Book Review- Not My Boy by Kelly Simmons

Not My Boy
Kelly Simmons
Print Length : 272 pages
Word Wise : Not Enabled
Publisher : Sourcebooks Landmark (January 5, 2021)
Language: : English
ASIN : B088P6PR34
Publication Date : January 5, 2021

When Hannah packs up her past and moves to the cottage next-door to her sister, she hopes the luxe neighborhood and close family ties will be the perfect escape for her son and the shadows that trail them. But when a young girl goes missing days after they unload their final boxes and her son is quickly thrown under suspicion, Hannah must do whatever it takes to protect her child.

Even if that means pointing the blame her sister’s way instead.

With investigators swarming and neighborhood scrutiny closing in, the divide between two sisters grows. As one fiercely defends her husband, the other shields her boy from the crime, keeping quiet the secrets that might unravel it all.

And all the while, one young girl has vanished, and someone is to blame.

This is a very compelling story of family dynamics, those that work and those that don’t. I immediately liked Hannah and was drawn to her fierce protectiveness of her son, but I always felt like there was something off about Miles. The way the author keeps that undercurrent of suspense going is superb, and the reader is never sure if the boy has a serious problem. Could he be responsible for the disappearance of the young girl?

Hannah and her twin, Hillary, share all the special connectedness of twins, and everything seems to be perfect as Hannah settles in. They always dreamed of living close to each other, and now that dream is coming true. Until…

While all the characters were engaging and interesting, I really connected with Hannah’s mother, Eva, and loved how she is grandma to her grandkids. They have such a wonderful relationship that comes alive on the pages and their scenes in the story made me smile.

Grandmothers can do all the things that mother’s usually don’t, like pizza nights and going out for ice-cream when that is not part of healthy eating. It’s also great that Eva is able to keep the secrets her grandchildren share with her, and she’s as protective of Miles as his mother is.

The search for the missing girl threatens to tear all those relationships apart, even as it tears the neighborhood apart. Once fractured will they ever heal and be the same again?

As a member of the Tall Poppy Bloggers, I received an advance review copy of this book, and I’m so glad I did. I really enjoyed the story and highly recommend it.

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Kelly Simmons is a former journalist, advertising creative director and the author of six novels sold in a dozen countries: STANDING STILL and THE BIRD HOUSE (Simon & Schuster) ONE MORE DAY, THE FIFTH OF JULY, WHERE SHE WENT, and NOT MY BOY (Sourcebooks). She teaches in the Drexel University MFA program, and is a member of WFWA, Tall Poppy Writers and The Liars Club, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping fledgling novelists. Additionally, she co-helms the weekly writers podcast “Liars Club Oddcast.”

She was born the same day as Dorothy Parker. Coincidence? She thinks not.

Visit Kelly at her WEBSITE on FACEBOOK on TWITTER on INSTAGRAM