Clare Sestanovich’s Ask Me Again begins with 16-year-old Eva meeting James in a Brooklyn hospital waiting room. Theirs is an unlikely friendship, each from very different backgrounds, and yet it lasts for many years. While Eva pursues her journalistic ambition, James drops out of college, joining the Occupy encampment on Wall Street moving in with Eva’s parents when it’s disbanded, then turning to a ramshackle church in his continuing search for meaning which will eventually lead to disaster. A few chapters in, I wondered if I might give up this introspective novel but the more I thought about it the more impressed I became. I’m loath to make comparisons but if you’re a Sally Rooney fan, this one should suit you nicely. Review shortly…
The blurb tells me Lisa Sandlin’s Sweet Vidalia is for readers of Elizabeth Strout and Anne Tyler which immediately makes me wary but I like the sound of its premise. Set in ‘60s Texas, it follows Eliza after the death of her husband which has provoked a revelation that her apparently happy life has been based on a lie. She sets about building a future for herself, enrolling in business classes and moving into the eponymous hotel but ‘as she gathers new friends and new possibilities open up before her, Eliza finds it isn’t so simple to leave the past behind’ says the blurb. We’ll see.
Andrew Ridker’s Hope follows the Greenspan family who live in Brookline, Massachusetts. Scott is an esteemed cardiologist; his wife works in a distinguished New York publishing house while his son is in medical school. An unimpeachable family, or so it seems until Scott is caught up in a scandal involving the faking of blood tests. Hope ‘is a painfully funny account of the tumultuous year that follows, written by one of the most brilliant young American novelists at work today’ say the publishers rather ambitiously. I remember enjoying Ridker’s previous novel, The Altruists.
That’s it for January’s first batch of new fiction. As ever, a click on a title will take you to a more detailed synopsis for any that take you fancy. Part two soon…
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Well, I’ve just reserved Confessions at the library, and am cogitating about The Persians. The others aren’t in the catalogue yet, so I’ll have to see. Nesting is perhaps the one that most appeals so far.
Confessions is a tuck yourelf up on a chilly night read! I hope you enjoy it. I suspect I will read The Persians and I’ll definitely read Nesting.
Opinions noted!
Of these, I think The Persians is the one I’d be most likely to read, though I resisted requesting it from NetGalley!
Me, too, although I did come very close.
Confessions attracts me most – although I’d happily read all of these, and am adding to my wishlist!
Fingers crossed for a book token Christmas!
Interesting list, with some writers new to me. I have heard of Roisin O’Donnell as she has come to prominence in recent years, winning awards for her short stories in particular. Her book appeals to me the most, a very prominent topic unfortunately.
I’m keen to read the O’Donnell too. It seems to be a universal topic, unfortunately.
The Persians is already on my list. I’m now interested in Sweet Vidalia, Confessions, and Hope. Great list!
Thank you. Here’s to a brilliant reading year in 2025!
Looking forward to Nesting for sure.
Me too!
I’m tempted by The Persians but I’ll wait to see your review before jumping – I feel it has the potential to be great… or not!
Exactly! I may not get around to it. We’ll aee.
Oh dear, here we go, wrecking the TBR before next year has even begun, haha! I’m most intrigued by the first and last novels on your list, though all have the potential to be really good. Looks like the start of 2025 will be interesting!
Sorry! I can certainly vouch for Confessions. Quite a bit of hype surrounding it but, for once, the book lives up to it.
Confessions sounds great – I’ll look forward to your review!
One to lose yourself in!
Nesting could tempt me… I’m intrigued by the Lisa Sandlin you mention. If she’s as good as Strout then it will be a yes but if she’s more of an Anne Tyler then I’m less enthused
Always hard to tell with those comparisons. Publishers tend to reach for the bestselling names rather than accuracy. Nesting certainly appeals to me.