Review Detail

Laineys world is falling apart. A few months after Carl, her mother Lisas boyfriend, is killed when his motorcycle skids off the road, Lisa commits suicide, hanging herself in the basement. Several days later, Laineys older sister, Vallery, who she hasnt seen in ten or more years, appears on her doorstep. Lisa named Vallery the guardian of seventeen year old Lainey and her special needs, five year old adopted brother, Collin. How is this going to all work out?

Grief exhibits itself in different ways in different people. For Lainey, it is the fear of going down to the basement. She cant even do her laundry and resorts to buying bulk underwear from Walmart and digging through the clothes on her floor to find something clean. It is lashing out at Riley, her long time boyfriend, who adores her. It is not being able to make a decision.

Add to this Vallerys attempt at supporting the family and her unfamiliarity with Lainey and Collin and his needs, and the stress on Lainey increases many-fold.

Lainey and Vallerys mom was a life counselor to local women and, while surprisingly to Lainey, helped many women, she also spouted forth many platitudes. Its interesting how, as Lainey reads her journals, she ridicules but also adopts many of the sayings, as she learns to accept her circumstances.

The Snowball Effect, Holly Nicole Hoxters debut novel, is a very readable book. Readers will certainly empathize with Lainey, if they cant relate to her because they havent experienced a similar loss. Laineys reactions and confusion are true. Youll like the characters. The events are real. I didnt love the ending, though. I thought it was a little too pat, too predictable. Given Laineys frame of mind, Im not sure she would have done what she did. (Notice, Im not telling you the end.) But, you might feel differently. So, read and enjoy The Snowball Effect and then let me know how you feel about the ending.