Bug Hollow: A Novel

by Michelle Huneven

A decades-spanning family saga featuring the messy but loving Samuelson clan trying to make sense of the world after the loss of their son Ellis

When Sally Samuelson was eight years old, her golden boy brother Ellis went missing the summer he graduated high school. Ellis finally turned up at the bucolic Bug Hollow, a last gasp of the beautiful Northern California counterculture in the seventies. He had found joy in the communal life there, but died in a freak accident weeks later.

From that point, the world of the Samuelsons never spins on the same axis, especially after Julia, Ellis’s girlfriend from Bug Hollow, shows up pregnant on their doorstep. Each Samuelson has sought their own solace: Sybil Samuelson pours herself into teaching and numbing her pain after the loss of her beloved son; her husband, Phil, had found respite in a love that developed while he was working as an engineer in Saudi Arabia; Katie, the high achieving middle Samuelson, comes home to try and make peace with her mother after a cancer diagnosis. And Sally has become the de facto caretaker to Eva, the child Ellis never knew.

Michelle Huneven is “known for five enthralling novels, which chronicle the lives of middle-class Americans in her lushly conjured native California, as her characters struggle with addiction, excruciating romances, and resounding losses as they continue to seek meaning and a way to be good” (American Academy of Arts and Letters). She captures the Samuelson clan with glorious precision and the deepest empathy as they fracture and rebuild again and again.

Genres: Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published May 26, 2026

About the author

I am the author of four novels.

I was born in Altadena, California just a mile from where I live now. I college-hopped (Scripps, Grinnell, EWU) and landed at the Iowa Writer¹s Workshop where I received my MFA.

My first two books, Round Rock (Knopf 1997) and Jamesland (Knopf 2003), were both New York Times notable books and also finalists for the LA Times Book Award. My third novel, Blame, (Sarah Crichton Books, FSG, 2009), was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and also a finalist for the LA Times Book Award. My fourth novel, Off Course, (Sarah Crichton Books, FSG, 2014), is coming out April 1, 2014.
Along the way, I’ve received a GE Younger Writers Award and a Whiting Award for Fiction. For many years my “day job” was reviewing restaurants and writing about food for the Los Angeles Times, the LA Weekly and other publications. I’ve received a James Beard award (for “feature writing with recipes”) and an assortment of other awards for food journalism.

I’m presently teaching creative writing to undergraduates at UCLA and writing the occasional bit about food. I live with my husband Jim Potter, dog (Piper), cat (Mr. Pancks), and talkative African Grey parrot (Helen) in Altadena.

Reviews

[RaeLeigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has every single trope B&N is super into right now. Ya gotta do something different, babe. It’s not working.

[Maya Conners · Rating 4 out of 5]

Try to tear me away from a disappearance-meets-family saga. Very well written and there was always more happening than you’d think

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was hard to rate but imma gonna stick with 3 ⭐️s and let me tell you why…
started out interesting and then had me hooked but then it kinda flattened out and I lost track of what the point was. But I felt connected to the characters in a lot of ways, especially Sally. Oof! And then the ending chapters seemed pointless and I was annoyed. Also, Sybil is a bitch…prove me wrong.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I walked into B&N the other day with gift cards in hand I didn’t expect to leave with this book. It caught my eye as the B&N Monthly Pick freshly placed on the table. It caught my eye from the beautiful cover and after reading the back I knew I had to have it. The way Michelle Huneven weaves this family saga spanning generations is absolutely beautiful. Every single complicated, loving, complex, special character will forever be etched into my heart and mind. It was brilliantly done and such a quick, easy, full-of-feelings read for me.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was Barnes & Nobel's book of the month, so I bought it out of pure curiosity, as I've never read one of their monthly picks. It was an interesting storyline following a family over the span of decades -- through ups and downs and then some. A realistic look at the complex relationships in families and the layers and layers of things from our pasts that shape who we are.

Well written, I'll look for other books by this author.

[Sumner Adkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Amanda Witt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ann Patchett meets Claire Lombardo meets Elin Hilderbrand

[Aine Beam · Rating 4 out of 5]

entertaining lit fic

[Carol Egan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a great beginning and a mediocre ending. The 2nd to last chapter, I'm still asking myself what was the point of it? Introducing new characters when you're literally almost done and could have spent that chapter on some of the other characters...just dumb IMO. I gave it 3 stars.

