BUG HOLLOW

Emily Rankin's performance is so subtle that she disappears completely into this novel. Michelle Huneven's family saga combines tenderness, sadness, joy, and grief with exquisite prose and psychological insights. The story begins in the 1970s and spans decades. An upper-middle-class family with issues, the Samuelsons, fractures after their golden-boy son, Ellis, dies in a tragic accident. Events are recounted by each family member: parents Phil and Sybil, daughters Sally and Kate, granddaughter Eva, and those closest to them. Early chapters focus on the time immediately after Ellis's death. Rankin expertly delivers the roughest patches, including issues relating to alcoholism, infidelity, and insecurity. Later sections zero in on the outcomes. Rankin handles each passing year, each surprising revelation, and each family member's responses with touching sincerity. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2025]