Returns and Exchanges

by Kayla Rae Whitaker

Following her ‘dazzling’ (The Guardian) debut, The Animators, Kayla Rae Whitaker tells the sweeping story of one Southern family’s rise and fall throughout the 1980s, a tragicomic tour de force about love and marriage, parents and children, and the promise and limitations of the American Dream.

Baker-Taylor’s is a family business. Fran (née Baker) and Fred Taylor run a successful chain of discount retail stores in Kentucky and they’re cautiously Ataris and Hot Wheels, new branches and new management. With four healthy children and financial stability their own parents could have only dreamed of, Fred and Fran are the American rags to riches, a family dynasty built on years of hard work and long hours. Underneath the surface, however, the business is changing at a breakneck pace, and each family member is struggling to keep up.

Money is transforming Fred, and the extremes he will go to fit in with the high society crowd are embarrassing, if not downright dangerous. Oldest son Josiah wants nothing to do with the family business, Sam is seeing things that might not really be there, and Benny and Birdie are growing up with a fraction of the parenting that their older brothers did. Meanwhile, Fran, her family’s stable core, is falling for Wendy, a cashier at Baker-Taylor’s, risking everything along the way.

While trying to maintain the facade of a perfect success story, Fred and Fran discover that in matters of love and money, once it’s gone, it’s gone — no returns, no exchanges.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Family Drama, Adult, Queer

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 19, 2026

About the author

Kayla Rae Whitaker’s work has appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed, Literary Hub, Electric Literature, and others. Her debut novel, THE ANIMATORS, was named one of the best debut novels of 2017 by Entertainment Weekly and one of the best books of 2017 by NPR, Kirkus Reviews, and BookPage. Her second novel, RETURNS AND EXCHANGES, will be published by Random House in May 2026.

Reviews

[Kristy]

An absolutely excellent generational saga, chronicling the rise and fall of the Taylor family, headed by Fran (Baker) Taylor and her husband, Fred. The pair are expanding their chain of Baker-Taylor stores, while raising Josiah (their eldest, who wants little to do with his family); Sam (struggling with mental health issues); and their youngest, Benny and Birdie, who are enjoying the freedom that their newly distracted parents bring.

Following the family from the 1970s and beyond, this story is incredibly well-written, giving us well-drawn characters via a multi-POV tale. It's heartbreaking at times, exploring the concepts of motherhood, patriarchy, and money, money, money! Fred wants more of it while Fran finds herself falling for Wendy, a cashier in one of their stores.

The story highlights how different LGBT individuals were treated in the 1980s--Fran is the heart of her family, yet her heart is with a (forbidden) other. The relationships are nuanced, taunt, and fraught with emotion.

This story starts a bit slow, but it's incredibly compelling. I was completely caught up in the trials and tribulations of this family, and I think you will be, too.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House in return for an unbiased review.

[Emily Poche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker is an impressive, sprawling American family novel. Concerning the Taylor family, the owners and operators of Baker-Taylor discount store, it follows them through their rise and inevitable fall. The story is at once a portrait of the pitfalls of the American dream and of an evolving American family.

This book was absolutely captivating. Even though the pace of this book is slow and measured at times, it manages to maintain a high level of engagement as it skips from family member to family member. The way that the shifting focus and relatively leisurely pace manage to hold the reader’s attention is through absolutely meticulous character work. I thought that Whitaker did some of the most impressive character building I have recently read. Each of the Taylor family member, and many of the secondary characters, is distinctive and deeply detailed. They have speech patterns that are distinct, and unique emotional reactions that feel so natural to the characters the author has created. As the book progresses, each of the characters evolves and changes, in a way that is both interesting and realistic. There’s never a whiplash of choices or a complete 180 in terms of characterization. The ways that the players in this story evolve is so thoughtful and sensible. I also appreciated that there are very few true black-and-white characters in this story. Our main cast of six are given layered and complex attributes. Characters can be unfaithful wives but doting mothers, or driven businessmen who are out of touch and personally ineffectual.

I also loved the way that the American South plays its own character in this story. The economic and business climate is what underscores the story, including the looming threat of “the Beast,” a thinly veiled zeal-Mart clone. Whether it’s the attitudes of the established, moneyed, Lexington class or the reaction to the Taylor’s divorce, the role or the late 80’s Kentucky features heavily.

