Necessary People Book Summary

In 'Necessary People,' Anna Pitoniak weaves a thrilling story of ambition and betrayal within the cutthroat world of New York City. The lives of two friends, filled with dreams and divergent paths, collide in unexpected and dangerous ways. As secrets unravel, the line between loyalty and self-interest blurs, leaving readers questioning the true nature of their relationships. With sharp prose and intricate character dynamics, the narrative explores how far one will go to achieve success. Will the bonds of friendship survive when ambition turns deadly?

By Anna Pitoniak

Published: 2019

"The most dangerous friendships are the ones that make you feel alive, yet could just as easily lead you to your greatest downfall."

Book Review of Necessary People

"I literally couldn't stop reading." --Stephen King "I love a book that is smart as hell and impossible to put down and this is IT." --Jessica Knoll A propulsive, "chilling" (Lee Child) novel exploring the dangerous fault lines of female friendships, Necessary People deftly plumbs the limits of ambition, loyalty, and love. Named one of the Best Books of May by Marie Claire, Town & Country, Refinery29, Cosmopolitan, Woman's Day, Bustle, CrimeReads, and O, the Oprah Magazine One of them has it all. One of them wants it all. But they can't both win. Stella and Violet are best friends, and from the moment they met in college, they knew their roles. Beautiful, privileged, and reckless Stella lives in the spotlight. Hardworking, laser-focused Violet stays behind the scenes, always ready to clean up the mess that Stella inevitably leaves in her wake. After graduation, Violet moves to New York and lands a job in cable news, where she works her way up from intern to assistant to producer, and to a life where she's finally free from Stella's shadow. In this fast-paced world, Violet thrives, and her ambitions grow -- but everything is jeopardized when Stella, envious of Violet's new life, uses her connections, beauty, and charisma to get hired at the same network. Stella soon moves in front of the camera, becoming the public face of the stories that Violet has worked tirelessly to produce -- and taking all the credit. Stella might be the one with the rich family and the right friends, but Violet isn't giving up so easily. As she and Stella strive for success, each reveals just how far she'll go to get what she wants -- even if it means destroying the other person along the way.

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The most dangerous friendships are the ones that make you feel alive, yet could just as easily lead you to your greatest downfall.

Necessary People

By Anna Pitoniak