Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Pretend I'm Dead by Jen Beagin

Mona is 24, slightly unstable, bored, depressed, and adrift. Cleaning houses is the only thing she really knows how to do, but she doesn't mind the work because it offers lots of time to dream, imagine and think. Plus, she loves to vacuum.

After a brief affair with a man she meets volunteering at the needle exchange, she pulls a "geographic" and moves in search of a fresh start. Her transcendental neighbors try to help, and she finds diversion in the homes and lives of her customers.

I loved this book. Mona's hilarious, and she's got a rich, twisted inner life. You're rooting for her to get ahead, while also hoping she doesn't change because she's awesome (if a little fucked up).

A wonderful piece of contemporary fiction for those who don't have to have everything tied up in a bow at the end.

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