ECONOGAL

Debut novelist Shannon Garvey presents more than a beach read with June Baby. The novel marks the transition from youth to maturity delayed by overwhelming grief. While the addition of a love triangle may provide traditional summer angst, the deep topics of unwanted pregnancy and homosexuality create a book beyond the usual escape.

The story begins in 2013 with Ruth being shipped off to Block Island. Her father can no longer handle her grief. Both are reeling from the death of mother and wife, Maggie. Ruth lands on the doorstep of Diana- a friend of her mother’s from a long ago summer. Author Garvey does a great job of moving between 2013 and 2023. Her protagonist is stuck in grief upon more grief with the recent death of Diana.

Ruth is one of the most complex characters one can stumble across. She tugs at your heart strings while acting outrageously. The reader has empathy. And yet…she has so much baggage.

The novel unravels mysteries to Ruth and the reader simultaneously. The passage of time and cultural acceptance during that span are key. Much has changed since the turn of the century and yet families still hold onto privacy, even among loved ones.

June Baby provides multiple paths for the characters to choose from. Their choices are not always clear. But are any of life’s decisions easy to make? No one can tell what the future holds.

Shannon Garvey presents a flawed heroine stuck on repeat. The summer of 2023 allows Ruth to change directions. The final pages are a bit open-ended allowing the reader to imagine the future.

I picked up the book off the new novels table at the local library. The description included Block Island, a locale never visited but often discussed during my college days. I expected an easy summer read and was rewarded with a serious novel of grief and growth. I highly recommend.