Be prepared - this book is dark and depressing. I don’t know when I’ve heard a story this bleak. Lynette’s life is really not going well. She’s working several jobs, one of which is illegal. Her brother is developmentally challenged with the mind of a three year old. She’s managed to save the money needed for the downpayment to buy their home, but her mom reneges on her willingness to take in the mortgage. When she tries to start collecting the money she’s owed from various people, things get even worse. I definitely wanted to find out whether things would eventually work out for her.
Vlautin provides flashbacks to Lynette’s life as the story progresses, so we learn more and more about what damaged her.
The book covers those that live paycheck to paycheck, the ones that have been left behind as the world moves forward. It also deals with mental illness, especially those that can’t get help.
I think this book might work better as a book to be read rather than listen to. I felt for Lynette and it was very well written, but it was a depressing book to listen to. That’s not to say Christine Larkin isn’t a strong narrator. She imparts all the necessary emotion.
My thanks to netgalley and Harper Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around my feelings for this book. It was difficult material. There wasn’t a feeling of hope or joy, but just trying to make it. It was just so bleak. I wanted so much more for Lynette than a crappy mom and the lifestyle she was leading. Ugh! I really loved the writing though, and it is a gifted writer than can make me FEEL as much as I did for a character. I haven’t read anything by Vlautin prior to this, but now I want to go through his backlist.
The narration was brilliant and enhanced the novel. So good.

Enjoyed this audiobook very much....Looking forward to reading more by this author....Highly recommend!

WOW. This book hit me hard. Lynette is thirty years old and to say she has sturggled is an understatement. The story begins with her mother backing out of the deal they made years ago to buy the house they live in with her developmentally disabled brother. Years ago, Lynette left her mother alone and while she came back and has apologized since, her mother hasn't forgiven her completely for her struggles and she is just tired. Her mother is tired of scraping by and at her age, just wants to do things for herself.
The story takes place over two days, two desparate days of Lynette trying to scrape together money and do things that are questionable in hopes of getting the money she needs to purchase the house for her family. Lynette's story was depressing, it was raw, it was gritty and it was real. This is how the other half lives. These are what people do that are truly desparate and would do anything to save their family. There were points in this story where I was on the edge of my seat wondering how she was going to get out of this alive and there were other points where I was fighting back tears because of what this poor girl had already gone through in her short life. She deserved happiness.
This book was written incredibly well and I enjoyed every word. The narrator was fantastic and I would listen to this book again. These opinions are my own. Thank you to Harper Audio, Netgalley and Willy Vlautin for an early audio copy of this book.

Audiobook version and it was excellent. Christine Larkin was the narrator and she was very talented and a good choice for this story! Great job Christine.
This was different than anything I’ve read before. It’s hard for me to explain. It was detailed and interesting and each person was complex. This author showed me so much with his words. How he said them. The way he brought the characters to life. I had to finished it in one day. I was intrigued. I wanted closer and I couldn’t put it down.
When I finished I was like:
• Is there a book two?
• What the heck did I just read?
• Why haven’t I heard of this author before?
I loved the writing style and understood the characters so well. Lots of this reminded me of my old life. I want to mention that this isn’t a feel good book. But it was good. And I will definitely read another by this talented author. Great job.
But I only have one question. Where’s my ending????
Thanks to Harper Audio via Netgalley for this audiobook. I’ve voluntarily written this review. All opinions are my own.