This is the second novel by Kogan that I have read in the last month or so. Can't remember where I heard about her, but have enjoyed both books. The characters are real and their lives are not perfect, but as a reader, I find myself identifying with these younger women in all the messiness of their lives. In Between Hear and April, Elizabeth is trying to balance her work life with the needs of her two young daughters. Her husband is described as a great dad when he is around. The problem is, he's never around. She begins to have flashes of memory of April, a best friend in first grade who suddenly disappeared. It turns out April and her sister Lily died along with their mother when she committed suicide. The more Elizabeth explores the mystery of her young friend's death, the more she realizes that her life is eerily parallel to Adele's, April's mother. As Elizabeth begins to understand her own needs, she feels she has a glimpse into the heart and mind of Adele. There are many other layers in this novel and it was both an easy and a difficult read.
By the way, Elizabeth also cheats on her husband, but in this case, the author made me understand her at such a deep level, it felt like a natural outgrowth of her problems with her husband. One thing I do like about Kogan's novels is that she wraps it up neatly at the end. I know real life is a lot more messy, but I still like a tidy ending.
Other books read:
A Darkness More than Night by Michael Connelly (book seven in the Harry Bosch series)
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