Darcy Clipper, prodigal daughter, nearly thirty, has returned home to Murbridge, Massachusetts, after her life takes an unwelcome left turn. But Murbridge has changed. And while Darcy's first instinct might be to hole herself up in her childhood bedroom, it is human nature to do two things: seek out meaningful human connection and respond to anonymous internet postings.
A winning third novel, with Darcy’s smart, introspective voice at the heart of it. Her unconventional adventures... drive home the importance of community and how important it is to show up and participate.
Readers feel Darcy's isolation through the first quarter of the novel and, like the main character, relax into the enjoyment of getting to know the quirky lives of those who populate the neighborhood. Conklin has created a heartening look at a community whose people realize they're better together than alone.
Quirky but undercooked ... The plot is paper-thin and the tone too cutesy, but Conklin ably conveys Darcy’s state of arrested development, as well as her transition into a stronger person who strives to help her friends despite her anxieties.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay[/caption]
