Stephanie Sullivan: Review - Nothing to See Here

TITLE: Nothing to See Here

RATING: ★★★★

Summary (from Goodreads): Kevin Wilson’s best book yet—a moving and uproarious novel about a woman who finds meaning in her life when she begins caring for two children with remarkable and disturbing abilities

Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they’ve barely spoken since. Until now, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help.

Madison’s twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there’s a catch: the twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but it’s the truth.

Thinking of her dead-end life at home, the life that has consistently disappointed her, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose. Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other—and stay cool—while also staying out of the way of Madison’s buttoned-up politician husband. Surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her—urgently and fiercely. Couldn’t this be the start of the amazing life she’d always hoped for?

With white-hot wit and a big, tender heart, Kevin Wilson has written his best book yet—a most unusual story of parental love.

REVIEW: This was such a strange read…but in a good way. I mean, how often do you come across a plot that involves spontaneous combustible children? Yeah…not often. But the author somehow made these kids and the main character, Lillian, relatable. I was honestly kind of sad when I reached the end of the book because it felt like saying goodbye to a really screwed up family I invested a lot of time worrying about. I wish there had been an epilogue included so we could find out what happened to them. Overall, the story was very well written, and I would gladly recommend it, but I just wish there had been more “closure” in the ending.