[Faith Graham · Rating 2 out of 5]

The whole book is on the back

[Nikki Buchanan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I managed to finish this lightweight and often tiresome book because I kept hoping it would get good again. I loved the beginning before Ellis, the most winning character in the book, was dispensed with. There were too many characters here to get to know or root for any one of them. Some of them get the first half of their lives summed up in a few paragraphs, the same length of time Huneven spent describing a doughnut. The author teaches creative writing, and it felt like some of this stuff was just a vignette or writing exercise folded into a novel. I’ve read plenty of novels written with various points of view (nothing new or groundbreaking about it). That said, it’s a technique I often enjoy. Not here. The author races through everything (yet still manages to be boring), frequently making the classic mistake of an amateur: telling, not showing. Ultimately, it’s pretty hard to write a sweeping family saga with any real depth in 270 pages. So disappointing.

[Lisa Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novelist, journalist, teacher Michelle Huneven captures the spirit of family life and strife in Bug Hollow. The cover shot is beautiful and the title is quirky, memorable. You could read this in one day. If you walk into a Barnes and Noble this month it will be the recommended novel. Huneven who teaches creative writing at UCLA lays the foundation for many themes here with grace, skill and titled chapters. A complicated mother, the loss of a child, humility, romantic flings and family acceptance in one form or another. Some of the characters are likable and others are not. I always believe telling a fictional story in a non-linear manner (flashbacks) is a skill. It is not as disruptive here. I love Huneven won a Guggenheim. She also won a James Beard (Oscars for Food) for featured writing with recipes.

[Cindy Pieszcynski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice story and written in a unique way of differing perspectives. I had some trouble with timelines (for example, Julia was so distraught losing Ellis but it had been less than 3 months and she was already in another relationship). Some of the characters were not likable, and I think some were not meant to be, but others that I feel I should have liked I didn’t. There was also one chapter that seemed very “out of left field.” Although the characters in that chapter knew the Samulesons the character’s own snippet did not connect in any way and seemed irrelevant to the story as a whole. Also, a few typos so better editing could have helped. Overall, readable and “nice” but nothing special.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read. It only took me about 4 times that I picked the book up to finish it. I liked how everyone had their own story throughout the storyline. I would def recommend if you’re looking for an entertaining read. The only thing I didn’t love about the book was how each story about a specific character wasn’t written in chronological order. The book bounced around a lot on time lines. Overall, a good read and I’m glad it was recommended to me.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and the author’s style of writing. It was a good, quick read that kept me interested. My only disappointment was that I would have liked to learn more about Eva’s childhood rather than spending as much time on Mrs. Wright and Linda’s story. I only say that because the book centered around the Samuelson family and this plot line didn’t have much to do with them.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and plan to check out some of the author’s other books.

[Claire Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly loved this! Super easy read and I’m not particularly an avid reader but I liked it the varying perspectives on love, loss, and the choices the people in your life make. Each chapter was written from a different persons perspective which I loved and their stories tie together in a sweet way

[Victoria Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully written story about a family that experiences love, loss, and life that evolves over decades. It's one of the most realistic books about life. No fluff; it's straightforward about how a family progresses over decades. The inclusion of tributaries of people along the way makes this a well-woven novel.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book follows the Samuelson family across decades and acts as a collection of short stories. It describes the complexities of family dynamics and how different people manage grief and mourn tragedies

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and the way it examines the impact of one event on a series of lives. Wasn’t until the last page I realized I’ve read another book by her and loved it.

Great story and character development.

[Emilia Cuevas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, felt like I got to know each character well. Super interesting only having one chapter per character and learning about the rest of their lives through other families. Tender and warm read

[Caroline Rainey-Fluegel · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/3 stars. After reading (and loving) “Search” by Huneven, “Bug Hallow”, her latest, has been on my list.

I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the character development was good/realistic, yet overall this book didn’t stand out to me. It was just fine.

[Kory Keller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall enjoyed the story of complex family. At times I got a bit confused about which characters were who and how they fit into the family simply because there were so many of them. As I always repeat, do not take DNA test unless you are ready for the information they revealed.

[Clare Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Courtney Menna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really liked this story of the Samuelson family over the years. A comfortable read. Recommended by a guy who works at Barnes&Noble!

[Geri Everson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't decide whether to give it two or three stars.....so I'll say 2 1/2. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it just because there are much better books waiting to be read.

[Wendy Fitzhugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings. It was dreamy and entertaining but a little confusing? Shifting tenses was odd and there were a few typos.

[Brooke Lektorich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up as a pool read and I really enjoyed it. The simplicity of the story yet complexity of the characters was beautiful.

[Mimi Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so beautiful :’) never read anything quite like it.

[Madi Beaman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was alright. Kinda all over the place and never felt the characters had a ending to their story

[Tony Persons · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written tale of a family through the years. Predictable but still alright. Probably a common tale in families all over the world.