FICTION

One House Over

by Mary Monroe
Dafina: Kensington. (Neighbors, Bk. 1). Apr. 2018. 289p. ISBN 9781496716118. $26; ebk. ISBN 9781496716132. F
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In the midst of the Great Depression, financial comfort is Odell Watson's goal as he courts Joyce, the daughter of an Alabama shop owner. At age 30, Joyce is convinced her excessive height and average features have kept her from gaining a husband and children of her own. Odell's devoted attention and sweet compliments lead to a quick wedding despite her parents' objections. Soon, Odell's roving eye means trouble as his mistress produces one child after another, while his wife bears none. When Joyce and Odell's dissolute new neighbors begin to infiltrate their lives, Odell finds the delicate balancing act between spending time and money on his wife and his mistress is threatened.
VERDICT In this first volume of her new series, New York Times best-selling author Monroe (The Upper Room; God Don't Like Ugly) convincingly portrays a time and place where desperation is the norm. Monroe's characters lack a dimensional depth, which makes them unlikable and prevents sympathetic connections for anyone. Still, fans of the author will find an easy read full of dramatic soap opera situations.
Reviewed by Joy Gunn, Paseo Verde Lib., Henderson, NV , Mar 16, 2018
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