This debut novel by Calla Henkel will have you glued to the pages. Other People’s Clothes follows two NYU art students on a study abroad trip to Berlin where they try to make a name for themselves while attempting to suss out the intentions of their infamous author landlord. This novel starts slow but morphs into a psychological thriller that will leave you with whiplash.
“Hoping to escape the pain of the recent murder of her best friend, art student Zoe Beech finds herself studying abroad in the bohemian capital of Europe–Berlin. Zoe, rudderless, relies on the arrangements of fellow exchange student Hailey Mader, who idolizes Warhol and Britney Spears and wants nothing more than to be an art star. On Craigslist, Hailey unknowingly stumbles on an apartment sublet posted by a well-known thriller writer. Feeling as though they’ve won the lottery, the girls move into the high-ceilinged prewar flat. Soon they realize that their landlady, Beatrice, who is supposed to be on a residency in Vienna, is watching them–and her next book appears to be based on their lives. Taking stock of their mundane routines–Law and Order binges and nightly nachos–Hailey insists they become people worthy of a novel. As the year unravels and events spiral out of control, they begin to wonder whose story they are living, and how will it end? Other People’s Clothes is brilliant on the sometimes dangerous intensity of female friendships, on millennial life in the city, on the lengths people will go to in order to eradicate emotional pain” (From SELCO catalog).
Other People’s Clothes is a character driven novel with wonderful atmosphere; perfect for the upcoming film adaptation!
