THE MANY PRIVATE LIVES OF MISSY COOKE

The daughter of a famous billionaire chases her father’s inconsistent and elusive affection while trying to find her own identity.

Missy Cooke’s parents divorced when she was a child, and she was raised by a frazzled, oft-depressed, financially strapped mother. Meanwhile, her father, Marty Cooke, formed an incredibly successful tech company after leaving her mother, rising to astronomical fame and fortune. Largely ephemeral during Missy’s childhood, he would appear out of nowhere to visit with her when it suited him, treating her to luxuries and his mercurial moods. Finally, when she reaches adulthood, Missy is thrilled to be able to take a job with his company. The only problem is that despite her desperation for her father’s approval and attention, he doesn’t seem to prioritize her or to view her as an adult. Missy wonders whether he will ever truly deem her worthy of his respect. But when her father gets diagnosed with cancer, which forces him to take a leave of absence from his beloved company, ipryy, he surprises Missy by making her interim CEO, finally giving her the chance to prove herself. Unfortunately, everyone around her seems intent on setting her up to fail. Narrated in the first person by Missy, the book follows her attempts to navigate a stagnating career, a complicated relationship with her mother, and a lackluster romantic relationship with a man she may have chosen simply because her father likes him. The book is impressive in the quick work it makes of worldbuilding and creating dramatic tension, which will help keep readers engaged when the pace lags in the middle before picking back up toward the end. Despite its whip-smart dialogue and captivating levels of yearning, the novel stumbles in its use of Briticisms like “phoning” instead of “calling,” which frequently appear in the mouths of these American characters. Despite this jarring element, the author skillfully uses a seemingly light story to explore several deeper issues, including emotional abuse, self-doubt, and the weight of parental expectations.

A worthwhile story about re-examining family relationships.