The focus of this book is the Flynn family and their three daughters. We are first introduced to the parents: Bud, who is going through a midlife depressive crisis, and the wistful Catherine, who constantly aspires to true love, beauty, and meaning beyond motherhood. Then there’s Harper, the conspiracy theorist of the siblings; Louise, who’s being groomed online by a terrorist; and Abigail, a seventeen-year-old enamored by her elusive boyfriend nicknamed War Crimes West. Through each character, the author Cash paints a unique portrait that reflects the distinct inner turmoil within families. They face endless conflicts—growing resentments, unmet desires to feel understood by one another, and maladaptive coping mechanisms.

Review

Each character is so brilliantly real and dynamic, especially the Flynn sisters who each occupy their own versions of reality. Juggling so many different perspectives is a feat, but each one had something equally important to contribute to the story. What stood out most to me was the dialogue and how it reveals the characters’ interior worlds. While close in proximity, they are always just missing each other and never quite on the same page, showing their emotional distance and discord. This book is deeply dark and funny. I might have rated it higher had it not been Cash’s debut novel. While the voice and prose were touching and memorable, I thought the denouement was too long, with every conflict neatly tied up by the end—in contrast to real life, where plans inevitably fail. This story certainly stands on its own, but I can also see so much potential in Cash. I really connected with her writing style and can’t wait to see what she has in store.