The narrator of the novel are "the neighbors," collectively. As if they are sitting down to tell you a story about something that happened in their neighborhood. It tells the tale of Xavier Alston-Holt and his mother, Valerie and their new neighbors, the Whitmans. The two families have absolutely nothing in common.
Brad Whitman is a real blow-hard, new money, and a local celebrity because he's personable and does his own commercials for his HVAC business. His wife, Julia, just wants to fit in. Brad and Julia have two daughters, Juniper and Lily.
Valerie Alston-Holt is a single mom to graduating senior, Brad. They are both well-liked in the neighborhood.
Valerie doesn't like Brad, and Brad isn't crazy about Valerie, even though Julia so wants to have Valerie as a friend. It's a dying oak tree in the Alston-Holt's backyard that starts the serious friction between the two neighbors. At the same time that trouble is brewing between the adult members of the families, Xavier and Juniper are becoming friends.
The book was incredibly authentic and many of the story lines are along the lines of things that are pretty current in the news, although the book was written before these stories hit the news. It's just that timely. There's no reason that anything in this story could not possibly happen, especially not in the current climate of our country. The setting of the story is Oak Knoll, North Carolina, a southern small city. As a transplanted New Yorker living in the part of Florida that more closely associates with the south, it reminded me of just how southern the thoughts of many people who live here are. I was able to make a few uncomfortable connections.
I found the book a real page turner and think it would make a great book club book. Will definitely recommend it to my book club this afternoon.
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