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Karen and Ben live together with their two daughters, Cari and Megan. Cari is the oldest, and Megan is the youngest. Karen and Ben experienced several miscarriages before finally being gifted with children. When Cari came into their lives, Karen felt truly blessed to have her. However, when her second daughter, Megan, came along, Karen was less enthusiastic about this newest addition to the family as the pregnancy was unplanned and unwanted. As a result, Karen does not show as much affection for Megan as for Cari. Ironically, Cari is not even biologically related to Karen and Ben; they found her as a baby and have kept that a secret ever since. Ben has been urging Karen to tell Cari the truth, but Karen keeps postponing the conversation for fear of jeopardizing her ideal relationship with her favorite daughter.
In this literary work, Hills unpacks the convoluted dynamics of family relationships, particularly highlighting the harsh reality that one child may be enveloped in love and attention while another feels overlooked, neglected, and emotionally isolated. Hills does not shy away from the topic of infertility, presenting it as a multifaceted issue fraught with intense emotional struggle. She scrutinizes how the overwhelming stress, anxiety, and frustration stemming from the desire to conceive can propel individuals into desperate actions. This relentless pursuit often blinds them to the potentially damaging long-term consequences of their choices, consequences that may ripple outwards and unintentionally harm those they love most. Additionally, Hills illustrates an important truth: family secrets possess an uncanny ability to resurface, regardless of how much time has elapsed. These secrets weave a complex web that binds families together and yet simultaneously threatens to unravel them. Hills has crafted a powerful family drama that is sure to keep her readers engaged.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review