A Light in the Dark

by Allee Richards

Iris doesn't remember the first time she met Nina. But she remembers the first time she paid attention to her. It was when he did.

The first year of high school brought Iris into a type of privilege she'd never felt part of. But then she found her place. The magic of performing in school musicals and the freedom of the stage opened her up to a new world. Her drama teacher gave her a glimpse of the adult she wanted to be. But, just like in the theatre, when the spotlight is off you, it can be a lonely and neglected existence. For Iris, jealousy and bitterness will grow. For Nina, something more dangerous. Reckless anger and rumours will come to a head. And, years later, there is a reckoning for them all.

A Light in the Dark is a compelling novel that distils the magic of theatre as the backdrop for an unforgettable examination of friendship, vulnerability, power and abuse.

Genres: Contemporary

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2023

About the author

Allee Richards' short fiction has been published widely in Australian literary magazines and anthologies, including Kill Your Darlings, The Best Australian Stories, New Australian Fiction, Best Summer Stories, The Lifted Brow, Voiceworks and Australian Book Review. Small Joys of Real Life is her first novel. It was shortlisted for the 2019 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers and the 2020 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript. She lives in Melbourne and works as a theatre lighting technician.

Reviews

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
This book is one of the few silver linings of the covid pandemic lockdowns and closures.
I was immersed from the beginning and mesmerised by the end.
The theatrical element was fascinating and its authenticity abundant as the young grow into adults.
High school is a monumental and pivotal passage of adolescence and is a time often reflected on and always remembered.
Iris attends a private girls school and quickly forms friends and finds her place. Drama and acting beckons.
As the years progress the roles and exposure become greater.
One girl from her year group is meek and subdued, but always participates in the Musical.
Nina is a mystery and will have a profound influence on Iris.
Little things do not add up and Nina doesn’t let her protective wall crack.
Adulthood brings it challenges as boyfriends, jobs and alcohol shape the first of the freedom years.
The obsession with Nina continues as they go their separate ways until revelations shed light on the past.
A raw, relatable and evocative narrative that takes the reader back down memory lane to our formative years.
The interactions with friends and family, passions and discovering life in every capacity is captivating.
I really enjoyed this journey.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love Richards’s writing. Her phrasing is so lovely even when her subject matter is complex and dark. Richards perfectly captures that moment in childhood/youth when you discover something you love, in this case musical theatre, and it becomes your everything. But it’s hard to get through girlhood unscathed and sometimes the things we love become tainted. I was transported back to high school and some of the feelings and experiences of that time flooded back. The second act explores the repercussions in later life of what happens in youth and how we emerge from the fog of grief. I’m helping to launch this wonderful book (link in bio to the events page on my website) so come along if you want to hear more.

[ALPHAreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, I loved this.

I was a little wary initially, because right before I decided to pick this up I'd nope'd out of listening to 'My Dark Vanessa' by Kate Elizabeth Russell on audiobook after about two-hours realisation that I just wasn't in the headspace for an erotic look at a student-teacher abusive relationship.

But very quickly it was clear that 'A Light in the Dark' wouldn't be treading over those exact themes in the exact same way, and I am glad I stuck with it - because now this book is probably one of my fave reads of 2023.

First of all - it takes place on and around the Mornington Peninsula, where I grew up and went to a private school. In fact, some of Richards lines and commentary about the collegiate First Act reminded me so much of my high school that I even @'ed Richards on Instagram to ask if this was indeed based on my alum (something about school shortbread bought from the uniform shop had me on high-alert!) Richards actually replied to me, and said; "a friend of mine did go there though (and had a great experience) ..." but no, it was meant to be a stand-in miscellaneous private school.

The First Act in the school was among my favourites, and some aspects were so precisely caught by Richards, like this about Year 7 students: They moved tentatively around campus, like a garnish on the student body. A part of it, but not yet incorporated. UGH! That's SO GOOD and painfully accurate!

In this, Richard's book reminds me of 'Holier Than Thou' by Laura Buzo, or 'Bad Behaviour' by Rebecca Starford, who gives Richards an endorsement quote on the cover. Just the biting commentary and accuracy of being a teenage girl ... really hit home when our protagonist, Iris, overhears her parents talking about her mood-swings and concludes; Iris didn’t hate her parents, she hated herself. But her parents created her, so in a way maybe it was their fault. Has a line ever summarised being a teenage girl better?!?

There's a real poignancy to this book that Richards keeps tightly-wound and self-contained, even as it deals with big 'MeToo' moments that will have echoes of Grace Tame for Australian audiences ... but it's fascinating for how Richards chooses to examine this abuse through the lens of an outsider, and with heapings of teenage confusion and warring allegiances dolloped on top. I love that Richards spins everything around this exact precipice in time when - as kids -we're being moulded into who we'll ultimately hope to become; our obsessions, preoccupations, hopes and dreams for ourselves get layered into this complicated tale of obsession, suspicion and then scandal filtered through the millennial whisper-network of social media and Google.