I was so happy to receive an ARC from NetGalley because this was a book that I really sunk my teeth into. I thought it was fascinating and yet not completely gut wrenching. I would recommend this as a book to both read and keep an eye on, 5/5 well-deserved stars.

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely blown away by this epic novel! I had just been wondering when her follow-up to her incredible THE ANIMATORS would be and I understand the wait. This sprawling family drama, which spans decades, is juicy, heartfelt, and quite the deep dive into a family business struggling to come of age, alongside the family itself. You are going to love this one, put it on the top of your 2026 reads NOW

[Liz Hein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kirkus called this a blue collar Franzen novel, and…yes.

[Rena Boord · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this arc form the publisher. This is an absolutely wonderful novel that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. The characters are so finely drawn (especially Fred!) that you will start to recognize them as people from your own life.

[Miss Murder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Real rating: 3.5 stars, rounded down

I was super into the first 200 pages of the book and was surprised I was only halfway through after all of the plot that happens that I figured would naturally come to a close soon. Instead, I got another 200 pages of what felt like very slow character development to make up for a very fast-paced beginning.

Unfortunately, that left me feeling bored at times and wondering what the meandering character vignettes meant to accomplish. I’m sure the purpose was to get that “second generation” feel from it, but it fell somewhat flat at times. Wish it would’ve started from the beginning without solely focusing on the children in the second half of the book.

Regardless, it was interesting to me and I liked the overall story & feel. The writing was a bit confusing at times in the beginning because it seemed as thought characters were thrown in without introduction and was very confusing.

[Stephanie Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. It will without a doubt be in my top three this year. I loved the characters, the story, the writing. It had grit and heart.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

[Kris V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Animators when it first came out and was blown away, so I knew that whatever Whitaker wrote next I had to read and I was *not* disappointed. What we have here is an epic tale that spans generations within a family line. What begins on Christmas Eve in 1979 in Kentucky, and ends in 2015 and told by the Matriarch of the family, is a story about a family’s journey with their line of discount stores and their evolution of each member as they change and grow and branch out into who they’re meant to be. It’s a whirlwind of a novel that was impossible to put down, writing that pulls you in and makes you laugh as hard as it makes you cry for their losses. I honestly found myself initially saddened by the ending only because I realized I hadn’t wanted it to be over, which is a sign of a really good book.

I thank Random House for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I have pre-ordered my own copy because I want this beautiful book on my shelves, and I highly recommend everyone else purchase a copy as well.

Kayla Rae Whitaker is a treasure.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker is a solid family saga about ambition, money, and all the messy dynamics that come with both.

It reminded me a lot of books by Jonathan Franzen—that same close look at family, success, and the quiet damage people do to each other without meaning to. It’s not a fast read, but I stayed invested in the family and how their choices played out. Thoughtful and well written.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[BookByBook karenreadslotsofbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW:
Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker 4.5⭐s
PUB DATE: May 19, 2026

I was immediately drawn to this work of historical fiction for the 1980s nostalgia. Whitaker’s family drama takes place in 1980s Kentucky and provides a unique premise that tells a story about the trials and tribulations of mixing family and business.

Synopsis: The story centers around Fred and Fran, the owners of a chain of Taylor-Baker’s, discount stores that provide a second home for the four children they are raising: Josiah, Sam, Benny, and Birdie. The cast of characters includes board members, extended family, friends, and neighbors. Fred and Fran begin from humble beginnings, work hard, and grow their business. As business grows and as the economy changes, so do the power struggles, the lifestyle, the dynamics of the marriage, the parenting, and how each child’s relationship with their parents and the feelings about Taylor-Baker’s changes. It is evident that each character’s feeling of self-worth directly impacts the choices they make. Despite the tumultuous dramas and ups and downs the family experiences, a tight bond exists. Each character’s willingness to self-reflect and determine the importance of money, success, love, and acceptance helps this family to continue to remain united, valuing family over glory. However, when one family member continues to seek money, material possessions, and praise, greed and pride threaten the foundation of this family.

