What do you think?
Rate this book
In Wonderland
In one golden summer, Frances trades her working-class world for an elite Maine lakeside estate—where privilege and betrayal play a deadly game in this coming of age drama.
For Frances, becoming a mother's helper at Wonderland feels like stepping into a fairy tale. The marble lions, the wooden boats, the pristine grounds—it's everything her modest childhood wasn't. Even better, she gets to spend the summer of 1986 with Forrest Emerson, her father's charismatic childhood friend who escaped their neighborhood to build this perfect world.
But beneath Wonderland’s shimmering surface, nothing is quite what it seems. When Forrest’s wife Regina draws Frances into her private world, the teenager finds herself witness to the intimate secrets of adult lives. As the summer heat builds, so do the tensions within Wonderland’s walls. By Labor Day, a death will shatter the crystal-clear waters of Lake Catherine, leaving Frances to question everything she thought she knew about privilege, power, and the price of belonging.
For Frances, becoming a mother's helper at Wonderland feels like stepping into a fairy tale. The marble lions, the wooden boats, the pristine grounds—it's everything her modest childhood wasn't. Even better, she gets to spend the summer of 1986 with Forrest Emerson, her father's charismatic childhood friend who escaped their neighborhood to build this perfect world.
But beneath Wonderland’s shimmering surface, nothing is quite what it seems. When Forrest’s wife Regina draws Frances into her private world, the teenager finds herself witness to the intimate secrets of adult lives. As the summer heat builds, so do the tensions within Wonderland’s walls. By Labor Day, a death will shatter the crystal-clear waters of Lake Catherine, leaving Frances to question everything she thought she knew about privilege, power, and the price of belonging.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2026
About the author
Joyce Maynard
40 books3,001 followersJoyce Maynard first came to national attention with the publication of her New York Times cover story “An Eighteen-Year-Old Looks Back on Life” in 1973, when she was a freshman at Yale. Since then, she has been a reporter and columnist for The New York Times, a syndicated newspaper columnist whose “Domestic Affairs” column appeared in more than fifty papers nationwide, a regular contributor to NPR. Her writing has also been published in national magazines, including O, The Oprah Magazine; Newsweek; The New York Times Magazine; Forbes; Salon; San Francisco Magazine, USA Weekly; and many more. She has appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Charlie Rose, and on Fresh Air. Essays of hers appear in numerous collections. She has been a fellow at Yaddo, UCross, and The MacDowell Colony, where she wrote her most recently published novel, Labor Day.
The author of many books of fiction and nonfiction, including the novel To Die For (in which she also plays the role of Nicole Kidman’s attorney) and the bestselling memoir, At Home in the World, Maynard makes her home in Mill Valley, California. Her novel, The Usual Rules—a story about surviving loss—has been a favorite of book club audiences of all ages, and was chosen by the American Library Association as one of the ten best books for young readers for 2003.
Joyce Maynard also runs the Lake Atitlan Writing Workshop in Guatemala, founded in 2002.
The author of many books of fiction and nonfiction, including the novel To Die For (in which she also plays the role of Nicole Kidman’s attorney) and the bestselling memoir, At Home in the World, Maynard makes her home in Mill Valley, California. Her novel, The Usual Rules—a story about surviving loss—has been a favorite of book club audiences of all ages, and was chosen by the American Library Association as one of the ten best books for young readers for 2003.
Joyce Maynard also runs the Lake Atitlan Writing Workshop in Guatemala, founded in 2002.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
July 22, 2026
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In Wonderland
Joyce Maynard
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Little A
413 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Literary Fiction
I love Maynard’s storytelling style—she really knows how to write a good slow burn.
This story is about a teenager named Frances who comes from a dysfunctional, lower-class family. It’s 1986, and Frances gets a summer job as a mother’s helper at a lakeside estate in Maine nicknamed "Wonderland." She is thrilled for the opportunity, especially since Wonderland is owned by the very wealthy Emersons—and Forrest Emerson happens to be a childhood friend of her father.
It doesn’t take long for Frances to see that money can’t buy happiness and that this family is anything but perfect. Forrest’s wife, Regina, has an obsession and drags Frances right into it, leaving Frances to uncover the dark secrets these grown-ups are hiding. And then, there’s the death.
This is a coming-of-age story of sorts, but it’s also a suspenseful read. Maynard excels at world-building and literary fiction. Frances is happily plucked from her normal surroundings and dropped into the fancy world of the upper crust, and the characters are so well written that you can feel the tension between them throughout. I liked how the author showed just how vulnerable Frances is and how out of her depth she feels in this elite world.
I really enjoy literary stories that take their time to build up. This is a slow-paced read, but in the best way possible, and the events on Labour Day make it well worth the wait. It’s intelligent, beautifully written, and Maynard has yet to disappoint me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In Wonderland
Joyce Maynard
Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Little A
413 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Literary Fiction
I love Maynard’s storytelling style—she really knows how to write a good slow burn.
This story is about a teenager named Frances who comes from a dysfunctional, lower-class family. It’s 1986, and Frances gets a summer job as a mother’s helper at a lakeside estate in Maine nicknamed "Wonderland." She is thrilled for the opportunity, especially since Wonderland is owned by the very wealthy Emersons—and Forrest Emerson happens to be a childhood friend of her father.
It doesn’t take long for Frances to see that money can’t buy happiness and that this family is anything but perfect. Forrest’s wife, Regina, has an obsession and drags Frances right into it, leaving Frances to uncover the dark secrets these grown-ups are hiding. And then, there’s the death.
This is a coming-of-age story of sorts, but it’s also a suspenseful read. Maynard excels at world-building and literary fiction. Frances is happily plucked from her normal surroundings and dropped into the fancy world of the upper crust, and the characters are so well written that you can feel the tension between them throughout. I liked how the author showed just how vulnerable Frances is and how out of her depth she feels in this elite world.
I really enjoy literary stories that take their time to build up. This is a slow-paced read, but in the best way possible, and the events on Labour Day make it well worth the wait. It’s intelligent, beautifully written, and Maynard has yet to disappoint me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
May 17, 2026
Joyce Maynard continues to be a literary chameleon, and In Wonderland is yet another stunning surprise. On the surface, it’s a classic coming of age story taking place in 1986: Frances, 14, eager to escape her tumultuous household with her neglectful parents , accepts a summer job babysitting at a prestigious estate on Maine’s Lake Catherine. What follows is a masterclass in the noir aesthetic. It’s a story that basks in the glow of a heatwave while a chilling feel of dread pulls at the moment the first page starts where there is indeed, a dead body.
The novel captures that strange bridge between childhood and adulthood. Frances, caught in the intoxicating friction of being an outsider looking in, misinterprets the kindness of the patriarch, Forrest, as romantic love. Meanwhile, his wife, Regina, remains a haunting presence, retreating into a depressed haze for most of the season, yet remaining unnervingly observant of her family’s inner workings.
As Frances pours her energy into tennis and prepares for a high stakes end of summer match, you can't help but fall for her. Maynard expertly reminds us that despite her yearning for maturity, Frances is still just a child. The mystery unfolds entirely through her POV, and there are moments where you might forget her youth until Maynard poignantly nudges you. It’s a beautiful, aching reminder that while our teenage logic doesn't often translate to our adult lives, we never quite forget the raw, desperate need to be loved.
I was fully absorbed by both the tension and the nostalgia of this story. Don’t miss In Wonderland when it hits shelves on July 14, 2026.
Huge thanks to Little A for the advanced copy!
The novel captures that strange bridge between childhood and adulthood. Frances, caught in the intoxicating friction of being an outsider looking in, misinterprets the kindness of the patriarch, Forrest, as romantic love. Meanwhile, his wife, Regina, remains a haunting presence, retreating into a depressed haze for most of the season, yet remaining unnervingly observant of her family’s inner workings.
As Frances pours her energy into tennis and prepares for a high stakes end of summer match, you can't help but fall for her. Maynard expertly reminds us that despite her yearning for maturity, Frances is still just a child. The mystery unfolds entirely through her POV, and there are moments where you might forget her youth until Maynard poignantly nudges you. It’s a beautiful, aching reminder that while our teenage logic doesn't often translate to our adult lives, we never quite forget the raw, desperate need to be loved.
