kimbacaffeinate
Written on Apr 19, 2017
The story began slowly and pulled me in with its descriptive prose, but when Heather Blackford befriends Merilee, it began to have a darker undertone and surprised me. To my delight, this apple of a tale had a suspenseful thriller beneath its juicy layers. As things unravel in the present, we soon learn the past holds the key. You know Heather, you've spied her in town with her little posse of friends. She's all sugar and sweet, but you know she'll taste bitter.
The mounting tension and frustration as this suspenseful thread unfolded had me sitting on edge as I listen to the narrations of Carolyn Cook, Susan Larkin, Tiffany Morgan. Each nailed the characters breathing life into them through accents, tone, and pacing. I am glad they chose three narrators, although I am sure any one of these narrators could have handled the telling.
White unfolds the tale brilliantly and shares the perspectives of Merilee and Sugar. Sugar's tales are mostly from the past, and it was effortlessly done. I absolutely love when an author can weave the past and present giving us not one story but two and creating something memorable with them. We are also treated to entries from a local anonymous blogger who shares daily life and southern ways. Foreshadowing and events from the past along with Merilee's vulnerability provided believability and chills.
Secondary characters, townsfolk, and a love interest all added to the tale as did Merilee's children. White's writing style is beautiful. Its' the kind of story that you slip into and lose track of time. I was transported to Sweet Apple and could feel the breeze, smell the tall grass, and tasted Merilee's sweet tea.
You're going to want to grab a copy or audio of THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT as its a must read this summer! It is a read whose characters will stay with you long after the leaves begin to fall.
Audio provided by the publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer