What do you think?
Rate this book
Our Little World
I was intrigued by Our Little World from the chilling first paragraph. It's a coming-of-age novel complicated by a tragic and untimely death, and it's also a novel about two sisters you will never forget. I fell in love with the confidence of the writing and the colorful nostalgia of the mid-'80s details. Our Little World will transport and transfix you.--Elin Hilderbrand
July 1985. It's a normal, sweltering New Jersey summer for soon-to-be seventh grader Bee Kocsis. Her thoughts center only on sunny days spent at Deer Chase Lake, evenings chasing fireflies around her cul-de-sac with the neighborhood kids, and Max, the boy who just moved in across the street. That and the burgeoning worry that she'll never be as special as her younger sister, Audrina, who seems to effortlessly dazzle wherever she goes.
But when Max's little sister, Sally, goes missing at the lake, Bee's long-held illusion of stability is shattered in an instant. As the families in her close-knit community turn inward, suspicious, and protective, things in Bee's own home become increasingly strained, most of all with Audrina, when a shameful secret surfaces. With everything changed, Bee and Audrina's already-fraught sisterhood is pushed to the limit as they grow up--and apart--in the wake of an innocence lost too soon.
Perfect for readers of Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You, Our Little World is a powerful and lyrical coming-of-age story that examines the complicated bond of sisterhood, the corrosive power of envy, and how the traumas of our youths can shape our identities for a lifetime.
July 1985. It's a normal, sweltering New Jersey summer for soon-to-be seventh grader Bee Kocsis. Her thoughts center only on sunny days spent at Deer Chase Lake, evenings chasing fireflies around her cul-de-sac with the neighborhood kids, and Max, the boy who just moved in across the street. That and the burgeoning worry that she'll never be as special as her younger sister, Audrina, who seems to effortlessly dazzle wherever she goes.
But when Max's little sister, Sally, goes missing at the lake, Bee's long-held illusion of stability is shattered in an instant. As the families in her close-knit community turn inward, suspicious, and protective, things in Bee's own home become increasingly strained, most of all with Audrina, when a shameful secret surfaces. With everything changed, Bee and Audrina's already-fraught sisterhood is pushed to the limit as they grow up--and apart--in the wake of an innocence lost too soon.
Perfect for readers of Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You, Our Little World is a powerful and lyrical coming-of-age story that examines the complicated bond of sisterhood, the corrosive power of envy, and how the traumas of our youths can shape our identities for a lifetime.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2022
147 people are currently reading
12530 people want to read
About the author
Karen Winn
2 books233 followersKaren is the author of two novels: The Society (coming 2026), and Our Little World, published by Dutton/ Penguin Random House. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where she may or may not have belonged to a secret society. Karen obtained her MFA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Writing is her first love and second career; she previously worked as a nurse and then a nurse practitioner. Originally from New Jersey, Karen now lives in the charming Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston with her husband, two children, and their 100-pound bernedoodle.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 699 reviews
June 4, 2022
This book is literally a trip down your memory lane to remind you of your own teenage years!
It takes your breath away, touching your heart deeply, making you remember complex years of your childhood, sibling relationships, your search to find the place in social circle, your attempts to find your own path!
It’s about grief, guilt, resentment, second thoughts, sacred bound of sisterhood, jealousy, sibling rivalry, being the favorite of your parents, death, diabetes, family secrets, crime, friendship, the words stuck in your throat, your mistakes, first love, first kiss, thin line between moving on and stuck in the same place mentally and physically…
This is seventh grader Bee ( Borka) Kocsis’ story: starts in 1985, small town New Jersey, where she lives with her family including parents and one year younger sister Audrina who is the favorite child of the family.
Audrina is everything Bee dreams to be: she attracts everyone, getting the spotlight at the social gatherings, knows how to communicate and make friends. She’s pretty, nice, social butterfly as Bee is tomboy, bookish, reserved. But as a big sister Bee always cares the deep bounding she has with her sister.
When new neighbors move across the street: a family with two children: Max who is at the same age with Bee and 4 years old Sally, the balances between two sisters’ relationship slowly change.
Four of them start hanging together. But their latest trip to the lake ends with a compelling tragedy: Sally gets lost! Bee finds the piece of charm bracelet of Sally. The bracelet belongs to Audrina but she gives it to Sally at the same day she got lost even though Bee requested that bracelet from her sister before. Resentment she felt made her kept the bracelet piece to herself without giving information to the police officers who were looking for Sally!
Bee doesn’t have any clue how keeping that treasure to herself will cause the estrangement between her sister and the disappearance of Sally will change her life in the social circle in the high school.
As she drifts apart with her sister who is acting erratically, she makes new friends, having crush on Max who still deals with guilt feelings to leave his sister behind and witnesses his mother’s peculiar manners around people!
The author’s gifted storytelling skills made me drawn into this book. It was incredible and I honestly couldn’t put it down till the end!
Absolutely my favorite historical fiction of the test and I highly recommend this genuine, heart wrenching, honestly written story!
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
It takes your breath away, touching your heart deeply, making you remember complex years of your childhood, sibling relationships, your search to find the place in social circle, your attempts to find your own path!
It’s about grief, guilt, resentment, second thoughts, sacred bound of sisterhood, jealousy, sibling rivalry, being the favorite of your parents, death, diabetes, family secrets, crime, friendship, the words stuck in your throat, your mistakes, first love, first kiss, thin line between moving on and stuck in the same place mentally and physically…
This is seventh grader Bee ( Borka) Kocsis’ story: starts in 1985, small town New Jersey, where she lives with her family including parents and one year younger sister Audrina who is the favorite child of the family.
Audrina is everything Bee dreams to be: she attracts everyone, getting the spotlight at the social gatherings, knows how to communicate and make friends. She’s pretty, nice, social butterfly as Bee is tomboy, bookish, reserved. But as a big sister Bee always cares the deep bounding she has with her sister.
When new neighbors move across the street: a family with two children: Max who is at the same age with Bee and 4 years old Sally, the balances between two sisters’ relationship slowly change.
Four of them start hanging together. But their latest trip to the lake ends with a compelling tragedy: Sally gets lost! Bee finds the piece of charm bracelet of Sally. The bracelet belongs to Audrina but she gives it to Sally at the same day she got lost even though Bee requested that bracelet from her sister before. Resentment she felt made her kept the bracelet piece to herself without giving information to the police officers who were looking for Sally!
Bee doesn’t have any clue how keeping that treasure to herself will cause the estrangement between her sister and the disappearance of Sally will change her life in the social circle in the high school.
As she drifts apart with her sister who is acting erratically, she makes new friends, having crush on Max who still deals with guilt feelings to leave his sister behind and witnesses his mother’s peculiar manners around people!
The author’s gifted storytelling skills made me drawn into this book. It was incredible and I honestly couldn’t put it down till the end!
Absolutely my favorite historical fiction of the test and I highly recommend this genuine, heart wrenching, honestly written story!
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
July 7, 2022
Our Little World by Karen Winn
Narrated by Jesse Vilinsky
July 1985 and Bee Kocsis is twelve years old. She and her younger sister do and don't get along but they are beginning to lean towards "don't" more often than not. Audrina is pretty and people flock to her. Audrina is their dad's favorite. When Audrina gives something that Bee covets to the little neighbor girl, Sally, Bee is furious. Then the little girl goes missing and life starts a sad spiral downwards.
Children fight, pick sides, ignore each other, bully each other, never realizing how they can hurt each other for life. Or that life can be over so soon and there won't be a chance to make amends, treat someone better, apologize for hurtful words. And then there are the adults and we can see that the hurting and hurtful words may never stop. Often things that should be said are never said, family problems are never confronted. Adults flounder, children flounder, most people try to do the best they can but it won't be the right thing or the best thing. In the end, maybe Bee will have learned enough to pass on what she has learned to those who come after her.
Bee, Audrina, and little Sally are connected and that connection is never quite broken, even in death. The story is sad and some things can never be fixed, but there is hope for the future even if the future isn't what one hoped for. This is a touching story where life goes on even if it doesn't for some.
Pub May 3, 2022 by Penguin Audio
Narrated by Jesse Vilinsky
July 1985 and Bee Kocsis is twelve years old. She and her younger sister do and don't get along but they are beginning to lean towards "don't" more often than not. Audrina is pretty and people flock to her. Audrina is their dad's favorite. When Audrina gives something that Bee covets to the little neighbor girl, Sally, Bee is furious. Then the little girl goes missing and life starts a sad spiral downwards.
Children fight, pick sides, ignore each other, bully each other, never realizing how they can hurt each other for life. Or that life can be over so soon and there won't be a chance to make amends, treat someone better, apologize for hurtful words. And then there are the adults and we can see that the hurting and hurtful words may never stop. Often things that should be said are never said, family problems are never confronted. Adults flounder, children flounder, most people try to do the best they can but it won't be the right thing or the best thing. In the end, maybe Bee will have learned enough to pass on what she has learned to those who come after her.
Bee, Audrina, and little Sally are connected and that connection is never quite broken, even in death. The story is sad and some things can never be fixed, but there is hope for the future even if the future isn't what one hoped for. This is a touching story where life goes on even if it doesn't for some.
Pub May 3, 2022 by Penguin Audio
February 27, 2022
The novel takes place during the mid-80's, a time when I was a young mother raising four daughters. This was definitely a more “innocent” time, when compared to what we are living through today.
This cul de sac in New Jersey reminded me a lot of the suburb where we were living. Kids rode their bikes, played red light green light, played board games and generally soaked in the summer days. We also had a community pool where we spent endless days filled with swimming and playing in the water.
What I’m trying to say is that this book gave me back all of the “feels” of the 80’s, exactly as I remembered them. THIS BOOK TRANSPORTED ME BACK IN TIME AND IT WAS GOOD, UNTIL TRAGEDY STRUCK!!
Bee is one year older than Audrina, however Audrina is usually the girl in the spotlight. She enjoys clothes, polishing her nails and is starting to notice boys. Bee is a straight A student and spends a lot of time riding her bike and reading. She has a few good friends but is not one of the popular girls. She is jealous of the attention that her sister always seems to attract.
