When I received my advance copy of “The Smart One,” I knew it was exactly what I needed. After several months of reading only business, marketing, finance and health & fitness books, I was in the mood for some good chick-lit. And that describes The Smart One, exactly.
When Mary Lewis invited me to participate in her
This describes Bev, the main character in The Smart One, pretty well. But the plot twists--utterly surprising yet completely logical in retrospect—set this
On the contrary, The Smart One is a skillfully woven tale that seamlessly blends the genres of true crime, detective story and romance while exploring deeper issues such as sibling rivalry and competition amongst sisters.
Long Island-based sisters Bev, Claire, and Joey discover a dead body in an oil drum hidden in the crawl space of their childhood next door neighbors’ house. And yes, things like this do happen in the Utopic (dystopic, perhaps?) suburbia of
As a fellow Long Islander, I enjoyed Meister’s references to local landmarks and traditions such as concerts at
The characters, too, are realistic portrayals of suburban women. There is Bev, the “Smart One” of the title, a bit too pudgy for her own liking, smart but unfulfilled. There is big sister Claire, the suburban housewife who seems, on the surface, just a bit too perfect, and was always viewed as “the pretty one.” Finally, there is the baby of the family, Joey, a former rock star and recovering addict, who provides a dose of harsh reality to the sisters’ worlds. She’s viewed as the rock star and the rebel with a voice like an angel.
As one of three sisters myself, I enjoyed the dynamics between these women. Even in their most hateful moments of rivalry and bickering, the love between them is tangible. Like real-life sisters, the women come together when it matters.
I’m bursting with a desire to tell everyone I know about this title, to share the amazing plot twists and dramatic moments. I’ve stopped myself short several times so as not to give away a key detail. Suffice it to say, the
If you’re in the mood for a good beach read before the summer winds down or something to help you escape from the realities of back-to-school time, The Smart One is, well, pardon the cheesy word play, but it’s just a smart choice.
To read the other Blog Stop Book Tours reviewers' opinions, go here!August 1 - Mom Is Just A Nickname
August 4 - Virtual Wordsmith
August 8 - Musings From The Mitten
August 9 - The
August 11 - Maw Books
August 18 - Fighting With Writing
August 20 -
August 22 - Presenting Lenore
August 25 - Anything That Pays… A Freelance Writer’s
August 29 - She Is Too Fond Of Books
