Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur (#100 in 2019)
When Adrienne Brodeur was only fourteen years old, her best friend confided in her about love. Adrienne's best friend told her about how Ben Souther kissed her. Adrienne's best friend asked her to keep it a secret. While this would have been normal for teenage girls to discuss, there was one slight problem: Adrienne's best friend was her mother and the man she kissed was her step-father's best friend. In this secret-spilling memoir, Adrienne Brodeur recounts the emotional rollercoaster that was being her mother's confidante. Brodeur discusses the repercussions for the affair that she was coerced into covering up and how the lies affected her own relationships and emotional wellbeing as an adult.
I'm not sure what drew me in at first, but I think part of it had to do with the setting: Cape Cod. Adrienne's background revealed a broken family as her parents were divorced and both in relationships with new people. While this family dynamic isn't abnormal, Adrienne's mother lacked the understanding of proper boundaries between parent and child. When Adrienne's mother, Malabar, confides in her that summer night, telling her about the kiss between her and Ben, Adrienne's life changes entirely. Where Adrienne never felt important amidst the drama and extravagance of her mother, she finally felt that connection she longed for. Malabar and Ben both used Adrienne's innocence and desire to be included as a cover for their years-long affair behind the backs of their respective spouses. Malabar was manipulative and encouraged Adrienne's dishonesty for her personal gain, which is a clear abuse of power and, as far as I'm concerned, emotional abuse on some level. What broke my heart the most is that Adrienne recognized it was wrong but desperately wanted the acceptance of her mother. The strength Adrienne demonstrates in her adulthood is so special and shows immense growth as an individual. Isn’t that what everyone looks for in a dynamic character/person— change? This memoir captivated me from the very start and it only helped that my own memories of Cape Cod helped to imaginatively set the scene. Four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Adrienne Brodeur was only fourteen years old, her best friend confided in her about love. Adrienne's best friend told her about how Ben Souther kissed her. Adrienne's best friend asked her to keep it a secret. While this would have been normal for teenage girls to discuss, there was one slight problem: Adrienne's best friend was her mother and the man she kissed was her step-father's best friend. In this secret-spilling memoir, Adrienne Brodeur recounts the emotional rollercoaster that was being her mother's confidante. Brodeur discusses the repercussions for the affair that she was coerced into covering up and how the lies affected her own relationships and emotional wellbeing as an adult.
I'm not sure what drew me in at first, but I think part of it had to do with the setting: Cape Cod. Adrienne's background revealed a broken family as her parents were divorced and both in relationships with new people. While this family dynamic isn't abnormal, Adrienne's mother lacked the understanding of proper boundaries between parent and child. When Adrienne's mother, Malabar, confides in her that summer night, telling her about the kiss between her and Ben, Adrienne's life changes entirely. Where Adrienne never felt important amidst the drama and extravagance of her mother, she finally felt that connection she longed for. Malabar and Ben both used Adrienne's innocence and desire to be included as a cover for their years-long affair behind the backs of their respective spouses. Malabar was manipulative and encouraged Adrienne's dishonesty for her personal gain, which is a clear abuse of power and, as far as I'm concerned, emotional abuse on some level. What broke my heart the most is that Adrienne recognized it was wrong but desperately wanted the acceptance of her mother. The strength Adrienne demonstrates in her adulthood is so special and shows immense growth as an individual. Isn’t that what everyone looks for in a dynamic character/person— change? This memoir captivated me from the very start and it only helped that my own memories of Cape Cod helped to imaginatively set the scene. Four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️