A review by justjacq
The Candy House: A Novel by Jennifer Egan

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book wrecked me in the very best way. I'm not even sure if I can explain it - which seems to be a common feeling after reading it. Lots of mixed reviews. It made me super nostalgic for the days before cell phones and social media. It made me teary-eyed without me even knowing why, and it made me reflect on so, so much. Going into this, I was worried I wouldn't like it, only because personally I find it so tough and exhausting to keep track of more than a handful of characters, but every single chapter is so intriguing and compelling, that it stays worthy of your attention. I did google a character list multiple times and found it helpful to reference when I couldn't place a connection. Some connections are easy to spot, but others are so small and layered that I found myself flipping through pages to place them. The narrative is definitely something you should just let happen and just go with the flow - the perspectives change with each chapter, and the timeline goes forward and back, but just let it happen. It does have Black Mirror vibes early on, but that faded for me a little as the stories progressed. I listened to the audiobook when I wasn't physically reading, and it was also fantastic. I already want to reread it and can't stop thinking about it. 
 5/5⭐️s