Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur is a dysfunctional family drama set in 2016 Cape Cod and features the Gardners. Patriarch Adam is an aging oceanographer who's been a widower for years and struggles to manage his bi-polar disorder. Son Ken is a successful real estate developer and an aspiring politician, and daughter Abby is an artist like her mother was. The story is told in alternating chapters from multiple points of view and takes place in the weeks before Adam's 70th birthday.
The loss of their beloved wife and mother has devastated the family for decades, leading to unhealthy coping strategies. There's long-standing tension in their relationships as well as many secrets, both old and new.
I recommend reading this via audiobook as it's a full-cast recording, once narrator per character, with Cassandra Campbell, Jason Culp, Matt Pittenger, Joy Osmanski, Allyson Ryan, and Sura Siu.
I enjoyed the summer vibes of the beach setting in this story. The characters are so flawed, I was surprised even more secrets weren't revealed. The publisher's notes say this has elements of the biblical tale of Cain and Abel which I can see now but didn't perceive while reading.
In an odd case of bookish serendipity, this novel begins with an unusual 'trope' that was also in another novel I read at the same time. I don't recall any other books with this scenario, and then I read two at once - so strange.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for the review copy of the audiobook.
The loss of their beloved wife and mother has devastated the family for decades, leading to unhealthy coping strategies. There's long-standing tension in their relationships as well as many secrets, both old and new.
I recommend reading this via audiobook as it's a full-cast recording, once narrator per character, with Cassandra Campbell, Jason Culp, Matt Pittenger, Joy Osmanski, Allyson Ryan, and Sura Siu.
I enjoyed the summer vibes of the beach setting in this story. The characters are so flawed, I was surprised even more secrets weren't revealed. The publisher's notes say this has elements of the biblical tale of Cain and Abel which I can see now but didn't perceive while reading.
In an odd case of bookish serendipity, this novel begins with an unusual 'trope' that was also in another novel I read at the same time. I don't recall any other books with this scenario, and then I read two at once - so strange.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for the review copy of the audiobook.
