Book Review: The Smart One by Ellen Meister

If you're looking for a smart summer read, pick up The Smart One by Ellen Meister. This tale of three sisters who rise about their pre-assigned family roles in a time of crisis is engaging and witty.  When sisters Bev, Clare and Joey find the decades-old body of a pregnant woman in an oil drum while cleaning out their next door neighbor's house, they are forced to examine their childhood and the current circumstances of their lives. Could their next door neighbor, Sam Waxman - now an old man with dementia -  be a killer?

This story operates on many levels - first you have the mystery of the body itself, and whether or not Mr. Waxman is a killer. Then there's the relationship between the sisters - smart sister Bev who is just starting to realize she should go for her childhood dream of being a teacher,  pretty sister Clare who wants a more fulfilling life than being a suburban soccer mom can offer, and wild sister Joey who is a recovering addict and former one-hit wonder rocker.  There's romantic entanglements - Bev's first love is Kenny Waxman, son of their next door neighbors. He's back on the scene - but will he break her heart again like he did the first time around? Clare and Joey also have romantic interests - some of which could present problems. There's also the exploration of the parent/child relationship between Bev and her parents, and Kenny and his parents.

The major theme of the book seems to be letting go and moving foward - growing beyond the labels like 'smart' ,  'pretty',  'wild' , 'druggie'  etc. that were often applied in childhood to become a well-adjusted adult.  The message is clear, but the book doesn't beat you over the head with it - the story evolves naturally and the characters are very sympathetic. 

The book also included discussion questions and author insights, which makes it perfect for a book club!

The Smart One will be released on August 5th by Avon A!



For more information:
Connect with Ellen Meister on Gather
Nice Girls Don't Write Novels by Ellen Meister
Ellen Meister's official website
Pre-order The Smart One on Amazon.com