Caffeinated Reviewer

An author recommended The Change by Kirsten Miller and I grabbed a copy from Libro.fm. Narrated by January LaVoy this audio shares friendship, revenge and rediscovery of self. The three women work to solve the murder of a young woman and discover a dark secret in their quiet beach cove communities.

Big Little Lies meets The Witches of Eastwick—a gloriously entertaining and knife-sharp feminist revenge fantasy about three women whose midlife crisis brings unexpected new powers—putting them on a collision course with the evil that lurks in their wealthy beach town.

In the Long Island oceanfront community of Mattauk, three different women discover that midlife changes bring a whole new type of empowerment…

After Nessa James’s husband dies and her twin daughters leave for college, she’s left all alone in a trim white house not far from the ocean. In the quiet of her late forties, the former nurse begins to hear voices. It doesn’t take long for Nessa to realize that the voices calling out to her belong to the dead—a gift she’s inherited from her grandmother, which comes with special responsibilities.

On the cusp of 50, suave advertising director Harriett Osborne has just witnessed the implosion of her lucrative career and her marriage. She hasn’t left her house in months, and from the outside, it appears as if she and her garden have both gone to seed. But Harriet’s life is far from over—in fact, she’s undergone a stunning and very welcome metamorphosis.

Ambitious former executive Jo Levison has spent thirty long years at war with her body. The free-floating rage and hot flashes that arrive with the beginning of menopause feel like the very last straw—until she realizes she has the ability to channel them, and finally comes into her power.

Guided by voices only Nessa can hear, the trio of women discover a teenage girl whose body was abandoned beside a remote beach. The police have written the victim off as a drug-addicted sex worker, but the women refuse to buy into the official narrative. Their investigation into the girl’s murder leads to more bodies, and to the town’s most exclusive and isolated enclave, a world of stupendous wealth where the rules don’t apply. With their newfound powers, Jo, Nessa, and Harriet will take matters into their own hands…

This was a clever tale with a little magical realism, or perhaps each woman was touched. Either way, the three come together, and together they bring change to their community and give voice to the dead girl and others.

First, we have Harriett Osborne, a fifty something married and successful ad agent who suddenly finds herself passed over for a leadership position and by her husband whose success she helped nurtured. She keeps the house and soon finds herself at odds with the local HOA, but Harriett has never felt more free. Harriett was my favorite character. I loved her wild & free nature.

Next we have widower Nessa James, who suddenly finds herself an empty nester when her twins go off to college. Nessa is in her late forties and begins hearing voices. She knows of her grandmother’s gifts and is surprised to see her own gift emerging. The voices she hears will not rest. Nessa was lovely, and I felt for her and respected her. I loved the changes we see in her throughout the story, including a budding romance.

Last but not least, we have Jo Levison. Married mother of two who is at war with the rage and hormonal changes she feels. She is bright and the breadwinner of her family. Recently she opened a fitness center and the women in town love it. I connected with Jo from her fear for her young daughter, to her desire to succeed.

When the three come together and discover the body of a young woman abandoned in the dunes along the coast, things change. I laughed, cried, and often held my breath as they uncovered clues and dealt with some ruthless and powerful men.

Friendship, loss, corruption, inequality, human trafficking and magic come together to create an addictive tale you won’t want to set down. This tale touches on relevant issues and weaves them throughout the mystery to create a wickedly entertaining tapestry.

January LaVoy brought voice to these women. From pacing to her tone, she enhanced the story and made listening an experience. LaVoy is a gifted narrator and one who will make me choose the audio over the book.

Amazon | Audible

About Kirsten Miller

Kirsten Miller grew up in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina. At seventeen, she hit the road and moved to New York City, where she lives to this day. Kirsten's first adult novel, The Change, is a feel good feminist revenge fantasy--with witches. The Change is a Good Morning America Book Club pick for May 2022. Kirsten also the author of over a dozen middle grade and YA novels, including the acclaimed Kiki Strike books, which tell the tale of the delinquent girl geniuses who keep Manhattan safe, and How to Lead a Life of Crime. She is not the Kirsten Miller who wrote All That Is Left (which appears on the list of the books she's written), but she assumes that Kirsten is lovely and talented.

Twitter | Instagram

About January LaVoy

January LaVoy is a stage, television, and voice actress. She performed on Broadway in Enron and on television in One Life to Live, All My Children, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: SVU, and Guiding Light.

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About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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