Book Review for Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel

 

Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel

Published:  January 20, 2026 by Atria/Emily Bestler Books

Genres:  Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

Taken from Goodreads:  For fans of Nine Perfect Strangers and The Midnight Feast, a moody, atmospheric psychological suspense set in the secretive world of celebrity rehab centers, from New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Sheinmel.

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 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.

My Thoughts: I am very torn on this book.   I liked the characters enough to be invested in their journey with the rehab center, but I felt confused at their stories.  There was not much rehabbing but more about the secrets that they kept.  I get that I had to continue reading to learn more about the characters but what I learned did not always go along with what I had already read.   

Such Sheltered Lives is an unique book, the story had high potential with a great thriller feel.  Yet, it just did not do it for me.  

Thank you Atria/Emily Bestler Books for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Meet the Author(taken from her website):  Alyssa Sheinmel is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels for young adults, including A Danger to Herself and Others, The Castle School for Troubled Girls, and Faceless. The upmarket thriller Such Sheltered Lives is her adult debut.

Alyssa’s books have sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide. In a starred review, School Library Journal called A Danger to Herself and Others “a thrilling page-turner and worthy choice for high school libraries.” Faceless was a New York Public Library Best Books for Teens, and was nominated for the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults. What Kind of Girl was a Texas TAYSHAS Reading List Selection, as well as a Kansas National Education Reading Circle Recommended List Selection and a Baker & Taylor Teen Book Club selection.

Alyssa grew up in Northern California and New York, and currently lives and writes in New York.