I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Tangerine by Christine Mangan Published by HarperCollins on March 27, 2018
Genres: Fiction, Historical, Literary, Suspense, Thrillers
Pages: 320
Format: Hardcover
Source: the library
Alice Shipley is living in Tangier with her new husband. She feels isolated; the heat and overwhelming crowds have prevented her from venturing out to explore. When her former roommate, Lucy Mason, arrives out of the blue, Alice is taken aback. The two haven't spoken since the event that shattered Alice's life. Yet, she takes this opportunity as an excuse to start their friendship anew, and the two embark on outings that take Alice beyond the confinement of her flat.
Yet, it isn't long before Lucy's behavior from the past returns, her strong hold on Alice leaves her feeling like she's lost all control of her life. Lucy is determined to let know one stand between them, no matter the consequences.
I picked this up after hearing rave reviews from a bookseller at my favorite independent bookstore. I have to say that before this, this title wasn’t even on my radar. I curled up on a rainy Friday night and devoured this book. I loved the alternating points of views, reading from first Alice’s standpoint and then Lucy’s, watching how they began to differ so vastly in what they believed to have transpired. The pacing was on par, as was the build-up of the conflict…but it wasn’t until after I finished reading and had time to percolate on my thoughts that I realized my issue.
Here is the text of the tweet I posted immediately after finishing: “Finished TANGERINE. Quite good, reminded me a bit of THE OTHER TYPIST.” So what’s the problem? It wasn’t memorable. Though quite a fun and engaging read, nothing will stand out as unique, something that will make me remember this book in a few months after I’ve read another dozen titles.
I then glanced at the cover and noticed the blurb from Joyce Carol Oates: “As if Donna Tartt, Gillian Flynn, and Patricia Highsmith had collaborated on a screenplay to be filmed by Hitchcock.” I was struck by question for authors: Would you rather be compared to the great works of other authors or stand out with your own voice?
With all this said, I do recommend this title for it is a captivating and thrilling read. While it didn’t stand out to me as memorable, perhaps it will provide you with a different reading experience?
