The Lightness is the debut novel from the editor of Literary Hub. Not only does she recognize good writing, but Temple also writes beautifully, herself. I enjoyed this book for its attention to detail as much as for its story, about a teenage girl, Olivia, who signs herself up for a meditation retreat that is effectively a summer camp for troubled teen girls. Yes, Olivia is troubled: by the disappearance of her Buddhist father at that same retreat center and by the atrocious behavior of her mother. While looking for clues to her father’s whereabouts, Olivia falls in with an outsider clique of girls who seek the key to achieving levitation. It’s a dangerous game these girls are playing, involving a nighttime precipice, bloodletting, starvation, seduction, and lies. Temple explores all of these themes with fresh and effervescent prose, bringing her characters fully alive. A wonderful novel.
–Michael, Annie Bloom’s Books, Portland, OR
Find stunning debuts through Annie Bloom’s and other independent bookstores.