The writing was fine, but the tale was not my cup of tea. Vengeful people to what end? Much elaboration and a narrow focus that might have held the reader more closely if she cared, but I had trouble caring about any of them and found the Jungian slant and dream sequences irritating. ( )

Weird and amazing. The surrealism works so well and is disturbingly plausible. ( )

y'know!!!!! ( )

Abby lives a boring life in Michigan working as a cashier at a store. She was supposed to be so much more successful. She is obsessed with her childhood friend Elise, a successful actress in Hollywood who graces the covers of magazines that Abby collects. She also has vivid dreams that she records in her drawings.

Elise returns to Michigan to attend their 10-year high school reunion, and Abby knows that she must go to see and try to talk to Elise. She dreams about a purple dress which she then finds at a thrift store. When she sees Elise at the reunion, they begin talking on a couch that is exactly like the couch she dreamed of. The still have a strong bond, and Elise invites Abby to look her up if she comes to California.

A few weeks later, Abby abandons her life in Michigan, boards a flight to Los Angeles, and calls Elise. Though surprised, Elise invites Abby to her home. Soon she is asking Abby to stay with her and eventually to become her personal assistant. Elise also brings Abby to a creative resort run by their favorite film-maker Perren.

The novel is written as though the reader is Elise and Abby is speaking directly to her. What starts as strange turns gradually more eerie. More of Abby’s dreams come to fruition as she increasingly grows an enmity toward Elise who Abby sees as unworthy of her success. She hides these thoughts from her friend, but works behind Elise’s back to carry forward her own ambitions.

When Elise becomes pregnant, she and her boyfriend plan a wedding in his home country of Argentina. Abby comes along but speaks poorly of Elise to a photographer who sells the story to the tabloids. This devastates Elise who never figures out it was Abby who started the rumors. Meanwhile Abby does not return to her life with Elise. Soon after her return to California, Elise’s marriage falls apart. She begs Abby to return and help her, but Abby ignores her pleas.

Abby returns to Michigan to visit her sister, a drug addict and mother of a young child. The visit is really a ruse to steal her sister’s purse and her and her child’s identities. Abby’s plan continues when she attends a costume party that Elise and her new child are attending. Abby pulls a fire alarm and during the chaos, Abby steals Elise’s baby.

Abby secures passports for herself and the baby using her sister’s documents and leaves the country. She turns up on Perren’s door in Switzerland, shows him her drawings of her dreams that depict his home and family. He sees her talents and ability to dream and draw places and events from her dreams, and he invites them to stay with him on his property. All of Abby’s dreams have come true.

I found this to be a page-turning novel full of strange and dark moments. The author is a terrific writer, and I loved her use of language. The story is uncanny, and the magical realism forces the reader to question reality and imagination. I am left feeling that Abby is really just sitting in her bedroom in Michigan alone, having fantasized the whole thing.

This book was bizarre! Abby and Elise have been friends since they were in kindergarten, but grew apart when Elise starting getting acting jobs in high school. As Elise’s start rose, Abby obsessively tracks Elise through magazine articles. After reconnecting at their high school reunion, Abby decides to visit Elise in CA. Abby works her way into Elise’s life, wanting more out of their friendship than Elise is prepared to give.
This is a story of obsession, strange dreams, and taking what isn’t yours. Really strange! ( )