Book Review: Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu
High school junior Lucy hasn’t been able to have a normal life because she’s constantly trying keep anyone from finding out her family secret. Lucy’s mom is an obsessive hoarder and every inch of their home is stacked with paper, trash, and other “treasures” that she can’t bear throwing away. Lucy is just beginning to make some good friends when she returns home to find her mom dead, buried under a pile of magazines. Unable to bear the thought of calling 911 and exposing their secrets to the world, Lucy goes to great lengths to make everything appear normal.
The premise of this debut novel is extremely dark and Lucy’s actions are completely irrational, so the fact that the author can get the reader to empathize with Lucy’s decisions and root for her says a lot about the author’s powerful storytelling abilities. I was completely engrossed from beginning to end, and while the conclusion was a bit far-fetched and left a lot of practical loose ends, I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, compelling read.
Find in a library or on Amazon
Reviewed from an ARC received at ALA Midwinter.
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