A therapist gets drawn into an insidious program for traumatized veterans in this debut novel.
Linda Held is a single mother and early-career psychotherapist who isn’t interested in letting ethical concerns get in the way of her helping her clients. That’s what attracted her to the vaguely named “United Syndicates of Federal Assistance, Worldwide,” which runs the SoldierWell program, a private therapy initiative for veterans experiencing acute PTSD. Her clients are definitely in need of help. Pvt. Carl Boxer is a guilt-ridden soldier whose traumatic experience as a war zone driver led him to attack an Army chaplain (though he has no memory of doing so). Participation in SoldierWell is all that saved him from being court-martialed. Even worse is Marine Sgt. Todd Sparrow, a narcissist and potential sociopath with war crimes on his rap sheet. Linda is prepared to blur the normal boundary lines between patient and therapist to produce results—her early research is in the potential benefits of patient transference—but it soon becomes clear that the ethical standards of her employers are far looser (and darker) than even she imagined. As it turns out, USoFA’s plans for the vets in Linda’s care don’t necessarily involve fixing them. The deeper Linda immerses herself in the program, the more she realizes that she might not be helping to mitigate the effects of America’s “forever war” but simply keeping the machine primed and running. Mixing traditional narration with extended transcripts from therapy sessions, Clancy builds his world with unsettling precision. It’s a novel that leans heavily into psychology, and the characters are wonderfully (and sometimes horribly) drawn. “I can’t remember how I came to lead but I’m sure it had something to do with the way I carried myself,” says Todd to Linda, explaining what he perceives as his own natural leadership abilities. “I have what they call ‘command presence,’ if that’s a term you’re familiar with. That’s just how I see myself, and I’m confident others see me that way.” Readers may be suffering from “forever war” fatigue at this current moment of history, but the author’s parable is more than incisive political commentary. It’s an evergreen story of human frailty and this increasingly dystopian world.
A taut and compelling psychological tale.Pub Date: April 21, 2021
ISBN: 978-4-294-29897-8
Page Count: 418
Publisher: Montag Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Categories: SUSPENSE | PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER | GENERAL FICTION
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A wistfully nostalgic look at endings, beginnings, and loving the people who will always have your back.
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Exes pretend they’re still together for the sake of their friends on their annual summer vacation.
Wyn Connor and Harriet Kilpatrick were the perfect couple—until Wyn dumped Harriet for reasons she still doesn’t fully understand. They’ve been part of the same boisterous friend group since college, and they know that their breakup will devastate the others and make things more than a little awkward. So they keep it a secret from their friends and families—in fact, Harriet barely even admits it to herself, focusing instead on her grueling hours as a surgical resident. She’s ready for a vacation at her happy place—the Maine cottage she and her friends visit every summer. But (surprise!) Wyn is there too, and he and Harriet have to share a (very romantic) room and a bed. Telling the truth about their breakup is out of the question, because the cottage is up for sale, and this is the group’s last hurrah. Determined to make sure everyone has the perfect last trip, Harriet and Wyn resolve to fake their relationship for the week. The problem with this plan, of course, is that Harriet still has major feelings for Wyn—feelings that only get stronger as they pretend to be blissfully in love. As always, Henry’s dialogue is sparkling and the banter between characters is snappy and hilarious. Wyn and Harriet’s relationship, shown both in the past and the present, feels achingly real. Their breakup, as well as their complicated relationships with their own families, adds a twinge of melancholy, as do the relatable growing pains of a group of friends whose lives are taking them in different directions.
A wistfully nostalgic look at endings, beginnings, and loving the people who will always have your back.Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 9780593441275
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 23, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
Categories: ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE | GENERAL FICTION
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Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
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The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
Categories: ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE | GENERAL FICTION
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