Jennifer Close

From the author of the national bestseller "Girls in White Dresses": a gloriously funny new novel of sibling rivalry, thwarted expectations, and that place people return to when things go staggeringly awry: home.

A Novel

The Smart One

Allyson Marrs

You have to know what you're getting into with Close's writing style. It's different. It's detached. It has special moments of belly laughter. I enjoyed this book more than her first, GIRLS IN WHITE DRESSES, probably because family, in its roots, is something everyone can relate to. There's silent judgement; there are failures; there are mistakes and mistakes that become blessings. 

I like to think of this book as a narrative on family relationships and dynamics. It's not so much a story, as you would expect, but like a look into this one family and how these characters interact with one another. From crazy Martha (who admittedly got on my nerves, which I think was done on purpose) to racist grandma Bets, the characters are flawed and wildly entertaining. The best part? It's not just this one family Close is writing about. Ultimately, it spans to give the reader a subtle look into other family dynamics to show us that, yeah, every one's family is just a little nutty.

The Smart One A Novel

Reviews