I was fully absorbed by both the tension and the nostalgia of this story. Don’t miss In Wonderland when it hits shelves on July 14, 2026.
Huge thanks to Little A for the advanced copy!
July 16, 2026
“There are worse things than feeling sad,” Regina said. “Feeling nothing. That’s worse.”
It was hard to know what she meant. My problem was, I felt everything.
________
I reached for you
But you were gone
I knew I had to go back home
You searched the world for something else
To make you feel like what we had
And in the end, in Wonderland, we both went mad
~ Taylor Swift, “Wonderland”
Steeped in sultry, wistful atmosphere, In Wonderland is a gripping coming of age novel about fourteen-year-old Frances. In 1986, she’s a working class Jersey kid living in a windowless apartment with her unhappy parents, and her only escape is the week each summer she gets to spend at Wonderland, the lavish Maine lakeside estate owned by her father’s childhood best friend, Forrest, and his wife Regina. This year, though, Forrest and Regina have asked Frances to be a mother’s helper for the entire summer, and Frances can barely contain her excitement over three whole months in her version of paradise.
But Frances soon realizes that beneath Wonderland’s shimmering veneer, all is not as it seems. There’s palpable tension lingering deep within Forrest and Regina’s marriage, and as Regina draws Frances further into her private world, Frances is forced to reckon with grown-up truths that shatter everything she thought she knew.
In Wonderland is one of those intensely personal novels that reads almost like a memoir. Joyce Maynard draws readers deeply into Frances’s contrasting worlds – her life in Jersey, where she feels stagnant and hopeless, and the world of Wonderland, where she experiences a glittering, privileged, easier way of life. The atmosphere is rich and immersive and also offers an intriguing contrast: a sun-drenched lakeside in the oppressive heat of summer, but laced with a chill, a darkness, that builds as the book goes on.
Maynard perfectly captures the feeling of being fourteen, when everything feels both simultaneously meaningless and the most important thing to ever have happened, when you feel desperate to be an adult long before you’re able to understand quite what adulthood, with all its nuances, really means. I recognized my teenage self in Frances; she’s such a well-crafted character, with her raw vulnerability, complex emotions, and her searing want. In dreamlike prose laced with an unsettling noir sensibility, and through Frances’s intoxicating first-person point-of-view, Maynard explores girlhood and womanhood – and the thorny bridge between the two – as well as privilege, desire, yearning, and the intimate hearts of adult relationships.
I’ll be sitting with the feelings In Wonderland evoked in me for a long time. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy domestic dramas and literary coming-of-age stories. Thank you to NetGalley for the early reading opportunity.
July 27, 2026
4 STARS
Francis, is a 14 year old, sent to Wonderland Maine to baby sit (mother helper) of family friends' children. Getting out of Jersey, and going to Maine seems like hitting the jackpot. Frannie will be away from her parents contentious marriage and seems to be overlooked. This is a chance to live the high life, that includes a new bicycle, tennis lessons and boating.
As it always is, the outward appearances are never as they seem. Frannie is quickly pulled into the strange world of the Emersons. The cheating husband, the manic depression of his wife and their kids being caught in the middle. Secrets and scandals galore and with a healthy dose of obsession.
This book is a slow burn. I did feel the pacing was a bit off. However, as you continue to read you can feel the tension rising as the stakes get higher. By Labor Day the world of everyone is turned upside down.
The ending brought the story together. You are invested in Frannie, and her predicament, being a lonely, impressionable young teen. It took a turn I did not seen coming and had a satisfying end.
Highly recommend for as different style of beach read.
Francis, is a 14 year old, sent to Wonderland Maine to baby sit (mother helper) of family friends' children. Getting out of Jersey, and going to Maine seems like hitting the jackpot. Frannie will be away from her parents contentious marriage and seems to be overlooked. This is a chance to live the high life, that includes a new bicycle, tennis lessons and boating.
As it always is, the outward appearances are never as they seem. Frannie is quickly pulled into the strange world of the Emersons. The cheating husband, the manic depression of his wife and their kids being caught in the middle. Secrets and scandals galore and with a healthy dose of obsession.
This book is a slow burn. I did feel the pacing was a bit off. However, as you continue to read you can feel the tension rising as the stakes get higher. By Labor Day the world of everyone is turned upside down.
The ending brought the story together. You are invested in Frannie, and her predicament, being a lonely, impressionable young teen. It took a turn I did not seen coming and had a satisfying end.
Highly recommend for as different style of beach read.
Did Not Finish
July 22, 2026What happened here Joyce? This is no The Bird Hotel or Count the Ways. Oof. I struggled through 30% of this and just couldn't go on. The voice of Frances felt forced, it felt like a man was trying to write from the perspective of a 14 year old female. I was once a teenage girl and I understand the dissatisfaction with one’s body, but the continual mentioning of Frances’s breast size and obsessing over her period and her weight over and over again. Ok we get it, teenaged angst. Give it a rest.
And is Forrest a pedophile? I can't tell, and I'm not sticking around to find out. I keep waiting for him to touch Frances inappropriately. He feels slimy.
I don't even care about whatever Regina's deal is. I'm sad this was a flop for me, because I typically love this author's work.
And is Forrest a pedophile? I can't tell, and I'm not sticking around to find out. I keep waiting for him to touch Frances inappropriately. He feels slimy.
I don't even care about whatever Regina's deal is. I'm sad this was a flop for me, because I typically love this author's work.
March 21, 2026
I feel like I’ve just started falling in love with this kind of story over the past year these unsettling coming of age drama and this one really sealed it for me. I’m so glad I picked it up because it completely pulled me into its world.This book follows Frances, who gets the opportunity to spend a summer working at this elite lakeside estate in Maine called Wonderland. Coming from a working class background, it feels like stepping into a dream beautiful grounds, polished lives, everything she didn’t grow up with. On top of that, she’s surrounded by people who seem larger than life, especially Forrest Emerson, her father’s childhood friend who built this whole world, and his wife Regina, who slowly pulls Frances deeper into their inner circle.But of course it doesn’t stay a dream.As the summer goes on, the cracks start to show. The relationships get messier, the secrets get heavier, and Frances ends up seeing way more than she should especially when it comes to the complicated, very real lives of the adults around her. By the time everything builds to that Labor Day ending, there’s this sense that something has been wrong under the surface the entire time, and it all finally spills over. It’s less about big twists and more about that slow unraveling watching Frances lose that sense of wonder as she starts to understand privilege, power, and what people are willing to hide to protect it.that’s why stories like flow so well. It’s about growing up and realizing that the “perfect” lives you look up to aren’t real. There’s a cost to belonging in those spaces, and Frances having to figure out where she stands in all of that felt really grounded and emotional.I’ve really been getting into this genre lately, and this just made me even more excited to keep exploring it. There’s something about these moody, character driven stories that just sticks with you after you finish.i really enjoyed this one. It’s immersive, a little haunting, and just quietly powerful in the way it tells its story.Highly recommend.
July 20, 2026
Joyce Maynard books are a must read for me, and when I can I choose to listen to them, because she reads them and she is an incredible narrator. In Wonderland did not disappoint. A summertime coming-of-age story that doubles as a master class in foreshadowing, this novel is a gripping tale of 14-year-old Frances, spending the summer as a mother’s helper while simultaneously trying to belong … anywhere. An easy read that is hard to put down, I recommend this novel to anyone looking for an engaging read that explores what it means to be part of a family and the journey to self discovery. Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC!
March 20, 2026
I really liked the overall feel of this book, especially that slow-building sense that something is off beneath all the privilege. It definitely nails that dreamy but also unsettling tone.
However the pacing felt quite slow and while the tension builds, it never really pays off in a surprising way. I was hoping for a bigger emotional or psychological impact by the end.
Overall, an enjoyable read for the atmosphere, but for me it was a bit too predictable and lacking that extra depth that would have made it really memorable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little A for the eARC
However the pacing felt quite slow and while the tension builds, it never really pays off in a surprising way. I was hoping for a bigger emotional or psychological impact by the end.