My Thoughts: This family feels real. Each member struggles with their own demons during a time period in the South that has deep rooted societal expectations of the roles of husbands, wives, sons, and daughters. It is interesting and at times sad to see how greed, money, power, and “the good old boys’ club” mentality affect people who love each other. I rooted for Fran and the siblings as they each come to terms with their relationships with each other and are able to empathize with each other, seeing things from the other’s perspective. Whitaker satisfyingly draws the story to a conclusion by fast forwarding to 2025 as the new generation learns the story of the rise and fall of the Baker-Taylor family.
The only reason I did not give this 5 stars is because of the first 20% of the book. The story immediately kicks off with a large number of characters and what feels like a constant dialogue between them. I struggled to figure out who was who and how to make sense of the dialogue as it jumped from one conversation to another. After passing the 20% mark, the story settled into a steady flow allowing me to get to know each character deeply. I am glad I stuck it out and kept reading. Reflecting, I am guessing the author’s purpose in the chaotic beginning was to paint the picture of the hecticness of life for this family trying to run a business and raise a family.

I highly recommend reading Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with a digital copy of this book.

[Edie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I make every attempt to hold back from doling out a 5 star review too often because I feel it dilutes my words/voice. Still...Returns & Exchanges is a 5 star read & deserves your time &/or a purchase. I was initially confused by the table of contents because of the book's chapter structure, but it makes complete sense when you start reading.

I was alive & in college when the book's timeline first started. By the time it ended, I was juggling a career, a house, a newborn & a Husband. Sadly, the same issues that this book discusses are still front & center with working Families (no matter the wealth or lack thereof).

The reality of Family can be painful & these characters (Fran & Fred) will stay with you long after you finish. (I personally pictured "Fred" as orange, bloated & well you probably have an idea of who I might mean)?

I had each of the 4 living Children pictured in my mind, too - In the early chapters, there are 5 so you aren't confused. I have an imagine of Fran & how she juggled an ever-expanding full-time retail business, She also pulled her car into Fred's dream home each evening & started her 2nd shift with her large Family. Everyone seemed to deposit their problems at her feet.

I applaud the book's platform of writing individuals that were in same-sex relationships, dealing with white male supremacy in the home & business setting, infidelity, divorce & mental health. Coming from a legal background, the depiction of the inequity of divorce courts was 100% accurate.

I felt reading Returns & Exchanges was a sort of time travel. I remember a Family that had department stores in my small town growing up. I knew them well & I knew the turbulence of retail in the late 1970s - the early 1990s. This book went from starting it & not being so sure to a growing admiration & a final 5 star review for how precise & vivid of a snapshot appeared on the pages. I look forward to reading the author's previous book & I hope this is only the beginning of her writing.

I thank NetGalley, the publisher & the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair & honest review.

[Sara Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 🌟 rounded up

"It's what they believe being a man is that's the issue. Imagine you are told that you are in charge of every room you enter from age four on. You are told how paramount you are. That you're the best and brightest and strongest and most beloved - and that, in the end, you will win."

"Returns and Exchanges" follows the Taylor family through the decades as they achieve the American Dream and find the fractures in the reality behind the empty promise.

This story is 100% character driven and centered - everything that matters in this story comes down to the family (both blood and found). It's told through grief and anger and happiness and love and spite and desperation and every other emotion that comes from a dysfunctional, imperfect family. The quiet consistency of homophobia and sexism and racism (though the last is not as thoroughly explored in this, merely gestured to). Bittersweet in a lot of ways, where no magical solution is presented and people get unfair treatment that doesn't go fully answered, but even in those moments, find joy and love with who matter.

It's a simple plot with a complex story and I found it to be excellent, personally - a wide cast of characters that doesn't feel bloated or stretched thin and uses each POV to it's strength.

My one criticism is that the epilogue feels a touch rushed - that could've maybe been split up, have part be a regular chapter, then made the epilogue a bit more concise at the end.

If you need a story that has a big, external plot and motivation to move it forward, this won't be for you. But if you enjoy character dissection and internal motivations that make you swing between rooting for characters to being quietly disappointed then back again (along with some to flat out love and others to flat out hate), you should pick this up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this early!

[Stuart Rosen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an ambitious follow-up to her wonderful The Animators, author Whitaker creates a saga of a family, the owners of a growing regional department store chain.

