In Good Girls Finish Last by Sophia Powell, we meet the ambitious and ruthless Wendy Carter, a young woman fashioned by her early childhood. Wendy grew up in a poor, abusive New York household, where her father sexually and physically molested her continuously and also beat her mother mercilessly. When his overzealous beating of Wendy’s mother turned into a murder, Wendy is left all alone and subjected to a myriad of different foster homes as a young girl and young woman. Her experiences shaped her attitude to life. Wendy was going to get the life of her dreams, the wealth, the fame, and the love she felt she so richly deserved after her awful childhood and she didn’t care who she stood on, what devious tactics she had to employ, and who she hurt in her relentless clamber up New York’s social ladder. Working as a temp at a television station, Wendy begins her reinvention of herself as a beautiful, sexy, and treacherous young lady who lets nothing stand in her way of achieving her goals.

Good Girls Finish Last is a reminder that we all are shaped and fashioned by our past experiences. Author Sophia Powell has created a character in Wendy who is totally ruthless, to the point of extreme narcissism, in the pursuit of her dreams and will let nobody stand in her way no matter what devious means she has to employ to reach her goals. Wendy is instantly recognizable and dislikable as a person and yet the author still manages to imbue her with some humanity and empathy as the story progresses. The story takes us inside the fishbowl that is the entertainment industry in television and shows the underlying superficiality and cult of fame that underpins the entire enterprise and makes it such a hotbed of intrigue and power-lust. Wendy’s relationship with her realtor, the gay Philip, was the highlight of the story for me, as it showed that beneath the ruthless and conniving public face of Wendy, there was still room for love, for friendship, and perhaps most importantly the possibility of redemption. I noted that the author left the door slightly ajar for a possible sequel to this story and given where the story was headed that could well be an interesting tale to tell. If you love the high-powered world of the rich and entitled and you love ruthless female lead characters, I have no doubt you will enjoy this book.

In Good Girls Finish Last by Sophia Powell, as a six-year-old girl, Wendy Carter knew nothing but a life of violence, neglect, and abuse. Her home was a place she dreaded and her only respite from fear was a kindly neighbor. When she witnessed the horrific abuse of her mother, Wendy swore her life would be different. As Wendy entered adulthood, she began her transformation from victim to victor. Anyone who got in her way would pay one way or another. People were disposable once they had served their purpose, apart from her best friend Philip who was the brother she never had. When she meets rich, charming, and wealthy Ted Sterner, Wendy feels something for him she had never experienced before. Could she be falling in love? As much as she tried to fight her feelings, Wendy and Ted are soon planning their wedding. When Wendy falls pregnant, she looks forward to a happy future with Ted, but her idyllic life is about to end. Wendy has unknowingly crossed the wrong person who is determined to get revenge. Someone from Wendy's past reappears which threatens to take away everything she treasures.

Good Girls Finish Last by Sophia Powell is an emotional rollercoaster. Wendy's childhood was heartbreaking to read. Her feelings of powerlessness and fear came across so powerfully. Understanding her childhood background is vital because this explains her distorted view of the world as she becomes an adult. The characters she meets and seeks revenge on were not that innocent, they all tried to dominate Wendy in some way, especially the arrogant and vile Keith. All of the characters were excellently created and their dialogue and actions suited their personalities perfectly. There are many humorous moments as Wendy takes her revenge but quite dark and disturbing ones too. I adored her relationship with Philip, as this brought out Wendy's softer, more vulnerable side. I also thought Ted was a superb character; he certainly managed to teach her about true love and break down the barriers she had built. There are many twists and turns throughout the plot which make this a compelling and gripping read. The ending was a fantastic cliffhanger and not what I was expecting.