After two seemingly coincidental run-ins with a stranger, podcaster Alix takes the bait and agrees to profile Josie on her show about women embarking on big life changes. Josie seems a bit odd. She wears only denim, is married to a much older man, and is cagey about her daughters. The more time she spends with Alex, the more she seems to be single white femaling her. Josie admits to being in an abusive relationship, but it’s soon clear she sees herself as a marriage vigilante of sorts. Her version of enacting justice on behalf of others may have disastrous effects.
Someone told me I’d find the book frustrating, and I kind of did – mostly because the pieces with [Josie’s daughter] Erin seemed off. (Even in the Josie POV chapters, we don’t understand why she just doesn’t open Erin’s increasingly smelly door or question the puréed food situation. Why?!) But also because every single person in Josie’s orbit seems to be a psychopath, narcissist, or seriously disturbed in some other way. Also, I think I may generally feel this [frustrated] way about Lisa Jewell’s writing. The stories wrap up, but there’s something off about the conclusion. I enjoy a story with an unreliable narrator, but I think I want/need the record to be set straight by the end of the book. Here, I’m not sure who to believe…maybe that’s the genius in this; maybe it’s aggravating.
3.5 out of 5 stars.
Pair with: sweet Riesling
Peaches to Apples 