May 21, 2020

Nothing to See Here



Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Fiction
2019 HarperAudio
Read by Marin Ireland
Finished on May 15, 2020
Rating: 4.5/5 (Great!)

Publisher's Blurb:

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.

Never judge a book by its cover or its outrageously unbelievable premise. When I first noticed Nothing to See Here on one or two of my favorite blogs, I quickly dismissed it simply based on the cover art. Yet, more and more readers started posting glowing reviews on their blogs and Goodreads and my interest was finally piqued. I remember when the same thing happened with Ready Player One and that audiobook turned out to be one of my all-time favorites. Now, almost eight years later, Kevin Wilson's novel has joined the ranks of unexpected pleasures. His humorous, touching story was such a pleasant surprise. If you enjoy heartfelt, yet unconventional, relationships between children and their caretakers, Nothing to See Here is just the book for you. Lillian's devotion and love toward Bessie and Roland is reminiscent of that between Alice and Frank (Be Frank with Me) and Aibileen and Mae Mobley (The Help). Your heartstrings will be tugged, but you will also burst out laughing, as I did as I read all three of these novels. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Wilson's quirky story, but it was Marin Ireland's outstanding performance that truly won me over. Apparently, I'm not the only happy listener. It turns out that Ireland is a 2020 Audie winner for best female narrator and after listening to this book, I couldn't agree more. I wonder if I would have laughed out loud as much as I did had I read the print edition; Ireland's timing and tone are spot on. I can't wait to try more audiobooks read by her. Oh, and of course, I'll try more books by Kevin Wilson. Any recommendations?

"Narrator Marin Ireland flawlessly introduces listeners to Lillian and Madison, two unlikely friends separated after a boarding school scandal.... Drawing from a seemingly endless supply of character voices, Ireland immerses listeners in this magical yet weird family, exquisitely capturing every unusual layer of the story.... Ireland and Wilson leave a lasting impression and provide a thoroughly entertaining experience." (AudioFile Magazine)

13 comments:

  1. I agree with you on the premise of this one but, somehow, it worked. I want to read more of Wilson's books.

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    1. Kathy, I really do wonder if I would have liked this as well had I read the print version. The narration was so good! I will probably try The Family Fang next.

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  2. I loved this audiobook. I expected it to be quirky and have some humor. I did not expect it to make me care so much about these characters.
    Totally agree with you about the narrator.

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    1. Julie, I think it was you and/or JoAnne who motivated me to give this one a try. Like you, I didn't anticipate my strong feelings for the characters, even Carl! The relationships felt so authentic and now I want to listen to Be Frank With Me again. That's another great audiobook.

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    2. By the way, have you stopped blogging? I haven't seen any posts in quite a while. Hope all is ok!

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  3. This is going to the top of my 'to read' list. It sounds exactly like the kind of book I love most. Oh, and I just finished 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine' which I also discovered thanks to you, and I loved it!

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    1. Just be aware of the language, Laurel. I forgot to mention that in my review, but there are a lot of f-bombs. I'm so glad you enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Another great audiobook! If you haven't read Be Frank With Me, give that one a read, too. :)

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    2. Be Frank With Me is one of my all-time favorite books! I've read it three times, and probably will again. Oh, and I'm not offended at all by well-placed f-bombs, lol.

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    3. Laurel, I think you told me that on another post, but I forgot! Enjoy this one!

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  4. OK, you've sold me on this one. I did think it looked a bit different - kids that spontaneously combust? However, since audiobooks are big in my life, I'll give it a try. Laughing out loud seems like a good thing right now. LOL

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    1. Haha! I'm glad you're convinced to give it a read. Be aware of the language, though. Some might find it a bit much.

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  5. I did like the cover art because I thought it was retro and quirky but the story seemed a bit too much. Like you've I've been hearing a lot of good things about this one but now I'm thinking maybe I should check out the audio. Great review!

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    1. Iliana, I think it was a combination of the weird cover art and the fact that it is written by an author I have never heard of that made me hesitate. You should definitely give it a try! Thanks for your nice comment. :)

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