Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Genre: fiction
Review: It took me a while to figure out why Korn name-drops so many brands and bands and trends in this book, but I finally realized that it's because this book is very intentionally grounded in the times and places it portrays, spanning the 20 years from 2005 to 2025, and the country, from Long Island to California. Frankly, as someone who's not into indie music and doesn't pay much attention to brands, it put a barrier between me and the story. Once I figured out that the names were just signals to orient us in time, space, and socioeconomic status (and that there were other signals that a brand-oblivious person like me could use), and not meant to convey any superficiality on the part of the characters, I was able to get on board. And once I was on board, I enjoyed joining Susan in her journey to discover who she's meant to be.
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.
