Girl on the Verge by Pintip Dunn
The good news is Girl on the Verge is good, the bad news… it’s good – but just doesn’t tip the scales to great simply because it’s just a little too shallow. The shallowness of both plot and characters let the story down. The storyline, although unoriginal, has all the makings of a brilliant psychological thriller where the reader alternates between wanting to slap the gullible character and hiding under the duvet. More depth is needed and although there were occasional flashes of sinister, dark intent I wanted more. Much more.
… it makes the chill crawl up my back, one long spider leg at a time.
Of all the characters Kan stood out and I empathised with her perception of always being the odd one out. All the secondary characters were flimsy paper dolls.
I could explain how I’m from two worlds but don’t fit in either.
I visited Thailand once, but it was a fleeting stay so it was a huge bonus to glimpse a little of the Thai culture through Kan’s grandmother whose authentic Thai food made my mouth water.
“We’ve kept this secret for seventeen years…”
Title: Girl on the Verge
Author: Pintip Dunn
Publication Date: 27 June 2017
Publisher: Kensington
Source: Review copy
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In her small Kansas town, at her predominantly white school, Kanchana doesn’t look like anyone else. But at home, her Thai grandmother chides her for being too westernized. Only through the clothing Kan designs in secret can she find a way to fuse both cultures into something distinctly her own.
When her mother agrees to provide a home for a teenage girl named Shelly, Kan sees a chance to prove herself useful. Making Shelly feel comfortable is easy at first—her new friend is eager to please, embraces the family’s Thai traditions, and clearly looks up to Kan. Perhaps too much. Shelly seems to want everything Kanchana has, even the blond, blue-eyed boy she has a crush on. As Kan’s growing discomfort compels her to investigate Shelly’s past, she’s shocked to find how much it intersects with her own—and just how far Shelly will go to belong… — Abstract from Goodreads.com
The fact that I received a free advanced copy of this book does not influence my policy to write an honest review.
Disclaimer: The quotes appear in my advanced review copy and may not appear in the final version.
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