Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin-BFBC

Title: Home of the American Circus

Author: Allison Larkin

Publisher: Gallery Books

Genre: Contemporary/Literary Fiction

{Thank you to @gallerybooks for the beautiful finished copy of Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin.  I also received an audiobook copy from simon.audio, expertly narrated by Julia Whelan.  Allison Larkin has such a gift for writing interesting characters—ones to root for and fall in love with—and Julia made them just leap off the page!}

▪️Small Town

▪️Found Family

▪️Heartwarming

▪️Coming-of-age

▪️Finding Yourself

▪️Human Connection

▪️Meaningful Relationships

▪️A Message of Empathy & Acceptance

Home of the American Circus explores what it’s like to come crawling back to the home you once fled.  Back to the family that should have been there for you, but wasn’t.  As a reader you will be immediately hooked wondering why Freya left her small NY town and moved to Maine.  What happened to her?  What is going on in this family!?

“Eventually it gets too hard to hide a rotten soul.”

This book has serious themes including childhood trauma and drug use.  It deals with estrangement and betrayal—all of these themes are handled with the upmost care and respect.  It’s takes true talent to have so much heartbreak and make it into a heartwarming story.

I like the way this had a coming-of-age feeling for Freya starting over in her thirties and is paralleled with her teenage niece, Aubrey, who is growing up and figuring herself out—under less than ideal circumstances.  They are not only fixing themselves up, but together they are fixing the family home that Freya inherited.

“I’m always surprised by how many big moments feel more like a whimper than a bang.”

A must read!  

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