Plot: There’s only been one time that Rose couldn’t stop me from doing the wrong thing and that was a mistake that will haunt me for the rest of my life.
Fern Castle works in her local library. She has dinner with her twin sister Rose three nights a week. And she avoids crowds, bright lights and loud noises as much as possible. Fern has a carefully structured life and disrupting her routine can be…dangerous.
When Rose discovers that she cannot get pregnant, Fern sees her chance to pay her sister back for everything Rose has done for her. Fern can have a baby for Rose. She just needs to find a father. Simple.
Fern’s mission will shake the foundations of the life she has carefully built for herself and stir up dark secrets from the past, in this quirky, rich and shocking story of what families keep hidden.
Review: I’m really not sure about “quirky” as a descriptor for this book, but dang was it good! Fern has sensory sensitivity issues and the first person narration through her point of view does a really good job of placing you in her shoes without being condescending. I kind of wonder if “quirky” was the editor’s way of describing the fact that the lead is not neurotypical. I really hope not, because that’s just…condescending? Rude? It rubs me the wrong way.
This isn’t a quirky book. It’s a domestic thriller involving twin sisters, gaslighting, manipulation, tawdry drama, a love of books, and very interesting and detailed characters. Halfway through I paused and told my husband that while I picked this up as a domestic thriller, I was so wrapped up in Fern’s life and enjoying reading about her, I was almost hoping the inevitable TWIST BETRAYAL that comes in all books of this genre wouldn’t show up.
That, to me, shows what a well-written book it was. And I didn’t mind when the *twist* appeared and enjoyed the ending. But to be so wrapped up in the characters and their day to day filler activities was a very pleasant surprise. Fern was a delight and I so enjoyed being in her head.
It’s a quick read and the audiobook is solidly narrated. Give it a try!