It's a hard book to label because it's not any one *thing* but rather the sum of parts that Richards wrangles so beautifully. Weirdly, I'd call it a modern 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' if we asked the girls to let their collective trauma cook and stew for a few years and then invited them to time-travel and take a look at the different angles to their experiences and compare notes.

Haunting, and beautifully woven.

[Theresa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earlier this year I read Small Joys of Real Life, the debut novel by Allee Richards. One perk of reading a brilliant novel long after its release is that you don’t have to wait too long for the author’s next book! And here that next book is: A Light in the Dark. Once again, Allee Richards has gifted us a story that is both devastating and uplifting all at once. Themes of grief, family relationships, and friendship intermingle in this story, with a side of repressed trauma and teenage recklessness. Sounds heavy, I know, and at times it was, but it’s not a depressing or mournful read – just a very real one.

‘Happiness doesn’t preclude sadness. She’s learning the two feelings can sit on the same shelf.’

Half of the novel is about Iris at high school, specifically her involvement with the school musicals and her so called nemesis, Nina. Teenage jealousies abound in the world of high school musical theatre and the fluidity of the environment allows a more sinister element to flourish under the direction of the young and hip musical theatre director. The abuse of power that takes place within these formative years for Iris and Nina has lasting repercussions on them both.

The second half of the novel unfolds when Iris is in her early twenties, grieving the fresh loss of her mother and struggling to navigate her way through everyday life, on the cusp of addiction. News of Nina and an allegation she has made against their former musical theatre director further derails Iris and brings to the fore trauma she has repressed and minimised since high school. Allee Richards deftly examines the way in which we can minimise the things that happen to us in order to deal with them best and how our memories of people and events can take on a different hue, dependent upon our own perceptions and feelings within any given moment.

I loved this novel as much as I loved her first and can say with conviction that Allee Richards is one of my favourite authors now, a queen of contemporary life-lit. The way she writes about grief is raw and real, demonstrating with sensitivity the way in which grief is not something you necessarily get over, but rather, something that shifts within you to a more bearable space. I’m excited to see what she writes next.

Thanks to the publisher for the copy.

[amelie mcintosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

don’t actually have any words for it

[Ellie Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darker than I expected, but along the way the sorrow became almost hopeful.

[Permanently 23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not particularly interesting. Felt like a long read fiction piece dragged out into a book. 2.5 stars

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're reading this, know that the book takes a quick turn into actually addressing the abuse that takes place rather than skimming over it.

But! Allee Richards has done it again! I want to know what goes on inside her brain so I can get a piece of it. Iris is both lovable AND the worst person, I just want to hug her (although she'd probably hate that).

[Misha · Rating 5 out of 5]

(rounded up from 4.5)

I'm not sure what this says about me as a person but I've read a fair few abuse/grooming books. I enjoy it when a book approaches a topic from a novel angle so you have books from the perspective of the groomer, the child, and this one has a perspective I had not encountered before: a young woman in the periphery of the grooming.

Allee Richards does a fantastic job of making this book accessible and light despite the fairly heavy subject matter (grooming of a child, as I mentioned, plus as adults, people who are severely depressed and traumatized by their childhood). This is also largely a book about finding your passion (theatre and performance for the protagonist) and having it trained due to the events of your childhood and how groomers can often become an object of fascination for young people just by virtue of their own performance of the "cool, interesting, attractive, adult". It feels weird to lump this book in with all the others about this subject because it feels so much less mired in darkness and wrongness, just slightly on the periphery of it, as our protagonist is.

Deeply engaging and accessible and an excellent addition to books on this subject.

[Sarah Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve now read quite a few books that explore predatory relationships and grooming, but never from the perspective of someone who “came near abuse”, as the main character describes herself in this book. It was an interesting take. Iris at times was deeply unlikeable but somehow still relatable. It was kind of like reading a book about a young woman only half way through their journey. When Iris grows up more, she might have a more nuanced understanding of what happened in high school, but she’s not there yet and in the meantime it makes for a unique read. I also love the setting of inner city Melbourne - it’s nice when you see a story unfolding in places you also physically stand in.

My only critique is that Act I could have been cut in half and took me days to read. Act II, in comparison, I read in less than 24 hours.

[Ronnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allee is one of my favourite contemporary fiction writers, and I loved this even more than Small Joys. She writes beautifully about the toxicity of teenage girls and the agonising weight of memory as we enter adulthood. There are echoes here of My Education, Prep and I Have Some Questions For You.

[Elsie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can’t work out whether she has childhood trauma she needs to work through or she is just an unpleasant person

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I powered through this.
‘A Light in the Dark’ is a coming of age story with a dark undertow.
It involves a strong abuse of power at an impressionable time and explores the ongoing ramifications of how this can play out on future roles and relationships.
Protagonist Iris perfectly encapsulated the vulnerability of this experience. She was an intriguing narrator- always observing, often detached, occasionally cruel. But I was totally immersed in her story and her ultimate inner strength.
Main plot line aside, this was writing about a time and place that felt so viscerally familiar, I was haplessly nostalgic throughout. Reminiscing drama classes, improv exercises, the thrill of the stage.
I loved drama, I went to Melbourne Uni and took a creative writing subject (headed by Tony Birch 🙌). And in the weirdest coincidence I spent an afternoon racing around NGV trying to locate Schenck’s Anguish’ because it was a friends’ fav painting. Trippy.
An engrossing read.
Thanks for recommendation @dale Norman! I have added #smalljoysofreallife to the TBR pile.
‘You can’t judge a child using an adult’s logic’

[Mauzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this down, finished it in an evening and now can’t stop thinking about it the next day.

