You're listening to the Girl Next Door Podcast.

I'm Kelsey.

And I'm Erica.

We're two former next door neighbors and good friends who love a good chat and a good laugh.

We're inviting you to come on in, have a drink, and stay a while.

Hey friend.

Hey friend.

It is our fall book club episode.

So we'll spend the entire show discussing Anne Patchett's

new novel, The Dutch House. I've got a reminder of what we read, so here is a synopsis from the

publisher. At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy buys the Dutch House, a lavish estate

in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Mint is a

surprise for his wife. The house sets in motion the undoing of everything he loves. The story is told

by Cyril's son, Danny, as he and his older sister, Mave, are exiled from the house where they grew up

by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents

had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. Set over the course of

five decades, the Dutch house is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their

past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Mave are only truly comfortable when they're

together. Throughout their

lives, they return to the well-worn story of what they've lost with humor and rage. But when at

last they're forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an

indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested. All right. So let's get into this. We'll do our book club like we always do. You give it a grade and a review. And I'll do the same. I would say B plus a minus. I loved it. I don't think it was like even probably my favorite Ann Patchett book, but really, really good. Yeah.

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