This week's contemporary fiction offerings include "All Grown Up" by Daisy Buchanan, a novel inspired by Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women," reimagining the March sisters as young adults navigating today's world.
Buchanan's novel focuses on the mother, Louisa, who finds herself divorced and in debt as her daughters begin to arrive with their own crises. Meg is pregnant and has left her husband, Amy has dropped out of university, and Jo is fleeing a boyfriend. The story unfolds as these characters interact with their childhood home and other familiar figures from the classic tale.
"Pool House" by Mary H. K. Choi explores the strained relationship between Stevie and her mother, Moon, a former actress from the 1990s. Moon grapples with her past fame, addiction, and the recent death of her TV husband. As Stevie seeks to escape Los Angeles, they move into their pool house while renting out their main residence. The situation intensifies with the arrival of Adam, Moon's TV son, whom Stevie has long fancied. The novel is described as hilarious and clever.
In "If Books Could Kill" by Kate Eberle, Roxie is a self-proclaimed love junkie who devours romance novels. She makes a wish to star in a novel by her favorite author, only to find herself living a fictional life. The twist comes when her favorite author switches genres to thrillers, forcing Roxie to seek help. She finds an ally in Grant, an awkward professor with a penchant for crime fiction. The developing relationship between Roxie and Grant forms a key part of the story, which is characterized as great fun.
