Saint X: Alexis Schaitkin

Thank you to Celadon Books for this ARC.

Saint X is on sale on February 18, 2020!

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There is nothing better than a bright book to lift your mood when the weather outside is less than appealing. It has been cold, rainy, and gray in Boston for what feels like weeks, so it was nice to take a little escape to the tropical island of Saint X.

Within the first chapter of Saint X, I was immediately taken by Schaitkin's writing style. I felt like I was looking down on the happy vacationers, taking in the sights from a birds eye view. As the action unfolded, the perspective shifted to be much closer to the characters, and eventually she transitioned into the point of view of each character, written in the first person perspective. I found this unique approach to be extremely effective, and it kept me engaged throughout the story.

"Begin with an aerial view"

Speaking of the story, I have never read anything quite like Saint X. At first, I thought it would be a story about the relationship between two sisters and their parents. Then, I realized that the sister who you assume will be the main character has been unceremoniously removed from the story - though the specter of her continues to linger throughout. As the originally sideline characters takes center stage, the story becomes a psychological study of the impacts of tragedy on those standing on the periphery. Another layer of intrigue is provided by big sister Alison's voice and memory, which weaves in and out of the story at various points.

I'll stop there because I don't want to give away a single spoiler. I want everyone to read this books, and then, let's talk!

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Congratulations, Celadon Books, on another outstanding novel. Thank you for bringing bold new female voices to the forefront!

Keep reading,

L.S.