What if you are completely bereft of all human love- from your parents, no friends, and an ex husband. You have a son, and he is your world. But he is taken away. In swoops some new friends. No wonder you would be duped and not know that they are narcissistic and really don't have your back, despite their promises. And so goes it with this book. It is a sad testimony to the American Dream of desiring the ability to have everything and appearing to have it all, but so lacking in common decency that no one notices it. Ava and Swift have met Helen at an art function. Helen is serving them wine on a platter, and Ava has come to adopt Helen. Helen has lost custody of her son due to a DUI, and it seems as though this new friendship is a perfect way to distract her loneliness. But, when Swift meets her son, who now idolizes Swift, things start becoming clearer to Helen.
Ok, here's the skinny- Helen is lonely. I get it. She is determined to do things right for her son so he doesn't go through the same things. I wouldn't say that she is self-pitying when things go awry, but she is definitely a beaten dog. She has a good friend, but once she finds Ava, she is domineered. She found a good man as a boyfriend who is willing to help her and love her. But she herself made a choice between him and Ava and Swift. I couldn't really read Helen when it came to all that at the end. But I tend to be wishy washy, too, so who am I to judge. I kind of felt, also, that she let her son dictate her life. Again, though, if I am so depraved for love, would I do any differently?