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When Spanky dies, his younger sister, Mamie, is devastated. Spanky and Mamie weren't just siblings. They were also lovers. They consummated their love for each other as teens, and after twelve years apart, Spanky returns to Mamie, now a wife and mother. Their desire for each other has never waned, and they begin where they left off, becoming lovers once again. Spanky and Mamie's taboo relationship sends the rest of their large family down a dark and difficult path. While their relationship hurts everyone, Mamie's daughter, Lottie, is especially traumatized as she, too, starts her own relationship with Spanky.
Chandler-Harris writes with clarity and confidence. The author's storyline is carefully crafted, and she weaves in a colorful cast as the book unfolds. All her characters' confused and frightened emotions translate well to the reader. The forbidden love between Mamie and Spanky is excruciating, and Chandler-Harris does a fine job portraying all sides of this very taboo relationship. Chandler-Harris proves herself to be a strong writer with a good command of the English language. Her dialogue is easy to read, which keeps the reader invested in her expanding characters. Flashbacks are successfully intertwined with the present day and also serve to keep the reader engaged.
Sexual trauma, violence, devout religion, family secrets, and eventually fame play into this daring storyline. Even with her protagonists' unconventional decisions, Chandler-Harris portrays the main characters with great empathy. Love is a complicated human emotion, and the author never shies away from delving into the most disturbing of relationships.