Overall, an enjoyable read for the atmosphere, but for me it was a bit too predictable and lacking that extra depth that would have made it really memorable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little A for the eARC
July 29, 2026
In Wonderland follows Frances, a fourteen-year-old who spends her summer as a mother’s helper at Wonderland, a wealthy family’s lakefront home in Maine. This belongs to Forrest Emerson, an old friend of her dad’s, as well as his wife Regina and their two young children. Frances is tasked with taking care of the children and additionally spends her time playing tennis, reading books and writing in her journal. She soon feels as though she is a part of the family unit, which operates much differently to her own, and becomes enamoured by Forrest, fantasising about what it would be like to have him as a father, or more…
This was such a bingeable read that I flew through; the narration by the author was excellent. In this coming-of-age story, Frances was such a multifaceted character that I initially struggled a bit to connect with, but grew so fond of over time. Her naivety and longing for love and belonging tugged at my heartstrings and made me want to shelter her. At the same time, her preoccupation with getting her first period, her body changing, understanding adulthood and “growing up”, only to realise being grown up isn’t all it is cracked up to be, invoked such a sense of nostalgia for the same period of time in my own life. Frances allows her imagination, loyalty and search for acceptance and approval to lead her into murky waters involving the Emerson family’s affairs. I could foresee part of the ending, but not quite how it played out, which was a nice surprise. I did wish at times that it were a bit quicker or action-packed in terms of pacing, but I appreciate that this was not that kind of story.
Thank you Brilliance Publishing, Joyce Maynard and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
This was such a bingeable read that I flew through; the narration by the author was excellent. In this coming-of-age story, Frances was such a multifaceted character that I initially struggled a bit to connect with, but grew so fond of over time. Her naivety and longing for love and belonging tugged at my heartstrings and made me want to shelter her. At the same time, her preoccupation with getting her first period, her body changing, understanding adulthood and “growing up”, only to realise being grown up isn’t all it is cracked up to be, invoked such a sense of nostalgia for the same period of time in my own life. Frances allows her imagination, loyalty and search for acceptance and approval to lead her into murky waters involving the Emerson family’s affairs. I could foresee part of the ending, but not quite how it played out, which was a nice surprise. I did wish at times that it were a bit quicker or action-packed in terms of pacing, but I appreciate that this was not that kind of story.
Thank you Brilliance Publishing, Joyce Maynard and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
July 17, 2026
One big long boring cliche of a book. I had really looked forward to the latest Joyce Maynard, as I usually love her books. This was awful. I am so disappointed.
July 27, 2026
4.5 stars, but no rounding up. (Not after WHISTLER and NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS.)
I had the luxury of switching between reading and listening. Maynard is an exceptional narrator. I wish that was my voice. However, as pleasant a listening experience as that suave, smoky voice provided, I had to READ in order to accelerate the story playing out. It was like being on a four-lane highway with many things going on, but your attention has been captured by eye flashing lights of emergency vehicles ahead. You ignore any exits—you want to see the wreck that inevitably lies ahead. You want to crawl past and gawk and observe and SEE the victims. All of them. As a reader, you know this crash is ahead and you are drawn to it. (It’s a book! It’s not real life!)
No spoiler here. On the first page, the author reveals Regina’s fate. I wonder how it would have affected the story had that device not been used. I have no opinion; I am merely curious. I also wonder if that was something the author debated.
Also curious about the possible symbolism of the names:
Regina—meaning queen. Queen of the Lake?
Camille— from the Dumas tragedy?
Forrest—lost in the forest? Hiding?
Although Prudence, the cook is a very minor character, was that just a whisper of a hint for a cautionary tale?
Though it may seem the relationship that bears the most significance is that between Frances and Forrest/Howie, it’s really the relationship between Frances and Regina. From page one, it’s emitting those first flickers of emergency lights, a combustible combination with foreshadowed, unstoppable tragedy ahead. There’s the power issue, with Frances the subordinate, tangibly and intangibly. Employer,employee. A mature experienced woman, a naive, inexperienced pubescent. One cultured from wealth, the other from a turbulent, financially-struggling family. Yes, Frances is extremely sharp and observant, but her inexperience and maddening naïveté do not allow her to process the glaring facts we see as mature readers. “You idiot!” I wanted to declare, then quickly recalled her age (what are lyrics from that Miley Cyrus song?)and how small was the world from which she came, additionally starving for love and attention.
(Now Brenda, she IS an IDIOT.)
Regina is damaged, fragile, with a heartbreaking backstory that explains her mental illness. As a product of her manipulation, Frances inadvertently feeds her toxic,lethal bits of information. Regina calls this unseasoned, impressionable fourteen-year-old her only friend, and Frances thrives on the connection and the feeling of importance she garners from playing Regina’s Nancy Drew. It’s a perfect storm.
The title, IN WONDERLAND, carries its own significance/symbolism. Isn’t life just a series of rabbit holes? Aptly names, with its sad, psychological edge, it will grab you and not let you go as you knowingly head toward the flashing red and blue lights. Well worth the read.
I had the luxury of switching between reading and listening. Maynard is an exceptional narrator. I wish that was my voice. However, as pleasant a listening experience as that suave, smoky voice provided, I had to READ in order to accelerate the story playing out. It was like being on a four-lane highway with many things going on, but your attention has been captured by eye flashing lights of emergency vehicles ahead. You ignore any exits—you want to see the wreck that inevitably lies ahead. You want to crawl past and gawk and observe and SEE the victims. All of them. As a reader, you know this crash is ahead and you are drawn to it. (It’s a book! It’s not real life!)
No spoiler here. On the first page, the author reveals Regina’s fate. I wonder how it would have affected the story had that device not been used. I have no opinion; I am merely curious. I also wonder if that was something the author debated.
Also curious about the possible symbolism of the names:
Regina—meaning queen. Queen of the Lake?
Camille— from the Dumas tragedy?
Forrest—lost in the forest? Hiding?
Although Prudence, the cook is a very minor character, was that just a whisper of a hint for a cautionary tale?
Though it may seem the relationship that bears the most significance is that between Frances and Forrest/Howie, it’s really the relationship between Frances and Regina. From page one, it’s emitting those first flickers of emergency lights, a combustible combination with foreshadowed, unstoppable tragedy ahead. There’s the power issue, with Frances the subordinate, tangibly and intangibly. Employer,employee. A mature experienced woman, a naive, inexperienced pubescent. One cultured from wealth, the other from a turbulent, financially-struggling family. Yes, Frances is extremely sharp and observant, but her inexperience and maddening naïveté do not allow her to process the glaring facts we see as mature readers. “You idiot!” I wanted to declare, then quickly recalled her age (what are lyrics from that Miley Cyrus song?)and how small was the world from which she came, additionally starving for love and attention.
(Now Brenda, she IS an IDIOT.)
Regina is damaged, fragile, with a heartbreaking backstory that explains her mental illness. As a product of her manipulation, Frances inadvertently feeds her toxic,lethal bits of information. Regina calls this unseasoned, impressionable fourteen-year-old her only friend, and Frances thrives on the connection and the feeling of importance she garners from playing Regina’s Nancy Drew. It’s a perfect storm.
The title, IN WONDERLAND, carries its own significance/symbolism. Isn’t life just a series of rabbit holes? Aptly names, with its sad, psychological edge, it will grab you and not let you go as you knowingly head toward the flashing red and blue lights. Well worth the read.
July 27, 2026
There are some books that have absolutely nothing inherently wrong with them but they just aren’t for you. In Wonderland is unfortunately that book for me. Alice illusion, coming of age, literary fiction devices and yet nothing really hit me in the way I needed it to. I’m not sure if it was a lack of voice or lack of point but I just felt lackluster throughout and it didn’t change once I finished.
July 27, 2026
Probably 4&1/2.. maybe even a 5! I don’t know anymore lol
July 24, 2026
I mean, I enjoyed it…? But it was flat characters, a predictable plot and goofy melodrama. I really did enjoy it, but by the end I was rolling my eyes at the Wonder Breadedness of it all.
I previously loved Maynard’s novel, Under the Influence. It got me hooked on drunk mom stories for a while.
