First published 2017
Marnie believed the Hungates represented something eternal about American family life. Their divorce blindsides everyone in their Long Island neighborhood. The Hungates and their neighbors the Harrisons seemed to have everything figured out. Corporate jobs in Manhattan, poolside weekends, daughters at cheerleading practice, summer cookouts in manicured backyards. Yet beneath this polished surface, both families harbor countless small lies and hidden truths. As the veneer of perfection crumbles, Marnie and others must confront what the American Dream actually costs. The story unfolds through photographs and text, revealing how families can simultaneously fall apart and find new ways to connect. Each character discovers that the gap between public success and private reality runs deeper than anyone imagined.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Long Island, Manhattan
Period: 21st-century
144 pages · Paperback · Vintage