New neighbors move in from Boston, Max is Bee’s age and little Sally is 4. The mothers take turns taking the kids to Deer Chase Lake
One day, that started like every other, turns to tragedy when 4 y/o Sally goes missing from the beach. I FELT THE TERROR OF EVERY MOTHER’S WORST NIGHTMARE!!
The novel picks up the pace and we move through the teen years, into adulthood and all of the changes that these girls and their parents went through. Some sad things and some very good and unforeseen things. Relationships change, evolve and sometimes end, that’s the way life is!
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
The characters were wonderfully well described! The kids felt real and the adults were relatable. I loved spending time with them!
The setting of a small town in New Jersey felt authentic. I could picture the small lake and beach and feel the hot summer sun, not so different from Wisconsin.
The writing flowed well. There was no point where I felt bored, just excited to see what happens next. Incredible that this is a debut novel.!!
The blurb and other reviews may tell you more of the plot but I think it’s better to go in blind. I did and was glad that there was so much to uncover in this novel.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great storyteller, because this author definitely is very skilled at creating atmosphere and great characters! I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
This cul de sac in New Jersey reminded me a lot of the suburb where we were living. Kids rode their bikes, played red light green light, played board games and generally soaked in the summer days. We also had a community pool where we spent endless days filled with swimming and playing in the water.
What I’m trying to say is that this book gave me back all of the “feels” of the 80’s, exactly as I remembered them. THIS BOOK TRANSPORTED ME BACK IN TIME AND IT WAS GOOD, UNTIL TRAGEDY STRUCK!!
Bee is one year older than Audrina, however Audrina is usually the girl in the spotlight. She enjoys clothes, polishing her nails and is starting to notice boys. Bee is a straight A student and spends a lot of time riding her bike and reading. She has a few good friends but is not one of the popular girls. She is jealous of the attention that her sister always seems to attract.
New neighbors move in from Boston, Max is Bee’s age and little Sally is 4. The mothers take turns taking the kids to Deer Chase Lake
One day, that started like every other, turns to tragedy when 4 y/o Sally goes missing from the beach. I FELT THE TERROR OF EVERY MOTHER’S WORST NIGHTMARE!!
The novel picks up the pace and we move through the teen years, into adulthood and all of the changes that these girls and their parents went through. Some sad things and some very good and unforeseen things. Relationships change, evolve and sometimes end, that’s the way life is!
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
The characters were wonderfully well described! The kids felt real and the adults were relatable. I loved spending time with them!
The setting of a small town in New Jersey felt authentic. I could picture the small lake and beach and feel the hot summer sun, not so different from Wisconsin.
The writing flowed well. There was no point where I felt bored, just excited to see what happens next. Incredible that this is a debut novel.!!
The blurb and other reviews may tell you more of the plot but I think it’s better to go in blind. I did and was glad that there was so much to uncover in this novel.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great storyteller, because this author definitely is very skilled at creating atmosphere and great characters! I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
February 7, 2022
I devoured this heartbreaking and beautiful debut novel ….
I’ll return with a more complete review soon.
Absolutely loved the era!!!
Fantastic Debut!!! I’ll read Karen Winn again anytime.
She reminds me a little of the author Mary Lawson.
I’m BACK….REVIEW BELOW …. I PASSIONATELY LOVE THIS STORY
Sometimes a book is so well written, filled with so much nostalgia, the setting so fully all-encompassing …. the story also all-encompassing …. a reader has to gulp it in one or two sittings.
After only 5% of this story ….I immediately sent a text to my Bay Area/Goodreads friend, Lisa ….and told her it’s a ‘must read’ for her to add. Then I sent a text to ‘Lisi’, best friend of more then 50 years.
I know my close friends - they know me > we know when to put a ‘must read’ in each other’s hands.
I read the last 95% of this novel….while soaking in our warm pool ….my kindle on a towel….(that one gulf urgency)…
Every time, Paul came by, (who was playing in the garden) I responded — “dinner can wait, right?” …..
Yeah….we ate dinner a few hours later …
THIS REALLY IS A CAN’T STOP READING type-of-novel.
….Summer lazy days stood out for me:
We meet two families- [the Kocsis family and the Bakers]-
There is tragedy for both families- suspense- death - love - loss - and - grief …. everyone is growing up in “Our Little World”. ….both adults and kids.
We are given an exceptional intimate story about two sisters…..
….their differences and behaviors, their closeness, their squabbles, their secrets, their desires, the ways in which they do and don’t resolve their conflicts….
There are memorable scenes of old fashioned clean cut wholesome fun —
The descriptions could not be any more vivid, in small town New Jersey in 1985/1986…..rural living — simpler days before social media.
There’s Deer Chase Lake, a tennis/ pool club for the community.
It was a time of VCR’s, station wagons, a Porsche for the wealthier new family from Boston, Hide-and-Seek, Hopscotch, Kickball, Formica countertops, Mustard carpeting, Glass octagonal Coffee tables, Star Wars figures on pillow cases,
Diaries with a little gold lock and key, Cabbage Patch Kids
Lite-Brite, Shrinky Dinks, Betty Crocker Easy Bake Oven,
Colored string to play cat’s cradle, Friendship bracelets, charm bracelets, sipping ice tea on the back porches, Board Games,
Risk, Scrabble, Mother’s trunk of old fancy dresses, 8-track cassette tapes, TV dinners, JanSport backpacks - to updated Esprit bags.
“There was a comfort and history in the feel and manipulation of these old toys, even the way some of them smelled, like my Strawberry Shortcakes”.
“Summer was in all of us and all around us; we played kickball, TicTacToe, hopscotch, and sometimes we even made a makeshift shuffleboard with chalk and a marble, other times we just twirled around on our bikes until the sky began to darken and fireflies started to appear”.
A four-year-old girl, named Sally disappeared at Deer Chase Lake during the summer of 1985. It was the first time in Hammend history. There were no leads. Later, she was referred to as the ‘Lake Girl’.
Police would conduct an investigation.
When all this first happened —
Bee (nickname for Borka, a Hungarian name), our narrator, was swimming in the lake.
When she popped her head out from the water….
“There was a frantic energy in the air. Some parents were reaching for children and picking them up, like they were toys. Others were whipping their heads left and right, frazzled. The older kids were running around or bundled in towels, hopping from foot to foot. Everyone was the moving; it was as if we were all still swimming but without any water”.
As the story unfolds ….kids move from one summer to the next - move from playing kick ball to spin-the-bottle — watching ABBA in ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Like a Virgin’ MTV music videos- munching on Doritos, Cokes, Twinkies, and sucking on Jolly Ranchers, while developing teen crushes.
Sally’s missing was no longer in the news.
Life kept moving forward…
We get a great inside look at the way two very different types of families live - parenting differences- marriage differences - wives judging other wives - (wives being a prime funnel for local gossip),
parents secrets and their behaviors….as well as delightful insights the children are teaching us.
There’s a powerful - inspiring Father/daughter talk one evening …
Bee had made a mistake…..one that ‘might’ have been useful information to report when Sally went missing. Months later, after the truth comes out….
Bee asked her father if he had ever made a mistake when he was younger.
“Well, one time I stole a loaf of bread, when I was a boy in Budapest”… (a little more about this tale - associated with hard times, hunger, struggles for all families during communist strife)…
‘The Talk’ was an outstanding substantial ‘example/lesson’ for parents and adults to effectively handle situations when a child makes (even a serious) mistake.
The daughter was left to face her own shame without being made to feel unloved, frightened, or unforgiven.
“We all Make Mistakes”….was not just a philosophy- rather a ‘real’ compassionate understanding.
As long as this review is — I’ve stayed away from main plot …spoilers. I’ve also stayed away from sharing the depth of our protagonist’s inner voice - but they are both elements that enhance this novel.
Bee had been dealing with her own sense of worth - measuring herself against Audrina (one year younger, physically beautiful and popular), all her life.
Bee’s thirst to understand ‘sisterhood’ love and complexities — made her more proficient in understanding the the world around her.
She became aware at a still tender impressionable age ….
that “Relationships between adults appear to be just as complicated as those between siblings—perhaps more so”.
I love this except:
“The more memory bricks your amygdala builds, the longer you believe the event lasted.
It’s also why time appears to speed up when you’re older—as a child you are building a brand-new brick house of memories, each one fresh and original, but as an adult your house is already built, and it just occasionally needs some new bricks”.
I Highly recommend this book. It’s one to cherish, and reflect….
….The nature of childhood, with our young cast:
Bee, Audrina, Max, and Sally, (I kid you not), adds meaning and fulfillment to our own busy-modern-day lives.
I’ll return with a more complete review soon.
Absolutely loved the era!!!
Fantastic Debut!!! I’ll read Karen Winn again anytime.
She reminds me a little of the author Mary Lawson.
I’m BACK….REVIEW BELOW …. I PASSIONATELY LOVE THIS STORY
Sometimes a book is so well written, filled with so much nostalgia, the setting so fully all-encompassing …. the story also all-encompassing …. a reader has to gulp it in one or two sittings.
After only 5% of this story ….I immediately sent a text to my Bay Area/Goodreads friend, Lisa ….and told her it’s a ‘must read’ for her to add. Then I sent a text to ‘Lisi’, best friend of more then 50 years.
I know my close friends - they know me > we know when to put a ‘must read’ in each other’s hands.
I read the last 95% of this novel….while soaking in our warm pool ….my kindle on a towel….(that one gulf urgency)…
Every time, Paul came by, (who was playing in the garden) I responded — “dinner can wait, right?” …..
Yeah….we ate dinner a few hours later …
THIS REALLY IS A CAN’T STOP READING type-of-novel.
….Summer lazy days stood out for me:
We meet two families- [the Kocsis family and the Bakers]-
There is tragedy for both families- suspense- death - love - loss - and - grief …. everyone is growing up in “Our Little World”. ….both adults and kids.
We are given an exceptional intimate story about two sisters…..
….their differences and behaviors, their closeness, their squabbles, their secrets, their desires, the ways in which they do and don’t resolve their conflicts….
There are memorable scenes of old fashioned clean cut wholesome fun —
The descriptions could not be any more vivid, in small town New Jersey in 1985/1986…..rural living — simpler days before social media.
There’s Deer Chase Lake, a tennis/ pool club for the community.