I previously loved Maynard’s novel, Under the Influence. It got me hooked on drunk mom stories for a while.
July 26, 2026
An "interesting" coming of age story that I have mixed feelings about 🤔. There were moments when I really liked it and others where I was disappointed about the direction the story was going in. I guess that might be part of the point...
July 15, 2026
I loved this book. It pulled me in right away and kept that quiet tension the whole time.
Frances is a teenage girl from a working-class background who takes a summer job at a wealthy family’s lake house in Maine. At first it feels like a dream—beautiful home, money, freedom, and a life she’s never known. I really connected with her. She felt real, observant, and a little unsure of where she fit in.
The family she works for is where things get interesting. The wife is complicated and a little unsettling, and you can feel something is off with her from the start. The husband is more distant, almost cold, and not as present as he should be. Then there are the children—each with their own personalities and struggles—which added a lot more depth to the story. You really see how this family works (and doesn’t work).
There are also other people around the lake and in town that make the setting feel alive, not just a backdrop. It truly felt like a place you could step into.
What I loved most was how the story slowly builds. Nothing feels rushed. The tension, the secrets, the obsession—it all creeps in until you know something bad is coming. And when it does, it changes everything.
This is a coming-of-age story, but also about messy families, class differences, and seeing the truth behind a “perfect” life.
One of my favorite reads this year
Thank you to NetGalley and Little A for the ARC
Frances is a teenage girl from a working-class background who takes a summer job at a wealthy family’s lake house in Maine. At first it feels like a dream—beautiful home, money, freedom, and a life she’s never known. I really connected with her. She felt real, observant, and a little unsure of where she fit in.
The family she works for is where things get interesting. The wife is complicated and a little unsettling, and you can feel something is off with her from the start. The husband is more distant, almost cold, and not as present as he should be. Then there are the children—each with their own personalities and struggles—which added a lot more depth to the story. You really see how this family works (and doesn’t work).
There are also other people around the lake and in town that make the setting feel alive, not just a backdrop. It truly felt like a place you could step into.
What I loved most was how the story slowly builds. Nothing feels rushed. The tension, the secrets, the obsession—it all creeps in until you know something bad is coming. And when it does, it changes everything.
This is a coming-of-age story, but also about messy families, class differences, and seeing the truth behind a “perfect” life.
One of my favorite reads this year
Thank you to NetGalley and Little A for the ARC
July 30, 2026
In Wonderland is immersive, a little haunting, and quietly powerful in the way it explores messy families, class differences, and the truth behind a seemingly perfect life. Joyce Maynard slowly reveals the cracks beneath the surface in this unsettling coming-of-age drama.
July 22, 2026
I love Joyce Maynard’s books and this is another home run! Frances, a girl from the working glass of New Jersey spends the summer in Maine working as a mother’s helper. This coming of age story looks at class, privilege, fitting in, sexual awakening and power. Maynard is so good at developing her characters and making them believable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 26, 2026
Great writing and deeply moving and overall- a downright disturbing story. The ending is absolutely shocking and perhaps the most disturbing part of it all.
“The look on her face was just sad, that was all. The saddest look I’d ever seen on her maybe—like she was a dead person, back on earth just long enough to pay a quick visit to the living before heading back to wherever it was dead people went once their hearts stopped beating.”
“The look on her face was just sad, that was all. The saddest look I’d ever seen on her maybe—like she was a dead person, back on earth just long enough to pay a quick visit to the living before heading back to wherever it was dead people went once their hearts stopped beating.”
July 24, 2026
I was able to finish so I rounded up. The writing lacked depth and authenticity for 1986. This was my first book by author and I will give another try as her stories are typical of what I enjoy. I just didn't like the characters, except for tennis coach and Prudence- which were minimal in the story. Also there are no surprises- very predictable
July 23, 2026
Really not good at all
July 23, 2026
5 stars…I always love Joyce’s books. This one was no exception. I’m not a big fan of coming of age stories but this one captivated me. I thought I was reading one book but it turned into another. I was hoping for a happy ending instead it was something else. I loved the ending nevertheless with learning what happened in the life of Frances but also Forest, Jonathan et al after that summer In Wonderland.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A glittering Maine estate.
A toxic blue-blood marriage.
A naive teenager walking blindly into a deadly trap.
THE PARADISE IS AN ILLUSION, AND THE BETRAYAL IS LETHAL.
"An exceptionally sharp, nostalgia-soaked 1980s crime thriller blended with coming-of-age, packed with slow-burn dread, toxic privilege, and a devastating turn of the screw."
🪝 The Hook
A dazzling, coming-of-age, slow-burning 1980s summer scandal.
"A razor-sharp psychological drama where a naive teenage outsider navigates the treacherous inner circles of elite New England privilege."
In IN WONDERLAND, New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard (a favorite) delivers a deeply atmospheric, tension-soaked 1980s Maine lakefront psychological thriller. The story hinges on a vulnerable 14-year-old girl facing immense emotional and adult hurdles to secure her place in a glamorous world that isn't hers—high-society manipulation vs. working-class longing.
Elevator Pitch
An elite summer estate turns into a high-stakes, paranoid nightmare when a naive teenage mother's helper gets weaponized by a wealthy, toxic marriage mired in dark secrets, lethal obsessions, and hidden traps.
📋 Review Breakdown
Setting
A glittering, ultra-wealthy, and deeply exclusive blue-blood lakefront estate named "Wonderland" in Maine during the sweltering summer of 1986.
Vibe
Nostalgic, deeply unsettling, and paranoid. It flawlessly pairs the elegant, upper-class criminal tension of The Great Gatsby or The Talented Mr. Ripley with the sharp, raw, coming-of-age vulnerability of The God of the Woods.
Genre
Psychological Thriller / Coming-of-Age Suspense / Domestic Noir/ Literary Fiction
The Symbolism of the Court
In In Wonderland, tennis serves as the ultimate barrier between high-society manipulation and working-class longing. The shiny new tennis racquet Frances is gifted isn't just sports gear; it's her literal ticket into the exclusive country club world. It perfectly mirrors how wealth dresses up its elite spaces in clean lines and white skirts, making an invisible, naive 14-year-old girl feel like she finally belongs right before the trap snaps shut.
📌 Themes
~The Dangerous Vulnerability of Youth Seeking a Sense of Belonging
~The Illusion of Wealth and Toxic Blue-Blood Privilege
~Class Disparity and the Sharp Ache of Being the Outsider
~The Complicity and Spite Hidden Inside High-Society Marriages
👤 Standout Characters
~Frances: A naive, invisible 14-year-old protagonist whose desperate longing for a home blinds her to the dangerous adult games around her.
~Forrest Emerson: A charismatic self-made man who escaped his poor roots by marrying into extreme blue-blood wealth, now trapped in his own secrets.
~Regina Emerson: Forrest’s wealthy, intensely paranoid wife who expertly manipulates Frances’s innocence to protect her own territory.
~Jonathan Gleason: The beloved gay country club tennis coach who took Frances under his wing. (loved him)
Author Writing Standout
Joyce Maynard excels at delivering a rich, atmospheric narrative structure packed with raw emotional precision. Shifting gears into a slow-burning psychological thriller, she handles class friction, coming-of-age heartache, and impending doom with an incredibly sharp, fresh bite.
Takeaway
Privilege is an intoxicating illusion—and the closer you try to get to the glittering facade, the faster the undercurrent will pull you under.
Title Significance
"In Wonderland" plays brilliantly on the literal name of the spectacular Emerson summer estate, while serving as a dark nod to Alice falling down a rabbit hole into a twisted world where nothing is what it seems.
Metaphor
The deep, murky waters of Lake Catherine serve as a flawless metaphor for the Emerson family—picture-perfect and sun-drenched on the surface, but harboring a deadly, treacherous depth underneath.
💬 Why You Should Read
For avid fans of Joyce Maynard, IN WONDERLAND is a fiercely captivating, atmospheric, and deeply clever psychological mystery that perfectly captures vintage 1980s nostalgia while delivering an elite cat-and-mouse plot.
💭 My Thoughts
JOYCE MAYNARD DELIVERS A FLAWLESS, FIVE-STAR PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER.
