The Change
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In the Long Island oceanfront community of Mattauk, three different women discover that midlife changes bring a whole new type of empowerment…
After Nessa James’s husband dies and her twin daughters leave for college, she’s left all alone in a trim white house not far from the ocean. In the quiet of her late forties, the former nurse begins to hear voices. It doesn’t take long for Nessa to realize that the voices calling out to her belong to the dead—a gift she’s inherited from her grandmother, which comes with special responsibilities.
On the cusp of 50, suave advertising director Harriett Osborne has just witnessed the implosion of her lucrative career and her marriage. She hasn’t left her house in months, and from the outside, it appears as if she and her garden have both gone to seed. But Harriet’s life is far from over—in fact, she’s undergone a stunning and very welcome metamorphosis.
Ambitious former executive Jo Levison has spent thirty long years at war with her body. The free-floating rage and hot flashes that arrive with the beginning of menopause feel like the very last straw—until she realizes she has the ability to channel them, and finally comes into her power.
Guided by voices only Nessa can hear, the trio of women discover a teenage girl whose body was abandoned beside a remote beach. The police have written the victim off as a drug-addicted sex worker, but the women refuse to buy into the official narrative. Their investigation into the girl’s murder leads to more bodies, and to the town’s most exclusive and isolated enclave, a world of stupendous wealth where the rules don’t apply. With their newfound powers, Jo, Nessa, and Harriet will take matters into their own hands…
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The review that follows represents only my opinion and not those of the other book club members.
For the month of March, the book club pick was The Change by Kirsten Miller. Our heroines, Nessa, Harriet, and Jo are brought together by what seems to be some sort of supernatural force. Nessa inherited her family’s connection to spirits that are not at peace, and it guides her to Harriet and Jo. They hit it off and almost instantly form a sisterly bond. The trio are currently going through “the change” and are learning to love their bodies through all of its stages in life. They are also fed up with the mistreatment that women endure at the hands of men either personally or professionally, or a combination of both.
Nessa is guided to the local beach where they discover the body of a young girl. Motivated into action by the inaction of the local police, who see the young lady as nothing more than a runaway and a prostitute, Harriet, Jo and Nessa begin to investigate the murder themselves. Along the way, the women uncover many more horrible secrets in their picturesque Mattauk.
Photo Credit: Celita
My thoughts on The Change, like the plot of this novel are all over the place. I don’t think it can be helped either. Miller’s novel is a coming-of-age story about women trying to navigate the world of men during their youth, and learning to love their bodies once menopause begins. At the middle of that is a murder mystery that reminiscent of the height of the me-too movement and the headlines that swirled around it. Sandwiched between that, is the supernatural aspect of the story. If I say more, it will spoil the story. 🙈There is definitely a lot going on in this one book. It’s kind of funny though, because the chaos of the story line did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.
What I Liked:
The main characters are likeable, and relatable. Their dialogues with each other and the supporting characters are organic and believable with few side-eyes and giggles at some of the shenanigans our heroines find themselves in. Being a reader in my 40’s, it can get a little “meh” when all the characters in the books I like to read are in their 20’s. It was nice for a change to read a book about characters in my age group.
What I Didn’t Like:
The Change was walking a very fine male-bashing line that made me think twice about recommending it to anyone.
All in all, I enjoyed reading The Change and look forward to reading another book written by the author. Have you read this book or any other book by Kirsten Miller? Which would you recommend next?
Red, White, and Books
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Red, White, and Books 🍷
We went wine tasting in Sedona!
Photo Credits: the members of Red, White, and Books book club.
