Episode 51: Coming Home
Summary: Welcome home, friends! Join Holly and Devin today as they discuss books that feature a return to our roots, to going back where we came from (for better or worse). Devin highlights that this trope is common and effective in romances - Hallmark and Lifetime use it constantly. Holly shares that thrillers remind the reader that “home” isn’t always cozy and safe but can be the source of trauma and horrors to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
Topics Discussed:
The Dagger (3:40): Holly discussed Sundial by Catriona Ward, a novel following Rob, a woman who has it all - a husband, two children and a nice house in the suburbs. At least, that’s how it looks on paper. After discovering that her husband is cheating on her with her only friend and feeling increasingly worried for her daughter Callie’s bizarre behaviors, Rob seeks answers at Sundial, the remote desert ranch where Rob grew up. Holly’s key takeaways were:
This novel explores the theme of nature vs. nurture, both in humans and animals. What makes us who we are, and how much can human intervention modify and control the choices we make? The setting in the Mojave desert doubles down on this exploration, portrayed as a brutal, hungry animal waiting to be fed.
Ward keeps us back on our heels through the novel with alternating timelines and POVs; we follow Rob and Callie in the present day, but also see Rob of the past and her childhood at Sundial. We are left feeling distrustful of everyone and unsure which story we can rely on.
Rob’s return home and Callie’s introduction to Rob’s fraught past is a major factor in this novel; we are privy to the present day experience of Rob coming back to Sundial, but we also move back in time to learn what happened there when she and her sister Jack were growing up, particularly the events surrounding their late teens.
The Heart (17:17): Devin discussed Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake as we follow the titular character from the life she’s fought hard to build in New York City back to her hometown of Bright Falls for her step-sister’s wedding. As a professional photographer, she’d normally reject the opportunity outright but the five-figure paycheck sways her. Once there, she meets her sister’s friend Claire and decides that the entire two-week extravaganza would be more fun with some flirtation. Delilah ends up with way more than she bargains for and so does the reader. Devin’s key takeaways were:
Even with Astrid, Delilah’s cold and perfectionistic step sister, a lot of this book is about finding your voice and learning how to stand for what you need and want, with boundaries and sharing feelings etc. whether in romantic partnerships or platonic friendships.
The first of a three book series, this novel is a sapphic romance and is very fantastically steamy; Herring Blake focuses her talents on not just sexy moments but hot dialogue to make even the most seasoned romance reader blush. As queer romances go, this one is a fantastic representation of real queer community and intimacy.
The chaos and stress of going home, facing triggers head-on and the complicated family dynamics between Claire and her ex husband all build to the sense that this whole exercise is tough for everyone, but also worthwhile to build a better future for everyone involved.
Hot On the Shelf (37:09):
What’s Making Our Hearts Race (40:46):
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