Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Sarah Langan - 5 stars!
The world is tumbling into chaos and the Farmer-Bown family doesn't know how they will survive after Russell loses his job at the EPA. But then they are offered a unique opportunity - a chance to live in a company town where the air and water are clean and the streets are safe. So Linda and Russell, along with their twin teenagers, Hip and Josie, move to Plymouth Valley. But from the start, the family doesn't seem to fit in and they are getting hazed by the other town residents. Once Linda is invited to join a group run by powerful women, everything changes. Suddenly, they are fitting in and feel confident that they will get the golden ticket, allowing them to stay in the community. Until Linda realizes that something is very, very wrong.
I was a huge fan of Langan's previous novel, Good Neighbors. and this one is similar in that it takes real world issues and extrapolates them into a dystopian future that will scare you in its reality! The writing kept me glued to the pages - you could feel the tension from all sides and you just knew things weren't going to end well. Those rituals and festivals were so creepy! The family was trying to do what was best, but at what cost? Plus, this book really explored the relationships between the family members - Linda and Russell were set in their marital patterns, building resentments but not solving anything. While Josie flourished back in the real world and Hip didn't fit in, the tables turned in Plymouth Valley. Sticking to your belief systems in a world that promotes strict rules to get by is a tough road indeed. This author is a must read for me!
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