Book Review- Lucy Clarke's One of the Girls

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for a copy of Lucy Clarke’s One of the Girls.

During a hen weekend ( bachelorette party for American readers) at a dramatic cliffside mansion in Greece, copious amounts of alcohol will be consumed, secrets will be spilled, and one person will end up dead.

One of the Girls is told through flashbacks and chapters that alternate between all of the party attendees- Lexi: the newly pregnant bachelorette with a wild girl past, Bella: Lexi’s childhood friend who is still wild, Fen: Bella’s girlfriend, Robyn: Single mother and childhood friend to both Bella and Lexi, Ana: Lexi’s newest friend from yoga class, and Eleanor: socially awkward, soon-to-be sister-in-law.

Clarke begins the story with the reveal that a person will die during the course of the trip, but cleverly teases out the reveal, not sharing the victim or cause until very end of the book. There are many, many near-misses, where it seems clear that a certain person is the victim and then it is revealed that they escaped death. This aspect kept me turning the pages, but it also wore on me. There were a handful too many close-calls that bogged down the pacing in the final chapters. Ultimately, the victim and situation provided a satisfying conclusion and each character had their own story resolved in a way that was honest and satisfactory.

I found the dynamics among the women to be more intriguing than the murder-mystery element. It was relatable. Bella knows that time has changed her friendships with both Robyn and Lexi. Bella clings to the past and struggles to accept that she is growing older as well. When Robyn has a child and gets divorced, Bella doesn’t know how to relate to her and simply removes herself from their friendship. This has gone on for years and makes it uncomfortable when the women are reunited on this trip. Additionally, Bella is envious of the friendship that Lexi has developed with newcomer, Ana. Lexi and Ana’s friendship is forged out of a shared love for quiet, reflective activities, such as yoga and coffee, rather than the nightclubs and teenage antics that Bella and Lexi shared. To add to the frustration, Bella organized the weekend with the intention of heavy drinking and crazy parties, but none of the other women are interested, including the bachelorette, who is newly pregnant, a reveal made in Greece. To further complicate Bella’s life, she is on the verge of breaking up with Fen. Bella feels the most isolated and alone on a party weekend that she planned.

Bella might be the most complex character, but all of the women face their own challenges when relating to the other women. If I had read this story in my late-teens/early-20’s, I’m not sure that I would have related to the shifting of friendships, as at that age, it seems like things will stay the same forever. However, having middle-age hindsight, the shuffling of friendships that occur in late 20’s/30’s is a real thing. Careers and family situations change so much during this time, that often friendships struggle to weather the storm and new friendships develop. Bella’s resistance to change and the fact that she has not experienced motherhood, both put her on the outside.

I enjoyed One of the Girls, primarily for the strong character development. I also appreciated Clarke’s well-crafted mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. I look forward to reading her other novels.

Book Review: Jennifer Weiner's The Summer Place

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of Jennifer Weiner’s latest novel, The Summer Place.

Veronica is a widow and retired novelist, living full-time in her Cape Cod summer home. She had hopes that her adult children, twins Sarah and Sam, would choose to spend their summers in Cape Cod with their own children, enjoying nature and lazy days. However, Veronica’s kids have their own problems.

Sarah has two young children of her own and a college-age adult stepdaughter, Ruby. Sarah’s sensing problems in her marriage and struggling to keep her life together. Sam has recently lost his wife and he is a single parent to his young stepson. Sam is having difficulty finding his place in the world, including dating again.

Veronica has made the decision to sell her beloved Cape Cod home and has not told her children. She will tell them after hosting one last big event: Ruby’s wedding. However, an incident involving a seemingly fun and frivolous home DNA kit, threatens to expose family secrets. Several characters panic, unsure how to handle the delicate situation without further damaging fragile relationships.

I’m a fan of Weiner’s books, but a few of her more recent ones have been lacking. The Summer Place gets Weiner back on track with her strong characters and a compelling plot. I felt most connected with Sarah’s story as it had shades of my first marriage and how I was feeling about fifteen years ago, the uncertainty and lack of emotional connection. It took me back to a difficult place, but that said, with distance and perspective, I can relate to Sarah’s troubles, without feeling overwhelmed. Weiner is a master at writing characters with strong emotional arcs.

This story is set during the pandemic. The pandemic plays a crucial role with the relationships, specifically Ruby’s engagement and Sarah feeling overwhelmed by not having her own space. Be sure to read Weiner’s afterward, as she explains the changes that were made while writing The Summer Place, due to both the pandemic and situations in her life. It sounds like The Summer Place ended up being a very different story from the original concept, and I suspect, a much better story.

The ending is perfect. It left me feeling hopeful and with a happy heart. The Summer Place definitely has a summer vibe and is a great pick for the upcoming season. It’s not a light “beach read” as it deals with very challenging relationship topics, but it will make you long for a vacation to Cape Cod.