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A review by sadiereadsagain
That Green Eyed Girl by Julie Owen Moylan
4.0
This story is told over two timelines, which pivot around the contents of a box. In 1975, 15-year old Ava is contending with her mother's mental health breakdown and father's affair whilst also worrying about typical teenage issues. A package arrives addressed to her apartment but to no one in particular, the contents of which send her on a mission to return them to their rightful owner. In 1955, we meet teachers Gillian and Dovie, who are having to conceal their long-term relationship from the world out of fear of the repercussions of being discovered. When the school secretary, an unliked woman who Dovie mistakenly takes pity on, discovers their secret and uses it to blackmail Dovie, their carefully constructed lives begin to fall apart.
I'm a sucker for a dual timeline, and this book does it very well with both leading up to the point where they cross over. It also has some fantastic characters, particularly Ava and blackmailer Judith - Ava is navigating some truly terrible situations and her emotions felt very authentic, whilst Judith is just so perfectly evil. I also really liked the settings of both timelines, particularly of Dovie and Gillian's story as it really showed just how difficult it was for lesbians to live with the prejudices of the time.
This book really made me think of one of my favourite stories, [a:Nicole Krauss|2633|Nicole Krauss|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1285130428p2/2633.jpg]' [b:The History of Love|3867|The History of Love|Nicole Krauss|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327911009l/3867._SY75_.jpg|1882970], with it's New York setting and young protagonist dealing with difficult family issues whilst also somewhat naively trying to solve a mystery. The books are very different, but I clearly have a soft spot for younger characters trying to navigate adult issues.
I really enjoyed this book, it's a fantastic debut that makes me very excited about Moylan's future!
I received a Netgalley of this title from Penguin Michael Joseph UK in return for a review. All opinions are my own.
I'm a sucker for a dual timeline, and this book does it very well with both leading up to the point where they cross over. It also has some fantastic characters, particularly Ava and blackmailer Judith - Ava is navigating some truly terrible situations and her emotions felt very authentic, whilst Judith is just so perfectly evil. I also really liked the settings of both timelines, particularly of Dovie and Gillian's story as it really showed just how difficult it was for lesbians to live with the prejudices of the time.
This book really made me think of one of my favourite stories, [a:Nicole Krauss|2633|Nicole Krauss|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1285130428p2/2633.jpg]' [b:The History of Love|3867|The History of Love|Nicole Krauss|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327911009l/3867._SY75_.jpg|1882970], with it's New York setting and young protagonist dealing with difficult family issues whilst also somewhat naively trying to solve a mystery. The books are very different, but I clearly have a soft spot for younger characters trying to navigate adult issues.
I really enjoyed this book, it's a fantastic debut that makes me very excited about Moylan's future!
I received a Netgalley of this title from Penguin Michael Joseph UK in return for a review. All opinions are my own.