The writing style was easy to read but still beautifully detailed. I was hooked from the first chapter where a secret is teased but not fully revealed to the reader till much further in the book.

I am biased to enjoy any millennial story set in my hometown of Melbourne and loved the descriptions of the familiar landmarks and events of the era, which made me feel personally immersed in the story.

I found the description of teenage jealousy took me back to the complexity of my own time at secondary school - trying to make sense of the desire to fit in, contrasted by the cruelty of teenage girls. All these elements lead to a misplaced nostalgia of those school years. Also, the description of dealing with grief while trying to transition into healthy adulthood was nuanced and tugged at my heartstrings.

The main theme of the book however requires a TW for SA. It is a careful look at the ripple effect of trauma and its relatability is what has haunted me the most.

[Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an intricate and fascinating story about trauma, pain and healing in your youth and 20s. The prose was stunning and smooth which contrasted nicely with the messiness and darkness beneath. I was taken back how this book evoked so many emotions at the same time, I often found myself feeling ill and comforted in such a short span of time, even on the same page.

I could feel the themes of friendship and hope coming alive from this book and the gritty, raw bits felt just as real.

It was definitely a bold and creative choice to explore one girl's story through another's, one that paid off really well. Leaving the teacher nameless was also brilliant, adding so much more depth to this story with that decision.

"Happiness doesn't preclude sadness. She's learning the two feelings can sit on the same shelf."

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing can capture my attention wholeheartedly as Aussie Lit can. This is the second Allee Richards book I've read, the first a bit forgettable, the second will definitely stay with me. The subject matter is dark but there is a joy of theatre within the pages which permeates through. This book hangs in the shades of grey, conflicted emotions which stem from abuse and corrupted innocence. A bit of a tumultuous time, I was thoroughly engaged throughout. A well-rounded cast of believable characters, not entirely likeable but real messy humans, with a nonlinear format which excelled as a vehicle to propel the plot along.

These stories need to be told, complex emotions need not be hidden away. A superb addition to the best of Aussie Lit shelf.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unputdownable and affecting novel with characters that stay with you long after you've finished. Across many different themes of abuse, female friendship, young love, cancer, alcoholism and theatre, Richards keeps the reader hooked and engaged with incredible prose and authentic dialogue. One of the most powerful novels I have read this year, it was exciting to see that Richards' second novel is nothing like her first, but equally as good. Highly recommend.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Allee's debut 'Small Joys of Real Life". This book is different in all the right ways but, for me, possesses' the same charm. A striking and deep exploration of how childhood/adolescent trauma manifests while growing up and changes us through to adulthood. I also particularly loved the way Allee wrote around grief and healing from loss.

More amazing work. I'll continue to eagerly await every new book release from Allee.

[Andrew Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

As a big fan of Small Joys Of Life I eagerly awaited the follow up and for me it delivered. While I am not someone with a connection to theatre I still loved this book for its Melbourne references and it’s ability to cover themes like abuse, family, friendship and simply being a teenager. I also enjoyed the structure of the novel and by Act 2 I was hooked!

[Jasmin Pfefferkorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has ruined my work productivity today. I bought it yesterday after work and thought to myself ‘I’ll just read the first page’. Next minute it’s almost midnight and I’ve finished reading it. I could not put it down, it’s got such a great build up of tension and is so well-paced.

[Sarah Hartree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Allee Richards' writing and I love novels with stories based in Melbourne so this would be a winner either way. Sad but a beautiful exploration of coming to terms with hard memories and trauma and I adore the way Iris details her love for the stage and the theatre.

[Jarrah Beaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t know how much I needed to read this until I read it. I can relate to iris’s coping mechanisms more than I care to admit. This book has helped me with a new perspective regarding my own grief and (granted, incredibly different) abuse.

[Alanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t stop thinking about this - loved it ⭐️

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Book

Best book that I have read in years. Gripping from the first page, brilliant characters and beautifully written. A must read.

[Gavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant. Iris is both incredibly annoying and endearing. Great new angle on grooming that sets it apart from other similarly themed books. Maybe took on a bit too much extra with Mum's issues? Fairly light despite being fairly dark (if you follow). And not without hope and love.

[Sarah Hooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Melbourne-set slay

[Sonia Baldock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the first part of the book a bit difficult, but by the end, it made more sense in context.
A story of abuse and trauma and what healing looks like in its early stages.

[Emily Kaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooo many mixed feelings honestly I can see inspiration drawn from Love & Virtue and also My Dark Vanessa!! First half was kind of slow but the second half I could not put it down

[Mekky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Allee Richard’s writing. The book was beautifully written and very intriguing. I highly recommend this book.

[Trinette Sands · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. The second half saved it