Introduction

"Can a novel be cozy and corrosive at the same time? . . . Friendships and courtships grow, dissolve and explode, sometimes in the same day, but Merle uncorks her most powerful surprises in the seams of conflict."—Ben Neihart, author of Hey, Joe and Rough Amusements

With dark humor, this women’s fiction novel is about obsessive friendship, secrets, and a life-changing summer in the wild 1980s of New York City.

In 1980s New York City, aspiring writers Tina and Spike bond in a complex, all-consuming friendship that will change their lives forever.

Desperate to redefine herself after a failed marriage, twenty-nine-year-old Tina embarks on a thrill-seeking journey to feel alive again. When she meets thirty-five-year-old Spike, a beautiful, seductive, seemingly invulnerable woman, she becomes enthralled by the older woman’s stories of NYC power brokers, sex, wealthy men, and her past. Tina latches on to Spike as someone who can save her from mediocrity and show her how to be the kind of woman who can have power over men—both in romance and in life.

Chasing adventure and the writing life, Tina and Spike rent a cabin together for the summer in the rural backwoods. There, they go on a wild, manic, darkly humorous journey involving dive bars, drugs, men, and all-night dancing, becoming increasingly psychologically entangled in each other’s lives along the way. But eventually Tina realizes just how dangerous Spike is, and is forced to act to save herself.

Filled with New York wit and fast-paced dialogue, this is a story of loss, betrayal, survival, and blurring the line between attraction and peril.

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Excerpt

CHAPTER TWENTY


“IS SHE VERY DIFFERENT FROM YOU?” my mother asked as she hovered around the kitchen counter, watching me prepare a marinade for the chicken I planned to barbecue. Her eyes scurried to Spike’s things. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

From the author:

1. What causes the dynamic between Tina and Spike to shift from admiration to obsession? What were the warning signs each character missed or ignored? Have you had female friendships that were co-dependent?

2. What does each woman seek in the other, and how do these needs deepen or distort their friendship? Have you had a friendship that others have questioned or one you've struggled to explain?

3. How does the author use humor to cut the psychological tension in the novel? Did you find yourself laughing while still feeling on edge?

4. How do the pressures and expectations of women in the 1980s, when the story takes place, influence Tina's and Spike's efforts to define themselves as strong and independent?

5. How does the author portray parents and families throughout the novel--from Tina's and Spike's families to the Peels--and the complicated, invisible ties that hold families together?

Weblinks

»	Author's website
»	Author's LinkedIn profile
»	Literary Titan book review
»	Sublime book review
»	Author Q&A
»	Follow the author on Instagram

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