It was a time of VCR’s, station wagons, a Porsche for the wealthier new family from Boston, Hide-and-Seek, Hopscotch, Kickball, Formica countertops, Mustard carpeting, Glass octagonal Coffee tables, Star Wars figures on pillow cases,
Diaries with a little gold lock and key, Cabbage Patch Kids
Lite-Brite, Shrinky Dinks, Betty Crocker Easy Bake Oven,
Colored string to play cat’s cradle, Friendship bracelets, charm bracelets, sipping ice tea on the back porches, Board Games,
Risk, Scrabble, Mother’s trunk of old fancy dresses, 8-track cassette tapes, TV dinners, JanSport backpacks - to updated Esprit bags.
“There was a comfort and history in the feel and manipulation of these old toys, even the way some of them smelled, like my Strawberry Shortcakes”.
“Summer was in all of us and all around us; we played kickball, TicTacToe, hopscotch, and sometimes we even made a makeshift shuffleboard with chalk and a marble, other times we just twirled around on our bikes until the sky began to darken and fireflies started to appear”.
A four-year-old girl, named Sally disappeared at Deer Chase Lake during the summer of 1985. It was the first time in Hammend history. There were no leads. Later, she was referred to as the ‘Lake Girl’.
Police would conduct an investigation.
When all this first happened —
Bee (nickname for Borka, a Hungarian name), our narrator, was swimming in the lake.
When she popped her head out from the water….
“There was a frantic energy in the air. Some parents were reaching for children and picking them up, like they were toys. Others were whipping their heads left and right, frazzled. The older kids were running around or bundled in towels, hopping from foot to foot. Everyone was the moving; it was as if we were all still swimming but without any water”.
As the story unfolds ….kids move from one summer to the next - move from playing kick ball to spin-the-bottle — watching ABBA in ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Like a Virgin’ MTV music videos- munching on Doritos, Cokes, Twinkies, and sucking on Jolly Ranchers, while developing teen crushes.
Sally’s missing was no longer in the news.
Life kept moving forward…
We get a great inside look at the way two very different types of families live - parenting differences- marriage differences - wives judging other wives - (wives being a prime funnel for local gossip),
parents secrets and their behaviors….as well as delightful insights the children are teaching us.
There’s a powerful - inspiring Father/daughter talk one evening …
Bee had made a mistake…..one that ‘might’ have been useful information to report when Sally went missing. Months later, after the truth comes out….
Bee asked her father if he had ever made a mistake when he was younger.
“Well, one time I stole a loaf of bread, when I was a boy in Budapest”… (a little more about this tale - associated with hard times, hunger, struggles for all families during communist strife)…
‘The Talk’ was an outstanding substantial ‘example/lesson’ for parents and adults to effectively handle situations when a child makes (even a serious) mistake.
The daughter was left to face her own shame without being made to feel unloved, frightened, or unforgiven.
“We all Make Mistakes”….was not just a philosophy- rather a ‘real’ compassionate understanding.
As long as this review is — I’ve stayed away from main plot …spoilers. I’ve also stayed away from sharing the depth of our protagonist’s inner voice - but they are both elements that enhance this novel.
Bee had been dealing with her own sense of worth - measuring herself against Audrina (one year younger, physically beautiful and popular), all her life.
Bee’s thirst to understand ‘sisterhood’ love and complexities — made her more proficient in understanding the the world around her.
She became aware at a still tender impressionable age ….
that “Relationships between adults appear to be just as complicated as those between siblings—perhaps more so”.
I love this except:
“The more memory bricks your amygdala builds, the longer you believe the event lasted.
It’s also why time appears to speed up when you’re older—as a child you are building a brand-new brick house of memories, each one fresh and original, but as an adult your house is already built, and it just occasionally needs some new bricks”.
I Highly recommend this book. It’s one to cherish, and reflect….
….The nature of childhood, with our young cast:
Bee, Audrina, Max, and Sally, (I kid you not), adds meaning and fulfillment to our own busy-modern-day lives.
March 15, 2022
Our Little World is an impressive debut novel from Karen Winn. This book gave me nostalgic vibes which I enjoyed, going back to summers as a kid riding my bike, going to the pool, and playing with all the other neighborhood kids with no worries in the world. I loved the real, true sisterly bond between Bee and Audrina. Both of their characters were well developed and the parents in the book were too, they felt totally relatable. Overall, this was an entertaining, gripping book that I would recommend.
Thank you Net Galley and Penguin Group- Dutton for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
Thank you Net Galley and Penguin Group- Dutton for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
June 5, 2022
“We didn’t function in quite the same way as some of the other families in the neighborhood.”
This is an emotional story for sure, very heartbreaking. It’s a very well written debut novel that reflects on family dynamics and the relationship between two sisters. In a suburban neighborhood in NJ in the 1980’s, the disappearance of a little girl is front and center in this story. But there are other things going and secrets that are a burden for twelve year old Bee to understand. Her sister Audrina carries a different burden when she is diagnosed with diabetes. There is sibling rivalry and jealousy, but Bee and Audrina do love each other. There are parents who love their children, but make mistakes, who are at times oblivious to things happening and there are consequences from which there is no turning back. To say more would give too much of the story away so I won’t say much more. There’s a chilling epilogue, but yet there is hope that the memory of the love will sustain those who remain. I will definitely be looking for what Karen Winn may write next .
I received a copy of this book from Dutton Books through NetGalley.
This is an emotional story for sure, very heartbreaking. It’s a very well written debut novel that reflects on family dynamics and the relationship between two sisters. In a suburban neighborhood in NJ in the 1980’s, the disappearance of a little girl is front and center in this story. But there are other things going and secrets that are a burden for twelve year old Bee to understand. Her sister Audrina carries a different burden when she is diagnosed with diabetes. There is sibling rivalry and jealousy, but Bee and Audrina do love each other. There are parents who love their children, but make mistakes, who are at times oblivious to things happening and there are consequences from which there is no turning back. To say more would give too much of the story away so I won’t say much more. There’s a chilling epilogue, but yet there is hope that the memory of the love will sustain those who remain. I will definitely be looking for what Karen Winn may write next .
I received a copy of this book from Dutton Books through NetGalley.
September 7, 2022
This story reminded me of one that takes place in a snow globe- Without the snow. Our lives as young children growing up in the security and love of our families. The world not reaching past the outer part of that globe. Until a tragedy happens and the globe bursts.
A coming of age story of a family and two sisters - Bee & Audrina -and a 4 year old neighbour who disappears at the lake where they all had been. The wedge of miscommunication and secrets; guilt and remorse. The decisions made and the repercussions. How small things can evolve into big, colossal mistakes and regrets.
A terrific debut with an authentic character and the dynamics of sisters and family. How the developing of identity is shaped and defined by those around them.
A heart tugger.
4⭐️
A coming of age story of a family and two sisters - Bee & Audrina -and a 4 year old neighbour who disappears at the lake where they all had been. The wedge of miscommunication and secrets; guilt and remorse. The decisions made and the repercussions. How small things can evolve into big, colossal mistakes and regrets.
A terrific debut with an authentic character and the dynamics of sisters and family. How the developing of identity is shaped and defined by those around them.
A heart tugger.
4⭐️
March 11, 2022
Our Little World is a coming of age story with a dark underbelly. Bee is 12; the older sister of Audrina, just a year younger. But Audrina is the golden child, the one that can do no wrong, while Bee is the one left in the shadows. But they had always been close. Things change when their next door neighbor, 4 ½ year old Sally, goes missing one day while they’re swimming at the lake. As the years progress, the sisters grow apart. Words are said that can never be forgotten.
The story takes place in 1985, a time when kids didn’t grow up as fast. When the news wasn’t filled with tragic stories of kids getting killed. Winn totally captures the time and place of white, middle class suburbia.
As an only child, I’m always fascinated by sibling relationships. Winn does a fabulous job showing the complexities - the envy mixed in with the love. At one point, Winn even gives it a name - the love-hate. Told from the first person POV of Bee, Winn also captures the world as seen through the eyes of a young girl - hearing only snippets of adult conversations, not fully comprehending what’s going on. Bee also understands that her parents are much less demonstrative than other parents.
This is an amazing debut. Well written, that kept me engaged throughout.
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group/Dutton Books for an advance copy of this book.
The story takes place in 1985, a time when kids didn’t grow up as fast. When the news wasn’t filled with tragic stories of kids getting killed. Winn totally captures the time and place of white, middle class suburbia.
As an only child, I’m always fascinated by sibling relationships. Winn does a fabulous job showing the complexities - the envy mixed in with the love. At one point, Winn even gives it a name - the love-hate. Told from the first person POV of Bee, Winn also captures the world as seen through the eyes of a young girl - hearing only snippets of adult conversations, not fully comprehending what’s going on. Bee also understands that her parents are much less demonstrative than other parents.
This is an amazing debut. Well written, that kept me engaged throughout.
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group/Dutton Books for an advance copy of this book.
November 17, 2022
From the first page, I was mesmerized by Karin Winn’s debut, “Our Little World”. It’s Winn’s writing style that makes her novel absorbing. Interestingly, the novel’s narrator is twelve-year-old Bee Kocsis and generally I’m not a big fan of young narrators, but Winn blends innocence and observations which makes this coming-of-age story satisfying.
The reader learns right away that it’s the summer of 1985; Bee is twelve and her prettier sister, Audrina, is eleven. Bee informs us that her sister is dead, and Bee knows another dead girl, a four-year-old girl, Sally, who moved into their neighborhood that year. We come to understand that it was that year, 1985, when their lives changed after Sally went missing. It was that event that threw their lives off course; the pivotable moment when life changed.
Bee and Audrina enjoyed a fairly good sisterly relationship prior to that summer. There was some jealousy on Bee’s part, as Audrina, who even has the prettier name, is more popular and prettier. Bee feels her parents prefer Audrina as well. The reader learns of all those twelve-year-old jealousy and resentful feelings. Winn does a fine job being inside the head of a “tween” aged girl who is struggling to find her place in her world. Winn excels at writing a domestic fiction highlighting the complicated sisterly relationships, especially when said sisters are still trying to figure out their world.
