Many thanks to NetGalley and Little A for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by one of my favorite authors, Joyce Maynard. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!
It's 1986, and 14-year-old Frances has always dreamed of a different life, away from her parents too busy fighting with each other to pay attention to her. When she gets the opportunity to go to the Maine summer home of her dad's childhood friend, Forrest, and spend the summer being a mother's helper, she feels like she stepped into her dream. But nothing at Wonderland is quite what it seems.
I'm a huge fan of Joyce Maynard, and she has yet again shown why. While this is a relatable and heart-breaking coming-of-age story and a nostalgic look at a time before our electronic screens took all of our attention, it's also a perfectly-written psychological thriller. I felt so much for Frances, longing for love and desperate to be an adult, not quite realizing that the adult world and relationships can be so complicated. She gets drawn into the relationship between Forrest and his wife, Regina, not realizing the consequences. It explores themes of manipulation, neglect, classism, family secrets. Absolutely loved the ending. This is a book that I couldn't put down and is absolutely a must read.
No comments:
Post a Comment