A review by minimicropup
Safe and Sound: A Novel by Laura McHugh

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Although this has a bit of a popcorn thriller style later on, most of it is a contemporary family study with an underlying mystery. I really enjoyed it, especially the characters and how they handled the darkness around them.
 
Energy: Determined. Astute. Hopeful.   
 
πŸ• Howls
Twist at the ending could feel rushed and too open-ended (after sitting with it, I was okay with it). 

🐩 Tail Wags 
Sadness, darkness, bittersweet moments. The cousins and their bond. Sensitive but realistic portrayal of impoverished towns and dysfunctional families. Atmospheric. 
 
Scene: πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Meat-packing town of Beaumont Missouri
Perspectives (2): A recently graduated high school student saving up to move away from the town with their younger sister. Their cousin, who was doing the same but went missing while babysitting them six years ago. 
Timeline: Dual-timeline chunks. Spring-Summer (2020s) for Kylee and Amelia. Six years ago and earlier for Grace growing up. 
πŸ”₯ Fuel: Character investment. Relatable themes/conflicts. Intrigue and tension. What happened to Grace? Will Kylee and Amelia make a better future for themselves or succumb to peer and parental pressures? 
πŸ“– Cred: Plausible to suspended disbelief, with hyper-realistic moments
 
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Dirty snow. Beer. Cigarette smoke. Barrel fire. Waffle house. Empty fridge. Old patio. Pickles. Stale air. Fresh hay. Frito pie. 
  • Piecing together the puzzle while riding the emotional developments of the characters’ lives
  • Cinematic, atmospheric world-building capturing run-down town energy
  • Punchy, gritty contemporary fiction with underlying mystery
  • Coming-of-age social injustice
  • Likeable, realistic characters; rooting for the underdogs
  • Exploring complex, dysfunctional families
  • Whodunit, whathappened missing babysitter/cousin
  • Multiple suspects amateur sleuthing and sneaking
  • Supportive sibling & cousin bonds
  • First love, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers romances
  • Open, unresolved endings
 
Content Heads-Up: Adderall use. Missing family member. Grief. Corpse (discovery, identification). Vomit. Alcohol, drug use (partying). Cancer, terminal illness (~one chapter, on page). Racial profiling (brief recall). Sexual harassment (workplace). Nicotine (cigarettes). Child sexual abuse; child sexual exploitation material; pedophilia; incest (on page; graphic). Loss of child. Sexism (education; forced limitations and gender roles). Nepotism (education). Poverty, financial insecurity. Misogyny. Deportation threat (brief). Theft (workplace). Dismissive parent. Corruption (mention; police).
 
Rep: White and non-White Americans. Cisgender. Hetero. Ambiguous skin tones.
 
πŸ“š Format: Library Audio
 
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