NetGalley Buddy Readers discussion

Lenny Marks is excellent at not having a life.

She bikes home from work at exactly 4pm each day, buys the same groceries for the same meals every week, and owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit (currently arranged by height). The closest thing she has to a friendship is playing Scrabble against an imaginary Monica Gellar while watching Friends reruns.

And Lenny Marks is very, very good at not remembering what happened the day her mother and stepfather disappeared when she was still a child. The day a voice in the back of her mind started whispering, You did this.

Until a letter from the parole board arrives in the mail—and when her desperate attempts to ignore it fail, Lenny starts to unravel. As long-buried memories come to the surface, Lenny’s careful routines fall apart. For the first time, she finds herself forced to connect with the community around her, and unexpected new relationships begin to bloom. Lenny Marks may finally get a life—but what if her past catches up to her first?

Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, Kerryn Mayne’s stunning debut is an irresistible novel about truth, secrets, vengeance, and family lost and found, with a heroine who's simply unforgettable.

Theresa and I are starting this one, aiming to be done by Monday, 8/5

Thru Chapter 10. Well, Lenny is definitely on the spectrum. (view spoiler)[ Amy and Ashleigh sure seem like not nice ladies. Hopefully Lenny will figure out that Kirra is really a friend. (hide spoiler)]

I have this! but I’m so behind on my reading. I’ll try to read along :)

Thru Chapter 20, 37%. (view spoiler)[ So obviously something bad happened to her mom and don't know what step dad is in jail for. Seems like she did eventually end up in a great foster home. High school sounds like it was awful. (hide spoiler)]

Thru Chapter 30, 58% (view spoiler)[ Wonder what Jace (original owner of the dog) and his buddy did that they didn't want to hang around. Lucky for Lenny. Wonder what the back story is on Maureen. She seems closer than just a random neighbor. Sure glad Lenny got to her before it was too late. (hide spoiler)]

Thru Chapter 50, 93% (view spoiler)[ Well there were a lot of reveals in those chapters: Lenny's mom and brother are both dead (figured that out before) at the hands of step-dad who is the son of Maureen, who is the partner of her grandma Zanny, who is now deceased but didn't die in the attempted suicide. Also, step-dad, Fergus, is dead by accident, sort of, and Lenny and Maureen have agreed to not call the police. Lenny has taken care of the body and now looks like her and Ned are going to be a couple (also saw this one coming) (hide spoiler)]

And done! (view spoiler)[ I'm a little disappointed. I really don't see this as a thriller or a cozy mystery. It's just a story of a very dysfunctional family with the surviving member being on the spectrum. (hide spoiler)]

15 chapters / 26%

I agree (view spoiler)[ ashleigh and Amy definitely seem to suck

the part with the dog was just heartbreaking. I'm so glad she saved him
I'm not sure what to make of Ned and Kirra. Kirra seems to want to be her friend. Ned seems like he's also maybe struggled with anxiety and he was trying to help but. . .I hope they both have good intentions. The other two at work don't seem to. (hide spoiler)]

30 chapters

(view spoiler)[ wow, so it sounds like her step dad really hurt her and maybe hurt her mom?

ugh, amy and ashleigh are just awful
I hate that she's stopping her friendship for Amy.

I really like Kirra. So sweet she brought her food. I really hope she keeps this fun get together they have planned

and yea! that moment with Jase and hoodie guy was scary! that poor dog! i hope she keeps him (hide spoiler)]