Synopsis

She was born for all the wrong reasons. But her search for the truth reveals answers she wishes she could forget in this suspenseful and deeply moving novel from the author of The Last One.

What if your past wasn’t what you thought?

As a child, Linda Russell was left to raise herself in a 20-acre walled-off property in rural Washington. The woods were her home, and for twelve years she lived oblivious to a stark and terrible truth: Her mother had birthed her only to replace another daughter who died in a tragic accident years before.

And then one day Linda witnesses something she wasn’t meant to see. Terrified and alone, she climbs the wall and abandons her home, but her escape becomes a different kind of trap when she is thrust into the modern world—a world for which she is not only entirely unprepared, but which is unprepared to accept her.

And you couldn’t see a future for yourself?

Years later, Linda is living in Seattle and immersed in technology intended to connect, but she has never felt more alone. Social media continually brings her past back to haunt her, and she is hounded by the society she is now forced to inhabit. But when Linda meets a fascinating new neighbor who introduces her to the potential and escapism of virtual reality, she begins to allow herself to hope for more.

What would it take to reclaim your life?

Then an unexplained fire at her infamous childhood home prompts Linda to return to the property for the first time since she was a girl, unleashing a chain of events that will not only endanger her life but challenge her understanding of family, memory, and the world itself.

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Review

This is a somewhat bizarre book but intriguing all at the same time.

Linda is an untrusting soul and as we learn about what happened to her as a young child, you really can’t blame her. Her mother is mentally unstable and she somehow leaves Linda alone to raise herself. Sadly, when Linda is found she is called #CloneGirl and as we know, people can be cruel on social media and the internet. She never really learned how to interact with people and it is obvious as she tends to hibernate as much as possible.

Enter Anvi, her new next door neighbor. Anvi may know who she is but is not out to get anything or exploit Linda. This is a blessing because Linda needs a friend. It doesn’t hurt that Anvi has a dog that is fond of Linda. I think he calms her down.

The story unfolds in a rather haphazard way and for a long time I had no idea what happened to Linda or why she hid away from the world. I think it takes nearly half the book to get a better understanding of what really happened. But then, do we really know what happened because there are some crazy twists and turns revealed that will change what you formerly believed.

If you decide to pick up this book, do not be surprised if it takes some time to become invested in the story and the characters, but the ending is quite a surprise. The biggest lesson from this book – be nice to people, you don’t always know the truth or what someone has endured and a little kindness goes a long way.

We give this book 4 paws up.

About the Author

Alexandra Oliva grew up in a small town deep in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. A first-generation college graduate, she has a BA from Yale University and an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School University. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, son, and their brindled pup, Codex.

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