{Review} SIRACUSA by Delia Ephron

ISBN #: 978-0399165214

Page Count: 304

Publisher: Blue Rider Press

Release Date: July 12, 2016

Goodreads Summary:

New Yorkers Michael, a famous writer, and Lizzie, a journalist, travel to Italy with their friends from Maine—Finn; his wife, Taylor; and their daughter, Snow. “From the beginning,” says Taylor, “it was a conspiracy for Lizzie and Finn to be together.” Told Rashomon-style in alternating points of view, the characters expose and stumble upon lies and infidelities, past and present. Snow, ten years old and precociously drawn into a far more adult drama, becomes the catalyst for catastrophe as the novel explores collusion and betrayal in marriage. Set on the sun-drenched coast of the Ionian Sea, Siracusa unfolds with the pacing of a psychological thriller and delivers an unexpected final act that none will see coming.

Kathy's Review:

This book is told from the perspective of the four adults in the novel. Each of them provides pieces of the plot, as well as their own skewed version of the truth. Each of the four narrators is not exactly a saint. Lizzie still harbors feelings for Finn; Finn picks up random women in bars after his wife and child go to bed; Michael is cheating on Lizzie; and Taylor is a next-level helicopter mom who has mentally damaged her child, Snow, with her overprotectiveness. Each of them see themselves through a filter where they aren't necessarily responsible for their own actions. They blame the others.

Siracusa takes us through a chain of events that occurs while the two couples are vacationing together in Italy. Alternating chapters with varying POVs, we see the same scenes but with additional information layered on from the various narrators until we finally have the whole picture.

It's hard to talk about what happens in the story without revealing major spoilers, but it revolves around Michael cheating on Lizzie, and Snow's fondness/obsession/crush on Michael. I was surprised by the plot twist, just as the book summary promised. I enjoyed the writing, and I liked reading the different perspectives. I come away from the book not really liking any of its characters, but still intrigued and fascinated by the plot. It's an interesting way to unfold a narrative.


*A physical copy was provided by the publicist in exchange for an honest review.