Review Quote
“Grodstein has a masterful handle on the ceaseless demands of mid-life. “A Friend of the Family“ is a gripping account of paternal love gone wildly astray.”
—Helen Schulman, author of A Day at the Beach
“What a wonderful and compelling read. This book is full of insights and honesty, you will have a hard time putting it down. These people will stay in your head, and keep their hands on your heart. Grodstein’s skills at story telling are unwavering.”
—Elizabeth Strout, author of Olive Kitteridge
“With keen responsiveness to the emotional undercurrents and incremental deepening of stress, Adamson potently communicates the power and intensity of the characters’ conflicts and their implacable decisions. His interpretation of Laura’s crime is particularly moving and compassionate. Adamson is keenly sensitive to the roller-coaster elements of the plot, vigorously capturing a sense of impending doom.
—Booklist
“An astute dissector of male aspiration, Grodstein brings great insight into a father’s protective urge for his son in this gripping portrait of an American family in crisis.”
—Publishers Weekly [Starred Review]
“Adamson is superb in drawing out all the characters’ inner torments. His risk-taking performance is so good it will leave listeners wondering if this is just fine acting or if Adamson is personally familiar with this emotional landscape.”
—AudioFile
“Grodstein’s superb second novel is a deft portrayal of suburban life, and Adamson more than does justice to the fine material in his tour-de-force performance.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Unfolds with the suspense of Hitchcock . . . [Grodstein] is a terrific storyteller and an even better ventriloquist. She beautifully captures Pete’s sly self-deceptions . . . Ultimately, though, this is less a novel about one imperfect citizen than a sharp account of the status-driven suburban culture that turned him into a monster of conformity.”
—The New York Times Book Review
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