Nothing to See Here: A Novel
A New York Times Bestseller - A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!
Named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, People, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, TIME, The A.V. Club, Buzzfeed, and PopSugar
"I can't believe how good this book is.... It's wholly original. It's also perfect.... Wilson writes with such a light touch.... The brilliance of the novel [is] that it distracts you with these weirdo characters and mesmerizing and funny sentences and then hits you in a way you didn't see coming. You're laughing so hard you don't even realize that you've suddenly caught fire." --Taffy Brodesser-Akner, author of Fleishman is in Trouble, New York Times Book Review
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Family Fang, a moving and uproarious novel about a woman who finds meaning in her life when she begins caring for two children with a remarkable ability.
Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they've barely spoken since. Until now, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help.
Madison's twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there's a catch: the twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but it's the truth.
Thinking of her dead-end life at home, the life that has consistently disappointed her, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose. Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other--and stay cool--while also staying out of the way of Madison's buttoned-up politician husband. Surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her--urgently and fiercely. Couldn't this be the start of the amazing life she'd always hoped for?
With white-hot wit and a big, tender heart, Kevin Wilson has written his best book yet--a most unusual story of parental love.
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Community Reviews
Nothing to See Here is the unlikely story of a young woman who becomes the governess of her former roommate’s step children – children that can spontaneously combust. But she only has to survive one summer with them, how hard can it be?
Told from the POV of our main character Lillian, this started off very fun and witty, and I was very curious about our main character’s past and relationship with her roommate Madison. This is where I made my first mistake and got baited by gay.
Then, Lillian meets the kids, and it’s all so ridiculously unreal and can you believe the kids are actually on fire? And what a hoot, it’s so very curious until it just wasn’t anymore. The only way I can explain, is that it was akin to when you start a new game, and you’re a low-level character and everything is absurdly difficult until you start decking yourself out and then it’s just fine. That’s what it felt like reading this – the unusual story was fun until the gimmicks with the kids were no problemo and then I was just bored. I stopped following the plot, if there was any, and just read (or rather listened) for the sake of finishing the book.
On the bright side, the narrator did a great job – I think the inner dialogue would’ve annoyed me a little bit if I were reading it (it’s the repetitive kind, like this kind of train of thought, seriously).
But don’t let my review put you off of this - I’d recommend to anyone who’s looking for an unusual concept, with a heart-warming found family vibe. Happy reading!
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