Our Little World

A wonderfully-written coming-of-age story set in New Jersey in 1985, when life was simpler - no cells phones, kids played outside in the streets, and we hadn't ever heard of serial killers or children who went missing in the blink of an eye. It's hard to believe this is a debut because it's so rich with both details and nuanced characterizations of the family. Bee is the older sister and we know from the beginning that her younger sister Audrina, who is beautiful, vivacious, and gets all the attention, will die. The inciting incident is the disappearance of a 4-year old child from the beach, seemingly in plain sight and the subsequent paranoia and distrust that begins to spread through this isolated community. This is a nuanced portrait of not only Bee's growing into adulthood but also the people around her - coming into the modern world where people are not what they seem and everything is much more complex than we see as children. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone who craves realistic characters, a bit of nostalgia, and lyrical writing.

I received an advance review copy from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.