Five Reasons to Read
& Recommend Caroline Leavitt's Cruel Beautiful World
by Mary Laura Philpott, Parnassus Books
That Smokin' Hot
Cover
The front of this book pretty much says, “Welcome to the
time machine. Splash on a little Love's Baby Soft and step inside.” Detail
after sensory detail, Leavitt holds readers in thrall to her story and keeps us
immersed in the era of peace, love, and simmering danger.
A Family Both
Recognizable and Unique
The relationship between sixteen-year-old Lucy and her older
sister, Charlotte, epitomizes the big sibling–little sibling dynamic: deep love
mixed with jealousies and misunderstandings. The family structure here is a
little unusual—the girls are parented by a much older woman named Iris, and
there's a backstory as to why, of course—but the ties that bind are universally
relatable.
Get Out of Unwanted
Weekend Plans!
Cancel brunch. You're not going anywhere until you find out
where Lucy went and what happens next. The plot unfolds at a pace that hooks
you from the first page to the last.
The Writing—Oh, the
Writing
The story itself is entertaining enough—who doesn't love a
disappearance drama?—but if you're a reader who writes (or just one who digs
good prose), you'll appreciate this book on multiple levels. Don't be surprised
if whole sentences stick in your brain.
It's a Crowd Pleaser
I read it. My husband read it. My younger co-workers read
it. My older colleagues read it. Everyone loved it. Keep Cruel Beautiful World
in mind as a go-to when a reader comes in and asks, “What's something good I
don't know about yet?” Hand this over and rock their world.
Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt * October 2016 *
978-1-61620-363-4
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