"A deeply atmospheric, wildly unsettling mystery that introduces Frances as the most heartbreakingly relatable, naive protagonist in modern suspense."
A huge long-time fan of the author, having read all her works, IN WONDERLAND is another gem! The narrative tension is a total slow-burn adrenaline rush that keeps you turning pages late into the night. Maynard crafts an exceptionally brilliant, emotionally heavy puzzle where Frances is an unforgettable, heartbreakingly vulnerable protagonist navigating a world of elite predators. The prose is vivid, the social satire is top-tier, and the final sequence of reveals is pure, chilling suspense.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) + Top Books of 2026!
"A stellar, five-star psychological masterpiece that proves Joyce Maynard can conquer the thriller genre with absolute brilliance."
Audio 🎧 Standout: Spellbinding & Masterful! 5 Stars +
Top Audiobooks of 2026!
~Why the Listening Experience Shines:
For longtime fans who have read and listened to Joyce Maynard’s entire backlist, like me, In Wonderland offers an unforgettable narrative shift. Maynard has always been a master at narrating her own memoirs and emotional family dramas, but hearing her apply that familiar, intimate voice to a dark, suspenseful 1980s crime thriller is an absolute revelation.
~Chilling Voice Contrast:
Her warm, soothing conversational tone creates a brilliant, eerie contrast against the story's growing 1986 noir suspense. Keeping you hooked from start to finish.
~Perfect Naive Vulnerability:
Narrating as 14-year-old Frances, Maynard perfectly captures the wide-eyed longing of a working-class girl desperate to belong in a world of privilege.
~Author-Driven Tension: Maynard delivers her signature sharp social commentary with a slow-burn pace that makes the audio impossible to pause.
~Ultimate Authenticity: Having the author herself deliver the final, shocking reveal brings an emotional weight a voice actor simply couldn't replicate.
Her realistic portrayal of Francis as a young girl brings back all the intense, scary, and awkward moments of girlhood and coming of age.
On a personal note: What I enjoyed the most was the "haves and the have-nots." I resonated with the tennis storyline as compared to my two sons and raising them as a single mom, and later marrying a man with three sons while blending our families into the country club environment. My sons were very athletic (pure hard work) and had no prior tennis or golf lessons like his privileged sons. My two sons went on to win the country club championship the first year and thereafter (golf and tennis tournaments), while his sons (with all the lessons), never did so. Like Francis, they both had drive, determination, and raw talent, so they did not need lessons. They both went on to play on the tennis & golf teams at school and college. Now, years later, I am divorced and living in Florida (no country club); however, my grandson in NC is back at that same country club playing tennis and is a champion (school & club). Ironic, I am told, the same tennis coach is still at that same country club!
Special thanks to Little A and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. Highly recommend. As always, I would not miss an audiobook narrated by the author for the ultimate listening experience. I also purchased the hardcover as an essential for my JM home library collection.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date July 14, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars +
July Newsletter
July 2026 Must-Read Books
📚 Recs (Read Alikes)
If you couldn't put down In Wonderland and are craving that same incredible mix of sharp class divides, slow-burn psychological suspense, and deep family secrets, you are in luck. These stellar read-alikes capture the same atmospheric grit and emotional depth:
~Labor Day by Joyce Maynard – A beautiful, tense look at an unconventional bond formed under pressure, showcasing Maynard's absolute mastery over domestic drama. Also, The Bird Hotel (top books of the year). In fact, read her entire backlist. They are all unique 5-star experiences.
~The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
~Greenwich by Kate Broad
~The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
~Everything Has Happened by T. Greenwood
~Ace, Marvel, Spy by Jenni L. Walsh
~For hilarious fun, the show, Red Oaks 2014-2017 (an all-time favorite!)
A toxic blue-blood marriage.
A naive teenager walking blindly into a deadly trap.
THE PARADISE IS AN ILLUSION, AND THE BETRAYAL IS LETHAL.
"An exceptionally sharp, nostalgia-soaked 1980s crime thriller blended with coming-of-age, packed with slow-burn dread, toxic privilege, and a devastating turn of the screw."
🪝 The Hook
A dazzling, coming-of-age, slow-burning 1980s summer scandal.
"A razor-sharp psychological drama where a naive teenage outsider navigates the treacherous inner circles of elite New England privilege."
In IN WONDERLAND, New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard (a favorite) delivers a deeply atmospheric, tension-soaked 1980s Maine lakefront psychological thriller. The story hinges on a vulnerable 14-year-old girl facing immense emotional and adult hurdles to secure her place in a glamorous world that isn't hers—high-society manipulation vs. working-class longing.
Elevator Pitch
An elite summer estate turns into a high-stakes, paranoid nightmare when a naive teenage mother's helper gets weaponized by a wealthy, toxic marriage mired in dark secrets, lethal obsessions, and hidden traps.
📋 Review Breakdown
Setting
A glittering, ultra-wealthy, and deeply exclusive blue-blood lakefront estate named "Wonderland" in Maine during the sweltering summer of 1986.
Vibe
Nostalgic, deeply unsettling, and paranoid. It flawlessly pairs the elegant, upper-class criminal tension of The Great Gatsby or The Talented Mr. Ripley with the sharp, raw, coming-of-age vulnerability of The God of the Woods.
Genre
Psychological Thriller / Coming-of-Age Suspense / Domestic Noir/ Literary Fiction
The Symbolism of the Court
In In Wonderland, tennis serves as the ultimate barrier between high-society manipulation and working-class longing. The shiny new tennis racquet Frances is gifted isn't just sports gear; it's her literal ticket into the exclusive country club world. It perfectly mirrors how wealth dresses up its elite spaces in clean lines and white skirts, making an invisible, naive 14-year-old girl feel like she finally belongs right before the trap snaps shut.
📌 Themes
~The Dangerous Vulnerability of Youth Seeking a Sense of Belonging
~The Illusion of Wealth and Toxic Blue-Blood Privilege
~Class Disparity and the Sharp Ache of Being the Outsider
~The Complicity and Spite Hidden Inside High-Society Marriages
👤 Standout Characters
~Frances: A naive, invisible 14-year-old protagonist whose desperate longing for a home blinds her to the dangerous adult games around her.
~Forrest Emerson: A charismatic self-made man who escaped his poor roots by marrying into extreme blue-blood wealth, now trapped in his own secrets.
~Regina Emerson: Forrest’s wealthy, intensely paranoid wife who expertly manipulates Frances’s innocence to protect her own territory.
~Jonathan Gleason: The beloved gay country club tennis coach who took Frances under his wing. (loved him)
Author Writing Standout
Joyce Maynard excels at delivering a rich, atmospheric narrative structure packed with raw emotional precision. Shifting gears into a slow-burning psychological thriller, she handles class friction, coming-of-age heartache, and impending doom with an incredibly sharp, fresh bite.
Takeaway
Privilege is an intoxicating illusion—and the closer you try to get to the glittering facade, the faster the undercurrent will pull you under.
Title Significance
"In Wonderland" plays brilliantly on the literal name of the spectacular Emerson summer estate, while serving as a dark nod to Alice falling down a rabbit hole into a twisted world where nothing is what it seems.
Metaphor
The deep, murky waters of Lake Catherine serve as a flawless metaphor for the Emerson family—picture-perfect and sun-drenched on the surface, but harboring a deadly, treacherous depth underneath.
💬 Why You Should Read
For avid fans of Joyce Maynard, IN WONDERLAND is a fiercely captivating, atmospheric, and deeply clever psychological mystery that perfectly captures vintage 1980s nostalgia while delivering an elite cat-and-mouse plot.
💭 My Thoughts
JOYCE MAYNARD DELIVERS A FLAWLESS, FIVE-STAR PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER.
"A deeply atmospheric, wildly unsettling mystery that introduces Frances as the most heartbreakingly relatable, naive protagonist in modern suspense."
A huge long-time fan of the author, having read all her works, IN WONDERLAND is another gem! The narrative tension is a total slow-burn adrenaline rush that keeps you turning pages late into the night. Maynard crafts an exceptionally brilliant, emotionally heavy puzzle where Frances is an unforgettable, heartbreakingly vulnerable protagonist navigating a world of elite predators. The prose is vivid, the social satire is top-tier, and the final sequence of reveals is pure, chilling suspense.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) + Top Books of 2026!
