by Edan Lepucki
narrated by Cassandra Campbell
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Just released: May 9, 2017
Publisher: Hogarth
Genre: Art, Women's Fiction
Hardback: 320
Rating: 4
First sentence(s):
It was summer, the heat had arrived harsh and bright, bleaching the sidewalks and choking the flowers before they had a chance to wilt.
High in the Hollywood Hills, writer Lady Daniels has decided to take a break from her husband. Left alone with her children, she’s going to need a hand taking care of her young son if she’s ever going to finish her memoir. In response to a Craigslist ad, S arrives, a magnetic young artist who will live in the secluded guest house out back, care for Lady’s toddler, Devin, and keep a watchful eye on her older, teenage son, Seth. S performs her day job beautifully, quickly drawing the entire family into her orbit, and becoming a confidante for Lady.
But in the heat of the summer, S’s connection to Lady’s older son takes a disturbing, and possibly destructive, turn. And as Lady and S move closer to one another, the glossy veneer of Lady’s privileged life begins to crack, threatening to expose old secrets that she has been keeping from her family. Meanwhile, S is protecting secrets of her own, about her real motivation for taking the job. S and Lady are both playing a careful game, and every move they make endangers the things they hold most dear.
My two-bits:
Another one of those novels that include unlikable characters left and right. But, the story managed to keep me interested despite knowing the general downward path. The curiosity of how far will it go was the draw.
Liked the concept of life imitating art and pushing its limits.
* Listened to audiobook version.
* part of BookSparks Reading Challenge, Summer (here)