This is a deceptively complex novel, dashing your expectations along the way, all to the benefit of the book. You think it's going to be a love story between the married matriarch of the family and a younger woman, and it is, but much of that relationship is played out off-screen, and the novel is more interested putting that affair in the context of family dynamics and the the social attitudes of the time (1979-1985, by and large). You think that the younger two children will be unexplored background characters, but over the course of the book they take center stage and, ultimately, the book is as much about them as about the ostensibly central relationships.

The book, while stuffed to the brim with ideas, characters and relationships, would benefit from an even longer length, to allow for what happens to the oldest sibling after he recedes from the main story, and to perhaps add some shading to the character of the father; in his case, there is some effort to provide some ambiguity around what would otherwise be a pretty unsympathetic character, but those efforts seemed almost tacked on. And I was hoping for more about the nuts-and-bolts of running their business (and its looming Walmart-like competition), which was more a part of the beginning of the book than the end.

But these are minor concerns - the book is alive with ideas and characters and, indeed, some of my favorite people in this book are on the periphery of the story. Whitaker writes with sympathy for her characters and with an ambitious scope. I can't wait to read what she comes up with next.

Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[PJ S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for this ARC.

Wow, I was not prepared for how much I loved this book. Such an emotional journey through the Taylor family’s rise and fall … and rise.
What started somewhat slow and benign quickly became a page-turner, riding a roller coaster of emotions through an entire family’s worth of riveting characters. There wasn’t a single person in this story that I wasn’t invested in. Even the ones I hated, I was rapt by.

I was definitely not at all prepared for a heartbreaking story about anti-LGBTQ hate crimes, or criminally egregious sexism. I’m old enough to remember the before times, but not old enough to really understand how bad it was. Kayla Whitaker has done such a thorough and historically accurate, and also gut-wrenching, job of recreating that world for us. I imagine we will be seeing this book all over ‘recommended reads’ lists, for its cultural relevance and highlighting of the stories of marginalized peoples.

Beyond the cultural context and morality play of it all, Returns & Exchanges is such a good story. A narrative so deep and descriptive that I felt like I was a member of the Taylor family myself. Watching the kids grow up. Watching the adults grow up. Predicting how they would lash out, based on historical behaviors, like how I’d gossip within my own family. The lit-fic version of “world building,” I guess.

I would be happy to see this one optioned for screen. But I’d also be very happy to preserve it in print, in its perfect form, where Fran and Fred and Wendy and Luce and Jack exist only in my mind, untainted by some Hollywood director’s perception of what they should look and act like. Which would be very ironic, for a story whose entire premise is about the dangers of hubris and living for your public image.

[Jesaka Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kayla Rae Whitaker's THE ANIMATORS is one of my favorite books, so I was thrilled to see she had new novel coming out. RETURNS AND EXCHANGES is an interesting concept, starting with a family-owned discount retail store in the 1980s. The through line of stores like Baker-Taylor's and the disappearance of family-owned regional stores is fascinating. The arrival of the Beast stores felt like the arrival of the Costco-type warehouse stores and the way this is treated in the novel--with characters worried about it, gossiping about it, finding it shrouded in some mystery--was excellent.

Overall, I was not sure why I was reading RETURNS AND EXCHANGES. In THE ANIMATORS, the narrative driver was largely what the two main characters would do as a follow-up to their first film, a breakout success. It had an urgency to it. In contrast, RETURNS AND EXCHANGES did not have any urgency in its storytelling and, as I read, there was nothing I was asking myself as I turned the pages. However, I kept turning the pages. Was it the writing? Possibly! I highlighted quite a few great sentences. Was it the characters? Maybe. I was especially interested in Benny and Birdie as they grew up; although in the earlier chapters I was so very confused about their ages. I found the story of Sam to be very compelling and really enjoyed getting to read some of the book from his perspective. I also found Fran and Wendy's relationship very interesting and I did care about where that would go. (I do confess, however, that I skipped to the ending to make sure there was no "kill your gays" trope, especially give then time the story takes place and the family's worry about Fran's safety.)

[Liz Aguiar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker publishing May 19, 2026.

Requested this ARC based on a review from Amy Allen Clark from The Book Gang and was lucky to receive approval also.