The girls enjoyed an idealistic life prior to the summer Sally went missing. The girls had accompanied Sally’s mother and brother to the lake. Bee was playing in the water as havoc breaks when Sally’s mom cannot find her. The shock of a neighbor just vanishing while playing at a town watering hole throws Bee and Audrina’s life in turmoil. In fact, the whole town of 5000 residents are panicked that there is a predator in town.
Again, the story is told from a young girl’s perspective. Winn is masterful in showing the incomprehensible feelings that Bee tries to suss out. I felt like I was back with my daughter when she was that age, trying to figure out how the world worked.
Although this has a mystery element, the true beauty of the story is Winn’s storytelling of sisters who are close but in competition. I also enjoyed how Winn showed that one event in a person’s life can permanently alter the protectory of lives. One event brings about another event which brings about another and so on. Seeing a family’s life from the eyes of a twelve-year-old is special, along with her insights of the neighbors, teachers, police, and her parents.
I enjoyed this from start to finish. I recommend it for those who love domestic fiction or coming-of-age stories.
The reader learns right away that it’s the summer of 1985; Bee is twelve and her prettier sister, Audrina, is eleven. Bee informs us that her sister is dead, and Bee knows another dead girl, a four-year-old girl, Sally, who moved into their neighborhood that year. We come to understand that it was that year, 1985, when their lives changed after Sally went missing. It was that event that threw their lives off course; the pivotable moment when life changed.
Bee and Audrina enjoyed a fairly good sisterly relationship prior to that summer. There was some jealousy on Bee’s part, as Audrina, who even has the prettier name, is more popular and prettier. Bee feels her parents prefer Audrina as well. The reader learns of all those twelve-year-old jealousy and resentful feelings. Winn does a fine job being inside the head of a “tween” aged girl who is struggling to find her place in her world. Winn excels at writing a domestic fiction highlighting the complicated sisterly relationships, especially when said sisters are still trying to figure out their world.
The girls enjoyed an idealistic life prior to the summer Sally went missing. The girls had accompanied Sally’s mother and brother to the lake. Bee was playing in the water as havoc breaks when Sally’s mom cannot find her. The shock of a neighbor just vanishing while playing at a town watering hole throws Bee and Audrina’s life in turmoil. In fact, the whole town of 5000 residents are panicked that there is a predator in town.
Again, the story is told from a young girl’s perspective. Winn is masterful in showing the incomprehensible feelings that Bee tries to suss out. I felt like I was back with my daughter when she was that age, trying to figure out how the world worked.
Although this has a mystery element, the true beauty of the story is Winn’s storytelling of sisters who are close but in competition. I also enjoyed how Winn showed that one event in a person’s life can permanently alter the protectory of lives. One event brings about another event which brings about another and so on. Seeing a family’s life from the eyes of a twelve-year-old is special, along with her insights of the neighbors, teachers, police, and her parents.
I enjoyed this from start to finish. I recommend it for those who love domestic fiction or coming-of-age stories.
April 10, 2022
3.75 Stars
As the sister of a sister, I know just exactly how complicated sister relationships can be. I mean, of course all relationships can be complicated...but I definitely think the sister to sister relationship can be...an even more complex form of "complicated." And I thought this book did a really great job of capturing that.
Also, as a child of the 1980's, I really enjoyed the added nostalgia of, not only reading about a set of sisters, but coming-of-age sisters growing up at almost the same time I did (although I was closer to Sally in age than to Bee or Audrina). But enough about me.
The book is somewhat slow-moving, which fit the tone of the book and which I enjoyed. The writing, while not flawless in my opinion, was very good - especially for a debut author. In fact, I can only see this author's books getting better and better.
If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, this is definitely not that. But if you are looking for a slow-moving character piece about complex childhood sisterhood, interspersed with a missing child case and other events, this is for you.
I look forward to picking up more from Winn in the future.
***ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
As the sister of a sister, I know just exactly how complicated sister relationships can be. I mean, of course all relationships can be complicated...but I definitely think the sister to sister relationship can be...an even more complex form of "complicated." And I thought this book did a really great job of capturing that.
Also, as a child of the 1980's, I really enjoyed the added nostalgia of, not only reading about a set of sisters, but coming-of-age sisters growing up at almost the same time I did (although I was closer to Sally in age than to Bee or Audrina). But enough about me.
The book is somewhat slow-moving, which fit the tone of the book and which I enjoyed. The writing, while not flawless in my opinion, was very good - especially for a debut author. In fact, I can only see this author's books getting better and better.
If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, this is definitely not that. But if you are looking for a slow-moving character piece about complex childhood sisterhood, interspersed with a missing child case and other events, this is for you.
I look forward to picking up more from Winn in the future.
***ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
May 9, 2022
3.5 stars, rounded up.
This is a nostalgic debut from Karen Winn. It takes the reader back to the 1980s, when things were both simpler and more complicated. The novel is told from the perspective of Bee, looking back on her life as a seventh grader and the things that happened in 1985. Bee and her one year younger sister Audrina live in a small New Jersey town, and that year, Max, who is Bee's age, and his four-year-old sister Sally move in across the street. Tragedy strikes, and everyone involved tries to make sense of the events.
Part coming-of-age story, this book is also deeply about the relationship between sisters: both the good and the bad. The jealousy, the interpretation of things through our own lenses, hidden secrets, and ultimately the love. As I grew up in the 80s and had a younger sister, I could identify so much with these experiences. It was a very nostalgic look back for me, and the emotions were portrayed in a very real and visceral way.
This is also fairly melancholy, because many sad things occur. This book is overall a true reflection of life, as not all situations turn out happily ever after in a neat package. I appreciated that, yet I'd warn readers to be in the right frame of mind in order to appreciate the story. For those who are wondering, everything does get resolved in the end. I worried for a while that we might not ever get closure with Sally, but it does happen.
I can't quite define the genre of this book either. It's definitely an adult novel, but the protagonists throughout the story are children and come at things with the perspective of a child. Situations viewed as an adult reflect an entirely different set of dilemmas and thought processes. This is where I think the author missed a little bit--Bee's point of view is very limited as a child and the author limits her adult reflections (likely to avoid spoiling the story) and I felt cheated of that adult perspective.
This is a book worth reading, especially if you grew up in the 1980s, because it will be a familiar, nostalgic look back.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This is a nostalgic debut from Karen Winn. It takes the reader back to the 1980s, when things were both simpler and more complicated. The novel is told from the perspective of Bee, looking back on her life as a seventh grader and the things that happened in 1985. Bee and her one year younger sister Audrina live in a small New Jersey town, and that year, Max, who is Bee's age, and his four-year-old sister Sally move in across the street. Tragedy strikes, and everyone involved tries to make sense of the events.
Part coming-of-age story, this book is also deeply about the relationship between sisters: both the good and the bad. The jealousy, the interpretation of things through our own lenses, hidden secrets, and ultimately the love. As I grew up in the 80s and had a younger sister, I could identify so much with these experiences. It was a very nostalgic look back for me, and the emotions were portrayed in a very real and visceral way.
This is also fairly melancholy, because many sad things occur. This book is overall a true reflection of life, as not all situations turn out happily ever after in a neat package. I appreciated that, yet I'd warn readers to be in the right frame of mind in order to appreciate the story. For those who are wondering, everything does get resolved in the end. I worried for a while that we might not ever get closure with Sally, but it does happen.
I can't quite define the genre of this book either. It's definitely an adult novel, but the protagonists throughout the story are children and come at things with the perspective of a child. Situations viewed as an adult reflect an entirely different set of dilemmas and thought processes. This is where I think the author missed a little bit--Bee's point of view is very limited as a child and the author limits her adult reflections (likely to avoid spoiling the story) and I felt cheated of that adult perspective.
This is a book worth reading, especially if you grew up in the 1980s, because it will be a familiar, nostalgic look back.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
May 3, 2022
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Isabel DaSilva at Dutton, and Karen Winn for an ARC of this book!! Now available as of 5.3!!**
Take the 80's small-town vibe of Stand By Me...mix in the local girl goes missing from The Lovely Bones...add a heavy pour of sisterly secrets and strife...and you'll end up with Our Little World!
Borka (who prefers to go by Bee, for obvious reasons) is enjoying an idyllic, slow summer day at Deer Chase Lake with her lovable and enigmatic younger sister Audrina and new cutie-across-the-street Max and his four year old sister Sally. It's a typical, carefree, day...until it isn't. Sally goes missing, leaving only part of a charm bracelet in her wake. Nobody saw her vanish from sight, and the police turn up nothing, leaving the town buzzing with speculation and fear quietly building over time. Of course, this leaves Bee and Audrina with their own connection to the incident as the mystery simmers quietly in the background of their adolescence.
As the two grow, so does the widening chasm between them and the tight knit sisters they were and what time has led them to become now. Each sister deals with her own secret, unwilling and in some ways unable to let the other in fully...until a second tragic event alters life for their family forever. Is Sally truly gone...and what led to her disappearance? And can these two sisters who once shared any and everything with one another find their way back before these bonds are altered for good?
If there's one thing this novel focuses on consistently, it's nostalgia. There is absolutely no doubt as to the time period it takes place (even without the Silver Spoons references). See kids, there used to be a time (even slightly before my time, but not by too much) that you could drop by on a neighbor, play in the street until the streetlights came on, and "hog the telephone". The 80s were a simpler time in SO many respects, and this novel emphasizes that fact. Winn's other gift is nailing the idiosyncrasies of childhood: those little bizarre moments and thoughts that take you right back to a time in the living room, waiting for your parents to lay down the hammer with a punishment, or overhearing part of a conversation you weren't meant to hear from down the hall and wondering what it meant. I could easily identify with Bee in those instances, and felt that familiar adolescent uncertainty and curiosity rushing back.
However, this book never really GRABBED me...and I'm not even sure I know why. I normally can pinpoint aspects of a book that just didn't hit me the way they should have, flaws in character development, pacing, structure, etc...but as much as I want to be able to point to any of those characteristics, I can't really explain why I didn't love this book...but I didn't. I do know that I didn't find the story that sad overall, even though it was intended to be tragic, and perhaps it was the narration that kept me from feeling invested with all of the characters? It seemed like there was a lot of emphasis on solving Sally's mystery, but you literally have to wait until the epilogue to find out what happened...so I think dragging things out too long (and lots of unnecessary and incorrect detective work from Bee and a side plot that was never really resolved) didn't help.
