From the very first line of Stewart O'Nan's Ocean State, you're hooked. You know a murder has taken place, but you don't know the how or why. Throughout the rest of the book, O'Nan alternates between four female POVs to show the build-up to the devastating event.
There's Angel, the jealous girlfriend who will do anything to keep her boyfriend, Myles, from breaking up with her.
Birdie is the girl with whom Myles is caught cheating, and she's just as obsessed with him as Angel. (What is it with this guy, am I right?)
Marie is Angel's younger sister, forever living in Angel's shadow, first as the fat and nerdy sister, and then as the sister of the killer.
And then there's Carol, Angel and Marie's single, working mom. She's navigating her own romantic entanglements and past demons.
There's no mystery to solve here - no courtroom drama. Just a look at the emotional states of four females living in working-class Rhode Island and how their small choices eventually lead to big consequences.
Ocean State is published by Atlantic Monthly Press and will be available to purchase on March 15, 2022. I received a free ARC.
Comments
Post a Comment