"A stellar, five-star psychological masterpiece that proves Joyce Maynard can conquer the thriller genre with absolute brilliance."
Audio 🎧 Standout: Spellbinding & Masterful! 5 Stars +
Top Audiobooks of 2026!
~Why the Listening Experience Shines:
For longtime fans who have read and listened to Joyce Maynard’s entire backlist, like me, In Wonderland offers an unforgettable narrative shift. Maynard has always been a master at narrating her own memoirs and emotional family dramas, but hearing her apply that familiar, intimate voice to a dark, suspenseful 1980s crime thriller is an absolute revelation.
~Chilling Voice Contrast:
Her warm, soothing conversational tone creates a brilliant, eerie contrast against the story's growing 1986 noir suspense. Keeping you hooked from start to finish.
~Perfect Naive Vulnerability:
Narrating as 14-year-old Frances, Maynard perfectly captures the wide-eyed longing of a working-class girl desperate to belong in a world of privilege.
~Author-Driven Tension: Maynard delivers her signature sharp social commentary with a slow-burn pace that makes the audio impossible to pause.
~Ultimate Authenticity: Having the author herself deliver the final, shocking reveal brings an emotional weight a voice actor simply couldn't replicate.
Her realistic portrayal of Francis as a young girl brings back all the intense, scary, and awkward moments of girlhood and coming of age.
On a personal note: What I enjoyed the most was the "haves and the have-nots." I resonated with the tennis storyline as compared to my two sons and raising them as a single mom, and later marrying a man with three sons while blending our families into the country club environment. My sons were very athletic (pure hard work) and had no prior tennis or golf lessons like his privileged sons. My two sons went on to win the country club championship the first year and thereafter (golf and tennis tournaments), while his sons (with all the lessons), never did so. Like Francis, they both had drive, determination, and raw talent, so they did not need lessons. They both went on to play on the tennis & golf teams at school and college. Now, years later, I am divorced and living in Florida (no country club); however, my grandson in NC is back at that same country club playing tennis and is a champion (school & club). Ironic, I am told, the same tennis coach is still at that same country club!
Special thanks to Little A and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. Highly recommend. As always, I would not miss an audiobook narrated by the author for the ultimate listening experience. I also purchased the hardcover as an essential for my JM home library collection.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date July 14, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars +
July Newsletter
July 2026 Must-Read Books
📚 Recs (Read Alikes)
If you couldn't put down In Wonderland and are craving that same incredible mix of sharp class divides, slow-burn psychological suspense, and deep family secrets, you are in luck. These stellar read-alikes capture the same atmospheric grit and emotional depth:
~Labor Day by Joyce Maynard – A beautiful, tense look at an unconventional bond formed under pressure, showcasing Maynard's absolute mastery over domestic drama. Also, The Bird Hotel (top books of the year). In fact, read her entire backlist. They are all unique 5-star experiences.
~The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
~Greenwich by Kate Broad
~The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
~Everything Has Happened by T. Greenwood
~Ace, Marvel, Spy by Jenni L. Walsh
~For hilarious fun, the show, Red Oaks 2014-2017 (an all-time favorite!)
June 19, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Ugh I wanted to like this one so bad. I love the concept and I actually really loved the ending too. The first 75% was a drag for me though. I found myself irritated by the repetitive narrative and the inaccuracy depiction of the time frame. For example, one of the kids is playing on his game boy in the year 1986 when the game boy wasn’t invented until 1989 (yes i looked it up) I just found myself getting confused about what era the story was supposed to be in. This is definitely a small detail but bothered me nonetheless. I just don’t think this author is for me, but I really hope it works for others.
Pub date: July 14,2026
Ugh I wanted to like this one so bad. I love the concept and I actually really loved the ending too. The first 75% was a drag for me though. I found myself irritated by the repetitive narrative and the inaccuracy depiction of the time frame. For example, one of the kids is playing on his game boy in the year 1986 when the game boy wasn’t invented until 1989 (yes i looked it up) I just found myself getting confused about what era the story was supposed to be in. This is definitely a small detail but bothered me nonetheless. I just don’t think this author is for me, but I really hope it works for others.
Pub date: July 14,2026
Want to Read
March 11, 2026sounds like a coming of age mixed in with a mystery. Sounds good, I'm excited to read it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
July 22, 2026
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏- 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒙 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒖𝒃𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒅, 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑱𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒐𝒄𝒄𝒖𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑬𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈.
This novel is about a young girl playing grown-ups, while the adults are pulling the strings. The story takes place in 1985, which made it much more engaging for an 80’s kid like me. We lived for summer, and all you have to do is watch any 80’s summer movie to see people on boats, in convertibles, swimming on the lake or lazing at the beach. Bikes were also a hot commodity, and when Frances is gifted these things, it’s like winning the lottery. Frances has the opportunity of a lifetime, a summer out of New Jersey and away from her parents, right into the “lap of luxury” when her father’s childhood best friend, Forrest (Howie before he changed his name) hires her to work as his wife Regina’s helper. Frances will be staying at their lakefront summer home “Wonderland” in Maine. Fourteen and yearning for a story of her own, not even the prospect of dealing with difficult Regina and caring for the two children can dampen Frances’s excitement. Weary of her parents’ unhappiness in their marriage and the drudgery of her family’s dark apartment, the thought of Wonderland is right up there with thoughts of heaven. It doesn’t hurt that Forrest is nothing like any other man she knows; gorgeous, fun, charming, wealthy and attentive to her as no one in her life has ever been. Where Frances’s father’s life carried on much like his own fathers, Forrest got out of the projects and married into wealth. She is half in love with him already, even if she is only fourteen. Only seeing him once a year hasn’t given her much time to get to know him as deeply as she longs to, and now she has a whole summer! He is full of promises of all the fun they will have together as the two ride off in his convertible.
It isn’t long after their arrival she realizes Regina is the center of their world, and plied with pills or not, Forrest’s wife is the one running the show. Frances must adhere to a schedule for lessons and play dates that the children, Jilly and Hayward, take to keep busy. Frances must keep track of what the children eat, too, a whole world of order. It seems summer will be filled with daily lists. Never a morning goes by without seeing Forest on his way out, praising how amazing Regina is. Frances cannot understand how someone as loving, tender, fun as Forest is married to a wet blanket like Regina, and wonders what he could possibly see in her. Money, maybe, because coming from nothing she knows it’s a boon, but surely, he could do better? And what is wrong with Regina anyway? She acts drunk but never drinks. What are the pills for? Forrest never fails to lift Frances’s spirits too, with compliments, words that warm her like a patch of sunlight.
Frances’s hopes for fitting in with the kids at the club fall flat, despite Forrest’s encouragement. She knows a whiff of outsider follows her wherever she goes, marking her as different. She is the hired help, and unlike the other girls who look like magazine models, Frances’s clothes are all wrong, she hasn’t even really hit puberty yet, at least there is always refuge at the library. Frances keeps a journal for her secrets, her dreams, that begin to feel like a second life. Her love is a blazing fire in her chest, but Forrest seems further from her reach and the problems between he and Regina are growing as wild. Forest is a flirt, he is too carefree and Regina is no fool. Frances doesn’t know what makes Regina the way she is, but over the summer she is going to learn things about the adult world she is in no way ready for. Regina confides in her, relying on Frances for things no adult should. It’s a dangerous game and Frances is ripe for manipulation. Passion, affairs, death, fantasies, by the time Frances thinks she understands the game, it’s too late. Everything she thinks she knows about Forest will be upended but one thing is certain, Frances’s life is about to change forever. I was hooked; this is manipulation to the extreme.
Publication Date: July 14, 2026
Little A
𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏- 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒙 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒖𝒃𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒅, 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑱𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒐𝒄𝒄𝒖𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑬𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈.