Without spoilers it is hard to discuss, but both sister's secrets were just a bit off to me in different ways. I wanted to know these characters inside and out, but I just couldn't read them fully. They all had that small-town feel, but none of them really jumped to life for me. I'm not sure what would have tipped the scales for me...maybe one tragedy to focus on, rather than two? Again, this is all speculation on my part since I'm just not sure what would have taken this book from decent to great in my eyes, and there is a good chance I just wasn't the right reader to appreciate Winn's words fully. While I would certainly consider her future work, this one STILL has me scratching my head and wondering if I am just stuck in MY own little world.
3.5 stars
Take the 80's small-town vibe of Stand By Me...mix in the local girl goes missing from The Lovely Bones...add a heavy pour of sisterly secrets and strife...and you'll end up with Our Little World!
Borka (who prefers to go by Bee, for obvious reasons) is enjoying an idyllic, slow summer day at Deer Chase Lake with her lovable and enigmatic younger sister Audrina and new cutie-across-the-street Max and his four year old sister Sally. It's a typical, carefree, day...until it isn't. Sally goes missing, leaving only part of a charm bracelet in her wake. Nobody saw her vanish from sight, and the police turn up nothing, leaving the town buzzing with speculation and fear quietly building over time. Of course, this leaves Bee and Audrina with their own connection to the incident as the mystery simmers quietly in the background of their adolescence.
As the two grow, so does the widening chasm between them and the tight knit sisters they were and what time has led them to become now. Each sister deals with her own secret, unwilling and in some ways unable to let the other in fully...until a second tragic event alters life for their family forever. Is Sally truly gone...and what led to her disappearance? And can these two sisters who once shared any and everything with one another find their way back before these bonds are altered for good?
If there's one thing this novel focuses on consistently, it's nostalgia. There is absolutely no doubt as to the time period it takes place (even without the Silver Spoons references). See kids, there used to be a time (even slightly before my time, but not by too much) that you could drop by on a neighbor, play in the street until the streetlights came on, and "hog the telephone". The 80s were a simpler time in SO many respects, and this novel emphasizes that fact. Winn's other gift is nailing the idiosyncrasies of childhood: those little bizarre moments and thoughts that take you right back to a time in the living room, waiting for your parents to lay down the hammer with a punishment, or overhearing part of a conversation you weren't meant to hear from down the hall and wondering what it meant. I could easily identify with Bee in those instances, and felt that familiar adolescent uncertainty and curiosity rushing back.
However, this book never really GRABBED me...and I'm not even sure I know why. I normally can pinpoint aspects of a book that just didn't hit me the way they should have, flaws in character development, pacing, structure, etc...but as much as I want to be able to point to any of those characteristics, I can't really explain why I didn't love this book...but I didn't. I do know that I didn't find the story that sad overall, even though it was intended to be tragic, and perhaps it was the narration that kept me from feeling invested with all of the characters? It seemed like there was a lot of emphasis on solving Sally's mystery, but you literally have to wait until the epilogue to find out what happened...so I think dragging things out too long (and lots of unnecessary and incorrect detective work from Bee and a side plot that was never really resolved) didn't help.
Without spoilers it is hard to discuss, but both sister's secrets were just a bit off to me in different ways. I wanted to know these characters inside and out, but I just couldn't read them fully. They all had that small-town feel, but none of them really jumped to life for me. I'm not sure what would have tipped the scales for me...maybe one tragedy to focus on, rather than two? Again, this is all speculation on my part since I'm just not sure what would have taken this book from decent to great in my eyes, and there is a good chance I just wasn't the right reader to appreciate Winn's words fully. While I would certainly consider her future work, this one STILL has me scratching my head and wondering if I am just stuck in MY own little world.
3.5 stars
May 8, 2022
Happy Publication Day!! ❤️
4.5 * An almost perfect debut by Karen Winn! I went into this without knowing what it is about and couldn't be more pleased with this 1980's throwback. This coming-of-age was the same time period for me and every preteen experience came rushing back. Twelve year old Bee Kocsis exemplifies the conflicts and hope of finding her identity. She is an "A" student, unpopular and envious of her more outgoing, younger and beautiful sister, Audrina. She searches for friendships in the cliques of the school in which her sister finds with ease and they both vie for the attention of the new boy on the block, Max.
The story wraps around the loss of innocence when Max's four year old sister, Sally, goes missing at the beach one day. This New Jersey's small town experiences suspicion and trauma... straining relationships even more. Harsh words are spoken that can't be taken back and the hope of bonding appears impossible and fills the void with regrets. Bee purposely withholds evidence that may have helped in the search for Sally, but chooses not to because of her own selfishness and jealousy that will torture her physically and mentally.
The author creates believable characters and an unforgettable atmospheric story. Clearly painting a picture of each family's home life behind closed doors with descriptive characters you will either love or hate. These families will suffer at different levels in the story with an incredible view of the consequences of our choices into adulthood. Don't miss this one!!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this title in exchange for my honest opinion.
4.5 * An almost perfect debut by Karen Winn! I went into this without knowing what it is about and couldn't be more pleased with this 1980's throwback. This coming-of-age was the same time period for me and every preteen experience came rushing back. Twelve year old Bee Kocsis exemplifies the conflicts and hope of finding her identity. She is an "A" student, unpopular and envious of her more outgoing, younger and beautiful sister, Audrina. She searches for friendships in the cliques of the school in which her sister finds with ease and they both vie for the attention of the new boy on the block, Max.
The story wraps around the loss of innocence when Max's four year old sister, Sally, goes missing at the beach one day. This New Jersey's small town experiences suspicion and trauma... straining relationships even more. Harsh words are spoken that can't be taken back and the hope of bonding appears impossible and fills the void with regrets. Bee purposely withholds evidence that may have helped in the search for Sally, but chooses not to because of her own selfishness and jealousy that will torture her physically and mentally.
The author creates believable characters and an unforgettable atmospheric story. Clearly painting a picture of each family's home life behind closed doors with descriptive characters you will either love or hate. These families will suffer at different levels in the story with an incredible view of the consequences of our choices into adulthood. Don't miss this one!!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this title in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 17, 2022
This debut blew me away! I loved every single page of it.
July 1985 - New Jersey Bee Kocsis is enjoying her summer at Deer Chase Lake. Sure, she has some things on her mind - Sam her next-door neighbor and wondering if she will ever be as popular and loved as her dazzling younger sister Audrina. Then tragedy strikes when Sam's younger sister, Sally goes missing at the lake.
Things will never be the same again...
Bee gets lessons on the hardness/harshness of life. When innocence is shattered, when you discover your parent's secrets, deal with the ups and downs of sibling relationships, deal with puberty, your peer group, and your own inner thoughts - you know- growing up.
This book was nostalgic. It is also raw, it's about loss, growing up, change, loss, and grief. It's a coming of age and mystery all wrapped all into one.
I found this book to be engrossing, thought provoking, and evoking of emotion. From the very beginning, I did not want to put this book down. This book is well written and captivating.
Highly Recommend.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, Dutton and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
July 1985 - New Jersey Bee Kocsis is enjoying her summer at Deer Chase Lake. Sure, she has some things on her mind - Sam her next-door neighbor and wondering if she will ever be as popular and loved as her dazzling younger sister Audrina. Then tragedy strikes when Sam's younger sister, Sally goes missing at the lake.
Things will never be the same again...
Bee gets lessons on the hardness/harshness of life. When innocence is shattered, when you discover your parent's secrets, deal with the ups and downs of sibling relationships, deal with puberty, your peer group, and your own inner thoughts - you know- growing up.
This book was nostalgic. It is also raw, it's about loss, growing up, change, loss, and grief. It's a coming of age and mystery all wrapped all into one.
I found this book to be engrossing, thought provoking, and evoking of emotion. From the very beginning, I did not want to put this book down. This book is well written and captivating.
Highly Recommend.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, Dutton and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
May 6, 2022
One of my most anticipated reads, and Our Little World did not disappoint. I flew through it in a day.
At its heart this was the story of the bond between two sisters, aged only a year apart, one that was often tested, was not always easy – where love and rivalry were interchangeable. Narrated entirely by Borka (Bee) Kocsis who constantly felt overshadowed, inferior, and jealous of her seemingly perfect, popular, beautiful, outgoing younger sister, Audrina, a name I haven’t heard outside of a V.C. Andrews novel.
It was also a mystery. We were first introduced to 12-year-old Bee and 11-year-old Audrina in June of 1985, to their carefree summers days spent playing with their new neighbours across the street, Max (12) and Sally (4), in their small, close-knit, insulated town of Hammend, NJ – a suburban paradise where nothing bad ever happened. Until it did! All summer, the four children had been swimming at Deer Chase Lake on the Jersey Shore, until the fateful day in July when Sally goes missing without a trace. But, don’t be fooled into thinking this was a story involving the investigation into Sally’s disappearance, as the main focus was on the effect such a devastating, life-changing event had on Bee and Audrina.
Out Little World was also a coming-of-age story showcasing the developmental milestones, social and emotional changes, and rights of passage associated with adolescence in the transition from pre-teen to teen. Given the age of the protagonist, and the majority of the supporting characters, and given there was no graphic content, I would catorgorise this one as suitable for a teen audience – it definitely had a YA feel.
And, who doesn’t love nostalgic 80’s? I definitely felt as if I was revisiting my youth in this one, with different yet similar experiences of course, and definitely without the tragic event of a playmate going missing. But, I was the same age as Bee in 1985, have a sister close in age (although we didn’t have as many up’s and down’s as these sisters, but like them our personalities are very different), and I grew up in a cul-de-sac where all the neighbourhood kids played together. Furthermore, I could definitely relate to Bee’s references to jelly shoes, and beaded friendship safety pins, as well as all the other 1980’s memorabilia.
This little gem was a definite hit with me. What an amazing debut!
At its heart this was the story of the bond between two sisters, aged only a year apart, one that was often tested, was not always easy – where love and rivalry were interchangeable. Narrated entirely by Borka (Bee) Kocsis who constantly felt overshadowed, inferior, and jealous of her seemingly perfect, popular, beautiful, outgoing younger sister, Audrina, a name I haven’t heard outside of a V.C. Andrews novel.
