Woman No. 17: A Novel by Edan Lepucki

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

about book:

A sinister, sexy noir about art, motherhood, and the intensity of female friendships, set in the posh hills above Los Angeles, from the New York Times bestselling author of California

High in the Hollywood Hills, writer Lady Daniels has decided to take a break from her husband. Left alone with her children, she’s going to need a hand taking care of her young son if she’s ever going to finish her memoir. In response to a Craigslist ad, S arrives, a magnetic young artist who will live in the secluded guest house out back, care for Lady’s toddler, Devin, and keep a watchful eye on her older, teenage son, Seth. S performs her day job beautifully, quickly drawing the entire family into her orbit, and becoming a confidante for Lady.

But in the heat of the summer, S’s connection to Lady’s older son takes a disturbing, and possibly destructive, turn. And as Lady and S move closer to one another, the glossy veneer of Lady’s privileged life begins to crack, threatening to expose old secrets that she has been keeping from her family. Meanwhile, S is protecting secrets of her own, about her real motivation for taking the job. S and Lady are both playing a careful game, and every move they make endangers the things they hold most dear.

Darkly comic, twisty and tense, this mesmerizing new novel defies expectation and proves Edan Lepucki to be one of the most talented and exciting voices of her generation.

my thoughts:

Wow! What a book! Set in So Cal, this dark and twisty story is filled with eccentric characters behaving badly, very badly.  And you can't help but want to read all about them. I swear its true! I was addicted to Woman No. 17 and could not put the book down for anyone or anything.  I was hooked from the start and enjoyed every minute I spent getting to know Lady and S.  They are an odd pair that make for quite an entertaining read.

I just loved Lepucki's top notch writing - it thrummed with life.  The way she wrote so clearly and vividly about these unpredictable characters was mesmerizing. Using the dual narratives to keep the pace of the story steady was perfect in allowing secrets to slowly and shockingly be revealed.  Her exploration of the mother-daughter relationship via Lady and S was fantastic! This story was truly a thrill to read!

I absolutely LOVED Woman No. 17 and would happily recommend it to fans of Lepucki and anyone looking for their next great read.

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Woman No. 17

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