This novel is about a young girl playing grown-ups, while the adults are pulling the strings. The story takes place in 1985, which made it much more engaging for an 80’s kid like me. We lived for summer, and all you have to do is watch any 80’s summer movie to see people on boats, in convertibles, swimming on the lake or lazing at the beach. Bikes were also a hot commodity, and when Frances is gifted these things, it’s like winning the lottery. Frances has the opportunity of a lifetime, a summer out of New Jersey and away from her parents, right into the “lap of luxury” when her father’s childhood best friend, Forrest (Howie before he changed his name) hires her to work as his wife Regina’s helper. Frances will be staying at their lakefront summer home “Wonderland” in Maine. Fourteen and yearning for a story of her own, not even the prospect of dealing with difficult Regina and caring for the two children can dampen Frances’s excitement. Weary of her parents’ unhappiness in their marriage and the drudgery of her family’s dark apartment, the thought of Wonderland is right up there with thoughts of heaven. It doesn’t hurt that Forrest is nothing like any other man she knows; gorgeous, fun, charming, wealthy and attentive to her as no one in her life has ever been. Where Frances’s father’s life carried on much like his own fathers, Forrest got out of the projects and married into wealth. She is half in love with him already, even if she is only fourteen. Only seeing him once a year hasn’t given her much time to get to know him as deeply as she longs to, and now she has a whole summer! He is full of promises of all the fun they will have together as the two ride off in his convertible.
It isn’t long after their arrival she realizes Regina is the center of their world, and plied with pills or not, Forrest’s wife is the one running the show. Frances must adhere to a schedule for lessons and play dates that the children, Jilly and Hayward, take to keep busy. Frances must keep track of what the children eat, too, a whole world of order. It seems summer will be filled with daily lists. Never a morning goes by without seeing Forest on his way out, praising how amazing Regina is. Frances cannot understand how someone as loving, tender, fun as Forest is married to a wet blanket like Regina, and wonders what he could possibly see in her. Money, maybe, because coming from nothing she knows it’s a boon, but surely, he could do better? And what is wrong with Regina anyway? She acts drunk but never drinks. What are the pills for? Forrest never fails to lift Frances’s spirits too, with compliments, words that warm her like a patch of sunlight.
Frances’s hopes for fitting in with the kids at the club fall flat, despite Forrest’s encouragement. She knows a whiff of outsider follows her wherever she goes, marking her as different. She is the hired help, and unlike the other girls who look like magazine models, Frances’s clothes are all wrong, she hasn’t even really hit puberty yet, at least there is always refuge at the library. Frances keeps a journal for her secrets, her dreams, that begin to feel like a second life. Her love is a blazing fire in her chest, but Forrest seems further from her reach and the problems between he and Regina are growing as wild. Forest is a flirt, he is too carefree and Regina is no fool. Frances doesn’t know what makes Regina the way she is, but over the summer she is going to learn things about the adult world she is in no way ready for. Regina confides in her, relying on Frances for things no adult should. It’s a dangerous game and Frances is ripe for manipulation. Passion, affairs, death, fantasies, by the time Frances thinks she understands the game, it’s too late. Everything she thinks she knows about Forest will be upended but one thing is certain, Frances’s life is about to change forever. I was hooked; this is manipulation to the extreme.
Publication Date: July 14, 2026
Little A
July 17, 2026
3.5 Stars
This is a coming-of-age story set in 1986 in Maine.
Fourteen-year-old Frances is hired by Regina and Forrest Emerson to be a mother’s helper for the summer at their lakefront home named Wonderland. She has to help look after 12-year-old Hayward and 6-year-old Jilly but her responsibilities are not that taxing. She finds many benefits that she doesn’t have in her home. She is given a shiny new bike and eventually gets tennis lessons at the country club. Best of all, she is able to spend time with Forrest, her father’s charismatic friend.
As expected, Wonderland proves not to be the paradise it initially seems. Frances witnesses the intimate lives and secrets of adults who prove not to be as reliable as she thought. As indicated by the prologue, the summer ends with a death that shatters the family. The book focuses on the events of the summer leading up to this death.
Frances is the narrator so the reader sees everyone and every event from her perspective. Obviously her reliability as a narrator comes into play. She is desperate for attention, something she does not get from her own parents who are focused on their contentious relationship. Because Forrest shows her some attention, she develops a crush on him. When Forrest’s attentions turn elsewhere, Frances’ loyalty shifts to Regina who takes an interest in her. The problem, as she realizes later, is that she is naive and too involved in her own situation to fully understand anyone else’s.
Frances is a very believable teenager. She is very conscious of her body; she is troubled that she has not yet developed breasts and has not started to menstruate. Most of the time she feels invisible and she desperately wants to be noticed and to feel important; this desire is her major motivation. She’s an insecure outsider who doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. She is interested in sex, but knows very little about it.
By the end of the summer, Frances learns a great deal. She learns to play tennis and she learns about the physical aspects of sex. She comes to appreciate her father’s brutal honesty which contrasts with Forrest’s ability to lie easily. Hayward annoys her throughout, but in the end she recognizes that he is not that different from her. And, of course, she learns a lot about adults, including how they have secrets and may behave less than honourably. Her feelings for Forrest change; she finds she can still love a version of him but she doesn’t like or respect him.
As I read, I developed an intense dislike for Forrest. It’s obvious that he is charming and most people find him irresistible, but I found his behaviour disturbing. When Frances first arrives, he pays her a lot of attention, almost as if he is grooming her. Even if his intentions are innocent, a 37-year-old man should be more aware of how his actions might affect a teenager. He even makes her promises which he doesn’t keep. When Brenda comes along, Frances sees another side to Forrest: he’s a liar and serial adulterer. Frances’ father Hank is Forrest’s best friend so presumably he knows about his activities. So I kept wondering why would Hank entrust his daughter to such a man?
I did have some issues with the novel. It’s a slow burn with needless repetition. The chapters are short, but some just seem unnecessary. At the end there are elements I found problematic. Who saves a fake suicide note on their computer? And the courtroom scenes and verdict are unconvincing. Why, for instance, is Frances allowed to hear the testimony of others before she herself takes the stand? Prospective witnesses remain outside the courtroom until they are called to testify to ensure they do not alter or tailor their own evidence based on what they hear.
The best aspect of this novel is its portrayal of the interior life of a teenaged girl. Frances’ choices and behaviour are not always admirable, but perfectly understandable.
Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/).
This is a coming-of-age story set in 1986 in Maine.
Fourteen-year-old Frances is hired by Regina and Forrest Emerson to be a mother’s helper for the summer at their lakefront home named Wonderland. She has to help look after 12-year-old Hayward and 6-year-old Jilly but her responsibilities are not that taxing. She finds many benefits that she doesn’t have in her home. She is given a shiny new bike and eventually gets tennis lessons at the country club. Best of all, she is able to spend time with Forrest, her father’s charismatic friend.
As expected, Wonderland proves not to be the paradise it initially seems. Frances witnesses the intimate lives and secrets of adults who prove not to be as reliable as she thought. As indicated by the prologue, the summer ends with a death that shatters the family. The book focuses on the events of the summer leading up to this death.
Frances is the narrator so the reader sees everyone and every event from her perspective. Obviously her reliability as a narrator comes into play. She is desperate for attention, something she does not get from her own parents who are focused on their contentious relationship. Because Forrest shows her some attention, she develops a crush on him. When Forrest’s attentions turn elsewhere, Frances’ loyalty shifts to Regina who takes an interest in her. The problem, as she realizes later, is that she is naive and too involved in her own situation to fully understand anyone else’s.
Frances is a very believable teenager. She is very conscious of her body; she is troubled that she has not yet developed breasts and has not started to menstruate. Most of the time she feels invisible and she desperately wants to be noticed and to feel important; this desire is her major motivation. She’s an insecure outsider who doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. She is interested in sex, but knows very little about it.
By the end of the summer, Frances learns a great deal. She learns to play tennis and she learns about the physical aspects of sex. She comes to appreciate her father’s brutal honesty which contrasts with Forrest’s ability to lie easily. Hayward annoys her throughout, but in the end she recognizes that he is not that different from her. And, of course, she learns a lot about adults, including how they have secrets and may behave less than honourably. Her feelings for Forrest change; she finds she can still love a version of him but she doesn’t like or respect him.
