Jaclyn’s Review: Woman No. 17 by Edan Lepucki

Woman No. 17
written by Edan Lepucki
published by Hogarth, 2017

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks, Book Depository, Goodreads

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Did I enjoy this book: I kind of liked this book. It was definitely not my favorite, but I really wanted to see how it was going to end. What’s funny is I actually didn’t like what was happening throughout most of the book, but I liked that I had such a strong reaction to the plot. The main characters are written well–you alternate between liking and hating them. You are constantly questioning motives and meanings behind actions.

 

Would I recommend it: If you want to read a book that is not a cheerful, happy, fluffy book, this is for you. This book is a bit dark and doesn’t have a happy/warm and fuzzy ending. If you like books that aren’t cookie-cutter clean, I would go for it.

 

About the book – from Goodreads: A sinister, sexy noir about art, motherhood, and the intensity of female friendships, set in the posh hills above Los Angeles, from the New York Times bestselling author of California.

High in the Hollywood Hills, writer Lady Daniels has decided to take a break from her husband. She’s going to need a hand with her young son if she’s ever going to finish her memoir. In comes S., a magnetic young artist, who will live in the secluded guest house out back, care for Lady’s young toddler son, and keep a watchful eye on her older, teenage, one. S. performs her day job beautifully, quickly drawing the entire family into her orbit, and becoming a confidante for Lady. But as the summer wears on, S.’s connection to Lady’s older son takes a disturbing, and possibly destructive, turn. Lady and S. will move closer to one another as they both threaten to harm the things they hold most dear.

Darkly comic, twisty and tense, this mesmerizing new novel defies expectation and proves Edan Lepucki to be one of the most talented and exciting voices of her generation.