Everyone in Shaker Heights was talking about it that summer: how Isabelle, the last of the Richardson children, had finally gone around the bend and burned the house down.
This is a novel that is domestic but complicated. At first it seems like it might be a bit predictable: Affluent suburban family meets bohemian single mum and daughter who are new in town. But Ng nicely develops out the female characters and there are surprises and complexity in each of their stories.
Raises some good meaty questions around motherhood – perfect material for a book club debate.
Devoured this in a few sittings. Recommend.
“Sometimes you need to scorch everything to the ground, and start over. After the burning the soil is richer, and new things can grow. People are like that, too. They start over. They find a way.”
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PUBLISHED: 2017
GENRE: Fiction
PAGES: 352
AWARDS: Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction 2017
