I’m not even sure where to start with this one. Typically, I would summarize the plot, but I’m not sure I know what happened. I may have fallen asleep and missed something, but I’ll give it a whirl –
A quirky family of six live in a house. Their family seems to revolve around their Easter celebration, until one year, tragedy strikes. Mother and Father divorce. They split the house in two and Father moves next door. Mother invites her girlfriend and her child to move in. Mother is a hoarder. Oldest child is a perfectionist and clean-freak. Youngest daughter has an affair with oldest daughter’s boyfriend. One son moves to a commune, has a baby, goes to jail. Mother’s girlfriend’s daughter doesn’t feel comfortable in the house full of junk. Girlfriend gives Mother an ultimatum – Her or hoard. Mother chooses hoard. Girlfriend moves out. Father starts dating son’s daughter’s mother. Mother falls in love with a guy on the internet. Mother dies. Family has to clean house.
Whew… I think I got it all.
Usually, I would enjoy a book about family dynamics and how the individuals handle the issues that arise; however, this one missed the mark. It felt like someone was trying to make chili soup with the random ingredients they had left in the refrigerator, but unfortunately, the mustard, eggs, milk, Parmesan cheese, salami, applesauce and Greek yogurt didn’t make a particularly tasty meal.
Lisa Jewell is 0 for 2 in my Cannonball Read reviews so far this year. I’m not sure if I’m up for a third.