Darling

December 15, 2018
In the UK the morning after the Brexit vote, Thomas, a white man, defends Darling, a black woman, from a bigoted tirade. The two have an instant connection, and after a short romance, Darling agrees to marry him. The narration switches back and forth between Darling and Lola, Thomas' teenage daughter, who makes it clear that she does not enjoy Darling's entrance into their lives. The opening of the book makes it clear that one of these women will die at the hands of the other, but it is unclear who is the victim and who is the murderer, leaving the reader guessing up until the end. The story works in many themes and subplots, including racism, white nationalism, and teenage angst along with the ever-popular unreliable narrator. While there is a lot to take in, readers will enjoy the completely unique voices of Darling and Lola as well as several distinctive surprises that make for a real page-turner. Edwards' first novel is likely to attract an older YA audience and suspense lovers alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)