Spotlight on: Pearl by Jo Knowles
Bean (née Pearl) and Henry, misfits and best friends, have the strangest mothers in town. Henry’s mom Sally never leaves the house. Bean’s mom Lexie, if she is home, is likely nursing a hangover or venting to her friend Claire about Bean’s beloved grandfather Gus, the third member of their sunny household.
Gus’s death unleashes a host of family secrets that brings them all together. And they threaten to change everything—including Bean’s relationship with Henry, her first friend, and who also might turn out to be her first love.
I can’t say enough how much Jo Knowles always captures my attention with her books. I read Lessons from a Dead Girl when I was in my first year of college, back before I really understood the realm of YA fiction. That book haunted me for days.
Jo Knowles has a knack for pulling out the deepest, darkest, hardest part of people to face. Then she helps you through it so you come out on the other end a completely different person. Although I haven’t had a chance to read Pearl yet, I cannot wait to dive in! Her books may be more on the “tough reads” side, but I’ve never been let down yet. The premise of love in this one intrigues me.
Are you going to add it to your TBR list?