It was also a mystery. We were first introduced to 12-year-old Bee and 11-year-old Audrina in June of 1985, to their carefree summers days spent playing with their new neighbours across the street, Max (12) and Sally (4), in their small, close-knit, insulated town of Hammend, NJ – a suburban paradise where nothing bad ever happened. Until it did! All summer, the four children had been swimming at Deer Chase Lake on the Jersey Shore, until the fateful day in July when Sally goes missing without a trace. But, don’t be fooled into thinking this was a story involving the investigation into Sally’s disappearance, as the main focus was on the effect such a devastating, life-changing event had on Bee and Audrina.
Out Little World was also a coming-of-age story showcasing the developmental milestones, social and emotional changes, and rights of passage associated with adolescence in the transition from pre-teen to teen. Given the age of the protagonist, and the majority of the supporting characters, and given there was no graphic content, I would catorgorise this one as suitable for a teen audience – it definitely had a YA feel.
And, who doesn’t love nostalgic 80’s? I definitely felt as if I was revisiting my youth in this one, with different yet similar experiences of course, and definitely without the tragic event of a playmate going missing. But, I was the same age as Bee in 1985, have a sister close in age (although we didn’t have as many up’s and down’s as these sisters, but like them our personalities are very different), and I grew up in a cul-de-sac where all the neighbourhood kids played together. Furthermore, I could definitely relate to Bee’s references to jelly shoes, and beaded friendship safety pins, as well as all the other 1980’s memorabilia.
This little gem was a definite hit with me. What an amazing debut!
September 2, 2022
Thank you, Dutton Books, for the free copy of Our Little World.
About the book: “I was intrigued by Our Little World from the chilling first paragraph. It's a coming-of-age novel complicated by a tragic and untimely death, and it's also a novel about two sisters you will never forget. I fell in love with the confidence of the writing and the colorful nostalgia of the mid-'80s details. Our Little World will transport and transfix you.--Elin Hilderbrand
Perfect for readers of Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You, Our Little World is a powerful and lyrical coming-of-age story that examines the complicated bond of sisterhood, the corrosive power of envy, and how the traumas of our youths can shape our identities for a lifetime.”
I’ve seen so much love for this book @goodreads, and I could not wait to to pick it up. The blurbs and love are all warranted. I stepped right back into the 1980s with this story of sisterhood and family dynamics in a gentler time. Twelve-year-old Bee is the narrator, and due to this, there is a slight young adult feel. Bee and her sister Audrina have just come to know their newest neighbors, Max and Sally, when Sally goes missing, never to return.
The complex push and pull dynamics between the two sisters feels authentic and relatable. The pair grows up with this tragedy close to their own home, their hearts, and their parents who were also vicariously traumatized. This is also a story of the jealousy amongst siblings. I found the parts about choosing to be opposites so relatable. It reminded me of how my brother and I had to disagree on peanut butter; one enjoying creamy; the other crunchy, and our mom bought both. Siblings are trying to figure out who they are in the shadows of the other, and this is just one of those things they go through as identity builds, and they come of age. The gentle, easy storytelling really shines here, even with the mystery looming in the background, and I enjoyed my time spent with this family and the sisters.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
About the book: “I was intrigued by Our Little World from the chilling first paragraph. It's a coming-of-age novel complicated by a tragic and untimely death, and it's also a novel about two sisters you will never forget. I fell in love with the confidence of the writing and the colorful nostalgia of the mid-'80s details. Our Little World will transport and transfix you.--Elin Hilderbrand
Perfect for readers of Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You, Our Little World is a powerful and lyrical coming-of-age story that examines the complicated bond of sisterhood, the corrosive power of envy, and how the traumas of our youths can shape our identities for a lifetime.”
I’ve seen so much love for this book @goodreads, and I could not wait to to pick it up. The blurbs and love are all warranted. I stepped right back into the 1980s with this story of sisterhood and family dynamics in a gentler time. Twelve-year-old Bee is the narrator, and due to this, there is a slight young adult feel. Bee and her sister Audrina have just come to know their newest neighbors, Max and Sally, when Sally goes missing, never to return.
The complex push and pull dynamics between the two sisters feels authentic and relatable. The pair grows up with this tragedy close to their own home, their hearts, and their parents who were also vicariously traumatized. This is also a story of the jealousy amongst siblings. I found the parts about choosing to be opposites so relatable. It reminded me of how my brother and I had to disagree on peanut butter; one enjoying creamy; the other crunchy, and our mom bought both. Siblings are trying to figure out who they are in the shadows of the other, and this is just one of those things they go through as identity builds, and they come of age. The gentle, easy storytelling really shines here, even with the mystery looming in the background, and I enjoyed my time spent with this family and the sisters.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
March 14, 2022
Bee Kocsis is 12 years old and her effortlessly beautiful sister Audrina is 11 when Max and his younger sister Sally move across the street. It begins in 1985, so I was just a year older than the Bee at the time, and the cultural references kept me nodding my head thinking, yes, I remember that.
Bee, Audrina, Max, and Sally spend their time at the lake when 4-year-old Sally simply disappears. All four kids and Sally’s mother can’t imagine where she went to. Did she drown? Get lost in the woods? Or was something (someone) unthinkably more nefarious to blame?
It shatters the town of 5,000 people, but Bee has her own problems with her sister and her parents. This is a beautifully told story of both loving your sibling and parents and the anger and frustration that can also be a part of family dynamics.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel, which RELEASES MAY 3, 2022.
Bee, Audrina, Max, and Sally spend their time at the lake when 4-year-old Sally simply disappears. All four kids and Sally’s mother can’t imagine where she went to. Did she drown? Get lost in the woods? Or was something (someone) unthinkably more nefarious to blame?
It shatters the town of 5,000 people, but Bee has her own problems with her sister and her parents. This is a beautifully told story of both loving your sibling and parents and the anger and frustration that can also be a part of family dynamics.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel, which RELEASES MAY 3, 2022.
May 3, 2022
Our Little World by Karen Winn is definitely an adult fiction novel despite some marking this one as young adult. The story in Our Little World is told by a young protagonist making this a historical mystery story with part coming of age with adult content.
Bee Kocsis was only twelve in the summer of 1985 when things in her life would change forever making this a summer she certainly would never forget. Bee was with her family at the local lake, Deer Chase Lake, swimming with her younger sister, Audrina, when Bee comes out of the water to an odd scene.
Adults all around are frantically searching and Bee finds out her friend and neighbor, little four year old Sally, has gone missing. When Sally is not found that summer day Bee and her family need to learn to navigate the tragedy of someone close to them missing with Bee and Drina’s relationship struggling in the aftermath.
Our Little World by Karen Winn may not be for everyone but as an adult reader that enjoys the occasional young adult too I immediately fell into this story and became engrossed in this one. Mixing a coming of age with a tragic event is not your normal mystery novel and I always enjoy finding those that are outside of the box so it wasn’t surprising that I was enjoying this. There was also much more to the characters lives past the initial mystery so I definitely had the pages turning faster and faster to see how it would all work out with the author filling this debut with so much emotion too.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Bee Kocsis was only twelve in the summer of 1985 when things in her life would change forever making this a summer she certainly would never forget. Bee was with her family at the local lake, Deer Chase Lake, swimming with her younger sister, Audrina, when Bee comes out of the water to an odd scene.
Adults all around are frantically searching and Bee finds out her friend and neighbor, little four year old Sally, has gone missing. When Sally is not found that summer day Bee and her family need to learn to navigate the tragedy of someone close to them missing with Bee and Drina’s relationship struggling in the aftermath.
Our Little World by Karen Winn may not be for everyone but as an adult reader that enjoys the occasional young adult too I immediately fell into this story and became engrossed in this one. Mixing a coming of age with a tragic event is not your normal mystery novel and I always enjoy finding those that are outside of the box so it wasn’t surprising that I was enjoying this. There was also much more to the characters lives past the initial mystery so I definitely had the pages turning faster and faster to see how it would all work out with the author filling this debut with so much emotion too.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
May 9, 2022
This novel is set in 1985, and is mostly a coming of age story about the relationship of two sisters very close in age and how the two of them and their community deal with the sudden disappearance of four yr old Sally, who was a neighbor.
It happened when the sisters.. Bee and Audrina were at the beach with Sally, and her brother and mother.
No one saw anything and it just takes a toll on everyone.
Bee and Audrina’s relationship reminded me so much of my oldest two daughters (I have four) who are thirteen months apart…my daughters also grew up at these ages the sisters were, in the 80’s.
It’s an emotional and powerful story!
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC!
It happened when the sisters.. Bee and Audrina were at the beach with Sally, and her brother and mother.
No one saw anything and it just takes a toll on everyone.
Bee and Audrina’s relationship reminded me so much of my oldest two daughters (I have four) who are thirteen months apart…my daughters also grew up at these ages the sisters were, in the 80’s.
It’s an emotional and powerful story!
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC!
June 1, 2022
The complexity of sisterhood…
⏰ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫: It’s the summer of 1985 when four-year-old Sally goes missing. Everyone was there including Bee and Audrina Kocsis, sisters who rode there with Sally, her older brother Max, and Max & Sally’s mom. Then… everything happens. Life. A town in turmoil. A family that isn’t as together as it seems. Yup, Life. And it’s all it should be - good, bad, and tragic.
💡𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: I love the simplicity of this book. It’s a taut tale of life sprinkled with immense tragedy. Winn foreshadows it. The reader knows it’s coming. And it still took me by surprise because Winn writes these pivotal moments WELL. One of those where you know it’s coming but somehow brush it aside until it comes back and smacks you square in the face. From the complicated pre-teen sister relationship of Bee and Audrina, fraught with petty grudges and perceived wrongs (oh the drama!) to the more serious issues of dealing with a lost child, one who may be gone forever, childhood disease, change, family… Winn covers big and small, simply. Honestly. With integrity.
This makes the book one that’s pure emotion, particularly if you have kids - because it touches on those deep fears parents bury down in the place they don’t talk about. Flawed, real-human-crafted characters round out my favorable aspects of this novel - no one is perfect (well except the one “perfect” girl in town, but she’s predictably boring) and that’s what endears them to you as the reader - authenticity.
𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
📚𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Contemporary Fiction/1980’s
😍𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: Those who love a traditional novel, it’s not fast-paced, but is so worth the ride!
🙅♀️ 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: if you’re looking for quick, easy reads. This one has complications, slow parts, etc
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for making me realize having a brother is pretty awesome, but I enjoying the pretend world of sisterhood immensely.
⏰ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫: It’s the summer of 1985 when four-year-old Sally goes missing. Everyone was there including Bee and Audrina Kocsis, sisters who rode there with Sally, her older brother Max, and Max & Sally’s mom. Then… everything happens. Life. A town in turmoil. A family that isn’t as together as it seems. Yup, Life. And it’s all it should be - good, bad, and tragic.
💡𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: I love the simplicity of this book. It’s a taut tale of life sprinkled with immense tragedy. Winn foreshadows it. The reader knows it’s coming. And it still took me by surprise because Winn writes these pivotal moments WELL. One of those where you know it’s coming but somehow brush it aside until it comes back and smacks you square in the face. From the complicated pre-teen sister relationship of Bee and Audrina, fraught with petty grudges and perceived wrongs (oh the drama!) to the more serious issues of dealing with a lost child, one who may be gone forever, childhood disease, change, family… Winn covers big and small, simply. Honestly. With integrity.
This makes the book one that’s pure emotion, particularly if you have kids - because it touches on those deep fears parents bury down in the place they don’t talk about. Flawed, real-human-crafted characters round out my favorable aspects of this novel - no one is perfect (well except the one “perfect” girl in town, but she’s predictably boring) and that’s what endears them to you as the reader - authenticity.
𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
📚𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Contemporary Fiction/1980’s
😍𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: Those who love a traditional novel, it’s not fast-paced, but is so worth the ride!
🙅♀️ 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: if you’re looking for quick, easy reads. This one has complications, slow parts, etc
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for making me realize having a brother is pretty awesome, but I enjoying the pretend world of sisterhood immensely.
May 3, 2022
****************NOW AVAILABLE****************
3 stars
ARC provided by Penguin Group Publishing
Taking place in mid 80's cul de sac of Hammend, a small town of about 5000 people, located in New Jersey. We are thrown into the story of Borka—or more well-known as Bee—and the summer that uprooted and set off-balance her life along with the towns. It all happened that summer day at Deer Chase Lake when their four-and-a-half-year-old neighborhood friend, Sally, went missing; lost amidst the populated sands of the sweltering summer heat.
The town got flipped on its axis, never having such tragedy and chaos happen in its midst. As suspicions, searches, secrets, and gossip pursue—Bee's home life, relationship with her parents, and majorly her sister, Audrina, becomes strained. Family grows apart, friendships grow apart, innocence vanishes, and life keeps moving on but only with more obstacles to face.
Overall this story was very catching and sad however at many parts I started to skim. Soo many nostalgic feels as well as reminders of carefree times and innocence. It was gripping in the best moments.
3 stars
ARC provided by Penguin Group Publishing
Taking place in mid 80's cul de sac of Hammend, a small town of about 5000 people, located in New Jersey. We are thrown into the story of Borka—or more well-known as Bee—and the summer that uprooted and set off-balance her life along with the towns. It all happened that summer day at Deer Chase Lake when their four-and-a-half-year-old neighborhood friend, Sally, went missing; lost amidst the populated sands of the sweltering summer heat.
The town got flipped on its axis, never having such tragedy and chaos happen in its midst. As suspicions, searches, secrets, and gossip pursue—Bee's home life, relationship with her parents, and majorly her sister, Audrina, becomes strained. Family grows apart, friendships grow apart, innocence vanishes, and life keeps moving on but only with more obstacles to face.
Overall this story was very catching and sad however at many parts I started to skim. Soo many nostalgic feels as well as reminders of carefree times and innocence. It was gripping in the best moments.
May 17, 2022
5 sibling stars
This remarkable debut novel really tugged at my heartstrings. Set mostly in the mid- 80s in New Jersey, we meet sisters Bee and Audrina one summer. They spend days at the lake or the club with other neighborhood kids. The author really brought me back to this time and made me nostalgic.
As you might guess, Bee and Audrina have the usual sibling squabbles but are mostly best friends. There’s a tragedy that summer when a neighborhood girl goes missing at the lake.
As families keep their kids behind closed and locked doors for the rest of the summer, secrets come out in the open.
The author does an excellent job writing about the angst of middle/high school days, trying to be popular, and dealing with hormones. When a medical situation crops up for Audrina, the girls grow closer again.
The writing in this one is gorgeous filled with memorable characters, hard to believe it’s a debut! Can’t wait to read what this author writes next.
This made for an excellent buddy read with Mary Beth. I think this would make for an outstanding book club read.
Thank you to Penguin Dutton for the chance to read and review this one.
This remarkable debut novel really tugged at my heartstrings. Set mostly in the mid- 80s in New Jersey, we meet sisters Bee and Audrina one summer. They spend days at the lake or the club with other neighborhood kids. The author really brought me back to this time and made me nostalgic.
As you might guess, Bee and Audrina have the usual sibling squabbles but are mostly best friends. There’s a tragedy that summer when a neighborhood girl goes missing at the lake.
As families keep their kids behind closed and locked doors for the rest of the summer, secrets come out in the open.
The author does an excellent job writing about the angst of middle/high school days, trying to be popular, and dealing with hormones. When a medical situation crops up for Audrina, the girls grow closer again.
The writing in this one is gorgeous filled with memorable characters, hard to believe it’s a debut! Can’t wait to read what this author writes next.
This made for an excellent buddy read with Mary Beth. I think this would make for an outstanding book club read.
Thank you to Penguin Dutton for the chance to read and review this one.
June 2, 2022
Did I request this book immediately upon seeing not only a house, but an entire NEIGHBORHOOD on the cover? In the immortal words of young William Eyelash . . . .
It also didn’t hurt that Elin Hilderbrand blurbed this one (but please note it is nothing like Hilderbrand’s own work). I didn’t bother reading past that part to the actual synopsis (I mean, y’all know I already had a ladyboner going for the bookjacket alone). The suggestion of being for fans of Everything I Never Told You is probably a fairly decent one. I’m not a super big fan of missing kid stories, so the fact that this ended up being more a look into the relationship/rivalry of the two remaining sisters probably worked out better for me than had it been a straight up whodunnit.
I’m going with
fifty-two gajillion stars for the cover
3.5 Stars
It also didn’t hurt that Elin Hilderbrand blurbed this one (but please note it is nothing like Hilderbrand’s own work). I didn’t bother reading past that part to the actual synopsis (I mean, y’all know I already had a ladyboner going for the bookjacket alone). The suggestion of being for fans of Everything I Never Told You is probably a fairly decent one. I’m not a super big fan of missing kid stories, so the fact that this ended up being more a look into the relationship/rivalry of the two remaining sisters probably worked out better for me than had it been a straight up whodunnit.
I’m going with
May 4, 2022
This was a really enthralling, heartrending, coming of age story/murder mystery set in a small NJ town in the 80s. I thought the nostalgia was so well done here. I grew up in the 80s and the way it's portrayed here really brought me back to those days. The author did a great job of pulling you into this world, family, and neighborhood.
Bee and her sister Audrina used to be so close. Now they are drifting apart. They are excited to be heading to the lake to spend time with their friend Max and his younger sister Sally. Then while there, Sally goes missing and is never found. After this, you read how families, neighbors, and sisters deal with the effects of such tragedies.
Ultimately, this is a study of sisterly bonds, family dynamics, and how childhood adversity effects people. I was so immersed in this story. I cannot wait to see what Karen Winn comes up with next!!
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Bee and her sister Audrina used to be so close. Now they are drifting apart. They are excited to be heading to the lake to spend time with their friend Max and his younger sister Sally. Then while there, Sally goes missing and is never found. After this, you read how families, neighbors, and sisters deal with the effects of such tragedies.
Ultimately, this is a study of sisterly bonds, family dynamics, and how childhood adversity effects people. I was so immersed in this story. I cannot wait to see what Karen Winn comes up with next!!
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
October 23, 2025
Genre: Adult Coming of Age
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pub. Date: May 3, 2022
A sorrowful coming-of-age narrative about a twelve-year-old girl whose eleven-year-old sister dies. There was an age-appropriate competition between them. The author has us reading in between the lines to understand that if the younger sister hadn't died, they would have grown to be close adult siblings. The setting is a typical New Jersey suburban community in the 1980s, where nothing evil is supposed to happen. Winn captures the era perfectly, as well as the cul-de-sac where the kids play and live.
We learn on the first page that this isn't the first time the older sister has witnessed death up close. Their five-year-old next-door neighbor is abducted and later found dead. The novel is quite well written. Winn does an excellent job of capturing every parent's worst nightmare. This novel is also a murder mystery. However, the story's true strength lies in the sisters' relationship, particularly the older girl's heartbreaking inner world.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list…
https://books6259.wordpress.com/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review…
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr…
https://twitter.com/NeesRecord\
https://www.instagram.com/martie6947/
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pub. Date: May 3, 2022
A sorrowful coming-of-age narrative about a twelve-year-old girl whose eleven-year-old sister dies. There was an age-appropriate competition between them. The author has us reading in between the lines to understand that if the younger sister hadn't died, they would have grown to be close adult siblings. The setting is a typical New Jersey suburban community in the 1980s, where nothing evil is supposed to happen. Winn captures the era perfectly, as well as the cul-de-sac where the kids play and live.
We learn on the first page that this isn't the first time the older sister has witnessed death up close. Their five-year-old next-door neighbor is abducted and later found dead. The novel is quite well written. Winn does an excellent job of capturing every parent's worst nightmare. This novel is also a murder mystery. However, the story's true strength lies in the sisters' relationship, particularly the older girl's heartbreaking inner world.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list…
https://books6259.wordpress.com/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review…
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr…
https://twitter.com/NeesRecord\
https://www.instagram.com/martie6947/
November 22, 2022
I still can’t believe that OUR LITTLE WORLD by Karen Winn is her debut! What a fantastic read and I can tell you, Karen must be a Jersey girl because she describes life in New Jersey in the 80’s perfectly! This delightful and mesmerizing story takes place just when I was a fresh graduate from high school. It brought back so many memories and had me longing to go back to Jersey one more time. That’s how descriptive Ms. Winn’s writing is!
