Laura P. (hemmputnam) reviewed on 10/5/2017 + 1123 more book reviews

I was worried there was something wrong with me because I was a child of the 80s, and although the author nailed the time period (I kept internally exclaiming, "yes, I remember that!") I did not enjoy the book. I would not have finished it if it hadn't been a book club read. However, when I arrived the rest of the group was also filled with those who either did not finish it or did not enjoy it. I think it boils down to the fact that most of the relationships were defined by jealousy and a lack of intimacy, so it was hard to like the characters. I loved the level of detail and aspects of the characters (playing dress up in the woods, pretending to be in another time, being in the school play, the differences in the city and the suburbs) but several of us felt like the relationship between June and her uncle's friend was just creepy. My group is composed of parents of teens and through that lens we found the parents' lack of awareness disturbing. We agree tax season is a busy time for accountants, but would you really miss the fact that your daughter was drunk on stage in front of the whole school?

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