Introduction

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 arrived: 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.

Editorial Review

No Editorial Review Currently Available

Excerpt

Chapter 1: Amelia Blue 1 Amelia Blue
Let me tell you what I know.

I know how many calories are in a serving of fat-free Greek yogurt (eighty) and how many are in the three frozen strawberries I chop and mix into it (six each; eighteen total). I know precisely how many miles there are between our house in Laurel Canyon and LAX (17.9), and approximately how many minutes it will take to get there (never under an hour, unless I’m taking a very early morning flight). I know the date of my father’s death (December 8, 2001) and the time (4:17 in the morning), but I didn’t know it before the general public. (I was only five at the time, and my mother waited days to tell me. By then I’d seen Dad’s face plastered on the cover of magazines beneath headlines I couldn’t read but could tell were nothing good.) ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

From the author:

1. Despite the main characters’ privileged backgrounds, Amelia, Florence, and Edward have troubles that cross socioeconomic boundaries—addiction, eating disorders, grief. Are you able to relate to Amelia, Florence, and Edward? Why or why not?

2. Do you think any of the novel’s main characters are “likeable”? Does a book need a likeable main character to be compelling, and does a character needs to be likeable to be sympathetic?

3. Such Sheltered Lives has three first-person narrators. Was there one character whose chapters you looked forward to more than the others? Do you like reading books with multiple narrators? Why or why not?

4. Throughout the novel, there are interludes from the perspective of Shelter Island locals, revealing that simmering tensions between the locals and the summer people can be stark. How did the interludes impact the way you read the main storyline?

5. Though she tries to appear confident and unflappable, Florence is wracked with insecurity—about her abilities as a writer; her failings as a mother, daughter, and wife; her relevance as she ages and the music world goes on without her. Which do you think is the real Florence—the brash woman who faces the world bravely, or the insecure woman who doubts her every choice? Is it possible that she’s both?

6. Years after her mother Georgia’s death, Amelia discovers things she never knew about her. In some ways, Amelia feels closer to Georgia now, all this time later. At the end of the novel, do you think Amelia has found peace regarding her relationship with her mother? Is it possible to build a connection to the people we’ve lost that’s stronger than the one we had when they were still with us?

7. Do you think Edward will return to England? Will he continue to have a relationship with his family, or will he leave them behind as his mother did before him? Knowing what you know about Edward’s family, how do you feel about the way his mother left him behind?

8. While at the center, Florence writes a song called “Imposter Syndrome.” Imposter Syndrome is defined as a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their skills and accomplishments despite evidence to the contrary, fearful that they will be exposed as frauds. Florence wrestles with imposter syndrome like so many of us, particularly women. Does this struggle explain or excuse some of her behavior? Have you ever experienced imposter syndrome? Does it make you feel more connected to a character like Florence, despite her privilege and behavior?

9. Florence’s final song is titled “The Good Mother”; it’s about the mother she was and the mother she still hopes she can become. Many of the mistakes she made were because she was trying to protect her daughter. Do you think Florence is, at least on some level, a good mother, even with her many flaws?

10. Andrew and Evelyn aren’t held legally responsible for the damage they did, though—as Amelia reflects—leaving them alone on the island feels like its own small punishment. Do you feel that they got what they deserved? Why or why not?

11. Do you think that any of Rush’s Recovery’s practitioners had their patients’ best interests at heart? Why or why not? At the end of the novel, Amelia and Edward both want to recover—do the care managers they worked with deserve any credit for that, or do Amelia and Edward want to get better despite the care they received?

12. Author Alyssa Sheinmel has written that the idea for Such Sheltered Lives began with an article about an exclusive rehabilitation center in Switzerland. She wondered what might lead someone to a place most of us don’t even know exists. What do you think about real-life places like Rush’s Recovery, and the people they serve?

Weblinks

»	Alyssa's website
»	Follow Alyssa on Instagram

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 0 of 0 members.

Member Reviews

There are no user reviews at this time.
Rate this book