The novel takes place a few years after 9/11, and one of the characters is still facing the aftermath of the terrorist attack on New York City. It is as if the loss of the money helped them appreciate the lives they had right now, instead of dreaming of something still to come. As the dreams they had for The Nest unravel, though, the siblings (mostly) find their way to becoming a real family. She seems diminished by Leo’s charm, prevented somehow from realizing her artistic ambitions by his existence. Bea, especially, lives in the shadows of her life, still mourning a previous relationship, her writing career interrupted by severe writer’s block. They are dysfunctional and disconnected at the start of the novel each consumed with their own problems, careers, and financial obligations.

I appreciated how well D’Aprix Sweeney captures the dynamics of the Plumb siblings. When their distant mother drains almost all of the money from The Nest to pay for the fallout from Leo’s mistake, the siblings are left to contend with the reality that the lives they envisioned for themselves are not within reach. However, one night, a drunk Leo gets behind the wheel of his car and causes an accident. For Melody, her portion of The Nest would pay for her debilitating mortgage and college tuition for her twins for Jack, The Nest would bail him out from a series of bad business decisions made to shore up his antiques business. The inheritance has grown far beyond their father’s expectations, and the four siblings are counting on that money in ways their father would not have liked. The story… For the Plumb siblings-Leo, Bea, Jack, and Melody-The Nest is a trust fund set up by their late father that is to be made available to them upon the 40 th birthday of the youngest, Melody. I do love book suggestions from friends, and The Nest did not disappoint. Enjoy!Ī friend recommended The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney to me, so I grabbed it when I saw it on the shelf in library.

This post features reviews of three books I’ve recently read that are perfect for summer vacations.

I’m packing a bag for the beach and inside are books to read, the ocean waves my only distraction from a good page-turner. My kids are finally out of school, and the calendar says it’s summer.

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney