3 out of 4 stars
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Ex-Rich Girl Tells All by Kami Corban is an unflinchingly honest memoir of the author’s experiences as she navigates the ups and downs of her personal and professional life. She discovers growing up in a wealthy family doesn’t guarantee you will have an easy, happy life. It certainly doesn’t help that both of Kami’s parents are dysfunctional narcissists. They can’t be depended on for emotional or financial support, and frequently suck her into the drama of their own lives.
The story begins when Kami is a senior at Duke University. She flies to England to visit her college sweetheart Tucker, who is starting graduate school there. Well, life doesn’t always turn out as planned. Kami arrives in England to discover Tucker has a new girlfriend. The author stumbles aimlessly around England for a while before returning to the U.S. She continues to fall into jobs and relationships without much thought given to her choices along the way.
I enjoyed this book despite being fairly disgusted with Kami’s parents and her stepmother. At times I felt like I couldn’t put the book down, in the same way people can’t turn away from a car crash. Kami is an interesting yet flawed character. I wished she was more assertive instead of just going along with whatever other people suggested.
All of the characters are vividly written and I felt like I knew each of them. It is said that truth is stranger than fiction, and this is certainly the case here. Kami’s parents and stepmother are horrible in their own unique way. The writing often lacks emotion and the reminiscences have a hollow, distant feel. It’s as if the author was discussing someone she hardly knew, rather than herself.
There are a few errors scattered throughout the book. I noticed a few spelling mistakes (thank instead of think, and the incorrect spelling of the city of Asheville), incorrect line breaks, and indenting errors. An extra round of editing was needed here.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Writing this story seems cathartic for the author. She certainly doesn’t sugarcoat her experiences. While the flow of the story is a bit disjointed at times, the overall effect is that of a woman who keep putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy memoirs and stories of dysfunctional families. It is an interesting yet disturbing account of a woman’s life, one that I will not soon forget.
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Ex-Rich Girl Tells All
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