WIN ME SOMETHING

Natalie Naudus's quiet narration elevates this character-driven coming- of-age novel. Willa is a Chinese-American 20-something living in New York after college, unsure what she wants out of life. She takes a job as a nanny for a wealthy white family and soon moves in with them, longing for a closeness she's never felt with either of her parents or any of her half-siblings. Naudus perfects every character's voice, from 11-year Bijou's forthright manner and direct questions to the low, warm tones of her mother, Natalie, who is kind but unaware. Willa is observant and self-reflective, and it's a pleasure to listen to her long inner monologues, which Naudus delivers with the perfect mix of angst, wry humor, and millennial malaise. L.S. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2021]