At a Glance

Title: Nothing to See Here

Author: Kevin Wilson

Published: October 29, 2019 by Ecco

Page: 272

Genre: Magical Realism, Fantasy

Goodreads Rating: 4.10 out of 5.00

Synopsis

“Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they’ve barely spoken since. Until now, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help.

Madison’s twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there’s a catch: the twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but it’s the truth.

Thinking of her dead-end life at home, the life that has consistently disappointed her, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose. Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other—and stay cool—while also staying out of the way of Madison’s buttoned-up politician husband. Surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her—urgently and fiercely. Couldn’t this be the start of the amazing life she’d always hoped for?

With white-hot wit and a big, tender heart, Kevin Wilson has written his best book yet—a most unusual story of parental love. ”

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My Thoughts

Honestly, the synopsis drew me in because HELLO combusting children?? Like what?! This book is fun. It’s light and whimsical with just enough weirdness mixed in.

When I first picked up this book from Book of the Month, the synopsis did not do the book justice in capturing what I would be reading. I thought there might be more of a sinister plot in the book, but it’s ultimately about Lillian finding herself loving two really weird kids and coming to terms with who they are.

While the writing is great, I’ll totally read another Kevin Wilson book, I could have done with more character development though. I could have also done with a little bit more of intense plot line, rather than just a small family struggle. I feel that I just scraped the tip of the iceberg into who Lillian and the twins are by the end of the book. Granted the book is less than 300 pages, but an extra 100 pages may have really helped this piece out. I also could have done with a bit more explanation around why they burst into flames. Some people might thing this adds magic to the story line, but I really just need answers.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a sweet and short read then this book will be for you! It’s fairly light but does have a few triggering events (suicide, depression) but Wilson doesn’t dive too deeply into the topics which keeps the story more upbeat. 3.5 ★’s from me. Get it HERE!