BOOK REVIEW: THE ADMISSIONS, BY MEG MITCHELL MOORE

 

 

The Hawthornes look like the perfect family. They have smart and talented daughters: Angela, 17; Cecily, 10; and Maya, 7. Their eldest daughter is on track for early admission to Harvard. Cecily excels at dance, but Maya struggles in reading.

Nora, the mother, grew up in Rhode Island, and sometimes longs for home, but the life she and Nate have built in Marin County is filled with the wonderful things she always dreamed of. However, her life is hectic, and all their lives seem totally focused on getting Angela into Harvard.

Nora excels at selling high end properties, but an oversight could bring her whole career down. Additionally, Nora is holding tight to a secret that could undermine everything.

Gabe is a partner in a consulting firm, but when a new intern is brought on, a secret he has kept for years threatens to come out.

Narrated by multiple characters, The Admissions held my interest from the very beginning. I loved the setting…who doesn’t love Marin County? I could relate to some of what the characters were experiencing, except for the kinds of secrets that were churning away at their insides and threatening their existence. I enjoyed the e-mail messages Nora wrote to her sister Marianne, as we catch a glimpse of how she thinks and feels in these exchanges.

The pace kept me reading and turning pages, wondering how it would all come apart, as it was obvious that the “perfect” lives were destined to unravel. A book I recommend for those who enjoy family stories. 4.5 stars.