A family drama in the 80’s, combined with making your mark in the discount retail market; rags to riches is a recipe for disastrous events. The Baker-Taylor’s… mom of 4, running the department store with her eager husband. Told from multiple perspectives of the players in their story over 20+ years.

Admittedly, the first 40% is setting the stage and introducing several characters of leading the store/family into the hearts of the shoppers. How much do you sacrifice of your morals to keep up with charade? Time will only tell.

The first 2 children were able to experience the “old” days before the blast of wealth while the other 2 youngsters only know the “after”.

Definitely more character driven plot with focus of the environmental factors that mold each and everyone’s values. Feel I cannot describe much more without any content spoilers.

The author’s ability to be so thorough with each character development had me hate and love them too throughout the plot. Though; will say I had a negative opinion of most of them which may be a good reason to pick up the book or the opposite effect…

I would rate this 3.5, rounded up. This one was struggle to continue to pick up and did take me a month to complete. There was enough to continue to see how it all played out vs a DNF.

Thank you again for the opportunity to share my thoughts and opinions.

[Stephanie Peterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker. i typically find the multi-character POV writing style difficult to follow (and there were a lot of key players in this book) but the way this novel was written, i found that i enjoyed it immensely – shifts were subtle and deliberate, adding depth and context to the narrative.

the first half relays the struggles of managing a burgeoning business and keeping up appearances through the eyes of the store's owners, Fran and Fred, and their oldest children, Josiah and Sam. the latter half then takes a darker turn into what feels like a reckoning, focusing on their younger children Benny and Birdie, who watched their parents painstakingly build a business in their youth only to witness its slow demise in their adulthood. as Fred continues to lose purchase with the children, Fran becomes more self-assured in living as her true self, extending grace and understanding to a community that doesn't accept her way of life. it's deeply moving and powerful.

i really loved this story, but felt that it dragged a bit in the beginning and could have benefited from some editing. now i'm really looking forward to reading The Animators for book club this year!

[This Curly Arab · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Baker-Taylor family is complicated, and the story leans into that. It’s divided into three parts, with each section giving perspective from different family members. You end up experiencing the full scope of the story through these varied viewpoints, which adds so much depth.

What stood out most to me was how the characters evolved into their truest selves over time. Watching who grew and who regressed felt very real and honestly a little uncomfortable in a way that works.

At its core, this is a story about how messy and complicated family can be. Whitaker does such a compelling job exploring obligation, love, and the choices people have to make to move forward.

This book pulls you in slowly. At first, it feels like you’re just reading about a family dealing with everyday hardships, but then it opens up into something much richer layered with complexity, devotion, and emotion.

I was really impressed by this one. Such a strong second novel, and Kayla Rae Whitaker is definitely an author to keep an eye on.

*ARC provided by Random House through NetGalley for my honest review

[Caitlin Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang this was SO GOOD. Easily a favorite of the here for me. I stayed up too late many nights unable to pull myself out of it, such is the magic of her stories, characters, and the way she writes. A sweeping character-driven, family saga, hard to put down. A journey through the rise and fall of a family business in Kentucky from the 60s-ish (?? The dates were sometimes hard to parse) through the 90s. Heartfelt, somewhat nostalgic and often frustrating for its realism, and so very well done. Her writing is a subtle wallop, she trusts the reader so beautifully and has a way of bringing you along with characters you feel you know, even when you wish you didn’t.

We waited a long time for the follow up to her debut, The Animators, but read this and you’ll understand why. KRW has done it again. Pick that one up while you wait for this to drop on May 19! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC and please immediately add me to the list for her next one!!!

[Jessie McKinnon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

I hate when I dislike a book, but this is what happened with Returns and Exchanges. I keep thinking that there is something I did not "get", maybe because I wasn't born yet in the 80s, or I'm not from the American South.

This is a family saga revolving around Fran, mom, wife, businesswoman, the backbone to everyone and everything. Her husband, Fred, is a small, small man. Really, he's infuriating. Most characters were rather bland. Only Benny was sometimes funny. Everything led me to imagine the atmosphere as stuffy, dusty and smoke-filled.

