REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: The Exiles: A Novel by Allison Lynn

about book:

Nate, a mid-level investment banker on Wall Street, and his longtime girlfriend Emily can no longer afford their cramped apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Tired of trying to keep up with their jet-set friends, they jump at a job offer for Nate in Newport, Rhode Island – complete with a bucolic, small, and comparatively affordable new house. They pack their belongings tightly in their Jeep Cherokee and head north to start a new life. Yet less than an hour after arriving in Newport, the car is stolen and they’re left with nothing but the keys to their empty house and their bawling ten-month-old son.

my thoughts:

Introspective read about an unlikeable couple struggling to come to grips with some unfortunate realities.  Nate and Emily are unable to remain in Manhattan, because money is beyond tight.  So, when Nate is offered employment in Rhode Island, the couple packs up their house and grab their son and head up north.  Almost immediately things go wrong - their car containing all of their personal belongings has been stolen!  With a wailing baby, limited funds, and HUGE secrets weighing them down, the upcoming holiday weekend doesn't look so good.  Nate is worried that he has inherited the Huntington's disease gene and passed it along to his son.  Emily is stressed out with guilt over her recent theft - she stole a painting from some affluent friends.  And the baby, well, he's a baby, but he's feeling the uncomfortable tension emanating from his parents.  Talk about unhappy times.

In The Exiles, Lynn explores several issues that are extremely relatable:  financial, medical, and the uncertainties of life.  You can't help but find yourself getting caught up in Nate and Emily's dramas, and even find yourself empathizing with them as they grapple with facing the ugly realities and truths that seem to enshroud them in a bleakness.  This book just seems to go from unhappy to bad to worse in under a nanosecond, but somehow I think it all fits in with the tense and cloudy atmosphere of the story.  I found myself riveted all the way through and really enjoying Lynn's fantastic writing.  She really knows how to capture a moment and bring it to life with just a few sentences.  And her characters are portrayed in a realistic light - they are flawed, selfish, and unraveling.  This is definitely one book that I would happily recommend.  It is a worthwhile read for fans of character-driven stories, fans of fiction, and fans looking for a new author to get hooked on.

Here's the TLC Book tour schedule for The Exiles - Check it out!!

GIVEAWAY:  Thanks to the publisher I can offer one lucky reader the chance to win a copy of Allison Lynn's terrific new book, The Exiles.  All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me you want "in" for the giveaway.  Oh, and don't forget to leave your email address( so I can contact you if your name is chosen as the winner.)  Last day to enter is July 28th! Open to US/Canada residents only.  Good luck!!

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!