All that Glitters - Aita Ighodaro

All That Glitters. AITA Ighodaro by Aita Ighodaro
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was sent this book direct from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

‘Isabel doesn't want to marry a tycoon. She wants to be one. Isabel Suarez-Octavio is ravishing, intelligent and ambitious. But unlike some of her friends, she's not planning to use her looks to seduce a billionaire and become someone's trophy wife. She's just arrived at Oxford University, and she is determined to make her mark on the world. The city of dreaming spires is everything she hoped for. The parties are riotous, the societies thrilling, and the people are the power brokers of tomorrow. Before long, Isabel is prowling the corridors of Westminster by day, partying in Miami by night: a rising star pursuing good times and a glittering career. Until a yacht trip along Italy's glamorous Amalfi Coast goes horribly wrong. Suddenly, Isabel is in the frame for murder, standing utterly alone against some of the world's most powerful men. After years of thinking only of the future, she must finally confront the secrets of her past - and face her biggest challenge yet.’

Isabel arrives in England from Bolivia at 14, a drug mule who escapes to rebuild her life. She grows up to become attractive and smart and wants to become a tycoon, but why should she marry one when she could become one herself?

During her time at Oxford University she has many offers and chances to become a ‘trophy wife’. As opportunities come along she begins to go up in the world.

All that Glitters certainly wasn't gold for me. This started off very promising, it was exciting and pacey for the first chapter then it fell as if the writer got lost.

The second chapter until around 200 pages in, lacked pace and seemed it could have been conveyed to the reader in far less pages. By the time it picked up again it felt rushed which was a shame as far from page 200 or so it was a much better read.

The writer could have made this part of the novel longer and therefore overall the book would have achieved its desired intention – ie. Exciting, and ‘a difficult to put down book.’ It was hard to stay with the story, easy to have put it down and not bothered to read to the end.

This was the first book I have read by Aita Ighodaro and unfortunately this book would not encourage me to read others by her. Due to the lack of pace and lack of interest in parts I have given it 2*.