The Nest

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars The characters in The Nest have all built their lives around expectations. Expectations of finally getting that trust fund money, of becoming that predicted best-seller, of winning the love of a boyfriend, of fulfilling parents dreams, of living up to society's judgements. We can all tell that basing our financial decisions on future money is not wise, but Sweeney asks us to question what other ambiguous and ethereal "windfalls" we are basing our life on. Cutting the cords of expectations may seem wise, but as the characters learn to do this, some end up happier, others seem just more unmoored and alone (though, I think that is my opinion, and maybe not what the author had in mind). It is an interesting idea, and well written, but the novel didn't carry enough weight as a whole to make it 4 stars. ( it didn't meet my expectations?)

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 The things money could buy weren’t the reward; the reward was to feel lifted above everyone else, to get a look at the other side of the fence where the grass was rarely greener but always different and what he loved was the contrast—and the choice. The ability to take it in was what mattered; the ability to choose was what mattered.