Bee and Audrina have a fabulous sister bond. Audrina is the golden child, the one that can do no wrong, while Bee is the one left in the shadows and at times is jealous of Audrina. But they have always had each other’s backs. Things change when their next door neighbor, Sally, goes missing one day while they’re swimming at the lake. Sally is only four and a half years old. As the years go by, the sisters lose the bond that they had. They say things that can never be taken back or forgotten. OUR LITTLE WORLD had me waiting for the other shoe to fall! It hooked me from the very first page and never let me go.
OUR LITTLE WORLD is very well written and captures what is every parent’s worse nightmare! I was holding my breath when the mystery was finally solved and was shocked by who dun it! The story of Bee and Audrina really pulls at the reader’s heart strings and they just might need a tissue or two like I did. Its a very emotional story and it really makes you think about what you would do if you were in the same situation. I cried while reading and also found myself angry. How does a family survive and go on after something like this? I can not wait to see what Karen Winn writes next!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Bee and Audrina have a fabulous sister bond. Audrina is the golden child, the one that can do no wrong, while Bee is the one left in the shadows and at times is jealous of Audrina. But they have always had each other’s backs. Things change when their next door neighbor, Sally, goes missing one day while they’re swimming at the lake. Sally is only four and a half years old. As the years go by, the sisters lose the bond that they had. They say things that can never be taken back or forgotten. OUR LITTLE WORLD had me waiting for the other shoe to fall! It hooked me from the very first page and never let me go.
OUR LITTLE WORLD is very well written and captures what is every parent’s worse nightmare! I was holding my breath when the mystery was finally solved and was shocked by who dun it! The story of Bee and Audrina really pulls at the reader’s heart strings and they just might need a tissue or two like I did. Its a very emotional story and it really makes you think about what you would do if you were in the same situation. I cried while reading and also found myself angry. How does a family survive and go on after something like this? I can not wait to see what Karen Winn writes next!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 5, 2022
OUR LITTLE WORLD
by Karen Winn
PENGUIN GROUP Dutton
Pub Date: May 3
Karen Winn's debut novel is an absorbing coming-of-age tale about two sisters growing up in New Jersey in the mid-80s. I remember that era well, and find Winn has captured it beautifully.
This is a strong character-driven story that also includes a mystery involving the disappearance of a young neighbor at the nearby lake. The tragedy has a lasting impact on the small town, and on the sisters and their family, who also deal with illness, death, grief, and secrets.
Although slow-paced at times, OUR LITTLE WORLD especially impresses as a debut. I'm looking forward to reading more by the author.
Thanks to by Karen Winn, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#OurLittleWorld #KarenWinn #NetGalley #PenguinGroupDutton #comingofagenovel #impactofdeathonsmalltown #mysterynovel #storyofsisters #familysecrets #childsdisappearance #bookstagramcommunity
by Karen Winn
PENGUIN GROUP Dutton
Pub Date: May 3
Karen Winn's debut novel is an absorbing coming-of-age tale about two sisters growing up in New Jersey in the mid-80s. I remember that era well, and find Winn has captured it beautifully.
This is a strong character-driven story that also includes a mystery involving the disappearance of a young neighbor at the nearby lake. The tragedy has a lasting impact on the small town, and on the sisters and their family, who also deal with illness, death, grief, and secrets.
Although slow-paced at times, OUR LITTLE WORLD especially impresses as a debut. I'm looking forward to reading more by the author.
Thanks to by Karen Winn, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#OurLittleWorld #KarenWinn #NetGalley #PenguinGroupDutton #comingofagenovel #impactofdeathonsmalltown #mysterynovel #storyofsisters #familysecrets #childsdisappearance #bookstagramcommunity
March 30, 2022
The is a gem of a debut novel! It's a heartwrenching, emotional, coming of age novel narrated by Bee (Borka) Kocsis and is set in the mid-80's. An atmosphere of nostalgia permeates the book and the beautiful writing shines. There are some tragic occurrences during Bee's childhood and the book digs deep into her emotions and describes the love between sisters, the jealousy, the closeness, the competition, her guilt (warranted or not), and her lack of confidence. The writing is evocative and the characters are memorable. I'm not going to give a synopsis of the story as anyone can read that in the book's description - also, I don't want to give away any of the plot.
Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on May 3, 2022.
Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on May 3, 2022.
June 18, 2022
I honestly don't even really know where to start with Our Little World by Karen Winn. This is a debut novel, and I didn't think that showed at all because it was just so good and flowed so well. There is a tiny bit of mystery to it thanks to Sally going missing, but since you are seeing all of this through the eyes of a young girl, it really isn't about that mystery being solved. There was a strong focus on Bee and her sister's relationship, and Winn also really brought to life what it is like to live in a small community where everyone knows everyone's business, or at the very least the rumors. I was glad that even though Bee is our only viewpoint and so young, this didn't really feel like a juvenile read to me. I honestly would have placed it in the adult fiction genre if I didn't know any better, and I loved that.
Part of the adult feel of this book could also have been because I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Jesse Vilinsky is clearly an adult, so I was technically listening to Bee through an adult's narration. Either way, I thought that Vilinsky did a stellar job voicing this book, and there wasn't a moment I didn't enjoy with her 'behind the wheel' so to speak. There are some really messed-up things that happen in Our Little World, and I almost want to categorize it as a bit of a family saga/drama. It is definitely a coming-of-age novel as both Hilderbrand's blurb and the synopsis suggest, and it gave me so many complex feelings and emotions as I was listening to it. The pacing is slow to be sure, but I never found myself bored or wishing for more which I thought was a great sign. If you are at all interested in books like this, I highly recommend picking up Our Little World and preparing yourself for an emotional roller coaster.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Part of the adult feel of this book could also have been because I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Jesse Vilinsky is clearly an adult, so I was technically listening to Bee through an adult's narration. Either way, I thought that Vilinsky did a stellar job voicing this book, and there wasn't a moment I didn't enjoy with her 'behind the wheel' so to speak. There are some really messed-up things that happen in Our Little World, and I almost want to categorize it as a bit of a family saga/drama. It is definitely a coming-of-age novel as both Hilderbrand's blurb and the synopsis suggest, and it gave me so many complex feelings and emotions as I was listening to it. The pacing is slow to be sure, but I never found myself bored or wishing for more which I thought was a great sign. If you are at all interested in books like this, I highly recommend picking up Our Little World and preparing yourself for an emotional roller coaster.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 24, 2023
⚠️ Outlier Alert ⚠️
2.5 Stars. I feel like a read a different book than most of the other reviewers. 😳 As an 80’s baby, I was ecstatic to have a book based in that time period. But this mystery thriller was a disappointment for me. 😔
Meet Bee 🐝 (aka Borka) and Audrina Kocsis, who live in Hammend, a small town in New Jersey. They are sisters who NEVER get along. 👭 Audrina is the younger of the two and the one who gets all the attention; with her fancy outfits, beaming personality, and love for the spotlight. 👑 💅👛💄Bee on the other hand, prefers to have her nose in a book and focus on her studies at school. 📚
It is the summer of 85’ and soon new neighbors from Boston are moving in across the street who have two kids, Max and Sally. Bee and Audrina are introduced to the new neighbors and soon spend every summer day with Max and Sally. Audrina especially grows fond of four year old Sally, and gives her one of her most beloved items (Bee is not happy about this because she wanted it for herself). One day, they go to the local hang out spot, Deer Park Lake. Max and Sally’s mom takes them there and finds a place in the sand where she sunbathes. She leaves Max in charge of watching over his little sister. Before long, he, Bee and Audrina have swam out further and are enjoying themselves when mass panic happens. Sally is missing. Where could she be? She doesn’t even like the water!
From there, the book goes through everyone’s feelings about Sally’s disappearance and Bee even constructs a “suspect list”. But soon, everyone moves on with their lives because there is no other option. I enjoyed the first couple of chapters, but it went downhill from there. The whole book consists of bickering between Bee and Audrina and life after the disappearance of Sally. Bee’s complaining worked my last nerve. 😏 I have a sister and fully understand sibling rivalry and bickering, but I felt like it was WAY overdone. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen and it never did. Thankfully, the ending does reveal what happened to Sally. Overall, I just could not connect with this book. Most of the characters annoyed me and I quickly lacked interest. 💔
2.5 Stars. I feel like a read a different book than most of the other reviewers. 😳 As an 80’s baby, I was ecstatic to have a book based in that time period. But this mystery thriller was a disappointment for me. 😔
Meet Bee 🐝 (aka Borka) and Audrina Kocsis, who live in Hammend, a small town in New Jersey. They are sisters who NEVER get along. 👭 Audrina is the younger of the two and the one who gets all the attention; with her fancy outfits, beaming personality, and love for the spotlight. 👑 💅👛💄Bee on the other hand, prefers to have her nose in a book and focus on her studies at school. 📚
It is the summer of 85’ and soon new neighbors from Boston are moving in across the street who have two kids, Max and Sally. Bee and Audrina are introduced to the new neighbors and soon spend every summer day with Max and Sally. Audrina especially grows fond of four year old Sally, and gives her one of her most beloved items (Bee is not happy about this because she wanted it for herself). One day, they go to the local hang out spot, Deer Park Lake. Max and Sally’s mom takes them there and finds a place in the sand where she sunbathes. She leaves Max in charge of watching over his little sister. Before long, he, Bee and Audrina have swam out further and are enjoying themselves when mass panic happens. Sally is missing. Where could she be? She doesn’t even like the water!
From there, the book goes through everyone’s feelings about Sally’s disappearance and Bee even constructs a “suspect list”. But soon, everyone moves on with their lives because there is no other option. I enjoyed the first couple of chapters, but it went downhill from there. The whole book consists of bickering between Bee and Audrina and life after the disappearance of Sally. Bee’s complaining worked my last nerve. 😏 I have a sister and fully understand sibling rivalry and bickering, but I felt like it was WAY overdone. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen and it never did. Thankfully, the ending does reveal what happened to Sally. Overall, I just could not connect with this book. Most of the characters annoyed me and I quickly lacked interest. 💔
Displaying 1 - 30 of 699 reviews