As I read, I developed an intense dislike for Forrest. It’s obvious that he is charming and most people find him irresistible, but I found his behaviour disturbing. When Frances first arrives, he pays her a lot of attention, almost as if he is grooming her. Even if his intentions are innocent, a 37-year-old man should be more aware of how his actions might affect a teenager. He even makes her promises which he doesn’t keep. When Brenda comes along, Frances sees another side to Forrest: he’s a liar and serial adulterer. Frances’ father Hank is Forrest’s best friend so presumably he knows about his activities. So I kept wondering why would Hank entrust his daughter to such a man?
I did have some issues with the novel. It’s a slow burn with needless repetition. The chapters are short, but some just seem unnecessary. At the end there are elements I found problematic. Who saves a fake suicide note on their computer? And the courtroom scenes and verdict are unconvincing. Why, for instance, is Frances allowed to hear the testimony of others before she herself takes the stand? Prospective witnesses remain outside the courtroom until they are called to testify to ensure they do not alter or tailor their own evidence based on what they hear.
The best aspect of this novel is its portrayal of the interior life of a teenaged girl. Frances’ choices and behaviour are not always admirable, but perfectly understandable.
Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It’s 1986. Fourteen year old Frances lives in the middle of a “battlefield” between two parents who cannot get along. Her father is a struggling writer who drinks too much and Frances is largely ignored by both parents as they wage their war against each other.
Her father’s oldest friend, Forrest, brings her to his and his wife’s summer home in Maine, which they call Wonderland, to give her a break from her home life and to be their children’s au pair for the season.
Frances is enthralled by Forrest and all that he seems to be. Having been denied the feelings of love and attention from her parents for so long, the attention that she gains from Forrest brings her to another place and she feels things she’s never felt before.
Upon first glance, both Wonderland and Forrest seem amazing. In time, each will start to show their cracks and flaws. Things are revealed that will change Frances’s views on Forrest and the world she’s been living in.
In Wonderland is a coming of age story as Frances’s eyes open to a world beyond that which she has previously known. It’s also a story of obsession. It’s a world of the rich, and Frances quickly realizes that money doesn’t necessarily bring happiness or normality. It can bring selfishness, laziness, entitlement, and the desire to always want more than they already have. Frances is pulled into the lives of Forrest and Regina in ways that she could not have imagined.
The short chapters in Wonderland are Frances’s story, through her own eyes, each bringing a snippet of her life that summer with Forrest and his family. This includes his deeply disturbed wife, Regina, who comes from a wealthy family, his son Hayward, who Frances is close in age with and whom she finds lazy and a bit creepy, and his young daughter, Jilly.
Joyce Maynard does a great job bringing us into the world of Wonderland and its surroundings. When an author pulls from personal experiences to add into a story, it often makes for a good connection as is the case here. I enjoyed the references to popular toys and trends of the 1980’s and the nod to the great author, Stephen King. Ironically, as the story was wrapping up, it reminded me of the format of Stand By Me, a movie inspired by Stephen King’s short story titled “The Body”. This novel would also make for a great movie adaptation. All in all, I love a good coming of age story and really enjoyed this one!
Thank you to Little A and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
Her father’s oldest friend, Forrest, brings her to his and his wife’s summer home in Maine, which they call Wonderland, to give her a break from her home life and to be their children’s au pair for the season.
Frances is enthralled by Forrest and all that he seems to be. Having been denied the feelings of love and attention from her parents for so long, the attention that she gains from Forrest brings her to another place and she feels things she’s never felt before.
Upon first glance, both Wonderland and Forrest seem amazing. In time, each will start to show their cracks and flaws. Things are revealed that will change Frances’s views on Forrest and the world she’s been living in.
In Wonderland is a coming of age story as Frances’s eyes open to a world beyond that which she has previously known. It’s also a story of obsession. It’s a world of the rich, and Frances quickly realizes that money doesn’t necessarily bring happiness or normality. It can bring selfishness, laziness, entitlement, and the desire to always want more than they already have. Frances is pulled into the lives of Forrest and Regina in ways that she could not have imagined.
The short chapters in Wonderland are Frances’s story, through her own eyes, each bringing a snippet of her life that summer with Forrest and his family. This includes his deeply disturbed wife, Regina, who comes from a wealthy family, his son Hayward, who Frances is close in age with and whom she finds lazy and a bit creepy, and his young daughter, Jilly.
Joyce Maynard does a great job bringing us into the world of Wonderland and its surroundings. When an author pulls from personal experiences to add into a story, it often makes for a good connection as is the case here. I enjoyed the references to popular toys and trends of the 1980’s and the nod to the great author, Stephen King. Ironically, as the story was wrapping up, it reminded me of the format of Stand By Me, a movie inspired by Stephen King’s short story titled “The Body”. This novel would also make for a great movie adaptation. All in all, I love a good coming of age story and really enjoyed this one!
Thank you to Little A and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
My Favorite Joyce Maynard Novel to date!
I absolutely devoured this book! I picked it up intending to read a few chapters and ended up finishing all 400+ pages in a single day because I simply could not put it down!
Set during the summer of 1986 on a picturesque lake in Maine, the story follows 14-year-old Frances as she takes a nanny position for a wealthy family and is suddenly exposed to a world of privilege, country clubs, hired help, and seemingly perfect lives.
As someone looking at adulthood from the outside, at an age where you’re not quite an adult, but not a child anymore, Frances is captivated by it all at first. But as the summer unfolds, she begins to see the cracks beneath the surface and realizes that the adults she admires are far more complicated—and flawed—than she ever imagined.
What I loved most was how the book explored class, privilege, family secrets, and the moment when childhood innocence starts to give way to a more complicated understanding of the world. Frances finds herself drawn into situations that are far beyond her years, and watching her navigate them was both fascinating and heartbreaking.
I wasn’t expecting the story to evolve into such a compelling psychological thriller, but once the tension started building, I was completely hooked. Every chapter left me needing just one more.
The ending caught me completely off guard in the best possible way. It’s one of those endings that makes you immediately think back over everything that came before it!
At its heart, though, this is a story about choice: The choices we make when we’re young, often without fully understanding their consequences, and how those decisions can ripple through the rest of our lives. Long after I finished the final page, I still find myself thinking about Frances, that unforgettable summer, and the lasting impact of a single summer!
A compelling, atmospheric, and utterly addictive read that I highly recommend!! A perfect summer read! This one will be staying with me for a long time!
*Disclaimer- I did receive an ARC from the Author in a giveaway, but my thoughts, opinions and review are my own.*
I absolutely devoured this book! I picked it up intending to read a few chapters and ended up finishing all 400+ pages in a single day because I simply could not put it down!
Set during the summer of 1986 on a picturesque lake in Maine, the story follows 14-year-old Frances as she takes a nanny position for a wealthy family and is suddenly exposed to a world of privilege, country clubs, hired help, and seemingly perfect lives.
As someone looking at adulthood from the outside, at an age where you’re not quite an adult, but not a child anymore, Frances is captivated by it all at first. But as the summer unfolds, she begins to see the cracks beneath the surface and realizes that the adults she admires are far more complicated—and flawed—than she ever imagined.
What I loved most was how the book explored class, privilege, family secrets, and the moment when childhood innocence starts to give way to a more complicated understanding of the world. Frances finds herself drawn into situations that are far beyond her years, and watching her navigate them was both fascinating and heartbreaking.
I wasn’t expecting the story to evolve into such a compelling psychological thriller, but once the tension started building, I was completely hooked. Every chapter left me needing just one more.
The ending caught me completely off guard in the best possible way. It’s one of those endings that makes you immediately think back over everything that came before it!
At its heart, though, this is a story about choice: The choices we make when we’re young, often without fully understanding their consequences, and how those decisions can ripple through the rest of our lives. Long after I finished the final page, I still find myself thinking about Frances, that unforgettable summer, and the lasting impact of a single summer!
A compelling, atmospheric, and utterly addictive read that I highly recommend!! A perfect summer read! This one will be staying with me for a long time!
*Disclaimer- I did receive an ARC from the Author in a giveaway, but my thoughts, opinions and review are my own.*
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews