3 ⭐️’s from me
Goodreads Summary: “A sinister, sexy noir about art, motherhood, and the intensity of female friendships, set in the posh hills above Los Angeles, from the New York Times bestselling author of California.
High in the Hollywood Hills, writer Lady Daniels has decided to take a break from her husband. She’s going to need a hand with her young son if she’s ever going to finish her memoir. In comes S., a magnetic young artist, who will live in the secluded guest house out back, care for Lady’s young toddler son, and keep a watchful eye on her older, teenage, one. S. performs her day job beautifully, quickly drawing the entire family into her orbit, and becoming a confidante for Lady. But as the summer wears on, S.’s connection to Lady’s older son takes a disturbing, and possibly destructive, turn. Lady and S. will move closer to one another as they both threaten to harm the things they hold most dear.
Darkly comic, twisty and tense, this mesmerizing new novel defies expectation and proves Edan Lepucki to be one of the most talented and exciting voices of her generation.”
My Review:
Sadly, I didn’t find this book as mesmerizing as was promised. This is a dark comedy about societal expectations – particularly for mothers. Lepucki finds the humor in the pressure these expectations and the resulting effects on the whole family.
I found the characters very dislikeable – which is no doubt the intention, but they got under my skin. The writing is excellent and characters are complex; I’m just not sure what I gained from reading this novel.
Not favorite, but could appeal to some.
**I received my copy via Blogging For Books in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you to the author and publisher for this opportunity.**
This is a beautifully written, easy, but emotional read.
Beth's Book Blurbs 