Since I enjoy lists, here's one of reasons why this book wasn't for me:
- Changing points of view made the story feel incomplete; principal characters moving to a secondary role.
- Many (many) pages were about hating Fred without much else happening.
- The writing often left me wondering what the author was trying to say.
- The part in court was not in the least realistic.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

We start off slow, the setting Christmas Eve 1974. A discount store has just closed for the night, cleaning up the mess a last-minute rush has caused. We're introduced to the Taylors, a family consisting of Fred, Fran and their four children. Return's and Exchanges chronicles the lives of these 6 individuals as their family business successfully grows and declines, and how that influences social and family dynamics.

I was presently surprised at how much I ended up enjoying this book. I found the characters, even the minor side ones realistic and relatable. And while the story does take a while to grab your attention, once it does, it does not let go. I liked the pacing of the book, the movement through the years, since it spans decades from 1974-2015 were smooth and effortless.

[Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader 2.0 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the title of this novel, which is about a family-owned discount department store in Kentucky over the 1970s and 80s. We'll see the ebb and flow of family relationships, retail development and the alleged payoff of ambition and endless hard work.

Returns and Exchanges is a rise and fall novel. It starts out with an overall view of the Baker-Taylor family--Fran, Fred, and their four children. The stage-setting takes a lot of space, with the impact of success on the individual family members. About halfway through the novel's pace starts to stutter, becomes uneven, and caused me to struggle and realize that I had not become connected enough to the characters to dig into their individual journeys.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital review copy of this novel. You know, I'm still thinking about this book.

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was filled with a mish-mash of types of characters, but most of them were pertinent to the era this takes place in (late '60's to the mid 80's).

We deal with things that are typical of the era -sexism in the workplace, the deprivation of women who are not homemakers. However, we also delve into the darker depths of the era -lesbianism, homosexuality, drugs, mental illnesses and more.

While this book may not be my particular glass of wine, it will make a perfect group or book club read because there is so very much to talk about and explore.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Random House, the author, and NetGalley.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, to be honest. It's a simple concept: we as readers are just reading about how this family changes throughout the years (for good & bad) but I found myself looking forward to picking up the book after my son went to bed to see what the Taylors were up to now. (GOD I couldn't stand Fred. But at the same time, I appreciate the attempts to humanize him somewhat. It felt realistic but not like the book was trying to absolve him of anything.)

I also really enjoyed the nostalgia of the department stores era. :D

**I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who was born in the 80s, I still felt a lot of nostalgia from this story. I love the characters and how well they were developed. Everyone is so complex with their life and their issues. I loved the plot and how it showcases struggles that are still relevant to this day. The book has a very easy flow to it and was very easy to follow. There was an endearing quality to the entire book, and it is one that I won’t soon forget. The writing was amazing and really made me consumed as I read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[James B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the ebook. An epic that follows Fran and Fred Taylor and their expanding department store mini empire. It starts in Kentucky and grows over several states. But the real story is the Shakespeare like twist and turns during the forty years that we follow these two and their four unique children, in which everyone gets to narrate parts of the story. A rollicking story and quite an achievement.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this in a giveaway from PRH on Instagram, and was so so happy because Kayla Rae Whitaker's novel The Animators is one of my favorite books!

I loved getting to know these characters and be so close to them in a way Whitaker always does so well. I'm still processing and will likely be back with a longer review soon. It's a long one and so different from her debut, and yet I recognized some of Whitaker's signature flourishes between the two. Loved being in this world.

[BernieMck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a pleasure to read from beginning to end. I like the way each member of the dysfunctional Taylor family was focused on. I felt like I knew them well, as each of their characters were unfolded. I didn’t feel the need to judge them. They just were. The rise and the fall of the family businesses was so interesting to read. I recommend this book.

[Lisa (NY) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5) “Returns and Exchanges” tells the story of a family and their retail business over several decades. It takes a bird’s-eye view, then swoops in on various family members. I found it difficult to settle into Whitaker’s style and wished that I had gotten to know the characters more deeply. I did gradually become invested in the family, but still felt that I was watching them from afar. Several days after finishing though, I find I am still thinking about the novel.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Secrets makes allies” Jack said, and it was a wonderful experience getting to see how the years, snd secrets, and realizations set the table for everyone in this very good and very well-written novel