Author: Jamie Lisa Forbes
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Pronghorn Press
Publication Date: May 25. 2020
Book Description: Rowen Hart has been raised as the pampered son and only child of a prominent family in the small community of White Rock, North Carolina. It’s the 1950s and he’s drifting through the days, following the life path his parents have planned for him and preparing to go away to college. When his father’s suicide turns his world upside down, he finds himself responsible for his mother in their suddenly reduced circumstances that leave them dependent on his uncle, his father’s business partner.
Ill prepared to take over as head of the family, Rowen doesn’t know which way to turn. Then a neighbor’s ten year old daughter comes to live with them, baffling him with her wild behavior and never ending attempts to win his approval and making his new responsibilities even more overwhelming.
As Rowen tries to find his way, he begins to question everything about his upbringing, his current circumstances and his plans for the future as they turn to dust in his hands.
Rating: 3 Stars
Review: Eden is the story of a fractured boy and town after a series of events during the 1950’s. This extremely quiet novel follows Rowen the son of a prominent family. He though he had his entire life planned until his father committed suicide and his life is turned upside down.
Meet Eden not far after that incident. She is ten years old and his mother has taken her in after an incident that occurs with her father that leaves her family in upheaval.
This short book spans many years, You will follow Rowen and Eden through each of their marriages and children. Rowen has many demons he fights through this book, up until almost the very last page.
Eden is literary to it’s core and difficult to review. At times it moved very slow, but towards the back half of this book, I was all in on this story. I don’t think this book will be for everyone, but if you are fan of literary fiction, I think this book will have a place on your shelf.
Thank you NetGalley and Pronghorn Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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