judgments.
Initially portrayed as a wealthy, law-abiding individual deeply in love with Paige, Max is gradually revealed to have a sinister side. This revelation about Max's true nature and activities comes as a shock, as does the depth of his deception regarding his feelings for Paige. Snap Decision excels in delivering a series of unforeseen twists, keeping the reader engaged and invested. The eventual disclosure of Max's occupation and intentions towards Paige are particularly startling, as is the unexpected conclusion of Paige's story. This finale, while surprising, might strike some readers as harsh, given the emotional journey of Paige's character throughout the book.
Spofford's narrative is a vivid reminder of the complexities lying beneath the surface of human relationships and the peril of ignoring warning signs. Her portrayal of the characters' emotional landscapes is nuanced, making Snap Decision a thought-provoking and memorable read.
