A BETTER BAD IDEA

A desperate teen goes on the lam after an extreme act of revenge.

McNair Falls, South Carolina, is a dying town, and 17-year-old Evelyn can’t wait to put it behind her. She lives in a single-wide trailer with her mother; her 6-year-old sister, Kara; and her mother’s physically abusive boyfriend, Dane. When Dane turns his rage on Kara, Evelyn takes matters into her own hands, and through a twist of fate, privileged golden boy Ashton helps carry out her impulsive plan. In the aftermath, the only thing they can do is run. Hanging over them is the memory of Ashton’s late girlfriend, Reid. The two had a volatile, intense romance, and Reid was everything Evelyn wished she could be. But flashbacks showing Reid’s account of the days leading up to her death a year earlier detail her struggle to reconcile her true self with external expectations. Evelyn’s present-day narration in alternating chapters reveals an insecure young woman who must find the strength to take control of her future. While there are fitful sparks between Ashton and Evelyn, they can only run so far. Devore’s exploration of the insidiousness of domestic violence and Evelyn’s transformation to in-control survivor both read true. The finale is poignant, if a bit pat, but readers won’t mind because the journey is so very satisfying. All major characters are White; Evelyn, Reid, and Ashton are queer.

A propulsive and angst-y page-turner.